From the military camp to the Fu residence, Zhao Xing felt as sweet as if he had eaten honey the whole way. These past few days, Fukang'an hadn't been to the Fu residence, and he hadn't been able to see Zhuxiang either. Now that Yan Ning wanted to see him, no matter what it was for, as long as he could see Zhuxiang, it was a good thing for him.
Zhao Xing entered the main room of Liuxiang Garden and saw Yan Ning sitting in the main seat with Zhu Xianghou standing beside her. After glancing at her a few times, he knelt down and said, "Madam, what brings you here?" Yan Ning looked at Zhao Xing, then at Zhu Xianghou, and became even more certain of her thoughts. "You may both leave now!"
Bamboo, plum, orchid, and chrysanthemum accepted the order and bowed as they withdrew.
"Get up!" Yan Ning gestured for Zhao Xing to sit down. Zhao Xing hesitated for a moment, then, seeing Yan Ning's slightly reproachful look, scratched the front half of his bald head and sat down.
Seeing Zhao Xing sit down, Yan Ning asked with satisfaction, "What do you think of Zhu Xiang?" Zhao Xing, puzzled, replied with a grin, "She's great!" He then secretly glanced at Yan Ning. Yan Ning concealed her smile; Zhao Xing was honest and kind, a good match for Zhu Xiang. "Then how about she become your wife?"
Zhao Xing's eyes gleamed with undisguised joy, but he said, "This is something the General and Madam must decide!" Knowing Zhao Xing's intentions, Yan Ning also made up her mind and said, "Alright! You can go now!" As soon as Zhao Xing stood up, Yan Ning, who had been holding back her question, blurted out with her eyes closed, "What has he been doing these past few days?"
Zhao Xing was secretly delighted, but feigned sorrow on his face and said, "The general has not eaten for several days, and he has become increasingly thin. Normally, the general could walk and fly, but now he can't even get out of bed! This servant has wanted to tell the madam for a long time, but the general forbade this servant to speak!"
Too worried about Fukang'an, Yan Ning didn't notice the joy on Zhao Xing's face and anxiously said, "Take me to see him!"
Zhao Xing glanced at the sun and knew that Fukang'an should have returned to his residence by now, so he took Yan Ning back to the Fucha residence.
Zhu Xiang and Mei Xiang jogged alongside the sedan chair, and under Yan Ning's urging, the four of them carried it at the speed of eight people. The sedan chair bearers' thick-soled shoes clattered on the cobblestone street as they rapidly changed their rhythm.
Upon arriving at the gates of the Fucha residence, Yan Ning jumped down from the sedan chair before the bearers had even come to a complete stop, nearly falling. When she saw the three magnificent golden characters of "Fucha Residence," Yan Ning hesitated. This place, which had twice brought her humiliation and shame, was now her home again. She didn't know what would happen this time. Her worry for Fukang'an prevented her from considering anything else. Once Zhu Xiang and the others caught up with her, she walked forward without further hesitation.
Arriving at Fukang'an's Jian Gong Zhai, Yan Ning pushed open the main door and went inside without a second thought. Hearing the door open, Fukang'an looked up and saw Yan Ning, then stood up. Seeing Fukang'an standing in the main seat, Yan Ning ran over, cupped his tired face in her hands, and said with concern, "Aren't you supposed to be unable to get up and move around? Why are you still sitting here? Why don't you take care of yourself? You can't fall down! You are the Grand General of the Qing Dynasty, the pillar of the Fucha family, and my only family here!" Fukang'an was filled with joy and confusion at Yan Ning's affectionate gesture. Seeing Zhao Xing, who followed closely behind with a sly smile, he knew that Zhao Xing had said something to her that had caused her to misunderstand him.
Fukang'an grasped Yan Ning's hand, which was resting on his face, without explaining, simply watching her worried expression. Yan Ning also looked at Fukang'an, at his handsome face, and knew that she had already fallen deeply in love with him without realizing it.
Seeing the two lost in their deep, affectionate gaze, Hailancha and E'lan exchanged a glance, signaling her to calm down, and then coughed lightly. Only then did Yan Ning notice the presence of others in the house. She blushed with embarrassment at first, but when she recognized E'lan, anger surged within her. She pulled her hand away from Fukang'an's, looked around, picked up the sword hanging on the wall, drew it, and stabbed at E'lan.
Everyone in the house stared wide-eyed at Yan Ning, too afraid to make a move. Fu Kang'an knew that Yan Ning was wronged and that it was indeed E Lan who had harmed her. As Yan Ning walked past him, he reached out his left arm to embrace her waist, and with his right hand he grasped the sword in her hand. With a sudden pull, the sword in Yan Ning's hand flew out, slicing E Lan's right arm and embedding itself straight into the carved wooden pillar in the room.
"Brother Kang, you..." E'lan cried out in pain, clutching her wound. Her face was a mixture of disbelief at Fukang'an and resentment towards Yan Ning, making her beautiful face contorted in agony.
When Hailancha saw Yan Ning wielding a sword, he initially didn't take it seriously, knowing she was frail and unskilled in martial arts. However, when he saw Fukang'an help her, Hailancha wanted to intervene to save his daughter, but it was too late. "Fukang'an, how could you..." Hailancha's burly figure charged towards Yan Ning like a screen, seeking justice for his daughter. Yan Ning, blinded by anger, hadn't expected Fukang'an to help her. Seeing Hailancha now, she was speechless with grievances. Fukang'an shielded Yan Ning behind him, coldly saying, "This is the end of it. Take your daughter back and discipline her strictly! Otherwise, my Fucha family will not tolerate her!"
Hailancha knew that his daughter's mistake was far more than just that one sword strike, and he was speechless with anger. He helped his daughter up and walked out! E'lan was originally unwilling to leave, but under Hailancha's angry gaze, she timidly walked out, glancing back at Fukang'an from time to time.
Seeing Hailancha and his daughter leave, Zhao Xing and the other servants bowed and withdrew. Fukang'an, looking at the lost in thought, pulled her to sit down and said gently, "I know that doing this alone won't lessen your grievances and anger. So let me make up for what you owe!" Seeing the determination and tenderness in Fukang'an's eyes, Yan Ning felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She rested her head in Fukang'an's arms. "Will General Hailancha hold a grudge and make things difficult for you in court?" Although Yan Ning hadn't experienced the intrigues and power struggles of officialdom firsthand, she had seen many in television dramas.
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