The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

After Consort Liang's funeral, Qingwan changed her clothes and went back home. Thinking of the Third Princess who had been ill for more than half a month, she asked Aunt Yan, "Is the Third Princess feeling any better?"

The Third Princess caught a cold in November. Qingwan had visited her a few times before and the child seemed to be in good spirits, but her illness just wouldn't get better. The doctor she was seeing was changed from a local doctor to an imperial physician, but the medicine they were using was pretty much the same.

Aunt Yan shook her head heavily, her face full of worry: "Not only has it not gotten better, but it's getting more and more serious."

One imperial physician after another was brought in, and even doctors from the common people who were said to be skilled in pediatrics were brought in to see her, but the Third Princess's illness still fluctuated.

In just a few days, Lord Hada and I were desperate and tried everything we could find. After discussing it, we even had a high lama chant some sutras, but it didn't help.

The concubine was extremely anxious, saying that it couldn't be delayed any longer, as it would endanger her health; but what could be done if her condition didn't improve?

"Wantang has always kept a close eye on this child and raised him well. He has been healthy and free from illness. He has finally passed his first birthday. How could he have caught a cold?"

"It's hard to say for sure. Maybe a window was open and let in the wind, or maybe the door was opened and the wind blew in. Children are the weakest and the hardest to cure."

After what happened to Yingyu's child, Qingwan had a bad feeling and said, "Whether it's a folk doctor or an imperial physician, it's just a matter of spending more money. Keep the person at home for the time being, just in case."

Qingwan went to see the child for several more days, but the child's condition only worsened.

Qingwan called to Yinxiang, who was returning from the study, "Let's go see the Third Princess."

Yinxiang was puzzled; "Don't you usually have your wet nurse bring you over? Why did you want to go and see her?"

"Hasn't Master gone to see him these past few days?"

“I’ve gone.” Yinxiang sighed, thinking of the times he had visited. “They’re all busy, and it seems like my visit is taking up too much of their time.”

Furthermore, Wan Tang seems quite afraid of me. Although I had been drinking that day, I still remember what happened. If she is unwilling, I will not force her. I can just keep her as a concubine. Her behavior makes it seem like it's my fault.

I asked Zhang Ruiren to keep an eye on things and report back to me about the child from time to time.

This was the first time Yinxiang had brought up that day. Qingwan thought about how Wantang had hugged her and hysterically apologized that day, and she couldn't tell who was right and who was wrong.

Qingwan asked, "Then will you come with me this time?"

Yinxiang thought for a moment and said, "Go ahead." He had nothing else to do anyway.

Before the two even reached Wan Tang's courtyard, they encountered Wan Tang's errand girl. Her voice trembled slightly, but what she said made Qing Wan and the other girl's bodies go weak.

"This servant greets the master and the princess. The Third Princess is gone."

Qingwan slightly raised her forearm, and Muxiang quickly helped her up. After taking a deep breath to suppress the reluctance in her heart, she said to Yinxiang, who was still standing there,

"Sir, you're quick on your feet. Let's go take a look first."

Yinxiang said, "Thank you for your hard work."

Before he could finish speaking, the person was already several steps away.

Qingwan then instructed, "Go tell your uncle to bring people and prepare everything."

They also told people to keep an eye on Moyaqi and prevent her from going to Wantang's side.

Only then did he rush over with his men. The people serving Wan Tang were kneeling on the ground outside the door, crying. After Qing Wan entered, Yin Xiang sat by the Third Princess's cradle, watching. Wan Tang knelt by the footstool, burying her face in her arms, her body trembling.

The atmosphere inside was too oppressive, so she didn't stay long before going out to wait. After a while, Yinxiang also came out.

Hada led people into the house and took the Third Princess away, and Wan Tang did not stop them.

Qingwan hadn't heard Wantang crying, and after thinking for a moment, out of compassion as a mother herself, she said, "I'll go in and take a look."

Qingwan went in alone and softly called out to Wantang. Hearing her voice, Wantang looked up at her and said...

"Did the Princess Consort come to persuade me?"

Qingwan nodded.

Wan Tang remained by the bedside and said, "Please sit down, I won't serve you tea."

Qingwan stepped forward and pulled her up. Wantang pressed her whole body against her, and it took her a lot of effort to get Wantang up and lean against the bed.

As she got closer, she realized that Wan Tang's face was covered in tears. She handed Wan Tang a handkerchief, but Wan Tang shook her head and said, "Please don't blame me, my whole body is stiff and numb. I can't move or get up at all."

Wan Tang knew that this was a sign of excessive grief, yet she was still able to speak to Qing Wan with clear logic.

"Does the Princess Consort know where the Third Princess will be buried?"

"I don't know," Qingwan's voice was very soft, afraid of disturbing Wantang. "Perhaps we have to wait for Lord Hada to lead people to find the cemetery."

The child might be cremated. Can you accept that? If not, I'll speak to them for you.

Wan Tang nodded after a long pause: "Actually, I've raised An'an very well. Oh, Madam, you don't know, An'an is the nickname I gave my daughter. Only I have ever called her that. I hope she can grow up safely and peacefully."

"An'an." As the name passed through Qingwan's lips, she felt a pang of sadness.

Outsiders don't know the princess's given name, so Wan Tang didn't know that the nickname she gave the Third Princess was the same as the child's aunt's name. But both she and Consort Min had the same hope: that the child would be safe.

"She wasn't spoiled and never got sick after birth. Her arms and legs were chubby, like a New Year's picture doll."

He loves to laugh and passed his first birthday without any illness or disaster. During the first birthday celebration, he even picked up a longevity lock.

Everyone says that turning one year old is a big milestone, so I take good care of her every day, afraid that she will catch a cold or eat the wrong thing.

But it still couldn't be prevented; it only lasted a short while, just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Wan Tang's tone was calm, but to Qing Wan, every word sounded like a tearful lament: "She was playing on the kang (heated brick bed) under the window when she caught a cold. She was even obedient when taking her medicine, but the cold still took her away."

"A mere cold," Wan Tang laughed sarcastically, "What kind of lousy place is this? Why can't you even cure such a minor cold?"

The thirteenth prince was a prince, and the imperial physician he found was probably the best doctor, but he still couldn't cure the illness.

If only she hadn't been born in this era, she would have been easily cured and wouldn't have left.

Wan Tang concluded, "Raising a child properly is really difficult." Then she said to Qing Wan, "I know, it will all pass."

When she fainted in Qingwan's arms, Qingwan held her and gently said, "Yes, nothing is insurmountable."

After seeing that Wan Tang was settled, Qing Wan left. Fu Ling and Ying Yu were waiting outside. Qing Wan said, "You two are often together, so try to persuade her after she wakes up."

Later, she didn't see Yinxiang outside the door or in the main room. She asked him, and Muxiang said, "When Lord Hada and the others took away the Third Princess, the Master followed behind with a dazed look on his face. Lord Hada will definitely take good care of the Master."

"Okay, I'm going to take a rest."

Chenxiang wanted to follow, but Muxiang stopped her: "Let the Fujin go alone. She is also a concubine, and I'm afraid she will feel bad."

Chenxiang had something to say, but she didn't insist this time. She leaned closer to Muxiang and whispered a few words in her ear. Muxiang's expression immediately turned sour: "Your thoughts haven't subsided yet."