The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

Two days later was her birthday. The family had just finished a funeral, so she didn't feel like celebrating. However, she received a gift from Emperor Yongzheng early the day before her birthday. It was nothing special, just the same jewelry and ornaments as in previous years.

Only the last two items on the final list were a branding iron plate and a branding iron. Qingwan thanked the emperor before the decree. Before leaving, Su Peisheng asked Yunxiang a couple of questions, "Is the prince well? After the heir apparent left, the prince said he was ill and took more than twenty days off. His Majesty is worried about him."

Yunxiang had his leave cancelled as soon as his illness improved slightly, and then there was the matter of Fuhui. Yongzheng knew perfectly well what his health was like. Now that Su Peisheng asked this question, the meaning was self-evident.

Therefore, Qingwan said, "He's much better now. Please tell His Majesty that we will take good care of Prince Yi in our mansion."

Su Peisheng bowed and smiled, "With the Princess Consort here, Prince Yi has no worries."

After Su Peisheng left, Muxiang handed the list of rewards to Qingwan: "Is His Majesty dissatisfied with the Princess because of the Prince's illness?"

Qingwan waved for them to take everything away, saying, "I wouldn't say I'm dissatisfied, it's just that I need to be awakened. With the New Year approaching, can Prince Yi's mansion really remain silent forever?"

"Pass down the word: on my and the Prince's birthdays, have an opera troupe come to the garden to celebrate, as a way to bring good luck. Also, please speak to the Empress on my behalf that I will go to the Yuanmingyuan Garden on the tenth to wish the Fourth Princess a happy birthday."

After Chenxiang relayed the message, he said, "Just a few days ago you advised your wife not to say things against her conscience in front of you, but now you want to... You are clearly the one suffering the most."

Qingwan said, "Why say such things? It's the same every year, I'm used to it. Besides, His Majesty has bestowed gifts upon me, so I should go and express my gratitude."

Yunxiang could use official business to numb herself, but she could only stay in the mansion, repeatedly pondering these established procedures.

But too many things happened this year, and even after two birthday banquets were held, the mansion was still shrouded in gloom, and the New Year passed in a cold and desolate manner.

One day, Yunxiang suddenly said, "If I were to step down now, or like the sixteenth brother, would many things be different?"

Qingwan paused for a moment at Yunxiang's words before replying, "I don't know. But the military farms and irrigation projects still need you. His Majesty is going to war again, and the Prince can't step down."

Qingwan did not hear Yunxiang's reply. A few days later, Yunxiang left the capital to manage the floods.

After Yunxiang left the capital, Mingzhao had the opportunity to come to Jiaohui Garden.

Qingwan stroked Mingzhao's hair, which was resting on her lap, and said softly, "I'm so sorry."

When Emperor Yongzheng needed to wage war, he would inevitably have to use the Mongols. Among the princesses, only Mingzhao and the Third Princess remained. The two were of similar age, but if it came to pacifying the Mongols at this critical juncture, Mingzhao might be more suitable than the Third Princess.

Not having heard clearly, Mingzhao looked up and asked, "Um, what did you just say?"

"nothing."

Mingzhao sat up and said, "The Emperor only allowed me to come back for half a day, and I have to go back before sunset. Recently, the Emperor has been stricter with me than before."

At this point, Mingzhao's eyes flashed, and she walked to the cradle: "Little Yongxi, Auntie hasn't seen you in a long time. Why are you so different from before?"

Yongxi is the name of Hongjiao's child, but his birthday is the anniversary of his mother's death, so he will have to postpone his birthday by one day, just like Yunreng.

As for Mingzhao, she has always been intelligent and must have known about the matter of pacifying the Mongols. The scene when Mingzhao entered the palace that year is still vivid in my mind.

After returning to the Yuanmingyuan, Mingzhao went straight to the Siyi Hall where Yongzheng was staying. Before she even saw Yongzheng, she saw Hongzhou pulling Hongli and pointing at someone, talking about something.

Mingzhao raised an eyebrow, not letting anyone disturb him, and quietly crept up behind the two of them. He then heard Hongzhou say, "See that man? His name is Dorji Sebuteng. He's been a bodyguard for Khan for quite some time now. His father is Danjin Dorji, the deputy general of the Northern Route. If you trace his lineage back, he's from the same family as Fourth Aunt's husband, and he's also from the Khalkha."

"Danjin Dorji?" Hongli thought of something else, "The one that Uncle Prince promoted?"

"That's right, he's quite the celebrity in Mongolia now."

Hongli commented: "That's suitable too."

No sooner had she finished speaking than she heard a woman's voice behind her: "So this is my future consort?"

Hongzhou stumbled. "Zhaozhao? What are you doing here? How did you manage to hear all this?"

Mingzhao grinned: "Since Fifth Brother has said it, he should be prepared for others to hear it."

Hongli assumed Mingzhao was unwilling and comforted her, "It may not be you. There is also my third sister in the palace. At the very least, there are so many princesses in the imperial clan waiting to be married. Isn't my tenth uncle's princess still in the palace?"

Mingzhao tilted her head and looked at Dorji Sebuteng, who was guarding outside Siyi Hall. He looked tall and slender. She remembered that she had seen this person before, but at that time, he was just one of the many guards in front of Yongzheng, so she did not pay much attention to him.

It wasn't until Hongzhou waved his hand in front of her that she looked away and said, "Fourth Brother also said that Danjin Dorji was promoted by my father and is a trusted confidant of the Emperor and Father in Mongolia."

Moreover, he was also from Khalkha. Aunt Kejing was in charge of the banner affairs under the emperor's banner, and she had always been close to her ninth uncle. Although she dared not openly oppose the emperor, she would occasionally cause him some trouble.

If someone were to marry a Khalkha man now, neither my third sister nor the others would be as suitable as me.

Hearing her speak so calmly, without the slightest hint of reluctance, Hongzhou scratched his head and asked, "Zhaozhao, do you find him pleasing to the eye?"

Mingzhao then looked at Dorjisaibuteng and said, "Does it matter whether I like her or not? I'm going to marry her anyway, so I've never thought about it. From the moment I entered the palace, I was prepared to pacify the Mongols."

She knew in her heart that not only she, but Qingwan had also made this preparation, and she herself had even persuaded Qingwan.

Hongli admired her insight and looked at Dorji Sebuteng, saying, "It's alright, whatever you like, we'll make him become that way from now on."

Mingzhao smiled brightly: "Thank you, Fourth Brother." She gestured above her head, "But the women's attire over there looks too heavy."

Hongzhou laughed and said, "You are a princess of our Great Qing Dynasty, who would dare to make you change your clothes?"

Sebtendorji finally noticed the gaze that had been fixed on him. He looked in the direction he felt it and found that it was the only two princes and princesses left in the palace, and the princess was the daughter of Prince Yi.

Just as he was about to walk over here to ask if the others had any instructions, he saw Mingzhao take the first step and walk towards him.

As Mingzhao approached, he quickly knelt on one knee and said, "This servant greets the princess."

Mingzhao said, "Raise your head."

Dorjisaibuteng was still wondering what he had done wrong. He raised his head tremblingly, and Mingzhao stared at his face for a moment before saying, "Your Mandarin is quite good."

Dorjisabten said, "This servant has been studying since childhood."

Mingzhao nodded: "They are indeed respectful and polite."

After saying this, he told his men to rise and said to Su Peisheng, who came out to greet him after hearing the commotion, "Please inform the Emperor that I have come to pay my respects."