"My lady, have you noticed that things in the manor are much more interesting than before?" Yiren said with a smile, adding that the situation was also much more complex than before.

The more wives and concubines a master has, the more troubles arise; and with more troubles, there's more drama.

Nan Yi never paid attention to these things, and she didn't argue with them; she didn't care what they did.

Yiren knew that her master didn't like to talk about these things, but it was still necessary to find out. So she said to her master in detail, "You didn't see it, but at the banquet, Nian was clearly trying to sow discord between you and the master, saying that you were not kind and that you were bullying the princesses below."

"Hmph," Nan Yi sneered, "I'm not a princess consort, why should I be kind to them?"

Yi Ren smiled faintly, "That's true, but you are, after all, a secondary consort, listed in the imperial genealogy, unlike those lowly concubines. Princess Wuya and Princess Liu are definitely on the side of Master Nian. They confronted you as soon as they met, and their words were full of attempts to put you down. Master Wen and Consort Qi are on the side of Consort Li, and seem to have a grudge against Master Nian. I heard that Consort Wu, Consort Song, and Concubine An have sought protection from the consort. As for Consort Niohuru and Consort Geng, they are on good terms with each other. I haven't heard of Consort Li Jia siding with either side."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "Your Majesty, you are not involved with any of them. Under normal circumstances, the situation in the backyard is not favorable to you. However, from another perspective, by keeping to yourself and with the Master's favoritism, you do not get involved with them. In other words, you have never been involved. If you are not involved, then there is no question of winning or losing, good or bad."

"Your analysis is quite good. Yiren, it's such a waste that you're a maid. You've never even had a chance to use your talents since you've been with me." Nan Yi patted Yiren's shoulder, his eyes filled with regret.

Yiren chuckled, "My lady, what I'm doing is nothing. Our household is nothing compared to what you see in the palace. The struggles there are much fiercer."

"Let them fight for what they want. We should just live our own lives. By the way, are there any red beans in the kitchen?"

Yiren shook her head. "This servant will go and ask."

Nan Yi didn't want to get involved in the disputes in the backyard, but things couldn't always go as planned. Not to mention, the Nara clan and the Nian clan had always been extremely wary of her.

Her feud with Lady Nian also prevented her from avoiding the turmoil in the mansion. She didn't seek trouble, but trouble came knocking on her door with the visit of Princess Li Jia.

Before lunch, Yiren reported, "Your Majesty, Princess Li Jia has arrived, and she has brought Master An with her. Would you like to see her?"

"This is strange. I don't associate with people from the backyard, and she knows that. Why is she visiting me?"

Everyone in the backyard knows she's cold and aloof; anyone with a modicum of sense wouldn't go looking for trouble.

Yiren was also puzzled. "Master, why don't you meet her and see what her purpose is?"

The master always avoids the other masters in the back courtyard, which is equivalent to cutting off all sources of information in the courtyard. If other masters plot against the master, how can the master avoid them?

Yiren hopes that the master can befriend one or two of the concubines and exchange information with them. In addition, it would be good for the master to have someone to talk to.

Their mistress is too much of a homebody. She stays cooped up all day and can stay in the courtyard for three to five months at a time. If she wants to play, she sneaks out of the mansion, which always makes the master angry.

"Please let them in. I'll be in a bit," Nan Yi said after a moment's thought. Last night, Yiren had mentioned that An Lan was from the Nara clan. What was she planning—testing the waters or picking a fight...?

Yiren went to invite someone, and Nanbu stepped into the hall and sat down at the head of the table.

Li Jia and An Lan gracefully entered the room, bowing respectfully and saying, "Greetings, Sister Tong."

Nan raised her hand and said with a smile, "No need to be so polite, get up and sit down." She then turned her head and instructed Yiren, "Go to the small kitchen and see if Granny Zhao's red bean cakes are ready. If they are, bring some for the two younger sisters to try."

"Yes, this servant will take her leave."

Li Jia immediately smiled, "I've heard that the pastries in Sister Tong's yard are especially delicious. You're in for a treat today, little sister."

Nan Yi smiled faintly, "It's not as good as you say, it's just a bit unique. If you like it, sister, you might as well eat more."

“Okay, then I won’t be polite,” Li Jia said happily.

Nan Yi treated them to a polite meal, serving tea and snacks. Li Jia Shi loved the pastries made by Zhao Mama.

Since An Lan entered, she had been mainly focused on Li Jiashi, acting as if she were just an accessory. She didn't say much, and if her eyes hadn't been wandering around, Nan Yi would probably have really thought that they had just come to visit.

"I wonder why Sister Li Jia has come to see me?" Nan Yi asked with a smile.

"Oh, is that so? I wonder if Sister Tong still remembers the Hundred Flowers and Butterflies dress that she gave me before?" Li Jia asked a little shyly. "I really liked that dress. A few days ago, the servants accidentally tore a few threads off the collar. The dress is still new, and I like it so much that I don't want to throw it away. Because the embroidery is so special, I wanted to ask Sister Tong if you could ask the person who made the dress to repair it for you."

"I thought it was something serious." Nan waved her hand. "These clothes are a few years old and must be worn out. Here's what I'll do: in a few days, I'll send you a new set of the most fashionable clothes as a greeting gift between sisters who haven't seen each other in a long time."

"This, this is too much trouble," Li Jia said, blushing as she declined. "It would be shameless of me to accept your gift for no reason. I didn't even congratulate you on your recovery. Now you come to my door and offer me food and gifts. I'm so embarrassed."

Nan Yi said, "Isn't your visit the best gift?"

Li Jia still felt that she had been rash and impolite today, "This..."

Nan Yi generously said, "What's with all this and that? You're not just anyone. Besides, I have so many clothes, dozens of outfits for all four seasons, I can't possibly wear them all. I don't need one or two more. Just take them."

She deliberately exaggerated, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of jealousy in An Lan's eyes below her, and a smile curled at the corner of her lips.

She knew she shouldn't make herself a target of hatred, but An Lan was too composed, clearly having other thoughts in mind.

Nan Yi was impatient with them constantly spouting empty platitudes.

Having already drawn their hatred and used provocation, Li Jia and An Lan left after sitting for about half an hour.

A few days later, Xiao Shunzi went to the other courtyard and brought back the new dress that Qingfeng had made for her.

Nan Yi selected a winter dress with snow-covered red plum blossoms and gave it to Li Jia.

For a whole month, life was uneventful, and Nan Yi almost thought everything was fine. When the weather got cold, she didn't like to go out, and just ate and slept. Yinzhen often came to Lan Courtyard to keep her company.

Emperor Kangxi ordered him to reflect on his actions, and the Fourth Prince spent more time in his residence. He actually put aside his official duties and spent his days drinking tea and reading books, acting like a leisurely prince.

Until that day, she heard from Yiren that Li Jia had miscarried. Her two-month pregnancy was suddenly gone without any prior warning.

The imperial physician diagnosed that Li Jia's miscarriage was caused by contact with something she shouldn't have come into contact with.

Nan Yi was shocked upon hearing this, and then felt saddened. This was the prince's harem; if one was not careful, one could be plotted against.