Yan Ning wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled, "I missed you!"
One sentence made the adults around Fukang'an stop and secretly laugh as General Fucha's newlywed bliss faded away.
Fukang'an's lips curled into a smile as he led Yan Ning slowly forward in the darkness. The night was as silent as the deep longing in their hearts, calm and undisturbed. Neither of them spoke a word the rest of the way.
Yan Ning didn't know why she came to find Fukang'an. She just wanted to stay by his side and let him know that the palace was no longer a place of suffering and fear. She was here, and she was waiting for him.
This gentle, everlasting affection, though unspoken by Yan Ning, was understood by Fu Kang An.
Beneath the four walls of the palace, every corner is spotless, yet the inner world of the women within is like the meridians of their bodies, flowing freely in every direction, with only they themselves knowing where it leads.
The Empress Dowager's health deteriorated day by day, and she gradually fell into a deep sleep, showing no signs of waking up even after several days. The Emperor paid his respects twice a day, and his braids shone with an ever-increasing silver luster.
Yan Ning went to the Imperial Hospital and obtained a chart of the meridians on the soles of the feet. Every day, she used the medicinal water prepared by the Imperial Hospital to soak the Empress Dowager's feet and then unblocked the meridians on her feet.
After autumn arrived, the Empress Dowager would have a brief moment of lucidity each day. The Emperor was overjoyed and richly rewarded the Imperial Medical Academy. Granny Zhuang, not taking credit for herself, told the Emperor everything Yan Ning had done each day.
Inside the Sanxi Hall, the emperor still favored Wang Xizhi's "Timely Clearing After Snowfall".
Yan Ning knelt to the side, unable to understand the Emperor's thoughts about Fukang'an. Was he hoping for a reunion between father and son, or was he worried that after his death, a similar struggle for the throne among the princes would occur after the death of Emperor Kangxi?
Inside the elegant and tranquil calligraphy and painting room, it seemed as if a surging current, trapped beneath the ice, was trying to break through the thick ice and emerge before everyone's eyes. However, this current was suppressed by the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and Fukang'an.
Yan Ning looked up and stated the reward she desired: to go hunting at the Mulan Hunting Grounds with the Emperor. She was from the Empress Dowager's palace, and since the Empress Dowager was unwell and staying in the palace, she naturally wouldn't travel north. Similarly, the palace servants from Cining Palace couldn't accompany the Emperor's northward journey.
In order to ascertain the Emperor's intentions and to be able to stay by Fukang'an's side at all times, Yan Ning exchanged the rare treasures bestowed upon her by the Emperor for this opportunity to accompany the Emperor on his journey north.
Those in the palace knew that the Emperor attached great importance to the Autumn Hunt, and after the imperial decree to go north was issued, the palace servants dared not slack off for a moment.
Before leaving, Yan Ning gave the foot meridian chart to Granny Zhuang, instructing her to massage the Empress Dowager's foot meridians every day. Granny Zhuang, who was over fifty, was not allowed to wear any makeup, and her face was withered and lacked any moisture, making her look like the Empress Dowager on her sickbed.
She moved her wrinkled face slightly. "Miss Yan Ning, as you travel with the Emperor, you must always keep the Empress Dowager's instructions in mind, so that the ailing Empress Dowager can rest and recuperate in peace!"
Yan Ning curtsied to Granny Zhuang, saying, "Yan Ning will keep this in mind!"
After leaving the Empress Dowager's palace, Yan Ning was unsure whether the Empress Dowager wanted her to strengthen the father-son relationship between Fukang'an and the Emperor, or to restrain Fukang'an.
Historical records contain no mention of Fukang'an's alleged rebellion; instead, they highlight his illustrious military achievements throughout his life. Yan Ning knew that Fukang'an's heart was solely devoted to the safety of the Qing Dynasty. However, Yan Ning did not know whether Fukang'an would change his mind due to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's increasing pressure.
Chaos reigned within the palace. The Emperor had only gone hunting at the Mulan Hunting Grounds, not to escape the summer heat at the Chengde Mountain Resort. Therefore, only Consort Rong, Consort Xun, Consort Shun, Consort Jin, and Consort Wu accompanied him.
Consort Shu was unwell and could not endure the arduous journey, so she remained in the palace. Consort Dun also had to stay in the palace to take care of the little princess. To avoid any objections from Consort Dun, the Emperor granted her the power to manage the harem, and Consort Dun was quite happy to be in the palace.
The concubines who received some favor dared not cry and make a scene before the Emperor, so they could only come to the Cining Palace to beg the Empress Dowager for help. The Empress Dowager was still ill, how could she bear the weeping and wailing of women? Consort Dun, who had just assumed power, immediately followed the example of Noble Lady Lan, and had her punished with twenty strokes of the cane as a warning to others.
Consort Jin and Consort Xun entered the palace on the same day, but because Consort Xun was exceptionally beautiful, one was immediately granted the title of Consort, while the other was granted the title of Consort. Consort Xun, thinking of the sisterly bond she shared during the imperial concubine selection, whispered something in the Emperor's ear. Only then did the Emperor remember that there was still a Consort Jin in his palace who had not yet been favored, so he selected her to serve.
When the concubines paid their respects to the Empress Dowager and took their leave, Consort Jin's arrogant gaze towards Noble Lady Lan stung Consort Dun's eyes. A murderous glint lurked in Consort Dun's bright and beautiful eyes, but she had no choice but to accept that Consort Jin was going to accompany the imperial entourage, and she made a lasting impression on Consort Jin that day.
Yan Ning became the emperor's personal maid. Although she was called a maid, the emperor knew she was his daughter-in-law and refused to assign her any work.
Those serving the Emperor were astute as they were, and they had long known that Yan Ning was Fukang'an's unmarried wife. Now that she served the Emperor, she was certain to marry as a princess in the future. Therefore, everyone around the Emperor treated Yan Ning with utmost respect.
However, the more respectful the people in front of the emperor were to her, the more uneasy Yan Ning felt. The emperor was extremely suspicious, and since his own people were so obsequious to Yan Ning, he couldn't help but suspect that it was because of Fukang'an. As a result, the emperor was increasingly worried about the spread of Fukang'an's influence in the palace.
Yan Ning requested to accompany the emperor so that she could help Fukang'an express his feelings to the emperor: he was willing to die on the battlefield for the Qing Dynasty and would not participate in the struggle for the throne, only wishing to spend his life on the battlefield.
The imperial carriage was carved with openwork dragons, their golden scales gleaming for miles. Accompanying the imperial carriage were thousands of people, a magnificent spectacle that left onlookers speechless with awe.
Fukang'an and Li Shiyao rode on either side of the imperial carriage, while Agui and Hailancha, who had distinguished themselves in the military, had already been transferred from the capital to important positions by the emperor. Only Fukang'an remained in the capital, and Yan Ning guessed that the emperor was hesitant to hand over military power to him.
Seeing that Yan Ning was still looking at Fukang'an through the bright yellow curtain, the Emperor slowly said, "Of all my sons, he is the one who most resembles me!"
Knowing that the Emperor was referring to Fukang'an, Yan Ning lowered the curtain in her hand. Inside the imperial carriage, only Wu Shulai and she were serving the Emperor. Wu Shulai was the Emperor's close attendant, and Yan Ning could tell from his age that he had served the Emperor for quite some time, and presumably he knew about the Emperor's affairs. That was why the Emperor spoke such words without any reservations.
Eager to prove Fukang'an's innocence, Yan Ning glanced at the princes following behind the imperial carriage. "Some of the princes are still young. Yan Ning thinks the Fifteenth Prince's heroic spirit far surpasses that of General Fucha! After all, he is a prince!"
"Haha, haha, haha..."
The Emperor's hearty laughter echoed from the imperial carriage, and Wu Shulai, standing beside him, joined in the laughter. He secretly admired the quick wit of his new wife, Fukang'an.
Little did she know that Yan Ning already knew that the Fifteenth Prince was the Emperor's preferred choice for Crown Prince.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
