After an hour and a half, or three hours, Nan Yi's knees were so painful and numb that he lost all feeling, and his upper body could no longer support him, leaving him swaying precariously.
The three women, mother and daughter-in-law, who had been chatting idly, had already moved to a side hall to drink tea.
Nan Yi rubbed her leg, really wanting to just give up and leave, but the palace was not like her home, and there was no one here to protect her.
After all, even the Fourth Prince didn't dare to disobey Consort De.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside, followed by a voice, "Mother, your son has come... Fourth Sister-in-law, is that you?"
Fourteen looked at Nan Yi kneeling on the ground in surprise.
Nan Yi rubbed her knees, looked up and glared at Shi Si with annoyance. "Are you blind? Can't you see she's being punished by kneeling?"
Kneeling for too long, Nan Yi couldn't take it anymore, and his face turned pale.
Seeing how distressed Tong Xiaosao looked, it seemed she had been kneeling for quite some time. Fourteenth Brother couldn't bear it. "Fourth Sister-in-law, wait a moment. Your brother will plead for you. Mother is always kind and easy to talk to."
Nan Yi pursed her lips. She was kind and easy to talk to, but only when it came to her precious son. In her eyes, Consort De was much like the Fourth Prince—vindictive and petty.
She entered the palace several times, but Consort De never gave her a kind look. Not only did she receive cold treatment, but she was also frequently punished.
Oh dear, could it be that the two of them are incompatible?
Nan waved his hand, signaling him to hurry up; kneeling for so long would ruin his knees.
Fourteen chuckled softly, then turned and went to the side hall.
The mother and son said something, and Consort De suddenly chuckled. Nan Yi breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that Consort De was smiling; her suffering should be over.
However, no matter how long they waited, no one came to call them.
Nan Yi was on the verge of tears, only hoping that Fourth Master would come to rescue her soon.
However, Nan waited and waited, but never saw a savior until he fell into a coma.
Just as she collapsed, Yinzhen stepped into Yonghe Palace, "Yi'er..."
Yinzhen's expression changed drastically. He helped her up from the ground and called out urgently, "Yi'er, Yi'er, what's wrong with you?"
Nan Yi was unconscious and unresponsive. Yinzhen growled at Su Peisheng beside him, "Why aren't you calling the imperial physician yet?"
"Yes, sir." Su Peisheng hurriedly ran to the Imperial Hospital.
The Fourth Master carried Nan Yi to the soft couch and placed her down. The commotion in the main hall startled Consort De and the others who were chatting and laughing in the side hall.
The group exchanged glances and walked to the main hall, where they saw Yinzhen with a dark face and a worried expression, his hand tightly gripping Tongshi.
"Your subject greets Mother." Yinzhen did not let go of Tongshi's hand, but simply stood up and bowed slightly.
Fourteen walked to the bedside and looked at his unconscious sister-in-law. "Fourth Brother, why did your sister-in-law faint? She was fine just now."
Yinzhen glanced at his mother's wife and Lady Nian, and the coldness in his eyes startled Lady Nala and Lady Nian.
Consort De frowned, becoming even more displeased with Lady Tong. She had only been forced to kneel as punishment, yet she had fainted. Her health was far too poor. How could someone so frail bear children for the Fourth Prince?
"Her behavior is indeed harsh on me. Fourth Prince, take her back to the manor. I don't want to see her." Consort De flicked her handkerchief and turned to enter the inner palace.
"Oh, Mother, Sister-in-law Tong is still unconscious." Fourteenth Prince pulled at Consort De. "Can we wait until the imperial physician examines her?"
"I don't want to keep her here for even a moment longer," Consort De said angrily.
Nara and Nian bowed nervously, saying, "Your daughter-in-law respectfully sees off Mother."
Fourteen looked at his fourth brother with a disgruntled expression. He didn't know what Tong Xiaosao had done to offend their mother and make her so angry. "Fourth brother, why don't you take Tong Xiaosao to the Imperial Hospital?"
Yinzhen felt a pang of anger in his heart. His hand trembled slightly in his sleeve, and he closed his eyes briefly. "Mother, you've gone too far."
He sat down next to Nan Yi, and if he simply took her away from Yonghe Palace like this, it would surely cause gossip again.
His mother could be willful, but he couldn't.
Yinzhen lowered his head and stared at the unconscious Tong Shi. His fingers trembled, and with a heavy heart, he pinched Tong Shi's philtrum hard with his thumb.
Yi'er, wake up.
The pain caused Nan Yi to slightly open her eyes, and the person above her changed their face, their eyes filled with worry.
"You've arrived."
Yinzhen gave a soft "hmm," and said, "Don't sleep, we have to go back to the manor. Yi'er, can you still stand up?"
Nan shook her head and said softly, "No, my knees hurt so much, Yinzhen, you have to carry me back."
"No, just bear with it. Walk by yourself. It's only a few steps. I'll carry you when we get out of the palace," Yinzhen said, supporting her and coaxing her gently.
Nan Yi refused, tugging at Yinzhen's sleeve, "It's okay, I sprained my ankle a few days ago and it's not healed yet, how can I walk? This morning, my foot was almost ruined from walking that stretch of road."
Yinzhen thought Nan Yi was making an excuse, so without thinking, he cooperated and said, "Why don't you tell me? A sprained ankle shouldn't be taken lightly. I'll go and have someone prepare a sedan chair."
The expression on the face of Nala Nian, who was standing to one side, was twisted and ferocious, filled with bitterness, jealousy, and disbelief. The master had indulged Tong to such an extent.
They called him by his given name without saying a word. He was always cold-hearted, yet he treated Tong Shi with such tenderness. They underestimated Tong Shi's place in his heart.
How could they possibly accept this truth?
Lady Nian stared intently at Yinzhen's retreating figure, deeply shocked. If the prince treated Lady Tong this way, what about her? Where did he place her?
Fourteen also looked like he'd been struck by lightning, his mouth slightly agape, thinking to himself, "I never imagined that a cold-hearted person could be so gentle."
Riding in a sedan chair doesn't mean your knees won't hurt.
As soon as Fang walked out of Yonghe Palace, the Seventh Prince rushed over, "Fourth Brother, Fourteenth Brother, thank goodness you're here! Father Emperor has summoned us, come with me quickly."
Upon hearing this, Yinzhen looked at Tongshi's legs, and Nan Yi quickly said, "Your Highness, please go about your business and don't worry."
Lady Nara also spoke up, "I will take good care of Sister Tong, Your Highness, please rest assured."
Rest assured, despite repeated neglect, the outcome has never changed. How could Yinzhen be at ease? He pondered for a moment and said, "The Fujin (consort) will take Nian Shi back to the mansion." He then instructed the eunuchs carrying the sedan chair, "Take Consort Tong to the Imperial Hospital. Consort Tong has sprained her ankle. Please ask Physician Liu to take a look at her."
"twitter."
Yinzhen's arrangement almost made Lady Nara lose face; it seemed the prince was not at ease entrusting Lady Tong to her.
Tong was punished by her mother and blamed by her father.
That makes no sense. Tong is arrogant and doesn't listen to her mother's advice. What does it have to do with her?
That's unfair.
Lady Nara felt that Yinzhen was biased, but she felt extremely happy when Lady Tong was punished.
What annoyed Yinzhen's wife was that, in the palace, no matter whether Lady Tong or Lady Nian were punished, it was always him, the fourth prince, who suffered a loss of face. As the primary wife, she should do everything in her power to protect his dignity.
After the departure of Yinzhen's fourteenth and seventh princes, Nan Yi went to the Imperial Hospital, leaving behind Lady Nara and Lady Nian, each with their own thoughts.
Lady Nian murmured softly, "Master is so good to Sister Tong."
As if she hadn't heard, Lady Nara said calmly, "Sister Nian, it's time for us to return to the manor."
As soon as Nan entered the Imperial Hospital, Physician Liu sat down with his medical kit, speaking in a familiar tone with a hint of sarcasm, "I heard that Consort Nan has sprained her ankle again. You really seem to be plagued by one misfortune after another."
"Thank you for your trouble, Physician Liu," Nan smiled, pressing down Physician Liu's hand as he was about to examine her foot bones, and slightly pursing her lips towards the young medical apprentice standing beside her.
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