The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

As the year draws to a close, the palace is filled with joy, except for the prince's courtyard where Qingwan resides.

Inside the main room, the sound of coughing could be heard continuously.

Chenxiang, who was squatting under the eaves brewing medicine, looked inside worriedly, then looked back, constantly glancing at the medicine, hoping it would get better soon.

Zhang Chun placed a small stool next to Chen Xiang and asked her to sit down, saying, "Why didn't you find a room instead of just squatting under the eaves?"

"After getting the medicine, I didn't think of anything else for a moment, so I had them set up a stove here. Now that you mention it, I do think the wind is a bit strong."

"Then you should go somewhere else. Otherwise, you might end up getting sick yourself before the Fujin gets better." Zhang Chun took the palm-leaf fan from her and fanned the stove a few times.

"This batch of medicine is almost ready, let's wait until next time."

"Alright, is the Princess Consort feeling any better?"

"The cough has gotten worse. The imperial physician said that the princess was already depressed and then caught a cold."

"I can't think too much about it, I need to take good care of myself, but how can the Princess Consort not worry about things given the current situation?" Chenxiang said, also feeling a bit troubled.

“It’s the same on my side,” Zhang Chun sighed. “Ever since the Tenth Princess passed away, my master has been holed up in his study and hasn’t come out at all, but he’s been sending in jar after jar of wine.”

Zhang Rui couldn't persuade him either. His wife was still ill, so he didn't even suggest that she try to persuade him, and he didn't even dare to let her know about the master's affairs.

"If His Majesty hadn't summoned us today, I'm afraid His Majesty would still be..." Zhang Chun touched his face and continued, "Whether it's His Majesty and his wife, or the two princesses, they are all excellent people. How could things have come to this?"

That year, I lost my second son and two younger sisters. Why is God so unfair?

"Alright, stop talking. It wouldn't be good if the Princess Consort heard this. The imperial physician said she needs to rest."

Clean up the palace

Yinxiang knelt before Kangxi, and neither of them spoke.

"Did Dunge leave any last words?"

Yi Huan died of postpartum hemorrhage the day after giving birth. When Yinxiang and Qingwan rushed over after receiving the news, they only had time to see her one last time.

If there were any messages left behind, yes, but they had nothing to do with Emperor Kangxi.

When Yinxiang recalled that day, it felt like a dull knife was slowly cutting into his heart.

When Yi Huan's condition worsened, the news reached Emperor Kangxi, but he did not go to see his youngest daughter one last time.

"No, when we got there, my sister was already very weak. She only said that she was sorry for the newborn child and that she had to go find my sister and my eighth sister."

Yinxiang thought to himself that he was a heartless older brother, being able to speak so calmly about what happened that day after only a few days.

As he was leaving, his youngest sister, as usual, tugged at his sleeve and cried, "Brother, don't blame me, I'm going to see my sister and my aunt."

My mother probably didn't want to criticize me, but my sister insisted on saying I was useless.

Yi Huan looked at the child beside her one last time: "I'm sorry for this child, I made her die right after she was born."

When Yinxiang recalled this, he had actually forgotten some of what happened afterward. He had forgotten how he threatened the imperial physician to save his sister, and he had forgotten how he arranged for people to go to various palaces to report the death.

He also forgot how he managed to get his wife, who was crying so hard she was almost fainting, back to the prince's residence.

After speaking, Yinxiang knelt blankly at Kangxi's feet, answering whatever was asked.

Before leaving, Yinxiang asked Kangxi, "Father, is it alright for you to let me go with the coffin of my tenth sister to be returned to Mongolia?"

Emperor Kangxi simply said, "We will discuss this matter another day."

"Yes."

"The child left behind by Dunke will remain in the capital and be raised by Consort De of Yonghe Palace."

Yinxiang kowtowed: "Thank you for your grace, Father."

"Go ahead."

"Yes."

When Yinxiang left, he was still somewhat unsteady. Kangxi watched Yinxiang's dejected figure, unsure whether he was speaking to himself or to Liang Jiugong beside him.

"Empress Renxiao passed away due to severe bleeding during childbirth. The sight of blood stung my eyes."

I still have so much to say to her, I only had time to promise her that I would take good care of Yinreng.

Now, my two daughters have also died because of this. I am the Son of Heaven, yet I couldn't even keep my own wife and daughters.

Liang Jiugong advised, "Your Majesty, please accept my condolences. The Empress and the two princesses certainly do not want to see you grieve for them."

Kangxi suddenly said, "Summon the Crown Prince."

Liang Jiugong, having not heard anything from Kangxi about summoning the Crown Prince, asked, "Your Majesty, is Your Highness going to summon the Crown Prince?"

"That's enough," Kangxi said. "Go to Ning Shou Palace and tell them that I will have a meal with the Empress Dowager later."

Brother's place.

After Qingwan finished her medicine, she asked, "Is Master still staying in his study all day without coming out?"

Muxiang took the bowl from her and placed it on Chunshui's tray beside her. She then handed the water to Qingwan to rinse her mouth before saying, "Madam, you are still ill. The imperial physician said you need to rest."

"Zhang Rui is keeping an eye on Master's side. If it were anyone else, the Fujin wouldn't trust them, so why don't you trust Zhang Rui?"

Qingwan shook her head: "It's not because of that. Master has encountered quite a few things this year, and none of them have been good."

"I haven't heard Zhang Rui mention it, so I suppose everything is alright. The passing of the two princesses must be hard for the master, and he probably just wants to be alone."

Mu Xiang didn't tell Qing Wan about Yinxiang's drinking problem these past few days, and added, "His Majesty summoned the prince today, but he hasn't returned yet."

She had barely finished speaking when Qingwan coughed twice more. Muxiang quickly advised, "Princess Consort, please don't worry about it. You should get some rest."

Qingwan waved her hand and looked at Muxiang with a deep voice, saying, "I've been sick for so many days, and Master hasn't come to see me yet."

"Madam, do you know everything?" Mu Xiang felt a little uneasy under his gaze.

"I don't know anything, it's just a guess."

"Damn slave."

Seeing her kneel down, Qingwan wanted to speak, but in her haste, she started coughing again. Muxiang, forgetting to apologize, hurriedly advised, "Princess Consort, don't be angry."

Qingwan waved her hand, indicating that she was alright. "I didn't teach you to kneel down all the time."

"The rules in the palace are strict, and I've gotten used to them over the years," Mu Xiang said somewhat awkwardly. She had always been composed by Qing Wan's side and rarely acted so hastily.

Seeing her like this, Qingwan chuckled, "Tell Master what happened too."

After Mu Xiang dismissed Chun Shui, she said, "Ever since the princess's incident, Master has been drinking heavily. Zhang Rui has almost kowtowed himself to death, but he still can't stop him."

"You're ill again, and the master said that if anyone dares to imitate your mannerisms, we'll all be sent out of the palace."

"What about the others?"

"The concubine took the princess and the prince away. The master said that if the concubine didn't want to support the princess and the prince, there were plenty of other people who could."

The two princesses didn't even go inside. "Madam, we really can't persuade the master." Mu Xiang's voice grew softer and softer.

Qingwan gave a bitter smile and sighed, saying, "Fine, I can't blame you. When Master comes back, I'll tell him I want to see him."

If he doesn't want to come, don't say anything more; just come back.

"Yes."

"Go out, I'll rest a bit more."