Chapter 82

FanFan handed Ning Zhen a small hand warmer. 

Ning Zhen was perplexed by her kindness. In a public setting like this, FanFan should have been trying to outshine Ning Zhen and elevate her own status. 

“I’m not cold. You keep it; you’re dressed so lightly,” Ning Zhen smiled. 

FanFan replied, “I prepared this specifically for you, Madam. I’ve been inside for quite a while, so I’m not cold anymore. But you just came in from outside—please warm your hands.” 

Ning Zhen accepted it. 

FanFan then asked, “The Governor didn’t come?” 

“The Governor is busy,” Ning Zhen replied. 

FanFan smiled, “The Governor is always busy. Everyone knows that.” 

Her fox-like tail was starting to show. The moment she heard the Governor wasn’t coming, FanFan almost burst with joy.  

Look, what was the point of being the official wife? In the end, she was no match for her! 

“I quite like it when the Governor is busy. When he wasn’t, he stayed at the villa every day, and it was exhausting for me to serve him,” FanFan continued. 

She added, “Whenever the Governor is home, security at my villa is extremely tight. Madam, you wouldn’t know, but there are guards everywhere—it’s such a hassle coming and going.” 

Ning Zhen smiled slightly. “Oh, I know. My family home also has countless guards. I grew up with it. After a few more years of serving, you’ll get used to it too.” 

FanFan was taken aback. 

She was furious, but held it in. No matter, it wasn’t over yet. Who knew who would win in the end? 

FanFan wasn’t as foolish as Xu Fangdu. How could a young lady from a sheltered background like Ning Zhen ever hope to outmatch someone like her, who came from a more worldly background? 

“You’re right, Madam,” FanFan smiled again, then glanced at Ning Zhen’s belly. “Madam, you’ve been in the Governor’s household for a while now. Any good news?” 

Ning Zhen replied, “The Governor already has you to serve him—that’s enough.” 

Holding the hand warmer, Ning Zhen realized it wasn’t as warm as it should be—just lukewarm. 

FanFan started to say something when a voice from behind greeted, “Madam.” 

Ning Zhen turned to see Chu Jingyue. 

She had come with her mother for the celebration. 

The Chu family wasn’t extremely wealthy, but they had lived in Suzhou for over two centuries and had connections in military, government, and business circles. 

At twenty years old, Chu Jingyue was at the prime age for marriage, and her family, feeling a bit anxious, had been bringing her to every social gathering they could. 

“You’re here too?” Ning Zhen was delighted and walked a few steps with Chu Jingyue. 

They made their way to a corner of the banquet hall. 

“…The sachet you gave me last time got dirty. Do you have any more at home?” Ning Zhen asked, slightly embarrassed. 

“I have one with me, in my handbag. I’ll get it for you,” Chu Jingyue replied with a smile. 

Ning Zhen thanked her. 

Their handbags and coats had been handed over to the servants and taken to the cloakroom. 

Chu Jingyue found one of the Shi family’s servants, and Ning Zhen said she would go with her. 

The two of them left the banquet hall and went to a nearby lounge. 

The room was empty, and they sat down. As Chu Jingyue rummaged through her bag for the sachet, Ning Zhen began to disassemble the hand warmer FanFan had given her. 

It was quite an intricate little warmer, with an empty round hole at the bottom. 

Most people wouldn’t think to turn it over, so they wouldn’t notice it. 

“Why are you taking it apart? You’ll get dust all over yourself,” Chu Jingyue laughed. 

Ning Zhen replied, “I’m curious about what might be inside. It seems suspicious.” 

The hand warmer wasn’t hard to take apart. 

But once it was open, Chu Jingyue was so startled that she nearly jumped out of her skin, her face going pale. 

She backed away several steps, her voice trembling. “I can’t stand that…” 

Ning Zhen quickly covered the hand warmer. “It’s alright, don’t worry. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” 

“I’m sorry, Ning Zhen. I lost my composure. It just scares me—my heart is racing,” Chu Jingyue said. 

Ning Zhen took off the hairpin from her head. 

Her hairpin had a smooth, rounded tip, but it was encased in a shell. When she pulled it off, it revealed a sharp little spike. 

Ning Zhen stabbed the hand warmer. 

She struck it three times in quick succession. 

Ning Zhen carefully covered the hand warmer and placed it on the nearby table. She casually asked Chu Jingyue, “Did you find the sachet?” 

Chu Jingyue was taken aback by Ning Zhen’s calm demeanor.  

“Why are you so nonchalant? Aren’t you scared? Otherwise, I might seem too weak.” 

As they left the lounge, Ning Zhen wore the sachet around her waist and held the small hand warmer, while Chu Jingyue tried to distance herself as much as possible. 

When Ning Zhen returned to the old lady, she heard a wealthy lady ask, “Has Third Concubine not come?” 

Ning Zhen glanced at the lady.  

It was clear that this lady disliked Ning Zhen and was trying to provoke her publicly. 

“She hasn’t been feeling well these past few days,” the old lady said. 

The wealthy lady responded with surprise, “What happened? Could it be a lingering illness from her previous miscarriage?” 

The old lady was momentarily at a loss for how to respond. Saying “yes” would be incorrect, and saying “no” would be even more so. She still had feelings for Xu Fangdu and would need to use her in the future, so she couldn’t be dismissive. 

“Old lady, I have a supplement at home that could be given to Third Concubine. Miscarriage can lead to recurring issues,” another lady said, trying to ingratiate herself. 

The old lady looked at Ning Zhen. 

Ning Zhen, not wanting to seem gloating, came to the old lady’s aid: “My mother has sent various supplements to Third Concubine. Illness comes like a landslide and goes like pulling thread; it takes time to recover. My mother is anxious, and all of you are kind-hearted, but it only makes her more worried.” 

The guests agreed. 

The lady who mentioned Xu Fangdu then glanced at Ning Zhen. 

Ning Zhen noted that she didn’t recognize her from the military high officials’ families she had seen before. This lady looked somewhat familiar, but she couldn’t place her. 

“She is my aunt,” the old lady finally explained. 

So she was Mrs. Zhou, the old lady’s sister-in-law. 

“Aunt, my eyes are poor. I didn’t recognize you,” Ning Zhen said. 

Mrs. Zhou responded, “You’re so aloof that I didn’t dare to approach you before.” 

Ning Zhen was taken aback. 

She had seen all the invitations over the past few days and was sure the Zhou family hadn’t sent any.  

She hadn’t refused any invitation from the Zhou family, so why was Mrs. Zhou acting out? 

Perhaps the Ning family had unintentionally offended the Zhou family. 

“She’s helping me with the household duties now and is very busy. There’s no need to trouble her with minor matters,” the old lady said. 

At that moment, the Shi family brought out the baby. 

During a full-month celebration, the baby is shown to relatives and friends. 

In the banquet hall with hundreds of guests, Mrs. Shi first presented the baby to the old lady. 

Ning Zhen moved closer. 

She left the hand warmer aside. 

FanFan, who had somehow squeezed through, took the opportunity to approach. Others were hesitant to push her away and made room for her. 

“Madam, your hand warmer,” FanFan insisted, placing it in Ning Zhen’s hands. 

She didn’t give Ning Zhen a chance to refuse. 

Seeing Ning Zhen holding the hand warmer earlier, FanFan’s gesture seemed a bit awkward and forced. 

Ning Zhen had no place to put it, so she had to hold it. 

The baby, freshly fed and with dark, bright eyes and a fair face, looked adorable. 

The old lady’s heart softened, and she looked at the baby with a gentle expression. “He’s truly delightful.” 

“He’s fortunate; he’ll grow up to be an official or a governor,” someone added. 

“His eyes are like the Director’s. Just like his grandfather—this child is destined for good fortune,” another voice chimed in. 

Amid the chatter, a sudden shrill whistle pierced the air. 

The once peaceful baby, comfortably lying in Mrs. Shi’s arms, was startled by the whistle. He scrunched up his nose and began to cry loudly. 

The baby’s cries were piercing, echoing throughout the banquet hall. 

Mrs. Shi hurried to soothe the child, while everyone looked toward the source of the whistle. 

It was FanFan.