By the dim moonlight, Fukang'an saw the red bead on Fu Chang'an's official hat. He reined in his horse and waited for Fu Chang'an to approach before urging his horse out of the dense forest.

Upon seeing Fukang'an, Fu Chang'an leaped off his horse and took out a servant's garment identical to that worn by Li Xinchang from a pouch on the side of the horse. He looked up at Fukang'an on the horse and said, "I'm sorry to have troubled you, Third Brother!"

Fukang'an, who was standing behind him, jumped off his horse and threw the reins into Li Xinchang's hand. As he untied his cloak, he asked, "Is everything alright in the capital?"

The wind howled past, causing the branches and leaves to sway and fall in a flurry of withered yellow leaves. Fu Chang'an remained standing on his horse, a few fallen leaves clinging to his clothes. His voice blended with the sound of the wind, "If Third Brother hears any rumors that might damage your reputation, please remain calm. Heshen had no intention of disrespecting your sister-in-law."

After silently changing into servant's clothes, Fukang'an looked at Fu Chang'an, whose face was somber. In the moonlight, the worry on his face was blurred and invisible. Fukang'an knew that although he had angrily reprimanded Fu Chang'an forbidding him from associating with Heshen, Fu Chang'an would not sever his ties with Heshen.

In this way, if Fu Chang'an hadn't grown up with him since childhood, he would truly have raised a tiger to cause trouble. Fu Kang'an reached out and brushed a few fallen leaves off Fu Chang'an, looking at him gently and said, "Don't hide anything from me, otherwise even if I wanted to help, I wouldn't be able to!"

A warm feeling welled up in Fu Chang'an's heart, and he casually smiled and said, "Back in the palace, Third Brother always cleaned up my messes. I really am not as good as Third Brother in everything!"

It was already much colder outside the city in late autumn than inside, and with the cold night, even the two vigorous young men felt the chill. Fukang'an patted Fuchang'an on the shoulder, "Let's go! It won't be easy to sneak into the city once it's broad daylight!"

Upon hearing this, Fu Chang'an pulled on the reins and mounted his horse. He raised his whip and held it in mid-air, glancing at Fu Kang'an as he said in a deep voice, "Third brother, even if Heshen doesn't help you for sister-in-law's sake, I, Fucha Fu Chang'an, will risk my life to protect sister-in-law and her two children!"

Fukang'an paused for a moment, then laughed heartily twice, his jade-like face radiating warmth in the cold night. He swept his leg across the horse, its neigh piercing the silent night like a muffled thunderclap. He hurriedly followed Fu Chang'an, who was on horseback, into the city gate. The city gate guard leader glanced at him only once before bowing and asking Fu Chang'an, "May I ask, Lord Fucha, what is the situation outside the city?"

Fu Chang'an showed no intention of dismounting, replying nonchalantly, "We're just passing through, and we're worried about the city gate tax being too expensive, so we dare not enter the city rashly! It's almost dawn, so you must not let your guard down. I still have to rush back to court!"

After saying this, Fu Chang'an rode away, and Fu Kang'an, dressed as a servant, followed him at a trot.

The entrance to Jian Gong Zhai was heavily guarded. The guards of the Princess's residence were all bound by royal regulations and directly under the command of Fu Long'an. Fu Chang'an and Fu Kang'an were both stopped at the gate. Fu Kang'an was somewhat annoyed but could not reveal his identity, so he went directly to the Peony Hall.

The delicate leaves of the bamboo in the Peony Hall courtyard were already tinged with yellow, and in the dim candlelight, their shadows were scattered across the blue stone slabs. Fu Chang'an and Fu Kang'an stood outside the main room, waiting for the old lady to rise in the morning; their shadows stretched long and fell side by side on the blue stone slabs.

As dawn broke, the maids carried wooden basins and morning tea into the main room. About half an incense stick's time later, Granny Li lifted the curtain, glanced sideways at Fu Chang'an, and said coldly, "The Old Madam invites Fourth Master Fu inside!"

Fu Chang'an didn't seem to care, keeping one hand behind his back as he slowly walked into the house. Fu Kang'an had been standing with his head bowed beside Fu Chang'an, so Li Mama hadn't been able to see his face clearly. But when Fu Kang'an passed by her, Li Mama's mouth dropped open, and she quickly covered it, afraid she would scream.

She followed closely behind the two, dismissing the maids serving in the inner room. Fu Chang'an knelt on one knee by the curtain, "Your son Fu Chang'an greets Mother!" Fu Kang'an knelt behind Fu Chang'an, bowing his head and remaining silent.

The old lady, who was holding a cup of morning tea but hadn't yet brought it to her lips, was puzzled as to why Li Mama had dismissed the maids. She lowered her eyes, blew on the steam from the covered bowl, and complained to Li Mama, "It's just Master Fu paying his respects, why make everyone so anxious!"

Granny Li hurried a few steps and stood beside the old lady, saying timidly, "The General is here too!"

The old lady's eyes immediately sharpened. She looked at Fu Kang'an, who was dressed as a servant behind Fu Chang'an. Her hand holding the covered bowl trembled slightly. She closed her eyes, trying not to look at Fu Kang'an.

A moment later, she smashed the covered bowl in her hand on the ground and angrily said, "Do you really think you'd give up your life and your career for her sake?!"

Fukang'an raised his head to look at the old lady and said calmly, "Please ask Mother to remove the guards from Jian Gong Zhai!"

The old lady rose angrily, walked to the curtain and ripped it open, looking at the kneeling Fukang'an. The wrinkles on her face became even more pronounced with rage. "Do you know how the Emperor will deal with you if someone were to impeach you! Do you know how many people in the capital are mocking you behind your back! And yet you still stand up for her like this, aren't you afraid that she and Heshen will harbor malicious intentions and frame you!"

The brocade curtains embroidered with auspicious symbols of fortune and longevity swayed, occasionally separating the gazes of the old lady and Fukang'an. The room was heated by an underfloor heating system, and the warmth made Fukang'an, who was still wearing his cloak, sweat profusely. Kneeling, he smiled bitterly to himself; the old lady had angered him too.

As the chill deepened, Yan Ning couldn't bear to see the two children being moved back and forth, so she had the cradle placed in the inner room of her residence. The wet nurse could then come to the inner room to feed the children each day, so that Yun Wan wouldn't be deprived of even a sip of milk all day long.

Yunwan cried all night, so Yanning picked her up from the cradle and placed her on her own bed to soothe her. Yunwan finally fell asleep just before dawn, and Yanning, exhausted, also fell asleep with her.

In her sleep, someone picked up the child; Yan Ning was startled and sat up abruptly, her forehead covered in large beads of sweat, her jet-black hair soaked with sweat.

Fukang'an sat beside her, holding Yunwan in his arms, looking at her with a loving father's smile. Upon seeing Fukang'an, Yan Ning's fear turned to grievance. She buried her face in his shoulder, tears streaming down her face. "If you hadn't come back, I'm afraid I would never have seen me and the child again in this lifetime!"

Fukang'an handed Yunwan from his arms to Zhuxiang. Without waiting for his signal, Zhuxiang carefully placed Yunwan in the cradle, bowed, and withdrew.

After months of grievances and fear, Yan Ning's tears turned into tears, which dripped onto Fukang'an's servant's clothes. The servant's clothes were thick and rough, yet they were soaked through by Yan Ning's tears, the cool liquid seeping into Fukang'an's brocade nightgown.

He smoothed Yan Ning's jet-black hair and said gently, "You're a mother now, and you're still acting like this. De Xuan and Yun Wan will laugh at you!"

Seeing Fukang'an speak so casually, Yan Ning felt a little puzzled. If he hadn't gone to see the Old Madam or Fulong'an, he wouldn't have been able to enter Jiangongzhai at all. But after seeing them, how could he not have heard about his humiliation? So why did he act as if he knew nothing?