“My lady, I think what others think of the Fourth Prince is their business. The Fourth Prince is actually very good to you.”
Li Tiao stared in disbelief: "Okay?! Is he really interested in me?"
Is it better to just want to die?
"Yes, the Fourth Prince gave you a hand warmer and ice skates before, and the snuff bottle you insisted on taking with you before leaving the palace was also given to you by the Fourth Prince, right..."
“Hongye, I can’t forget that he almost killed me just because of his small favor.”
Li Tiao, fearing that Hongye would keep talking about her, said, "Hongye, now you are my maid, you can't always say good things about the Fourth Prince. What has he done to make you so devoted to him?"
"It's nothing."
Li Tiao said, "If you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask anymore. Just don't continue to speak well of the Fourth Prince in front of me in the future."
"Actually, it's not a big deal. It's just that back then... didn't I tell you, Master, that I was adopted and raised by a eunuch?"
Later, when she got older and worked in the palace, that eunuch wanted to form a romantic relationship with her, but she refused, so he... and then, coincidentally, was rescued by the Fourth Prince..."
Li Tiao was both surprised and furious. Hongye wasn't even that old yet, and what she did back then... how old was she? The old eunuch was already thinking... how disgusting.
However, after her anger subsided, Li Tiao suddenly realized something: "Hongye, you..."
Recalling Chunxi's feelings for the Fourth Prince, Li Tiao suddenly felt a little scared. Could it be that Hongye also had some thoughts because the Fourth Prince saved her?
“It’s all in the past now. This servant is leaving the palace with you, my mistress.”
Hongye thought Li Tiao was afraid that she was still thinking about the past, so she explained. However, looking at Li Tiao's expression, Hongye belatedly realized what was going on.
She quickly knelt down: "Your Highness, you have misunderstood. This servant has no improper thoughts about the Fourth Prince. This servant would never have any inappropriate ideas."
"Get up," Li Tiao said. "I can understand if you have feelings for the Fourth Prince, but if you really have any thoughts about him, you have to tell me, I..."
"My lord, I really didn't. I know that no matter what I say now, you might not believe me. But you'll know in time."
Although she had some doubts, Li Tiao knew that Hongye and Chunxi were different, and she couldn't generalize.
If what Hongye said is true, then the Fourth Prince really is a good person.
But his kindness wasn't directed at himself.
She can't leave now. When she was in the palace, Li Tiao had no choice but to stay. Now that she's outside the palace, although she has money, she feels she can't just sit around and do nothing. She needs to find a way to make money.
Although she was now accompanied by the Fourth Prince's men whenever she went out, Li Tiao felt that it was fine if they followed her; making money and buying a big house was the most urgent thing.
Always living in the Fourth Prince's residence, she couldn't even speak with conviction when arguing.
Seeing that Li Tiao was no longer mentioning the Fourth Prince, Hongye naturally wouldn't bring it up either. She said, "My lady, there's no food left in the house. I'll go out and see if I can buy something."
"Go."
After Hongye left, Li Tiao tried hard to think of what kind of business she should find.
Although she didn't pay attention to when Hongye went out or how long she was gone, Li Tiao was still a little surprised when Hongye came back.
Where is the stuff?
Hongye wiped the sweat from her forehead: "Master, this servant didn't buy anything."
Although spring is almost here, the early spring in Beijing is still quite chilly, but the red leaves are covered in sweat, which is clearly not because of the heat.
Li Tiao asked, "What's wrong?"
"My lord, guess who I saw when I went out just now?"
"Who?" Li Tiao asked in confusion. She felt that even if she encountered the Crown Prince, she wouldn't be afraid, since the Fourth Prince's men were watching her outside. The Fourth Prince had said that he didn't want her to be captured by the Crown Prince.
Therefore, if it were the Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince's men outside would definitely do their utmost to protect him.
Li Tiao shared her suspicions with Hongye, who shook her head: "It's not the Crown Prince. I know what you're saying, so I'm not afraid if we really encounter the Crown Prince's people."
“Then what about you…” Li Tiao was extremely puzzled.
"This servant has encountered Eunuch Li, Eunuch Li in disguise."
"Eunuch Li?" Li Tiao couldn't immediately recall which Eunuch Li Hongye was referring to, so her thoughts wandered: "It can't be the one you mentioned who wants to have a romantic relationship with you in the palace..."
"Oh dear, Master, what time is it? Why are you still joking with me?"
"I'm not joking, I just don't know which palace this Eunuch Li you're talking about serves in, which Eunuch Li is he?"
"Eunuch Li Dequan, who serves the Emperor."
Li Tiao suddenly realized, and asked nervously, "Is it just Li Dequan alone?"
"No, there is another person. Although I didn't see his face, judging from Eunuch Li's respectful manner, I think it could only be the Emperor."
"Did they see you?" Li Tiao then asked.
"No."
Li Tiao breathed a sigh of relief and sat down again, leaning on the table for support: "Why are you so nervous when I didn't see you?"
“But my lady, they didn’t see me, but I saw them near this house. What if… what if the Emperor finds out you’re here? Even if the Fourth Prince’s men are guarding outside, they wouldn’t dare to confront the Emperor.”
During this time hiding here, although there were bound to be times of fear and anxiety, no one came looking for her. Li Tiao was somewhat proud of her cleverness.
Some things were overlooked. Although the Fourth Prince had come looking for her, Li Tiao thought that the Fourth Prince wouldn't be so stupid as to come here discreetly.
However, now Hongye has seen the Emperor...
"Your Majesty, you mean the Emperor..."
"Let's not scare ourselves. Maybe the Emperor is just traveling incognito," Li Tiao said, trying to calm herself down and reassure Hongye.
Although she thought it was unlikely, Li Tiao felt it was still necessary to be fully prepared: "Shall we sneak out through the back door?"
"But the back door is blocked by the Fourth Prince!"
"Aren't there Fourth Prince's men outside?" Li Tiao suggested to Hongye, "Have them open the back door."
Are they willing?
Li Tiao: "Then you should have them go and tell the Fourth Prince that the Emperor is coming, and if we don't run away, should we go with the Emperor?"
Although Hongye could tell that Li Tiao's words were somewhat defiant, there was no other way now, so she might as well try anything.
But just as Hongye was about to go out and talk to the people outside, Cao's noise came first.
"Sir, what do you do? You can't come in."
Li Tiao glanced at the red leaves, held her breath, and her heart was in her throat.
"How dare you! Do you think you can stop this gentleman?"
"But the owner of this house is no ordinary person, so you can't go in."
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