Fukang'an's hand was held by Yan Ning, and he couldn't pull it away. He could only look at her, his eyes calm as a spring lake, but he didn't know how to answer her.
From a young age, besides learning martial arts and military strategy, he was also influenced by his father, mother, and elder brother to learn how to be an official in the court. Although he did not deliberately learn those court affairs, he saw them a lot and learned them naturally through observation.
The mountains and fields that Yan Ning spoke of were the land of cowards in his heart. If he, Fukang'an, could not die on the battlefield when the country was in trouble, then he would only have a life of depression.
He grasped Yan Ning's hand in return, his smile deepening. Turning around, he sat closer to Yan Ning, pulling her into his arms and saying indulgently, "You're a mother now, yet you still talk such nonsense!"
Yan Ning didn't say anything more. She knew that in Fukang'an's mind, she had just acted willfully and foolishly again. She hugged Fukang'an, hesitating whether to tell him about the Empress Dowager's dying wish to die with her.
The sound of rain outside the window was sometimes a mournful patter, and sometimes a startling pounding on the ground. Inside the house, a lamp was lit, but because the sky outside was constantly changing, even the candle flame flickered.
Yan Ning watched the flickering candlelight shadows on the wall, buried her face in Fukang'an's chest, and tentatively asked, "Do you know if there is a Miss Yue in the palace?"
Fukang'an smoothed her half-damp hair and nodded slightly. "When I was young, I heard from the old nannies in the palace that the Holy Ancestor doted on her, but despite his favor, few people had ever seen her face. The Empress Dowager, citing the prohibition against discussing the Holy Ancestor's concubines, silenced everyone about Miss Yue. Initially, some palace servants disobeyed the Empress Dowager's orders, and in her fury, she had many of them executed. In the end, everything about Miss Yue disappeared from the palace! Why are you asking about her? Although the Empress Dowager is no longer here, the palace is a treacherous place, full of gossip. If you're not careful, you'll get caught in it. Remember, don't speak recklessly!"
Yan Ning hesitated for a long time, but still concealed the fact that the Empress Dowager wanted to kill her on the day of her death because she looked similar to Miss Yue.
Yan Ning wondered what Fukang'an would think, knowing that his wife bore a striking resemblance to the Emperor's favorite concubine. She had barely managed to secure her identity as the legitimate daughter of the powerful Su family, a major silk-producing clan in Jiangnan, and dared not allow any further complications to arise.
She looked up, met Fukang'an's gentle gaze, and nodded.
Before the meal, Fukang'an went to see Wuchun. After Yan Ning and Delin finished their meal, his messenger informed Yan Ning that he had stayed overnight at Chunying Garden. Yan Ning sighed inwardly; Wuchun treated him differently, never coldly or harshly. And her husband, Fukang'an? If his wives and concubines were at peace, he always treated them equally, never neglecting anyone.
Yan Ning fondly recalled his first encounter with him, when he confidently declared, "I, Fukang'an, will not let my woman cry!" Little did she know that his indecisiveness was also casting his sorrows upon her and Wuchun. But besides this, Yan Ning couldn't think of any other good solution for him.
Spring Cherry Garden hadn't been this lively in a long time. Fukang'an came despite the rain, and even though the candlelight flickered dimly in the rain, it lit up the hearts of everyone in Spring Cherry Garden.
Although he was holding an umbrella, Fukang'an's cloak still got soaked by the rain. The maids busied themselves taking the wet cloak from his body and bringing him a dry robe to change into. Diecui was even busier preparing dinner, almost moving the entire kitchen courtyard over.
Watching the maids bustling about, Wu Chun's expression remained cold. She resented his magnanimity towards Xi Ying, and the vast difference in social status between legitimate and illegitimate children in the Fucha household. She was also his woman, and Yun Xin was also his daughter. She couldn't understand why Fukang'an couldn't treat them equally, even though Yan Ning's unborn child already held a name that honored her daughter.
Wu Chun seemed oblivious to Fukang'an, continuing to look down at the poems in her hands, while the servants in the courtyard bustled about.
Seeing Wuchun's state, Fukang'an said nothing. He took Yunxin from the wet nurse's arms and began to coax and soothe her. Yunxin was much more delicate than Wuchun. Fukang'an only held her and rocked her for a while before her cheeks turned red, and she began to pant and cry. Fukang'an hurriedly ordered the wet nurse to take her away and take good care of her.
When Wuchun met Fukang'an, he initially intended to remain cold and indifferent, but his heart softened when he saw Fukang'an's clumsy, doting fatherly demeanor as he held Yunxin. How could a general like him possibly know how to play with an infant? Delin had only met him when he was three years old.
Wu Chun sighed inwardly. Fukang'an had given Yunxin everything he could, except for the title of legitimate daughter. The third-day celebration alone had been a grand affair, with the entire city of Beijing's elite flocking to the house. If it hadn't coincided with the Empress Dowager's mourning period, it would have caused a sensation among the powerful and influential in Beijing.
She let Fukang'an lead her away from the sickbed. As he served her food with a warm expression, her heart, which had always resented him for not divorcing Xiying, warmed up and melted away the cold hatred.
Now that Fukang'an has returned, if he were to leave the capital again, it's uncertain when he will be able to return. This time, Wuchun could no longer maintain the indifference that Fukang'an had shown when he left last time. Tears washed away the paleness of her sickly face. "Wuchun heard that the General will be accompanying the Emperor tomorrow, and the Madam will also be by his side. Does the General truly only have this slight affection for Wuchun?"
Although the Fucha family was not a member of the imperial clan, they were still considered imperial relatives because of Empress Fucha. Furthermore, since it had once been a residence within the imperial city, all the servants of the Fucha family wore white mourning clothes to express their sorrow and respect for the Empress Dowager.
Wu Chun harbored resentment, and taking advantage of the time when the manor was changing its silk and satin fabrics, she replaced all the curtains and drapes in the Spring Cherry Garden with white ones. When they were spread out on the flower-covered carpet, they exuded a sense of leisurely elegance.
Wu Chun's sickly and delicate face, accentuated by her white robes, evoked a sense of pity. Fukang'an glanced at her and felt a pang of tenderness in his heart.
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