The best years of Eighth Master's life had passed, and his disappointment began from then on.

Nan wanted to step forward and comfort her, but she didn't know what to say. Comforting people was her worst skill.

Yiren said, "Master, it's Eighth Prince."

"Yes, I know." She sighed softly to herself. "Let's go." She turned to leave with Yiren.

"Nan Yi?" The Eighth Prince turned around unexpectedly and caught sight of the figure he sometimes thought of in his midnight dreams.

He put down the wine bottle in his hand, leaned on the artificial hill to stand up, and said, "You come and celebrate your ninth sister-in-law's birthday."

The master and servant bowed and greeted, "Greetings, Eighth Master."

No need for formalities.

The lady-in-waiting beside Nan Yichao said, "Go to the concubine's place first, I'll be there in a bit."

Yiren gave a blessing and withdrew.

Nan Yi looked at the Eighth Prince and asked with a smile, "Why are you hiding here drinking? It's so hot up ahead..." He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence. The commotion up ahead was a kind of irony to him, for someone as proud as him.

Nan Yi secretly regretted that she was so brainless and had such a clumsy tongue.

Just say you're not good at comforting people.

Since they had already called her over, she couldn't just leave so rudely. Nan glanced at the wine bottle at the Eighth Prince's feet and teased, "I've seen you drink alone every time I've seen you. That's not a good habit. Although it's elegant, it makes you seem a bit too lonely."

The Eighth Prince chuckled, "How about Nan Yi joins me for a drink?"

Nan shook her head. "No, I'm currently undergoing treatment, and the doctor told me to abstain from alcohol. I'm sorry." She walked over and sat down next to him, tossed the bottle into the water, and said with a smile, "How about I keep you company and have a chat?"

Even in such a state of disappointment, he remained calm and composed, a demeanor that filled her with admiration.

Nan Yi couldn't bear to see such a gentleman meet a tragic end.

However, that was their destined fate.

The Eighth Prince sat down as well, looked at her profile, his fingertips twitched, and he said, "Weren't you going to chat with me? Why aren't you saying anything?"

"I don't know what to say." Nan Yi picked up a pebble and threw it into the water. The water splashed and rippled, but soon the surface returned to calm.

After a moment of silence, Nan thought of her days in Tongzhou and said, "Do you know, I raise a lot of poultry on my estate in Tongzhou, and I plant grapevines by the courtyard wall. The grapes are plentiful today, and I even made some wine. The Emperor also drank some, and it tasted quite good. You can go and take a look sometime when you have time. Life on the estate is leisurely and comfortable. You eat and sleep, sleep and eat. It couldn't be more relaxing. That busybody A-Tang just had to take the Emperor there."

The Eighth Prince smiled slightly. "Ninth Brother is doing this for your own good. As a prince's wife, living in a separate residence is, in a sense, almost the same as being out of favor."

"I don't care about that," Nan Yi said irritably. After thinking for a moment, she couldn't help but say, "Eighth Master, have you ever thought about living a different way of life, like... well, what's that saying in the book, 'Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, leisurely gazing at the southern mountains'?"

The Eighth Prince was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then chuckled. He couldn't imagine leaving the court and living a life of leisure, free from the need to scheme and plot.

From the moment he became aware of things, he had the idea of ​​becoming the ruler of the world and being a superior person.

"Look at what nonsense I'm talking about. Only someone as unambitious as me would want to spend my days eating and sleeping."

Nan Yi smiled faintly, "Eighth Master, please don't mind."

The Eighth Prince shook his head and stood up, putting his hands behind his back and staring into the distance.

"No, it's that we're too attached to worldly affairs. Being born into royalty, we carry too much burden. A person's life is only a short hundred years, yet we just can't let go of it."

“Oh, Eighth Master, you understand now. These words are quite profound.” Nan Yi raised an eyebrow, clapped his hands, and stood up. “Since Eighth Master has come to his senses, no matter what the outcome, Eighth Master, you must take good care of yourself. I think you shouldn’t drink this wine; cold wine is bad for your health.”

She jumped off the rocks. "I heard Wanqing isn't feeling well, so I'd like to go see her. I won't be able to keep you company."

The Eighth Prince slightly raised his hand, a hint of reluctance in his eyes. It had been a long time since he had spoken to her like this; each meeting was brief and hurried.

He withdrew his hand, his expression gloomy and disappointed. He reached to the side but found nothing. Remembering Nan Yi's words, he couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Behind him, Nan Yi hadn't taken more than a few steps when the Eighth Prince's wife blocked her way, looking extremely angry. She raised her hand and slapped Nan Yi hard across the face.

*Smack!*

The Eighth Prince's wife cursed fiercely, "Shameless slut!" She was furious. This vixen, she had regarded her as her savior and treated her, a mere concubine, with utmost respect. She never expected that she would secretly seduce her master behind her back.

Nan Yi rubbed his face, glared fiercely at the Eighth Prince's wife, and said coldly, "Eighth Prince's wife, if you don't give a reason for this slap today, don't blame me for being impolite to you."

Just because Yinzhen could hit her doesn't mean other women would dare to lay a hand on her. Whatever her status as a principal wife or concubine, bah, she's not someone to be trifled with.

"Madam, what are you doing?" Eighth Prince heard the noise and rushed over.

The Eighth Prince's wife was even angrier at the Eighth Prince. What a good husband she was! She raised her hand to hit him again, but Nan Yi grabbed her and slapped her back.

*Smack!*

"Nan Yi, no!" But it was too late. Eighth Prince rushed over and helped Eighth Princess up.

The Eighth Princess Consort touched her face, looked up at Nan Yi in astonishment, her eyes filled with malice, "You, you dare to lay a hand on me."

Nan Yi snorted coldly and declared domineeringly, "What do I have to be afraid of? You hit me for no reason, Eighth Princess Consort. I am not some nobody."

The Eighth Princess gritted her teeth and sneered, "A mere concubine dares to talk about status in front of me, how utterly ridiculous..."

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!