The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

With Hongchang's wedding date fast approaching, but Kangxi still on his way back to the capital, Fuling was extremely anxious. She couldn't let her son get married while she was away.

Qingwan was also annoyed by Fuling's questions. She couldn't control the pace of Kangxi's return to the capital. If things continued at the current speed, Yinxiang would definitely not make it back in time.

Fu Ling had probed several times with her words, and Qing Wan told the truth: "You ask me, I don't know either. I've been in this mansion just like you, and I don't know what the situation is around His Majesty, let alone what His Majesty's plans are."

Fuling wanted to ask more, but seeing that Qingwan was getting impatient with her questions, she left on her own. With a quick thought, she sent someone to deliver a letter to Mingxin, asking her to return to the manor in a couple of days.

The day after Fuling left, Qingwan received a letter from Yinxiang saying that he would rush back the day before Hongchang's wedding.

Just as she was about to send someone to inform Fuling, Muxiang said, "The eldest princess has returned and is waiting outside. Would the princess like to see her?"

When Mingxin received Fuling's letter, she roughly guessed what it was about, since Fuling hadn't been back for a long time.

After arriving at the Thirteenth Prince's residence, according to etiquette, she had to go to Qingwan first before she could see Fuling.

"Let her in."

"Greetings to the Princess Consort. How have you been these days?" Mingxin said with a smile.

“Come here,” Qingwan beckoned to her, “sit down next to me.”

Mingxin sat down next to her, and Qingwan smiled and said, "Look at how distant she is when she talks to me. I thought she was some kind of lady visiting from the family."

Upon closer inspection, wasn't that our great-aunt?

Mingxin was a little embarrassed by her teasing: "I finally managed to be serious for once, but I was laughed at by the Fujin."

The group laughed again before Qingwan finally said, "You came because of your father's request, right?"

Mingxin wasn't surprised that Qingwan knew about Fuling sending her the letter. She only gradually understood what was happening in the mansion as she grew older. As long as it passed through the hands of outsiders, and as long as Qingwan and Yinxiang wanted to know, the couple would definitely find out. This was probably why there was no infighting in the mansion.

"To be honest, my wife, I'm also anxious. She's been thinking about Hongchang's marriage for a long time. Now that Father hasn't given any definite answer, she's worried. After all, it would be a regret for both me and Hongchang if Father wasn't there for the wedding."

“You don’t need to explain,” Qingwan said gently. “I can understand you by putting myself in your shoes. It just so happens that your father just sent a letter saying he will arrive the day before Hongchang’s wedding. Since you’re here, just pass this news on to your father.”

“Yes,” Mingxin said, “but I didn’t come back today just for Hongchang’s matter.”

"Hmm? Has something happened?"

Mingxin smiled and said, "In June, my second sister and cousin Fu got married. I only had time to congratulate my second sister with everyone else. I came back today because I wanted to have a private talk with her."

"That's good. Zhao Zhao is still young, and you've already gotten married. Now that you're back, there are some things you sisters can talk about."

Mingxin chatted with Qingwan for a while before leaving.

Besides Yinxiang's letter, Qingwan also received a dowry list from Lady Nara today. After Mingxin left, she took out the dowry list to continue looking at it, sighing repeatedly.

She had heard that this daughter of the Nara clan was very favored at home, but the dowry was not what a family would prepare for a favored daughter. However, according to some rumors that Zhang Chun had heard, the dowry was not easy to come by.

I wonder how Yinxiang chose his in-laws. Look at the son-in-law Kangxi chose for Yinzhen—a grandson of Mingzhu, whose family has no shortage of money. Although Yinzhen's daughter and her husband had a bad relationship from the beginning of their marriage...

However, this did not affect the "good" relationship between Yinzhen and his son-in-law. Not only did he receive a lot of money from his son-in-law, but he also adopted the wife of his son-in-law's brother as his goddaughter, and then had his goddaughter's husband continue to give him money.

She carefully put away the dowry list, deciding whether to give it to Fuling later.

On the day before Hongchang's wedding, Yinxiang finally rushed back, covered in red silk.

When Hongchang, who had gone out to greet him, saw Yinxiang, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down: "Father, you must be tired from traveling these past few days. Food and water have been prepared in the manor. Father, please rest well."

Yinxiang nodded. Hongchang's face was beaming with undisguised joy because of his marriage. Yinxiang, who was still a little tired, was also happy because of the red silks that were everywhere in the mansion and the smile on Hongchang's face.

"Tomorrow is your wedding day, go back and get some rest."

"Yes, Amma."

Yinxiang took two steps, then realized that he hadn't been in the manor for a while, and that Hongchang was about to get married but hadn't told him anything. He then said...

"Come to the study later; I have something to say to you."

"Yes." Hongchang was naturally very happy to receive Yinxiang's special instructions and quickly agreed.

That night, Yinxiang tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Qingwan, who had been sleeping soundly, was also awakened by Yinxiang's movements.

Suppressing her anger at being woken up, Qingwan said, "If you don't want to sleep, please go to the study or Fuling's room and reminisce with her. I think she would be very willing."

I've been busy all day, and I have another day to go, plus the day after tomorrow when I have to pay my respects to my bride. I'm so tired now, I just want to sleep. Can you please understand?

Yinxiang shrank back a little and said with an awkward smile, "I know, I won't move. My wife has been working hard these days, please calm down."

Although Yinxiang behaved himself, Qingwan couldn't sleep well. She had bizarre dreams all night. Before dawn the next day, Qingwan looked at her dark circles in the mirror and couldn't help but glare at Yinxiang.

Fortunately, Hongchang's marriage went smoothly, and the next morning, she finally saw the true face of this Nara woman.

Perhaps it was because she was nearly twenty when she married Yinxiang, and looking at Nara, who was the same age as Hongchang and still had a childish appearance, she always felt that she was still young and wondered how she was about to become a wife.

He also thought of asking Yinxiang to go to the Imperial Household Department to inform them that the best date to choose for Moyaqi's wedding should be the following year.

After receiving the greetings and recognizing the person, Qingwan, following the custom, kept Nala behind. It was clear that Nala had been trained at home, but she was too nervous, her whole body tense. Qingwan felt exhausted just watching her. After Nala served the dishes to Qingwan, Moyaqi, and Mingzhao, Qingwan put down her chopsticks and had someone clear the table.

Nara was completely stunned, biting her lip, not knowing what she had done wrong.

Qingwan had no choice but to give Moyaqi a look before entering the side room herself. Mingzhao followed Qingwan in with a smile.

Moyaqi understood and pulled Nara Shi aside, saying with a smile, "Sister-in-law, don't worry or be nervous. Father and Mother treat us juniors very well and don't have any of those rules. Just ask your elder sister when she comes back in a couple of days."

"My eldest sister is my eldest brother's half-sister; my sister-in-law should know that, right?"

Nara nodded.

Moyaqi laughed again, "It's just that my sister-in-law is a new member of the family today, so it's fine if she just serves us a couple of dishes. But you're too nervous. If I say a few more words, you'll probably panic even more."

Nara smiled sheepishly. In Manchu families, a girl is a lady-in-waiting at home, but once she gets married, her life is like heaven and earth compared to when she was at home. Moreover, she was marrying the eldest son of a concubine, so she was bound to suffer some hardships. She was prepared for this.

This morning, I tentatively mentioned it to Hongchang, but he just laughed and said she was overthinking it. She just assumed that Hongchang was a man and wouldn't understand these things.

Just as Qingwan put down her chopsticks, she was thinking, "See, it's here after all." Her tension wasn't just nervousness, but also a sense of impending doom.

Once Nara was feeling better, Moyaqi pulled her back into the side room, laughing and saying, "Oh dear, you scared my sister-in-law just now."

Qingwan smiled gently and said to Nara, "I have many children here, and they are noisy, so you only need to come to the main room every few days to pay your respects to them in the morning and evening, just like Moyaqi and the others do."

I usually eat in the main room with your two younger sisters during meals. You don't need to come over; you can eat in your own room with Hongchang.

Your second younger sister spends most of her time in Prince Yong's garden, so you don't need to worry about the two sisters.

From now on, you just need to live a good life with Hongchang.

This arrangement was unexpected for Nara, but it was the best arrangement for her. However, she still said in fear, "If you say that, then I am truly ashamed."

Qingwan chuckled. She hadn't asked Hongchang and Mingxin to call her "Ernie" (a term of endearment), but she heard Hongchang's wife do it first.

"Go back and discuss it with Hongchang first."

Nara nodded and replied, "Yes."

Moya watched her leave and said, "Luckily, I don't have to worry about my mother-in-law setting rules for me."

Mingzhao teased, "Sister, you have no shame!"

Moyaqi pulled her into her arms and rubbed her repeatedly.