The area in front of the hall was still pitch black. Yan Ning had lost the anger she felt yesterday, so she stopped bothering with her makeup and came out quickly.
Peng Ruo and Wu Chun waited outside for quite a while, without showing the slightest displeasure. Wu Chun, being pregnant, only bowed her head to Yan Ning. Peng Ruo bowed very low, her demeanor revealing the upbringing of a legitimate daughter.
When Yan Ning came out of the inner room, she glanced at the water clock; it was just past the hour of Yin. The wall in the hall that had been blackened by the fire had been repainted white, and the two deep blue openwork floating scale stands had been replaced, along with two blue and white porcelain candlesticks, creating a spring-like atmosphere.
After exchanging pleasantries and asking Peng Ruo if he was used to everything in the capital, the three of them began to talk about brocade, referring to the Song brocade cheongsam that Yan Ning had worn the day before.
The woman talked incessantly about brocade. Yan Ning had been here for quite some time and had gained some understanding of the various brocades available.
The cupboard was filled with Shu brocade and Yun brocade. Yan Ning unconsciously looked at the Yun brocade she was wearing. With flowing clouds as the base, the graceful movements of clouds were vividly depicted on her body, and the clusters of flowers showed auspiciousness and wealth.
When did she become accustomed to such extravagant behavior?
Yan Ning looked up at Peng Ruo, who was still dressed in the simple silver-white attire of the night before, with a row of tiny pearls gleaming in the darkness. Neither hidden nor visible, they simply emitted a faint, quiet light.
Zhu Xiang's words and Fu Chang'an's words intertwined and swirled in Yan Ning's ears.
"This young lady Peng's temperament is very similar to that of the madam when she first arrived, but she has an added gentleness and grace in her speech!"
"Since Third Brother already has a stunning beauty by his side, this fairy will eventually belong to me!"
Half of the hour of Yin had passed. Zhu Xiang took Yan Ning's cloak and stood waiting to one side.
On the first day of the year, it was natural to go to pay respects to the old lady. Yan Ning got up, put on her cloak, and saw that Zhu Xiang had ordered someone to bring another one in preparation, saying that she was afraid that the one Yan Ning was wearing would get wet in the snow.
Yan Ning felt a surge of warmth in her heart at Zhu Xiang's thoughtful treatment of her.
The snowfall was light, almost invisible under the stars. Servants were already clearing the thick snow piled up the day before. Upon seeing Yan Ning and the others, they stopped their work and bowed. However, it was dark, and they couldn't see clearly; Peng's clothes were also simple and unadorned, so few servants bowed to her.
Yan Ning only reprimanded the first group of servants she encountered, but these subsequent groups were far apart, so she couldn't reprimand them all. She could only look apologetically at Peng Ruo, "It's because I've been lax in supervising them, causing you to suffer!"
When the word "Miss" was mentioned, Yan Ning remembered that when she first arrived in the capital, everyone simply called her "Miss." But when she addressed others with that word again, she didn't know what to feel.
Peng bowed again and smiled apologetically, "Peng is still a concubine's daughter of the Peng family. Even if I am a servant, I am still a member of the Fucha family. How can I accept the Fucha family's courtesy? Wouldn't that shorten my lifespan?"
Hearing Peng's words again, Yan Ning felt genuinely ashamed.
Inside the Peony Hall, the old lady and Peng were chatting about refined arts again. Peng was doing well; the women of Wanxiang Pavilion were skilled in poetry, music, singing, and dancing, and every word they uttered was full of wit and charm. She enjoyed the conversation immensely. But it was a hardship for Yan Ning, who was only slightly skilled in dance.
The three were kept at the Peony Hall for breakfast by the old lady. During the meal, the old lady was still reminiscing about the music she had heard the night before. Yan Ning seemed almost invisible, barely able to taste her food. The old lady's breakfast was bland and tasteless, and Yan Ning's tastes had been fluctuating lately; at this moment, she even craved a spicy hot pot. Listening to the old lady's refined and elegant pronouncements, she felt even more like a commoner.
When Fukang'an returned from the palace, it was nearly noon. The three of them were still discussing music, leaving Yan Ning, an outsider, feeling utterly bewildered. He was still wearing his official robes, suggesting he had come here as soon as he entered the residence.
When Yan Ning saw Fukang'an, she felt that her face must be covered with countless green moss.
Fukang'an smiled faintly, bowed to the old lady Fucha, and then received the bows from Yan Ning, Wu Chun, and Peng Ruo before sitting down in the seat next to Yan Ning, accompanying her in the idyllic scene.
While the maidservant was serving tea, Fukang'an looked at Wuchun and said, "The Empress Dowager has personally selected you to enter the palace with the other female relatives who are coming to pay their respects!"
Wu Chun was startled, the covered bowl in her hand overturned, her face frozen between surprise and joy, unsure of how to react. She was originally from a brothel; the opportunity for a noblewoman to enter the palace for court audiences was something she would never have had, even in a hundred years. Rumors circulated outside the palace that the Empress Dowager doted on Fukang'an as if he were her own grandson, and now it seemed true. It must have been Fukang'an who mentioned her to the Empress Dowager, which was why the Empress Dowager specifically requested to see her.
Back then, Yan Ning was summoned to the palace to serve the Empress Dowager because of Fu Kang'an's favor. After returning, she was fully accepted by the old lady. It seems that as long as she wins the Empress Dowager's favor, wouldn't it be just a matter of time before she surpasses Yan Ning? Wu Chunxin's heart was filled with emotion, but her face remained calm, and her lips trembled with emotion.
After a long while, Wu Chun finally uttered a complete sentence, "Then I must make proper preparations!" She rested her hands on her lower abdomen and smiled sweetly.
Fukang'an nodded, granting her permission to leave early.
The old lady's prayer beads fell to the ground at Fukang'an's casual remark. Her previous serene expression vanished, replaced by a palpable loss of composure as she discussed music. Granny Li quickly picked up the beads and returned them to the old lady.
Peng noticed that the old lady's expression was unusual, and not wanting to disturb her meditation for too long, he left after Wuchun.
When only Yan Ning was left, the old lady ordered Li Mama to lead the maid away.
"Is the Empress Dowager still unmoved by her original intention?"
The old lady clutched the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand tightly, and her black brocade cheongsam made her complexion appear even more somber.
Fukang'an frowned, but still pretended to be cheerful and said, "These things are not for Mother to worry about! Mother just needs to take good care of Yan Ning. With her impulsive and straightforward nature, and her ignorance of palace rules, even if she is pregnant, she might lose her way in her absentmindedness! That would cause Mother more trouble!"
Yan Ning wanted to ask the Empress Dowager what she meant, but the sandalwood incense in the old lady's room was so strong that it made her nauseous.
Fukang'an ordered someone to bring over a spittoon, but she only vomited up bitter water, and then Fukang'an held her in his arms.
The old lady's eyes lit up with joy as she looked at Fukang'an, "What's this, Yan Ning?"
Fukang'an's expression was much more cheerful than the old lady's. "My tastes have become so picky lately, I'm afraid I've eaten something bad!"
The old lady chimed in, "If you say it's because you ate something bad, then it is! You've spoiled this child. If he stays in the palace any longer, he'll inevitably cause trouble for the Fucha family! Go back!"
Yan Ning looked at the mother and son talking, puzzled. She understood the words, but not the meaning. Before she could even curtsy, Fukang'an led her out of the Peony Hall.
After the two left, Granny Li helped the old lady to the small Buddhist hall to offer incense. She asked, quite puzzled, "Madam, it seems you're already pregnant, but why did the General keep it from you?"
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