Back at the Orchid Courtyard, after washing and dressing, Yiren asked Nanyi if he wanted to meet the servants in the courtyard.

Nan shook her head. The Fourth Master had assigned them, unlike Yiren and the others. Although they were assigned to serve her, the real master behind them was the Fourth Master, not her. There was a layer between them, and they weren't on her side.

That's good, it saves a lot of trouble.

"Tell them that Xiao Shunzi will be in charge of things in the courtyard, you will be in charge of things inside the house, and you will be responsible for all personal matters. Although it will be a bit tiring, I only trust you. If you can't spare the time, let Huan'er help you with some of the work."

Yiren agreed, "This servant obeys."

Nan thought for a moment and then said, "Besides, they are, after all, servants of the Lan Courtyard. Serving a master like me, the future is uncertain. Let's be polite first and then firm. You can give them some money and cloth as a reward. If you find any disloyalty, kick them out."

"This servant understands. What about the banquet in the main courtyard today?"

"Of course I'll go. My father has asked me to come back, and it would be a shame not to." Nan Yihuan said casually.

Seeing that it was getting late and her mistress was about to leave, Yiren began to prepare, saying, "This servant will comb your hair."

“Hmm.” Nan Yi sat down in front of the dressing table, picked up a jade hairpin from the table, and suddenly said, “Mrs. Nian has always liked clothes in light red, silver red, and crimson, and even Mrs. Li likes to wear such clothes. I won’t. Let’s change to other colors.”

After thinking for a moment, Yiren changed Nan Yi into a light blue cheongsam.

Whether it was Qingfeng or her, they inexplicably felt that their master was particularly suited to wearing the color of green water and sky. Normally, wearing green would inevitably make one look vulgar, but when their master wore it, it always gave off an otherworldly feeling.

After everything was arranged, the master and servant appeared at the table, and the amazement and delight in the eyes of the Fourth Master pleased her.

Even when it was a banquet, there were more than a dozen wives and concubines of Yinzhen, and one table was not enough to seat them. However, at Yinzhen's table, there were people sitting on both sides of him, and the others were the ones who were usually favored.

She looked at the remaining seat and realized it was directly opposite the Nian family's seat.

Yinzhen nodded to her, gesturing for her to sit down.

Nan Yi turned and went to a table next to her. Yinzhen's brow twitched. Just as he was about to speak, Xiao Lijia spoke up, "Sister Tong, there's a seat here for my sister. Come over quickly."

Qingyin tugged at Xiao Lijia and whispered, "Are you stupid? She's a concubine, how could she possibly sit at the same table as us?"

"Sister doesn't care about these things at all," she replied with a smile. Little Li Jia knew in her heart that it didn't matter where she sat. Sister Tong was valued by the master, so even if she sat in the lowest position, the master would still value her.

Nan Yi did not refuse and sat down next to Xiao Lijia. Among the wives and concubines in the Fourth Master's backyard, Xiao Lijia was quite likable. She was also the kind of person who did not compete or fight.

The two had little interaction, but Nan found her pleasing to the eye.

She genuinely believed that if all of the Fourth Prince's concubines were like Lady Li, then the Fourth Prince's harem would surely be a harmonious place.

"Sister Tong, is the manor fun? But you've been staying here for too long. I'm really missing you."

After Xiao Lijia and Nan Yi sat down, they pulled her aside and whispered something to her.

Nan Yi chuckled, "You're just trying to comfort me. He avoids me like the plague, he's practically telling everyone I'm a crazy woman."

“Master was worried about Sister Tong, you’ve wronged him.” Little Li Jia hurriedly defended the Fourth Master. She grasped Nan Yi’s hand, which was on the table, and said, “Last time when Sister Tong came back, Master heard that Sister Tong wanted to eat red bean porridge, so he came to my sister’s courtyard before dawn to ask for red beans. Even I can see how much Master cares for Sister Tong. It’s good that Sister Tong is back in the mansion. It’s more lively when the sisters are together.”

Nan Yi was at a loss for words upon hearing this. Such magnanimity as Xiao Li Jia was not something that ordinary people could do.

When Yinzhen announced the start of the banquet, everyone picked up their chopsticks. At Nan Yi's table, besides Qingyin and Xiao Lijia, there were two other concubines whom she had never seen before, presumably newly arrived in the household.

"This must be Sister Tong. Seeing is believing. Sister Tong is truly exceptional and deserves to be the most beautiful woman in the manor."

The first person, wasn't it Lady Nian who was the first in the manor? She was someone who lived on the estate, so how could it be her turn?

“Yes, Sister Nian often mentions Sister Tong, praising her so much. I admire her very much too. If we’re talking about our household, Sister Nian is the one who wins the master’s heart the most. But Sister Nian always feels that she can’t compare to Sister Tong.” Another princess added.

Nan glanced at the two of them, then turned his gaze to Xiao Lijia with a hint of suspicion. A trace of embarrassment flashed across Xiao Lijia's face.

"Sister Tong doesn't know the two younger sisters yet. They entered the manor two years ago. The one on the left is Princess Wuya, and the one on the right is Princess Liu."

"Oh, Princess." Nan Yi nodded almost imperceptibly, then ignored them and said to Xiao Lijia, "Don't talk while eating, let's eat."

Her dismissive attitude made Wuya Gege and Liu Gege look rather embarrassed.

Lady Li Jia also disapproved of the two. As soon as Wuya Gege and Liu Gege entered the mansion, they fawned over Consort Nian and followed her every word. With Consort Nian's support, they were quite arrogant.

She knew Consort Tong's personality quite well; she was easily swayed by gentleness but not by force. Others might not know, but she had seen it clearly. The Prince cherished Consort Tong the most, and even though she had been away from the manor for two years, he still missed her dearly.

The fact that Lady Wuya and Lady Liu dared to speak sarcastically and make veiled accusations against Consort Tong was simply asking for trouble.

She lowered her eyes and ate her meal quietly.

Qingyin, sitting on the table, didn't have a strong presence in the mansion, unlike Anlan, who entered the mansion with her and sought a way out by siding with the primary wife.

Having been rebuffed by Wuya and Liu, she didn't want to displease Consort Tong and suffer the consequences, so she ate her rice with her head down.

There was some noise at the other tables, and Yinzhen's table was filled with laughter. Only Nan Yi's table was unusually quiet, with only the sound of chopsticks clinking against bowls and plates.

Lady Nian glanced at them and laughed, saying, "Princess Wuya and Princess Liu are usually so lively, but why do they become like mice seeing a cat when they see Sister Tong? They're so docile." She shook her head as if sighing, then chuckled.

“Lively?” Li scoffed. “I don’t think so. She’s clearly noisy, always making a racket and having no manners.”

Li Shi greatly disliked Wu Ya Shi and Liu Shi's fawning over Nian Shi, who was always trying to curry favor with her. How could Nian Shi allow them to share her favor?

I didn't even see the master give them a second glance.

At the same table, Wen put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and said, "Princess Wuya really loves to visit other people's homes."

"If you're bored, why don't you help the Fujin with household chores?" Yinzhen's words silenced them all.

After the family banquet ended, Nan Yi and Yi Ren returned to Lan Yuan. Nan Ren rubbed his stomach and said he was hungry, "The food is all cold. Although the banquet was nice, it was all big fish and meat. It's so greasy."

Yiren, however, was thinking about something else. She stood aside with the other servants, watching every move that took place at the banquet.