The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

After Yi Huan sat down and tried it out herself, she waved to Yi An. Yi An waved back before getting up and asking Qing Wan, "Sister-in-law, why don't you come and try it with me?"

Qingwan smiled and shook her head: "You guys go ahead, I'll keep an eye on things. Just be careful not to fall."

Yi An chuckled: "Usually, my sister-in-law always talks like a princess, and she's more well-mannered than anyone else. But now you're putting on airs and giving me a few words of advice. It would be fine if it were Yi Huan, but I haven't escaped it either. My sister-in-law and I are only a year apart."

Qingwan chuckled. Yi'an was born in November of the 26th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, while she was born in September of the 25th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign. They were indeed only one year apart. In fact, Yi'an had been engaged before her. Then she heard Yi'an say, "If you don't mind, sister-in-law, how about calling me by my name from now on?"

Qingwan hesitated for a moment, but Yi'an noticed and didn't insist: "Never mind, calling her princess is fine too."

She continued from where she left off, teasingly saying to Yi'an:

"Alright, then I'll trouble Eighth Sister to tell Tenth Sister to be careful and not to fall."

Yi An immediately straightened up and said, "Don't worry, sister-in-law, I'll make sure you get the message." He emphasized the word "sister-in-law" in his words.

When Qingwan saw Yi'an approach Yinxiang and the other person, she pointed at her and said something, presumably referring to what had just happened. Sure enough, she saw Yi Huan smiling and waving at her.

Qingwan smiled as she watched Yi'an sit on the swing. Yinxiang dismissed the eunuchs and pushed the swing high, as if Yi'an could sprout wings and leave at any moment.

Yi Huan looked up at her sister, whose face was full of smiles, and then at her brother, who was the same. She felt a little regretful and sad, knowing that such wonderful days would never come again.

Emperor Kangxi, who had come to visit his daughter outside the palace gates, heard laughter coming from inside and asked the palace maid kneeling at the gate, "Who is inside?"

The palace maid knelt on the ground and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, earlier it was the Thirteenth Prince's wife and the two princesses who were together. Later, the Thirteenth Prince brought some eunuchs over to set up swings for the two princesses."

After hearing this, Kangxi gestured to Liang Jiugong, who was standing beside him.

Then a young eunuch announced loudly, "The Emperor has arrived!"

When Kangxi entered, he saw Yinxiang struggling to steady the swing, while Yihuan reached out to help Yi'an. The palace maids around them wanted to help, but they didn't have a chance. Qingwan, who was walking towards Yinxiang and the others, also turned around and looked at him in surprise.

The palace maids and eunuchs around her were already kneeling on the ground. Yi Huan called out to Kangxi, "Father."

Once everyone had stood firm, they all bowed to Emperor Kangxi and said, "Your subjects kowtow to wish Your Majesty, Father, good health."

Kangxi waved for them to rise, then entered and sat down. He then asked the people following him, "What's going on today? It's so lively. I was thinking of quietly coming to see you two sisters, but before I even came in, I heard your laughter." He pointed to the Yi'an sisters.

Seeing that they were all standing, he said again, "Sit down, what are you doing standing there?"

Emperor Kangxi was good to his children, so after expressing their gratitude, the group sat down.

Qingwan couldn't be as casual as them, so she went out at this moment. She heard Yi'an inside the house reply, "Father doesn't know, but earlier, Thirteenth Brother promised Zichen that he would build a swing for Zichen to relieve his boredom. But he is a very busy man and only remembered this today."

Emperor Kangxi laughed and said, "It was your brother's fault. Your father made the decision to let you go to his place and pick whatever you want. A few days ago, your thirteenth brother received a reward for doing a good job, so I gave him some nice things."

Yi'an looked at Yinxiang, a hint of pride on his face: "Your Majesty, I thank you. Thirteenth Brother received a genuine work of art from Your Majesty before. I begged for it for a long time, but he only told me to take a few glances from afar. Now I finally have it."

Yinxiang said helplessly, "You seize every opportunity to complain to Father Khan, right? I didn't say I wouldn't give it to you."

Yi'an retorted, "Who cares about your things? It's only because they were bestowed by the Khan."

Hearing the laughter inside, Qingwan took the tray from the palace maid before entering. Yi'an also got up and placed the teacup in front of Kangxi.

Emperor Kangxi picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Thirteenth daughter-in-law, please sit down as well. I also saw your father today. Marhan is in good health. I remember he was born during the Tiancong era."

"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty." Qingwan respectfully accepted and handed the tray to the palace maid beside her before sitting down below Yinxiang. She then said, "Your Majesty remembers correctly, my father was born in the eighth year of the Tiancong reign."

Emperor Kangxi laughed and said, "At seventy-four, you are still vigorous in your old age."

Qingwan became even more respectful: "It is my father's good fortune to be able to serve the Emperor."

Kangxi laughed twice and then said to Yinxiang, "Your father-in-law has worked his way up from the bottom. He is steady in his speech and actions. You should learn from him."

"What Father says is true. Your subject has also spoken with the old master several times and has benefited greatly." Yinxiang naturally understood the implication in Kangxi's words, so he answered accordingly. However, these words were Yinxiang's heartfelt words. He had indeed learned a lot from Marhan.

Kangxi was very satisfied with Yinxiang's attitude; he understood his meaning, and it was worthwhile that he had chosen Marhan's daughter. He then said some words of advice to his son before turning to speak with the Yi'an sisters.

Now, Qingwan can't get a word in edgewise when the others are talking, and none of them are going to think about including her, so she can only be content to be a background character.

In the half year since she married Yinxiang, she hadn't seen Kangxi many times. There were only a few palace banquets, and she would only go to the women's quarters after paying her respects to the empresses, princesses, and wives.

She had thought that even when facing his children, Emperor Kangxi would be stern, but listening to their conversation, she felt that he must be a loving father.

Most of the time, Kangxi listened to Yinxiang and his sister with a smile, and occasionally he would quiz Yinxiang. It was clear that Kangxi was very satisfied with Yinxiang's answers.

Qingwan thought of Yinxiang, who spent most of his time in the study whenever he didn't go out, and then she thought about the amount of time the princes spent in the study. Kangxi's way of educating his sons was something that ordinary people couldn't compare to.

It wasn't until the conversation turned to the upcoming tour that she paid attention. Yi Huan then said to Kangxi in a coquettish tone, "Father, please take Zichen with you on this tour."

Emperor Kangxi, thinking of his three daughters who would be getting married this year, doted on Yi Huan even more: "You never thought about going before, why are you making such a fuss about going this time?"

Yi An said, "I know that Father Khan will personally escort Eighth Sister to her wedding and will also go to Eighth Sister's Princess Residence, so I also want to go. I just want to see Eighth Sister's Princess Residence."

With that, Yi Huan stood up and knelt down in front of Kangxi: "Father, please grant your daughter's request this time."

Seeing this, Yinxiang and Yi'an also looked nervously at Kangxi. When Kangxi did not agree for a long time, the two knelt down in front of him, and Qingwan could only follow their lead.

Kangxi looked helplessly at the people kneeling in front of him and said to Yinxiang, "Yinxiang, what are you doing? Help your sister and wife up."

"Yes." Yinxiang kowtowed and stood up. Yi'an and her sister also helped each other up. Yinxiang turned around and reached out his hand to Qingwan, but Qingwan only lightly helped him up.

Yi Huan tugged at Kangxi's sleeve: "Father."

Kangxi said, "Alright, alright, I'll let you go. But the choice of person..." Kangxi was silent for a moment, then said to Yinxiang, "Let your wife go too. I'll entrust the Tenth Princess to you two." This coincided with Yinxiang's plan.

Because three princesses were getting married in succession, especially the Eighth Princess whose wedding was in August and the Sixth Princess whose wedding was in September, he did not bring Consort Tongjia or the Four Consorts this time. He only brought a few young consorts, which is why he thought of having Yinxiang bring his wife.