"Your Majesty, you're finally back. Did everything go smoothly in the palace?" Qingyun Yiren greeted her and asked.

Nan Yi's thoughts were pulled back from a completely distant place. She glanced at the two girls, slowly walked into the courtyard, and asked them inexplicably, "Qingyun, do you think this courtyard is a bit too small?"

Qingyun casually replied, "It is a bit small, not as big as Lan Courtyard, and even smaller than the villa."

"I often feel suffocated here. There are so many people, the space is small, everyone is crammed together, and the air is thin," Nan Yi said.

Qingyun sensed something was off about the tone. She looked at Yiren, who shook her head. She stopped and stopped the two second-class maids who were accompanying the concubine into the palace. Something must have happened in the palace; her mistress seemed unhappy.

Nan entered the room and looked around. "My lover, I haven't seen her for the past few days."

Qingyun helped Nan Yi change clothes and wash up, and said with a smile, "Ever since the master arranged her marriage, she has been holed up with Qingfeng all day helping with embroidery. She is too embarrassed to come out."

With the headdress removed, Nan Yi felt much lighter. Sitting in front of the dressing table, she pointed to her head and said, "Give me a massage. Wearing this on all day makes my scalp feel numb."

Qingyun smiled and stepped forward to massage his master's scalp, then changed the comb to straighten his hair.

"Starting tomorrow, have my lover go outside the mansion with Xiao Shunzi to buy supplies. Tell Xiao Shunzi to be quick-witted," Nan Yi instructed.

"What does Master mean?"

"Find more opportunities for your lover and Xiao Ran to spend time together, and cultivate their relationship along the way," Nan Yi advised.

Qingyun chuckled, curtsied to the south, and said, "This servant thanks my master on behalf of my lover."

Nan waved her hand, "I'm hungry, I want to eat pumpkin soup."

"Yes, I will make the arrangements." Qingyun responded and withdrew.

That night, Nan went to bed early, and Yinzhen did not come. Xiao Shunzi received the order and got up early, taking his newly dressed lover out of the mansion. When they passed the main courtyard, Liu Mama from the Fujin's courtyard came to meet them.

The two stopped and greeted Granny Liu.

Granny Liu nodded, glancing at the lover standing behind Xiao Shunzi. Her eyes lit up. Her nephew had mentioned before that he wanted to marry the head maid in Consort Tong's courtyard, and she didn't think much of her.

This girl is just as proud as her master, and she is quite beautiful and healthy.

Her family only has one son, her nephew. The first requirement for her nephew to marry is that the girl be able to bear children. Her family is counting on her nephew to get married as soon as possible so that they can have more children.

This maidservant, however, has the appearance of someone who will bear a son.

Granny Liu nodded to herself and gave her lover a special smile.

The lover shuddered in fright, bowed her head in a curtsy, and quickly walked out with Xiao Shunzi.

Upon reaching the gates of the mansion, the lover breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest, "You scared me to death, Xiao Shunzi. From now on, we'll take a detour when we go out."

"What's wrong? Your face is so pale. Are you afraid of Granny Liu?" Xiao Shunzi asked.

The lover nodded heavily. "Her smile was so creepy." Granny Liu was the wet nurse of the primary wife. She was usually aloof and rarely kind to the maids below her. The fact that she smiled at her just now was unbelievable.

Then she thought of her nephew. Fortunately, her marriage was arranged.

Xiao Shunzi scratched his head and smiled sheepishly, "I'm also afraid of that old hag. In fact, which servant in the backyard isn't afraid of her? It's alright, we'll go through the side gate of Lan Courtyard next time."

"Okay, it's settled then."

******

Granny Liu had been thinking about her nephew's matter. These past two days, the master had been staying in the main courtyard, and the Fujin was in a good mood. When she entered the room, the Fujin was listening to the steward of the outer courtyard give a reply.

After the steward of the outer courtyard left, Granny Liu brought out tea.

"Granny, I didn't expect Tong Shi to be so capable. She managed the household affairs without any problems. I underestimated her," Nara Shi said indifferently.

She was waiting to see her make a fool of herself, but now look what happened, the master will probably think even more highly of her.

"Madam, you flatter Consort Tong. With Granny Qiu and the charming maids in that courtyard to help, Consort Tong can be a hands-off manager."

"Hmm, Granny Qiu is quite good. Tong is lucky," Nara said casually.

Granny Liu's expression stiffened, and she fell silent. The Fujin was her wet nurse, and she knew her temperament better. The Fujin's words probably meant that she wanted to keep Granny Qiu.

Granny Qiu is capable, and the Fujin admires her. If she were to serve in the main courtyard, given her seniority, she would have no place to stand.

"Why aren't you saying anything, Granny? You look preoccupied," Nara said, glancing at her.

Granny Liu smiled bitterly. "Forget it, why bother with these things? As long as the Princess Consort is well, I don't care what happens to her."

A mother who has raised her own child will always hope that her child is doing well.

She put down her teacup, picked up her fan, and walked up to the Fujin (principal wife) and whispered, "This servant has something I'd like to ask the Fujin for a favor."

Nara smiled and said, "Hmm, how strange. Tell me, Granny. This is the first time you've asked for a favor. It must be a happy occasion."

She vaguely understood what Granny Liu wanted to say. Granny Liu had never married and had always served her. Her family was worried that she would have no one to take care of her in her old age, so they sent her nephew to serve her. Granny Liu was happy to accept and arranged for her nephew to work in the outer courtyard.

Granny Liu raised her nephew like her own son. Now that he's grown up, it's time for him to get married.

"It's like this, there's a head maid in Consort Tong's courtyard who's reached a certain age. I think she's quite pretty, and although she's a bit arrogant, she seems to have the makings of a son. I'm thinking..."

"Wait, what did you say?" Nara suddenly spoke up.

Granny Liu repeated, "This servant believes she has the appearance of a son."

“The image of a son, the image of a son,” Nara murmured, then suddenly burst into a low laugh, unable to contain herself.

Oh, Tong family, let's see how smug you are now.

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