The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

She pretended not to see it, placed the document on the table, and prepared to talk about Wan Tang's pregnancy.

Unexpectedly, Yinxiang reached out and pulled the person onto his lap.

"Did you see that?" Qingwan sat on Yinxiang's lap with her back to him, and then rested her head on his shoulder.

The breath of Yinxiang speaking in her ear made Qingwan involuntarily shrink her neck; it was really itchy.

"I saw it, but I can't read and can't understand what it says."

When Yinxiang heard her say that she was illiterate, he was stunned for a moment and then laughed. He knew that she meant she did not know Manchu, but he clearly remembered that this person had spoken to the Empress Dowager in Manchu on the second day of their marriage.

He said, "I remember you can speak Manchu, so why do you say you don't know?"

"I can only say a few words, but I can't actually read," Qingwan said without any guilt.

"Even your seemingly useless younger brother understands this, so why don't you?"

It wasn't a test; Yinxiang was genuinely curious. He remembered Qingwan saying that her Manchu language was taught to her by Marhan.

"My father wasn't the kind of person who only had eyes for his sons because he had more daughters than sons, but he wouldn't really treat them all equally either."

"Really? I didn't realize that. Guanzhu, Dingzhu, Qingwan, a beautiful woman, graceful and charming, the name suits the Fujin very well."

"The name is just a coincidence."

"Hmm?" Yinxiang seemed intrigued and gestured for her to continue.

Qingwan had no choice but to continue: "My father's first wife was a lady from the Han Banner Army. According to my father's aunts who are still alive, she was a beautiful, kind, and gentle woman."

She was kind to everyone in the household, and also to her concubines and their children.

She was good in every way, except she didn't love my father. Yet, this same woman gave birth to a daughter and named her Wan.

Unfortunately, my older sister is the most fiery-tempered among us sisters. If her husband doesn't make her life easy, she'll make sure everyone in her husband's family lives a miserable life.

Later, as the number of sisters in the family increased, Father became lazy when naming them. He simply included the same character in all the sisters' names, then picked a few other pleasing characters and combined them to create a name that sounded good.

Yinxiang tightened his grip on her waist and said with a smile, "Interesting."

Then he released her, and Qingwan also stood up and stood aside.

Yinxiang picked up the memorial that had already been picked up, opened it again, and read it carefully once more.

“Yinxiang is a person who is not diligent in learning, loyalty and filial piety. If you let him go, you will surely run into him somewhere. You must be careful.”

"When Khan Ama (the Khan's father) scolds someone, it's truly ruthless; even a sharp blade piercing the heart wouldn't be more effective."

"I suppose that's not what the Emperor Father meant. He just gets easily carried away when he's scolding people and doesn't think before he speaks. Even the Crown Prince was scolded by the Emperor Father for being born to bring misfortune to his mother."

When Yinxiang heard her say that, he actually laughed, and in the end, he laughed until tears streamed down his face.

"What you said is half true. Kangxi was prone to getting carried away when scolding his sons, and he wanted nothing more than to trample them into the mud. But words like disloyalty and unfilial piety could drive a person to their death."

Qingwan said, "You know perfectly well that I'm not good with words and I don't know how to comfort people."

I can only say whatever comes to mind; my father says that's a virtue, if not a virtue.

Yinxiang chuckled, then mocked himself, "Disloyal and unfilial, this is a 'honor' for us Crown Princes."

Another prince who was criticized for being disloyal and unfilial was the Crown Prince, but Yinxiang was criticized in a joint goodnight memorial signed by several princes.

The crown prince cursed them in private, in front of them.

"Otherwise, I'll have a few drinks with you, sir. I can hold my liquor, so I'm sure I won't spoil your fun."

Yinxiang touched his nose, recalling his previous foolish act of drowning his sorrows in alcohol, and quickly waved his hand.

Qingwan stood up. "I'm going to see Wantang. Are you coming?"

Yinxiang quickly grabbed the book that had been covering his face and put it back on, remaining motionless.

This sight made Qingwan unable to resist letting out a mocking laugh.

Yinxiang naturally heard the mocking laughter as well. Only after Qingwan left did he put down the book and touch the goosebumps on his hands.

After Qingwan left, her biggest concern was naturally Zhang Rui.

Qingwan said, "It's alright. Prepare some wine for dinner, and I'll have a couple of drinks with you, sir."

Zhang Rui was overjoyed and went to give instructions, while Mu Xiang held her hand, her eyes filled with worry.

"Princess Consort, please go back and rest."

"No rush, let's go see Wantang."

Because Qingwan was actually a little curious, and Chunshui was afraid.

Because Wan Tang's condition was not right, Mu Xiang had been keeping an eye on the area. Upon hearing this, she said, "It doesn't seem like the concubine is faking it. She really doesn't seem to like this child."

I told her maid to keep an eye on her, saying she hasn't spoken since the imperial physician came.

Qingwan took the fan from Muxiang's hand and shook it, then had an unbelievable guess.

"Could it be that this child was forced into this world, or that she has someone else in her heart?"

Mu Xiang quickly interrupted Qing Wan's daydreaming: "There must be another reason. A man like the master would never force his concubine if she showed even the slightest unwillingness."

It's possible that she doesn't dare to reveal it, but judging from the behavior of the concubine recently, she doesn't seem like someone who can resist showing it.

As for having someone in her heart, she herself begged the Fujin (principal wife) to say that she hadn't left the house since she fell ill, and the Fujin, being lazy at the time, handed the matter over to Aunt Yan.

Aunt Yan only sent her because she thought the master needed someone to serve him. Since she came to ask, she must know what would happen if she went.

Pregnancy was to be expected, so there was no need to make such a fuss.

"This is getting more and more interesting." Qingwan's initial curiosity had now turned into a strong one.

When they arrived at Wan Tang's room, the people serving her breathed a sigh of relief.

Wan Tang is pregnant, and they dare not neglect her, but something is really wrong with her. She ate something wrong and started bleeding, and she is unwilling to take any medication to prevent miscarriage.

The two men, who were supposed to be the main wives, didn't even come to visit after the pregnancy was discovered, leaving them feeling uncertain.

Now that Qingwan has finally arrived, their greetings are all very enthusiastic.

After entering the room, Qingwan glanced around but didn't see anyone, so she looked at the maid next to Wantang.

The girl pointed to the corner of the bed.

Upon closer inspection, she indeed found the person curled up in the corner of the bed, hugging her legs. The curtains on the bed blocked her view, which was why Qingwan hadn't seen her at first.

Qingwan had the bed curtains completely lifted to reveal Wantang before waving for her to leave.

Upon hearing her voice, Wan Tang stirred and curled up into a ball even more.

Qingwan sat on the kang opposite her and said, "You're several months pregnant, aren't you uncomfortable? It's not good for the baby either."

"This child should never have existed in the first place." Because Wan Tang kept her head buried between her arms and knees, it sounded somewhat muffled.

"But he is indeed in your womb now, and he should move in a while."

Before knowing about this child, Qingwan wondered what she would do. Would she be angry? Would she find it ridiculous? Would she make fun of herself? Or would she say something hurtful out of anger, like accusing someone of being hypocritical?

In fact, she remained calm, just as she had been when Fuling became pregnant with Hongchang and Yingyu became pregnant with the Second Prince.

Wan Tang didn't move, but she pressed harder on her stomach.

The movement was slight, but Qingwan still noticed it. She said with some helplessness, "I heard you had lower abdominal pain when I came. You must be bleeding."

Since you say this child shouldn't exist, are you thinking that this might cause the child to die?

Is it really your cruelty, or were you unwilling in the first place?

Hearing her say that, Wan Tang finally loosened her curled-up body and suddenly laughed: "No, at least at that moment I was willing. That's why I hate myself even more, and even feel disgusted with myself."

The existence of this child is a betrayal of myself, it's my mistake.

"From what you've said, I can only guess that you had someone you loved. Could it be that you drowned because of a suicide pact?"

Wan Tang shook her head: "I have no one I love, and I was not forced to enter the palace."

"Oh? Then why are you so averse to this child?"

"Does the Princess Consort love the Thirteenth Prince?" After asking, Wan Tang kept her eyes on Qing Wan, not missing a single move.

Until Qingwan's fan swayed more and more rapidly, it blinded her.

Qingwan looked at the mandarin ducks playing in the water on the round fan and said leisurely, "I love it."

Wan Tang stretched her legs and got out of bed, but unfortunately she had been bending her legs for too long and fell onto the footstool as soon as she got out of bed. Fortunately, she supported herself on the bed and was not too embarrassed.

After Qingwan said those words, she was lost in thought and didn't notice what was happening on Wantang's side.

Wan Tang sat down on the stool next to Qing Wan and said, "I once learned about some things between the Fujin and the Thirteenth Prince through an unspeakable channel."

Qingwan, regaining her senses, looked at her, and Wantang continued, "But there's been too little description of you, so I've always been very curious about what kind of person you are."

This curiosity even surpassed my curiosity about the Thirteenth Prince. I even argued with those around me, "You must be a very good person, otherwise the Thirteenth Prince wouldn't treat you so well."

"Do you think the Thirteenth Prince is good to me?" Qingwan couldn't explain her purpose, but suddenly wanted to hear Wantang finish telling her story.

"As an outsider, I used to think it was a good thing, but when I found out I was pregnant, I didn't know if it was a good thing for you. Maybe in the future, there will be other pregnant women around the Thirteenth Prince."

This was an era of polygamy.

After she finished speaking, she looked at Qingwan, but did not see the emotion she had imagined on her face.

She continued, "When I first met the Thirteenth Prince, I was actually a little disappointed because he wasn't as good-looking as I had imagined."

"You're quite an interesting girl," Qingwan said with a smile.

"This is not the first time that the Princess Consort has said that I am interesting. In fact, when the Thirteenth Prince learned that I was going to Mount Wutai with him, his first words were that the Princess Consort said that I am an interesting person."

He was taller than me, and he just looked down at me. But when he said those words, his face was expressionless, making me feel like an object to be judged by others.

When the Princess Consort says I'm interesting, is that how she sees me?

"How could that be? Your family at least has a hereditary captain, so it's not bad."

Wan Tang first laughed, then sighed. Qing Wan had said her words, but she didn't care whether Wan Tang believed them or not.

After a brief silence, Wan Tang spoke again: "After the tour, the Thirteenth Prince has been very busy every day, and I rarely see him."

And because I had to follow His Majesty to different places every day, I thought we could get along peacefully, but I still went the wrong way.

Yinxiang was an outstanding person. He was handsome in every aspect, but he didn't quite fit her aesthetic standards.

Even though the meeting before departure made her uncomfortable, the time spent together on the road eventually made her reconsider.

After getting closer and closer, she convinced herself of the limitations of the era and that Lady Fucha was supposed to have a daughter.

Moreover, Yinxiang was tall with long legs, broad shoulders and a slender waist. She told herself that she was not at a loss, so after both Yinxiang and she got drunk, she took the blame for everything.

"This trip must have ended in unpleasantness, and alcohol and sex are a man's best way to vent. I beg the Thirteenth Prince to give me a child."

Everything went smoothly after that, but after I woke up the next day, I never saw the Thirteenth Prince again.

Ultimately, I regretted it. The Thirteenth Prince already had a wife, and what I did was unacceptable. I also never imagined that I would become pregnant afterward.

She was aware of her own body's condition and knew that it wouldn't be easy for her to get pregnant after falling into the water. She thought that some things would still change, but she didn't expect that she would still get pregnant.

"I'm sorry," Wan Tang said. "It's all my fault. I was greedy, and I betrayed what I had learned."

"You said it yourself, you have three wives and four concubines. Although you can't be considered a wife, you are still a concubine. It is your duty to bear children for the master. The reason I brought you into the manor is for this. You're thinking too much."

Qingwan admitted that she was indeed moved; Wantang's words were truly unexpected.

"Just because having multiple wives and concubines is the norm doesn't mean it's right. I can't change it, but I could distance myself from it. Yet, I still despicably succumbed to it." Wan Tang said, somewhat agitated.

Qingwan put down her fan, lifted her face, and wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.

"In my opinion, this is not a big deal. If the Thirteenth Prince is unwilling, then the wine he drinks will either make him drunk and unconscious, or he will push you away."

There's no need to blame yourself entirely; since you're pregnant, just give birth properly.

If you really don't want it, I can give you some medicine, but I have a word of advice: miscarriage is an extremely dangerous thing. Many ladies of high society, concubines, and maids have died because of miscarriages.

"Is the Princess Consort not angry with me?"

Qingwan shook her head. "I'd rather blame the Thirteenth Prince."

Wan Tang looked at Qing Wan in disbelief, then burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably: "So you really are a very good person." She grabbed Qing Wan and kept hysterically apologizing.

These days, she was overwhelmed by guilt and could hardly breathe. She no longer cared that Qingwan would suspect her if she cared about what she said today. She just wanted an outlet.

Qingwan watched her cry helplessly, then handed her a handkerchief: "Wipe yourself."

Wan Tang hastily wiped away her tears. With the weight lifted from her heart, she spoke without restraint.

"The Princess Consort also knew that after I fell into the water, I was not in a clear mind. She was thinking that if I could stay in front of His Majesty as a tea-serving maid, I could see the Ninth Prince..." She paused and said, "There have been many princes' consorts, but I never expected to be a prince's concubine."

Now, let alone the other princes, even the thirteenth prince is hard to see. "Actually, it's because she doesn't know whether she's participating in the selection of the Eight Banners or the Imperial Household Department's selection."

Qingwan looked at her as if she were a fool: "It seems you've really been confused by the flood. There's no reason for the ladies of our Eight Banners to serve others in the palace."

Besides, His Majesty has never had any maids serving tea; only eunuchs are close to him.

When Qingwan looked at him like that, Wan Tang just smiled like a fool and murmured, "What a pity."

Who doesn't love a good show?

But she didn't notice the change in Qingwan's gaze.