Yan Ning leaned back slightly, bumping into a short-legged table placed on the heated couch behind her, her brows furrowing in pain.

Fukang'an put one arm around her slender waist to separate her from the table, put down the jade porcelain bowl in his other hand, and pinched her cheek. "You're getting more and more petty!"

Yan Ning looked up and met his warm gaze. She felt ashamed of her pettiness and lowered her head, no longer speaking.

Zhu Xiang led Die Cui over, her face calm as still water. Yan Ning sighed inwardly, realizing that Die Cui couldn't even learn the skills of a little maid, so easily revealing her inner emotions.

Die Cui bowed and knelt down, not looking at Fukang'an and Yan Ning who were sitting on the warm couch. "Reporting to the General! Consort An did not want to cause trouble, but this servant could not bear to see Consort An feel wronged, so I took the liberty of coming to see the General!"

"What is it?"

Fukang'an's voice fell on the tip of Diecui's neck, making her head lower even further.

"Aunt An has lost her appetite recently, except for a few spoonfuls of bird's nest soup. However, it's been seven days, and after informing Steward Zhao, he hasn't been seen all day. I had no choice but to go to the kitchen myself. Chef Wu declined, saying that the bird's nest soup in the manor is always given to the Old Madam and Madam first, and the rest is given to the concubines. Aunt An said that if there's no bird's nest soup, ordinary white bird's nest soup will do. But Chef Wu said that Madam instructed that the kitchen is not allowed to interfere in any matters of Chunying Courtyard! Aunt An forbade me to report this, but it is my duty to serve Aunt An comfortably, and I dare not not report this!"

By now, it was broad daylight. The curtain beside the warm couch was held up by bamboo poles, and the crystal curtain, through its phosphorescent sheen, dappled light onto Fukang'an's deep blue armor. His face, however, was shrouded in a deep crimson mist, scrutinizing Yan Ning.

Yan Ning glanced back at the half-eaten bird's nest soup in the jade bowl, her eyes turning bloodshot. She didn't usually like these dishes, as Zhu Xiang knew. How could it be such a coincidence that a bowl of bird's nest soup was served today?

The Fucha family had extremely strict rules; meals were generally delivered according to a set schedule. If it was too early, the kitchen hadn't started cooking yet; if it was too late, the kitchen wouldn't start cooking again.

Yan Ning's gaze toward Zhu Xiang was somewhat sharp, and Zhu Xiang also frowned, but dared not speak in front of Fu Kang'an.

"Zhao Xing!"

Fukang'an shouted loudly towards the curtain, his voice so loud that Yan Ning, who was beside him, was startled and her ears trembled.

Her heart pounded beneath her cloak as she looked at Fukang'an's profile, unsure how to defend herself. Chef Wu had helped her more than once; the whole lamb feast she had prepared upon her return from the palace was also entirely his doing. Now, Fukang'an naturally assumed that Chef Wu's words were at Yan Ning's behest.

Zhao Xing entered, casually flicked his sleeves a few times, and knelt to pay his respects. He usually didn't perform the full ceremony, relying on Fukang'an's favor. Now, the two masters sat upright, one expressionless, the other looking aggrieved, while Diecui from Chunying Garden knelt below. Although he didn't know what had happened, he figured that what happened in the deep courtyards and backyards was nothing more than a quarrel between women over a man's affections.

"Didn't I order you to take over the affairs of Spring Cherry Blossom Garden? How come even the Blood Swallow has been cut off!"

After Fukang'an finished speaking, Zhao Xing felt a chill run down his spine. He patted his bald head. "There's been so much going on at the manor these past few days, I completely forgot! I'll go take care of it right away!"

But when did the people of Chunyingyuan ever look for him?

Zhao Xing dared not say this, for it would only make Fukang'an suspect that he was in cahoots with Yan Ning and would harm her.

Fukang'an told Diecui to follow Zhao Xing out, and Zhuxiang followed the two of them out as well, but Yan Ning stopped her.

"Zhuxiang, go tell Chef Wu of the kitchen that from now on, only enough blood bird's nest from Mudan Hall is allowed! Jian Gong Zhai doesn't even need to serve ordinary white bird's nest. I'm not pregnant, so wouldn't all the kitchen's efforts be wasted?" Her expression was indifferent, and she didn't even look at Fukang'an.

Yan Ning spoke quickly, each word sharp and succinct, her voice icy, causing Zhu Xiang, who was lifting the curtain with both hands, to be momentarily taken aback. She quickly realized Yan Ning was sulking, and sighed inwardly at her lack of composure. She then curtsied, "This servant will go immediately!"

After Zhu Xiang left, Fukang'an gave Yan Ning a meaningful look before leaving without a word. It was because he spoiled her so much that she acted so recklessly, following his every whim. Fukang'an's furrowed brows startled the servants of Jian Gong Zhai, who all sighed inwardly, fearing the winds of change were about to shift again.

As soon as Zhu Xiang and Fu Kang'an left the courtyard of Jian Gong Zhai, they entered the inner room and knelt before Yan Ning. "This morning, the kitchen sent over a bowl of bird's nest soup, saying that Madam hadn't eaten yesterday, and that it was Chef Wu who presented it to her as a token of respect! It was my mistake!"

Yan Ning pulled up Zhu Xiang, who was kneeling on the couch, and blamed herself for doubting her. "We should go and see this Aunt An! Could it be that without the blood swallow, she's stopped having children?" Yan Ning bit her lip, unable to hide the grievance in her heart.

Zhu Xiang had just gotten up when she knelt down again. Looking at Yan Ning with deep concern, she said, "Madam, you mustn't talk nonsense in a fit of anger. The General has already left in a fit of rage! Madam, do you know that without the General, our Jian Gong Zhai will never again be able to welcome a house full of flowers next year!"

Zhu Xiang's words were all reasonable. Yan Ning's anger subsided, and her face showed some melancholy. "Help me change my clothes!"

As they approached Chunying Garden, Zhuxiang advised Yanning, "Madam, are you really going to Chunying Garden? If Aunt An uses the child in her womb as a pawn, it will surely create a rift between you and the General!"

Yan Ning gripped the hot water bottle tightly, the warmth spreading from her hand to her face. "This child was hard-won for her, she wouldn't dare take such a risk!" Yan Ning's smile, framed by her lotus-red cloak draped with mandarin ducks, was ethereal and captivating.

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