Yan Ning originally wanted to complain that Zhu Xiang's actions were too extravagant, but there was no moon tonight, and the sky was pitch black. Dark clouds drifted by from time to time, like a huge, dark mouth chewing, and she felt a sense of fear in her heart.
However, seeing that the surroundings were bright and the road was clearly visible, Yan Ning's chilling fear lessened considerably.
As she walked along the covered walkway connecting the central courtyard and the west courtyard, Yan Ning didn't see the arched, dark red gate. At first, she assumed it was too far away to see clearly. But once she got closer, all she saw was a tall wall covered in spring grass, swaying gently from side to side. She couldn't tell whether it belonged to this side or the other.
Yan Ning took a lantern from a maid beside her and shone it around. There were signs that the place where the courtyard gate used to be had been rebuilt.
She seemed somewhat skeptical of what she was seeing, and asked, almost as if in a daze, "Zhuxiang, when was this door built?"
Zhu Xiang lowered her head, "The General ordered the walls to be built late at night on the day Aunt An gave birth!"
Yan Ning dropped the lantern in her hand, unsure whether to be happy or worried. Fukang'an's move severed all contact between the backyard and the west courtyard; even servants delivering meals to the west courtyard would have to take a detour through the front yard to reach it.
In this way, even if Xia'er had been lucky enough to meet Xi Ying and harmed Wu Chun's unborn child, in the future, even if Xi Ying had connections everywhere, she would still have to go through the guards in the front courtyard. Even the servants going to the west courtyard would be under the surveillance of the guards in the front courtyard.
Fukang'an's actions were unknown to others outside the mansion, but within the mansion, it was as if he had driven Xiying out of the backyard.
As a fellow woman of Fukang'an, she felt some pity for Xi Ying on the other side of the wall. However, Wu Chun's appearance today made her feel both fear and disgust towards Xi Ying.
Xiang'er was harmed by her, and although Wu Chun suffered because of her, she was also harmed by her. Little did she know how many more children in this courtyard she would harm.
Thinking this way, Yan Ning felt a weight lifted from her heart.
When she returned to Jianguozhai, Fukang'an was sitting on a heated couch looking at a framed calligraphy and painting.
Yan Ning took the hot water bottle that Ju Xiang had prepared, walked over slowly, sat down next to Fu Kang'an, and looked at the calligraphy and painting in his hand.
It was the two names she had mischievously written while Fukang'an was practicing calligraphy that day. After Song Jin framed them, they even took on a somewhat poetic quality.
Fukang'an glanced at her, then put away the Song brocade painting in his hand and handed it to Zhao Xing, placing it in his bag. He then looked at Yan Ning with calm eyes, "Relax, the Empress Dowager's decree will not reach the Fucha residence! Xi Ying can no longer come to the inner courtyard!"
Yan Ning nodded. Fukang'an knew where she had been within the manor without even leaving the Jiangongzhai courtyard. He had made thorough preparations for her and the child in her womb, which was why he could leave with such peace of mind.
Because it was Yunxin's third-day celebration, an extra cake was served. Fukang'an picked up a cake, then put it down. He looked at Yan Ning with regret and guilt and sighed, "I'm afraid I won't be by your side for our child's third-day celebration."
Yan Ning smiled and placed the lucky cake that Fukang'an had put down into the jade plate in front of him. "Then I'll save a lucky cake for you!"
Fukang'an picked up the lucky cake and said calmly, "When we have our second child, I will definitely be by your side."
The maids serving at her side all lowered their heads and took a few steps back. Yan Ning's face flushed instantly, and as she lowered her head, she saw Fu Kang'an's smiling lips.
Inside the deep crimson gauze curtains, Fukang'an held Yan Ning's hand tightly. Their eyes met, and they remained silent, with only the lonely sound of the water clock echoing.
Judging by the time, the old lady should have gotten up early. Fukang'an and Yan Ning, who had not slept all night, got up, washed and dressed, and went to Peony Hall to say goodbye.
While washing up, Yan Ning saw Zhu Xiang's red and swollen eyes, and a bitter feeling welled up in her heart. "You don't need to come to the Peony Hall with me today. Tell Zhao Xing that he doesn't need to go to the Peony Hall either. Go and say goodbye to him!"
Zhu Xiang accepted the order as if she had received a reward and hurriedly ran out.
When Yan Ning and Fu Kang'an arrived at the Peony Hall, the morning lamps were already lit. The old lady sat upright in the hall, her peony-patterned gold hairpin swaying slightly in her hair. Her face was fair and her lips were red, but her complexion was different from her usual sickly appearance.
Fukang'an knelt beside her dark green Shu brocade cheongsam and kowtowed three times.
The old lady's originally calm expression turned red because of Fukang'an's furrowed brows and reddened eyes, and Yan Ning, standing beside her, also had reddened eyes.
The old lady wiped away the tears in her eyes with a handkerchief and gently stroked Fukang'an's shiny forehead. "Go! We, mother and son, will meet again someday!"
The Peony Hall was lit with more than a dozen candles, making it seem like daytime, but it lacked the warmth of sunlight, casting a cold glow on the three of them.
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