The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

The period from the 13th to the 15th of the first lunar month is called the Lantern Festival. Especially on the 15th, the imperial court holds banquets and sets off fireworks, and lanterns are displayed everywhere in the markets.

So on the fifteenth day, Moyaqi went to Yinxiang and begged to see the lanterns, and Mingxin and Hongchang kept agreeing with her.

Yinxiang had no choice but to select a group of guards to go with them, and Qingwan also asked Muxiang to pick a few old women to follow.

As for Hongtun, he declined Moyaqi's invitation. Firstly, he was several years younger than his older brothers and sisters, and secondly, Yinxiang was extremely strict with him, applying the same standards he had used when he was studying to Hongtun.

So when Moyaqi came to call Hongtun, he was still holding his book. After only a moment's thought, he said, "I won't go. Sister knows that I'm always afraid of the cold. If my illness gets worse, it will only make Father worry. The Lantern Festival happens every year, so there's no rush to go this time."

He coughed a couple of times a day, but fortunately Qingwan was in her postpartum period, so they didn't have to go to pay their respects and didn't reveal anything to her.

“Alright, then you can stay home without worry,” Moyaqi said without insisting, but she also reminded him, “Don’t watch TV for too long, and remember to take your medicine.”

Not yet reassured, Hongtun, who had secretly poured out his medicine before, instructed the eunuch beside him: "Keep an eye on the prince taking his medicine. If he secretly pours it out again, come and tell me."

"Yes, Your Highness, rest assured, this servant will make sure to keep a close eye on the prince taking his medicine."

In the end, Mingxin, Hongchang, and Moyaqi went together. The streets weren't very lively yet, so they went straight to the restaurant.

Moyaqi walked towards the private room without stopping. Mingxin, who was not visiting the lantern festival for the first time, asked in surprise, "When did you book this?"

“I didn’t decide that,” Moya asked curiously.

Just as Mingxin was about to ask who it was, the door to the private room opened, and Fuseng'e peeked out from inside: "Cousin, cousin, cousin, you've arrived, please come in."

The group entered the house one after another and found Jingwan there as well. Moyaqi went up to her and greeted her affectionately as Sixth Aunt.

Mingxin and Hongchang quickly said, "Greetings, Sixth Aunt."

As Jingwan was gesturing for everyone to sit down and talking, another old woman came in and whispered something in Muxiang's ear. Muxiang's expression changed, and she bowed and left.

Moyaqi pointed to the maid beside her: "Go out and take a look. Muxiang seems distracted all day, for some reason."

After a short while, the maid returned and said, "It turns out that Lord Baisai and his men arrested a man. They said that this man had been following our sedan chair. The man claimed that he was Sister Muxiang's man and that he was following Sister Muxiang, not us. So they asked Sister Muxiang to go down and identify him."

But Sister Muxiang said she didn't know that person.

"That's really strange. How come we didn't know that Muxiang got married?" Mingxin said.

“That’s right. Let Baisai bring the person in. We still have some time, so let’s solve the case.”

“No, this is too ridiculous.” Hongchang disagreed first, then looked at Jingwan, the only elder in the room.

Jingwan smiled and said, "It's alright, just call them in." If all else fails, she'll still be there. These children can't be raised to be innocent little rabbits.

When Baisai brought the person in, he remembered to blindfold him. Muxiang then knelt down as soon as she entered and said, "This servant deserves to die."

Moya asked curiously, "Sister, please get up. But this person's words are unpleasant. Sister is also the person who serves me closely. I have to ask clearly, otherwise I won't feel at ease leaving sister by my side."

"Yes." Mu Xiang struggled only slightly before subtly saying something that Mo Yaqi and the others could hear.

As Mu Xiang spoke, Bai Sai had already searched the man and found a handkerchief.

Moya asked curiously, "Is it because of this handkerchief that you've been kept out of the manor for so many years, sister?"

He then gestured for Baisai to throw the handkerchief into the fireplace at their feet.

Hongchang also said, "Such things have been mentioned in storybooks. Some scoundrels who find a young lady's personal belongings try to use these belongings to blackmail her by extorting money from her reputation. But in the end, the young lady is never harmed, while the scoundrels who try to extort money are severely punished."

As soon as Hongchang finished speaking, he felt a chill. Everyone in the room was staring at him. He sighed inwardly, "Oh no, I let it slip."

Mingxin said to Hongchang, "I'll deal with you when we get back."

Mu Xiang could only weep. Her mother had died young, and her father had remarried, using the money she had sent back over the years.

Her stepmother and stepmother's nephew have been threatening her for so many years with this handkerchief they stole for personal use. It is said that if you have a stepmother, you will naturally have a stepfather. In order to avoid being married off to this scoundrel, she has been staying in the mansion year after year.

But she ate well and used good things in the Thirteenth Prince's residence, and had been in the palace for many years, so she was naturally not comparable to ordinary people. When she came of age, her stepmother urged Muxiang to become a concubine for her nephew.

She was afraid of losing face and being implicated, and she didn't even think of asking Qingwan for help. She could only stay at home and send most of her monthly allowance to others to shut them up.

Fortunately, these people only knew that she had followed her master into the palace, but they didn't know which master she was serving, let alone that she had already left the palace.

It was just bad luck for her; of all the times she went out with him, this was the one that happened.

Looking thoughtfully at the blindfolded and gagged person on the ground, Bai Sai said, "If Aunt and Princess are at ease, entrust the person to this servant. This servant will ensure that Miss Muxiang has no worries."

Jingwan waved her hand, and Baisai dragged the person out.

She was also somewhat exasperated: "If you were my girl, you would drive her crazy."

The noise outside had already reached the house. Moyaqi opened the window and looked down: "Sixth Aunt, let's go downstairs quickly."

After the group had finished playing and went back, Mingxin pointed at Hongchang and said, "Come with me."

Hongchang turned and ran: "I found that book in my sister's room." Mingxin wasn't about to let him get away with it, so she chased after him.

"You have so much energy!" Moya exclaimed.

A few days later, after Muxiang finished her shift, a young eunuch stopped her: "Sister Muxiang, Lord Baisai is waiting for you outside the second gate. He says he has something to discuss."

Thinking that he had taken people away, Mu Xiang responded and walked towards the second gate.

As soon as she saw the person, a purse flew towards her. Mu Xiang caught it, and her hand sank down. It was quite heavy. She looked at Bai Sai in confusion.

Bai Sai said, "I guess you don't want to use the jewelry and stuff anymore, so I either melted it down or exchanged it for money. There's also some silver in there."

The matter has been resolved; they won't dare cause you any more trouble, and you don't even need to worry about leaving the manor.

"Thank you."

"We've known each other for so many years, it's just a small favor."

One of them was the head guard of Yinxiang, and the other was Qingwan's personal maid. It was too conspicuous for them to stand together and talk like that, so Muxiang didn't stay any longer and quickly left when no one was around.

After returning home, Muxiang suddenly said to Chenxiang, "I want to be with you and stay with Fujin for the rest of my life."

Chenxiang nodded blankly: "I thought that was what my sister always thought."