Through the thin, dark brown curtains, Heshen frequently belittled himself to amuse the Empress Dowager. If it weren't for Fukang'an's imposing figure sitting behind the curtains, Yan Ning would have thought he was gone long ago.

Fukang'an was a man of few words to begin with, and now that he was in the palace, Yan Ning heard his voice even less often. Apart from greetings and apologies, he seemed to have little to say to the Empress Dowager or the Emperor.

Fukang'an requested to resign due to the matter of Xiangshan. The Empress Dowager ordered Yan Ning to escort Fukang'an out of Cining Palace. Yan Ning knew in her heart that the Empress Dowager intended for her to speak on behalf of the Emperor.

As soon as they left the palace, Yan Ning and Fu Kang'an walked side by side, their pace slow and orderly, as if they wanted to make this short stretch of road last for a hundred years.

A wave of scorching heat washed over him. Fukang'an stared straight ahead, several large beads of sweat already dripping from his forehead. He wiped them away and said casually, "I've taken care of everything at the Imperial Household Department for you!"

Yan Ning knew that he held the position of Minister of the Imperial Household Department, which was why he could move freely within the palace. Smelling the faint sandalwood scent emanating from him, Yan Ning lowered her head to avoid the sweltering heat. "Did you go to Wanxiang Pavilion last night?"

A slight smile tugged at the corners of Fukang'an's lips. He didn't answer her. Instead, he continued to look ahead, walking side by side with her.

Yan Ning didn't smell any perfume on Fukang'an. She just wanted to tell him that even in the palace, she still cared about him.

As for the matter the Empress Dowager had entrusted to her, Yan Ning knew it couldn't be resolved in a day. Fu Kang'an would definitely come to the palace often for her sake, and Yan Ning wanted to wait until she was familiar with everything in the palace before she could come up with a solution.

Just before leaving the Cining Palace, Fukang'an took out the unfinished lily-patterned handkerchief from Yan Ning's sleeve and handed it to her, saying, "You just need to focus on serving the Empress Dowager!" Then he turned and left.

Under the sunlight, the handkerchief was slightly damp, carrying a faint sandalwood scent. Yan Ning opened the handkerchief, revealing two lines of regular script: "Let us drink wine and grow old together. With zither and lute at our side, all is peaceful and serene."

From these two short lines, Yan Ning knew that Fukang'an, who was not good with words, had always understood her thoughts, and he had always acted accordingly. He never let her interfere in the affairs of the manor.

In an instant, Yan Ning's tears soaked her handkerchief. Fu Kang'an thought the same thing as her. He imagined a life like that of an ordinary couple, preparing delicious food and drinking fine wine together under the moon, playing music in harmony, peaceful and beautiful, hand in hand until old age.

Fukang'an bestowed upon Yan Ning a beautiful long scroll painting, which was far more desirable than a thousand words.

Stacks of silk bundles appeared before Yan Ning's eyes. She wiped away her tears and looked up to meet Heshen's crescent-shaped smiling eyes. She took the bundles. "What is this?"

Heshen smiled and said, "Your life-saving charm!" Then he lowered his head and left.

Knowing she had many questions to ask Heshen, Yan Ning followed behind him, the two walking one in front and one behind. Upon opening the package, the first thing Yan Ning saw was a map of the Forbidden City, followed by the Emperor and Empress Dowager's preferences, the ranks of the concubines in the palace, and some taboo matters in the palace, and so on.

As Yan Ning was marveling at the palace encyclopedia in her hands, Heshen's voice drifted from the front. "General Fukang'an should have taken care of things at the Imperial Household Department for you! This is all I can do in this small way!"

Yan Ning carefully put away the things in her hands. "Thank you, this is far more than what I could do! But what's going on with Master Su and Madam Su? Madam Su said she has another son who also works in the palace!"

Heshen stopped and turned around, the crescent moon in his eyes disappearing. "Remember this: you are Su Yanning, the young lady of the Su family in Jiangnan. Su Qi and his wife are your parents!"

Yan Ning said hesitantly, "I know, but..."

"Your brother, Su Jinteng, is an imperial bodyguard. He recently startled the emperor and was imprisoned! Master Su and Madam Su came to the capital to find me in order to rescue your brother. I inadvertently revealed your situation to them. After they showed me your portrait, I sent them to the Fucha Mansion!" Heshen ignored Yan Ning's concerns and continued speaking.

Yan Ning had a vague sense of unease. "From you? Does that mean Fukang'an will definitely trace it back to you?"

"Otherwise, why would Zhao Xing personally escort your parents back to Suzhou?" Seeing the anxious look on Yan Ning's face, Heshen's eyes turned into crescent moons again. "I have already taken care of everything for you!"

Unlike the Imperial Garden, which is lush and vibrant with flowers, the Cining Palace Garden features a striking mint green amidst clusters of crimson blossoms, refreshing and charming. Yet, its face bears the sorrow of late autumn.

Fukang'an was a man of few words, and he rarely spoke of his affairs. Yan Ning was unsure why Fukang'an had been frequently visiting Wanxiang Pavilion recently. He wasn't a man who indulged in drinking and womanizing; if he weren't burdened by unresolved sorrows, he wouldn't have allowed himself to be drunk in brothels.

Yan Ning left Heshen behind and walked forward in a daze. As if remembering something, she clutched the silk bundle in her hands tightly. She whispered in Heshen's ear, "Lord Heshen, I have no way to repay what you have done for me. Please treat the Fifteenth Prince Yongyan well!"

Thinking about Heshen's future fate, Yan Ning only wanted to do everything she could to repay Heshen's kindness. Although she knew she couldn't rewrite history, if she could prevent Heshen's end from being as tragic as the historical record of his property being confiscated and him being sentenced to death, Yan Ning was willing to give Heshen the information she knew about his future.

She also believed that Heshen, who was insightful, would understand her meaning from her few words.

Then a touch of mint green disappears amidst the vibrant colors.

Heshen, dressed in official robes that seemed out of place amidst the flowers, stood still. He already knew that Yan Ning knew about the events that had not yet occurred. Now, Yan Ning asked him to treat the Fifteenth Prince well, who must be the one to inherit the throne in the future.

A few wisps of cool breeze blew by, and the sweat on Heshen's face lessened slightly. His expression, however, was a mixture of joy and sorrow. Knowing the chosen emperor meant he could begin preparations early. Becoming the right-hand man of two emperors meant that for the rest of his life, he would be second only to the emperor.

But Heshen wanted Yan Ning to know his feelings. His painstaking efforts for her were no longer because of the promise they made back then.

When Yan Ning returned to her residence, there was another palace maid named Linglong in the house, who said that she had been assigned there by the Imperial Household Department. As soon as Linglong saw Yan Ning, she kept calling her "Miss" and poured tea and water for her.

As her name suggests, Linglong was not only clever and nimble-fingered, but also quick and agile. With Fukang'an's earlier warning, Yan Ning knew that Linglong must have been forced into the household by the Imperial Household Department to curry favor with Fukang'an. Granny Zhuang, aware of the Empress Dowager's intention to keep Yan Ning, ignored the Imperial Household Department's arrangements.

Clutching the silk bundle in her arms and clutching the handkerchief given to her by Fukang'an, Yan Ning gradually felt a sense of peace regarding her days in the palace.

Before Linglong could even help Yan Ning sit down, Granny Zhuang came in carrying a food box. She instructed Yan Ning to take it to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to present to the Emperor, saying it was a gift from the Empress Dowager.