The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

“It’s Fourth Brother.” Gan Zhu’er whispered in Yunxiang’s ear, “I went to see Fourth Brother yesterday, and he was lying on the table, muttering these two sentences over and over again, so I wrote them down.”

Ganjur, still unaware of the deeper meaning, simply thought it sounded nice and wrote it down, reciting it casually, but it stirred up many people's thoughts.

Yunxiang said to the eunuch who was following Ganzhu'er, "Take the Seventh Prince out to play."

"These past two years have really been..." Yunxiang didn't finish his sentence.

Qingwan sighed inwardly, fearing that Yunxiang would have to live in fear for some time to come. "Since we're on the topic, I have to mention Hongqin again. Your Highness should go and see him; he hasn't gotten any better."

I went to the palace a few days ago to ask the imperial physician, but as you know, imperial physicians prefer a cautious approach and dare not prescribe strong medicine. This has dragged on for a month, and my cough has become increasingly severe.

Yunxiang lowered his head, turning the ring on his finger, seemingly lost in thought. After a long while, he finally said, "Come with me."

Qingwan did not refuse Yunxiang's suggestion. Ever since Hongqin fell ill, she often visited him. Although she did not understand medicine, she knew that the phlegm in Hongqin's pulse had not decreased. Moreover, the prescriptions given by the imperial physicians were mostly mild medicines such as Yangyin Dingchuan Decoction. Hongqin was probably terminally ill.

Given her status, some people might not believe it, but she genuinely hopes that Hongqin can get better.

They walked on in a daze, neither of them speaking.

When they arrived, Lady Wusu was already waiting for them outside the door. Hongqin was very happy to see Yunxiang. Even though he was very tired because of his illness, he still forced himself to talk to Yunxiang, his eyes full of filial piety towards his father.

Yunxiang could only say, "I will come to see you every day for the next few days. You should rest first."

Although Hongqin obediently lay flat on the bed, he continued to talk to Yunxiang.

Qingwan, being soft-hearted, pressed down on Yunxiang's shoulder as he stood up to let Hongqin rest, allowing him to remain seated: "Since the Sixth Prince is not tired, Your Highness should talk to him more. I will have the kitchen send over Your Highness's portion for today, and also prepare a few dishes that you all like. Your Highness will dine with the Sixth Prince today."

Yunxiang considered that Hongqin was not energetic enough and originally wanted to leave so that Hongqin could rest. However, seeing that Hongqin was reluctant to leave and hearing what Qingwan said, he said to Hongqin, "You rest first. I will not leave today. We will have a meal together after you wake up."

Hongqin finally fell asleep peacefully, and Yunxiang got up and flipped through Hongqin's homework and the catalog of books in the Yi family collection that he had copied.

As Wusu saw Qingwan off, she burst into tears as soon as she stepped outside. "My lady, although the imperial physician did not say it explicitly, I know that Hongqin's illness is probably up to fate."

I only have this one child, he's only fourteen, and he's about to get married. How could God be so cruel as to separate us, mother and son, by death?

Qingwan helped her lean on her shoulder, her heart aching just as much. Her Hongqin and Hongqin were born in the same year, but Hongqin had been asleep for several years.

She patted Wusu gently as a gesture of comfort and helped her up. "I know you're upset, but Hongqin is already sick. If you do this, he'll definitely overthink things, which will only hinder his recovery."

I've already sent people to Pujue Temple to make offerings and pray for him. He's in a good mood today; you and the Prince should talk to him, and perhaps he'll recover soon.”

Qingwan's words of advice lacked conviction, and Wusushi just kept crying, as if she wanted to cry out all the panic and grievances she had been feeling lately.

Qingwan and the people around her whispered and tried to persuade her again and again before she stopped crying. Qingwan took a handkerchief to wipe away her tears before leaving.

For some reason, her legs went weak. She found a place to sit on the veranda on the way back and sat down until her face was sore from the wind. Mu Xiang called her to get up and go back.

Walking to the open space, she looked up at the gloomy sky and said, "Didn't they say that when this mansion was bestowed, someone was specially invited to inspect it? How come the children in this mansion are leaving one after another?"

Mu Xiang was so frightened that she immediately covered her mouth: "Master, you can't say that."

Qingwan nodded: "Let's go back."

Hongqin ultimately couldn't hold on any longer. When he arrived at Qingwan's side, Qingwan shoved Yongxi, whom she was holding, into the wet nurse's arms and rushed over, saying, "Have someone quickly call the prince back and take good care of him, so that nothing happens to him on the way."

When Qingwan arrived, Hada had already led people to pack up the things that had been prepared beforehand, and Wantang and others who lived nearby had already arrived.

Usu was so heartbroken that she had already fainted from crying and was being given ginseng soup.

Seeing that everything was in good order, Qingwan recalled the familiar scene before her eyes, and the dull pain returned. She cleared her hoarse voice and said to Wantang and the others, "Take good care of her and try to persuade her. I'll go outside and wait for the managers to give me their reply."

Her almost fleeing steps were still noticeable. Fu Ling wiped away her tears and sobbed, "What kind of mess is this? Why does one thing happen after another... Every time things just start to get better in the manor, something else happens again."

Yunxiang was helped back; his lips were pale, and Qingwan couldn't help but call out, "Yunxiang."

Yunxiang grabbed her wrist, repeatedly saying, "I'm going to see him, I'm going to see him."

Qingwan looked at his body, which seemed to have become even more hunched, and said, "Go and call Yi Hongzhou to wait."

Yi Hongzhou was a doctor recommended by the local authorities last year to treat Yunxiang's illness. To make it easier for him to follow Yunxiang, Yongzheng also appointed him as the head of the Ministry of Revenue.

Hongqin's funeral followed that of his elder brother, and he was also buried with the rites of a prince. Qingwan numbly watched the people kneeling on the ground, dressed in mourning clothes, their faces familiar, their weeping both moving and practiced.

After the incident with Hongqin, Yunxiang fell seriously ill again. In two years, he lost two princes who had grown up and spent a lot of time with him, which was a huge blow to Yunxiang.

The pain that had been suppressed for so long was released at this moment, making Yunxiang's condition even worse than before.

After taking care of her, Qingwan also felt that her body couldn't keep up.

When she woke up after falling asleep by the bedside again, Yunxiang was no longer in bed. She tugged at the cloak that Yunxiang had probably draped over her and called out, "Someone come here."

It was Chenxiang who entered: "Madam, you're awake."

"Where is the prince?"

"The prince went to the Buddhist hall."

"The Buddhist hall?" Apart from that time when he went to see Qingwan, Yunxiang had never been to the Buddhist hall. "I'll go take a look."

She had just gotten up, her steps were still a little unsteady, and she almost tripped on the door frame. She rested for a while before going to the Buddhist hall alone.

Pushing open the door, the room was still tidy, unlike last time when she smashed everything she could in the room.

She stood before the Buddha for a long time before lighting incense and inserting it into the incense burner, without asking for anything in return.

"Qingwan," she heard Yunxiang ask, "what were you praying for when you offered incense and worshipped?"

“When Hongtun was seriously ill, I prayed to the Buddha for his recovery. Perhaps because I was not sincere, the Buddha did not grant my wish, and I never prayed again after that.”

If I hadn't gilded His statue back then, and if I hadn't been strong enough, I would have smashed Him along with it that day.

Yunxiang chuckled, “When I came in, I was also thinking about what I should ask for, but standing in front of the Buddha, I don’t know what to ask for anymore.”

Qingwan walked to his side, and Yunxiang rested his head on Qingwan's chest. The familiar fragrance filled his nostrils, and Yunxiang hugged her tighter and tighter, only in this way could he find a moment of peace.

Qingwan thought absently that the last time Yunxiang was so vulnerable was when Yi'an and Yihuan passed away one after another and he fell out of favor with Kangxi.

So she said gently, "Your Highness, please cry just this once, for the sake of the children."