Nan Yi stared wide-eyed at the person who had appeared in the tent at night, as if the sun had risen in the west.
He didn't stay with Nian Shi, but secretly came to keep me company.
Nan Yi stared blankly, as if she didn't recognize the man.
Yinzhen was displeased with her gaze, which was as if she were a stranger. He took off his robes, lay down next to her, and pulled her into his arms, his tone deliberately cold, "Go to sleep quickly, so you won't be unable to get up tomorrow."
"Don't hug me, it's too hot. Go back to your tent." Nan Yi kicked him, she was used to having the whole bed to herself.
"Don't move, or I'll do something to you, so don't provoke me," Yinzhen warned in a low voice, pressing down on her hand.
The woman in his arms stiffened and, as expected, remained motionless.
Disappointed, the Fourth Uncle held her tightly as they slept, his body aching terribly, but he chose to ignore it.
There was suddenly someone on the tatami mat. I hadn't felt this way in a long time. Before, I felt at ease, but now, Nan felt like a complete stranger.
She couldn't sleep, so she stared at the top of the tent with her eyes wide open.
Nan Yi remained lying on her side, her face pressed against Fourth Uncle's chest. She raised her hand to touch him and found that his heart was beating a little fast.
Well, even the Fourth Uncle didn't sleep.
Nan Yi rolled her eyes, turned over in his arms, trying to lie flat, but the hands around her waist were tightly clasped.
She shifted her body, and the person above her narrowed his dark eyes, his desire deepening. He sighed softly, his voice low and indulgent, "You're always so disobedient, I can't sleep."
"No, I have something I want to ask you," Nan Yi said after thinking for a moment.
With a swift movement, Yinzhen lifted her into his arms, wrapping his arms around her waist, and said, "If it's about Lady Nian, don't mention it again. This is the last time I'm telling you, she can't be touched."
"Tong Jiabai is dead?" Nan Yi asked calmly.
Yinzhen didn't say anything, but the hand around her waist tightened even more.
After a long pause, Nan Yi said, "Okay, I understand."
Power, or rather, that supreme position, meant more to him than anything else. Let alone the Tong family, even the future Nian family, if they threatened his rule, he would still destroy them.
The Tong family was innocent cannon fodder, and in the eyes of those in power, cannon fodder like the Tong family are nothing.
She didn't want to compromise on this outcome, but she, like a little butterfly that had accidentally wandered into this place, didn't have the courage to flap her wings.
Nan Yi has actually learned to compromise. One compromise means countless compromises in the future. She is actually a little afraid to face this version of herself.
What will she become in the future?
"Promise me one thing."
"you say."
“From now on, let me live in Tongzhou. I like it there,” Nan Yi said.
She shifted to a more comfortable position, resting her chin on her arm against his chest. "Tongzhou is great. I don't have to get up early every day. I can sleep until the third watch of the night without anyone bothering me. It's easy to eat whatever I want. In my free time, I can walk the dog and raise chickens. By the time the hunting season is over, the grapes in the yard should be ripe, and I'd like to make some wine to drink."
"What if you don't agree, sir?"
Nan Yi chuckled and said casually, "It's alright, but if I return to the manor, no one in the manor will be able to live a peaceful life. I don't care what kind of impact it will have; you'll have to weigh it yourself."
Yinzhen moved his hand to the back of her head, looked up and kissed her lips. "Tongzhou is so wonderful that you're so happy you don't want to go back to your home."
Nan Yi squinted and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, it's very good. Compared to the manor, it's almost like a paradise."
Yinzhen sighed softly, stroking her back with his hand, without saying whether he agreed or disagreed.
Nan Yi was confident that she understood him to some extent, and his silence was an admission of agreement.
The topic ended there, and neither of them brought it up again.
She didn't know what Yinzhen was thinking, but she knew what she was thinking.
He went off to pursue his imperial ambitions, while she only wanted freedom.
Perhaps she couldn't do anything to the Nian family, but she knew their fate.
Even Aisin-Gioro Yinzhen's future ending was not a peaceful one.
She couldn't tell whether she hated or resented this person, but life had to go on. She wanted to give up and ignore it, but what about the others around her?
What she feared most was the future fate of Yinzhen and the Eighth Prince; she didn't want them to die.
On the surface, Nan Yi and Fourth Uncle seemed to have reconciled, and she temporarily put aside the resentment in her heart. Next, she should make some plans for the future.
It was rare to see her soften her attitude, and Yinzhen was overjoyed. So, whenever he had time, he would stick close to her.
Nan Yi kept seeing Nian Shi's increasingly resentful face. When the Fourth Master was around, she didn't dare to act like a big shot, but she couldn't pretend to be sick either, otherwise, what would happen if the Fourth Master sent her back to the mansion?
The Nian family had no choice but to endure.
Throughout the journey, Nian Shi did not dare to lash out, but on the night of their arrival at the camp, she finally lay down on the bed and complained of a headache.
Without considering the timing, when she arrived at the hunting grounds' encampment, Yinzhen was nowhere to be seen, and apart from the imperial physicians and maids, there was no trace of him.
When Yinzhen had some free time, he instructed the maid to take good care of Lady Nian, who was unwell, and then went to find Nan Yi.
Nan Yi was also annoyed; she couldn't even have some fun by herself. "Aren't you going to keep Nian company? I heard she's feeling much better today."
Yinzhen raised his hand and tapped her fair forehead. "The sun is too strong, Xu'er can't stand the sun. Hurry up, didn't you want to eat roast whole lamb? Thirteenth has found the chef who is best at roasting whole lamb."
Upon hearing about the delicious food, Nan Yi immediately forgot about the troubles her old master had caused her. She called Yi Ren and Xiao Shunzi to bring the pot, ingredients, seasonings, and other items, since it was a trip and everything had to be prepared.
"Thirteenth Master, you've found a great place," Nan Yi said with a smile. Facing the beautiful scenery of the lake and mountains, enjoying roasted lamb, he was in high spirits, and his appetite was whetted.
"It would be even better if there were more fish," Nan Yi muttered. She ran to the edge of the small lake. The water wasn't deep, and she could see some small fish swimming at the bottom. "Xiao Shunzi, catch two fish and bring them up."
"Alright, Master, please wait a moment." Xiao Shunzi put down the stones he was preparing to use to build the stove and went to find a branch to spear the fish.
"Fourth Sister-in-law, thanks to you today, otherwise, I'd probably be busy somewhere right now," Thirteen said as he helped turn the whole roasted lamb on the rack.
"Oh, I've done Thirteen such a big favor, how will Thirteenth Master thank me?" Nan Yi raised an eyebrow and joked.
"My gratitude isn't sincere enough." Thirteen nodded his chin at the whole roasted lamb in his hand.
Nan smiled and said, "Not bad."
"That's thoughtful of you." Seeing Nan Yi happy, Yinzhen couldn't help but express his appreciation.
The lamb had been roasted in advance and was almost cooked. Thirteen asked the cook to cut two pieces of meat from the lamb leg, put them on a plate, and serve them to Yinzhen and Nan Yi.
"Have some water first," Yinzhen said, pouring tea for the two of them. He then took the plate in front of her, took a knife, and sliced the meat into pieces.
One carefully sliced the meat, while the other slowly savored it, occasionally laughing and whispering, smiles gracing their faces.
Thirteen noticed a sense of contentment and peaceful happiness on the faces of Fourth Brother and Sister-in-law Tong.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
