The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

A few days after returning to Beijing, Emperor Kangxi went hunting in Nanyuan, but unexpectedly, he fell ill and returned to Beijing a few days later.

Even the grand sacrificial ceremony at the southern suburbs on the fifteenth day was sent to Yinzhen, who is currently fasting in preparation for the ceremony.

Qingwan also mentioned this to Yinxiang: "Father's health has been fluctuating over the years, but he seemed to be doing better this year. He went to Nanyuan not long after returning to the capital. Why did he fall ill again and rush back to the garden?"

"Perhaps the symptoms from before have resurfaced, who knows? After all, he's getting on in years, he can't really be the same as he was ten years ago."

When it comes to getting old, Yinxiang first thought of Marhan. Before he retired, he was over seventy years old, and even in winter, he could stand up for most of the day when he held court. If Kangxi had lived to be over eighty like Marhan, then the people vying for the throne would have had to be replaced.

"Although Fourth Brother was in the fasting place, he sent several groups of people to inquire about his health. Father said that his health had improved slightly. However, although Father said that he was in good health, Third Brother and Eighth Brother had groups of people surrounding Changchun Garden to inquire about him. They had all moved to the garden in the western suburbs."

"Then why do you still have the interest to drink tea with me?" Qingwan asked.

Yinxiang took a sip of tea and said, "I'm just a disfavored prince, why should I bother to join in the fun?"

Qingwan suddenly realized that, besides Su Peisheng, there must have been some other important figures around Kangxi who had also chosen Yinzhen.

After drinking his tea, Yinxiang asked, "What did Mingxin say?"

Mingxin didn't return for Hongchang's wedding or Nara's family reunion, which worried the group. Qingwan sent someone to inquire, but he only said that he wasn't feeling well.

After thinking it over, Qingwan wondered if she was pregnant, but it was too early to tell anyone. However, there was no reason not to tell her family. At the very least, she should tell Fuling.

“She said she wasn’t feeling well, but I still feel something is wrong. Fu Ling came to me yesterday and said she was a little unsettled. I was thinking of having Zhang Rui and either Chen Xiang or Mu Xiang take a look at her.”

One was Yinxiang's close eunuch, and the other was her personal aunt. They were more valued by Mingxin's husband's family than others.

Yinxiang said, "Why don't we send Fuling?"

Qingwan rolled her eyes at Yinxiang: "If Your Highness doesn't know how to come up with a solution, you don't have to say anything, or Your Highness can immediately submit a memorial to Fuling requesting her hand in marriage."

She paused for a moment, then added, "I almost forgot there's someone more suitable now."

He then loudly ordered outside, "Call the eldest prince and his wife over. The master and I have something to tell them."

Even Yinxiang laughed and said, "I had forgotten about this couple. Now that Hongchang is married, there are some things that can be entrusted to him."

Qingwan just smiled. When the two arrived, Qingwan told them what had happened and then gave Nala a few more instructions: "After you go, try to find out exactly what happened to your eldest sister."

Tell her again that if she has any grievances, she should come back and tell us, and her father and I will stand up for her.

Yinxiang also said to Hongchang, "Now that you're married, it's time to take responsibility. Don't let your sister and wife suffer any injustice."

"Yes," Hongchang replied hastily.

After Hongchang and his wife left, Yinxiang suddenly said, "It would be better if Hongtun were a few years older."

Qingwan did not respond.

On the evening of the 13th, a person completely covered in a black cloak came to the garden and said he wanted to see Yinxiang. Yinxiang called the person over and saw that it was the guard who usually followed Longkodo.

The man quickly whispered, "His Majesty is seriously ill. The Imperial Uncle has ordered the Thirteenth Prince to wait for a summons in the garden in the western suburbs."

When Yinxiang first heard the bad news from Kangxi, he was filled with mixed feelings, but this did not affect his actions. He only told Qingwan to give him a word of advice before rushing to the garden in the western suburbs.

Yinxiang hurriedly left the mansion. Qingwan tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. She simply put on her clothes, asked someone to light a lamp, and sat up.

With Yinxiang absent, Muxiang was on night duty with a young maid.

After Muxiang dismissed the maid, she sat on the footstool and said, "Let me keep the Fujin company for a while."

Qingwan leaned closer to the bed and said, "Come on, it's cold outside."

"That's against the rules," Mu Xiang quickly declined.

Qingwan said, "I'm afraid the Thirteenth Prince won't be able to come back today. It doesn't matter. Besides, I can't do without you now. If you get sick, I'll be the one who'll be upset."

When Muxiang heard her say that, she went to bed with her. As they were talking, they heard someone outside the door say, "Madam, the First Prince is here."

Qingwan suddenly stood up: "Let him in, I'll leave immediately."

Qingwan only had time to put on a piece of clothing and go out. Hongchang was pacing around when he heard the noise. He immediately turned around, bowed slightly, and said, "Madam, the streets are under martial law. I'm afraid something has happened at Khanmafa's place. Father only took one person with him when he left. Should we send someone over?"

"No," Qingwan rejected Hongchang's suggestion without hesitation. "The situation is unclear right now. If we send people in a hurry and they fall into the hands of others, it will be a loss."

Hongchang pondered for a moment and said, "Or let my son go. There must be someone among these guards under martial law who knows me. If I go to Father, no one can say anything."

Qingwan shook her head: "You're even worse off. If something happens to you, how can I explain it to your father?"

"So, all we can do is wait?" Hongchang asked.

Qingwan looked up at the dark night and said, "Let's wait."

On Yinxiang's side, after entering the garden, he found that Kangxi was already unconscious. He stayed by Kangxi's side for a while, and then discussed with Longkodo how to deal with the possible complications that might arise.

Even after midnight, Kangxi still hadn't woken up. Yinxiang made a quick decision and said, "Uncle, please send someone to call Fourth Brother back."

Longkodo hesitated for a moment before saying, "If the Fourth Prince is back, then the other princes will probably have to enter the garden as well, otherwise even if things succeed, it will be hard to explain."

Yinxiang said, "Uncle's consideration is very good. However, Fourth Brother is far away in the city, where it is cold and dewy. He is not like the brothers who live in the western suburbs. Uncle, please take more care when sending someone."

After finishing his sentence, Yinxiang didn't linger. He found a place to stay, and Longkodo had no idea where he went.

It wasn't until the garden became noisy and Yinzhi and others arrived one after another that Yinxiang, hiding in the shadows, found an opening and slipped in, pretending that he had just arrived.

Before long, apart from Yinzhen who was offering sacrifices to Heaven, Yinqi who was offering sacrifices at the imperial tombs, and Yinzhen who was far away in the Northwest, all the adult princes gathered outside Kangxi's Qingxi Study.

Longkodo thought that Kangxi couldn't stand the noise and had kept the princes outside the door. He was a member of the Tong family, a close minister of Kangxi, the emperor's cousin and brother-in-law, and the princes' maternal uncle. So his words carried some weight.

As time went on, the crowd began to make a fuss, demanding to see Emperor Kangxi.

At this point, Yinxiang would say a word or two so that Longkodo could continue to stall for time by following his lead.

Until Kangxi was truly beyond medical help, until Yinzhen arrived, until the troops arrived.

Longkodo allowed everyone into Kangxi's bedroom, by which time Kangxi was no longer able to speak.

Longkodo then announced Kangxi's will, stating that the fourth son of the Emperor was of noble character and should inherit the throne.

For a time, some, like Yinxiang and Yinlu, felt that the situation was settled, while others, like Yinsi and Yintang, could not accept it and cried out for Kangxi to wake up.

It wasn't until Yinzhen arrived and entered the garden that someone had already told him the details. So he went straight to Qingxi Study, knelt down in front of Kangxi's bed, and began to cry.

The Qing Dynasty governed the country with filial piety as its guiding principle, and Yinzhen's actions were not one to make everyone hold their tongues any longer.

She had no choice but to start crying along with Yinzhen, and there was a genuine feeling in her tears.

At the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), this emperor, who ascended the throne at the age of six and reigned for sixty-one years, passed away in his palace.

With the late emperor's passing, everyone naturally wanted Yinzhen to take charge of the arrangements. After several refusals, Yinzhen finally accepted the grand ceremony at the insistence of Yinxiang and others.

But no one expected that, apart from people like Yinxiang and Longkodo who had long stood by Yinxiang's side, it was Yinzhi who was the first to lead the bow.

Now that Yinzhi and Yinreng were chosen by Emperor Kangxi, they naturally had no chance. Only Yinzhi, being the eldest son and a prince like Yinzhen, had his own support. Now that he was leading the way in paying respects, it relieved Yinxiang and the others.

Yinzhen quickly arranged for Kangxi's funeral to several people, and finally had Yinxiang and Longkodo escort Kangxi's coffin back to the capital.

Then, someone attending to the group reported that the Changchun Garden had already been surrounded by soldiers. The group gradually realized that Longkodo was probably already one of Yinzhen's men.

However, the outcome was already decided, and neither Yinzhi nor Yinsi could reverse the situation.

The times are about to change.