Upon entering Yonghe Palace, Consort De, as always, treated her as if she were invisible, chatting and laughing with Lady Nara. For more than an hour, Nan Yi sat quietly, neither fawning nor flattering, enjoying her leisurely time on the cold bench.

Nara was highly regarded by Consort De. Her daughter-in-law was a rare virtuous woman with a good family background and a gentle temperament. Her only regret was that she could not give her son another child.

The Fourth Prince's harem is small, and she thought that she should give her son a few more fertile daughters for the imperial concubine selection two years later.

After Consort De finished chatting with Empress Nara, she stood up at the opportune moment and suggested going to Jingren Palace to pay her respects.

Empress Nara smiled as she looked at Consort De.

"Go, but don't be impolite," Consort De said calmly.

Nan Yifu took his leave and, after leaving Yonghe Palace, instructed Yiren behind him, "I will go to Jingren Palace myself. You secretly go and see Xiao Luzi, who is close to Li Anda, and ask him to tell Li Anda that I wish to see the Emperor. I wonder if this is possible."

Yiren's greatest strength is that she never asks for the reason behind things. As long as it's an order from her master, she only thinks about doing the job well and keeps her mouth shut.

This is what Nan values ​​most.

There were many things about Nan Yi that Granny Qiu and Qingyun didn't know, but she didn't hide them from Yiren.

Surrounded by maids and servants all day long, there's no one to help me with anything I do; it's even difficult for me to step out of the house.

Consort Tong was very happy to see her. When her family was mentioned, Consort Tong smiled and comforted her, "I have heard about your family's situation. Don't worry too much. As long as the Tong family is here, it won't be difficult for your family to be reinstated. Besides, don't you still have her? The Fourth Prince treats you well. When he is made a prince, you can ask the Emperor for a favor. It's only a matter of time before he comes back. Consider this a lesson."

“That’s what I think too. It’s good to let them suffer a bit,” Nan Yi said.

Consort Tong nodded in agreement. Seeing that her expression was normal and there was no worry in her eyes, she did not mind and praised her for being sensible.

"That's more like a daughter of the Tong family. What does a temporary setback matter? Only the one who laughs last wins." Tong Fei pulled Nan Yi aside and whispered her words in her ear, her expression solemn.

Nan Yi was extremely conflicted upon hearing this. She placed her hand on her abdomen and left Jingren Palace. Before she could come to her senses, she found that even Consort Tong was urging her to have a child.

Child, in history, was there any woman with the surname Tong who bore a child for Emperor Yongzheng?

Sigh, it's not that she doesn't want to have children, but what can she do if she can't get pregnant?

She takes a pulse once a month to check her health. The imperial physician says there's nothing wrong with her body. If there's nothing wrong with her, then the Fourth Master certainly shouldn't have any problems either. So where is the problem?

Or perhaps she has a special constitution that makes it difficult for her to conceive; that's the only possibility she could think of.

Yiren returned disappointed. It was the morning court session, and Li Anda was in the Qianqing Palace, so Xiaolu's message could not be conveyed.

“It’s alright, let’s go to the Qianqing Palace and wait there,” Nan Yi said.

Yiren shook her head. "No, Your Majesty. Without an audience, a concubine cannot enter the Qianqing Palace, let alone you who are not even a concubine."

Nan Yi said angrily, "Then what should we do? I want to see the Emperor, but it seems like I have no chance now."

She wanted to ask Zheng Yong for help. Zheng Yong was one of Emperor Kangxi's men. Without Emperor Kangxi's permission, she secretly met with Zheng Yong. Who knew if Emperor Kangxi would have any ulterior motives?

People in the palace are most wary of princes forming cliques and colluding with each other. As the emperor's chief secret agent, my position is too sensitive.

If she hadn't gone through Emperor Kangxi, and the matter were investigated later, she might have mistakenly thought that the Fourth Prince had instructed her to contact Zheng Yong for some shady dealings.

Public opinion is a fearsome thing.

Her father and brother had been tricked by outsiders, and she wanted to find out who was behind it all openly and honestly. She just didn't know if Old Master Kang would give her that favor.

Having eaten so many good things from her, she must have some influence with Old Master Kang, right?

Nan Yi is gambling on those few shreds of face.

Yiren thought for a moment and said with difficulty, "There is a way, but you have to wait and get the master's permission."

Nan Yi didn't want to ask the Fourth Prince for help. She didn't go back to Yonghe Palace to wait for Yinzhen. Hearing that the court session had ended, she asked Yiren to make another trip to see Li Anda.

After waiting for a quarter of an hour, Li Dequan's youngest apprentice, Eunuch Xiao Luzi, came to summon her to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Only Xiao Luzi came. Nan Yi was worried about Yiren, so she asked, "Eunuch Lu, why hasn't my girl come back?"

Eunuch Lu chuckled and glanced curiously at Nan Yi. "Your girl is quite bold. She insisted on seeing Chief Eunuch Li, and it just so happened that several princes who came to discuss matters with the Emperor after court saw her. The Fourth Prince scolded her for being unruly and made her kneel in front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

So he bumped into his own grandfather.

Nan Yi rubbed his forehead, thinking how unlucky he was.

She touched her ear and went back to her residence, knowing she would inevitably face trouble.

In front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Yiren knelt with her back straight. When she saw her master arrive, she even winked mischievously.

Nan Yi's lips twitched. This girl, even after being punished to kneel, still wouldn't behave.

Upon entering the hall, Li Dequan was waiting at the door. Seeing her arrive, he pointed to the small room behind the curtain and said, "Please go inside and sit for a while. His Majesty is discussing matters with the princes."

Nan nodded, glanced around to make sure no one was there, and then leaned closer to Li Dequan to ask, "Anda, how is His Majesty's mood today?"

Fearing that Li Dequan might misunderstand her meaning, she quickly explained, "I have a small matter to ask the Emperor for permission to make. If the Emperor is in a bad mood, I will not ask."

"The Emperor has agreed to summon you. It's just a small matter, so it's alright to mention it. You should handle it carefully."

Oh, that means you're in a good mood.

"Thank you, Anda." Nan Yi smiled happily and retreated into the small room behind the curtain. The small room seemed to be a place for people to take a temporary afternoon rest. As soon as she sat down, a palace maid brought in tea and snacks.

The princes who were discussing matters with Emperor Kangxi today seemed rather strange, as if they were not paying attention.

The Fourth Prince's brow had been furrowed ever since he saw the maidservant beside Lady Tong appear in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

She promised him she wouldn't act recklessly and would know her limits, but she ended up causing trouble in front of the Emperor. What was she trying to do?

Thirteen winked at him, reminding him not to be distracted under the Emperor's watchful eye, but Yinzhen didn't receive his signal.

Seeing his two sons making a fuss, Kangxi raised his voice and asked, "Fourth Prince, what is your opinion on this matter?"

When Yinzhen heard his father call his name, he stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and replied in a generic, "Your Majesty, I will obey all your orders."

Kangxi grunted in agreement. "Then I entrust this matter to you. Within three days, you shall draft a plan and submit it to me."

"Your subject obeys the decree."

After discussing official business, Kangxi dismissed his sons.

Several people went to the outer room, and Thirteen sighed, "Fourth Brother, why did you take on this difficult task? Eighth Brother and the others are trying to avoid it like the plague. It's a thankless job. Didn't we agree yesterday that since Eighth Brother and the others started it, they should handle it?"

Yinzhen was completely bewildered. "What did I accept?"

"What? Didn't you just promise Father Emperor?" Thirteen looked at his fourth brother with a dark expression. "So you didn't hear me clearly."

Yinzhen turned around, feigning composure; the matter of Lady Tong had just distracted him.

That expression clearly indicates acquiescence.

Thirteen was speechless, then suddenly slapped his forehead, "Fourth Brother, aren't you waiting for Sister-in-law Tong?"