Yan Ning woke up groggily in the middle of the night. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Fukang'an half-lying on the bed, asleep fully clothed. Yan Ning had just gotten up to cover him with the quilt when Fukang'an woke up.
Yan Ning, who was holding the quilt, was startled when Fukang'an suddenly opened his eyes and froze in place. It took her a while to react before she laughed and said, "As expected of the general, you can't hide even the slightest movement from others in your sleep!"
Fukang'an smiled without saying a word, pulled Yan Ning back down to lie down, and tucked her in. Yan Ning pointed to Fukang'an's official robes and asked, "Why are you still wearing this in the middle of the night?" Fukang'an hugged Yan Ning through the brocade quilt, closed his eyes slightly, and replied, "I have to go to court in half an hour!"
As spring returned in March, the underground heating in the mansion had long been turned off. Charcoal stoves were still used for warmth in the other courtyards, but none were set up in Jian Gong Zhai because of Fukang'an's excessive masculinity. Yan Ning reached her hand out from under the brocade quilt and hugged Fukang'an's cold court robes, her consciousness becoming much clearer.
Yan Ning looked at Fukang'an's weary expression, an expression she knew all too well. Back in the military camp, he always looked the same. Yan Ning realized she had never truly understood him. Influenced by martial arts dramas, Fukang'an was seen by many as a villain; the historical Fukang'an, however, was a renowned general who died in battle for the Qing Dynasty. Lying before her, Yan Ning felt as if a thin veil separated them, unable to see into his heart.
"Is it because of me that the Emperor doesn't value you?" Yan Ning knew that Fukang'an was not asleep, and asked the question that the women in the garden had given her.
Fukang'an did not open his eyes. He had heard about Yan Ning's situation in the garden from Zhu Xiang. However, he had no time to deal with such matters now and wanted to wait until he returned from the palace to handle family affairs.
The Emperor doesn't value him? Only he and the Emperor probably know the real reason behind this. Fukang'an moved his lips, but didn't say what he wanted to say. "The Emperor is wise and powerful, and his judgment is divine! We shouldn't presume to guess his intentions!"
Yan Ning nodded, buried her face in the brocade quilt, and thought about things haphazardly.
Western clocks had long been introduced to the Qing Dynasty, but Fukang'an was not enthusiastic about them. The timekeeping tools used in various parts of the mansion were still water clocks in summer and sand clocks in winter.
Zhao Xing glanced at the hourglass, hurriedly got up and ran to the main room. He first called out softly, "General, it's the hour of Yin!" After a moment, seeing no movement from inside, he raised his voice and called again, "General, it's the hour of Yin!" He listened carefully and heard Fukang'an's voice from inside, "Come in!"
Zhao Xing pushed open the door and beckoned to the person behind him. Two maids from Jian Gong Zhai carried in a basin of water and morning tea.
Yan Ning recalled how she had been tasked with tidying up Fukang'an's court robes, but Fukang'an had stopped her, leaving her lying on the bed watching the two maids bustling about. After rinsing her mouth with morning tea, Fukang'an walked to the bedside, took Yan Ning's hand, smoothed her jet-black hair, and then got up and left.
Yan Ning looked out the window; it was pitch black, and it was only three or four o'clock.
By the time Yan Ning got up, it was already broad daylight. After Zhu Xiang helped Yan Ning wash up, Mei Xiang brought out a jade bowl. Yan Ning was somewhat surprised to see Mei Xiang, "Weren't you at the Fu residence? What are you doing here?"
Meixiang knelt down, holding the jade bowl, and said with her head bowed, "Please forgive me, Madam! I have been missing you so much since you haven't returned to Fu Residence for so long, so I asked Steward Zhao to let me come to Jianguozhai to serve you!"
Yan Ning gestured for Zhu Xiang to help Mei Xiang up, and comforted her, saying, "It's kind of you to remember me! How could I blame you?"
Upon hearing this, Meixiang smiled and quickly presented what she was carrying to Yan Ning. Yan Ning looked at the contents of the jade bowl and asked, "What is this?"
Meixiang replied with a smile, "This is the first batch of bird's nest sent by Aunt Ying this morning. Aunt Ying said that the first batch of bird's nest in the kitchen courtyard has long been gone, and this year's hasn't arrived yet, but luckily she has some saved up. Aunt Ying also said that Madam is in poor health and should eat more bird's nest for nourishment. When this year's bird's nest arrives, she will give Madam the ones from her courtyard as well!" Meixiang's smile was radiant, and she didn't notice that Yan Ning's expression had changed. She also didn't see Zhuxiang's repeated hints.
"Put it down!" Yan Ning didn't look at Mei Xiang. After hearing the sound of the jade bowl hitting the table, she said in a calm tone, "You may leave!"
Meixiang paused for a moment, then lowered her head and left. Once outside, she glared at the room and muttered, "I don't want to serve you anyway!"
"Does the general know that she sent me bird's nest?" Yan Ning looked around, but not at the jade bowl.
"The bird's nest was delivered shortly after the general left. The bottom of the food box was kept warm by a charcoal stove. The outside of the food box was cold, so it must have been waiting outside for a long time. It seems that Aunt Ying is deliberately avoiding the general!" Zhu Xiang moved the jade bowl to another place so that Yan Ning wouldn't be upset by it.
Yan Ning slammed her hand on the table and said resolutely, "She's really scheming!" She glanced back at the jade bowl, "Return the bird's nest and the food box to her! Tell her that from now on, we'll keep to ourselves and go our separate ways."
Yan Ning's gaze followed Zhu Xiang out of Jian Gong Zhai. She had considered telling Fu Kang An what kind of person Xi Ying was! However, Yan Ning, who knew the infighting in the courtyard well, knew that Xi Ying was not doing it for her, but for De Lin.
Yan Ning feared that if she became a concubine like Xiang'er, with no status, there would be no equality in her love with Fukang'an. She never imagined that the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children in ancient times could have such a powerful influence, turning a woman's heart into a viper. But she wasn't foolish enough to be manipulated and framed. Yan Ning clenched the handkerchief in her hand.
After relaying Yan Ning's words, Zhu Xiang curtsied and left the main room, where she bumped into Hai Sheng, who was entering through the curtain. Knowing he was Xi Ying's younger brother, Zhu Xiang quickly bowed and apologized.
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