Knowing that Xiang'er wouldn't understand what she was saying, Yan Ning grew bolder. She stood up, looked at Xiang'er who was leaning against the carved wooden railing of the bed, and said softly, "I will send you out, to keep you away from the troubles of the Fucha family!"
On the day the New Year pictures were put up, Delin got up early and waited for Yan Ning outside the main room. She wore a fluffy little hat with ear loops on her head, and her cotton-padded jacket made her look even rounder and more adorable.
His small, icy hands pulled Yan Ning towards the courtyard. Servants had already prepared couplets and New Year pictures and were waiting at the door. Yan Ning then realized she had overslept. Fortunately, she didn't need to go to the Peony Hall to pay her respects today; she could go with Fukang'an later to put up the New Year pictures and couplets.
The rain and mist on the branches outside the courtyard condensed into ice layers and icicles, resembling jade trees soaring into the sky. At a glance, the view was filled with blooming magnolia flowers, exquisite and translucent. In the pale night, it looked as if it were inlaid with silver powder.
The servants all bowed their heads, waiting for Fukang'an, who had stayed at Chunying Garden the previous day, to come and paste the first "Fu" character (福, meaning good fortune). Originally, they should have gone to paste the first "Fu" character at Mudan Hall first, but since General Fuheng had passed away, and according to the custom of a woman following her husband after marriage and her son after her husband's death, Fukang'an was now given priority in the Fucha household. Furthermore, Jianguozhai was Fukang'an's childhood residence, so the servants responsible for pasting the New Year's pictures all eagerly watched the path leading from Chunying Garden to Jianguozhai.
The houses along Dongxi Road, Zhonglu Road, and Yuanlu Road kept them busy all morning. They hadn't eaten much since getting up early, and now the cold had chilled them to the bone. They paced back and forth, shivering.
Seeing that it was still early and wondering when Fukang'an would arrive, Yan Ning ordered Zhu Xiang to have the servants of Jianguozhai serve each of the servants responsible for pasting up the New Year pictures a bowl of hot tea to warm them up.
Holding the steaming teacup, Xie Yanning was naturally filled with gratitude. Having heard these words so often, Yanning was already used to it and didn't care what they were saying.
She rubbed her eyes; despite applying a lot of makeup early in the morning, she couldn't hide the faint dark circles under her eyes. She had just fallen into a deep sleep when Zhu Xiang woke her up to put up New Year pictures and couplets. The New Year's atmosphere in the Fucha mansion was growing stronger, and the weight in her heart was also growing heavier.
She looked up at the pale sky, which was filled with a chill. Yan Ning strained to see it, as if she could see her loved ones in another dimension. She stared, her eyes welling with tears, still gazing intently, unwilling to wipe away the tears streaming down her face.
The sound of footsteps approached from afar. Zhu Xiang quickly helped Yan Ning up and took a few steps forward, curtsying in front of everyone to greet Fu Kang An.
The first thing that caught Yan Ning's eye was Fukang'an's hand. He held it out to her eyes, as if inviting her to place her hand in his. Yan Ning looked up. Fukang'an was dressed in a crimson robe, with a glossy black jade belt at his waist. A single luminous pearl, no larger than a quail egg, was set in the center of the belt, gleaming faintly in the dim light. Even the jade pendant hanging to his side emitted a bluish-green glow.
She met his warm gaze, hesitated for a moment, then placed her hand in his and let him lead her forward.
When the servants who were putting up New Year pictures and couplets saw Fukang'an arrive, they immediately perked up and presented the character "Fu" (福, meaning good fortune).
The character "福" (Fu, meaning good fortune) was bestowed by the Emperor on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month. It was written on white silk, with a blue border and a red stripe inside. It was originally quite ordinary, but because it bore the Emperor's seal and signature, it became priceless.
Two servants, carrying a "福" (Fu, meaning good fortune) character framed in gold, hung it above the main gate of the Jian Gong Zhai courtyard at Fu Kang'an's instruction, covering the plaque, to show their respect for the emperor.
After Fukang'an set the precedent, the steward assigned servants to put up New Year pictures and couplets in each courtyard.
Yan Ning accompanied Fukang'an and Delin to the Peony Hall, where the old lady was already waiting. Seeing Delin, she was overjoyed and quickly had Granny Li bring him some fruits and snacks from the courtyard to coax him to eat.
But Yan Ning stopped her, saying, "De Lin has been craving sweets lately. If Mother gives him these, he'll probably skip breakfast and go to his morning lessons without eating anything!"
Granny Li had already served walnut shortbread, lotus seed paste cakes, and rose petal desserts, and stood them in the hall, unsure whether to place them on the table next to Delin. She watched as the old lady hesitated.
"It's just my wish, Mother. Let Delin eat less!" Fukang'an nodded to Granny Li. "Go and keep an eye on Delin, and make sure he doesn't eat too much!"
Granny Li agreed and, carrying the food tray, accompanied Delin, who had a happy expression on his face, to the side room next to the main hall.
The old lady was not displeased at all; on the contrary, she gave Yan Ning an approving look. She had originally thought that Yan Ning's temperament was unstable and that she was afraid that she would mistreat De Lin, but now she was taking care of her as carefully as if she were her own son.
Upon seeing Delin, the old lady's thoughts turned to another unborn child, and she inquired about Wuchun's pregnancy. The roads were extremely slippery in winter, and the old lady, in poor health and worried that something might have happened to Wuchun on the road, rarely saw her, only calculating that her belly should be showing by now.
Yan Ning, who was sitting below Fukang'an, tightened her hands and lowered her head, no longer looking at anything else.
After informing the old lady that Wuchun's pregnancy was stable, Fukang'an looked at Yan Ning. She was wearing a sky-blue cheongsam with short white hair peeking out from the edges. Because she was looking down, he couldn't see her expression. He only remembered that when they first met, there were faint dark circles around her eyes, and her jade-like face had lingering frost marks.
After leaving the Peony Hall, Fukang'an went to the military camp first, while Yan Ning took Delin back to the Jian Gong Zhai for breakfast. A table was set with dishes, but Yan Ning could not swallow them and instead vomited.
As Zhu Xiang left with the spittoon, she tentatively asked Yan Ning if she wanted to call a doctor to check her pulse. Yan Ning smiled self-deprecatingly. The misunderstanding from that day with her childhood sweetheart had already become the talk of the town. In these turbulent times, if another misunderstanding were to arise, people would only think she was desperate for a child and that it had become a source of heartache.
On the day before New Year's Eve, Fukang'an accompanied the old lady to the White Pagoda Temple to pray for blessings for Wuchun's unborn child. Wuchun rarely had the opportunity to leave the mansion, so she went along as well.
It's unclear whether Fukang'an didn't want to see Yan Ning again, or whether he feared she would become resentful. By the time Yan Ning found out, the servants had already escorted their three masters away.
The old lady has been devoted to Buddhism lately, and when she meets the temple abbot, she inevitably asks him about the scriptures. Yan Ning, without even a moment to sigh for herself, went to Furong Garden and gave Xiang'er the light purple dress that Zhu Xiang usually wore. Although she knew Xiang'er wouldn't understand, she still added, "When you leave the mansion later, make sure you don't raise your head!"
Colorful ribbons fluttered throughout the mansion, and the winter flowers, which had always been kept in the greenhouse, were brought out to soak up the festive atmosphere of the New Year under the winter sun.
Fukang'an was not at the manor, so Zhao Xing went with him. With Fukang'an and the old lady no longer in the manor, Yan Ning should naturally be the head of the household.
As they passed the mansion gate, Xiang'er was unusually quiet, head bowed and silent, which surprised Yan Ning. The steward merely glanced at the bowing Xiang'er before instructing the servants in the courtyard to lead Yan Ning's horse and harness her carriage.
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