After a night of howling winds, when Yan Ning awoke, the courtyard was piled high with a thick layer of snow. A blanket of white stretched out, bending the bare branches.
Fukang'an went to the morning court session, and because Yan Ning was afraid of the cold, she was never allowed to get up to serve him. Sometimes, Yan Ning didn't even know when Fukang'an left.
The crackling sound of fine coal burning in the fireplace of the inner room made one feel drowsy in the cold winter. Before even getting out of bed, Yan Ning wanted to lie back down in the brocade quilt.
As Zhu Xiang washed her with hot water, her voice was filled with joy, "Before the general left, he said that the snow in other places could be moved, but the snow in Jian Gong Zhai could not be moved! The general really cares about everything, Madam!" Her oval face was slightly flushed because of her urgent tone.
Yan Ning looked at her shy face and couldn't help but pinch it, laughing, "Wait until we get married, then let's see how you still talk so recklessly!"
Zhu Xiang blushed even more and quickly lowered her head.
Before everything was properly arranged, Delin's childish voice rang out from outside, "Your son Delin greets your great-grandmother!"
Yan Ning quickly had someone invite De Lin in. Children grow so fast; in just a few months, he was already different from when she first raised him. She warmed De Lin's hands in her own, warding off the chill. De Lin nestled in Yan Ning's arms, smiling innocently.
At first, he would cry and fuss, looking for Xi Ying. But Fu Kang'an wouldn't allow him to step into Zui Xia Zhai, and Yan Ning didn't dare to take him there on her own. She could only try all sorts of tricks to coax him.
After becoming familiar with Yan Ning, De Lin took the initiative to be affectionate towards her. He ate all three meals at Jianguozhai every day, and Yan Ning had to coax him to sleep before he could fall asleep peacefully.
Zhu Xiang looked at the scene of mother and son snuggling together, a smile that never faded from her face. She instructed the servants to set out breakfast on the warm couch where Yan Ning used to rest.
Since returning from the White Pagoda Temple that day, Yan Ning no longer allowed Ming Xin to serve her closely. Although Zhu Xiang did not know what had happened between the two, Ming Xin was Yan Ning's dowry maid after all, so she still treated Ming Xin the same as before.
After winter set in, Yan Ning had the embroiderers in the manor sew a five-finger hand warmer for De Lin, as he needed to read, write, and practice martial arts every day, and Yan Ning was afraid that his hands would get frostbite.
When Fukang'an saw this, he wouldn't allow Delin to be so pampered. Winter was already halfway over, and those warm blankets were still tucked away in Yan Ning's closet.
Seeing that Yan Ning and De Lin were going to play in the courtyard, Zhu Xiang took it out. Yan Ning thought that Fu Kang An was not here today, so she prepared to give it to De Lin.
“Son doesn’t want this! Life is born in hardship and dies in comfort. Father’s teachings, I will never forget!” Delin put his little hands behind his back, raised his little face and said, revealing his tiny baby teeth.
"Excellent! You truly are worthy of being my son, Fukang'an!"
Before Fukang'an entered, his voice preceded his arrival. A maid lifted the thick curtain, revealing Fukang'an's official robes still carrying the lingering chill of the cold. He picked up Delin, his eyes brimming with laughter as he looked at Yan Ning.
Yan Ning was taken aback, her face flushed with embarrassment. She realized she wasn't as mindful of potential dangers as a child. Embarrassed, she turned her face away, avoiding looking at the father and son.
The room was already stuffy with heat, and Yan Ning's cheeks turned even redder with shame, making her look like a white flower petal against a bright red stamen, contrasting beautifully with her pearl-white cheongsam.
The snow in the courtyard was kicked up and swirled wildly by the three of them playing. Delin would occasionally hide behind Yan Ning to avoid the large snowballs in Fukang'an's hands.
Delin's clear, bell-like laughter, Yan Ning's admonishing words, and Fukang'an's deep voice mingled together. The servants listening nearby felt a pang of envy.
In a daze, a pale figure appeared outside the courtyard amidst the light smoke and grass. Yan Ning couldn't see clearly and was dragged along by De Lin to deal with Fu Kang An.
Yan Ning's flowerpot-soled shoes tripped over an unknown object buried in the snow, and she, wearing a thick cotton robe, fell heavily to the ground, only to be pulled into Fukang'an's arms.
In an instant, Fukang'an's black riding boots drew an arc on the snow, scattering the white snowflakes, which then fell on the two of them. Snowflakes landed on both Fukang'an's deep crimson cotton robe and Yan Ning's moon-white satin cloak.
Yan Ning stared directly at Fu Kang'an, and in the instant she lowered her head, she saw Xiang'er standing upright outside the courtyard gate. There was clear pain in her eyes, and Yan Ning was startled. The hand that was gripping Fu Kang'an's arm tightened involuntarily.
Fukang'an followed Yan Ning's gaze and saw that Xiang'er was already in a dazed state, her eyes unfocused, calling out "Dejia" repeatedly. His heart clenched for a moment, but only for a moment. He put down Yan Ning in his arms and chased after the departing Xiang'er, leaving Jiangongzhai.
After ordering someone to take Delin to the training room, Yan Ning followed Mingxin out of the mansion. The streets were bitterly cold. The inner city was inhabited by Manchu officials who did not work and rarely went out unless necessary. There were very few merchants walking through the streets and alleys, and their cries were frozen in the quiet alleys.
The horses on the carriages of the Fucha Mansion had leather hooves. Their footsteps on the frozen streets made a deafening sound.
Inside the carriage, Yan Ning stared at Ming Xin with a furrowed brow for a long time before finally speaking. "From now on, if you dare to report the affairs of the Fucha family to Heshen again, I will hand you over to the General for punishment!"
Mingxin nodded hesitantly. In just a few days, her face had become so thin that her bones were showing. Yan Ning felt a pang of pity for her. Although Mingxin was loyal to Heshen, she was second only to Zhuxiang in terms of genuine affection among the maids.
She extended her warm hand from her sleeve and grasped Mingxin's hand. Her expression softened considerably, no longer stern and intimidating.
Mingxin's hands were exposed to the cold. When her hands warmed up, she couldn't control herself and began to sob softly. Tears fell onto the pale purple hem of her skirt, wetting it.
Yan Ning was spotted by You Yuanzhi at the White Pagoda Temple, and she guessed that he should be nearby. After getting off the carriage, Yan Ning immediately saw the towering white pagoda in the temple. The wind chimes around it were probably frozen, as they did not move at all.
The bitter cold and heavy snow could not deter people's sincere devotion to Buddhism; believers came and went in an endless stream. Yan Ning was not a Buddhist, but she had encountered such strange things. She also wanted to ask Buddha, if everything has a reason, then why had she come here?
The Buddha statue sat high in the hall, looking down at the kneeling mortals. Unlike the last time when she prayed for Xiang'er and her child, this time Yan Ning was kneeling before the Buddha statue for herself.
The statue was still a statue, and the Buddha's eyes were full of love for all people. It was this love that could be seen by anyone who looked up that made Yan Ning realize that she was just one of the many beings that the Buddha wanted to save.
Yan Ning searched every corner of the White Pagoda Temple, but still couldn't spot You Yuanzhi. This matter couldn't be handled with the help of Fukang'an's soldiers, nor could it be known by Zhao Xing; if he knew, it would mean Fukang'an knew too.
On the way back, looking at Mingxin who had returned to normal, Yan Ning thought of the person who could help her.
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