The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

"Fujin, Fujin."

Qingwan suddenly opened her eyes, and Chenxiang had already rubbed a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead. "Did you have another nightmare, Madam?"

Qingwan shook her head, still somewhat dazed. "Now, every time I close my eyes, I see Ninghua's face before she left. She was crying and begging me to save her, saying she didn't want to die, but there was nothing I could do."

"But even the imperial physicians couldn't save Fourth Madam back then, so what could the Fujin do?"

"Where are Hongjiao and the child?" Qingwan asked after getting up.

"The Fourth Prince is still the same as before, and people are trying to persuade him. But as for the Little Prince, does the Princess Consort really intend to take him in and raise him?"

"Ah."

Chenxiang actually agreed with this. Although Qingwan didn't need to take care of the child herself, having such a child by her side would give Qingwan something to think about and prevent her from being constantly immersed in grief. In the past year, the manor had lost three masters. If even Qingwan fell ill, the manor would probably be in complete chaos.

That makes sense, as Yunxiang fell ill after Hongtun's death, but Qingwan has managed to hold on until now.

"The house has been cleaned up, and we can bring the young prince over in a few days."

"Will the Princess Consort rise? The lady of the house has delivered an invitation; she's coming to see the young prince today."

Qingwan nodded and got up to wash up.

Shortly after breakfast, someone came to report that the wife of the in-laws had arrived.

Qingwan sent someone to greet him, and then said, "Bring the young prince over, and then go and call Hongjiao, so that he can properly wash up and then pay his respects to his mother-in-law."

After a while, Hongjiao came over first, hunching over to greet Qingwan.

Qingwan felt a pang of sadness when she thought of Ninghua, but since Hongjiao was already like this, she couldn't be like him. So she said, "It's understandable that you're sad because Ninghua is gone, but you also know that His Majesty treats our children differently from other families. Who knows when he might remarry you? If outsiders saw you like this, what would they say?"

“But oh dear,” Hongjiao said, wiping away tears as he spoke of Ninghua, “every time I think of her, I am overcome with grief.”

"Remember that she was good to you, and you shouldn't forget that, but you can't always show it on your face."

That perfectly good girl died after only two years in our household; it's our fault.

Your mother-in-law cherished this daughter dearly, and now that she's gone, she must be resentful. But given our family's status, even if she is resentful, she wouldn't dare show it on her face.

Now that Ninghua is gone, and you were on good terms with her brothers, visit them often and do your best to help them.”

"My son understands."

“Your mother-in-law is coming to see the child today, go and greet her.”

"Yes."

After Hongjiao left, Chenxiang said, "This servant knows that the Fujin feels sorry for the Fourth Master. After the Fourth Madam passed away, the Fourth Master became a widower. But the Fourth Master is only sixteen years old. In some families, sixteen-year-olds are still considered half-grown children."

Qingwan said, "He is a man of great loyalty and affection, and I am happy for him. But with Hongtun gone, he will be the eldest son."

These days, she finds herself thinking too much without realizing it, and only in this way can she find peace of mind.

Hongjiao welcomed his mother-in-law into the house. Qingwan stopped her and greeted her, saying, "No need for formalities, please sit down."

When Ninghua went there before, Madam E was only focused on her daughter, and only glanced at the child her daughter had left behind. Now she wanted to take a good look at the child.

Although it was impolite, Lady E couldn't help but cry when she saw the child. Hongjiao stood by her side to comfort her, and Qingwan also offered a few words of advice.

Madam E held the child and comforted her. Seeing that Qingwan's eyes were also slightly red, she objected to Qingwan, saying, "It's my poor child who is unlucky. She married into such a good family. Her parents-in-law are kind and treat her no differently than their own daughter. Fourth Master treats her even better. Yet she left behind such a child and just passed away."

Seeing that she looked haggard, and because of their different social statuses, it was Lady E who had to comfort her, just like she had done in front of the Empress in the past, Qingwan felt even more sorry for her. So she said to Lady E, "I am also a mother. I have also experienced the pain that you are going through now, so you don't need to say these things against your conscience in front of me."

Lady E wiped away her tears and said, "It was my fault, please forgive me, Madam."

Qingwan opened her mouth, but could only sigh. She then brought up another matter: "I have already taken the young prince into my care. In the future, Madam is welcome to visit us whenever she has time. Our two families should have an even better relationship."

Madam E knew that this meant Qingwan wanted to take the child to her side and protect him. In the future, when the new wife entered the family, with her grandmother protecting him, he would not be wronged.

"It's because the Princess Consort loves that child." She looked at the child for a while longer, reluctant to leave, before departing.

Hongjiao still went to deliver the child, and upon returning, he asked Qingwan, "Does my mother really intend to bring the child to live with her?"

"How can I feel at ease leaving the child with you when you're like this, especially since you're still just a kid yourself?"

"I'm sorry to have troubled you," Hongjiao said sullenly.

"Go back."

Qingwan picked up the embroidery work beside her, but after only two stitches, she pricked her hand. She stared at the blood droplets on her finger for a moment, then said to herself with a self-deprecating smile, "I'm getting old. My eyesight is failing and I can't see clearly anymore. Even doing embroidery can result in me getting pricked by a needle."

Her words brought tears to Chenxiang's eyes. "The Lady Consort isn't old at all, it's clearly just been these past few years..."

Qingwan pulled the person in front of her to wipe away her tears. "I just said a few words and you started crying. Don't cry anymore. You've cried enough these past two months."

Chenxiang wiped away her tears and said, "I'll go check on the young prince's room."

Qingwan was playing with the child in the house when Yunxiang came in. She looked up and asked, "You're back? Are you feeling unwell today?"

Yunxiang sat down beside her. "She's fully recovered, and the baby looks quite healthy."

Qingwan placed her finger in the child's clenched hand. "Yes, thankfully he survived."

When Fu Hui passed away, Yongzheng was heartbroken. Yunxiang comforted him for a day. The next day, just after leaving the palace, he received news that Ninghua had died in childbirth. He returned to discuss the arrangements for Ninghua's funeral with Qingwan. However, the people from the Imperial Workshop came to see him again. It turned out that Yongzheng was concerned about the gifts for Qingwan's birthday and the Empress's birthday.

Fu Hui had just died, yet the Imperial Workshops of Emperor Yongzheng were busy with joyous occasions like his birthday, which made Haiwang and others uneasy, so they went to ask Yunxiang about it.

Furthermore, although Yunlu was in charge of the Imperial Household Department, he always asked his thirteenth brother for help with Fu Hui's funeral. Yunzhi was still the same old man. During Fu Hui's funeral, he was only concerned with chatting and laughing with the people around him. Although Yunxiang did not get along with him, seeing that Yongzheng had no intention of dealing with Yunzhi, he let him off the hook for his disrespectful behavior at Fu Hui's funeral.

Yunxiang was feeling extremely annoyed, still thinking about the letter he was supposed to write to Ortai. Although Qingwan didn't know what was bothering him, she managed to calm him down.

But as he dealt with these matters, Yunxiang didn't even have time to ask about his son, who had already lost his wife.

Now, upon seeing this child, I inquired about Hongjiao.

"The two of them became husband and wife when they were just beginning to fall in love, so they have some genuine feelings for each other. However, Hongjiao is still young after all, and there are many years ahead of him. He will have to go through a lot, but he will get through it eventually."

Let him have some peace and quiet for a few days. If Your Highness has time, you can talk to him. I'll take the child and raise him myself.