The internal energy entered the body, circulating through the acupoints.
For those who practiced martial arts, it would be nothing. But for a woman who had never practiced martial arts, the circulating internal energy was enough to torment her with swelling and pain. Her pulse was also weak and erratic.
However, in the situation at that time, Nan Chaoyin felt that Qingyuan's actions were the best solution under unavoidable circumstances.
Seeing Madam Liu's face turning pale, Nan Chaoyin sighed. The last trace of his blame in his heart vanished. He walked to the bedside, gently took Madam Liu's hand, and discreetly placed his fingers on her pulse, feeling it slightly.
It was indeed as Qingyuan had said, just a surge of internal energy.
However, the thought that this internal energy would circulate within Madam Liu for two to three days before completely dissipating made Nan Chaoyin feel a pang of heartache.
Never mind, once the imperial physician finished treating her, he would force out this internal energy!
"You..."
Nan Chaoyin sighed.
"Master~" Seeing that Nan Chaoyin did not seem to care about her previous actions, Madam Liu suddenly threw herself into his arms, her voice trembling with suppressed sobs. She tilted her head up, her eyes misty, filled with a mixture of grievance, fear, and coquettishness. Without saying much, she simply looked at Nan Chaoyin as if weeping, melting his heart.
"There, there, I'm not blaming you," Nan Chaoyin coaxed.
"But concubine, concubine blames herself. Concubine shouldn't have disobeyed Master and provoked Nan Shiying. It's just, it's just that concubine truly didn't want her to enter the Nan Mansion, but unexpectedly caused such a big trouble for the Nan Mansion and for Master. It's all concubine's fault, concubine, concubine..."
As she spoke, she struggled to get up from the bed to kneel on the ground.
Even though Nan Chaoyin knew that this display was merely an act, he still held her hand and softly comforted her, "It's alright. But Pear, I hope this is the first and last time. You must understand that the current Nan Shiying is no longer the Nan Shiying of the past. She is no longer that pitiful creature you could mold as you pleased..."
"Master, what are you saying? When has this concubine ever molded her?"
Nan Chaoyin glanced at Madam Liu, shaking his head with a hint of helplessness. Her words were… he had merely indulged her, not been blind or foolish.
Madam Liu wanted to say more, but seeing Nan Chaoyin's gaze, she moved her lips meekly. After all, she didn't truly believe Nan Chaoyin was foolish enough to be easily deceived. She lowered her head, fiddling with Nan Chaoyin's sleeve with her fingers, and whispered in a soft voice, "This concubine… this concubine was teaching her manners."
Making someone stand barefoot on frozen lake water was teaching manners?
Nan Chaoyin didn't expose her, merely nodded in agreement. He was indeed too indulgent towards Madam Liu. But after all, she was just a woman; what harm could a little indulgence do?
...
It wasn't until the imperial physician arrived at the mansion that Nan Yuan'er learned Nan Shiying had come.
Every time she recalled being trampled underfoot by Nan Shiying in their recent encounters, Nan Yuan'er wished she could eat her flesh and drink her blood.
After hearing her mother's humiliation at the hands of Nan Shiying, Nan Yuan'er was even more furious. If it weren't for her father's stern instructions, she would have rushed to Pinglan Pavilion long ago. Now, she could only hurry to Liwan Pavilion with her maid.
"Mother, Father!"
Children were raised at their knees. Madam Liu treated her children as her own. According to the rules, even though she had been elevated to the rank of Pingqi (secondary wife of equal status to the primary wife), she should still address the primary wife's mother as "Aunt" if the primary wife was still alive.
Nan Chaoyin nodded and did not linger in Liwan Pavilion.
After Nan Chaoyin left, Madam Liu propped herself up and, gritting her teeth, said to Nan Yuan'er, "Yuan'er, Mother wants that little slut dead."
Nan Yuan'er frowned slightly.
This was impossible!
Nan Shiying was no longer a defenseless worm to be toyed with. She was now a concubine whom Ji Jinmo had married with grand ceremony. If she were to die in the Nan Mansion, it would be exactly what Ji Jinmo wanted, giving him an opportunity to make trouble.
"Mother, don't say such things in anger!" Nan Yuan'er sat beside Madam Liu, looking at her mother with a hint of helplessness. Madam Liu was good in all aspects, except that she was too doted on by her father, only focused on venting her emotions without considering the overall situation.
No, she had to keep an eye on her for these two days. She couldn't afford any more incidents at this critical juncture.
"Yuan'er, I..."
"Mother, daughter knows you have been wronged. But this is not the best time to deal with her. Why must you risk plunging the entire Nan Mansion into crisis just to vent your momentary anger?" Nan Yuan'er persuaded her gently.
Nan Yuan'er had been brought up by Nan Chaoyin since childhood, studying alongside Nan Yu Jin. Nan Chaoyin had practically educated her as if she were a son. If she had not been a girl, Nan Yu Jin would have likely killed her long ago.
Therefore, compared to Madam Liu, who only focused on her immediate surroundings, Nan Yuan'er was much more rational. She didn't want to kill Nan Shiying out of revenge just because she and her mother had been repeatedly humiliated by her. Instead, she was more worried that Madam Liu might do something foolish during this period.
"But Mother can't swallow this insult!"
Her wet nurse and personal maid had been beaten one after another, and she herself had been humiliated by Nan Shiying, losing both face and dignity. If she couldn't vent this anger, she would surely suffocate from the frustration.
Nan Yuan'er sighed. She understood that if she did nothing, Madam Liu might act on her own. So, she said, "If Mother cannot swallow this insult, daughter will find an opportunity to teach her a lesson. But Mother, please don't take action yourself. Just wait and watch the show."
Madam Liu's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly.
After returning to her room, Nan Yuan'er tidied herself up, instructed the servants to hitch the carriage, and left the mansion.
...
The next morning, the servants of the Nan Mansion became busy.
Today was the day the Nan Mansion was hosting a banquet. The young ladies from various mansions finished their midday meals early and arrived at the Nan Mansion promptly.
However, as they looked at the gate of the Nan Mansion, their expressions varied.
The gate clearly looked newly installed. The paint on the gate was not completely dry yet, so the rumors from yesterday were true? Did Nan Shiying really order someone to break down the gate of the Nan Mansion?
Nan Yuan'er watched the flickering gazes of everyone present, maintaining a graceful smile on her face. She did not feel embarrassed by their reactions.
She beckoned everyone into the mansion.
Although the young lords from various mansions did not wish to attend this banquet, imperial decrees were difficult to defy. Who would dare to truly ignore the emperor's will? After much deliberation, they all finally arrived.
This time, the envoy from Dali did not accompany them. The princess of Dali brought only a personal maid.
Just as everyone had arrived, a servant's announcement echoed from outside: "The Regent has arrived!"
Let alone everyone else, even Nan Shiying was taken aback.
Why had this lord also come?