Yan Ning guessed that Zhao Xing must have been reporting about Wu Chun's murder today, so she stopped resisting Fu Kang'an's hands that were restraining her.

Spring Cherry Garden was no longer as noisy as when Yan Ning had arrived. The servants were all in their positions, and the courtyard was quiet and serene, with only the newly transplanted plum blossoms in full bloom.

Yan Ning was carried in Fukang'an's arms as the servants walked past with their heads bowed. She felt somewhat embarrassed, realizing that she couldn't be as poised and dignified as Xi Ying.

Fukang'an pondered for a moment, then ordered Zhao Xing, who stood beside him with his head bowed, "Report to Mudan Hall that Aunt An has successfully given birth to the young lady, but since it is freezing cold, tell the old lady not to make the trip! Remember not to let the old lady catch a cold!"

Previously, when Wuchun had an accident, Fukang'an was afraid that the news of the child's loss would alarm the old lady. Therefore, everything at Chunying Garden today was kept from Mudan Hall, as he did not want the old lady to grieve the loss of Dejia again.

Zhao Xing took the order and walked a few steps ahead. Yan Ning could tell from Fu Kang'an's calm and expressionless face that he must be thinking about something. She stopped talking and let him carry her towards the courtyard gate.

As the two left Chunying Garden, they encountered Xia'er carrying a water bucket. Yan Ning was surprised; this was heavy work that servants and young men were supposed to do, so how did it fall into the hands of a weak woman like her? She then realized how Xia'er's hands, which were covered with frostbite, came to be when she last came to Chunying Garden.

Fukang'an's gaze swept over Xia'er like an arrow, and she immediately bowed her head and knelt down to greet the two. "This servant greets the General and the Madam!" The bucket fell hastily, splashing a lot of water, wetting Xia'er's blue cloth jacket and trousers below her knees.

Yan Ning and Fu Kang'an were only inches apart, and she could see his expression clearly.

If the servants in the manor had done nothing wrong, Fukang'an had always been kind to them. Seeing Xia'er in such a pitiful state, Yan Ning could tell from Fukang'an's expression that he was already dissatisfied with Wu Chun's harsh treatment of the servants. However, Wu Chun had just given birth, so he couldn't reprimand her.

He stopped and looked at Xia'er coldly, saying, "This kind of thing can be done by other servants! From now on, you will go to Aunt An's room every day to watch over the incense burner and stove, and make sure Aunt An doesn't catch a chill!"

Yan Ning looked at Fukang'an, who was walking quickly forward, with a puzzled expression. "Wu Chun has her reasons for treating her this way. Why do you let someone you don't like wander around the inner room and upset her?"

Fukang'an's expression didn't change much. His calm, still eyes met Yan Ning's. "She was, after all, Xi Ying's dowry maid!"

His words were casual and didn't seem to express any lingering affection for Xi Ying; Yan Ning couldn't understand what he meant.

The news of Wu Chun giving birth to a daughter had already spread throughout the household, so wherever she went, the servants were beaming with joy, their faces radiant like a blushing sunset.

The Fucha family hadn't had such a joyous occasion in a long time. Since Wuchun entered the palace, Yan Ning had followed suit. Although Fukang'an walked around the mansion as usual every day, the servants could all see that beneath the calm surface of the Fucha mansion, a raging fire was burning within. No one dared to slack off in the slightest; everyone walked cautiously in front of Fukang'an, as if on thin ice, fearing that the raging fire would melt the thin ice beneath their feet.

Now Wuchun has given birth to a daughter, and Yanning is pregnant; although it is early spring, the flowers in Fucha Mansion are blooming half a month earlier than in previous years.

Back at Jian Gong Zhai, Fukang'an placed Yan Ning on the warm couch and went to his study alone.

Yan Ning knew he was referring to Wu Chun's matter this morning, so she didn't think much of it.

Zhu Xiang brought a bowl of barley and longan soup that she had made herself in the small kitchen of Jian Gong Zhai. Now that the matter of the kitchen was still unresolved, she dared not go to the kitchen to get food for Yan Ning.

Just as Yan Ning received the jade porcelain bowl, Ju Xiang led De Lin in. She curtsied and said, "Madam, I saw the young master lingering outside the door, so I brought him in!"

As dusk fell, before mealtime, Delin should have been practicing calligraphy and reading in his room. Yan Ning was somewhat surprised by his sudden arrival, but she still put down her jade porcelain bowl and pulled him to her side.

She smiled gently, "You've come to see Grandma, is there something you need?"

Delin broke free from Yan Ning's grasp and knelt on the tatami mat. His youthful face, illuminated by the dim light beneath his short woolen hat, surprisingly exuded a sense of composure.

"My son heard from the servants that after the First Madam gives birth to a younger brother or sister for Delin, she will no longer truly love Delin!"

He had lost two baby teeth, giving him a hissing sound when he spoke, which sounded like the tolling of an ancient bell to Yan Ning. After Ran Xin and Ran Yu were punished in court, who would dare to talk nonsense in front of him?

Yan Ning's shock turned into a loving smile. She pulled De Lin up and held him in her arms. "How could your great-grandmother not cherish De Lin? No matter if it's a brother or sister in my belly, I'll still have to call you brother."

Her smiling face pressed against Delin's cool cheek, trying to bridge the distance between them. Delin's cool little hand gently brushed through Yan Ning's hair, watching her smile as she parted her lips.

After Delin left, Yan Ning was filled with a thousand sorrows.

The child in her womb already has an older brother and sister, so there will be three children and three mothers in the household.

Delin appears gentle and kind, but his father and mother are both meticulous people. Although she can't see any scheming in him now, she can tell from today that he is naturally suspicious. Whether he will develop a rift with her in the future because of the child in her womb, Yan Ning doesn't know.

The child in Yan Ning's womb is her first child. She has no experience as a mother and dares not guarantee that she and De Lin will be as spiritually connected as she is with the child in her womb.

Although she was his legal mother in name, she was no different from a stepmother. However, under the oppressive influence of feudal etiquette, Delin and Wuchun's newborn daughter would have to address her as "Great Mother." "Great Mother" and "Mother" differ by only one character, yet they are worlds apart.

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