After a night of passion, Yan Ning woke up early, staring intently at Fukang'an's handsome features. After a while, Fukang'an slowly opened his eyes, a smile he couldn't hide, and said, "What? You haven't closed your eyes after looking at me for so long?" Yan Ning blushed, said, "Narcissistic!" and turned away. Fukang'an gently ran his hand over the whip scar on Yan Ning's snow-white back, sighing, "I've only heard of Mother punishing you, but I never imagined they could be so ruthless!"
When she was being whipped, Heshen had a lot of high-quality pearl powder ground up and applied to her scars. The scars on her lower body had already disappeared, but unfortunately, the whipping was too severe, and even with a lot of pearl powder, they still didn't improve. Hearing Fukang'an mention it now, although Yan Ning didn't care much about her appearance, being mentioned by her beloved, she buried her face deeply in the quilt and asked worriedly, "Am I very ugly?"
Fukang'an turned Yan Ning around, making her look at him. "Not ugly! Like plum blossoms, beautiful and charming!" Although she knew Fukang'an was just trying to comfort her, Yan Ning still smiled knowingly. Thinking of Zhao Xing and Zhu Xiang, Yan Ning leaned closer to Fukang'an, tilting her head up and saying, "I want to tell you something!" Fukang'an embraced Yan Ning. "What is it?" Yan Ning whispered in Fukang'an's ear, recounting the story of Zhao Xing and Zhu Xiang. After listening, Fukang'an's lips curled up, and he said, "This servant kept it so well hidden! I knew nothing about it! How did you find out?" "I only found out yesterday!" Yan Ning laughed along with Fukang'an.
They whispered secrets in their boudoir until the sun was high in the sky before they rose. After Zhu Xiang helped Yan Ning finish washing and dressing, Fu Kang'an called Zhao Xing, who was guarding outside the door, in. He and Yan Ning exchanged knowing smiles. Looking at the two standing together, their faces flushed to their necks, Fu Kang'an said, "Zhao Xing is the commander of the military camp and also half the steward of my Fucha family. In the future, he can marry a Manchu from the Lower Three Banners as his principal wife. Let Zhu Xiang be his concubine! Since you two are in love, Zhao Xing will certainly not mistreat you."
Zhao Xing and Zhu Xiang knelt down and said in unison, "This servant thanks General and Madam!"
Yan Ning's smile froze on her face. She hadn't expected this outcome. She said to Fu Kang'an, "Why does Zhu Xiang have to be a concubine? Why can't Zhao Xing only marry Zhu Xiang? You have three wives and four concubines, and you want to corrupt your subordinates too?" Fu Kang'an's face turned ugly with these words. Zhao Xing and Zhu Xiang also looked at Yan Ning. In their minds, no one had ever dared to speak to their husbands like that.
Fukang'an waved his hand, and all the servants in the room withdrew. Fukang'an stood up, placed his hands on the armrests of the chair Yan Ning was sitting on, and whispered in Yan Ning's ear, "People say that soon after the wedding night, the wife will change her attitude towards her husband. It's not even past noon yet, how come you've changed your attitude so quickly!" Yan Ning pushed away Fukang'an, whose face was full of mockery, and went out alone.
Zhao Xing and Zhu Xiang stood outside, occasionally stealing glances at her. Although Zhu Xiang knew this, she lowered her head and smiled without saying a word. Seeing this scene between the two, Yan Ning knew she had been meddling. How could she possibly change the minds of these feudal people on her own?
Fukang'an led Yan Ning by the hand from Jiangongzhai all the way to Mudan Hall. All the servants they encountered along the way knelt down to greet them: "Greetings, General! Greetings, Madam!" This morning, Fukang'an deliberately had Zhao Xing spread the news, so everyone in the mansion knew that Yan Ning was now a true Madam. No one dared to criticize the matter hidden in Mudan Hall behind her back.
The old lady had already heard about what happened last night, and Hailancha had also apologized to her on behalf of E'lan. Now, facing Yan Ning's entry into the mansion, she was powerless to change anything. Upon hearing this, Xi Ying also arrived at the Peony Hall early to find out what to do next.
Fukang'an pulled Yan Ning to kneel in the hall and said, "Your son greets Mother!" He then tugged at Yan Ning, who timidly replied, "Yan Ning greets the Old Madam!"
"Get up!" The old lady's expression revealed nothing of her feelings. After Fukang'an and Yan Ning were seated, she slowly spoke, "Now that you have consummated your marriage, you still need to learn these rules and etiquette! Otherwise, wouldn't you make a fool of yourselves on your wedding day!"
When Yan Ning heard that the old lady wanted her to stay in the Peony Hall again, her palms immediately became sweaty. Fu Kang'an noticed Yan Ning's fear, tightened his grip on her hand, smiled gently at her, and then looked at the old lady and said, "Mother, you don't need to worry about this! I have already invited the master of ceremonies from the palace to teach Yan Ning the etiquette and rules of marriage! After Mother's birthday, we will get married on the occasion of Mother's joy!" Fu Kang'an's few words were not meant to be a discussion with the old lady, but rather a statement that everything had already been decided and he was informing her.
How could the old lady not understand the implication? She gestured to Granny Li, who called out, "Come in!" Immediately, two old nannies entered, knelt in the hall, and said, "This servant greets the old lady, the general, and the madam!" The "madam" they addressed was a greeting directed at Xi Ying. Xi Ying, after hearing this, maintained her usual gentle and virtuous smile.
The old lady looked at Fukang'an and said, "These are the old nannies from our household. Let them go to the Fu residence to serve you! Yan Ning is inexperienced, and she may not be attentive enough in serving you. It will be good for them to teach her!" Before Yan Ning could speak, Fukang'an knew that the injuries on Yan Ning's body were caused by them. He called out loudly, "Zhao Xing!" Zhao Xing rushed in from outside the door and knelt down on one knee. "This servant is here!"
Fukang'an looked at the two old women kneeling on the ground. His voice was icy as he said, "Drag them to the courtyard where the Madam is being punished and give each of them twenty strokes of the cane, plus an extra lash! Anyone who shows mercy will receive the reward along with them!"
Zhao Xing, following orders, summoned two servants to drag the two old women away, while he went out to instruct people to prepare instruments of torture. The two old women struggled and pleaded, their voices shrill and piercing, "Please, General, spare our lives! We were only following orders!" They looked at the Old Madam with pleading expressions, but the Old Madam's face was as still as spring water, devoid of any emotion, and she remained silent. The Old Madam knew that Fukang'an was helping Yan Ning establish her authority; no matter what she said, he would not comply, thus blatantly disrespecting her.
Seeing that the old lady ignored them, the two maids struggled free from their grip and rushed towards Xi Ying, grabbing her legs and pleading, "Please, Madam, save us! Madam said that we shouldn't show any mercy, and that she would take responsibility if anything happened. How can you abandon us now!"
Fukang'an and Yan Ning both looked at Xi Ying in surprise, pondering what the old women had just said.
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