Snow blanketed the ground, a light chill hung in the air, and lilies bloomed in the warm chamber, their fragrance intoxicating. Fearing Yan Ning might be feeling down, Heshen had a warm couch set up by the window so she could enjoy the view during the day. Gazing out the window at the vast expanse of snow, where all vegetation was hidden, Yan Ning recalled playing with Binli in her childhood.
"Mingxin, I want to go for a walk," Yan Ning said to Mingxin, who was standing beside her serving her, as she lay on the warm bed.
"Then this servant will help Miss get up." Mingxin said, helping Yan Ning up to choose clothes.
The closet was full of neatly folded clothes. Yan Ning chose a sky-blue satin cotton cheongsam embroidered with lilies. Because it was cold, she also asked Ming Xin to bring her a dark blue cotton vest with a pipa-shaped collar.
“Girl, there are plenty of brightly colored clothes in the closet, why do you always choose these plain colors?” Mingxin couldn’t understand why Yan Ning, with her stunning beauty, didn’t like to dress up.
"I don't care about these things." Yan Ning smiled slightly and took the clothes from Ming Xin's hands. She was not used to having others help her change her clothes.
Mingxin helped Yan Ning, who had just changed her clothes, to the dressing table, then opened the jewelry box and said, "Miss, these were all prepared for you by the master. They are so beautiful."
Yan Ning sat down, not looking at the things inside, picked up a comb and handed it to Ming Xin, "Just a simple braid will do."
Although Mingxin didn't understand Yanning's meaning, she still did as she was told. Yanning looked at Mingxin combing her hair and thought of Zhuxiang and Zhao Xing. They were on good terms with her, and she wondered if the old lady would tolerate them.
"Miss, it's cold outside. Take this with you." Mingxin said, handing Yan Ning a bronze hot water bottle engraved with lilies, and then draping a silver-white cloak over her shoulders. Yan Ning looked at the lily pattern on the hot water bottle. Ever since Heshen knew she liked lilies, he always made sure she had lilies in the things she used.
Mingxin helped Yan Ning to the round chair in the courtyard, placed a cotton cushion on Yan Ning's seat, and then helped her sit down. Yan Ning looked at Mingxin, who was also considerate and thoughtful, but perhaps because of her prejudice against Heshen, she never felt as eager to confide in her as she did with Zhuxiang.
The world was covered in white snow. It was the first time Yan Ning had stepped out of Qin Xin Yuan since leaving the Fucha Mansion a month ago, yet it felt like a lifetime had passed.
"Mingxin, take this." Yan Ning handed the hot water bottle to Mingxin, then walked to a tree in the Qinxin Garden courtyard and rolled a snowball. She then squatted down and rolled the snowball back and forth. Because Yan Ning forbade the servants to sweep the snow in Qinxin Garden, the snow on the ground was thick and clean, and soon Yan Ning rolled a snowball the size of a large bowl.
"Miss..." As Liu Quan stepped into the courtyard, Yan Ning, remembering his usual bullying ways, mischievously threw a large snowball at him. The snowball hit Liu Quan's head and scattered, covering him from head to shoulder with snow.
"Hehe..." Mingxin couldn't help but laugh when she saw that the usually arrogant Steward Liu had become like this.
Liu Quan wiped the snow off his face, glared at Mingxin, and Mingxin lowered her head, not daring to utter another word.
Seeing that Liu Quan was still bullying others, Yan Ning threw the snowball she had just rolled up at him. Having learned his lesson once, Liu Quan was smarter this time and quickly dodged, but the snowball hit Heshen, who was walking in.
Yan Ning froze on the spot, at a loss for what to do. All the servants who had been watching Liu Quan's disgraceful behavior were also stunned. He Shen looked at the snow stains on his body and was also taken aback for a moment. Then his eyes turned into crescent moons, and he squatted down, made a snowball, and threw it at Yan Ning's cloak.
Yan Ning also realized what was happening. She squatted down and made a snowball while calling out, "Ming Xin, come help me!" Ming Xin ran over and stood next to Yan Ning. She was initially hesitant to help, but seeing He Shen calling on Liu Quan to help, she became bolder and made a snowball to throw at He Shen.
In no time, the four of them were covered in snowflakes as they went back and forth. "Cough cough..." Yan Ning, who hadn't been out for a long time and had suddenly caught a chill, started coughing.
Heshen waved to stop Liu Quan, who was about to attack again, walked to Yan Ning's side, gently brushed the snow off her head, glanced at Ming Xin, and gestured for her to help Yan Ning back to her room.
Back in the room, Mingxin took off Yan Ning's cloak and gave her a new hot water bottle.
Heshen felt relieved seeing that Yan Ning looked much better. For the past month, she had either been in a coma or had a furrowed brow and a haggard appearance.
"What is Lord He thinking about?" Yan Ning asked, looking at He Shen who was staring at her in a daze. "Is there something wrong with Yan Ning?"
"Your smile is enchanting, your beauty is beyond compare, I'm completely mesmerized," Heshen said with a smile.
Looking into Heshen's crescent-shaped smiling eyes, Yan Ning's heart was touched. It was the first time someone had interpreted her name so beautifully. His flattery was truly seamless.
"My lord, you must have come to see Yan Ning for more than just a simple visit, right?" With the end of the year approaching and both family and court affairs piling up, Yan Ning knew that He Shen was already extremely busy. His sudden visit must mean he had something important to discuss.
“Oh, good news has come from the front lines. General Fukang’an has quelled the rebellions in the Greater and Lesser Jinchuan and is about to return to the capital in triumph. At that time, I’m afraid Heshen will not have the chance to see you, Miss.” Heshen said, while watching Yan Ning’s reaction.
Upon hearing the name Fukang'an, Yan Ning dropped the hot water bottle in her hand. Mingxin tried to pick it up, but Heshen stopped her and, at Liu Quan's signal, left the room.
"My lord, I am destined never to see him again in this life. Even if we do meet, we will eventually part ways. Why should I drag this fruitless marriage into the past? Please make the arrangements, my lord!" Yan Ning said calmly, holding back her tears, but her heart was aching unbearably. Even if he returned, would he believe her? She dared not face Fukang'an's distrust.
Yan Ning lay half-reclined on the warm bed, looking at the messy footprints in the courtyard. The snow was no longer white; it had been swept into a pile by the servants.
"Girl, stop looking. It's cold outside. You've just recovered, don't catch a cold again!" Mingxin said softly, looking at the absent-minded Yan Ning.
"Okay, sure."
With Yan Ning's permission, Ming Xin lowered the window and the heavy curtains. She had been taking care of Yan Ning since she fell ill; Yan Ning was weak and her illness was difficult to cure, so she was more afraid of Yan Ning getting sick than Yan Ning herself.
On New Year's Eve, the house was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. Before nightfall, Heshen rushed home to have a reunion dinner with his wife and children. Liu Quan invited Yan Ning to have dinner with him several times, but she refused each time. She even sent all the servants in her courtyard home to reunite with their families, which made the servants in the other courtyards very envious.
Yan Ning lives alone in Qin Xin Yuan. Standing in the courtyard, watching the beautiful and intoxicating fireworks in the night sky, which flash by in an instant, she felt her longing for her family grow stronger.
In the first month of the forty-first year of the Qianlong reign, the rebellion in the Greater and Lesser Jinchuan was quelled, and the Qing Dynasty renamed it Maogong and Jinghua. On the day the western expeditionary army returned to Beijing, the Qianlong Emperor would personally go to the southern suburbs of the capital to perform the suburban reward ceremony.
"My lord, Miss Yan Ning has arrived." Liu Quan announced loudly as he saw Yan Ning walking alone toward the study.
Heshen, dressed in his official robes, was preparing to accompany the emperor to welcome the western expeditionary army when he saw Yan Ning enter. He already understood her purpose. "Liu Quan, go and find a set of servant's clothes for Miss Yan Ning."
Yan Ning was initially hesitant to speak, but now, seeing how understanding He Shen was, she couldn't help but look at him with gratitude.
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