Yan Ning felt flustered under He Shen's gaze and avoided him, heading towards the door of the room. He Shen quickly took a few steps forward and stuffed a small packet of medicine powder into Yan Ning's hand. "If you want De Lin to be loyal to you, his mother, then cut off his hopes. Put this in Xi Ying's food. Even if the imperial physician examines the body, it won't implicate you! If you continue to be soft-hearted, you'll regret it one day!"
Sitting in the carriage, Yan Ning stared at the yellowed parchment lying flat in her hand, folded up. She didn't know what was inside. But she blamed herself for accepting this harmful "medicine" powder without the slightest hesitation. Was it because Heshen's words outside the palace had struck a chord with her?
Delin also harbors feelings for Xiying, feelings he cannot sever—Xiying is his birth mother. But now Dexuan is grown up; if she were to do this, how would Dexuan feel about her in the future? And when Delin finds out, he will surely be furious at her for her ruthlessness in killing his mother.
The packet of medicine powder in her hand felt like a thorn, firmly piercing Yan Ning's palm. As the carriage approached the mansion gate, a cart carrying swill came around from the back gate. She immediately grabbed the wet medicine powder and threw it into the swill bucket, instantly feeling much lighter in her hand and in her heart.
The following evening, Delin returned with a less somber expression. After dinner, he did not immediately return to Zhiqin Pavilion, but instead played with Yunwan and Dexuan.
Yan Ning watched the three children playing together, secretly glad she hadn't brought that packet of "medicine" powder back to the manor. Since Wu Chun's passing, although Yun Xin lived in Jian Gong Zhai, she spent most of her days alone in bed. Having just finished her meal, she had already pestered her wet nurse to take her back to her room to lie in bed.
Yan Ning instructed Ju Xiang to take good care of Yun Wan and De Xuan, then walked towards the east wing. The east wing was originally De Lin's residence, but after De Lin moved out, it was prepared for Yun Xin to live in alone. Yun Wan was noisy, and although Yun Xin didn't say it, Yan Ning knew that she also found it noisy.
Although the underfloor heating in the mansion had been turned on early, thick curtains still hung in Yunxin's room. Hearing the curtains sway, she put down her embroidery and saw that it was Yanning who had come. She rose and bowed, smiling before speaking. "Yunxin greets Great Mother!"
Yan Ning pulled Jun Xin's hand and sat her down, smiling gently. "Jun Wan and the others are playing in the courtyard. You're not feeling well, so you should move around a bit to help with your digestion!" Jun Xin gently pulled her hand away from Yan Ning's, still smiling. "If Jun Xin goes, she'll only spoil the fun for Jun Wan and the others."
Yan Ning glanced at her empty hands. Ever since learning of Wu Chun's death, Yun Xin had become distant from her. There was plenty of politeness, but no real intimacy. No matter what Yan Ning did, she couldn't warm Yun Xin's cold heart. She took the embroidery from Yun Xin's hands and sighed, "Your embroidery skills are so refined at such a young age, and you're also proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Even your great-grandmother is envious!"
Yunxin was only eight or nine years old, her still-childish face showing a perfunctory expression. "My great-aunt has a face that can topple empires, and once danced so beautifully that she captivated the entire palace. How could Yunxin possibly compare to her!"
Faced with the young Yunxin's perfunctory and flattering attitude, Yan Ning felt a mix of emotions, yet she didn't know how to improve their relationship. She could only tell Yunxin to rest early and return to her main room.
In the fifty-second year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, the people of Shaanxi and Gansu were at peace. Fukang'an was summoned back to the capital by the emperor after three years away.
Last year, He Lin accompanied Grand Councilor A Gui to Zhejiang to investigate the embezzlement case of Sheng Zhu, the textile commissioner of Hangzhou. Sheng Zhu was the brother of one of the emperor's concubines. A Gui's lack of personal feelings led to his punishment by the emperor. He Lin learned of the emperor's intentions from his brother He Shen and submitted the evidence of Sheng Zhu's embezzlement to the emperor through a secret edict. As a result, he was promoted to the position of Censor of Huguang Circuit.
On the day Fukang'an returned to the capital, after leaving the palace, he was invited to Agui's residence by Agui without even returning to the Fucha residence to discuss how to reverse the power dynamics in the court.
Yan Ning grew anxiously awaiting Fukang'an's return, so she took Yunxin to wait for him at the mansion gate. As the last rays of the setting sun faded, the sound of Fukang'an riding his horse drifted down from the street. Upon seeing this, Steward Luo immediately trotted over to meet him and took the reins from Fukang'an as he dismounted.
He strode quickly and powerfully towards Yan Ning and the other woman, as if walking on air. Ignoring the servants nearby, he scooped Yan Ning up in his arms, the force of his grip causing her bones to ache. In his prime, apart from a much more composed expression, his handsome face, imbued with the spirit of Kunlun jade, was completely wrinkle-free.
The servants nearby all lowered their heads, avoiding looking at the two. Yan Ning, mindful of Yun Xin, pushed Fu Kang An away. He also saw Yun Xin standing beside Yan Ning and reached out to embrace her, but Yun Xin, startled, took several steps back. Fu Kang An's hand froze awkwardly in mid-air. Yan Ning immediately took Yun Xin's hand and said gently, "You're away from home most of the year, it's understandable that the child is distant from you!" Yun Xin felt much more at ease with Yan Ning's hand in hers, and she leaned tightly against her.
Fukang'an looked somewhat embarrassed. He put his arm around Yan Ning and walked into the mansion, but asked, "Where are Yunwan and Dexuan?" Yan Ning sighed helplessly, "They went to play at the Xian'an Palace Academy disguised as Delin's pageboys! Mother is spoiling them more and more these days!"
Just as the three passed through the hanging flower gate, Delin's carriage arrived at the school. Upon hearing that Fukang'an had returned, Dexuan and Yunwan cried out "Father!" and rushed towards him. Fukang'an, beaming with joy, picked them both up and carried them to the backyard.
Delin followed closely behind Yunwan and Dexuan, and before Fukang'an could even greet them, he disappeared from sight. He stood beside Yan Ning with a somewhat dejected expression, bowing respectfully, "Son greets Mother!" Yan Ning noticed the fleeting sadness on his face and comforted him, "I noticed your father wasn't tired at all when he saw you four siblings. After dinner, bring your lessons from the Xian'an Palace Academy for your father to see; he'll surely be proud of you!"
After receiving Yan Ning's guidance, De Lin bowed again and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Mother! I will go and get it now, and I will present it to Father after he has finished his meal!" Yan Ning wanted to tell De Lin not to rush, but then she thought that De Lin was now too old to act like De Xuan and be pampered by Fu Kang An. Seeing his happy face with De Xuan, she also hoped that Fu Kang An would notice her.
Yan Ning led Yun Xin slowly towards the backyard. This time, Yun Xin didn't pull her hand away, but let Yan Ning lead her. Yan Ning looked at her; her thin face also showed some disappointment. All children feel the same way. Yan Ning put her arm around Yun Xin, who barely reached her waist, and said softly, "Didn't you embroider a purse for Father? You can give it to him when we get back. We don't know how long Father will stay at home this time. When he's free, you can play the zither for him; he'll be very happy!"
Yunxin's eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky; in the Fucha household, only Fukang'an was her closest blood relative. She nodded and moved even closer to Yan Ning.
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