The Emperor's gaze fell upon Yan Ning beside him, a look of surprise in his eyes. "Your Majesty, is this the girl who danced the peacock dance the other day?"

The Empress Dowager nodded slightly, and the phoenix on the shelf seemed ready to spread its wings and take flight. She glanced at Fukang'an and slowly said, "This is Kang'er's unmarried wife!"

"Haha... Excellent!" The Emperor's laughter was hearty and powerful, not at all like that of a man over sixty. "A beauty and a hero—truly a wonderful tale!"

From beginning to end, Fukang'an stood with his head bowed, not uttering a single word. It was as if everything in the palace was of no concern to him.

Yan Ning looked at Fukang'an across the hall, his face expressionless, with worry. She could sense that Fukang'an was in agony, and he could only hide his pain with a blank expression.

They were father and son, yet they met as ruler and subject every day; he was a prince, yet he could only wander outside the palace. Yan Ning could not see through Fu Kang'an's thoughts, let alone the thoughts of the emperor who sat above all others.

To allow the Empress Dowager to get out of the palace more often, the Emperor sent Wu Shu to deliver an imperial decree, inviting Consort Shu, Consort Rong, Consort Dun, Consort Ying, Consort Xun, and Consort Wan to go to the Imperial Garden together.

The yellow glazed tiles atop the palace roof appeared even more majestic and awe-inspiring under the sunlight, while the neat, uniform red brick walls were spotless. One palace gate after another cascaded down.

The Emperor and Empress Dowager rode side by side in their palanquins, with Fukang'an on horseback protecting them from behind.

Yan Ning followed closely behind on foot with a group of nannies, palace maids, and eunuchs, who knelt on the ground along the way. Yan Ning looked at the Emperor above the crowd, sitting upright in a golden light. Under such an aura, it would be difficult not to feel awe.

The dragon carriage stopped before a single-arch stone bridge, beneath which flowed a pool of clear water, where golden fish swam merrily beneath elegant water lilies. A pavilion called Floating Jade Pavilion stood on the bridge, with a covered porch extending southward from it.

The Emperor helped the Empress Dowager down from the sedan chair, where the concubines were already kneeling to greet her.

"Your Majesty, I greet you. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace!"

"Your Majesty, I greet you. May Your Majesty be well!"

A chorus of women's voices drifted over, sounding gentle and touching.

Leading the group was Consort Shu, who looked sickly and weary. After the Emperor helped the Empress Dowager to a seat, he pulled Consort Shu aside. "I haven't seen you much lately. Now that summer is here, you should go out more often."

Consort Shu curtsied, her sickly appearance seemingly brightening. "It is my fault that Your Majesty is so concerned."

Yan Ning stood beside the Empress Dowager, observing the concubines. Most of them, dressed in opulent attire, were in their forties or fifties, while only those of lower rank were in their twenties. Consort Xun was about the same age as Yan Ning. Seeing Consort Xun, Yan Ning finally understood why the Empress Dowager had informed the Emperor from the beginning that she was Fukang'an's betrothed. A layer of cold sweat involuntarily dried on her body.

Every time the Emperor spoke to a concubine, the concubines had to rise to answer. Gradually, the Emperor's face showed some displeasure, and he went on to ask Consort Dun. A girlish dissatisfaction rose on her thirty-year-old face, "Your Majesty thought you had forgotten about me! You really had to ask all my sisters before you remembered that I even existed!" After saying this, she ignored the Emperor.

Instead of being angry, the emperor burst into laughter, saying, "Only Consort Dun would dare to say such a thing!" He couldn't help but glance at Consort Dun a few more times.

"Your servant Heshen greets the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and all the ladies!" Yan Ning, who was only focused on the Emperor, did not notice that Heshen was already kneeling outside the pavilion.

The Emperor's smile deepened. "Rise! I was just thinking, how could there be few people who could come up with such a solution? And here you are!"

Heshen's eyes crinkled into crescent moons with a smile. "Your Majesty, I am but a worm in Your Majesty's womb, surviving only because Your Majesty provides for me every day. How could I not understand Your Majesty's thoughts!"

One sentence made the Emperor, Empress Dowager and all the concubines burst into laughter.

Fukang'an, still expressionless, glanced down at Heshen.

At the Emperor's beckoning, He Shen walked to the Emperor's side and stood in a straight line with Fukang'an. The Emperor stretched out his hands and said to the crowd, "These are my right-hand men, the two great generals of the Qing Dynasty, one civil and one military!"

Fukang'an, who had never been on good terms with Heshen, finally showed a hint of displeasure when he heard the emperor compare him to Heshen.

Inside the pavilion, Yan Ning's eyes remained fixed on Fu Kang'an, while Fu Kang'an's eyes were fixed on the ground. He Shen's eyes darted between Yan Ning and the other concubines in the pavilion several times, but he mostly observed the Emperor's expression.

Amidst the flowers, Yan Ning, clad in a flowing white peacock feather robe adorned with silver sequins, shimmered with a captivating glow. Her figure leaped and disappeared among the blossoms, appearing and disappearing in a blur.

Her skirt brushed against the flower clusters, scattering petals. A cool breeze blew, and the petals clung to Yan Ning's dress, resembling white snow and red plum blossoms in the midst of summer's heat.

There were no zithers or flutes to accompany her, only a gentle breeze and the rustling of leaves. Peacocks chased after Yan Ning, a fairy in the forest, and at this moment, Yan Ning seemed more like a fairy of a hundred flowers.

Even those who had seen Yan Ning perform the peacock dance before were once again awestruck by her presence in the garden.

Yan Ning brushed her slender hand across her veil, lifted a corner of her skirt, and looked at Fukang'an, who was gazing at her from the pavilion, her eyes shining.

Heshen and Fukang'an were already captivated by the dancing figures before them. At this moment, Heshen looked at Yan Ning and Fukang'an, who were gazing at each other with tender affection. A bitter feeling spread through his heart.

The Emperor was already overjoyed, and now, seeing that the Empress Dowager's illness had lessened considerably, his imperial countenance was even more delighted. "Reward her! Wu Shulai, reward her handsomely!"

Yan Ning knelt at the foot of the steps outside the pavilion, bowing her head and kowtowing, "Thank you for the Emperor's reward!"

Before Wu Shulai set off, Heshen knelt on the ground and said, “I have seen that the Empress Dowager’s complexion is rosy after only half a day. I suppose Miss Yan Ning is carrying good fortune. Why don’t we let Miss Yan Ning serve the Empress Dowager, please her, and drive away her illness?”

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