A moment later, Fukang'an stood behind Yan Ning. His eyes passed through Yan Ning and looked directly at Zhao Xing, nodding slightly.
Zhao Xing immediately understood and ordered the servant at the gate, "The general is only punishing them because they are still young. If they offend again, they shall be expelled from the mansion immediately!"
Upon receiving the order, the servants took Ranxin and Ranyu to the side room of the west wing.
Seeing that they would no longer be driven out of the mansion, Yan Ning breathed a sigh of relief and turned to meet Fu Kang'an's deep, icy eyes.
Even someone as shrewd and ruthless as the Empress Dowager was defeated by Fukang'an. So what did she have to contend with Fukang'an with, daring to so openly defy his wishes and humiliate him?
Yan Ning lowered her eyes, not daring to look into Fukang'an's silent, cold eyes. She knew that she only dared to defy his orders in his name because she relied on his affection for her and the fact that she was carrying his child.
Wu Chun sat in the hall, not hearing a single word Fukang'an said about leaving Ranxin and Ranyu behind. She clenched the white handkerchief in her hand. She and her unborn child were truly no match for Yan Ning and her unborn child.
By allowing the servants to act so arrogantly, and only by feigning concern for Fukang'an's sake to keep Ranxin and Ranyu, where is the dignity of this concubine?
"Does the general truly have no pity for me and my child at all?"
As Wu Chun's tears fell, her face, no longer half-covered by a handkerchief, was revealed to Fukang'an and Yan Ning.
Fukang'an stepped forward, picked up the tearful Wuchun, and left the main room of Jiangongzhai without even glancing at Yan Ning.
The servants who had gathered at the gate were quickly driven back to their respective courtyards by Zhao Xing, who also spread the news that Wu Chunfeng had suppressed Yan Ning back to their own courtyards.
It was getting late, and Fukang'an had not yet returned to Jian Gong Zhai. Although Zhu Xiang had lied to Yan Ning, saying that he had gone to the military camp and had not returned, how could she not have imagined that he had stayed at Chun Ying Yuan?
Although Yan Ning, as a lady, was not to the point of being subjected to the kind of private conversations between Ran Xin and Ran Yu that Wu Chun overheard, Wu Chun had been a favored person since entering the mansion. Now, Yan Ning, who held the rightful place in the household, had become someone Fu Kang An occasionally remembered for a few days.
With her mind preoccupied with the jade pendant around Consort Rong's neck, Yan Ning was not particularly concerned about Fukang'an's overnight stay at Chunying Garden. Her feelings for Fukang'an had long since changed from girlish infatuation to a mixture of fear and love, though fear outweighed love.
The Emperor casually remarked to the Empress Dowager that day, ordering Fukang'an to go to Jilin. To others, it would have been a joke. But he was the Emperor, and his words were law and could not be taken lightly.
The imperial edict is probably still being negotiated with the Empress Dowager at the Yuanmingyuan, but the Emperor has already believed that the Empress Dowager intends to harm Fukang'an's two children. Presumably, the imperial edict will only reach the Fucha residence to discuss the Empress Dowager's health.
Without Fukang'an, this mansion would truly fall into her hands. Yan Ning smiled bitterly; it was no wonder that the usually composed Wu Chun was so eager to use Fukang'an's power to suppress the servants.
A woman like Wu Chun, though possessing the delicate sensibilities of a courtesan, could handle matters with the appropriate degree of urgency or slowness, making Yan Ning suspicious of her origins. She seized the opportunity to cause a scene at Jian Gong Zhai. With Fu Kang An's actions today as a precedent, even if those servants wanted to bully their masters in the future, they would remember the fate of Ran Xin and Ran Yu today.
Yan Ning felt somewhat frustrated. Thinking about it this way, it seemed that Fukang'an's actions today were meant for her.
The next morning, as Yan Ning was getting ready, Ju Xiang stood beside her, holding a jade porcelain bowl, her face showing some anger. Yan Ning turned to look at her and asked calmly, "Who offended you so early in the morning?"
Juxiang immediately knelt down. "Reporting to Madam, this morning when I went to the kitchen to fetch breakfast, I ran into Diecui from Chunying Garden. When Chef Wu saw me enter the kitchen with her, he immediately apologized, saying that the bird's nest soup, which should have arrived yesterday, had been delayed for some reason, so only one serving was prepared today. Before I could say anything, Diecui said that the General was at Chunying Garden, and if he saw Consort An drinking the bird's nest soup, the kitchen would inevitably be punished. Before I could say anything, she took the bird's nest soup from Chef Wu, put it in a food box, and left..."
"Juxiang, go set out breakfast!"
Zhu Xiang brought in the heated breakfast and saw Ju Xiang talking to Yan Ning. She immediately stopped Ju Xiang, fearing that she would say something inappropriate and upset Yan Ning.
Yan Ning found it somewhat amusing. She gently pulled Ju Xiang up, "It's just a bowl of bird's nest soup. She's about to give birth, so let her make a scene. Why are you getting so worked up over nothing for me!"
As the mistress and servant were chatting, a maidservant's urgent voice came from outside the door, "Madam, Concubine An has eaten something that might cause miscarriage and is going into premature labor."
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