At this moment, only the name You Yuanzhi flashed through Fukang'an's mind. "Zhao Xing, has You Yuanzhi not appeared yet?" Fukang'an tightened his grip on the reins. "Whoa..." Zhao Xing didn't notice Fukang'an stopping and quickly tightened his own reins. "Yes! There's been no news of him in the city!" Fukang'an's gaze darkened, and his and his horse's shadows gradually lengthened on the flat cobblestone road.
In the palace, Heshen's expression turned grave upon hearing the news brought by Fu Chang'an's messenger. Hailancha was one of the Emperor's favorite generals, and Heshen couldn't touch him given his current status. Furthermore, E'lan was Hailancha's only daughter, a princess personally bestowed by the Emperor; Heshen couldn't openly do anything to her either! "Liu Quan, go and send the best tonics from the mansion to the Fu residence!" Heshen's eyes held a cold smile. He thought to himself, "Yan Ning, I'll remember this grudge! I will avenge you myself in the future!"
Yan Ning waited for Fu Kang'an at the gate of the Fu residence. A milky-white brocade cloak covered her pale yellow Shu brocade cheongsam, making her appear as elegant as a winter plum blossom against the vermilion gate, her face like a fairy. Fu Kang'an saw her from afar and leaped off his horse, landing in front of Yan Ning. Yan Ning, who had initially thought Fu Kang'an was still far away, was startled to see him suddenly appear before her. Fu Kang'an wrapped his cloak around Yan Ning and chided her, "The wind is strong today, why are you standing in this windy spot?" Yan Ning embraced Fu Kang'an, "Shouldn't a wife welcome her husband home? It's just that I'm too clumsy; I don't have any good cooking skills to prepare a delicious dinner for you."
"Fukang'an..." Fukang'an picked up Yan Ning, who hadn't finished speaking, and carried her towards Liuxiang Garden, his joy lingering all the way.
After the servants cleared away the dinner, Yan Ning asked Fu Kang'an, "What have you been busy with today? Are you tired?" Fu Kang'an put down the covered bowl that Mei Xiang handed him, took Yan Ning's hand, and smiled, "Just some trivial matters in the military camp!" Yan Ning pulled her hand away from Fu Kang'an's, took a sip of tea, and asked, "If E Lan was the one who harmed me, would you hold her accountable?"
Fukang'an glanced at Yan Ning, stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and said to her with his back to her, "Yan Ning, this matter is over. Don't mention it again!" Yan Ning also stood up, but in her agitation, she knocked over the rosewood chair she was sitting on and fell to the ground. Hearing the noise, Fukang'an quickly turned around and helped Yan Ning up. Yan Ning looked into his eyes and asked coldly, "Is it that in your eyes, only your status and the reputation of the Fucha family are the most important? In your heart, I, Yan Ning, am merely a fleeting beauty! If it weren't for this appearance, how could I have caught the eye of you, General Fukang'an! So you never care what others say about me, or what they will say about me in the future!"
Hearing Yan Ning's words, Fukang'an also became furious. He was busy every day in the military camp and at home, while this person he cherished in his heart had never understood him. "Is that what you think? Can't you feel my affection for you? As for the rumors outside, just don't see Heshen again, and the rumors will gradually disappear!" Yan Ning's eyes widened instantly, and she pointed to the door with both hands, saying resolutely, "Get out!" Upon hearing this, Fukang'an lifted his robe with one hand and left angrily.
Yan Ning collapsed to the ground, tilted her head back, and forced the tears back into her eyes. So this is how he saw me.
Several days passed, and Fukang'an never set foot in the Fu residence again. Yan Ning's initial anticipation gradually cooled. During this time, Heshen came to visit, but Yan Ning refused to let him in.
"Madam, please have some lily porridge!" Zhu Xiang brought over a jade bowl and placed it beside the warm bedchamber. She glanced at Yan Ning, who was lost in thought, and sighed inwardly. Only during the time when she first came to the Fu residence was Madam carefree. "You haven't eaten properly for many days. You used to say that Zhu Xiang's lily porridge was delicious, but now you don't seem to like it much!" Zhu Xiang said, lowering her head and remaining silent.
Seeing Zhu Xiang's self-conscious expression, Yan Ning felt guilty and smiled, "Your cooking is the best!" She picked up the lily porridge to drink, but because she hadn't eaten properly for several days and had been bedridden for too long, her hands were weak, and the porridge spilled halfway onto the brocade quilt. Zhu Xiang quickly took the quilt off, afraid of burning Yan Ning, and carefully checked her over to see if she was injured. Yan Ning inadvertently glanced at the butterfly hairpin in Zhu Xiang's hair and sighed, "What an exquisite hairpin!"
Hearing this, Meixiang, who was carrying the new brocade quilt, pouted and said, "That was a gift from our Steward Zhao!" This made Zhuxiang blush. Yan Ning, seeing the blush on Zhuxiang's face, knew what was wrong. She pulled Zhuxiang to sit down, a long-lost smile appearing on her face, and asked, "How long have you been together?" Zhuxiang shook her lowered head, "This servant doesn't know what he means!"
A mischievous glint flashed in Yan Ning's eyes. "Mei Xiang, go and invite Steward Zhao to come to Fu Residence!" Zhu Xiang hurriedly stopped Mei Xiang and asked Yan Ning, "What is Madam doing?" Yan Ning said seriously, "I need to know the General's whereabouts!" Zhu Xiang let Mei Xiang go, but still looked at Yan Ning with disbelief.
In the military camp outside the city, Zhao Xingli watched as Fukang'an flipped through military books, the pages rustling loudly. He knew Fukang'an hadn't absorbed a single word. "Reporting to the General! Someone from the Fu residence requests an audience!" The guard outside the tent had barely finished speaking when Fukang'an threw down the book in his hand. "Come in!"
"Is it something wrong with Madam?" Fukang'an greeted the guard who entered the Fu residence. The guard knelt down and replied, "Reporting to the General, everything is fine at the Fu residence! Madam is alright! It's just that Madam wishes to see Steward Zhao!" As soon as he finished speaking, Fukang'an and Zhao Xing looked at him incredulously and asked, "What does she want with him (me)?" The man glanced at Fukang'an and Zhao Xing, "This servant does not know!"
Zhao Xing timidly poked his head out, then lowered it again. Fukang'an waved his hand, signaling the man to leave. As soon as the man stood up, Fukang'an asked again, "Are you sure you didn't relay the wrong message? If you did, this general won't spare you!" Upon hearing this, the man hurriedly knelt down again, "Miss Meixiang told this to me herself!"
"Go down!"
Fukang'an walked to the desk and sat down, staring at Zhao Xing without saying a word. Zhao Xing, feeling uneasy under her gaze, said with a grin, "Madam must be asking me about the General's recent situation! Otherwise, why would she seek out a servant who is never far from the General?"
Fukang'an didn't not want to return to the Fu residence, but as a general who had conquered the world, he was constantly defeated by a young woman. He had already yielded first in every situation, so how could he allow her to ignore him again? Where would his dignity as a general be then?
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