When the Empress Dowager passed away, banquets and entertainment were banned in the capital for three months, and marriages were also prohibited. The Emperor's filial piety towards the Empress Dowager was as clear as the sun and moon.
After the mourning period, the princes, princesses, and wives of officials all returned to their respective residences from the palace. White silk and clusters of white flowers were hung on the gates of the residences of officials and Manchu bannermen. Some private workshops, taverns, and silk shops followed suit, and even commoners' fences were decorated with white silk and linen, just like the residences of court officials.
Even the flowers in the garden of the Fucha Mansion, which were vying for beauty, were covered with white cloth. However, with the Emperor's decree that the women of the Fucha Mansion were not allowed to enter the palace, the grief and weeping in the capital were kept outside the white smog of the Fucha Mansion.
Other branches of the Fucha family have always taken the lead, with Fukang'an's lineage at the forefront. However, now that the Third Master Fu of the Fucha family is away on official business, his wife is ill, and the old lady is grieving and refusing to see guests. The Princess's husband, Fulong'an, is already unwell, and the mansion has been closed to the public for some time. Therefore, many matters have fallen on the shoulders of Fuchang'an, who remains in the capital and is in good health—essentially, on Peng's shoulders as well.
Peng was unfamiliar with the customs and etiquette of the Fucha family, so she went to the Fucha residence several times a day. The old lady had always favored her, but Yan Ning became jealous and drove her out of the residence, making her Fu Chang'an's concubine. Although the old lady saw through all this, since it was her son's approval, she couldn't very well criticize Yan Ning.
The old lady passed on her many insights into managing the Fucha family to Pengruo. Seeing that Pengruo understood immediately, the old lady sighed inwardly. If Pengruo were the legitimate daughter of the Peng family, she could replace Yan Ning in her position, and in the future, she could confidently entrust the affairs of Fukang'an's backyard and the Fucha family to her.
After resting at the manor for two days, Yan Ning's knees and lower back pain lessened considerably, so she decided to go for a walk. Sitting in front of her dressing table, Ju Xiang wrapped her jet-black hair with a black satin ribbon. After securing her hair, Yan Ning saw her pale face and haggard, weak appearance in the bronze mirror.
She opened the jewelry box, and all the hairpins and hair ornaments inside had been replaced with silver ones. After looking around, she couldn't find anything she liked, so she casually picked a white palace flower and inserted it into the right side of her hair bun to decorate her haggard and weak appearance.
Everyone here keeps their true feelings hidden, and Yan Ning no longer wants to be seen through at a glance, with people setting traps for her one after another. She wants to learn from those people in the capital to keep everything to herself, even her emotions.
Zhu Xiang helped Yan Ning to the chair and couch that had just been placed in the courtyard for a short rest. It was a time of great spring, and white silk and brocade were everywhere in the mansion. Although the clothes looked simple and elegant in Yan Ning's eyes, they always carried a hint of sorrow. Whether this sorrow was due to the national grief over the Empress Dowager's passing or the sorrow in her own heart, she did not know.
Although the Emperor's decree was based on Yan Ning's threatened miscarriage, she knew it was merely an excuse for the Emperor to keep the Old Madam away from everything in the palace. The fact that the Emperor, in his grief over missing his mother, was so considerate of the Old Madam reminded Yan Ning of the day she chatted with Consort Rong at the Changchun Immortal Pavilion, and the sorrow and worry Consort Rong harbored in her heart.
Yan Ning was also startled. Consort Rong was always observant and cautious. Could it be that she also knew about the Emperor and Old Madam Fucha's affair?
She sighed, unwilling to ponder the thoughts of everyone in the capital. Their intentions were so profound that she felt as if she were searching for a fine needle at the bottom of a lake. Even if she drowned in it, she would never find it.
She was shrouded in a thin haze, the dream she had during that day when she was unconscious constantly haunting her mind. There were only three people around her who were worthy of these rare and exotic birds and cranes.
The crane soaring into the clouds must be Heshen, the unicorn stepping on the red sun must be Fukang'an, and the golden dragon circling upwards must be Yongyan.
But why is she riding on a crane?
What is the reason for Jinlong's rise to prominence?
If the Golden Dragon and the Crane were to fight the Qilin together, what would be the fate of the Qilin?
In Yan Ning's troubled and confused eyes, she saw De Lin's small figure rushing towards her. He was wearing a white robe with a white silk sash around his waist. A silver longevity lock hung around his neck, making his rosy face even more adorable and endearing.
Delin glanced around with his large, bright eyes. Only Zhuxiang stood by his side; the other servants were all busy with their own tasks. He took out a flattened pink peach blossom from his wide sleeve and placed it in Yan Ning's hair with his delicate little hand.
He smiled sweetly, "Mother needs to be beautiful so that the little sister she gives birth to will be just as beautiful as her!"
Yan Ning couldn't see what she would look like with the peach blossom in her hair, but she knew she absolutely couldn't do something so outrageous. Before Yan Ning could say anything, Zhu Xiang immediately removed the peach blossom from her hair and handed it to her.
The peach petals in Yan Ning's hand had been flattened and half of them had fallen off; they must have fallen off when De Lin ran away.
She looked at Delin, who was also dressed in mourning clothes, but she didn't know for whom he was wearing them. If it weren't for his wet nurse following him around all day, he would have committed this heinous crime several times a day.
But he committed a crime today, all for her sake. Thinking of this, Yan Ning's eyes welled up with tears. She held De Lin in her arms, feeling much more at ease. He was currently the only male in the household. Although he was still young, in a few years he would be able to support the entire Fucha family for Fukang'an.
She somewhat understood why people in ancient times favored sons so much. No matter how intelligent and talented a daughter was, she couldn't shoulder the responsibility of supporting the family. She could only be used as a pawn in marriage alliances to expand the family's power.
Just like Peng Ruo, because she became the concubine of the Fourth Master Fu of the Fucha family, the Peng family and the Fucha family were now considered in-laws. If the Peng family ever encountered any trouble in the future, the Fucha family would not stand idly by. And if the Fucha family were to suffer any misfortune, the Peng family would do their utmost to help their own household.
To win An Delin's heart, Yan Ning told him that she was carrying his sister. She had once hoped for a daughter, but now she felt that daughters were destined for misfortune.
She gently stroked Delin's smooth face and forced a smile, saying, "Then you, as her older brother, must cherish your sister! In the future, as her eldest son, you must find her a good home!"
Delin nodded hurriedly, leaning gently against Yan Ning's chest, afraid of hurting her pregnant belly.
The spring sunshine fell on the mother and child who were embracing each other, making their white silk robes seem warm.
Hearing the hurried footsteps, Zhu Xiang, who was standing to the side, looked towards the courtyard gate and immediately recognized Zhao Xing running into the courtyard. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Madam, the General is back!"
Yan Ning immediately looked up and saw Zhao Xing, her heart skipping a beat. Then she felt a pang of worry; why wasn't Fukang'an the first to return?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com