Nian Xia wasn't too surprised, but she lowered her head to look at the hot pot base wrapped in oiled paper in her hand, feeling a little embarrassed.

Of course, no matter how much favor she received from the Empress, she was still a slave. It was understandable that Lady Wulinghou treated her with such courtesy out of concern as a mother.

"My lady, it's not that I don't want to save face. It's just that the Empress is waiting for something from me."

"Oh! This..." Lady of the Wuling Marquis was stunned for a moment, then a hint of panic flashed across her face, "I got too anxious. Perhaps miss could tell us when you might have some time, and we could arrange to meet somewhere?"

Nian Xia took a deep breath. The air was already quite cold today. As someone who practiced martial arts, she didn't mind it much. These pampered ladies, however, probably wouldn't be able to handle this kind of fluctuation and would likely get sick.

There was no animosity between them, and the other party treated her politely. Naturally, she didn't want anything bad to happen to them.

"Madam, please wait a moment."

Lady of Marquis Wu Ling nodded.

Nianxia handed the hot pot seasoning from her hand to a guard and then gave him a few more instructions. She thought that the empress would not refuse this request.

"Let's go, madam."

The wife of Marquis Wuling was a little taken aback. "Wasn't the Empress waiting?"

Nian Xia smiled faintly, "Her Majesty the Empress is kind and surely wouldn't want you to go through this ordeal again. While there aren't many people serving Her Majesty, it's not like I'm indispensable."

"Oh, Your Majesty the Queen is a kind person." After thinking for a moment, Lady Wu Ling Hou didn't know what else to say.

Niàn Xià, under the invitation of Lady Wǔlíng Hóu, had no choice but to get into her carriage and then went to a teahouse.

Actually, she had a pretty good idea of what Lady Wulinghou was going to say.

But when Marquis Wuling's wife spoke, she was somewhat taken aback.

The Lady Wuling Hou smiled faintly, her expression kind. She seemed to understand, but did not expose it. "Miss Nianxia, I am a mother. I only hope my son is well."

"Madam, thank you for your kindness and also to the young master for his affection. Xia truly feels unworthy. I am already married, though my husband and I are separated by life and death, I will not marry again in this lifetime."

Even if she were not involved, Lady Wu Ling would also like to say a word: chaste and valiant woman.

But now that it concerns her own son, she hopes Nianxia can see things more clearly. "Nianxia, all mothers in the world think their sons are the best, but I have to be honest, since Fu Ge met you, he has had you on his mind, and his eyes can no longer hold anyone else. This deep affection, as a woman myself, I am moved by it. Aren't you touched at all?"

Niàn Xià curled her lips. "Touched, but I have someone I love. Still the same words, thank you for your kindness."

"Alas…" Marquis Wuling let out a deep sigh. "I know that you are an extraordinary person, being by the Empress's side. If you have any concerns, please don't hesitate…"

"Madam, you misunderstood. I truly have no reservations. My words just now were spoken from the heart." Nian Xia interrupted her.

Lady Wulinghou's face was slightly pale. Regardless of anything else, she had to make her position clear: "The more you act like this, the more I find myself liking you. Rest assured, I came here today as the mistress of the Houfu and I guarantee you that those messy things won't happen, nor will anyone criticize anything. Although Fuguo cannot inherit his title, my husband and I have already made plans for him."

"The marquis and his wife are truly rare and wonderful parents." Nian Xia said sincerely.

Especially Lady Wulinghou, she was able to disregard her own past marriage and still persuade me. Truly, she is a rare and wonderful mother in the world.

As she said, everything she did was for her son's sake.

"But I still can't fulfill his wish," Lady Wuling Hou said with a bitter tone.

Nianxia lowered her head, not knowing what to say.

As they were leaving, snowflakes fell softly from the sky.

Wuling Hou's wife watched Nian Xia walk further away, sighing in her heart. She was a good woman, but unfortunately, her son truly had no chance.

Neither riches nor glory could change her mind.

"Nianxia, if you change your mind, the gates of our Wuling Hou Manor will always be open to you. The road ahead is still long..."

Niàn Xià slightly curled her lips and turned to smile, "Thank you, madam. The road ahead is long, but I am not alone."

She reached out her hand, a few glistening snowflakes landed on her palm, instantly melting into water droplets by the warmth of her hand. She seemed to see Qingfeng's clean and bright smile within them.

When Wuling Hou's wife returned home, she told her youngest son about Niansha's intentions. "I tried my best," she said, "Niansha is indeed a good girl, but it's a pity, my son, you two are destined not to be together. Let her go."

Fu shook his head, a bitter feeling in his heart. "Mother, it was I who met her first. Why do we have such a lack of fate? It's my fault. I came too late. I should have found her sooner."

Seeing her son's reddened eyes, Lady Wuling Hou also felt some distress. "Don't blame yourself, it's fate that has played a cruel trick on us. Mother will help you find another girl, with a similar disposition and appearance to hers."

"Forget it, that's not her. Why bring another innocent person into this?" Fu Ge said painfully, "Mother, if she won't marry, then I won't either. She keeps someone in her heart, and I will keep her."

"Silly child, what foolish things are you saying?"

"Mother, I didn't say foolish things. What I said is true. With my current body, I am afraid I won't live for long. It's also right for her not to marry me."

"Don't talk nonsense, you're fine now, everything is alright." The wife of Marquis Wuling said nervously.

Fugo, with a satisfied smile at his own decision, said, "Mother, please take me back to the Jiangnan region!"

Why?

"I want to go back to Jiangnan."

Fugo wanted to leave, and the Wu Ling Hou couple tried to persuade him, but they couldn't force him to stay. However, the Wu Ling Hou's wife was not convinced, so she went to find Fu Jiu Jiu and asked her to help persuade Nian Xia to see his son, hoping to convince him to change his mind.

Fu Jiujiu understood the plight of Wuling Hou's wife and told Niansha about it.

"Nianxia didn't refuse either, "Then I'll go see him."

Fu Jiaojiao looked at Nian Xia, she actually wanted to advise her, why not go out. But seeing the determination on Nian Xia's face, she held back her words.

Qing Feng's happiness is meeting Nian Xia.

Niàn Xià's encounter with Qīng Fēng was her misfortune.

But Nianxia didn't think so.

Niàn Xiā was still at the city gate on the day Fú Gē left. Lady Wǔ Líng Hóu was very excited and hoped Niàn Xiā could help persuade her son to stay.

Fugo saw Nacha wearing a emerald green dress. It brought a touch of spring to the winter, and his heart was filled with joy.

"Are you here?"

Nian Xia nodded, looking at the somewhat bashful man, like a big boy. "If you left for me, it wouldn't be worth it."

"Nianxia, I'll be waiting for you in the bamboo grove where we first met. If you've made up your mind, come find me."

(Editor in charge:the second eunuch regains his manhood novel)