The luncheon lasted two hours. After returning to their courtyard, Xi Ying and Mei Xiang vomited up everything they had eaten that day. They wouldn't have dared to be so rude in front of Fukang'an at Jianguozhai.

Upon returning, Xi Ying immediately ordered people to boil water for a bath, while Mei Xiang had all the clothes she had worn that day burned to ashes.

Within half a day, news of Yan Ning's whole lamb feast spread throughout the entire mansion.

Xi Ying immediately ordered the courtyard gates closed, claiming illness and refusing to go out or see anyone. If she still didn't learn to reflect on her actions after Fukang'an's appearance, then she had truly wasted all these years in the Fucha household.

Although Xiang'er's matter was not directly related to her, she was still in charge of the affairs of the manor, and she couldn't escape responsibility if anyone in the manor was wronged.

This seclusion is for both Fukang'an and Meixiang's benefit. Now that the general is residing in the mansion, you should devote all your energy to him.

But Meixiang didn't understand. After burning her clothes and taking a bath, she ran to Changting Garden to discuss with Xiying how to retaliate. However, she was turned away by the tightly closed courtyard gate.

At this moment, she felt utterly alone and helpless. This nominal status as a concubine filled her with panic. Without Xi Ying as her protector, she didn't know how she would survive in this mansion.

After the servants of Jian Gong Zhai cleared away the banquet, Zhao Xing immediately led people to the garden to bring over many potted flowers with strong fragrance to dispel the mutton smell in the courtyard.

After the maids lit sandalwood incense in the main room, they all bowed and withdrew.

After all the servants had left, Yan Ning wrapped her arms tightly around Fukang'an's waist. Looking up at him, she asked, "Are you still angry about what happened that day?"

After a moment of distraction, Fukang'an pried Yan Ning's hands off his body. "If this happens again, I won't help you!" He was pleased that she had finally come to her senses and learned how to use her power within the deep confines of the mansion. However, doing all this for others would only leave her in a predicament where she couldn't please everyone.

Yan Ning nodded, watching Fukang'an leave, her heart clenching with worry.

For several days in a row, Fukang'an stayed overnight at Chunying Garden. The idle talk of the people in the manor shifted from Xiying and Meixiang to Yan Ning. They all thought that after Yan Ning returned to the manor, Wuchun would be neglected, but now she is still the only one who stands out.

One day, Zhu Xiang learned from Zhao Xing that Fukang'an was going to Xiangshan.

Yan Ning then went to the Spring Cherry Garden. The cherry blossoms on the two cherry trees in the garden had all fallen, and small fruits, about the size of a finger, were sparsely hanging on the bare branches.

The cherry blossoms are sour and astringent, just like Yan Ning's current state of mind.

The door to the main room was not closed, only a beaded curtain hung there, which felt cool to the touch. Yan Ning ordered the maid outside the door to be quiet, and then parted the beaded curtain to enter the room. Outside the semi-circular partition of the inner room, there was also a beaded curtain.

The strong fragrance in the room made Yan Ning unable to open her eyes; it was not the scent of flowers, but rather something that made her feel intoxicated with desire.

Wu Chun sat in front of her dressing table. Hearing the rustling of the beaded curtain, she turned around with a smile. But when she saw Yan Ning, her smile froze on her face.

Compared to Yan Ning's frail body, Wu Chun's frailty stemmed from her petite frame. Her face, small as a palm, possessed exquisite features, as delicate as jade carving.

Dressed in flowing Hanfu, a garment specially permitted by Fukang'an, she was free to wear it within the manor. She rose, pulled up her wide gauze sleeves, and curtsied to Yan Ning. "Wuchun greets Madam!" She then ordered her personal maid, Diecui, to serve tea.

Zhu Xiang helped Yan Ning sit back in the main seat. Yan Ning looked at Wu Chun with a smile in her eyes, but did not say anything.

From the moment Wuchun saw Yanning in the garden, she knew she had lost. Fukang'an had never been intimate with her until he learned that Yanning was leaving the palace, at which point he began to spend the night at Chunying Garden.

From the moment they met at Wanxiang Pavilion, Wuchun knew that she was nothing more than a tool Fukang'an used to spite Yan Ning. In his heart, she held no place whatsoever.

"Today is the third time I've met Sister Wuchun, and I finally have the chance to properly admire her beauty. She's so petite and exquisite!"

The teacup in Yan Ning's hand emitted a fragrant white mist that drifted upwards, making it difficult for Wu Chun to see her expression clearly.

She wore a pale yellow satin cheongsam embroidered with pink cherry blossoms, her hair simply styled in a bun, adorned only with two round lily-shaped hair ornaments, silver tassels dangling from her ears, playfully tossing her hair.

Her face was adorned with eyebrows painted with snail-shell ink, and her eyelashes were curled. Every smile and frown revealed her pearly white teeth.

Looking at Yan Ning like this, Wu Chun sighed inwardly, "I'm also looking at you so closely for the first time." This stunningly beautiful face, which she so admired, had won the heart of the man she loved.

Fukang'an's Xiangshan blueprints were left in the study of Chunying Garden. He returned to Chunying Garden to retrieve them, but saw Zhuxiang and Mingxin guarding the door. He strode towards the main room.

"Greetings, General!"

The maids guarding the door shouted in unison.

Wu Chun's expression shifted slightly. "General, since you intend to use Wu Chun as a performer, then let Wu Chun perform for her."

The moment Fukang'an entered, she knelt down, tears streaming down her face like the broken threads of the beaded curtain on her door. Her voice was soft and moving, "Madam, I know I shouldn't have served the General while you were away! But my feelings for the General are too deep to bear, and he just welcomed me back to the manor. I'm willing to forgo any official title. If you are still unhappy, Madam, I'm willing to remain your maid. I only beg you to allow me to stay in the Fucha manor!"

After she finished speaking, she sobbed in pain, which aroused the hearts of those who heard her.

But Yan Ning's anger burned her compassionate heart to ashes. Since arriving at Chunying Garden, she had only spoken one sentence to her. And all of this was clearly done for Fukang'an's benefit.

Yan Ning sneered inwardly. After all she and Fukang'an had been through, how could he not know her true character?

Standing at the door, Fukang'an waved his hand, breaking many strands of the beaded curtain. He came in and helped Wuchun up, saying, "When did it become her place to make decisions about the affairs of the manor!" He said this while looking at Wuchun, but he was speaking to Yan Ning.

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