As the carriage entered the Yuanmingyuan, Yan Ning's anxiety rose and fell like the rumbling of the wheels. She couldn't help but look at Fukang'an, hoping to find some reassurance.
Fukang'an sat upright with one hand tied behind his back and the other casually placed on his knees. His eyes were closed, and his face, framed by white mourning clothes, showed no emotion.
Yan Ning placed her hand on Fu Kang'an's, her eyes darting back and forth as she looked at him. Fu Kang'an opened his eyes and looked at Yan Ning, a smile immediately spreading across his face. He grasped Yan Ning's hand in return. "I grew up in the palace; let our child absorb the Emperor's imperial aura even before he's born!"
She could tell that Fukang'an admired and loved the Emperor, and his desire to serve the country was undoubtedly due to his loyalty to the Emperor.
Wu Shulai personally greeted Fukang'an and Yan Ning at the gate of the Qinzheng Qinxian Hall. However, after that incident, the two knew that he must have been instructed by Yongyan's faction.
As soon as Fukang'an helped Yan Ning down from the carriage, Wu Shulai came forward and bowed. A hint of contempt flashed in Fukang'an's eyes, "If Eunuch Wu has anything to say, say it now! If you see the Emperor later, I'm afraid your head won't be able to open its mouth!"
Wu Shulai smiled apologetically, "General Fucha, you are exaggerating. This servant is simply carrying out His Majesty's decree to go to the Fucha residence to deliver the imperial edict and escort Young Master Delin to the Eighth Prince's residence!"
Yan Ning frowned and glared at Wu Shulai, "What do you mean by that, Eunuch Wu? Does it mean that my Fucha family can't even afford to raise our own children?!"
Even the empresses in the palace had to look up to Wu Shulai. He could have simply ignored Yan Ning's rudeness, given her status as a "woman." However, he knew Yongyan's feelings for Yan Ning. If Yongyan were to inherit the throne in the future, Yan Ning, though not a legitimate empress, would still be a powerful mistress outside the palace, just like the one from the Fucha family, someone he couldn't afford to offend.
Wu Shulai bowed and smiled obsequiously at Yan Ning, "Madam, please don't be offended. This is His Majesty's decree! Prince Mianzhi of the Eighth Prince's residence is frail and lacks playmates. His Majesty heard from the Eighth Prince that Young Master Delin of the Fucha residence is proficient in both literature and martial arts at a young age, so he ordered me to bring Young Master Delin to the Eighth Prince's residence to keep Prince Mianzhi company in his studies and martial arts practice!"
Yan Ning was about to say something more when Fukang'an stopped her. He looked at Wu Shulai with a normal expression and said, "It is an honor for the Fucha family that Delin can accompany Prince Mianzhi. Then we will trouble Eunuch Wu!"
"General Fucha, you're too kind!"
After saying that, Wu Shulai flicked the whip in his hand, turned his face, and sternly said to the little eunuch following behind him, "Hurry up and follow!"
When Yongxuan came out of the main hall, he saw Fukang'an and Yan Ning, and his eyes were filled with hatred as he glared at Fukang'an.
If Fukang'an hadn't failed to find him in time, how could he have missed the opportunity for treatment, suffering this incurable leg injury and being forever barred from the throne? No matter how much the emperor relied on him, he would never entrust the throne to a cripple. He could only rely on Yongyan and do his utmost to help him seize the throne, in order to secure his own lifelong high official rank and wealth.
When he first heard Heshen mention these things, he suspected that Heshen was Yongyan's man and was deceiving him to try and win him over to the Fifteenth Prince's faction. But when he checked the duty log for that day, it was Fu Chang'an, Fu Kang'an's younger brother. If Fu Kang'an hadn't intentionally ordered Fu Chang'an to do it, then Fu Chang'an had done it for Fu Kang'an's sake.
Moreover, given Fukang'an's unique background, he had no choice but to believe Heshen's words, attach himself to Yongyan, and work with him to suppress Fukang'an, preventing him from achieving further merits and making a name for himself in history.
Yongxuan snorted at Fukang'an and limped away. Fukang'an didn't seem to care and didn't even bend over. He then went into the main hall with Yan Ning.
The hall was bathed in a bright yellow light, and because it was modeled after the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Forbidden City, the atmosphere here was much more somber. Even sunlight could barely penetrate, making it somewhat dim, while the bright yellow light instilled a sense of awe.
Amber incense burned in a gilded glass and jade porcelain bottle, and palace maids and eunuchs each performed their duties, none daring to overstep their bounds.
The head eunuch, Chen Jinzhong, informed Fukang'an that the Emperor was waiting for him at Fuchun Tower to admire the calligraphy and paintings. Fukang'an nodded, glanced at Yan Ning, and nodded, indicating that she should make the best of it since she was already there. He then followed Chen Jinzhong to a side hall and left, while Yan Ning was taken by a palace maid to Xinghua Chun Pavilion, where Consort Rong resided.
Yan Ning was granted permission by the Emperor to reside in the Xinghua Chun Pavilion, the former residence of Consort Rong, while Fukang'an was inseparable from the Emperor. Even when handling important matters, the Emperor did not avoid him. Under such great favor, Fukang'an was filled with trepidation, for serving the Emperor was like walking on thin ice, especially given his special status.
One month later.
The peach blossoms outside the Hall of Diligent Governance and Kindness are in full bloom, their fragrance lingering in the window lattices and then drifting into the hall with the spring breeze.
Yan Ning stood at the rosewood table, watching Consort Rong brew flower tea. Her jade-like fingers were long and slender, and the petals slipped through her fingers, splashing a drop or two of spring water that then floated on the surface of the clear spring. The wisps of white mist rising from the water made the petals floating on it appear both real and unreal.
Yan Ning unconsciously looked towards the window lattice, where the Emperor and Fukang'an were locked in a fierce battle on the chessboard. Sometimes they argued heatedly, and sometimes they shook hands and made peace. Just like the few petals under the cool mist, it was all a blur of reality and illusion.
As the days grew warmer, the layers of winter clothes were shed, and the jade pendant around Consort Rong's neck hung freely outside her thin garments. The shimmering spring sunlight made the jade pendant appear even more white and emerald, like a few white clouds floating in the clear blue sky.
Consort Rong glanced at Yan Ning's eyes, which were fixed on the jade pendant on her chest. A hint of helplessness welled up in her heart. She had only heard about the origin of this jade pendant from the old nannies who served the imperial concubines and consorts after the Empress Dowager's passing. Although it was not an auspicious object, it had been worn by the Empress Dowager, signifying her noble status.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
