The news of Qin Xiaorong of Jinyang侯府 and the Emperor's concubine Zou's brother meeting in secret in the palace quickly spread throughout the imperial court and reached Emperor Ji Hong.
Qin Xiaorong and Zou Yunming? What a joke! Ji Hong pondered for a moment, then went to Jingren Palace.
"Nan Shiying?" Ji Hong heard another version of the story from the Empress Dowager. Qin Xiaorong and Zou Yunming were not meeting in secret, but engaged in lewd acts within the palace. And astonishingly, a palace guard was also involved, all orchestrated by this Nan Shiying?
Wasn't Nan Shiying just a discarded piece in a plan against Ji Jinmo? How could she possess such capabilities?
"Emperor, if Nan Shiying had not been deliberately patient, there would only be one other possibility," the Empress Dowager said, her eyes downcast. To this day, her emotions were still unsettled. The mere thought of the humiliation Qin Xiaorong suffered today felt like a dull knife cutting into her heart, causing immense pain. The more she doted on Qin Xiaorong, the more she hated Nan Shiying, wishing she could eat her flesh, drink her blood, gnaw her bones, and scatter her ashes to the wind.
"What?"
"That this Nan Shiying is not that Nan Shiying."
...
Nan Residence.
Nan Yuan'er eagerly wanted to share her suspicions with her father.
"Just like that?"
Unlike Nan Yuan'er's expectations, after listening to her suspicions, Nan Chaoyin's emotions showed no fluctuation. Instead, he displayed a dismissive lack of interest.
"But Father..."
"Enough!" Nan Chaoyin interrupted Nan Yuan'er, abruptly throwing the book in his hand onto the table. Mentioning Nan Shiying brought to mind Nan Yuan'er's deception. He had intended not to bring it up, but her reminder was persistent. "Yuan'er, your father hopes your perspective will be broader. Do not confine yourself to petty, jealous disputes within the inner courtyards and the palace. Furthermore, do not let your emotions run unchecked. Whether Mama Wang is missing or dead, you and I both know. Your father hopes that in the future, you will not disregard the bigger picture for personal gain. Also, from now on, do not focus your attention on your sister, Nan Shiying. Your father has his own arrangements for her."
"Father—"
Hearing Nan Chaoyin mention Mama Wang, Nan Yuan'er felt a pang of guilt. She had only mutilated Mama Wang, not killed her. Her disappearance from the manor was not a fabricated tale. However, seeing Nan Chaoyin's reluctance to discuss it further, Nan Yuan'er opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing more. She merely nodded obediently, "Daughter knows her mistake. I hope Father will forgive me."
Nan Chaoyin nodded with satisfaction. This was the aspect of Nan Yuan'er he liked most – her understanding of when to advance and when to retreat.
"Alright, you may go!"
Nan Chaoyin dismissed Nan Yuan'er. Reflecting on what she had just recounted about the flower appreciation banquet, he nodded with satisfaction. Not bad! Teaching Yuan'er was to create the illusion of the Nan Residence being detached from such matters; teaching Qin Yushan was to sow discord between the Prince's Manor and the Qin family. Qing Yuan was indeed the most outstanding among the dark guards.
...
Ji Jinmo never expected that attending a palace banquet would lead to so many troubles. Nan Shiying declared herself innocent. She hadn't wanted this, but when they actively sought trouble, what could she do?
"So, are you really planning to peel the heart out of that palace maid?" Ji Jinmo asked, blowing away the tea leaves from the surface, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Nan Shiying looked up and glared fiercely at the ceiling.
Ji Jinmo couldn't help but curl his lips and say, "Xuan Yi is this Prince's Xuan Guard."
Nan Shiying rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, yes. Right, right, right. Xuan Yi is Your Highness's lackey, so he tells Your Highness everything!"
Xuan Thirteen glanced at Xuan Yi with amusement. Xuan Yi glared back: What are you looking at? Aren't you the same?
"Heh~"
A low chuckle, like a gust of clear wind, entered her ears, carrying a wisp of clear fragrance into her nostrils. The wind brushed against her eardrums, slowly and gently seeping inward, all the way to the core of her heart. Nan Shiying lowered her head slightly, not wanting to look at Ji Jinmo's face, which could topple nations.
"I'm not a pervert," she muttered softly.
"Yes, yes, yes. How can this Prince's Consort be a pervert?" Ji Jinmo agreed with a rare smile, not contradicting her. The candlelight fell into his eyes, appearing to transform into countless shimmering stars, and in each star, her reflection seemed to be mirrored.
In truth, throughout her life, Nan Shiying understood many things but chose not to act. She didn't want to be immersed in treacherous schemes, confined within narrow courtyards, or compete with many for affection. The boundless freedom of a vast sky and sea was her lifelong pursuit. She lowered her eyes, concealing everything deep within her dark pupils. When she looked up again, her eyes held only a calm, radiant smile.
...
The next day, the events that transpired at the flower appreciation banquet spread throughout the entire capital. Nan Yuan'er being forced to kneel and Qin Yushan being whipped paled in comparison to the sensational news of Zou Yunming and Qin Xiaorong. Such romantic gossip always made for excellent conversation, and the noble identities of the pair only fueled further speculation.
And the culprit, Nan Shiying, had slipped out of the manor and bought a pharmacy. She went to Sishui Street and handed the property deed to Old Poison. "The environment here is too poor. I've bought a pharmacy on Yunlan Street. Behind the pharmacy is a very large courtyard with many rooms, enough for you and the children to live in."
Old Poison glanced at it, then tucked the deed into his robe. He beckoned Nan Shiying, leading her into the back room. The children who had lain in the back room were now mostly recovered. Of course, missing limbs could not be restored, but other than that, their bodies had regained their health. Only Gouzi was in the room. Holding a copy of "General Principles of Physicians," he looked as though life were not worth living.
Old Poison glared at Gouzi with disdain. Months had passed, and he still hadn't memorized this single book. And then there was her... forget it, don't look. One was stupid enough to make him angry, and the other was smart enough to make him angry too. Not a single one brought him any peace.
Old Poison closed the door and took out the jade pendant from his robe again. Nan Shiying had a "Oh crap, here we go again" expression and turned to jump out the window. Old Poison twitched his mouth, then suddenly began to cough violently. Nan Shiying's movement stopped, and she slowly turned back, pouring a cup of tea and handing it to him.
"Drink water!"
Old Poison took the tea and drank a few mouthfuls, which helped suppress the coughing fit. Gouzi looked at him with concern. Old Poison patted Gouzi's head and suddenly said to him, "Kneel!"
Ordinarily, Gouzi would refuse to kneel, but now—
Gouzi lowered his head and knelt at Old Poison's feet. Old Poison, however, gave him a sharp flick on the forehead. Gouzi covered his head, glaring at Old Poison indignantly. Old Poison, with a stern face, glared back, "I told you to kneel to her!"