The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

Qingwan left in a hurry and didn't have time to care about the children, so Yinxiang had no choice but to instruct Zhang Rui: "Have someone send the Fourth Prince, the Fifth Prince, the Sixth Prince, the Second Princess, and the Fourth Princess to their Guo Luoma Fa family."

Qingwan asked Dingzhu's eldest son through the carriage curtain, "Why did you come here? Did something happen at home?"

Dingzhu's eldest son said, "When I came out, everything at home was fine, but my mother suddenly asked me and my second brother to bring you and Sixth Aunt back to the mansion today."

It must be that Mama or Mafa misses you and Sixth Aunt.

But Suochuoluo knew that she was a gentle and kind person, and she wouldn't have sent her two children to take them back if there was nothing wrong.

Qingwan remained silent, staring at the receding houses and crowds outside, hoping the road would become shorter.

When she arrived, Jingwan was already there. After exchanging glances, the two walked quickly forward. Upon entering the house, they found that Malhan was leaning against Li Jia's head, and Li Jia was probably saying something to Malhan.

The two could not hear clearly and could only stand by the bedside to keep watch. Marhan quickly sat up. He was old and sick, and even this one movement made him pant for a while.

Qingwan and Jingwan reached out to help Malhan up, and he did not refuse. He helped her up twice before she could slowly stand up. Qingwan and Jingwan felt a lump in their throats and could no longer hold back their tears.

Marhan waved his hand, sat on the opposite daybed, and said, "It's good that you're all back. I'd like to say a few last words to you sisters. She misses you all."

Qingwan knelt on the footstool, holding Li Jia's hand, and cried, "Oh my, we're back! Open your eyes and look at me and Sixth Sister. We're here, oh my."

Li Jia's eyelids twitched, but she didn't open her eyes; her lips moved, but she didn't make a sound.

The old nanny beside Li Jia choked up and said, "Please call out again, Sixth Aunt, please call out a few more times."

Qingwan and Jingwan cried out for their mother, and after an unknown amount of time, Qingwan felt Li Jiashi's hand move. She raised her head and, together with Jingwan, called out, "Mother, wake up, open your eyes and look at us."

After an unknown amount of time, Li Jia opened her eyes again, moved her fingers, touched Qingwan's face, and managed to speak with great effort. Because of her weakness, only a faint voice came out as she coaxed, "Don't cry."

She glanced at Jingwan again, and Qingwan stepped aside. Jingwan took Li Jia's hand and said, "Oh, I'm here."

Li Jia, still weak, coaxed, "Don't cry, I'm here."

Qingwan clenched her teeth to keep from crying out, while Jingwan continued to call out "E'nei" over and over again.

Li Jia looked at Jingwan, then at Qingwan, as if checking if they were doing well, or as if trying to remember the two children's faces, before slowly closing her eyes with tears in her eyes.

Moya and the others, who had been sent to the main courtyard by Yinxiang without knowing what had happened, had just arrived when the crying that was coming from the doorway made them stop in their tracks.

Hongtun took two steps forward, but was pulled back by Moyaqi. "Hongtun, what are you doing? Come back. Is this the time for you to go in?"

Hongtun took two steps back and said, "Sister, I heard it. It's my sister crying. She's calling my sister. It's probably because Guo Luo Mama has passed away, which is why my sister is crying so sadly."

Hongtun could tell that Qingwan was crying, and so could Moyaqi. She wiped away her tears.

Startled by the cacophony of cries, Hongqi hugged her and called her "sister." Moyaqi knelt down and coaxed Hongqi, saying, "Come on, kneel down like your sister and kowtow to Guoluomama. Then we'll wait for the forehead to be pinched, okay?"

Hong nodded and kowtowed along with Moyaqi. After they all stood up, Moyaqi had Hong's wet nurse take Hong and Mingzhao away, while she waited at the door with Hongtun and Hongjiao.

A short while later, Muxiang came out. Her eyes were still a little red and there were still tear stains on her face. She said, "Princess and Prince, go and rest first. You can come back later."

Moyaqi shook her head: "Mingzhao and Hongyan are the youngest. I have already asked the wet nurse to take them away. Hongtun, Hongjiao and I will stay with you."

"Sister, can I go in now? I want to see her," Moyaqi's voice choked with emotion. "She's crying so hard, I'm worried about her, I want to go in and stay with her."

Mu Xiang sniffed and wiped away Mo Yaqi's tears: "The Princess is crying very sadly, but we can't persuade her. However, you can't go in now."

"Once everything is settled here, I'll have someone come and pick you up."

Moyaqi shook her head, and Muxiang added, "Now that you're the eldest sister, you still have to take care of your younger brothers and sisters."

“But I…” Mu Xiang shook her head as soon as Hong Tun spoke.

Moyaqi had no choice but to say, "Then I'll trouble you to persuade me further, sister. We'll go to kowtow before Guo Luo Mama's spirit later."

After Li Jiashi passed away, Suochuoluoshi, having finished her tears, could no longer grieve. Marhan was seriously ill, and regardless of her own thoughts, there were some things that Guanzhu had to arrange, such as reporting the death to various families and the palace. She also had to discuss these matters with Guanzhu.

The Thirteenth Prince's residence also received the message. Yinxiang jumped off the bed and told Hada to arrange the follow-up matters. He then busied himself asking Zhang Rui to change his clothes.

Zhang Rui carefully advised, "Master, your leg ailment hasn't healed yet. If you go, the household will have to take care of you. Why don't you wait a couple of days before going?" But his hands continued to change Yinxiang's clothes.

Seeing that Yinxiang had no intention of paying attention to him, he quickened his movements.

Upon going out, he saw Mingxin and Hongchang already dressed in plain clothes and waiting for him. Yinxiang said, "It's good that you have taken the initiative to do this. It's not in vain that your wives have treated you so well."

Qingwan knelt before the altar, letting the flames devour the paper money, and letting the tears on her face go from dry to wet.

Marhan staggered, touching Li Jia's coffin, and murmured, "I'm so much older than you, how come you're the one who left first?"

No one expected that Li Jia's death would be such a huge blow to Marhan. When he fainted in front of the coffin, only his servant was able to catch him.

When the others carried him back to his bedroom, he had already woken up and instructed, "I know my body, there's no need to call the imperial physician."

He then said to Qingwan and her two siblings, "I'll take up some of your time; let's talk." He paused, perhaps speaking his last words; you might as well write them down.

"Father!" Guan Zhu exclaimed anxiously.

Marhan shook his head, panting. Qingwan quickly poured him some water and helped him drink it.

Marhan slowly caught his breath before saying, "I've lived to be eighty-five, more than most people, but I wasted my life as an official and left you and your siblings nothing but a little wealth."

Your eldest brother passed away early, leaving me with only one son. It's inevitable that I favored him, which led to him becoming arrogant and spoiled. He probably won't amount to much.

I secured him a position as Left Censor-in-Chief and concurrently a military commander, so that he wouldn't be a burden to you two sisters. Whether he succeeds in the future is none of your concern.

And those two children of Dingzhu, they've been fluent in both Manchu and Han languages ​​since childhood, they should go and take the imperial examinations for scribes in the future.

I have set up another house elsewhere. After I die, Guanzhu, take your wife and children and move out. This house will be given to your sister-in-law and her children; they are a widow and orphans, and it hasn't been easy for them.

Qingwan suppressed her sobs and said, "Father, let's not talk about this now."

Marhan chuckled: "Why are you crying? I've lived for so many years, and according to folk tradition, even if I die, it will be a joyous occasion. You should be smiling."

I've lived such a long life, with two sons and seven daughters, but only the three of you, the youngest, are left. I lost my father and mother in my youth, my wife and son in middle age, and then I married you all. Now even she is leaving me.

Having served as an official for so many years, I finally left in a sorry state. Fortunately, His Majesty was still willing to save some face for me. I've lived enough, so I don't feel sad anymore. You all should feel the same way; there's no need to be sad for me.

Sixth Sister, Seventh Sister, you are the ladies-in-waiting of this household. After I'm gone, if there are any disagreements, you will be able to handle them. I've always favored Guanzhu, so please take care of your sister-in-law and nephews for me this once.”

"Yes."

"Anything else? I'll tell you later if I think of anything else. I'm too weak now. I'll see her off one last time on the day you leave."

Li Jia was buried on the fifth day, but Marhan, as he had said, saw her off on her final journey and died in a dream on the third day after returning.

After Ma'er's death, Emperor Kangxi sent a high-ranking official to offer sacrifices.

Within a month, Qingwan lost both her mother and father. At Marhan's burial, she was still able to calmly hold the grief-stricken Jingwan in her arms and comfort her. In the end, she even had someone keep an eye on the matter of the branch mansion.

When she returned to the Thirteenth Prince's residence, the children, worried about her, came to have a meal with her. However, after only a couple of bites, Qingwan put down her chopsticks and stared blankly into space.

Although the children only ate a few bites, they followed the rules and didn't touch their food after seeing her put down her chopsticks.

Moya exclaimed "Eh-ne!" and Qingwan snapped back to reality. She told them to go back and rest, and reminded them to have some snacks prepared for them to eat that evening.

As evening fell, a woman sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) suddenly burst into tears. She wiped them away again and again, but the tears only multiplied.

Yinxiang squatted down in front of her and took her hand.

Qingwan asked, "If I want to go back to my parents' home in the future, where should I go?"

Yinxiang touched her forehead to hers and said, "Your home has always been with me and the children."

Qingwan shook her head, leaned against Yinxiang's chest, and let her tears fall continuously.