Kangxi left with a furious expression. Nan Yi slumped in his chair, panting, thinking to himself, "Damn it, the emperor's aura is no joke. I'm so glad I didn't collapse in front of everyone and embarrass myself."
When Consort Tong entered and saw her appearance, she couldn't help but feel worried. Nan Yi waved his hand to comfort her, "It's none of our business, Your Highness, don't worry."
While she tried to reassure Consort Tong, Nan Yi herself was not at ease. After leaving Consort Tong's residence, she returned to her temporary residence in Jingren Palace. For several days, she obediently chose to stay at home and didn't even want to go to the kitchen.
When Consort Tong sent people to inquire, she was given only perfunctory answers.
On the fourth day, unable to stay any longer, she slipped out of the back gate of Jingren Palace, wandered through two alleys, and got lost again.
The palace roads were interconnected, and the buildings were almost all constructed. She wandered around, but still couldn't tell which way was which.
Nan Yi turned around and ended up near Yikun Palace.
Consort Guo, the Ninth Consort, came to the palace to pay her respects to Consort Yi. As she walked along the palace path in front of Yikun Palace, she suddenly saw her.
Just as she was about to greet him, Nan put a finger to her lips and shushed him, then quietly beckoned to Xiao Guo.
Madam Guo ordered her two maids to stay put while she went forward alone to talk to Nan Yi.
"I'm sorry, Wanqing, I can't let anyone see me here. You have to keep this a secret for me." Nan Yi clasped his hands in a fist salute.
Xiao Guo thought that Nan Yi didn't want anyone to find out that she had come to Yikun Palace because of Consort De, so she said, "Alright, I won't say anything, by the way, I heard about what happened to you, Tong sister. You must never be so impulsive in the future, otherwise, we will be the ones who suffer."
With a look of sympathy, she spoke softly and gently, her eyes full of pity, "We are concubines, we have to please the master and also watch the mood of the primary wife. In your household, the fourth wife is magnanimous. If it were another prince's household, who knows how you would be punished. Sister Tong, be more gentle in the future. With your looks, you won't have to worry about not being favored..."
Little Guo was still rambling on and on.
~~Gaga!
A flock of crows flew overhead. The other party was so kind that she couldn't bear to interrupt the Ninth Consort. However, she really didn't need the other party to teach her how to be a good concubine in the Fourth Prince's mansion, the kind who was humble and subservient.
Yintang always said that the concubines in the mansion couldn't be properly established. Although they weren't the primary consorts, they weren't concubines or maids; they were at least concubines with a certain rank and were associated with the emperor.
Nan Yi had seen the Ninth Consort, Ru Shui, several times and agreed with Yin Tang's words. Look at the women in the Fourth Prince's mansion, from the primary consort to Li Shi, and then to the lower-ranking concubines, none of them were weak.
Even the most docile Lady Li Jia, if provoked, would dare to argue with Consort Li.
"...Now that the primary wife is about to enter the household, I'm afraid my situation will be just as difficult as yours." Little Guo said, feeling sorry for herself, her eyes reddening as she spoke.
Nan Yi stood aside, unsure how to comfort her. She hesitantly reached out and patted Xiao Guo's back gently, "Don't think too much. The primary wife is the primary wife. Just live your own life. After all, you are Yin Tang's concubine. She can't do anything to you."
"Yes, that's right, I'm the one who wanted to take it."
She wiped her eyes, then burst into laughter through her tears. Little Guo was beautiful, and her smile was like the moon breaking through the clouds, almost blinding Nan Yi.
She was stunned for a moment, and then heard Madam Guo say again, "Look at me, you actually turned around and comforted me. It's funny, only you can listen to my rambling. I know what they say about me behind my back, and they all look down on me. This is just my personality. Master has told me many times, but I just can't change it. Sister Tong, thank you. Come to the manor to visit sometime. I'll send you an invitation, okay?"
Nan Yi became a listener to Xiao Guo, and the two became much closer. She smiled and said, "Okay, I'll come visit you when I have time."
She glanced around. "It's getting late. Can I ask you how to get to Jingren Palace? Wanqing, could you give me directions?"
“Well, I should go and pay my respects to Her Majesty. Do you see that road over there?” Madam Guo pointed to the crossroads to her left. “Turn right and go straight, then turn left and go all the way to the end. You’ll see the gate of Jingren Palace.”
"Thank you, Wanqing. See you next time. I'm off now." Nan Yi waved his hand.
Madam Guo waved her handkerchief and took small, quick steps toward the maid who was waiting for her.
Yinzhen had just finished court and, as usual, came to pay his respects to his mother. He ran into Lady Guo at the door and, seeing her red eyes, his face darkened. "What's wrong now? You're always worrying yourself sick. You never take care of yourself."
Yinzhen scolded her because he was concerned about her health. Xiao Guo blinked, a smile appeared on her face, and she curtsied gently. Yinzhen helped her up.
"I just ran into Fourth Sister-in-law, and I was moved by her words, so I comforted her. She's had a tough time too," Madam Guo explained in a low voice.
Yin Tang frowned. "The people in the Four Wonders' mansion need your comfort. Just mind your own business." Li Shi and Nian Shi were no pushovers either, so looking at his own concubine in this light, she seemed much more pleasing to the eye.
Guo pursed her lips, perhaps because of her conversation with Nan Yi and the presence of the child, she became bolder and did not argue, "That's not true, Tong is very pitiful."
Just because of a moment of carelessness, the rank of the concubine was reduced. Isn't that pitiful? What is a concubine? It's only slightly better than a princess.
Tong Meimei, Nan Yi?
Yinzhen paused, "You mean, you just saw Consort Tong... the concubine?"
"Hmm, she doesn't want others to know she's entered the palace." Madam Guo stopped, a hint of doubt on her face, and muttered softly, "Strange, wasn't Sister Tong ordered by Consort De to remain secluded and reflect on her actions? What's going on..."
"Where did you meet her?" Yin Tang asked abruptly.
"It's in front of Yikun Palace. She said she wanted to go back to Jing... Ah, no, Sister Tong won't let anyone know."
Lady Guo glanced cautiously at Yinzhen, trembling with fear. She had promised not to say anything.
Yinzhen's forehead was gloomy. After he finished speaking, when she told him to keep it a secret, his face darkened. "Go and pay your respects to your mother first. See you at the palace gate in a while."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After Yinzhen left, Lady Guo breathed a sigh of relief and did not inquire about his whereabouts. She then headed towards the main hall where Consort Yi resided.
Following the directions given by Xiao Guo, Nan Yi successfully found his way to Jingren Palace. Before he could even step into the palace gate, someone grabbed his arm and dragged him into an alley.
"Where did this little thief come from, daring to... Uh, Yinzhen, what are you doing here?" Nan Yi greeted his old friend with a grin.
Yinzhen frowned and angrily questioned, "I also want to ask you, where have you been all this time? Don't give me that nonsense about self-reflection behind closed doors, that courtyard can't hold you."
Nan curled her lip, thinking to herself, "As expected of Old Kang's son, the tone of their questions is exactly the same."
"Hehe, you guessed right. I was indeed reflecting on myself behind closed doors. Why don't you believe me?" I'm not going to tell the truth, so what can you do about it?
"Be serious, I'm serious." This guy, with his shameless, grinning face, was starting to lose his composure.
"Look at my honest little eyes, I'm absolutely 100% serious," Nan Yi widened her almond-shaped eyes and made a face, "Do you believe me now, Ninth Master?"
Yinzhen couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
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