Yiren and Qingfeng were comforting their lovers when a maid came to report that their mistress had lost her temper again and asked her to go and check on her immediately.
Yiren and the others exchanged glances and helplessly ran towards the main house.
The two maids walked to the door of the main room. Xiao Shunzi shooed them away. They looked puzzled. Xiao Shunzi smiled and said, "It's nothing, it's nothing. Master and Master are just joking around."
"Oh dear, Master is so unpredictable, one thing after another every day, my poor little heart!" Qingyun patted his chest.
Yi Ren remained calm and joked, "You need to learn to adapt, you know?"
The master is relatively kind. No one is perfect. Like the primary consort, she is extremely strict with the servants. The servants in the Plum Courtyard never have a moment's rest. Doing a good job is their duty, and doing a bad job is considered dereliction of duty.
The servants were fiercely competing, all trying to climb the social ladder by clinging to the wife, which made the place devoid of human warmth.
Consort Li, in a word, is stingy. She is the most scolded servant in Fangfei Courtyard. She has seniority and her relationship with the master is similar to that of the main wife. She never takes anyone seriously.
Of course, she has the ability to do so.
Consort Nian, Yiren shook her head. She was as cunning as a sieve. Serving her meant constantly trying to figure out her mistress's thoughts, which was exhausting.
The master is the best; he's simple-minded and easygoing with his servants. Of course, he's also a master at causing trouble. Ugh, just thinking about it gives her a toothache.
The next day, after Nan Yi had breakfast, Wan Qing invited her to visit the Ninth Prince's residence. Nan Yi went to the study specifically to ask Yin Zhen for permission.
"Go early and come back early. Do you need me to pick you up?"
"No need, I'll play for a while and then come back. Xiao Shunzi is with me."
"Alright, wear more clothes." Yinzhen gave a few instructions, then said to Su Peisheng, who was standing to one side, "Go and arrange a carriage for the concubine."
"twitter."
Yinzhen escorted her out, and they ran into Consort Li in the garden. She was taking a walk with the young princes, and they exchanged greetings.
After saying goodbye to Yinzhen, Nan Yi walked out. After a while, she couldn't help but look back. The Fourth Prince was leading one person and carrying another towards the study, while Consort Li stood there with an unhappy expression.
In Nan Yi's opinion, this is probably the strangest thing in the world: he has a bunch of wives, both big and small, and he manages them all with ease.
What do the women in his backyard mean to him? Who is his favorite? Who is his most beloved? If he loves Nian Shi the most, how could he bear to be close to other women while she has miscarried?
Despite seemingly showing great respect for his wife, he didn't stay with his eldest son in the main courtyard every day even when the latter was seriously ill. Instead, he continued to busy himself with his own affairs in an orderly manner.
She still couldn't see through him.
The Ninth Prince's residence wasn't far; it only took about half an incense stick's time to get there.
Wanqing greeted her at the gate of the mansion, along with Zhenzhen, whom she hadn't seen in a long time. "Xixi, aren't you on duty today? Your lover went to your house. Instead of entertaining guests at home, you're out having fun."
Xiao Xi smiled and said, "It was only because she came that I gave them the space." When she saw her lover today, she noticed that her expression was off, as if she had just escaped a disaster.
As he went out, he vaguely heard crying coming from inside the house. Xiao Xi had a premonition that something was wrong, so he decided to ask Nan Yi about it.
"It's good that you're here. I happen to have something to discuss with you," Nan Yi said.
"Oh?" Sure enough, something happened.
Seeing the two of them chatting so enthusiastically, Zhenzhen complained to Wanqing, "Look, it's different when you've fought together. Your friendship is so deep that I'm envious. Sigh, even sisters who grew up together, they really do forget the old when they find someone new."
“That’s right.” Wanqing covered her mouth and laughed.
Nan Yi glanced at Zhen Zhen with amusement, a mocking look on his face, "I've had amnesia, so would you consider me a newcomer or an old-timer?"
She made a double entendre, but Zhenzhen replied, "Well, I'm involved with both the new and the old."
The group burst into laughter, linked arms, and walked into the mansion. The Ninth Prince's personal attendant, Xiao Jinzi, ran over to pay his respects.
"Little Jinzi, does the master have any instructions?" Wanqing asked.
Nan Yi clearly saw Xiao Jinzi steal a glance at her. Nan Yi blinked, and Xiao Jinzi lowered her head. "Master has set up a shed in the backyard and prepared tea and snacks. Please, ladies, move over."
This wasn't the first time he'd seen Consort Tong. Compared to his own consort, Consort Tong was far more charming and beautiful. Alas, it's all the Daoist's fault...
"Are we flying kites again today?" Nan asked with great interest.
"No," Xiao Xi refused. "That's childish stuff. Let's play something else." She couldn't handle that game herself, and Nan Yi always made fun of her. It was embarrassing.
"What should we play then? How about backgammon?" Zhenzhen suggested.
Nan Yi disagreed, "No, I don't know how to play. I'm only good at playing mahjong."
"That's fine," Wanqing said without objection.
Zhenzhen looked around and said, "Okay, let's play mahjong. There are four of us."
Upon hearing their conversation, Xiao Jinzi quickly went to make arrangements ahead of time.
When the four of them arrived at the backyard, the card table was already set up. The garden was very quiet. Nan Yi asked Yi Ren and Xiao Shunzi to go play with Xiao Jinzi.
Tea, pastries, and snacks were all provided very well.
The four of them sat down casually. Nan Yi picked up the dice and threw them down. After glancing at them, he drew a card in front of Wan Qing. Xiao Xi then brought up the matter of his lover, saying, "You should hurry up and find a wedding date so that your brother can marry your lover. The sooner the better. You can even marry her tomorrow."
"Why the rush? What happened?" Xiao Xi asked.
Nan frowned and said meaningfully, "Your lover is a good girl. Do you think only your brother has the discerning eye to recognize her talent?"
In Gu's eyes, the appearance of a woman who is destined to have a son represents good fortune. If it weren't for her interference, the Fourth Prince might not have refused the Princess's arrangement. That lecherous scoundrel, that philanderer.
Everyone present was intelligent. Xiao Xi's gaze darkened, and he replied softly, "Alright, I'll go home and discuss the marriage with my brother."
"Pong, hey, Zhenzhen, don't be so fast." Nan Yi pressed down on Zhenzhen's hand as she took the cards. She had a good start, with a hand of pure suit.
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