Qiu'er thought for a moment and said, "There is a maid named Chunxi who has some dealings with me."
Xi Ying called Qiu'er over and whispered some instructions in her ear before Qiu'er left. Xia'er, seeing that she had been away for several days, felt that Qiu'er had won Xi Ying's favor and said with dissatisfaction, "Why does Auntie keep things from Xia'er? Xia'er used to be the one to do these secret things."
The maid who came to serve tea seemed not to have heard anything, and withdrew with her head down.
"Smack!"
After hitting Xia'er, Xi Ying roared, "You're getting more and more outrageous! When have I ever asked you to do anything secret?" Compared to Xia'er's arrogance and impetuosity, Xi Ying valued Qiu'er's composure and understanding more. Xia'er covered her face and dared not say another word.
Fukang'an walked faster and faster, with Zhao Xing jogging behind him. They arrived at the Shikuai Residence just as the servants from various courtyards were coming to collect their meals. The lower-ranking servants, seeing Fukang'an, were both surprised and delighted. Surprised that the general had come to the Shikuai Residence, and delighted that they could finally hold their heads high in front of the other servants. Now that the general had come, this place was no longer just for the lowest-ranking servants.
Zhao Xing dispersed the servants who had stopped, clearing a path for Fukang'an, and ran into the courtyard, shouting loudly, "Where is Chef Wu?"
Chef Wu, who was standing guard by the kitchen where the main house met the east wing, came out when he heard someone calling him. Seeing Fukang'an walking towards him with the speed of the wind, the fine sweat on Chef Wu's forehead turned into large beads and dripped down one after another.
"This servant greets the General!" Before Chef Wu could even curtsy, Yan Ning's shrill scream came from the kitchen. Chef Wu was so frightened that he knelt down, secretly marveling at how shrewd this new lady was. He had been guarding the place for several hours, and all he heard inside were laughter and playful chatter. But the moment the General entered, the situation changed completely.
Upon hearing Yan Ning's shouts, Fukang'an, without paying any attention to Chef Wu, kicked open the stove door and rushed inside.
Zhao Xing was caught off guard by the screams inside, and seeing Chef Wu paralyzed on the floor in terror, he didn't know which side to attend to. Remembering that neither he nor the General knew anything about kitchen matters, he figured Chef Wu's presence would be helpful. So Zhao Xing turned back from the doorway and helped Chef Wu inside.
When Yan Ning took the cake out of the steamer, she was so excited by its round shape, like a full moon, that she lost her grip. The cake fell to the ground, and she burned her hand. As Zhu Xiang was checking Yan Ning's hand, Fu Kang'an rushed in like lightning. She quickly stepped back, waiting for instructions.
Fukang'an glanced at Yan Ning's hand, then scooped her up in his arms and instructed Zhao Xing, who had followed him in, "Go and fetch a doctor!"
Yan Ning originally wanted to say, "My hand is injured, not my foot, put me down." But seeing Fukang'an's slightly angry face, Yan Ning didn't say anything and let Fukang'an carry her all the way to Jian Gong Zhai in one go.
Qiu'er, who had come to the restaurant to get her meal, hurriedly bent down along with the servants on the way. Only after the two had gone far away did she ask Chunxi what had happened. Since entering the Fucha Mansion, Chunxi had never seen such a novel thing as the general and his wife entering the kitchen together. She vividly recounted to Qiu'er everything from Yan Ning personally making desserts for the lady to Yan Ning's injury.
Zhu Xiang followed her into Jian Gong Zhai and quickly fetched some cool well water to apply as a cold compress to Yan Ning's burns. Fu Kang An sat silently to the side.
Zhao Xing led the doctor to wait outside the door. Zhu Xiang and the other servants quickly lowered the curtains of the inner room and set up tables and chairs behind them, allowing Yan Ning to extend only her scalded right hand. Yan Ning secretly glanced at Fu Kang'an standing next to her, seeing his cold expression and his continued silence.
The doctor applied some herbal medicine to Yan Ning and reported to Fukang'an behind the curtain, "It's just a burn, there are no other symptoms!" Then he gave Zhao Xing some instructions and left with the servants.
Yan Ning looked at her bandaged right hand. The burning pain had lessened considerably, and the burn felt cool to the touch.
"If you want to eat something, just send someone to tell the kitchen. Why do you have to do it yourself?" Fukang'an asked, his face still icy, after all the servants had left. Yan Ning had caused trouble twice in one day. He began to feel that he had spoiled her too much, which was why the originally gentle and refined Yan Ning had become like this.
"I want to prepare a birthday gift for the old lady!" Yan Ning said, looking down at her hands.
Fukang'an's anger flared up instantly. He planned to welcome her into the household a few days after the old lady's birthday celebration. Now that Yan Ning's hand was injured, the old lady could use the excuse that it was inappropriate to be injured during a joyous occasion to postpone the wedding. When the imperial decree arrived, he wouldn't be able to bring his family with him to Jilin to take up his post, leaving Yan Ning without status or recognition in the household, vulnerable to being bullied at every turn.
"I've already prepared the birthday gift for you, haven't I? I've already arranged everything! You just need to be my woman, Fukang'an, and don't do things your own way!"
Fukang'an's commanding tone turned Yan Ning's grievances into anger. "I am not your pet, General!" If it weren't for you, why would I want the old lady's approval? Her pride made Yan Ning keep these words to herself.
Just as Fukang'an was about to speak, Zhao Xing's voice rang out from outside the door, "General, Consort Ying has come to see the Madam!"
"Let her in!" Fukang'an glanced at Yan Ning, thinking to himself that she should learn from Xi Ying how to be a proper wife.
The sound of Xi Ying's platform shoes was urgent and loud; she arrived before she did, but her words followed. "How is Madam? Mother's birthday is the day after tomorrow; we mustn't let anything go wrong!" After entering, she curtsied to Fukang'an. Glancing at their expressions, Xi Ying already knew the gist of it. In this mansion, the only woman who dared to show Fukang'an such disrespect was probably Yan Ning.
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