After Wanqing's departure, Nan Yi was quite depressed for a while. Several months later, one day, Yinzhen said he would take her to the palace to pay her respects to Consort Tong.

The next morning, Yinzhen escorted her to the palace. Nan Yi, along with Yiren, was led to Jingren Palace by Xiao Luzi, Li Dequan's apprentice.

Halfway there, the unfamiliar palace road made Nan Yi wonder, "Eunuch Lu, this doesn't seem to be the way to Jingren Palace."

Xiao Luzi lowered his eyes and said, "Replying to Consort, His Majesty has decreed that we will go to Jingren Palace later, but before that, please go to Songyanzhai."

Nan Yi was slightly taken aback. "Songyanzhai, what place is that?"

Xiao Luzi smiled respectfully and politely, saying, "You'll know when the concubine arrives."

Still keeping everyone in suspense, Nan glanced at Yiren. Yiren had worked in the Imperial Household Department; she should know something.

To everyone's surprise, Yiren shook her head slightly.

There are still places in the palace that no one knows about, making them so mysterious. I wonder what Old Master Kang is up to.

Xiao Luzi interrupted her thoughts, "Consort, let's go."

Xiao Lu refused to reveal anything, and Nan remained silent.

After turning two palace paths, the palace became increasingly deserted. As they slowly passed through a palace gate, a eunuch approached them, carrying a food box. Upon seeing them, he stepped aside.

However, no one paid any attention to the eunuch. As Xiao Luzi led the way, the eunuch quickly slipped a crumpled piece of paper into Nan Yi's hand as she passed by.

Nan Yi and Yi Ren were both startled. Before she could see the eunuch's face clearly, he had already turned and left.

Nan Yi's lips twitched slightly, and Yi Ren shook her head almost imperceptibly, taking Nan Yi's arm as they continued walking.

Xiao Luzi led her to a plum grove. It was August or September, and the plum grove was beautiful, but she couldn't appreciate it.

“Consort, we have arrived. This servant will be waiting outside the door. Please follow this path straight ahead and you will see the master here. This servant will take his leave.”

Xiao Luzi bowed and left.

"Hey, you still haven't said who wants to see..." Before Nan Yi could finish his question, Xiao Luzi scurried away faster than a rabbit.

Yiren said, "Master, quickly look at what's written on this piece of paper!"

"Oh, I almost forgot if you hadn't mentioned it." Nan Yi unfolded the paper ball, which contained only four words, but they made Nan Yi and Yi Ren's expressions change instantly.

"Be careful on this trip. What do you mean? Could it be that someone wants to harm me?" Nan Yi asked, frowning.

Yiren took the crumpled paper from her master's hand, threw it directly into her mouth, and swallowed it without chewing.

"Yiren, what are you doing?"

Yiren rubbed her neck and said softly, "My lady, this is the palace. Although we don't know who is helping us, we must be careful in everything we do."

Nan Yi sighed softly. As a concubine of a prince, the women in the manor were already enough of a headache for her. She didn't want to get involved in palace intrigues anymore.

"Let's go and see who this mysterious person is." Nan Yi stepped into the path.

At the end of the plum grove, a palace maid was already waiting for them. The maid curtsied and said, "This servant greets Consort Consort. May Consort Consort be blessed."

"Who are you?"

The palace maid smiled and said, "I am Hanyan, a palace maid by Consort Liang's side. The concubine once did the Eighth Prince a great favor, and Her Highness has never had the opportunity to thank her in person. Therefore, when the concubine came to the palace this time, my lady specially invited you to meet her."

"Consort Liang?" Nan Yi was slightly surprised. "It is an honor for Yilan to be summoned by Her Highness. Please lead the way."

Han Yan gestured, "This way, please, Consort."

Nan Yi and Yi Ren exchanged a glance, both harboring great doubts in their hearts, unable to understand why Consort Liang would make things difficult for her.

The two had never met before. She had saved the Eighth Prince, and as the Eighth Prince's mother, instead of being grateful, she made things difficult for her, repaying kindness with enmity. This really doesn't make sense.

Han Yan led Nan Yi into Songyanzhai. She gestured for Nan Yi to wait while she went in first to announce their arrival.

Through several layers of curtains, a soft voice could be heard from inside the room, "Your Majesty, Consort Tong has arrived."

"Yes, please let her in."

Nan Yi's ears twitched slightly. This Consort Liang of Old Master Kang did indeed have a pleasant voice, low and soft, very melodious.

Han Yan appeared at the door. "Consort, Her Majesty requests your presence."

As soon as Nan entered the room, she thought she would see Consort Liang herself as the inner curtain was lifted, but to her surprise, a screen painted with the Three Friends of Winter stood between the two of them.

A slender figure could be vaguely seen sitting sideways on the couch, a round fan gently waving in her hand, her head turning slightly, and the hair ornaments swaying in her hair, creating a graceful silhouette.

"Yilan greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be blessed with longevity and good health."

"Ms. Tong, are you wondering why I summoned you?" Consort Liang asked with a light smile.

Nan Yi spoke frankly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, Yilan is indeed curious, and hopes Your Majesty can enlighten her."

"Hehe~" Consort Liang chuckled softly and said gently, "He is indeed honest, no wonder he likes him."

"Alas, what a pity, what should I do?" Consort Liang sighed softly. She put down the fan in her hand, as if she had a thousand troubles in her heart. There was no sound behind the screen for a long time.

Nan Yi became more and more confused as she listened, completely bewildered. Who liked her? And what had caused Consort Liang any trouble?

After a long while, Consort Liang continued, "I heard that you have a good personal relationship with the Eighth Prince and the Ninth Prince. A few days ago, Jinzhi came to the palace to pay her respects. I saw that she was full of worry and her brows were furrowed with sorrow. After asking her in detail, I heard a strange story."

Nan Yi didn't ask what happened. At the Ninth Prince's birthday banquet, the Eighth Prince's wife suddenly attacked her. She was also curious about what she had done to offend the Eighth Prince's wife, who kept calling her a "bitch".

If Consort Liang is willing to speak, she doesn't need to bring it up herself; she will speak on her own when she wants to.

"The Tong family?"

"Yilan is here."

Consort Liang spoke gently, "What do you think of the Eighth Prince?"

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