Nan Yi turned over and continued to sleep with slight dissatisfaction. After a while, he closed his eyes and found that he could not fall asleep, so he got up and dressed. Qingyun's lover had already heard the noise.

"My lord, you're up so early today," the lover greeted him cheerfully, pleased with his master.

“Yes, housekeeper, tomorrow the master will find you a good husband so you can be a nuisance,” Nan Yi retorted.

The mistress pursed her lips and giggled foolishly. Knowing that her mistress was shameless, her close attendants were also infected by her. "Okay, mistress, we servants are waiting."

Qingyun and Nanyi laughed heartily.

Nan Yichao Qingyun said, "Don't worry, you'll get a share too, and I'll find you men who will be devoted to you."

The two laughed and said, "Thank you, Master." The three of them laughed together. Perhaps because they had spent a lot of time with Nan Yi, they said that they were not like masters and servants, but like friends. They were also bold in their words. For this, Yinzhen had scolded her countless times, but she did not listen and continued to do as she pleased.

Nan Yi felt that it was perfectly normal for her to be kind to a few girls who were good to her, since she didn't have many friends or relatives.

Lan Yuan was well managed by Qiu Ma, who also helped her take care of her health. The cook, Zhao Mama, always fed her well, and she generously rewarded them with money. All the servants in the mansion envied her, but they couldn't get in and could only stare in envy.

"Alright, I'm going out today. I'll be back before he leaves, and I'll take Xiao Shunzi with me. Be careful."

Nan Yi looked herself over; thankfully, she wasn't ugly, but no one could tell who she was.

The lover exclaimed "Ah!" and frowned, looking somewhat helpless. "Going out again?"

“She hasn’t gone out since she was born,” Nan Yiming said, looking at her lover with a pitiful expression. The maids were watching her too closely, each one like a housekeeper.

"Then you must come back early, otherwise I won't be able to handle it," Qingyun relented, her heart softening.

"Okay, I'll bring you some good food when I get back, bye-bye," she said and ran off, leaving the two girls to smile helplessly.

West side courtyard of the main courtyard

Granny Liu handed a cup of tea to the Fujin (Prince Consort), but Lady Nara waved her hand, her brows furrowed and her face darkening. "Did the Master stay at Lan Courtyard last night?"

Granny Liu lowered her eyes and remained silent.

"How long has it been?" she asked angrily.

“Reporting to the Madam, since Lady Li gave birth to the little princess,” Granny Liu whispered.

She knew the primary wife was unhappy, but in such matters, it was always the master's fault for neglecting the primary wife.

“He only rested elsewhere for three days this month, two days here, and five days in the study. The rest of the time he was in the Orchid Courtyard. Madam Tong is quite formidable. This won’t do. I’m submitting my request to enter the palace.”

Nara suddenly felt irritated and her heart felt heavy. It seemed that she had no choice but to ask her mother to treat her.

"Master, is this alright? If the master finds out, I'm afraid it won't be good," Granny Liu advised worriedly.

Nara pursed her lips, picked up the jade ring from the dressing table, put it on her middle finger, paused for a moment, and said, "It's nothing, just having a heart-to-heart talk with Mother."

She wouldn't be foolish enough to point it out on purpose.

Granny Liu advised again, "Madam, actually, there will be a selection of concubines next year, and the mansion will probably need to bring in new women. At that time, there will be people to share the emperor's favor."

"Smack!" Lady Nara slammed her hand on the dressing table, interrupting Granny Liu's attempts to dissuade her. She ignored the nail guard on her little finger that had fallen to the floor. Dividing favors only made things worse; she was already surrounded by wolves, and now she was attracting tigers as well.

“However, what you said makes some sense,” she said calmly, but she was determined to enter the palace.

Nan Yi came out from the west gate and saw that Xiao Shunzi was still dressed as a eunuch. He was a little confused. This guy was so stupid. No wonder Yinzhen replaced him as his personal eunuch. But he didn't even know it.

Xiao Shunzi looked at the unfamiliar girl in front of him and asked in confusion, "You are...?"

Nan Yi walked over and gently knocked on his bald head. "Idiot, you can't even recognize your master."

"Ah, Master, it's you! You—" Xiao Shunzi was stunned. After thinking for a moment, he said softly, "You're going out, I'm afraid—that won't do."

How could a concubine go out without permission? If the master found out, she'd be dead.

"What? You want to call someone over?" Nan Yi scolded him in a low voice.

Xiao Shunzi bowed and pleaded, "Master, let's go back. This servant dares not."

“Coward, here you go. Go change into some servant’s clothes and buy some more gifts. Go to No. 68 Qingming Lane and find Xiao Xi. I’ll be waiting for you there. Got it? I’ll give you extra silver as a reward.” Nan Yi handed him two silver notes and left quickly without waiting for his reply.

Xiao Shunzi was stunned, his face contorted with grief. His concubine had run away so fast. Then he remembered what she had told him, and his face flushed red and then turned pale. The reward was plentiful, but the risk was huge. He looked up at the sky and wondered if he could go back on his word, sir.

When Nan arrived at Xiao Xi's house, Xiao Xi was just about to go to the yamen. "You've come very early today."

Xiao Xi found her outfit much more pleasing to the eye today, and chuckled as he looked her over; she wasn't as ugly as she had been the other day.

Nan rolled her eyes at her, ignoring her gaze, and said, "Where's Qiaoqiao? I miss her."

She liked Xiao Xi's younger sister, a lovely and sweet-talking girl.

“Still sleeping,” Xiao Xi said, then called into the house, “Qiaoqiao, Sister Nan Yi is here, lazy pig, get up!”

Hearing this from inside, Xiao Qiao ran out without putting on her coat or slippers, threw herself into Nan Yi's arms, and sweetly called out, "Sister Nan Yi, you're here."

"Okay, hurry up and get dressed, someone will bring you something later."

Xiao Xi glared at her, "You'll spoil her."

"It's alright, I don't have any other younger sisters, so I naturally spoil her."

Her family has never seen her body.

"You stay here, I'll go buy breakfast," Xiao Xi smiled, took the money bag and went out.

Nan jumped to her side and hurriedly asked, "Do you have milk? Do you have tofu pudding?"

She hadn't eaten this in a long time and had forgotten her usual breakfast.

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