Yan Ning helped Xiang'er off the bed, her eyes darting around. "It was during the Mid-Autumn Festival that the Empress Dowager let me leave the palace. I don't know when she'll summon me back. The old lady is too weak to manage household affairs, and Fukang'an can't come back every day. If you give birth to a son, won't both you and your child be bullied by them?"
Xiang'er, however, remained indifferent, looking at her seven-month pregnant belly with a heavy heart.
Because of Yan Ning's words, the kitchen courtyard of the Fucha Mansion was filled with a nauseating mutton smell.
Chef Wu was incredibly shrewd. Previously, Aunt Mei had been coming here three times a day, delivering goat meat, the kind of meat eaten by ordinary people in the city. She had instructed him to prepare meals and deliver them to Furong Garden.
The Fucha Mansion was closest to the imperial city, and the lamb they used was always from the royal pastures. It had the least gamey smell and the meat was very tender.
Aunt Mei and Aunt Ying were on good terms, and Aunt Ying was in charge of the household affairs. Naturally, this meant Aunt Mei dared to act so blatantly because Aunt Ying had tacitly approved of it. To secure his own future, Chef Wu put considerable effort into the porridge and soup he delivered each day, sometimes adding nourishing ingredients, sometimes finely minced meat. However, he dared not omit the mutton, nor did he dare remove its gamey smell on his own.
Now that Yan Ning has returned to the manor, she immediately sent over several old goats. Chef Wu naturally understood Yan Ning's intentions. Yan Ning was Fukang'an's favorite, even though Xi Ying was in charge of the household affairs. Yan Ning had Fukang'an behind her, while Aunt Mei had Xi Ying behind her. Chef Wu was well aware of which was more important!
He immediately ordered someone to slaughter a grass-fed lamb, remove its gamey smell, and then stew and roast it over a separate stove. The lamb stewed over the other stove didn't even need the step of removing the gamey smell. When the servants from Jian Gong Zhai came to collect the meal, he specially took a food box and handed it to the servant, saying, "Tell the lady that this is a small token of my respect for her!"
Zhu Xiang opened the food box, and a fragrant aroma wafted out. She smiled and said to Yan Ning, "Chef Wu is showing his loyalty to Madam! I heard from Rong Xi that he's put a lot of effort into the porridge that Aunt Lian drinks every day!"
Yan Ning took a spoonful and found the broth delicious, without any muttony smell. She asked Ming Xin to keep the meal that Chef Wu had specially prepared for her warm on the stove, and bring it up when Xi Ying and the others were almost there.
The rest were left to bake in the scorching sun for half an hour. Then, Fang Rangzhu and Mingxin separately invited Xiying and Meixiang to dine at Jianguozhai. The commotion in the kitchen had already reached Xiying's ears. She and Meixiang had a private meal before going to Jianguozhai.
Even before reaching Jianguozhai, the nauseating smell of mutton wafted out from the courtyard.
Fearing the lingering smell would be difficult to remove later, Yan Ning set up the banquet in the courtyard and had a white cloth erected above the long table to block the glaring sunlight.
Xi Ying wore a lake-green satin cheongsam embroidered with begonias, and her hair ornaments simply held her long hair in place. Her demeanor remained virtuous and elegant.
Meixiang wore a plum-red satin cheongsam embroidered with plum blossoms, but the brocade was not as soft as Xiying's. The plum blossoms seemed to have lost their spirit, appearing as if they had been torn off the plum tree. Her hairpins, though bright, lacked elegance.
Ultimately, she and Fukang'an had no marital relationship; she merely depended on Xiying for survival. With her, Xiying could avoid doing anything herself while maintaining her reputation as a virtuous woman.
The three of them were also aware of these things.
The two women bowed to Yan Ning, who was seated at the dining table, and said, "Your humble servants greet you, Madam!"
Yan Ning smiled gently, "It's been a long time since I've seen Sister Xi Ying and Sister Mei Xiang. Today, I've specially prepared this banquet so that we sisters can have a chat!" After saying that, she didn't get up but gestured for them to take their seats.
It was alright from a distance, but as soon as we sat down, the pungent smell of mutton hit us. Meixiang covered her nose and lips with a handkerchief, her face showing signs of impatience. She immediately turned her face away from the clear mutton soup that Mingxin had brought her.
Xi Ying smiled gently as she accepted the clear mutton soup that Zhu Xiang offered. She took a small sip and then put it down. "When Madam went to the palace a while ago, Mother was ill and bedridden, which caught Xi Ying off guard regarding the affairs of the household. Now that Madam is back, Xi Ying has returned power to you and has time to spend more time with De Lin."
Yan Ning understood that Xi Ying was reminding her that she was De Lin's mother, and in ancient times, of the three unfilial acts, the greatest was having no offspring. After all, Yan Ning had no children of her own, and her future status would certainly not be as high as Xi Ying's.
She didn't answer, and Zhao Xing came over to greet Fukang'an.
The three men stood up and bowed to Fukang'an, saying, "Greetings, General!" Then, at Fukang'an's gesture, they sat back down.
Fukang'an and Yan Ning sat in the main seats. People who practice martial arts and fighting have the most sensitive sense of smell, and he could smell the mutton smell from afar.
Yesterday, Zhao Xing reported that his wife wanted him to buy an old goat. He knew why! He had also heard about Xiang'er's matter upon his return, and the kitchen staff, despite his anger, continued to provide meals for Xiang'er as usual. However, he had no reason to punish Mei Xiang; eating mutton would certainly be beneficial for the fetus for a pregnant woman. Mei Xiang had done nothing wrong; the fault lay with Xiang'er, who was so picky.
He had no time to attend to matters within the mansion, let alone supervise Xiang'er's meals.
Today, Yan Ning sent Zhao Xing to invite Fukang'an to this whole roasted lamb feast because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to control Xi Ying and Mei Xiang. After all, she was just a passing bodhisattva, and a gust of wind could blow her away at any moment.
After Fukang'an sat down, he looked at the table full of mutton: whole roasted lamb, stewed lamb, braised lamb, stir-fried lamb with scallions, and stewed lamb. Just looking at it made him lose his appetite.
Yan Ning personally served him a bowl of clear mutton soup, and only then did he take a closer look at her. She wore a bright red satin cheongsam embroidered with silver lilies, and her jet-black hair was styled in a bun. Pearl hairpins and jade hair ornaments were placed together, adding a unique charm. Her stunning face was made up, and her skin was no longer as dry as it had been at the Mulan Hunting Grounds.
Seeing that Fukang'an hesitated to take it, Yan Ning picked up the soup spoon from the bowl and gently scooped up a spoonful. She brought it to Fukang'an's lips, and his eyes were somewhat intoxicated. He hadn't seen Yan Ning like this, who belonged only to him, for a long time.
Mei Xiang looked at Fukang'an's deep crimson robe and Yan Ning's bright red cheongsam. One was domineering, and the other was noble. They looked like a perfect match made in heaven. Mei Xiang felt a surge of anger rising in her heart.
After regaining his composure, Fukang'an took the soup bowl from Yan Ning's hands. The broth didn't have a strong muttony smell; instead, it was delicious. He looked up and glared at Yan Ning, but she returned his gaze with a captivating smile.
Ignoring Yan Ning's hints, Fukang'an picked up a piece of braised mutton from the middle of the table. Before even taking a bite, the strong smell of mutton made him not want to open his mouth.
To help Yan Ning establish the authority of the General's wife, he chewed on the tough, stale goat meat. He then addressed Xi Ying and Mei Xiang, saying, "Don't disappoint the Madam's kindness! Zhu Xiang, Ming Xin, serve the two concubines their meal!"
Xi Ying and Mei Xiang dared not be perfunctory any longer. They deeply regretted that they had eaten in the courtyard before coming over.
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