The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

When Mingxin returned to her parents' home, she did not tell Yinxiang and Qingwan about what happened on her wedding day. However, her silence did not mean that Qingwan and Yinxiang were unaware that something had gone wrong.

Qingwan wasn't feeling well, so she only kept Mingxin for a short while before sending her to see Fuling. Mingxin was still a little worried and hesitated when she left.

Qingwan said, "It's alright, go ahead. Your mother and younger siblings are waiting for you."

He added, "Don't worry, your father won't let you suffer any injustice."

Mingxin sniffled childishly: "No need, Father, I won't let myself be wronged."

She leaned against Qingwan's shoulder and nuzzled against her: "It's different when I'm with the Fujin than when I'm outside."

Qingwan smiled and said, "That's good. Don't say that you're afraid your family will worry, so you hide your grievances. It's the grievances you're hiding that make your family worry."

"I understand, please rest assured, Madam."

After finishing speaking, she didn't rush to leave. Instead, she asked Hongtun, "Is Third Brother feeling any better?"

As Hongtun grew older, his health deteriorated, and when he was sick, it would take ten days or half a month to recover.

Speaking of Hongtun, Qingwan couldn't help but sigh: "He's much better, but it's been almost a month, and he still coughs from time to time. It's so worrying to hear, but there's nothing we can do."

Mingxin frowned slightly and advised, "They say that recovery from illness is like pulling silk from a cocoon. Third Brother's illness has improved a lot. All that's left is to take good care of him."

"Your Majesty's health is not good right now, and I can't worry about it. My third brother is always filial, and if he knew I was worried about him, he would feel guilty, and his recovery would be even slower."

Speaking of Hongtun's illness, Mingxin recalled Doctor He, who had worked at the Thirteenth Prince's residence for a year. During that year, everyone in the family sought his medical help. His medical skills were excellent, and even Yinxiang studied under him for a year. However, after a year, he packed his simple bags and went back to be a traveling doctor.

On one occasion, Mingxin was looking for Yinxiang, but found Yinxiang drinking with Helin. Helin was drunk and kept telling Yinxiang that he shouldn't have left.

The person who said he shouldn't leave left again, but a year after returning to Beijing, he left again with only a few thin bags.

The moon was exceptionally bright that night. As she got closer, she could see the tears streaming down He Lin's face. It was then that she realized this man was probably no ordinary doctor, but rather an old acquaintance of Yinxiang, though she couldn't quite understand why Yinxiang would have such a down-on-his-luck old acquaintance.

Just as I was lost in thought, I heard Qingwan say, "Good child, go and see your forehead."

"Yes, I'll come back to see you later." After leaving, Mingxin went to see Fuling and her younger siblings before returning to the mansion.

That evening, Qingwan suddenly said to Yinxiang, "If my Moyaqi and Mingzhao suffer any injustice after they get married, I will not forgive anyone."

Yinxiang was doing something else when he heard her say that. He didn't have time to think much before replying to Qingwan's words: "I shouldn't have let my daughter suffer any injustice."

Since becoming pregnant, Qingwan's temper has become more and more eccentric, but she never shows it to her children or the people who serve her.

She took all her anger out on Yinxiang. Yinxiang wasn't one to put up with being upset, but whenever he saw her pregnant, he could only suffer in silence.

After Mingxin got married, the mansion became quiet again. Early that morning, after the children finished paying their respects, Qingwan didn't keep them around to talk because of the cold weather. She sent them back and told them not to come over in the evening, and to have their meals in their own rooms.

After the children left, Qingwan took off her shoes and lay sprawled on the kang (heated brick bed) in the warm room. She opened the window, and the cold wind made her feel much more awake.

Yinxiang closed the window beside her: "Why open the window? It'll just let the cold wind in."

Qingwan turned around and sat down before saying, "You keep me locked in the room all day long, it's making me dizzy."

Yinxiang placed the hand warmer in Qingwan's hand before saying, "You were afraid of the cold, so you opened the window and let the cold wind blow in. You caught a cold, and that's why you cried."

As he spoke, he sat down at the table to tune the zither. The already small warm room was further cramped after Yinxiang moved the tables and chairs, making it even more difficult for several people to stand there.

Qingwan rolled her eyes at him, said nothing, and stared blankly at the hand warmer.

Yinxiang didn't hear a sound. He looked up and saw that she was keeping her head down and not speaking. He assumed she was angry and coaxed her with a smile, "Don't be angry. I'll play the zither for you."

As Yinxiang played the melodious zither, he slowly closed his eyes.

Outside the door, Hong, who should have left with the others, somehow shook off his companions and returned. Since it was winter, everyone stayed indoors. Hong circled around the courtyard a few times before finally attracting Mu Xiang's attention.

Mu Xiang went out and softly called out, "Fifth Prince."

Hong saw her and ran up to her, saying, "Aunt Muxiang."

Mu Xiang chuckled; she and Chen Xiang were actually two generations apart in terms of their children's lineage.

When they were younger, people around them called them "older sister," and Moyaqi and Hongtun followed suit.

As they grew older, the people around them started calling them "auntie," and the younger princes and Mingzhao also started calling them "auntie."

She had just pulled her hands away from the stove, and they were still warm. Seeing that Hong was not wearing gloves, she warmed Hong's hands in her own, and then led the others inside: "Why did you come back alone again? You didn't even ask anyone to come with you. It's so cold outside. What if you get sick?"

Hong chuckled and whispered, "I'm not cold. I love winter snow the most."

He looked around the room but didn't see Qingwan or Yinxiang. He only heard the sound of a zither. He put his hand to his lips, shushed them, walked to the warm pavilion, pushed the door open a crack, and squatted down by the door.

The slight noise still startled Yinxiang. He saw Hongtun squatting by the door, neither speaking nor entering, but listening attentively. Yinxiang smiled.

The fingering changed, and a mistake was made. Qingwan frowned and looked at Yinxiang when she heard the wrong note. Yinxiang raised his chin to indicate that Qingwan should look at him and saw Hongyi staring wide-eyed.

She called out softly to Hong? Hong? suddenly stood up, almost losing his balance because his clothes were too thick. He had to hold onto the door to steady himself, which startled Mu Xiang behind him.

Qingwan patted the spot in front of her: "Come here to my forehead."

Hong entered the room, bowed silently, and sat down next to Qingwan. He even thought to pull the blanket over Qingwan, remembering that Qingwan had once told Yinxiang that she was really afraid of the cold this year.

Then he turned around and placed his hands properly on his lap. Qingwan patted his head, and he didn't forget to turn around and grin foolishly at Qingwan, with a hint of careful flattery.

Yinxiang, who witnessed the whole thing, had a smile on his face.

He changed the music, but seeing that Qingwan was drowsy again, he made a mistake in his fingering. He was only satisfied when Qingwan opened her eyes.

Hong's eyes widened again. He knew it was the tune of "Three Variations on Plum Blossom," but it had been played incorrectly. He looked at Yinxiang suspiciously, then suddenly realized what had happened.

After the music ended, he ran to Yinxiang's side and said, "Father, I know, this is called 'the tune is wrong, but Zhou Lang noticed it'."