When Yinzhen returned to the mansion, there was another flurry of activity. Nan Yi fainted the moment Yinzhen returned.
He returned in time, and Nan Yi was not chilled, but the wound on her side could not withstand the pain and tore open again. The imperial physician prescribed medicine, and under the guidance of the imperial physician, Granny Qiu re-bandaged the wound.
After confirming that she was alright, Yinzhen returned to the main courtyard with a furious expression. Lady Nara was already waiting, and she wasn't worried at all.
As the primary consort, it was her duty to manage the inner quarters, and even the master had no right to object, if the reasons were valid.
The two stood on either side, clearly separated. Yinzhen had a cold face, while Nara's expression was indifferent. "The maid kneeling outside was brought by Sister Nian. She said that this maid works in Tong's courtyard and accidentally discovered that Sister Tong has not been in the mansion recently. Knowing this secret, she was terrified day and night and had no choice but to ask Sister Nian for help. Sister Nian probably felt that the matter was of great importance, so she reported it to me."
"So you believed it."
Nara nodded. "There's no smoke without fire. If Sister Tong didn't do it, she should have offered some explanation. She didn't say a word, so I'll take it as her admitting it. Everyone in the backyard is watching, so I can't let her go unpunished."
As for the punishment, Yinzhen thought of the two knife wounds that Yi'er had taken for him. The wound on her waist was so deep that the bone was visible, and the flesh was turned inside out. A sword had pierced straight through her chest, and she was covered in blood.
It almost didn't make it.
I should have promised her earlier. It would have been much more unwise to let her recover at the other residence before bringing her back. Tearing open the wound is like a second injury; that would be incredibly painful.
He didn't hear a word his wife said afterward; it was just some petty schemes of the women in the inner quarters.
The Fujin (principal wife) saw through Nian's little scheme. She couldn't ignore it; she would definitely deal with Tong. It would be best if the Fujin knew about it and investigated Tong directly. It was a fact that Tong had slipped out of the mansion. Once the investigation was clear, would Tong still have a way out?
Upon hearing this news, the Fujin immediately summoned Lady Tong to the main courtyard for a reprimand. Presumably, the Fujin had also placed someone in Wanyue Pavilion, and even received definite information.
They were certain they would investigate.
But they didn't understand what happened next.
"Madam, it was Master's approval for Lady Tong to leave the manor. She was seriously injured, but it was in Master's place. Master and Thirteenth Prince were able to return alive this time because she risked her life. Tomorrow, Master will send her to another courtyard to recuperate. She won't be in your way. As for the affairs of the inner courtyard, I'll trouble you to take good care of them."
This was probably the most serious thing Yinzhen had said to Nara in their more than ten years of marriage; it was a mixture of disappointment and resentment.
An eyesore? Is this an accusation that she's jealous?
The teacup that Nara had just picked up crashed to the ground with a loud bang and shattered into pieces. She slumped into her chair, staring blankly as his figure disappeared.
The Moon-Waiting Pavilion was empty. Apart from the two gatekeepers, everyone else had moved into the other courtyard with their master.
The Fourth Prince's mansion also fell silent. The people in the backyard couldn't figure out what had happened. Apart from receiving greetings from the concubines and princesses on the first and fifteenth of each month, Lady Nara was nowhere to be seen at other times.
Lady Nian stopped trying to steal things from others because there was nothing left to steal. The Fourth Prince was busy in his study every day, leaving early and returning late, and he hardly ever visited the backyard. All the concubines and princesses were just idly swatting mosquitoes in their rooms.
No, there are no mosquitoes in winter, so all we can do is eat and sleep, sleep and eat, occasionally sneaking over to visit our respective girlfriends for a chat.
For more than two months, even Lady Nian ignored him. The servants said that Master Nian had fallen out of favor and that he would not enter the inner courtyard. However, he would always find time to go to the other courtyard from time to time, and every few days he would order Eunuch Su to send some rewards to the other courtyard.
The wind has shifted in the atmosphere within the manor.
In Weifang Courtyard, Madam Nian leaned back in a rocking chair, her slightly protruding belly covered with a blanket. Xiangxiu entered the room carrying a small food box, her head bowed and eyes downcast.
Madam Nian tightened her grip on the blanket and said calmly, "What, is Master not in the study?"
Yuexiang opened her mouth, afraid that her master would be disappointed, and also afraid that her master would blame her for not doing a good job.
Seeing the maid's expression of wanting to speak but not daring to, Madam Nian understood perfectly. "Master doesn't want to eat, right?"
This has happened countless times. Since she entered the manor, this has never happened before. For two whole months, they have ignored her completely.
She didn't even know what she had done wrong.
When Madam Tong entered the villa, she was secretly pleased for a while, but then, the master began to punish them.
The maid who was planted in Wanyue Pavilion was beaten to death, and the preferential treatment of Weifang Courtyard was revoked. In the past, she could invite her brother and sister-in-law from her maternal family to the mansion for a chat from time to time, but now, the people of Weifang Courtyard can't even leave the mansion.
Even the imperial physician who checked her pulse for safety had been replaced.
She was in poor health and often suffered from headaches and fevers. She hoped he could come and keep her company, but he was nowhere to be seen, and only the imperial physician was always on standby.
This can't go on, or she'll really fall out of favor.
Nian stood up and walked to the door. She looked up at the study and frowned. "Yuexiang, find a way to inform my brother to come see me."
Xiangxiu hesitated and said, "Master, we can't get out. The master has given the order."
"I know you'll find a way. If you need money, just ask Xiangyu for it," Madam Nian said calmly.
******
"...You mean, Consort Nian has really fallen out of favor?"
"Of course it's true. Didn't you see that the master hasn't entered the backyard for two months? She did such hateful things, it's no wonder she's fallen out of favor."
"That's not right. Master Nian is beautiful, and I'm happy to pamper her. If I didn't care about Master Nian, she wouldn't have any room to cause any trouble."
"That makes sense."
"Let me tell you, if you ask which master in the manor is the one who is most favored by the master, it is definitely Master Tong. Even though she has gone to another residence, the master still misses her dearly."
"That's right..."
The sound gradually faded away. Thirteen listened to the corner of the wall for a while, clicked his tongue, and thought to himself, "Fourth Brother is really calm. Sister-in-law Nian has fallen out of favor. Thinking about how Fourth Brother neglected Sister-in-law Tong for her sake, it seems unlikely."
With his wedding date fast approaching, his sisters-in-law are all over the place, making his fourth brother's house lose all its liveliness. He was hoping that his sisters-in-law could lend him a hand.
Upon entering the study, Yinzhen was writing furiously when he noticed him and said, "It's not good for you to stay in the mansion as a groom, what are you doing here?"
Thirteen grinned, "My brother came to ask for help. The wedding is in ten days. I'd like to ask my sisters-in-law to help me check out the place. The house is all set up, but it doesn't look as good as Fourth Brother's."
"What? Those lackeys from the Imperial Household Department dare to fool you?" Yinzhen immediately became furious.
"No, what are you thinking? They wouldn't dare." Thirteen quickly waved his hand. "I just have some ideas of my own. I want to make the house more comfortable, but I don't know where to start, so I thought I'd ask my sisters-in-law to come in and help me take a look."
That's good. "Go find your fourth sister-in-law, she'll make the arrangements."
And what about you?
Yinzhen raised an eyebrow, his tone relaxed, "Tomorrow, your brother will go to the palace with your sister-in-law Tong. Father Emperor has summoned her."
Thirteen was also happy, "Oh, Sister-in-law Tong has recovered from her injuries, that's wonderful! She's had a lot of ups and downs, so I should congratulate her too."
"Yes, I heard that your men sent some seafood from the south. Send some to her to try; she really likes to eat those strange and unusual things."
"No problem, if Sister Tong doesn't mind, I'll have a servant send it over."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
