The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

The summer heat was rare, and there was a time when the sun wasn't so strong. Yinxiang's mood improved, his leg ailment didn't flare up, and he even took some men to go hunting in the countryside.

When he returned, it was nearly evening, and the children were all in the main courtyard.

On the east side of the main courtyard, there are two wisteria trees, next to which is a wooden frame. Every year during the flowering season, the wisteria blossoms climb up the wooden frame and cover the entire top of it.

Later, after they moved to this mansion, they specially kept this spot, and the children liked to cool off under the wooden frame.

Although there were quite a few people in the courtyard, it was very quiet. When they saw Yinxiang, they simply bowed quietly.

Yinxiang's steps unconsciously slowed down. Upon closer inspection, he saw Hongchang playing chess with Hongtun under the wooden frame. Rather than playing chess, it seemed more like Hongchang was leading Hongtun in a game.

Next to Hongchang is Mingxin, who is holding a book but has his eyes on the chessboard. Behind him are Hongjiao, Mingzhao, and Hongyan, who is the Fifth Prince.

Opposite Hongchang is Hongtun, and behind Hongtun is Moyaqi, who is sleeping on a recliner with a fan covering her eyes.

Seeing that it was Yinxiang, besides the youngest Mingzhao and Hongyi, there was also the still-sleepy Moyaqi, they all got up. Yinxiang waved his hand, telling them to continue.

He then removed Moyaqi's fan, and Moyaqi, who had been awakened by the sunlight, impatiently covered her eyes with her hand again: "Hongtun, if you scare me with bugs again, don't go to Father and Mother when I deal with you."

Hongtun, who was unjustly blamed, snatched the book from Mingxin and smothered it on Moyaqi's face.

Mingxin was caught off guard when her book was snatched away. She only had time to exclaim, "My book!"

Moyaqi took down the book, intending to scold Hongtun, but when she opened her eyes, she saw Yinxiang standing in front of her, the fan she had used to cover her eyes still in Yinxiang's hand.

"Father is back? I thought it was Hongtun causing trouble."

Hongtun puffed out his cheeks, snorted, and turned his face away. Mingxin, amused, reached out and poked Hongtun's cheek.

Although the sun wasn't very strong today, the temperature was quite high. Moyaqi had been sleeping outside for a while, and her forehead was already covered in a fine layer of sweat.

Yinxiang said, "You are the kind of person who is most afraid of the heat, why didn't you go to the Prince's garden to escape the heat this year?"

Moyaqi wiped the sweat from her forehead, then stood up and asked Yinxiang to sit down before saying, "In March, the eldest sister of the Prince's family passed away, and a few days ago, the little princess born to Consort Nian also passed away."

If I were to wander into the Prince's garden at this time, wouldn't that attract their attention and make them uncomfortable?

"That's quite thoughtful," Yinxiang said with a smile.

"I can't help but think about it. I'm afraid the Prince's family is not having an easy time. Although I'm used to living there, I feel uneasy about bothering them at this time. I'll go and pay my respects to the Prince and my fourth aunt in a few days."

She added, "But Father, he went hunting today without taking us with him. If we hadn't come back and paid our respects, we wouldn't have known that Father had left the mansion after our morning and evening."

Speaking of this, the children looked at Yinxiang with a hint of resentment.

"You've gotten your forehead back?" Yinxiang quickly changed the subject and asked.

Li Jia's health has been poor for the past two years, and she has fallen ill several times in just six months this year. Qingwan is worried about her and can't bear to leave her children, especially her youngest Mingzhao and Hongyi, who leave early and return late every day.

Seeing that she was anxious and exhausted, Yinxiang simply had Muxiang and the others pack her things and personally escorted her back to her parents' home, letting her stay for a few more days.

"Yes, they said that Guo Luo Mama was much better, so they rushed me back. I'm afraid I haven't been sleeping well these days because I was worried about Guo Luo Mama. After we paid our respects, we rested until now."

Inside the room, Qingwan had just woken up and saw several children gathered together through the half-open window, talking about something.

Yinxiang nodded: "I'll go in and take a look."

Qingwan saw that Yinxiang was still thinking about the children and was talking to him when Yinxiang came in: "Awake? Is Mother-in-law feeling any better?"

Speaking of Li Jiashi, Qingwan sighed: "The doctor said to take good care of herself and not to overwork or worry. My sixth sister and I could only persuade her with the doctor's words."

Yinxiang reassured her, "If they need anything, just have the manor send it over. If the doctors we find outside aren't effective, we'll find the imperial physician. We must prioritize Mother-in-law's health."

Then he pulled Qingwan up and said, "I hunted a deer in the suburbs today. Since the children are all here, we'll set up a grill tomorrow and have them barbecue. That way, they won't miss the fact that I didn't bring them today."

"I'll go out for a stroll now, and chat with the children. These past few days while you've been away, Hongjiao, Mingzhao, and Hongyi, though all very well-behaved, have been asking when I'll be back."

"It's just that I haven't asked the children yet since I got back. It's kind of them to stay out all this time without saying a word." Qingwan agreed and went out with him.

In October, after Kangxi returned from beyond the Great Wall, Yinxiang became busy again, not only because Kangxi was in poor health, but also because the Empress Dowager was seriously ill.

On the 21st, Kangxi summoned all the princes and Manchu and Han officials to the warm pavilion of Qianqing Palace. Qingwan did not know what Kangxi said that day, but Yinxiang's expression was not good.

After the meal, Yinxiang's expression was not very pleasant. When there were only the two of them in the room, Qingwan said, "Your Majesty's complexion has been bad since you returned from the palace."

With so many princes and ministers present today, Qingwan wondered if it was because Yinxiang or one of his brothers had once again been intimidated by Kangxi's arrogance, especially since Kangxi was known for his ruthless scolding.

Yinxiang gripped the teacup tightly in his hand, though the faint warmth from the cup was not enough to dispel the coldness in his hands:

“I haven’t seen Khan for a long time. Even on the day he returned to the capital to welcome the emperor, I only caught a glimpse of Khan from afar behind my twelfth brother. And because the news from beyond the Great Wall said that Khan personally went down to shoot arrows and hit the target every time, I always thought that he was still the same as before.”

But today, as I knelt at the feet of the Khan with my brothers and ministers, I noticed large patches of white hair in his braid when he turned around.

Throughout the year, there have been renewed discussions about establishing a crown prince, and Hongxi and Hongjin have frequently visited Yuqing Palace. They dared to do this because they had received the Khan's decree. Furthermore, the Khan's health, as observed during his movements, showed signs of a stroke.

"Your Majesty," Qingwan interrupted Yinxiang sharply, and only after Yinxiang had pulled himself out of his scattered thoughts did she speak softly, "May the Emperor live a long and prosperous life. Hongxi and Hongjin are Second Brother's sons, and it is only right that they go in and out of Yuqing Palace to show their filial piety. Your Majesty is just being overly concerned."

The Empress Dowager is seriously ill, causing the Emperor great worry and strain. The Emperor's father, being a man of utmost filial piety, is also inevitably affected in his health.

Yinxiang rubbed his temples: "The people in the court are in turmoil, and I have been affected as well."

“My lord, we’ve come this far, why rush things? The Empress Dowager is the most important thing right now. The Ning Shou Palace has already summoned the ladies of the harem to attend to her. If she doesn’t get better in a few days, I’m afraid we’ll have to go to the palace ourselves.”

“You’re right. We’ve also discussed and arranged a shift to watch over Khan Ama.”