Lady Nian was no longer a newcomer to the manor. She took a deep breath and smiled. "My sister also said it has nothing to do with me. It's understandable that Sister Tong would feel resentful because of Master's concern. If you still hate me, I'll apologize to you here."
"No, I can't accept that." Nan turned her head away.
She stretched, stood up, and resumed her serious expression. "No matter what you're up to, I don't have time to play with you. Go back, or I'll have to tell Grandpa that this courtyard is uninhabitable. People are coming to cause trouble every day. My health isn't good to begin with, and if I keep suffering like this, how can I live?"
Hearing this, Nian Shi, whose lines had been stolen, turned ashen-faced and trembled with anger. Tong Shi was unyielding and even resorted to shrewish behavior. When had she become so difficult to deal with?
What's even more infuriating is that the master dotes on her.
"Yiren, escort Master Nian out. Be careful and tell the servants in the courtyard to keep their eyes open and not hurt the young prince. If the master blames you, I can't protect you."
Yiren was holding back her laughter until her stomach hurt. "Yes, we understand." She gestured to Nian Shi and her servants, "Consort, you'd better be careful."
Finally, Lady Nian's face turned cold. She turned away with a flick of her sleeve, and Yuexiang snorted coldly at Yiren and the others before helping her mistress away.
Nan noticed out of the corner of her eye and said to Granny Qiu, who had come to talk to her, "Finally, you've stopped pretending. Isn't that good?"
Granny Qiu smiled helplessly and said, "The master doesn't like empty talk, but in this world, too many people are more willing to listen to those hypocritical words."
“Yes, especially men,” Nan Yi muttered, then turned to Aunt Qiu with a smile and asked, “Aren’t you going to try to persuade me this time?”
Granny Qiu always says that she acts too directly and not subtly enough. That's just who she is. She really doesn't know how to act subtly.
Granny Qiu shook her head and chuckled, "This is perfect for the master. It's unique and distinctive in the Fourth Master's mansion."
Nan Yi exclaimed, "Oh dear, how strange! Even Granny Qiu can joke now."
Granny Qiu retorted, "This servant is just like her mistress."
Nan grinned and exchanged a smile with Granny Qiu.
After the commotion was over, they got down to business. "What does Granny Qiu want with me?"
Granny Qiu stopped smiling, waved her hand to signal her mistress to follow her, heading towards the kitchen. At the entrance of the small kitchen, Granny Zhao stared blankly at a bucket of fish.
"This is it. It's a fish that Xiao Shunzi got half a year ago. There were no problems until a few days ago when I found this in the kitchen."
Granny Qiu picked up a small cloth bag from the ground. Inside was a spice that looked like tree leaves.
Zhao Mama was so frightened that she knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly. "Master, it was not me who did it. I did not know that there was a problem with the sachet. I only used the seasonings in the kitchen. I was unaware of the others. Please, Master, be clear about this."
Nan frowned and helped Zhao Mama up. "I know your character. Xiao Shunzi is in charge of purchasing in the kitchen. If there are any problems, they are his problems."
Granny Yue, her plump body trembling, expressed her gratitude, not forgetting to defend Xiao Shunzi, "Master, Xiao Shunzi is very loyal, he definitely didn't do it."
"I know, someone outside must be playing tricks on him. He just happened to fall for it." Nan Yi looked around. "Where's Xiao Shunzi? Did he run away after causing trouble?"
Granny Qiu said, "He was also frightened. He said he wanted to ask the master to make a decision. He had worked so hard to get the ingredients, and I heard that someone from the Imperial Household Department had made the connection. The person behind it had a lot of ulterior motives and went to great lengths to scheme against the master. Only the master has the ability to find out the truth."
Looking at the two things on the ground, Nan Yi couldn't figure out who was plotting against her. There were actually quite a few people in and out of the palace who disliked her or had grudges against her.
Who could it be?
If I can't figure it out, I'll just leave it to Uncle Si to worry about.
"Granny, please prepare the Dragon Boat Festival gifts in advance. Make the gifts generous, and ask Yiren for the money. When Xiaoshunzi comes back, have him make a trip to my parents' house. I have a lot of fabric and tonics in my storeroom, so send them more, since there are many of them."
The Fourth Master would occasionally give her gifts, and she couldn't possibly use them all; it would be a waste to leave them piled up in the storeroom.
"By the way, Xiao Xi, you can decide whether to send the Ninth Prince's concubine Guo Luoluo and the Tenth Prince's concubine Wanyan."
Granny Qiu nodded and added, "Don't forget the noble ladies in the palace."
Nan Yi slapped her forehead. "Yes, and her too. By the way, could you please make a few more of the new pastries you've been making these past few days? I'll have my master take them to the palace tomorrow as a festival gift."
"Yes, your servant and Granny Zhao will go and prepare right away."
When Yinzhen entered the room, he saw Nan Yi tidying up her clothes. "Why are you tidying up your clothes? Don't you like them?"
Nan Yi threw all the clothes into the trunk, glanced at him, and said, "Of course not. I'm going to hide in the other courtyard for a while. I'll come back when Nian Shi gives birth."
Anyone can file a complaint, but we can't afford to play games with a pregnant woman. How about we give you some space?
Yinzhen lifted his robe and sat down in the chair, watching her fidget. "You should calm down. I have a lot of problems to deal with. You're just causing me trouble."
Nan Yi, unconvinced, glared at him and said, "Why wouldn't I stop? I'm just trying to help you out."
"You always run away from home. What do you think the Prince's Mansion is? Do you think this villa is your maternal home? Come here, I have something to say."
He patted his leg, gesturing for Nan Yi to sit down.
There's no way to reason with this woman. Rules are meaningless to her. If you try to reason with her, she'll outdo you in reasoning and leave you helpless.
Nan Yi chuckled, surprised that Fourth Master could say something so down-to-earth.
"Alright, I'll obey." She flicked her handkerchief, deliberately taking small, quick steps closer, placing her hands in front of her abdomen, blinking her eyes, looking like a timid young wife.
Yinzhen was amused and chuckled, "You always love to act silly in front of me." He affectionately reached out and gently stroked the tip of her nose.
Yinzhen sighed softly, "I can't spend the Dragon Boat Festival at the manor. If you're free, you can go to the palace to keep the concubines company, or visit other manors. Or you can invite Xiao Xi to keep you company. She's been promoted and doesn't have many duties, so she has a lot of free time."
"And you're saying that? Putting a young woman like her among a bunch of men, how is she supposed to get by at work? How is she going to find a husband in the future?"
"You don't need to worry about that," Yinzhen said with a smile.
"Hmm, there's something fishy about what you're saying, could it be...?"
Yinzhen nodded with a smile.
Nan Yi jumped up with joy, "Who is it? Who has such discerning eyes? They really have an eye for talent!"
Yinzhen was happy to make her happy, "A junior officer, capable and talented, he and Xiao Xi are a good match. I heard that his parents have passed away and he only has a younger sister. If the two of them work together, they can take care of each other."
"That's really good. Xiao Xi will be able to take charge of the household after she marries into the family. It's a great match." Nan Yi was happy for Xiao Xi. If she didn't get married soon, she would become a spinster in this era. "Hey, I need to hurry up and prepare my dowry. This is a joyous occasion."
She ran out like a whirlwind to call for Yiren and tell the maids the good news. The whole Wanyue Pavilion was overjoyed. The mistress and servants put together ideas and went to the storeroom to choose dowry for Xiao Xi.
Yinzhen was both amused and annoyed that Xiao Xi had even disregarded his own needs. He chuckled silently, got up, went to the door, and had someone summon Granny Qiu to inquire about the small kitchen.
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