With Fukang'an's orders in place, Yan Ning couldn't directly ask about the saffron. "Has the steward prepared the bird's nest? Aunt An can't do without it during her postpartum recovery!"
Chef Wu, his back bent, spoke in a slightly hoarse voice from his dry lips, parched from smoking a pipe, “Everything is ready! If there’s only enough bird’s nest for one person, it will definitely be sent to Madam. Madam, please don’t be offended. That day, it was just that the General was at Chunying Garden, and Miss Diecui got there first. Miss Diecui is indeed considerate of her master, but who wouldn’t remember their former master!”
Chef Wu spoke very slowly, making Yan Ning ponder for a while. She wanted to ask something more, but Chef Wu's body remained stiff, as if he had nothing more to say to her.
Yan Ning originally only wanted to ask Chef Wu who had the opportunity to get close to the blood swallow and add saffron, but Chef Wu's cryptic words seemed to give her the answer.
Although she didn't understand what Chef Wu meant, she knew that it would be useless to ask any more questions, and Chef Wu would definitely not say anything more.
Yan Ning was somewhat aware of what Chef Wu wanted. She had originally planned to find an opportunity to let him return to his hometown in glory, but then he helped Wu Chun use the Blood Swallow to sow discord between her and Fukang'an. Although she didn't punish him out of consideration for their past help and goodwill, she still harbored resentment towards him.
Now that he has offended both of his masters, he dares not disobey Fukang'an's orders to tell Yan Ning anything important.
Stepping out of the kitchen courtyard, Yan Ning looked up at the sky above. The old lady, Aunt Li, and Xi Ying, Wu Chun, and she were all imprisoned here.
Their children will also be confined here, but no matter where they are or what era they live in, people are always confined to one place.
They all struggle and fight under this vast sky.
All she could do was keep herself safe and ensure the safety of the baby in her womb.
Yan Ning's peach-colored, rosy face looked up at the clear blue sky.
lady?
Former master?
Xi Ying was Xia'er's former master, and this heart-wrenching premature birth must have been Xi Ying's doing. The doctor said that saffron ground into juice and dissolved in bird's nest is not easy to detect, and Xi Ying had accumulated a lot of saffron since the beginning of winter, claiming that her legs were damp and cold.
Fukang'an already knew about this yesterday, but he kept quiet only for the sake of Delin's status as the eldest son.
The cold moon hung low, and the nights during this time of lingering chill in the air were bitterly cold. Fukang'an had not yet returned from Jiangongzhai. Although Yan Ning was worried about the underhanded dealings between him and the Empress Dowager, she knew he was meticulous and had already taken precautions.
On the contrary, his restraint in dealing with Xi Ying made Yan Ning somewhat worried. If he really left the capital, would Xi Ying harm her and her child?
Wu Chun was clearly made a scapegoat for her; Xi Ying's real threat was the child in her womb, which threatened De Lin's position as the legitimate heir.
Lost in thought, the candlelight had dimmed to the point where the sunlight was now penetrating.
At noon, Zhao Xing, following behind Fukang'an, entered the Jian Gong Zhai carrying the bright yellow imperial edict. Zhao Xing took down the brocade box placed high in the hall; it was already filled with many pieces of bright yellow brocade. Only the one Zhao Xing held in his hands was eerily cold.
Fukang'an looked at Yan Ning, whose eyes were tinged with a faint bluish-black, and whose redness was spreading across her face.
He was still in his official robes when he took off his hat, supporting it with one hand and gently pulling her into his arms with the other. His brows were furrowed. "I will be leaving the capital in three days!"
Yan Ning buried her face in his cold chest. She knew in her heart that he would rather die on the battlefield than live a life of leisure and wealth in the capital.
The date of parting has been set, but when will I return? I fear I will have to wait for another imperial decree to be issued.
Yan Ning never imagined that after only a few days with Fukang'an, all her fear, resentment, and confusion towards him would vanish. She wanted to hold onto him, or leave with him. In this vast world, she felt that wherever he was, that was her safe haven.
When the two went to the Peony Hall to inform the old lady, she had already anticipated this matter, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. The old lady looked at Yan Ning's eyes, which seemed to be covered by a red veil, and said helplessly, "Spend more time with your wife! If this outburst gets back to the palace, people will think that my Fucha family has any intention of defying the imperial decree!"
Yan Ning stood beside Fukang'an, her head bowed, her face flushed, and remained silent.
Back at Jian Gong Zhai, as they packed their belongings, Yan Ning stuffed many mink cloaks, official robes, along with their usual tea sets and small ornaments, into the trunk Fu Kang An was carrying. Fu Kang An sat on the warm couch, a smile on his face, looking at Yan Ning, who had gone to such lengths for him.
Normally, Xi Ying would silently do these things for him, and he never knew that seeing others busy for him could make him so happy.
Zhao Xing looked at the several large boxes that Yan Ning had packed with difficulty; most of the ornaments, large and small, from Jian Gong Zhai were already inside. He looked at Yan Ning's troubled expression and said, "Madam, the General is going to take up his post, not to go to war. Everything there is already prepared; just pack some things the General will need for the journey."
Yan Ning's forehead was already covered in a fine sheen of sweat. Her round eyes glared angrily. "These are all things that the general is used to. Although there is everything there, there is no sense of home here!"
Zhao Xingyi was about to say something when Fukang'an silenced him with a sharp glare. "Give these things prepared by the madam to the accompanying guards. You keep your personal belongings with you. We'll go first!"
Zhao Xing accepted the order and had his servants carry out five large chests inlaid with gold and silver.
The room fell silent. She felt a nagging worry, as if something was missing. Fukang'an pulled her to his knees, his hand gently encircling her waist; she was still as supple as a boneless tree.
Fukang'an, now dressed in a sky-blue robe, smiled, his face as warm as jade. He gazed into Yan Ning's lost eyes, "If you feel something is missing, it's you and the child!"
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