Xi Ying's hands stiffened slightly at Fukang'an's voice, which was as cold as ice. She picked up the jade bottle she had never seen before. The bottle was pure white, which seemed out of place with the crimson stopper at the neck.
She tossed the jade bottle aside again, raised her head, and her eyes were resolute. "I have never seen this before!" She had only stolen some of the pinellia and ginseng slices from the manor and had not come into contact with Yu Chunxin. This was also to exonerate herself if things came to light later.
As for how Meixiang was harmed, that was done by Wuchun; Xiying wasn't involved. Knowing she hadn't done anything, Xiying straightened her back slightly.
Xia'er knelt to the side, her eyes flickering uncertainly. She didn't know how to tell the truth about how she helped Wu Chun frame Xi Ying.
On the night Xiang'er gave birth, Xi Ying only took Qiu'er to Furong Garden, leaving Xia'er alone in the courtyard. Xia'er understood that Xi Ying no longer intended to place her among her trusted confidantes.
The starry sky of Yelang cast a silvery glow, and for the first time, she felt the Changting Garden to be so desolate. She had grown up by Xi Ying's side since childhood, wholeheartedly supporting Xi Ying in securing her position as Lady. In her heart, Xi Ying was family, and now her family was far away.
Xia'er walked along, her eyes vacant, until she reached a rockery. Unable to contain her grievances any longer, she squatted down and began to sob softly.
Wu Chun, dressed in flowing Hanfu, landed beside Xia'er. Wu Chun's face was already petite, but under the silvery moonlight, it seemed to radiate a light that could save all living beings.
Xia'er's restless heart was won over by Wu Chun's few words. She listened to Wu Chun and placed Yu Chunxin in Xi Ying's cupboard. She also showed Xiang'er the blood-stained swaddling clothes that Wu Chun had given her.
Just because of Wu Chun's words, "You can let her know that you are the confidant she should cherish the most!" A few simple words, yet they touched Xia'er's heart.
Fukang'an and Yan Ning both stared at Xi Ying kneeling below, waiting for her to explain. Xia'er couldn't bear to see Xi Ying never recover because of her momentary lapse in judgment. She knelt down and walked to Xi Ying, about to speak, when Wu Chun's voice drifted in.
"The most important quality of a servant is loyalty! A loyal servant will not serve two masters, and a traitor will surely be despised by all!"
A single sentence seemed to carry a spell, freezing Xia'er in place.
She couldn't turn back. If she did, she would not only harm herself but also fail to regain Xi Ying's trust. She knew Xi Ying too well; a suspicious person never confides in anyone.
Upon hearing Wu Chun's voice, Xi Ying thought helplessly, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind." She gave a bitter smile.
Wu Chun's graceful figure entered, and she obediently knelt at Fukang'an's feet. Her eyes shone as she looked at Fukang'an, "General, you haven't visited Chunying Garden in a long time. Do you know that the servants there are bullying Wu Chun, claiming she is not the mistress of the Fucha family!"
Fukang'an subtly brushed away Wuchun's hand from his lap, his icy tone unchanged. "The mistress of the Fucha household is only Yan Ning!"
Wu Chun realized she had spoken out of turn. Standing there in her pure white Hanfu, she and Fukang'an in their tortoiseshell red outfit looked like a hero and a beauty.
Yan Ning felt a little unhappy. These past few days, Xiang'er had been on her mind, and she had almost forgotten about Wu Chun. Seeing her gentle and obedient now, she felt pity for her. Perhaps even the most amorous man couldn't resist such a tender and gentle woman.
Wu Chun's sudden arrival was clear: she wanted to complain to Fukang'an about the servants in the courtyard who didn't meet her expectations, but Fukang'an had no time to concern himself with her affairs. He stared intently at Xia'er, "What do you have to say?"
After a moment's internal struggle, Xia'er lowered her head and said, "This jade bottle was given to me by Consort Ying a few days ago. She said that if you add an excessive amount of Pinellia ternata, it will leave you speechless! I didn't want to do it, and Consort Ying scolded me a few times in anger. It wasn't until Consort Mei fell silent that I learned that Consort Ying had gone to the newly assigned maid in Furong Garden to harm Consort Mei!"
Because she had her head down, no one in the hall could see her.
"What about Aunt Lian's hemorrhage and the blood-stained swaddling clothes?" Before Fukang'an could ask, Yan Ning asked anxiously.
Xia'er kept her head down and waited a moment before saying, "Aunt Ying manages all the affairs of the mansion, so obtaining ginseng slices would be easy for her. But that day, fearing that I might disobey her orders and ruin her plans, Aunt Ying didn't let me go with her, only taking Qiu'er! That night, after Aunt Ying saw the young master off, she was supposed to burn the swaddling clothes that had been used to wrap him for him, but Aunt Ying told me to keep these, saying they would be very useful in the future! I didn't want to go to Furong Garden and upset Aunt Lian, but Aunt Ying said that if I disobeyed her orders again, she would kick me out of the Fucha mansion!"
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