The jade hook lifts the gauze curtain, and moonlight shines through the crystal curtain, scattering like water ribbons onto the ornaments that are already tinged with a thin layer of yellow candlelight.
Yan Ning stared wide-eyed at everything in the antique-style room. Ju Xiang sat drowsily by the curtains. The candlelight was dim, and servants kept watch. When had she become so accustomed to this kind of life, accepting the service of others and using her power to control their fates?
A gust of wind blew, knocking down the gauze curtains hanging on the jade hooks, causing the candle flames to flicker. Juxiang opened her eyes with a start, got up, grabbed a pair of scissors, and trimmed the burning wick.
She sleepily rolled up the gauze curtains and returned to her post. Yan Ning felt a pang of pity and gently called to Ju Xiang, "Ju Xiang, go and rest!"
Upon hearing this, Juxiang immediately stood up and shook her head, "This servant wouldn't dare!"
Yan Ning sighed inwardly. They were already used to serving their master, and even without her as their master, they would still have to serve others.
That's just fate!
Thinking of fate, Yan Ning recalled Qing Yue's tragic destiny, which made her even more bewildered. Qing Yue not only resembled her in appearance, but also emitted a strange light. If Qing Yue came from the same place as her, then they must be connected by blood, but how could Qing Yue be so many years older than her?
Although the secrets within the palace are strictly forbidden, it is certainly possible to pry open the mouths of the palace maids and eunuchs by using power and coercion.
As dawn broke in a daze, Yan Ning, her mind heavy with worries, hurried towards He Di. When she saw the vermilion gates of He Di, she was momentarily stunned. The renovated He Di was much more solemn and grand than she had seen before, gradually becoming more like the Prince Gong's Mansion, yet it was still different from the Prince Gong's Mansion imprinted in her memory.
She stood before the stone steps of the He Di mansion, staring blankly at the two characters "He Di" in crimson gold against a black background.
She lived each day here with trepidation, her affection for Fukang'an sometimes making her forget her own identity. She didn't belong here, yet she was becoming more and more familiar with this place.
She was entangled in the power struggles within the government, court politics, and conspiracies to seize the throne. Unable to bear the loneliness of the courtyard, she had once longed for a child of her own to live here. Now, the child in her womb, whose bloodline was connected to hers, had become an inseparable part of her being here.
As the sun grew higher, Yan Ning remained standing motionless before the gates of the He Di Mansion. She couldn't discern whether her heart lingered here or yearned to leave and reunite with her family. Now, Fukang'an was also her family, and their child was about to be born, making her even more torn.
When Liu Quan returned from court with Heshen, he saw Yan Ning standing in front of Heshen's residence. He reported to Heshen in his sedan chair, "My lord, it is Lady Fucha!"
Heshen lifted the sedan curtain and saw Yan Ning's slender, peach-pink figure standing in the sun. He ordered the sedan bearers to stop and strode towards Yan Ning, saying gently as he reached her from behind, "Aren't you afraid of getting sunburned!"
Yan Ning suddenly turned around. He Shen's official robes were damp and clung to his skin, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead. Behind him stretched a long, desolate street, highlighting his jade-like face with a touch of delicate charm.
Meeting Heshen's bright, crescent-shaped eyes, she felt embarrassed and lowered her head. "I was afraid of disturbing the peace and quiet of Lord He's residence!"
She made up a random excuse, which displeased Heshen. He walked ahead of her toward the mansion.
Yan Ning took Ju Xiang's hand and followed closely behind He Shen. He walked slowly, afraid that if he walked too fast, Yan Ning would follow too quickly and hurt the child in her womb.
As Yan Ning ascended the stone steps, she heard an indistinct sigh from ahead, "I never knew your heart was made of stone, and now we've grown distant!"
Yan Ning didn't know how to answer. Seeing that He Shen's pace was neither too fast nor too slow and that he didn't seem to want her to answer, she silently followed him into the mansion.
Upon reaching the main hall in the front courtyard, Heshen whispered a few words to Liu Quan, who was standing beside him. Liu Quan then gave a few instructions to the maid at the door before returning to Heshen's side.
Yan Ning looked at Heshen in confusion, and he smiled, his eyes crinkling, "If I wanted to harm you, I wouldn't have gone to the Fifteenth Prince's residence that day!"
The almond-shaped eyes that had briefly flickered with worry that day resurfaced before Yan Ning's gaze, and she lowered her head without replying.
The maidservant brought Yan Ning a bowl of plum juice, placed in a jade porcelain bowl on a jade porcelain basin with ice crystals floating on it. The bowl had been slightly cool from the journey, but not icy. The plum juice was merely refreshing and cooling, not icy enough to upset the stomach.
The cool touch warmed Yan Ning's heart, and she smiled at He Shen, saying, "Thank you so much, Lord He Shen, for going to such lengths for Yan Ning!"
Hearing Yan Ning's polite words, Heshen's eyes darkened. He picked up the covered bowl beside him, slowly took a sip, and looked down at the emerald green tea leaves. After calming his mind, he asked, "Madam Fucha, what brings you to see me?"
Heshen lowered his head slightly, so Yan Ning couldn't see his eyes, and she couldn't tell from his lukewarm words whether he was displeased.
She put down the jade porcelain bowl in her hand, bit her lip lightly, and looked at Juxiang, saying, "Wait for me in the courtyard!" Juxiang responded, "Yes!" and curtsied before leaving.
Upon hearing this, Heshen did not look up. He waved the lid of the blue-and-white porcelain cup, and Liu Quan, who was standing beside him, immediately called the servants in the hall to go down with him.
After the curtain fell, Yan Ning hesitated for a moment before telling He Shen everything that Chef Wu had told her.
After listening, Heshen was stunned for a moment, then looked up at Yan Ning. "Was it because of Miss Yue that you wanted to kill me on the day the Empress Dowager passed away?"
Yan Ning nodded, looking at He Shen's curved eyes, trying to guess what he was thinking.
The front hall of the Hedi residence was not as deserted as the front hall of the Fucha residence, which must have been bustling with people every day.
After a long while, Heshen said to her gently, "I will tell you the whole story after I have investigated it thoroughly!"
Aside from Heshen, Yan Ning didn't know who else she could trouble with this matter. She smiled gently at Heshen. "Lord He will soon become in-laws with the Emperor, and Yan Ning wishes you congratulations in advance!"
Heshen looked at Yan Ning, whose smile was captivating, but there was no joy in his eyes. He said coldly, "Why I helped you is self-evident!"
Yan Ning's smile froze, and she lowered her eyes, saying, "Yan Ning won't disturb Lord He any longer!" With that, she got up and left, looking as if she were fleeing in a panic.
Heshen hurried a few steps behind her to catch up. He gently grasped her arm and said in a deep voice, "Don't make the same mistake again. You don't need to worry about my relationship with the Fifteenth Prince. The royal territory is like a dragon's den or a tiger's lair. Don't step into it lightly again!"
Yan Ning abruptly pulled away from his embrace and hurriedly walked out. She had considered that Heshen must have played a significant role in ensuring the Fucha family's safety. However, she was unwilling to admit it; if she did, wouldn't that be a direct slap in the face to Fukang'an?
Even though Fukang'an had troops stationed outside, how could he tolerate his own residence receiving favors from Heshen?
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