The Ninth Prince, feeling dejected, walked out of the Fourth Prince's residence with the Eighth Prince in a disheveled state. As the two brothers stepped out of the gate, the Ninth Prince said, "Eighth Brother, didn't you say that Nan Yi would be fine? Her condition seems to be getting worse."

The Eighth Prince never expected such a turn of events, which resulted in her being locked up and taken to the Forbidden Garden.

"It's my fault, brother," the Eighth Prince murmured guiltily. "I've made a terrible mistake."

He walked down the steps with a desolate air, heading towards his own residence, without mentioning a word about seeking an antidote for Nan Yi.

The Eighth Prince asked Consort Liang's personal maid and learned what had happened that day. He also learned what poison Nan Yi had been poisoned with, but he could not ask Consort Liang for the antidote.

This time, it was just a small warning; next time, it could be her life. He couldn't afford to gamble with that.

Back in the main courtyard, Yinzhen sat in the hall, watching the maids and servants come and go. In a daze, he didn't even know where he was.

The vast mansion, without her, is so desolate.

Su Peisheng entered the hall. "Your Highness, Lady Yi, Xiao Shunzi, Li Yi, and Li Er are kneeling outside. What do you think?"

Yinzhen frowned, glancing at the gloomy sky outside. The Forbidden Garden—could anyone who went in ever come out again?

At least, since the time of the imperial ancestor, no one who was imprisoned there has ever seen the light of day again.

Yi'er, he shouldn't have left.

"Let them kneel. Hand Li Yi and Li Er over to Quanfu. They know Thirteen well. They should follow Master Tong's example from the past."

As night fell, the moon hid behind thick clouds, and the Prince Yong's Mansion in the darkness was exceptionally quiet and still.

Yiren and Xiaoshunzi knelt with straight backs. While their master was making a scene in the garden during the day, Xiaoshunzi was outside the mansion buying donkey meat sandwiches for his master, and Yiren was helping Granny Zhao make red bean cakes.

“It’s my fault,” Yiren said in a deep voice.

"Hmm? Oh, how can I blame you?" Xiao Shunzi moved closer to Yiren. "If we're going to investigate, the person most to blame is in the palace. Master was framed and ended up in this situation."

He sighed softly, "I just don't understand why a good master would treat his master this way. Logically speaking, they have no connection whatsoever, it doesn't make sense."

Yiren fiddled with the dress on her knees, a vague understanding dawning on her mind.

But what do those shady, secret thoughts have to do with the master? From beginning to end, the master has always treated them as friends.

The mistress was also at fault; she shouldn't have been born with that kind of personality.

It turns out that being admired by someone is also a mistake.

“Our master is such a good person. He is beautiful and kind. He never makes things difficult for anyone. But good people don’t always have good lives,” Xiao Shunzi said resentfully.

Yiren wholeheartedly agreed. Her mistress had been detained in the Forbidden Garden by the Emperor. Was that a place fit for human beings? She was currently delirious and wondered if she had been bullied, if she had gone hungry, and who would keep watch over her at night.

She couldn't think about it; if she did, she would get anxious and upset.

He took a few deep breaths. "Shunzi, I want to go to the Forbidden Garden to take care of Master. Do you think Master will agree?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Shunzi exclaimed, "Are you crazy? What kind of place is the Forbidden Garden? It's the most remote part of the palace. Even the Cold Palace is more lively there. It's a forgotten corner. If you go there, do you expect to come out?"

Yiren looked up and around. Her master had been granted the title of Prince Yong of the First Rank. Even the servants in the mansion were proud and felt superior to others.

The Gao family mansion had a secluded courtyard, but she saw that living here meant the sky was still the same, and it wasn't necessarily bluer than elsewhere.

Looking back on her days in Tongzhou, she recalled that there were only a few rooms in the house, and the master would tidy them up, but she felt very comfortable living there.

“I’m worried about my mistress. She’s so absent-minded and lazy. She can’t even dress properly. Without me by her side, she can’t even get food to eat. I know she has money, but in the Forbidden City, money can’t buy anything.”

"You're worrying too much. The Emperor has always treated Consort Tong differently. He won't let her go hungry. At most... sigh, what you've said has made me anxious."

Xiao Shunzi couldn't kneel any longer. He turned around, facing Yiren, and continued with a worried expression, "There's still the Imperial Concubine in the palace. She will definitely secretly send someone to take care of things."

“But I don’t trust anyone,” Yiren insisted. “Others are just others, they would never be as calculating as we are for our master.”

"That's true. Those nobles know best how to avoid trouble. If their master falls on hard times, I'll be thanking my lucky stars if they don't kick him while he's down."

Although he didn't know if the master would agree, Xiao Shunzi said to Yiren, "If you go, I will definitely go with you. Two girls can't do any rough work. I've been serving Master Tong for so many years. I don't think I can serve anyone else. Although the Forbidden Garden is deserted, the two of us will keep the master company and won't be lonely."

Yiren didn't object to him following along. After enjoying so many good years with his master, enduring some hardship would be a way of repaying his master's kindness.

For the two of them to have this plan, someone else needs to make it happen.

Upon receiving the news, Consort Tong of Jingren Palace was so shocked that she accidentally broke the teacup in her hand.

"Change your clothes and quickly come with me to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to request an audience with the Emperor." Consort Tong's first thought was to plead with Emperor Kangxi.

Lijuan hurriedly advised, "You mustn't, Your Highness. Consort Tong has offended the Emperor in some unknown way. The situation is unclear. If you go rashly, you might displease the Emperor."

"Regardless of the inside story, the Forbidden Garden is a desolate place; how could she stay there?" Consort Tong refused to listen to advice.

Yilan (Nan Yi) has always been extremely filial to her because of a joke she made years ago. Whenever she goes to the palace to pay her respects, she always makes sure to kowtow to her. Even if she doesn't go to the palace, she can often receive things from outside the palace for her, such as food and daily necessities. Although the gifts are small, the sentiment is deep.

Even Consort De, seeing this, felt envious.

This is also one of the reasons why Consort De dislikes Yilan. As her daughter-in-law, Yilan's constant attempts to please the Imperial Consort are a slap in the face to Consort De.

Lijuan was extremely anxious. She had seen how filial Master Tong was to the Empress, but as the Empress's maid, her primary concern was the Empress's well-being.

"Your Highness, please think it over." Lijuan followed behind Consort Tong. "How about this, I have an idea. Why don't you first try to find out what the Emperor thinks? If the Emperor is extremely angry, you can back down and say that you pity Consort Tong and, considering her past filial piety, ask that you send two people in to serve her."

Consort Tong listened to this and pondered for a moment before saying, "I will consider it."

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Li Dequan reported to Emperor Kangxi, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine is requesting an audience outside the hall."

"Hmm, another one pleading for mercy." Kangxi put down the memorial in his hand, picked up another one to continue reviewing, and said, "My decree has been issued and will not be changed. Please send her back."

Consort Tong was rejected without even seeing the Emperor, which suggests the situation is more serious than she imagined.

She immediately knelt on the ground. "Eunuch Li, please help me tell His Majesty that I have no other request but that His Majesty grant me permission to send two people into the Forbidden Garden, so that I may at least have a hot meal."

"Well..." Li Dequan thought for a moment and decided that the girl had been very filial to him, so he might as well give her a little something.

Li Dequan relayed Consort Tong's request to the Emperor.

When Kangxi recalled that his maid was ill, he seemed to remember something, and after a moment's thought, he nodded in agreement.

Consort Tong received confirmation and intended to immediately inform the Fourth Prince's residence, but the palace gates were already locked, so she could only wait until tomorrow.