“Master, please don’t make things difficult for us. The master has ordered that if we let Master Tong leave the manor, we two servants will have to offer our heads.”
Two bodyguards knelt on the ground. They had been summoned the day before to guard Master Tong.
The two were familiar faces, and they had some past acquaintances. Nan Yi didn't make things difficult for them. She stood there for a moment, her eyes flashing, and an idea popped into her head.
She laughed and said, "Okay, I won't make things difficult for you. How about this, you come with me?"
"This?" The two knew they were no match for Nan Yi. They couldn't stop their master from barging in. As long as he followed his master's lead and returned safely to the manor as usual, what was wrong with that?
"This servant thanks Master Tong for his consideration." The two clasped their hands in a gesture of respect, signifying their agreement with Master Tong's suggestion.
Nan Yi, with two tails trailing behind him, swaggered over to Xiao Xi's house.
Xiao Xi was on duty and not at home, so Xiao Ran and his wife received her. The couple were newlyweds, and Nan Yi didn't want to be a third wheel, so she wandered around the streets and alleys with Xiao Qiao and returned home at lunchtime.
After the court session, Gao Wuyong reported to Yinzhen about the departure of the mistress of Wanyue Pavilion from the manor. Yinzhen frowned deeply and muttered, "She still has the mood to leave the manor?"
"Master, what did you say?" Su Peisheng, thinking his master had given instructions, leaned closer to ask.
"Nothing's wrong. How's the investigation going?"
He finally wavered after hearing what Tong said, and decided that investigating would help her give up.
Su Peisheng said, "Master, Granny Qiu is no simple person. No one can do anything under her nose. Wanyue Pavilion is heavily guarded, and the servants are fine."
“The servants are fine. As for where that thing came from, I know Tong Shi’s personality quite well. She would deny it outright, and she is eager for a son, so she wouldn’t lie.”
He pondered this for two days, and the more signs there were, the more he realized he might have wronged her.
Su Peisheng looked troubled. If the people in Wanyue Pavilion were fine, then who was the problem? Master Tong never interacted with the masters in the inner courtyard, and Wanyue Pavilion was a secluded place, so there was no direction to investigate.
"My lord, the only people we haven't investigated are the four matrons you brought with you and the imperial physician. What do you think..."
He just said it casually, but Yinzhen's expression suddenly turned stern, his eyes turned cold, and he stared intently at Su Peisheng.
Little Suzi, the eunuch, seemed to realize something, and his expression changed instantly. "Sir, they..."
"check!"
"twitter."
Su Peisheng broke out in a cold sweat. Those were his men, and they actually got involved. Who didn't deserve to die? How dare they be so audacious?
He hurriedly summoned Quanfu to take over the shift and personally went to investigate the four old women.
On the fifteenth, all the wives and concubines in the backyard gathered together. Nan Yi claimed to be ill and did not come out. Yinzhen entered the room, glanced at all the wives and concubines in the room, said a few polite words in a calm and indifferent manner, and called Xiao Li Jia Shi before leaving.
Lady Nian had expected the master to call her name, and the hopeful look in her eyes faded. Lady Li noticed this and stood up, laughing, "The master's thoughts are really hard to guess. The initial enthusiasm for Sister Tong has worn off, and now Sister Li Jia has caught the master's eye. Back then, Sister Nian was so glamorous. I've been there, so don't take it to heart, Sister Nian. Who knows, the master might remember you someday."
Upon hearing this, Nian's face turned pale. She twisted her handkerchief in frustration. Who was Li? How dare she mock her past glory?
She had only been in the household for two years and was still of marriageable age, while Lady Li had already given birth to four children. No matter how much the master doted on her, it was only out of consideration for the young prince that he gave her some face.
Laugh, and hopefully you'll have the last laugh.
Lady Nian snorted coldly, stood up, and curtsied to the Fujin (principal wife), "Fujin, the imperial physician should be here to check the patient's pulse. I'll take my leave now."
"Go on, take care of yourself." Nara glanced at her belly, and after the person left, she said to Li, "Why did you have to say such hurtful things to her? Nian is weak and pregnant. If she doesn't feel well later, the master will be angry with you."
Li looked embarrassed and tried to argue, "My sister didn't say anything. Master's moods are always fluctuating. She just misunderstood, and no one else can do anything about it."
She curtsied and said, "My sister has also taken her leave. Little Princess is still waiting to be breastfed."
Nara waved her hand, and the people in the room either left or dispersed. Liu Mama helped her up, and the two walked back to the inner room together. "I heard that the master is investigating those four nannies who searched the room."
Liu Mama replied, "Yes, Madam, please rest assured. I guarantee that everything will be foolproof. Even if the investigation goes back to her, we are not afraid. She was prepared when she agreed. It's all for her son's sake; she will never back down."
"Hmm, I'm not afraid of her admitting it. This matter has nothing to do with the main courtyard, and it will remain an unsolved case no matter how hard we try to investigate it."
If the master can't find out the truth, he will always harbor resentment towards Madam Tong. If she secretly gives her a little push, Madam Tong will never be able to turn things around.
Nan Yi had been spending his days at Xiao Xi's house, going out and returning on time, which greatly lowered the guards' guards' guards' guards' vigilance.
Inside the room, Nan Yi held Yi Ren's hand and asked, "Do you know why I kept you here?"
Yiren remained calm, suppressing her reluctance and feigning ease. "This servant understands in her heart that you do not belong here. Once you enter the palace, it is like entering a deep sea. I used to hear my grandmother say this. I didn't understand when I was young, but after seeing you, I naturally understand."
Nan Yi gripped her hand tightly. "Girl, are you scared?"
Yiren shook her head, "I'm not afraid. From the day I started serving you, my life belongs to you. You just go..."
She couldn't help but wipe her eyes. "Actually, what I wanted to say was, could you take me with you, Master? There's nothing good about staying in this mansion. It's full of intrigue and backstabbing, and it's exhausting. If we go outside, I'll have someone to keep me company, and we can look after each other wherever we go."
"What? You actually want to go out and have some fun, don't you?" Nan Yi saw right through her thoughts.
Yiren smiled shyly, pursing her lips, "Nothing can be hidden from Master."
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