Fukang'an walked expressionlessly through the courtyard, his heart churning with turmoil. He thought that if he were more ruthless, Xiang'er would give up and leave with You Yuanzhi. He was wrong; he underestimated Xiang'er's love for him. But his heart belonged only to Yan Ning, and he didn't want Xiang'er to feel lonely and die alone in the Fucha mansion. As for Yan Ning, Fukang'an dared not openly express his affection for her anymore, for doing so would only bring her into trouble, making everyone think that he could use her as leverage to throw him into disarray.

Every time Yan Ning was injured, Fukang'an would be extremely anxious. After the incident with You Yuanzhi, he dared not let others see his worry for Yan Ning.

A rockery stood on one side of the path, and a pond on the other. Fukang'an walked alone on the narrow path without a lamp, using the darkness to calm the turmoil within him.

Meixiang left Changting Garden, fearing that Fukang'an would punish her for not serving Yan Ning diligently enough, so she chose the shortest path back. It was dark and the path was narrow, and a lantern could not illuminate much ahead. Meixiang, who was only focused on looking down at the road, did not notice Fukang'an walking leisurely towards her.

It wasn't until a pair of men's feet appeared under the lantern that Meixiang was so frightened that she dropped the lantern, squatted down, and looked at Fukang'an with a terrified expression.

Fukang'an picked up the lantern that Meixiang had thrown away, used it to light his own way, and said expressionlessly, "It's me!"

Meixiang's initial fear quickly turned into shyness, and she smiled sweetly, "General, you really scared this servant to death!"

Fukang'an didn't reply, but seeing that Meixiang was reluctant to get up, he reached out and pulled her up. Meixiang's face immediately flushed red, and she said sweetly, "Thank you, General!" Fukang'an handed the lantern back to her, stepped on the roadside grass, and walked past Meixiang on his own.

After taking a few steps, Fukang'an turned back and saw Meixiang still standing there, staring at him intently. He then turned back to Meixiang's side. His tone was as calm as the hidden moonlight, "Your name is Meixiang, isn't it?" Seeing Meixiang blush and lower her head, Fukang'an continued expressionlessly, "Plum blossoms may be three parts less white than snow, but snow lacks the fragrance of plum blossoms. We have a Snow Fragrance Pavilion in our mansion, which I think is very suitable for you to live in. Go and tell Xiying to let her choose a few servants you like, and you can move into the Snow Fragrance Pavilion tonight."

Under the lantern, Meixiang's smug expression was evident on her face, and the two blushes on her cheeks made her even more charming and shy in the candlelight.

Now that the old lady is bedridden and Yan Ning is too weak and sickly to manage the affairs of the household, all matters, big and small, have fallen back into Xi Ying's hands.

The maids and nannies' after-dinner conversations were no longer dull, as two young masters in the mansion suddenly fell ill. Meixiang went from being Yan Ning's servant to a mistress overnight. Although Fukang'an did not give her any official title, the fact that she moved into Xuexiang Pavilion and was served by maids and servants made it quite obvious.

During her coma, Yan Ning vaguely woke up several times, but her consciousness remained unclear. When she awoke three days later, Zhang Shi, her face streaked with tears, cared for her for half a day before bidding her farewell. "Your father and I came to the capital for two reasons: first, to find your whereabouts, and second, because your brother had broken the law and was punished by the Emperor. Now, all is well; your brother has been pardoned and reinstated. The General said that the household has been plagued by illness and misfortune lately, and it's difficult to have any joyous occasions. Your father and I were thinking of returning to our hometown in Jiangnan, and we will return to the capital when you are married."

As she spoke, she pulled Yan Ning into her arms, and Yan Ning hugged Zhang Shi tightly, as if she were hugging her own mother. The fright she had witnessed outside the city turned into tears. "Mother, although I don't remember anything from before, I really feel like you are my own mother."

Zhang hugged Yan Ning, calculating in her mind that if her own daughter were alive, she would be about Yan Ning's age. At this moment, she truly accepted this daughter as her own. "Silly child, your mother is your own mother!"

Zhu Xiang stood aside, watching the mother and daughter who were about to part, and tears welled up in her eyes like a spring. Afraid of making Yan Ning even more upset, she quickly covered her eyes with a handkerchief.

Before the mother and daughter could finish their intimate conversation, a maidservant stood outside the inner room and announced, "Madam, Aunt Mei is waiting outside!"

Yan Ning got up from Zhang Shi's arms and looked at Zhu Xiang with confusion, "Aunt Mei?"

Zhu Xiang hadn't expected Mei Xiang to show up uninvited. Tears still clung to her trembling eyelashes, and she didn't bother to wipe them away. "It's Mei Xiang!"