After the two parted, Nan sat in the courtyard, letting the cold wind blow on her. She needed to clear her head. From Yin Tang's tone, it seemed that he admired his primary wife.

She suddenly calmed down and realized how stupid she had been to try to plead for the heartbroken Wanqing.

Just because she's Wanqing's friend, does that give her the right to interfere in A-Tang's affairs? Wanqing is pitiful, but what wrong has A-Tang's primary wife done?

The problem has always been this era.

Nan Yi felt ashamed of her own selfishness. She, an outsider, knew how to compete with the Nala and Nian clans, let alone the native girls.

She thought it best to find another way to comfort Wanqing.

"Fourth Sister-in-law, why don't you go back inside? It's so cold in the yard." Thirteen appeared behind Nan Yi like a ghost.

Without her invitation, Thirteen lifted her robe and sat down automatically.

Nan glanced at him and laughed, "Finally decided to come out. It must be colder behind the courtyard wall."

Thirteen thought she had hidden herself well, but as soon as she caught up, she noticed. Fortunately, she had sent Li Yi and Li Er outside the Huike Residence, otherwise, she would have been in a difficult situation.

Thirteen's lips twitched, but his face remained calm. If Sister Tong and Ninth Sister didn't feel embarrassed about their secret rendezvous, he certainly wouldn't.

"It is quite cold, so I hope that Fourth Sister-in-law will be more careful in the future and not forget her place," Thirteen reminded her in a cold tone.

He felt sorry for his fourth brother. He had always seen how much the fourth master cared for Tong Xiaosao, but Tong Xiaosao was seeing the ninth brother behind his back. She was an unfaithful woman, and it would be too lenient for the fourth brother to divorce her.

Nan Yi chuckled lightly, her voice cold and sarcastic, "I don't need the Thirteenth Prince to remind me of my identity; I already know it by heart. But the Thirteenth Prince has forgotten his own identity. A prince, not only hiding to eavesdrop, but also scheming against his own brother. People often praise the Thirteenth Prince for being upright and a gentleman of integrity, but it turns out he's just all talk."

Thirteen stood up abruptly, glaring angrily, "What do you mean by that? When have I ever schemed against my own brother? Don't make trouble out of nothing and wrong me for no reason."

"Are you angry?" Nan Yi lazily got up, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he sneered lightly, "Although I don't have the reputation of the Thirteenth Master, I am fair in my actions. If you respect me, I will repay you tenfold. I will settle grievances and avenge wrongs. Unlike the Thirteenth Master, who knew that Xu Huaiyu was not suitable, yet still introduced him to A-Tang. What was his intention?"

Xu Huaiyu, yes, he was wrong. It was Fourth Brother and Sister-in-law Tong who discovered it.

Tong Xiaosao had been kind to Fourth Brother and him, and they had a harmonious relationship in the past. Out of consideration for their past friendship, he only gave her a private warning and never intended to tell Fourth Brother.

But looking at Sister-in-law Tong, she didn't seem to repent. She kept calling him "A-Tang" so intimately, which belittled Fourth Brother.

Thirteen was indignant on behalf of Fourth Brother, so she rebuked him in an even harsher tone, "Whether Xu Huaiyu is right or wrong is for men to worry about. As a woman of the inner quarters, you should abide by your duties as a woman. Fourth Brother dotes on Fourth Sister-in-law, but Fourth Sister-in-law does not think of repaying him. Instead, she hurts Fourth Brother's feelings behind his back. Doesn't she feel guilty?"

"Why would I feel guilty?" Nan Yi said calmly.

She sighed softly, glancing sideways at Thirteen, "Thirteenth Master is angry that I had private contact with Ah Tang, and he thinks I cheated on your fourth brother. I'm standing up for your fourth brother."

Nan Yi took two steps forward, her eyes clear and untainted, her tone frank. "Do you know that I have known them for a long time, even longer than I knew the Thirteenth Prince? I am friends with them and treat them sincerely. Yet in the Thirteenth Prince's eyes, I am seen as unfaithful. Consort De has taught us well, and all the brothers are equally narrow-minded."

Thirteen's mother, Consort Zhangjia, passed away early. Thirteen had been following behind Fourth Prince for many years. Because of her eldest son, Consort De inevitably took care of Thirteen. It is said that Consort De's teachings were correct.

"Friends?" Thirteen was so angry that his head was practically steaming. He retorted angrily, "If we're just friends, why all this fuss? Can't you come up with a more plausible lie?"

He saw with his own eyes Ninth Brother holding Tong Xiaosao's hand, the two of them deeply in love. He was so ashamed to even say it out loud. In broad daylight, if others saw them, not to mention how heartbroken Fourth Brother would be, what good would it do for Ninth Brother and her?

"Hmph, pulling?" Nan Yi sneered, her body shifting slightly as she unexpectedly grabbed Thirteen's hand. She smiled mockingly, "Is that so? I've grabbed your hand too. What are you going to do, Thirteen? How can you face your fourth brother?"

She gripped Thirteen's hand tightly and even shook it playfully, almost like she was being affectionate.

Suddenly, a soft mass appeared in his palm. Thirteen's face turned bright red. He abruptly shook off Nan Yi's hand and retreated rapidly. He felt as if something terrible had touched his hand, and it was on fire. He rubbed his hand on his robe, but the more he rubbed, the more uncomfortable he felt.

The fingers are connected to the heart; following the pulse, they reach the tip of the heart, like something scratching at the heart, making Thirteen extremely uneasy.

His face flushed red and then pale, a mixture of shame and anger on his face.

Tong Xiaosao's sudden behavior can be described as shocking and extremely outrageous. How could a woman be so frivolous and dissolute?

This violates the virtues of womanhood.

Nan clapped her hands, smiled faintly, and sat back down at the table as if nothing had happened. "Go tell your fourth brother that whether Ah Tang and I are okay or not is uncertain, but you will definitely be in trouble."

Thirteen's face flushed red, then turned black, then red again. She wanted to scold him, but her mind went blank, and she couldn't think of anything to refute him.

Speechless, Thirteen could only leave in frustration.

She covered her lips and laughed so hard she bent over. It was so funny. If she explained it to him, Thirteen might understand, but she would definitely give him a lecture.

This kid is most on his fourth brother's side.

However, if we take a different approach, Thirteen has reservations and wouldn't want to get himself involved as well.

“Master, why are you even teasing the Thirteenth Prince? Please tone it down. It would be terrible if the Thirteenth Prince really misunderstood.” Yiren said as she walked out from behind the tree.

Nan Yi's smile faded slightly as she flicked the handkerchief in her hand. "Let them misunderstand. I have a clear conscience. Thirteen is taking the blame for his fourth brother. Fourth Uncle wronged me because of that woman. What's wrong with me teasing his brother?"

Yiren thought to herself, "My master has a clear conscience, but does Ninth Master have one? The way he looks at my master is even more intense than the way the master looks at his master. He looks completely infatuated."

Every gift given to the master was exquisite and luxurious; this sentiment was destined to flow away like spring water.

"Has it dispersed yet? If not, I'll go play a few more rounds," Nan asked.

Yiren replied, "No, Miss Xiao said we'll continue the battle after we have some tea and snacks."

Nan walked gracefully into the private room. "Hehe, she's getting married soon and says she wants to save up some dowry. Didn't you see we're putting on quite a show today?"

After the master and servant left, another figure appeared in the empty courtyard. It was Thirteen, who had returned. He had overheard what Tong Xiaosao and the maid had said.

The warmth of his fingers had vanished. Thirteen tapped his nose with the fan in his hand. Perhaps he had really misunderstood. Ninth Brother... and Sister-in-law Tong were just very good friends.