She had only taken a few steps when someone called her from behind.
Yan Ning turned around and saw Qiu'er helping Xi Ying hurry towards them. Upon approaching, Qiu'er first performed a deep bow, saying, "This humble servant greets Madam!"
Yan Ning was stunned for a moment, the past few months flashing through her mind. She had thought she would resent and blame Xi Ying, but De Lin's obedience made her admire Xi Ying's teachings.
Why do you bow so deeply to me?
Xi Ying smiled gently; she had already met De Lin. Xin Qing had not entrusted herself to the wrong person. De Lin was not only much stronger than before, but he had also come with Fu Kang An.
Given this situation, it was clear that Yan Ning was childless, and both of them tacitly accepted De Lin's status as the eldest son.
She smiled without saying a word, only looking at Yan Ning.
Yan Ning also pondered for a moment, "De Lin is well-behaved and sensible, and the honor of being the eldest son is undoubtedly his!" She didn't know why she told her these things, but she guessed that it would put her mother's heart at ease as she longed for her son.
With Zhao Xing accompanying her, she chose a side path to return. She walked quite a distance before Xi Ying's heartfelt voice reached her.
“Yan Ning, just be yourself. You have no intention of competing with others for favor. Just be yourself! The general’s love is nothing more than your true nature.”
When they went in, it was a cloudy day with no moon, but now the bright moon hangs high in the sky. It shines on the snow that the servants haven't had time to sweep away, giving it a thin, silvery glow.
"You mean Aunt Lian has really gone mad? Could it be that she ran off with some random man?"
"Stop talking nonsense! If this gets back to Master Fu, it'll cause another uproar! Everyone knows how much he loves his wives and concubines!"
Rui Ying and Long Ben went out to sober up, but unexpectedly ran into Yan Ning and her entourage who had left early. They were so frightened that they forgot to greet Yan Ning and hurriedly went back to the hall hand in hand.
The gentle demeanor they displayed at the banquet, like the pure white snow, would melt away with time. Yan Ning also knew that once they stepped across that threshold, they would surely regain their former gentle demeanor.
The mutual affection between Yan Ning and Fu Kang'an at the banquet had just been broken by Rui Ying and Long Ben's words, so Yan Ning couldn't help but quicken her pace.
Fukang'an was meticulous and discreet; if he didn't speak, Yan Ning wouldn't understand his meaning. Sometimes, even when he explicitly told her, she still didn't grasp what he meant. Whether it was the gap between dynasties or their differing thoughts, these layers of barriers prevented Yan Ning from dwelling on those troubling matters as long as he treated her with kindness. At today's banquet, she had completely forgotten about Xiang'er.
Back at Jian Gong Zhai, she dismissed all the maids, leaving Zhao Xing alone in the main hall. "Zhu Xiang, all of you, leave!"
"Did you go after Aunt Lian yesterday?" Yan Ning asked anxiously.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xing immediately knelt down. "This servant does not know what Madam is referring to. Consort Lian is safe and sound in the mansion. Why should this servant go after her?"
His words were firm and resolute, not joking. Yan Ning was somewhat bewildered, unsure whether Fukang'an was trying to silence gossip or had already brought Xiang'er back and didn't want to dwell on the past.
After removing her makeup, Yan Ning lay on the bed, but she was no longer sleepy. She opened her eyes until the sky was turning white, and then Zhu Xiang came from outside to report that Fu Kang'an had gone to Chun Ying Garden to change his clothes and was on his way to the palace to pay his respects.
Just as he was about to get up to go to the Peony Hall to pay his respects, the servants' voices came to report.
"Aunt An and Miss Peng have come to pay their respects to Madam!"
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