Heshen abruptly stood up, straightening his sleeves. "That midwife must have received a bribe! Fukang'an is clever and wise; how could he not know?" Fukang'an's face broke into a wicked smile again as he filled himself a cup of wine. He was deeply intoxicated by the fine liquor. After swallowing the wine, he slowly spoke, "Men... haha... especially when facing the woman they deeply love, how can they maintain their rationality?"
Heshen glanced at Fu Chang'an, put his hands behind his back, his eyes deep and unfathomable, and called out, "Liu Quan!"
Liu Quan was joking with an unregistered woman from Wanxiang Pavilion when he heard Heshen's voice. He released the woman's hand and hurried into the side room. "My lord!" Liu Quan bowed. Heshen held out a hand and wagged his index finger. "Come forward!" He then whispered something to Liu Quan as he stepped forward. After receiving the order, Liu Quan bowed again and withdrew. Fu Chang'an watched Liu Quan retreat, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
Inside the Peony Hall, the servants didn't dare utter a sound, fearing they might anger the old lady and be punished. Looking at the old lady's calm, expressionless face, Fukang'an knew she was already furious inside. "Greetings to Mother!"
The old lady slammed her hand on the rosewood table, her eyebrows trembling as she roared in fury, "How can you expect me to be at peace? Immediately banish Yan Ning from the capital! I will not allow such a woman to remain by your side, tarnishing your reputation!"
Fukang'an remained kneeling on the ground, his tall figure resolute and upright. As long as Yan Ning was by his side, he cared about nothing else. "If Mother truly doesn't want to see Yan Ning, then when I am transferred to the position of General of Jilin, I will take her with me!" The old lady's back slumped, and she asked incredulously, "When? Why is there no imperial decree?"
"The imperial edict will be issued after Mother's birthday!"
Fukang'an's head hung low, and the old lady couldn't see his expression, which only increased her panic. Now that the Emperor was beginning to value Fukang'an, she couldn't allow Yan Ning to become a stain on his reputation. "I will not acknowledge her as my daughter-in-law!"
Fukang'an stood up and looked directly into the old lady's eyes. "Didn't Father accept Mother back then?" His words struck the old lady's weak spot. She collapsed onto the rosewood table, her makeup losing its color. Seeing this, Li Mama quickly helped her up.
"Whether Mother approves or not! Yan Ning is mine, Fukang'an's!" Fukang'an said, walking out of the main room. The moonlight was enchanting, and not a single star could be seen. He clenched his hands, hiding the sorrow in his heart. His father had never liked him since he was a child. No matter what he did, it was wrong. Only his mother protected him in every way, and now, for the first time, he had gone against his mother's wishes.
The old lady held Li Mama's hand, closed her eyes, and let the tears flow. "Why can't he understand my good intentions!" Li Mama's face was filled with grief as she cried along with the old lady.
"General!" Zhao Xing rushed to the Peony Hall and whispered in Fukang'an's ear, "The midwife went to exchange the silver notes as soon as she left the house. She told the money changer that the silver notes she had were all worth a thousand taels!" Fukang'an thought for a moment, "Continue to monitor her, and send a few more people to protect her secretly!"
"yes!"
After Zhao Xing received the order and left, Fukang'an walked towards Xi Ying's courtyard. Reaching the gate, Fukang'an inadvertently caught sight of the plaque above the gate, "Changting Garden," and was momentarily surprised. Xi Ying, seeing Fukang'an, felt uneasy. He should be with Yan Ning at this moment; why had he come to find her? Despite her unease, Xi Ying still offered Fukang'an a gentle and virtuous smile and served him tea.
Fukang'an took the tea and asked Xi Ying, who was sitting beside him, "Why was this plaque changed? I remember it wasn't like this before?" Fukang'an frowned and thought for a while, but he couldn't remember what the plaque used to be, so he had to give up. The smile on Xi Ying's face gradually faded, and Xia'er hurriedly said, "Reporting to the General! Since Madam moved into the Fu residence, Auntie changed the plaque. The name 'Ting' is a homophone for 'stop,' and Auntie said that she doesn't ask that the General be by her side every day, but only that the General would linger a little longer when passing by the courtyard gate, and that would make her extremely happy!"
"Xia'er, who gave you permission to spout nonsense!" Xi Ying scolded Xia'er angrily after she finished speaking. Fu Kang'an was touched by Xia'er's words. He knew that since Yan Ning's appearance, he had no time to care about others. Xi Ying was generous and virtuous; she would never speak her mind like Xiang'er. Fu Kang'an handed the covered bowl to Xia'er and took Xi Ying's hand. Xia'er, seeing this, was secretly pleased and led the other servants out of the room.
Xi Ying looked at Fukang'an with tender affection and said, "I didn't mean to be jealous of you, Madam!" "It was my oversight of you and Delin!" Fukang'an tightened his grip on Xi Ying's hand, but it was just right. "What do you think of today's events?" Xi Ying's expression remained unchanged. "The midwife was invited by Mother, so there shouldn't be any problems. But everyone has greed, and the midwife's actions are also unpredictable!"
Fukang'an paused for a moment. His mother was always strict in managing the household, and Xi Ying wouldn't have such a large-scale operation. She and Yan Ning were always on good terms, so she wouldn't do such a thing! Thinking of this, Fukang'an wondered what was wrong with Yan Ning and couldn't help but worry. Releasing Xi Ying's hand, Fukang'an considered her feelings and, having matters to attend to at the military camp, left Changting Garden.
"Auntie, why didn't you stop the general?" Xia'er, who was guarding the door, hurriedly went into the room to ask Xi Ying after seeing Fukang'an walk away.
"Can I stop him? His heart is with Yan Ning. Even if I keep him by my side, what's the use?" Xi Ying's face darkened. The Shu brocade cheongsam she wore and the pearls and jade ornaments in her hair could no longer accentuate her gentle and virtuous nature. "But what if I go back? Yan Ning's lost virginity will become an insurmountable chasm between them. Even if he finds out that E Lan bribed the midwife, it will just cut off E Lan's hopes of entering the manor, saving me trouble! Although E Lan's status as a princess is not legitimate, it was still personally bestowed by the Emperor! Once she enters the manor, I will still be inferior to her!"
“But Aunt, once the general finds out, he will definitely stop doubting Madam!” Xia’er’s use of “Aunt” and “Madam” stung Xi Ying’s jealousy.
In the dim candlelight, Xi Ying took out a blood-stained white handkerchief from her sleeve and placed it on the flame. With a hissing sound, Xi Ying's face turned ruthless and cold. "Yan Ning! You forced me to do this! You bewitched the general so much that he couldn't stay here for a moment! Then let today's events remain a secret forever!"
"What?" Fukang'an had just arrived at the Fu residence when he ran into Zhao Xing, who was leaving. Upon learning of the midwife's tragic death at home, he slammed his fist against the door. "Who was it? How could they have acted so quickly!"
When Heshen received Liu Quan's report about the midwife's death, he was also greatly surprised!
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