"Another sleepless night?" Fukang'an's gentle tone contrasted sharply with the cold armor he wore.
After Fukang'an mentioned it, Yan Ning remembered what she had done behind his back yesterday, and seeing that he seemed to be doing nothing, she was even more confused about his intentions.
She stood up, intending to help him remove his heavy armor. But he stopped her with one hand, saying, "I still have military duties to attend to!"
Fukang'an's deep blue armor was enveloped in the white smoke from the incense burner beside him, giving Yan Ning the illusion of a clear and bright sky. She lowered her head, resting it on Fukang'an's lap, "Fukang'an, I'm sorry, I..."
He ran his hands through her jet-black hair, interrupting her before she could finish speaking. "The year is drawing to a close, and there are many things to do at home, but don't let your mind wander!"
Yan Ning looked up, meeting his deeply furrowed brows, her gaze falling into his dark eyes. "Don't let your mind be disturbed?" She silently repeated his words. She knew he had returned to the manor specifically to put her mind at ease. But he had also tacitly agreed to let Xiang'er leave. Looking at his current thoughts, there was truly no room for negotiation whatsoever.
"Why is it that only men are allowed to divorce their wives and concubines, but we women are not allowed to divorce our husbands!" Yan Ning lifted herself off Fukang'an's knees, curled up in her lotus-red embroidered mandarin ducks playing in the water cloak, and said softly. Looking down, she immediately noticed the strange cloak she was wearing. The embroidery workshop's matrons had been quite surprised when they heard her say she wanted to embroider mandarin ducks on a cloak, but at the time, Wu Chun was at the height of her fame. The matrons could understand her actions; she must be trying to win back Fukang'an's heart.
When the cloak arrived, Yan Ning was ill and disheartened. The cloak was left untouched, and she didn't know why Zhu Xiang took it out today.
Fukang'an's hand, holding the hot teacup, paused on the covered bowl. He glanced sideways at Yan Ning, pulled her closer to his side, and said coldly, "So, you think that if you don't want to be this general's wife anymore, you can just walk away, is that it?" His brows furrowed even deeper, forming deep lines. He had thought that after spending several months in the palace and experiencing so much at home, her temperament had become much more composed.
Unexpectedly, she continued to speak and act strangely whenever she encountered problems.
"If I could just walk away, that would be great! I wouldn't have to face your beaming face when Wuchun gives birth!"
After speaking, Yan Ning lowered her head and remained silent. Fu Kang'an, still angry, heard Yan Ning bring the matter back to himself, and he stared at her silently.
Zhu Xiang, feeling sorry that Yan Ning hadn't eaten the night before, served her a bowl of bird's nest soup. Seeing that both mistresses were sitting together with solemn expressions and remained silent, she dared not utter a sound. She handed the jade bowl to Yan Ning and then left with her head bowed.
The blood-red bird's nest in the jade porcelain bowl seemed to flow with its creamy texture, yet it remained stagnant in one place, clearly indicating that it was the finest of bird's nests. Yan Ning took it, but felt no hunger, so she placed it on a short table beside her and left it untouched.
Fukang'an sighed, picked up the jade bowl from the table, and tried to coax Yan Ning into eating it. Last night, as soon as he returned to the military camp, the deputy general left behind told him that Steward Zhao had come to inquire more than once whether the general had returned. Upon hearing this, he knew that Yan Ning must have sent Zhao Xing to inquire.
Without taking a break, he hurriedly returned to his residence. In the afternoon, he would go elsewhere to check whether any soldiers were neglecting their duties or failing to take precautions as the year-end approached.
Yan Ning was startled when she saw the jade porcelain spoon suddenly appear before her, and she looked up in surprise, only to see Fukang'an's expressionless face. He was not a man who was gentle and good at coaxing women, yet he had repeatedly done things that were inconsistent with his official duties for her sake.
The jade porcelain spoon transformed into a point of light reflected in the mirror of Fukang'an's deep blue armor. Yan Ning's annoyance vanished instantly; she moved her lips and sipped the blood-red bird's nest from the jade porcelain spoon.
Then she bent down and hugged him. She didn't know when it had started, but whenever she felt uneasy, she always wanted to lean against his broad chest. He was her only support, but she wasn't the only woman she could lean on.
Thinking that Wu Chun had done the same thing with other women, Yan Ning quickly got up again.
When Fukang'an saw Yan Ning suddenly leaning closer, he quickly moved his hand holding the jade porcelain bowl away to avoid hurting her. However, he saw that she quickly got up and stared at him with slightly wide eyes.
Just as he was about to say something, Zhao Xing's voice came from outside, "General, Diecui from Chunying Garden requests an audience!"
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