The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

Hada's wife made delicious side dishes, and Qingwan enjoyed them very much.

Only Wan Tang felt a pang of jealousy after finding out. She could make it too, and she made it very well. It even tasted different from what Madam Hada made. She wanted to make it in the future.

The day Qingwan went into labor was during a heavy snowfall. The child was a yao in her womb, but the delivery was very difficult.

There was no news from morning till night.

The moonlight made the snow on the ground seem even colder, and the crunching sound of Yinxiang's footsteps on the snow, along with the occasional cries of pain that escaped from inside the house, added to the chill.

Zhang Rui felt as if the voice was stepping on his heart, pulling and tugging at it. Holding an umbrella, he followed behind Yinxiang and advised, "Sir, please go inside first. It's still snowing."

Yinxiang glanced inside and said, "It's been a whole day, why haven't they come out yet?"

Zhang Rui said, "Master, even if you come out, you'll be covered in cold air outside. Neither the young master nor the wife would dare let you get close."

"I know, but sitting here makes me even more anxious." Yinxiang spun around even faster.

A soft cry of pain came from inside the room, and Yinxiang flinched. When the midwife said it would be quick, Zhang Rui immediately pulled Yinxiang inside.

"I'll get rid of the chill in my body first, and then I can see the young master when he comes out."

Yinxiang was stiff as Zhang Rui pulled him into the house and then stuffed a hand warmer into his hands.

He placed his hand on the hottest spot, only snapping out of his daze after being burned.

Inside the room, Qingwan was covered in sweat from the pain, but she managed to resist pinching her forehead. Having given birth once before, she knew better how to push in rhythm with the midwife.

After giving birth, she still had the strength to glance at the baby she held in front of her.

"Don't worry, Madam, everything has been checked, and the little prince is very healthy," Aunt Yan said beside her.

Hearing Aunt Yan say that, Qingwan closed her eyes and prepared to rest.

When she woke up again, Yinxiang was carrying the child in.

That's strange, Qingwan thought. Yinxiang had held Moyaqi and Mingxin after she turned three.

However, as Yinxiang's only son for a long time, he never held Hongchang.

It was clear that Yinxiang was still quite unfamiliar with holding the infant; it was more like carrying him on a leash than holding him, with the wet nurse following carefully behind him.

I'm afraid this accident might be because of Yinxiang.

Yinxiang held, or rather, carried, the child and placed him next to Qingwan before saying, "Look, this is our second or third prince."

Although Yingyu's second son died before his first birthday and had no name, Yinxiang still helped him grow teeth.

Yinxiang added, "I went to the Qianqing Palace early this morning to ask the Emperor to name the child. The Third Prince will be named Tun, Hongtun."

“The sun will rise in the east, shining on my railing and the Fusang tree.”

"Yes. That's true. The sun shines brightly in the west, its rays blazing as it turns back."

Tun is the rising sun, and also the warm sunlight.

“The name is naturally good,” Qingwan said, looking at the sleeping child beside her. Although Yinxiang did not show it, Qingwan could feel his anticipation for the child soon after she found out she was pregnant.

However, it's unlikely that they would go to Emperor Kangxi to ask for a name the very next day. Normally, a name wouldn't be chosen until the child is at least one year old.

Those who valued it more would choose a festive and auspicious nickname, while those who didn't would simply add "princess" or "prince" to their given name, like Mingxin and Hongchang back then.

It's not that we don't value it, it's just that we haven't paid much attention to it.

Ke Hongtun.

But why would Kangxi agree to Yinxiang's request?

"Even the Emperor agrees to my madness?"

Yinxiang said frankly, "I went there using a cane."

“Zhu--”, Qingwan was a little speechless for a while before finally saying, “You’re being too ridiculous.”

Yinxiang looked at Hongtun with a tenderness in his eyes that none of the other children had shown: "Qingwan, you should know that Hongtun is different to me."

Hongtun was the legitimate son he had waited for for several years. He was born when he was deeply in love with his wife who had shared hardships with him. He was a new life he had longed for after losing two relatives, and he was also his hope in the lowest point of his life.

This is something even the eldest son, Hongchang, cannot compare to. If anyone sets their sights on Hongtun, he will not let anyone get away with it, no matter who it is.

Within two days, everyone knew how much Yinxiang valued his newborn son.

Yinxiang became more and more skilled at holding Hongtun.

"Um, did my father hold me like this when I was born?"

Hongchang, who occasionally went to pay his respects, would see Hongtun being held in his arms. He had seen Moyaqi snuggling in Yinxiang's arms, and he had also seen Yinxiang speaking gently to Mingxin.

Aside from himself, he was only one year older than Moyaqi, but he had never played in Yinxiang's arms or on his body like Moyaqi had. He said it was because Moyaqi was his younger sister, a princess, so he could do that.

Although Yinxiang spoke to him gently, it couldn't help making him feel less nervous. His mother said it was because Mingxin was already sensible and a grown woman, so she wouldn't be nervous in front of her father.

Hong Tun was also a prince, but he was able to be held in his father's arms right after he was born. Hong Chang was only four years old, and he vaguely sensed the difference between him and Hong Tun.

Fuling was also upset about Yinxiang's differential treatment. She thought that Yinxiang was supposed to be stricter with the princes, but Yinxiang was too special to Hongtun.

She could only coax Hongchang: "Of course there have been times, but you are Father's eldest son, and you will be a role model for your younger brothers in the future, so Father is stricter with you."

"Your younger brother is still small, but you're already quite sensible and about to start school. Once you do well in your studies, your father will naturally treat you better than your brother."

Mingxin frowned slightly upon hearing this and said, "Hongchang, why don't you go out and play first? I'll teach you how to recite later, okay?"

Hongchang nodded and went out to play by himself.

After sending Hongchang away and leaving the room empty, Mingxin said, "I shouldn't say things like 'father will like Hongchang more in the future.' Also, while Hongchang is still young, I should teach him properly about the difference between legitimate and illegitimate children."

“Mingxin, he is your own brother.” Fuling looked at her daughter, whose childishness had faded, and said through gritted teeth, word by word.

“I know, oh dear, it’s because he’s my own brother that I’m saying these things to you.” Mingxin sat down next to Fuling, comforting her, and said, “Oh dear, if I were still by your side, and hadn’t been sent to the palace by Father and the Fujin to be with the other sisters, I would still feel nothing and think that I’m the same as my second sister.”

When I was with Aunt Wan, she would sometimes say that the Fujin was a very good person. At first, I didn't understand, but after talking about it with my sisters, I realized why.

I wasn't the only concubine's daughter kept in the palace. I can't say I had the best life among them, but from the occasional snippets of conversation they uttered, I knew that I was one of the few who had never suffered any injustice.

Whether it's with Father or with the Princess Consort.

"Just because you've received favors from the Fujin (wife) doesn't mean you can suppress your younger brother!"