Wu Chun couldn't discern any inquiry in Granny Zhuang's words, so she could only turn to look at the old lady and Yan Ning, her face displaying both anger and joy, making her appear pitiful.
The old lady met her gaze and nodded slightly. Wu Chun, unsure of the current situation, looked at Yan Ning again.
Yan Ning felt a pang of pity for Wu Chun, who was about to become the prey of the enemy. Her eyes welled up with tears, and when she looked at Wu Chun, she remained silent.
Granny Zhuang shouted loudly, "Someone come here!" Immediately, two palace maids lifted the curtain and entered, standing behind Yan Ning.
Granny Zhuang was all smiles, her face, though past fifty, was etched with many wrinkles. To onlookers, compared to the Empress Dowager's solemn demeanor, she was a kind and gentle woman.
"Quickly help Aunt An up and settle her in. How can a pregnant woman sit for so long!"
Two palace maids dressed in pink came forward and helped Wu Chun, who was sitting upright, up. The maids moved so quickly that it seemed that Granny Zhuang had given them instructions beforehand.
Wu Chun was helped away by a palace maid. Before leaving, she looked at Yan Ning with puzzled eyes.
Yan Ning lowered her head further, not looking at Wu Chun. Having been in ancient times for so long, she had long since learned to protect herself. Wu Chun's continued presence in the Empress Dowager's palace had left even the Old Madam and Fukang'an helpless; what could little Yan Ning possibly do?
Seeing this scene, Wu Chun guessed that Yan Ning must have known beforehand. The joy she dared not show on her face turned into sorrow.
After the palace servants who had been serving in the hall withdrew, Granny Zhuang knelt down and gently massaged the Empress Dowager's legs and feet to ease her fatigue.
The Empress Dowager opened her half-closed eyes and stared at the old lady, her eyes dull and lifeless. "If it weren't for this festive season, you certainly wouldn't have come to Cining Palace!"
The old lady lowered her head, "This humble servant dares not disturb the Empress Dowager!"
The Empress Dowager laboriously raised her hand and reached out to the Old Madam, who immediately took it with both hands. The Empress Dowager loosely grasped the Old Madam's hands. "It's all my fault, I've ruined your life, and it's understandable that you resent me. But back then, the Fucha family was truly a pillar of strength, and their daughter was the most suitable candidate to be the Prince Bao's consort. You were proud and held a grudge against me, and the Prince granted your wish. But now you are a mother and a grandmother, what's the point of fighting over such empty formalities?"
The silence in the sleeping quarters was somewhat eerie.
Inside the hall, sandalwood incense burned quietly inside the auspicious beast's belly, with even the white smoke slowly escaping from its mouth.
Beneath the Empress Dowager's back was a round, brownish-green wooden pillow woven with hidden patterns. The brocade quilt covering her was bright yellow, but because of the distance, Yan Ning couldn't make out what was embroidered on it.
With such a tight pattern, the Empress Dowager appeared even older and more frail.
Yan Ning was covered in sweat, her inner clothes clinging to her skin, the heat and itching unbearable. The old lady, however, remained silent, her back straight.
Seeing that the old lady remained silent, the Empress Dowager placed the hand she had been holding back on the brocade quilt and sighed, "Enough, you may all go!"
Granny Zhuang immediately covered the Empress Dowager's hands with a brocade quilt.
The old lady rose and knelt to pay her respects, and Yan Ning followed suit, then helped the old lady out of the Empress Dowager's bedroom.
When Yan Ning took the old lady's cloak from the palace maid and tied it on her, her touch on her face was icy and chilling.
As they approached the palace gate, palace maids strolled along the corridor, carrying brocade boxes of spices, palace flowers, and other trinkets for keeping them entertained. They curtsied to the old lady and Yan Ning, and were about to leave when they were stopped by Eunuch Lin, who had emerged from the Empress Dowager's chambers.
He first bowed to the old lady, then raised his voice and scolded, "Have you settled Aunt An of the Fucha Mansion properly? If you neglect her, the Empress Dowager will not forgive you!"
Yan Ning realized that these words were meant for the old lady, but she remained calm.
After reprimanding the palace maid, Eunuch Lin turned around, a smile plastered on his face, "This servant greets the old lady!"
The old lady's expression shifted slightly, but remained mostly calm. "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Lin!" she said, taking a silver note from her bamboo-green sleeve and handing it to him. "This small gift is for you to wish me a happy new year!"
With a smile, Eunuch Lin tucked the silver notes into his robe. "The Fucha family is truly generous. Madam, rest assured! Concubine An is probably the best place for you here! Madam, just focus on bringing your grandchild home in the future!"
In the winter, Grandpa Lin's breath constantly exhaled cold air, which turned into water droplets and disappeared in circles.
As Yan Ning sat in the sedan chair, she saw the old lady's back slump and sway slightly, like a taut string snapping.
Once outside the towering vermilion palace walls, Yan Ning realized that the walls of the Fucha Mansion were hardly a prison.
Fukang'an was already waiting, his pacing had left white marks on the blue stone slabs. He helped the old lady down from the sedan chair, his brows furrowed, and he remained silent.
The old lady reached out and smoothed the wrinkles between Fukang'an's brows, smiling gently, "This hurdle has finally been overcome, let's go back to the manor!"
Fukang'an nodded and helped the old lady into the carriage.
Yan Ning followed behind the two and saw that the backs of the mother and son were trembling slightly, like a broken, taut zither string.
Inside the carriage, the old lady's face grew bitter. She closed her eyes, two lines of clear tears sliding down her cheeks.
"Yan Ning, do you all only believe that Kang'er is his bloodline? As time goes by, even I can no longer tell whether the huge lie we set up back then was true or false?"
Yan Ning stared intently at the old lady with her eyes closed, but she remained silent, lost in her own sorrow and grief. After a long while, the old lady showed no sign of continuing.
She lifted the curtain on the window and looked outside. On horseback, Fukang'an had a solemn expression and a cold face.
After parting ways with the old lady at the hanging flower gate, Yan Ning returned to Jian Gong Zhai. Having endured vomiting all the way, she could no longer hold it in. Without waiting for Zhu Xiang to bring a spittoon, she vomited it all onto the flower-patterned carpet. The bowl of soup she had hastily eaten that morning had already disappeared; any more vomiting would only produce bitter liquid.
Yan Ning had a vague feeling that something was wrong with her, but even the imperial physicians in the palace said that she was just overworked and had damaged her body.
Today's events with Wuchun made Yan Ning suspicious of Fukang'an's hidden intentions, and she looked at Zhuxiang. Since New Year's Eve, although Zhuxiang's care for her was the same as usual, it always seemed strange.
She was meticulous and cautious, as if she was looking after two people, not just Yan Ning.
Looking at the sky, just past noon, Yan Ning put down the bowl she was using to rinse her mouth and walked out alone. Zhu Xiang followed behind her, not daring to leave her side for a moment.
Upon reaching the courtyard gate, Yan Ning said to Zhu Xiang, who was following behind her, "Go and fetch the household account books!"
Zhu Xiang hesitated for a moment, then said "Yes," and quickly left Jian Gong Zhai.
Without Zhu Xiang by her side, the other maids in the mansion had never had the chance to get close to Yan Ning, so she walked alone toward the mansion gate.
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