If the matter between Yan Ning and He Shen were to linger, it would likely reach Jilin. Given Fukang'an's original temperament, he wouldn't have needed to worry. But given Fukang'an's current temperament, he would definitely return to the capital without being summoned because of Yan Ning's affair.

After Yongyan's punishment, the political landscape shifted dramatically. The Fucha family, confident in their status as royal guards and their unwavering loyalty, maintained a distance from all four princes—a strategy primarily for self-preservation. However, if Fukang'an were to defy the imperial decree, it was possible that one of the four princes would abandon any attempt to win over the Fucha family, instead choosing to put them in a difficult position to ensure their own future security.

Heshen could not shake the Fucha family in the slightest, but he was backed by the Fifteenth Prince Yongyan. Thinking of this, Fulongan could not help but worry about the safety of the Fucha family.

The Fucha family were related to the imperial family, and Fulongan was the emperor's son-in-law, so he wasn't worried about his entire family being executed. However, having grown accustomed to a life of wealth and luxury, he had become timid and hesitant. Serving the emperor was like walking on thin ice; the emperor was getting old, and Yongyan's feelings for Yan Ning were a hidden danger in the Fucha family.

At this moment, the matter between Yan Ning and He Shen presented the best opportunity to get rid of her, and Fu Long'an disregarded the fact that the old lady had a pair of discerning eyes that could see through his thoughts. He calmed his emotions and continued, "If Mother doesn't take this opportunity to curb Yan Ning's arrogance, do you really want to watch Third Brother sacrifice his life for her future fame and fortune?"

The old lady understood what Fulongan meant, but Yan Ning had just given birth to a son and a daughter for the Fucha family. Even if she didn't care about the monk, she still had to consider the Buddha's feelings.

She looked at Fulongan and smiled, "When the child's third-day celebration is held, it will be initiated by you, the son-in-law, and it will shake half of the capital. At that time, who will dare to say a word against the Fucha family!"

Seeing that the old lady was concerned about Dexuan and Yunwan, Fulongan asked in surprise, "I wonder why Yanning would rather risk her own and her child's lives to go and see Heshen?"

These words were like a wake-up call. The doubts that the old lady had deliberately concealed in her heart were overwhelmed by Fulong'an's words, and the joy that Dexuan and Yunwan had shared in life was like a flood.

Rumors circulated in the capital that Yan Ning was having an affair with He Shen. She originally didn't want to believe it, but as a married woman, she had to have a plausible reason for seeing other men.

The rain had just stopped, and the servants didn't have time to clean up the water stains on the road. Granny Li helped the old lady carefully to Jian Gong Zhai.

The old lady's flowerpot-soled shoes moved unhurriedly, like the steady, orderly tolling of a bell, striking Yan Ning's ears one by one. Although she had prepared a lie to deceive the old lady, how could the old lady be someone who could be easily fooled?

Yan Ning watched nervously as the old lady coaxed De Xuan and Yun Wan, who were lying beside her. Her grandmother's loving expression was evident in the deep wrinkles between her brows.

As the wet nurse took the two babies away to breastfeed, the old lady dismissed all the servants in the room. Then, staring at Yan Ning, she asked, "De Xuan and Yun Wan almost died. As their mother, are you truly heartless? Kang'er is guarding the frontier. If he cannot settle down, how can he protect the Qing Dynasty's territory?"

The old lady's sudden, cold words threw all the excuses Yan Ning had prepared into the wind. She felt guilty; if she hadn't miscalculated the date, De Xuan and Yun Wan would have truly died in the womb. She had failed both her wife and her mother.

The old lady's eyes remained fixed on her, as if waiting for her to explain the reason, but she had gone to see Heshen to discuss Qingyue's matter. Qingyue's situation was likely related to her identity, and Yan Ning dared not tell the old lady. She had finally established herself as the legitimate daughter of the Su family, and could not rashly let others know about Qingyue's matter while everything was still uncertain.

The summer breeze carried the chill of autumn, blowing through the crystal curtains and causing the hanging floral garlands to rustle. The garlands swayed gently, evoking memories of Fukang'an's peaceful days of resting on his warm couch.

Although Yan Ning couldn't tell the old lady the truth, she didn't want to deceive his mother, thinking of Fukang'an. She lowered her head, no longer looking at the old lady. Little did she know that this action was seen as a sign of guilt by the old lady.

The old lady stormed off, leaving behind only the resounding clang of flowerpots striking stone slabs.

Yan Ning was filled with mixed emotions, but she couldn't speak. She hadn't slept all night, and her body was covered in layers of cold sweat, soaking even the brocade quilt. Ju Xiang had no choice but to take a new brocade quilt, heat it on the stove, and replace the wet quilt on Yan Ning's body.

Juxiang wanted to advise Yanning not to develop any health problems during her postpartum period, but she didn't know what Yanning was worried about and dared not ask. She could only take good care of Yanning.

The next day, wet nurse Chen and Lanxiang carried Dexuan and Yunwan to Yanning's bed. Seeing the two children always brought her peace of mind.

Yan Ning gently stroked Yun Wan's smooth cheek, her face lighting up with joy. She glanced at the wet nurse, Chen Shi, and asked with a smile, "You just gave birth a month ago, are you fully recovered? Don't catch a cold!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Chen immediately knelt down and kowtowed to Yan Ning, saying, "This servant is in good health and would never have transmitted any illness to the young master or young lady!"

Yan Ning smiled and said, "I'm just worried that you'll be too tired to feed two children all by yourself!" She then turned to Ju Xiang and said, "Go to the kitchen and have Chef Liu prepare the same meals as mine for Nurse Chen every day!"

After receiving the order, Juxiang hesitated for a moment before curtsying and lifting the curtain to go out.

Madam Chen immediately kowtowed and said gratefully, "Madam, please don't worry. My breast milk is reserved for the young master and young lady. My daughter is of lowly birth and doesn't deserve breast milk. She can survive on rice water!"

Yan Ning looked at Madam Chen, whose hair was usually tied up in a bun with a wooden peg, and who was dressed in the clothes of a servant of the Fucha family. However, Madam Chen was four or five years older than Yan Ning, and it seemed that this daughter she had given birth to was not her first child. A mother and daughter are of one heart; if it weren't for the need to make a living, who would abandon their own child?

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