The drizzle outside the palace suddenly stopped, just as the Empress Dowager had said. Then came the mournful sound of the wind and the rustling of the snow.
A fine layer of sweat appeared on Yan Ning's forehead. The phoenix soaring on the beam truly appeared to her in her eyes. Surrounded by clouds and mist, its phoenix wings fluttered gently. Unable to stand, she collapsed onto the base of the Empress Dowager's warm couch, her hand landing heavily on the shattered jade ruyi.
Jade shatters are inherently crisp and clear. Yet, when it pierced Yan Ning's palm, a drop of blood seeped out, mingling with the emerald green fragments.
Crimson and emerald green shimmered in Yan Ning's eyes, and she couldn't tell whether the crimson had stained the emerald green or the emerald green had stained the crimson.
Just as she couldn't tell whether the Empress Dowager had set a trap for Fukang'an, or whether Fukang'an had built a pit for the Empress Dowager to fall into this trap, the Empress Dowager, being of similar age, was no longer able to get up in one leap.
At the Emperor's signal, Imperial Physician Li, standing outside the curtain, reported in a trembling voice, "The musk in this palace smells extremely strong. I'm afraid if Lady Fucha stays any longer, she might have a miscarriage."
Physician Li bowed his head to the ground, his body bent over, his whole being resembling a taut bow.
Yan Ning could not remember the exact words spoken by Physician Li, only the word "musk".
She looked at the Empress Dowager, meeting her deeply wrinkled face and those almost transparent brown eyes. The Empress Dowager deliberately burned musk, surely suspecting she was pregnant. When Fukang'an came to pay his respects, he also smelled musk, so why didn't he tell her?
She suddenly realized that if she had known that the incense burning inside the hall was musk, she would have rather died than step inside.
However, if she were unaware that she was pregnant, she would surely fall into the trap set by Fukang'an and the Empress Dowager for each other.
The Empress Dowager also knew that she was pregnant and wanted to use this to prove to the Emperor how cunning and scheming Fukang'an was.
Fukang'an concealed it from her that day, also as part of his plan for today, fearing that Yan Ning would be distressed by the child in her womb and disrupt his plans.
In this way, she became nothing more than a pawn in the game of mutual exploitation between the Empress Dowager and Fukang'an.
From Yan Ning's demeanor, the Empress Dowager knew that she had initially been unaware of all this. But now that she knew, it was for the best. Fukang'an's greatest worry was that Yan Ning would develop a rift with him. Now, the trap he himself had set had ensnared him as well.
The Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor standing outside the curtain and Fukang'an kneeling, closed her eyes, and spoke to Yan Ning, who was standing to one side.
"You should also return to the Fucha residence! Although it is said that the husband is the head of the household and the wife is the head of the household, you must always remember that the ruler is the head of the household and the subject is the head of the household!"
Yan Ning was stunned. If she returned to the manor, how should she inquire about Miss Yue's affairs? She also had no idea why the jade pendant around Consort Rong's neck was the same as hers.
If she doesn't return to the palace, and the Empress Dowager and Fukang Anming are locked in such a fierce struggle, how will the Empress Dowager treat her and her child if she stays by her side?
The emperor's bright yellow dragon robe disappeared behind the curtain.
Yan Ning knew that the current situation was completely beyond her control.
The cart wheels veered from the asphalt road onto the muddy dirt road. The passing carts had compacted the fluffy snow, turning it into slush. The road, which should have been as hard as ice in winter, was now covered in water stains, with snowflakes falling into it and deepening the water, turning the stains into potholes.
The Fucha family's carriage was covered with soft, fragrant brocade cushions, exuding a faint scent. Although the carriage was bumpy, it did not harm the pregnant Wuchun and Yanning. The carriage windows were nailed shut with thick curtains, preventing any cold wind or snowflakes from getting in; only the sound of wind and snow outside could be heard, sounding like weeping.
Yan Ning and Fukang'an sat in the main seats of the carriage, with Wu Chun sitting to one side. Yan Ning's silver-white cloak nestled beside Fukang'an's sable cloak. After the incident at the Empress Dowager's bedchamber, she was exhausted and could no longer support herself. She rested her head on Fukang'an's shoulder, ignoring Wu Chun sitting to her side.
With her eyes slightly closed, Yan Ning couldn't care less about anything else at that moment. Her mind was only focused on reminding herself that the man sitting beside her was her husband, the one she and her child could rely on here.
But why, even though they were together, it was not as good as when she was confined to the palace by the Empress Dowager. The two of them were separated by palace walls and pavilions, yet they could still understand each other.
Fukang'an gripped Yan Ning's hand tightly through her cloak and cape, so tightly that Yan Ning's knuckles trembled. He said expressionlessly, "We won the bet!"
Wu Chun, standing to one side, gazed tenderly at Fukang'an, nodded, and parted her lips in a smile. Like a Michelia champaca blooming in the early spring breeze, its buds were as smooth as jade and its fragrance as delicate as orchids.
Fukang'an lowered his head to look at Yan Ning, causing Wu Chun's smile to freeze on his face, turning desolate and withered.
With his other hand, Fukang'an smoothed Yan Ning's messy hair from her forehead, his hand tracing her tear-stained face.
He pleaded, "Yan Ning, don't blame me! I said I would keep you and your child safe and sound, and I will!"
Yan Ning kept her eyes down, not looking at Fukang'an.
She didn't blame Fukang'an, nor could she blame him.
If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's relentless pressure, he wouldn't have taken such a risky move, gambling the lives of his two children on this palace conspiracy.
But what if you lose the bet?
Yan Ning felt resentment towards Fu Kang'an's confidence; why did he take other people's lives so for granted?
After Fukang'an sighed softly, the three of them fell silent.
The coachman stopped the carriage, and a chilling voice came from outside the curtain. "Reporting to the General, ahead are the Fifteenth Prince and Lord He!"
Upon hearing this, Fukang'an released Yan Ning's hand, got up, and got out of the car.
The curtain fell behind him, and Yan Ning could not see what was happening outside, but she could hear Fukang'an greeting the Fifteenth Prince.
The voice of the Fifteenth Prince Yongyan carried a chill, the chill of which was indistinguishable whether it came from within or from his mouth.
"General Fucha was able to take people away from the Empress Dowager's palace. Truly, there is no place under the heavens that General Fucha's iron hooves cannot reach!"
Yongyan wore a mink-lined vest with silver buttons. The seven pearls on his court hat shone with a chilling light under the cold glare.
He looked down at Fukang'an, who was standing on his horse, his brows furrowed and his eyes filled with contempt.
Fukang'an stood upright, his eyes meeting Yongyan's calm and undisturbed gaze, as deep as a still pool.
A moment later, Heshen, who was keeping pace with Yongyan, reminded him, "The Empress Dowager is waiting for these medicinal herbs! If we delay, the Emperor will blame us!"
As he spoke, Heshen's crescent-shaped eyes swept over Fukang'an and looked at the carriage with its brocade curtains hanging down.
Yongyan glanced at the carriage, then looked away from Fukang'an, and rode away with Heshen, bypassing the carriage of the Fucha residence.
Yan Ning lifted the curtain on the carriage window and saw Yongyan and Heshen riding away. Thinking of their meeting, the chill must have already frozen to the ground.
Upon returning to the Fucha residence, Fukang'an informed the entire household that Yan Ning was pregnant.
Suddenly the wind direction in the mansion changed again, and even blew into the west courtyard.
Xia'er wrote down the fact that Yan Ning was pregnant on a piece of paper and placed it in the food box sent from the kitchen to Zui Xia Zhai in the west courtyard. Xi Ying chewed the small note along with the food and swallowed it.
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