The Mingqi followers, hiding in Qingyun Temple, learned from the Qing soldiers that their leaders and deputy leaders had died a violent death. They went to find Tiemu's body, buried it, and sent the news back to Sichuan. The Mingqi followers in Sichuan then rushed to the capital day and night.
Seeing that You Yuanzhi's fate was unknown and that Tie Mu had met a tragic end, the White Lotus Sect, in order to obtain information about the Qing Dynasty, trained some of the sect's more attractive women and sent them to various brothels in the capital to gather intelligence. Wanxiang Pavilion was their first choice.
Fukang'an was busy with matters at Fragrant Hills and rarely returned to the Fucha Mansion. The Old Madam was bedridden, refusing visitors. Yan Ning, having nothing to do, spent her time with Xiang'er at Hibiscus Garden, while Mei Xiang and Xi Ying operated independently, managing all the affairs of the mansion. In no time, everyone in the capital knew that the Fucha Mansion's stunning new wife had fallen out of favor with Fukang'an. They had acquired Concubine Mei, who now controlled the household affairs.
Back at the Fucha residence, Xiang'er's eyes seemed dry, devoid of any remaining light. Whether it was You Yuanzhi or Fukang'an, they had both only treated her as their spy. Seeing You Yuanzhi die before her eyes, Xiang'er didn't feel the heartache she had imagined. Even Fukang'an's ruthlessness, shattered beyond repair, didn't hurt as much anymore.
In the dead of night, she would see only a candlelight through the gauze curtains. The desolation of the Hibiscus Garden made Xiang'er think about escaping from these two men, the two men who had made her shed countless tears and exhausted her emotions.
You Yuanzhi had promised her a childhood sweetheart relationship, a promise he would never betray, yet he still sent her to Fukang'an's side. Fukang'an, under the glow of red candles, had once vowed to stain his changed heart with his blood, but he too fell in love with Yan Ning. Xiang'er's memories seemed stranded; she suddenly couldn't remember You Yuanzhi, nor had she forgotten Fukang'an, whom she had loved with her life. Wine enters the sorrowful heart, and sorrow breaks the heart, because of caring. Now that she no longer cares, Xiang'er feels everything has faded, as calm as a flowing stream.
Yan Ning had initially worried that Xiang'er would lose her appetite because of You Yuanzhi's situation, thus neglecting her unborn child. However, after witnessing the deaths of Tie Mu and You Yuanzhi, Xiang'er seemed to have undergone a transformation, ignoring worldly affairs and indulging in delicacies to nourish her unborn child. After a few days, Xiang'er's round face became even more rosy and radiant.
This made Yan Ning even more worried about Xiang'er, whose eyes were empty and lifeless. She no longer had the same passionate love for the child in her womb as before; it was more like giving birth to the child would free her from all of this.
That day, Xiang'er took the latest Jiangnan patterns given to her by Zhang Shi to find Xiang'er, wanting to embroider some intimate clothing for her unborn child together. After looking at the patterns that Yan Ning brought, Xiang'er smiled faintly, "This is very good, just have Rong Xi take it to the embroiderers in the mansion!" As she spoke, she handed it to Rong Xi, who was standing nearby.
In the lotus pond, Fukang'an had the lotus flowers in the Fu residence moved. But Xiang'er cut them all off one by one with her scissors. Xiang'er, dressed in plain clothes, had a round face that was flushed and glowing, but it was lifeless, much like a beautiful coffin perfectly preserved under special elixirs. She opened her lips expressionlessly, "I don't like lotus flowers. I only did it to let Fukang'an know that I always remember my identity!" Her simple words seemed to express someone else's state of mind.
Yan Ning listened intently, feeling heartbroken for Xiang'er, who had been hurt by two men. She asked Xiang'er, "When Fukang'an caught up with us, why didn't you say you wanted to elope with You Yuanzhi? Fukang'an would have let you go."
Beside the Taihu stone, Xiang'er stood alone in the wind. She touched her slightly protruding belly, her words drifting in the cold, desolate air above Furong Garden, "I have already lost my husband's love in this life. I would rather lose my life than lose my reputation."
A cold, resolute sentence told Yan Ning that Fukang'an must have suspected the paternity of Xiang'er's child, and therefore wanted to grant her and You Yuanzhi their wish. This ancient woman, who had risked her life to pursue love, was now burying her own love to atone for her chastity.
Now that things have come to this, Yan Ning can no longer remember the previous discord with Xiang'er. All that remains in her heart is pity and respect for the woman in front of her who has lost her true self.
In early summer, flowers bloom and fade in the garden, much like the joys and sorrows of human life. The butterfly's thin, translucent pink wings, damp with rain, gleam in the slanting sunlight, shimmering and hiding among the flower stamens.
Yan Ning gathered the withered petals from the muddy ground with her handkerchief and suddenly thought of building a flower mound for them, just like Lin Daiyu. She didn't know what Lin Daiyu's state of mind was at that time, but in the courtyard of the Fucha Mansion, Yan Ning felt a deep loneliness.
Whether their feelings were genuine or feigned, everyone in the household had their own way of surviving. Xiang'er chose to abandon the love she had been desperately pursuing after Fukang'an's heartlessness; Xi Ying risked everything for her family and son through repeated setbacks, and she finally got what she wanted—power in the household returned to her hands; Mei Xiang relied on Xi Ying, and although Fukang'an did not consummate their marriage, none of the servants dared to bully her.
And what about herself? Holding the white handkerchief filled with the scent of earth and flowers, Yan Ning couldn't understand how she had ended up on this thorny path.
Zhang snatched the handkerchief from Yan Ning's hand, shook off the withered petals, pulled Yan Ning to the butterfly huddled among the flower stamens, and said sternly, "The garden is vast, with hundreds of kinds of flowers and countless colors, but bees and butterflies only seek out the stamens. The Fucha mansion is vast, but there is only one true master!"
Tears welled in Yan Ning's eyes, and though she wanted to smile at Zhang Shi, a subtle melancholy lingered beneath. "I don't want to fight for anything! I just want to live a simple life with Fukang'an!"
Madam Zhang approached Yan Ning and lowered her voice, saying, "What was the fate of Consort Fang in the Fucha household who didn't fight for power? What was the fate of Consort Li who lost the struggle? What was the fate of Consort Lian who always acted according to her own whims?" Seeing the unnaturalness in Yan Ning's expression, Madam Zhang continued, "I think you should have a deep understanding of Consort Fang's death. Worries and anxieties wither away, and time flies by swiftly! You still possess stunning beauty now, but in a few years, once your beauty fades, your life will likely be uncertain!"
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