Yan Ning, supported by Zhu Xiang and Ming Xin, walked slowly. Having not worn platform shoes for a long time, she had lost her previous composure.
Seeing that the garden was just ahead, Zhu Xiang stopped and said to Yan Ning, "Madam, I know a shortcut that's closest to the Peony Hall! You're not sure if you're walking steadily, so let's take the shortcut!"
Yan Ning pinched her oval face. "Little girl, are you testing me to see if I've forgotten the roads around the Fucha Manor? Going through the garden to the Peony Hall is the shortest route!"
As she spoke, she started walking, but as soon as she stepped into the garden, Yan Ning's smile froze on her face.
Fukang'an, arm in arm with a woman dressed in white gauze, whose deep crimson robe complemented her pale complexion, smiled as he plucked a begonia flower and adorned it in her hair, his eyes filled with tenderness.
Yan Ning let go of Zhu Xiang and Ming Xin's hands, but unfortunately, she stepped on the cobblestone path and fell to the ground.
Zhu Xiang and Ming Xin quickly helped Yan Ning up. Fu Kang An had already strode over. When the two saw Fu Kang An's cold eyes, they both curtsied and stepped back.
He looked down at Yan Ning from his high position. A woman in white gauze approached beside her, and Yan Ning stared at that familiar face for a long time before remembering that she was Wu Chun from Wanxiang Pavilion.
She nestled beside Fukang'an like a delicate fledgling swallow. The frailty and vulnerability of ancient women, their poignant beauty, were fully displayed in her. Even Yan Ning, who was also a woman, felt a pang of pity for the tears welling up in her eyes.
Fukang'an, holding Wuchun's hand, left Yan Ning's side. The begonia in Wuchun's hair fell onto Yan Ning's fingertips. It was a seemingly unintentional mockery.
Spring remains the same, but I am thin and frail, my tears staining my red silk handkerchief.
Yan Ning was familiar with this phrase, just as the begonia was also known as the heartbreak flower.
Having spent so many days in the palace, Yan Ning had learned to remain calm in the face of adversity. She stood up, brushed the dust off her clothes, and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. Supported by Zhu Xiang and Ming Xin's hands, she walked towards the Peony Hall.
The old lady was already able to get up, but she couldn't sit for long. Her noble and beautiful face was pale with illness, and her light lotus gray nightgown made her look even weaker as she leaned against the warm bed, looking at Yan Ning who was bowing deeply to her.
"Get up! The palace is the palace after all. You've only been there for a short time, yet you've already become so polite! I'm very pleased. I thought that having been used to being served by maids and nannies in the Fucha household, you would feel wronged in the palace. It seems I was overthinking it!"
"Cough cough..."
Granny Li hurriedly brought over the ginseng tea that was warming on the stove. Yan Ning took the ginseng tea from Granny Li and served it to the old lady.
The old lady looked at her with a smile. The two had not seen each other for many days, and now that they were finally meeting, they felt a long-awaited reunion.
She gently touched Yan Ning's hair ornament and said, "Although you have stunning beauty, men will eventually tire of you. From now on, stop meddling in other people's business all day. Use that time to take care of yourself!"
Although the old lady's words were stern, Yan Ning could tell that every word was sincere and meant well for her. She lowered her head, thinking of Wu Chun, whom she had met in the garden; the old lady must know about her too.
"Yan Ning, you are no longer the same as the other women in the manor. You and Kang'er are now bound by life and death! He is your husband, and you must protect him with your own life!"
Yan Ning gazed at the old lady's current demeanor, which had lost its previous arrogance and elegance, revealing a mother's worry for her son.
Having survived this life-or-death ordeal, the old lady had become indifferent to fame and fortune. She hoped that her son could live a long and healthy life, which was more important than the honor and high position of being second only to the emperor.
When she learned that Yan Ning had been brought into Cining Palace, she understood the Empress Dowager's intentions perfectly. It was the Empress Dowager who had initially prevented her from entering the palace.
As Yan Ning emerged from the Peony Hall, there were things they both understood without uttering a word. The reason why the Empress Dowager had summoned her to the palace was something the old lady probably knew better than she did.
On the way, she overheard the maids talking about Wu Chun, saying that after the general returned to the capital from the Mulan Hunting Grounds, he welcomed her into his residence and settled her in the Chunying Garden.
Yan Ning knew that Fukang'an wanted to make her jealous and angry, so she decided to be jealous. But right now, there was something even bigger than being jealous.
She rushed to Furong Garden, and Rongxi knelt down excitedly upon seeing Yan Ning. Presumably, with Yan Ning gone, Xi Ying and Mei Xiang hadn't treated Xiang'er well either.
Upon entering the inner room, the usual lotus fragrance was gone, replaced by a lingering stench of mutton. A light gauze curtain fluttered by, revealing a sorrowful figure within.
When Yan Ning saw Xiang'er, she was so frightened that she almost fell to the ground, but fortunately Ming Xin caught her steadily.
Before she left, Xiang'er's face was withered and fleshless. Now, however, she was emaciated, her small cheekbones clinging to her dry skin, and her arms were so thin that even a bracelet couldn't hang on them.
Yan Ning hugged Xiang'er, who had just sat up in bed, with a pained expression, but Xiang'er seemed completely unconcerned. "You rushed into the palace. Everyone says you have to be careful every step of the way there. Have you suffered any injustice? You're so naive and don't know how to be tactful. I worry about you getting into trouble every day! But you're even more beautiful than before, so you must have adapted to the scheming and intrigue in the palace!"
She forced a smile, her loose skin wrinkling in pain. It was heartbreaking. She wanted to wipe away Yan Ning's tears, but was afraid of hurting her with her hands. "You've been wronged by the newcomers, so you come here to make me unhappy!"
Yan Ning knew Xiang'er was always sharp-tongued, so she didn't take her seriously. She turned to Rong Xi and asked, "Why has your aunt become so thin?"
Rongxi immediately knelt down, her face streaked with tears, and said tearfully, "This servant longs for your return, Madam! The Old Madam is bedridden and rarely sees anyone. The General rarely returns to the manor, and when he does, he only goes to the Peony Hall to pay his respects before leaving. Concubine Ying and Concubine Mei are in charge of the manor's affairs, and they say that since you are pregnant, you should eat more mutton for the baby's benefit! So every day, the only meat dish is mutton. The weather in April is still bearable, but once summer arrives, the smell of mutton makes you nauseous. Eating it only exacerbates your internal heat, and your mouth is covered in blisters. You can only eat porridge and vegetables every day."
Xiang'er remained calm, as if Rongxi were talking about someone else.
Yan Ning looked at Xiang'er and said, "Are you just going to endure this? Aren't you afraid of harming the child in your womb?"
Xiang'er smiled bitterly, "Why bother arguing with them? Since this child was a gift from heaven, I won't take it away so easily!"
The kitchen staff delivered the meal. Perhaps because Fukang'an and Yan Ning had both returned to their residence, this time the dishes included a variety of meats such as chicken, duck, and fish, and the color, aroma, and taste were all excellent.
Xiang'er teased Yan Ning, "I really owe it all to the General's wife!"
Yan Ning, however, was not happy. She said to Zhu Xiang, "Go find Zhao Xing and tell him to buy a few old goats. The stronger the gamey smell, the better. Don't buy the ones with tender meat!"
Xiang'er, supporting her belly, stood up and pinched Yan Ning's face. Her voice was heavy, like that of an elder sister, "Why did you have to offend them both for my sake!"
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