Xi Ying met Yan Ning's blank stare, her smile deepening, and creases appeared on her cheeks, resembling dimples due to her slender face.

Yan Ning couldn't help but look for De Lin's figure. At the end of the women's banquet was the children's banquet. He was playing with seven or eight children, presumably having already greeted Xi Ying.

At this moment, Fukang'an could only allow Xi Ying to hold Delin briefly before separating the mother and son. With his biological mother around, his adoptive mother, Yan Ning, could not completely control him. Having been influenced by his biological mother, no matter how good she was to him, it would be nothing more than that.

Yan Ning's hand froze, her eyes filled with gratitude as she looked at Fukang'an. The sound of him setting down the wine cup was heavy and forceful, and she hurriedly drank the water in the cup. She couldn't help but glance at the wine cup in Wu Chun's hand; it certainly didn't contain any wine.

At the banquet for dozens of people, everyone chimed in, and some idle chatter was quickly glossed over.

As Yan Ning looked around, she met Fu Long'an's cold, narrowed gaze, which reminded her of the incident at Yi Ren Xuan. A chill ran down her spine, and even the singing and dancing lost their appeal.

Although Fulongan was born into a wealthy and powerful family, he was not as well-rounded as Fukangan and Fuchangan, who grew up in the palace and were imbued with the refined elegance of the palace, and were skilled in martial arts and calligraphy.

The curtain was opened, and the stuffy room was cooled by the air conditioning, making it feel slightly chilly.

Peng was dressed in a silver-white cheongsam embroidered with chrysanthemums, and a pearl-white gauze skirt with a row of tiny pearls embroidered diagonally. The contrast between the two whites made her appear as bright as the moon.

The servants following behind her hurried a few steps to set up a zither table and a long bench for her. Because the hall was filled with the warmth of burning agarwood incense, the sudden cold wind caused tiny, visible droplets of vapor to fall behind Peng Ruo.

Everyone present was amazed by her extraordinary spirituality, and they only came to their senses when she bowed to the old lady.

"Pengruo, daughter of Fujian Pengxue, respectfully wishes Madam Fucha good health!"

"Miss Peng has only arrived today, and she's already gone to so much trouble. We're all certainly having a good time listening to her!" The old lady spoke kindly, her face beaming with a smile.

Some of the women were whispering amongst themselves, but Yan Ning couldn't hear what they were saying because they were quite far away. Fu Chang'an, however, was quite drunk and said to Fu Kang'an, "Third Brother already has a stunning beauty by his side, this fairy will eventually belong to me!"

Fukang'an didn't reply, but lowered his head and curled the corners of his mouth. He replaced the crab roe soup in front of Yan Ning with the fine noodles with rose petals and osmanthus stamens that Zhao Xinggang had just served. The noodles were served in a crystal-clear jade porcelain bowl, like petals of jade soup being strung together with silver threads.

Yan Ning sipped the sweet noodle soup in the jade porcelain bowl and sighed inwardly. So it turned out that Peng Xue had made Peng come to the Fucha residence today again so that he could "show up" in front of the Fucha brothers.

As Xue Zhu's melodious voice rang out, Yan Ning looked up and saw that everyone at the banquet was looking at her sideways to listen.

Suddenly the sound accelerated, and the raging snow resembled goose feathers breaking branches. Yan Ning's heart clenched as if thick snow blocked her path.

Suddenly, the sound of a zither drifted out, and the fine snowflakes seemed to remind one of walking hand in hand with Fukang'an on a snow-covered path.

The music stopped abruptly, a time when spring was in full bloom. Looking at the crowd, they all wore expressions of lingering enjoyment.

The old lady was engrossed in it, and sighed softly, "Why does it stop in the third month of spring?"

Peng Ruo's slender fingers remained resting on the zither, and she smiled apologetically, "Now that the cold moon hangs high, wouldn't it be a waste of the winter snow if it were springtime?"

She turned to look at Fukang'an, who was examining the contents of the small jade bottle in Yan Ning's hand. As she turned her head, she met Fu Chang'an's drunken gaze and couldn't help but frown slightly.

Of the four Fucha brothers, only Fu Chang'an and Fu Kang'an were the most refined. Fu Chang'an was a man who frequented brothels and pleasure quarters. Unlike Fu Kang'an, who was pure of heart and devoted only to Yan Ning.

These words were spoken by her mother to Peng Ruo before her departure. They were also the general outline of the Fucha Mansion that Peng Ruo had obtained by spending all her jewelry and possessions. Unexpectedly, they were seven parts similar and three parts true.

Yan Ning's jade porcelain bottle fell from her sleeve and was caught by Fu Kang'an with two fingers. He frowned and looked at Yan Ning. She tried to snatch it back, but he stopped her and interrogated her about what it was. Yan Ning had no choice but to confess that it was peony juice, which could leave a woman's lips and teeth with a lingering fragrance.

Fukang'an was also amused, and with a deep smile, he asked Yan Ning to open the handkerchief and pour out the contents to see what made it so fragrant. So the two of them carefully examined Yan Ning's handkerchief.

Yan Ning was not a person who knew anything about music, but when Peng started playing again, she felt as if she were immersed in it. When Peng stopped playing again, she quickly calmed down.

Fukang'an was a rough man who practiced martial arts. Although he had some knowledge of music, he was merely an outsider. He could tell whether a woman played well or not, but if asked what made her playing good, he couldn't say a word.

Those skilled in martial arts are most perceptive; he followed the gaze and met Peng's eyes as he looked at him and Yan Ning. Yan Ning followed Fukang'an's gaze, and the three of them looked at each other. Yan Ning felt that she had spoiled her enjoyment of playing the zither. Thinking of the refined elegance of spring and the common folk, Yan Ning felt that she was the latter.

Fortunately, Peng Ruo's gaze quickly shifted elsewhere.

"Such a melody, I can only sigh, 'This music should only exist in heaven!'" exclaimed a lady beside the old lady, looking at Peng Ruo with great anticipation.

Peng smiled apologetically again, "Peng is only skilled in the art of Yang A Xie Lu, yet I chose this refined and elegant piece. Please don't make fun of me anymore, Madam!"

Amidst laughter and conversation, the old lady ordered Peng to play another tune. The music, once finished, dispelled the weariness of those keeping vigil on New Year's Eve. Fukang'an, knowing Wuchun was pregnant, sent her home; then, noting Yanning was drunk, he sent her home as well.

Yan Ning stared at Fu Kang'an, utterly bewildered. Zhao Xing had poured a bellyful of water into her mouth; how could he not know? Unfortunately, with everyone around, she couldn't ask him. Truly exhausted, Yan Ning happily followed Zhao Xing out of the hall.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!