The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

Life in the palace went on uneventfully, with the ladies occasionally bringing along a few princes and their wives when they went to watch a play.

Qingwan would still go to pay her respects to Consort Hui, but she was never the center of attention. She would just quietly listen to others and occasionally chime in. She was known for her composure among the people in the palace.

Sometimes, Fuling would use the child to make some small moves. When Qingwan was interested, she would banter with her. When she wasn't interested, she would send her back to her room. However, she found the maid who was looking for Yinxiang for Fuling to be somewhat interesting.

Yinxiang had official duties and was often taken around by Kangxi, so he didn't spend much time in the palace, let alone stay overnight. Every now and then, Fuling would have her maid pretend to be the eldest princess and call Yinxiang away.

Yinxiang would leave eight out of ten times. Qingwan had made people keep an eye on him, and even if Yinxiang left, he might not stay in Fuling Room. She couldn't figure out Yinxiang's thoughts, as if he was just trying to avoid her.

After this happened several times, Chenxiang couldn't help but complain, to which Qingwan could only smile.

A few days ago, when she accompanied Consort Hui to the opera, she was hinted that Yinxiang's harem was too small and that he would eventually appoint someone. She was also warned not to be jealous.

At that time, Consort Hui said, "You two are newlyweds and have a good relationship, which is a good thing. However, you can't be intolerant of others. The thirteenth prince is a prince after all. He is already twenty-one years old and only has one daughter. It doesn't sound good to others."

You are the primary consort; no one else can surpass you.

Qingwan could only smile bitterly upon hearing this. If Yinxiang didn't take the initiative to accept people, could she beg him to do so?

Fortunately, Consort Hui only mentioned it briefly and did not seem to intend to interfere.

Therefore, she could only treat Fuling with gentle words, but even if she wanted to ask someone for help for Yinxiang, she didn't know who to ask.

Consort Hui is definitely out of the question. Prince Zhi and the Crown Prince are at odds, and Yinxiang is the Crown Prince's man. No one can say for sure what kind of person will be chosen. We can't just ask the Emperor, can we? It would be better to let Yinxiang choose the person himself.

After the New Year, when Emperor Kangxi, unable to stay idle, went on an inspection tour of the capital region, Qingwan generously allowed Fuling to accompany Yinxiang.

She herself had little interest in going to the capital region, but if Emperor Kangxi took Yinxiang with him on his southern tours or tours beyond the Great Wall, then she would be interested.

When she told Fuling that she was going with Yinxiang, Fuling was only stunned for a moment before thanking her and going back to pack her things.

After Yinxiang and his men left, Qingwan looked at the timid and uneasy eldest princess in front of her and realized that she had forgotten something.

Fortunately, the eldest princess is a well-behaved child. She only pinches my forehead when she wakes up or goes to sleep, and her wet nurse can soothe her.

Yi'an had a rough idea of ​​her wedding date, so she went to ask Emperor Kangxi to move out of Consort Yi's palace. Among the unmarried princesses, Yi'an was the most favored by Emperor Kangxi, so he granted her request.

She then begged Lian Yihuan to come out as well, so the two sisters could live together.

Seeing that the child was well-behaved, Qingwan would sometimes take the child to visit Yi'an and Yihuan.

This unexpected turn of events earned her the reputation of being virtuous, leaving Qingwan both amused and exasperated, but ultimately it was a good thing.

When Yinxiang finally returned from the capital with Kangxi, Qingwan was playing chess with Yihuan at Yi'an's place. So Yinxiang went to Yi'an's place after wandering around the princes' quarters for a while, without even resting.

When he entered, Yi An was frowning as she looked at Qing Wan and Yi Huan, wishing she could take matters into her own hands. Although all three noticed him enter, they tacitly ignored him.

Qingwan was holding a chess piece, pondering where to place it. Yinxiang glanced at her, shook his head helplessly, picked up a chess piece and placed it somewhere. He then noticed that Qingwan and Yihuan were now paying attention to him, but the two of them looked at him with puzzled expressions, which made him even more helpless.

He knew that Yi Huan was a terrible chess player, since she had never been willing to study properly since she was a child. But Qing Wan had good handwriting and read many works by famous authors, so she must have been taught well at home. How could she not be a terrible chess player?

In fact, Qingwan had studied music, chess, calligraphy and painting since she was a child. She was fine with the other skills, but she was too lazy to put any effort into chess.

After Yi'an learned about this, he became her teacher. Together with Yi Huan, who suddenly wanted to learn chess, the three of them often hung out together.

Yi'an disapproved of his actions, saying, "It's clear that you've learned the proper etiquette in the South Study, entering a girl's house without informing her."

"Well, as the old saying goes, 'A true gentleman observes chess without speaking,' but brother has already jumped in. I wonder what Lord Tong will think of this upright gentleman he taught. He should also let fourteenth brother take a good look; after all, you were taught by the same teacher."

Yinxiang replied, "I'll accept this title of gentleman, after all, I haven't said anything."

Yi'an was so angry that she gritted her teeth at him.

Yi'an and Yinxiang are only one year apart in age. To Yihuan, they are reliable older brothers and sisters, but when they get together, they can't help but bicker like children.

Yi Huan had been sitting quietly to the side, watching the two of them with a smile, ever since they started bickering, so as not to get involved.

Qingwan watched with a smile as Yinxiang and Yi'an engaged in their verbal battle, unaware that Yihuan's gaze was also full of tenderness.

In May, Emperor Kangxi issued an edict to betroth the Sixth Princess to Ce Ling.

On the day of her investiture, Qingwan went to offer her congratulations with her sisters-in-law. The Sixth Princess had her investiture ceremony early in the morning before returning to her palace, so she quickly showed signs of fatigue.

After discovering this, the Crown Princess said to everyone, "Sixth Sister has had a long day. We have shown our appreciation, so let's go back and let her get some rest."

After everyone inside finished laughing, they left one after another, gathering in twos and threes on the palace road to chat about the prince consort.

Qingwan and the Fourteenth Princess Consort also huddled together listening to the others talk. Just as they were getting into it, Fuling's maid, Zhuying, approached them. Muxiang recognized her and tried to stop the maid, but she couldn't make any big moves in front of everyone.

This gave the maid an opportunity to kneel down and loudly proclaim, "Great news, Madam! Your concubine, Guarjia, has just discovered that she is almost three months pregnant!"

This commotion immediately attracted the attention of others, and Qingwan also felt the gazes from the crowd, some mocking, some pitying.

She was unusually angry. She didn't care whether she was pregnant or not, it was only a matter of time anyway. But today was the day the Sixth Princess was to arrange her marriage. Since the maidservant by Fuling's side was so ignorant and embarrassed her, this matter had to be dealt with properly.

"Is that so?" Qingwan turned her back to everyone and curled her lips coldly, her voice gentle: "This is great news. I'll have to reward your master properly when I get back."

“Who is the master? Thirteenth sister-in-law, you’re not right. I remember this maid was talking about a concubine, she’s far from being a master.” Eighth Princess said from the side, her gaze towards Zhu Ying full of hostility.

Qingwan turned to the Eighth Prince's wife and said, "I was just too happy, so I said the wrong thing. Please forgive me, Eighth Sister-in-law."

Fourth Princess stepped forward and stopped Eighth Princess, who was about to speak, and said to Qingwan, "This is indeed a good thing, sister-in-law, hurry back and take a look."

Qingwan asked Zhuying to stand up, smiling, "This girl is ignorant and reckless, disturbing all of you sisters-in-law on this auspicious day."

The Crown Princess smiled and said, "What are you saying? We are all happy for you and your thirteenth brother. For us, having offspring is the most important thing."

Since the Crown Princess had spoken, the matter was over, and Qingwan took her leave from everyone.

Halfway there, he asked, "In what year did you enter the palace to serve, and how did you end up by Fuling's side?"

Zhu Ying felt uneasy. When Fu Ling told her to do this, she only thought it was to bring honor to her mistress. Who knew that the moment the princess opened her mouth, it would become a disturbance to the other princes' wives? Her voice trembled as she said:

"This servant begged the Thirteenth Prince to send me to the palace from my home when I was first pregnant."

Qingwan looked at her with pity: "You don't even have the qualifications for the Imperial Household Department's selection of candidates, how dare you?"

I'm not one to punish people, and Fuling is pregnant; bloodshed is considered unlucky. Go back and pack your things yourself.