The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

Even after the two left, Qingwan didn't see Yunxiang's tears. Perhaps it was because too much time had passed and the tear stains had dried, or perhaps it was because even in front of her, Yunxiang would hide his vulnerability.

Like Yunxiang, Hongqin's birth mother, Wusu, also fell ill. Unlike Yunxiang, whose serious illness was caused by a pre-existing condition, Wusu's illness was due to disharmony between the liver and stomach, and the liver is responsible for emotions.

This is a mental illness, and both Qingwan and Yunxiang can only offer kind advice.

As the weather gradually warmed up, the people in the mansion went to the garden to escape the summer heat as usual, but Wusu's health never improved.

Before leaving, Wusu sent someone to inform her that she wanted to see her.

Considering her health, Qingwan went to see her herself.

Upon entering the room, he saw Wusu waiting outside the door, being helped up. He first told someone to get up, then had them help her back to bed, saying, "I heard you don't like taking medicine, but with your current condition, how can you get better without it?"

Wu Su smiled bitterly, "I know, it's a mental illness. If the mental illness isn't cured, no amount of medicine will help in the long run."

"Why are you doing this? You are already heartbroken as an elderly person burying your child. Are you really willing to let your parents suffer the same pain?"

Seeing her expression, Qingwan ordered milk tea and tried her best to persuade her.

Wu Su said in a low, sarcastic tone, "I would have been reluctant to part with her before, but I have been married for more than ten years now."

The first people in my family to show concern for me were Prince Yi's concubine, then my daughter, and then my sisters. While this is understandable, it still left me feeling somewhat disheartened.

Since it was time for Wusu to take her medicine, Qingwan didn't want to make things difficult for Wusu's people. She took the medicine from the tray in the maid's hand and handed it to Wusu, saying, "You want to see me today, so you must have something to ask of me."

But whatever the problem is, take your medicine first.

When it comes to taking medicine, Wusu frowned and was reluctant, but it was also sad to say that over the years, although Yunxiang and Qingwan had been very gentle with them and rarely lost their temper, for some reason, none of them dared to disobey them.

Now that she needed Qingwan's help, she dared not disobey her, even for something as trivial as taking medicine.

She took the bowl, swallowed hard, and then swallowed the medicine in one gulp. After rinsing her mouth, Qingwan handed her some candied fruit: "Your mouth is bitter. Sweeten it with candied fruit. Wan Tang always says that eating sweets makes you feel good."

“These are words she could say.” Wusu smiled and put the candied fruit in her mouth.

Qingwan looked around the room, which had lost its color because of Hongqin's death, and waited for Wusu to speak.

Wu Su was perhaps savoring the candied fruit in her mouth when she finally spoke, “I am requesting an audience with you today because I wish to ask for your permission to go to Pujue Temple to pray for blessings.”

"This is nothing in itself, but given your current health, I'm worried about you going through this."

Wusu coughed in her haste, and her maid helped her catch her breath while saying, "It's quiet over there, and the concubine rarely goes there. Staying in the mansion and garden is too noisy and crowded, so it might not be as suitable as recuperating there."

After stopping her cough, Lady Wusu said, "I beg Your Highness to grant my request."

Qingwan did not refuse directly, "You know that whenever the Prince and I go to stay for a while, all our supplies are sent from the manor. You can wait a few days for the manor to prepare."

Lady Wusu understood her meaning and said, "I understand, and I will certainly take good care of myself."

When Qingwan left, she met Wantang. Upon hearing this, Wantang said, "It seems that life is not very interesting. When people need to find something to rely on in their later years, they all go to pray to gods and Buddhas."

However, she seems to find life meaningless right now, so what you're doing can only save her temporarily.

Qingwan said with a self-deprecating smile, "For her, saving others is not as important as saving herself. If she really can't think straight, there's nothing I can do, but I also hope that nothing else will happen in the manor."

To put Qingwan at ease, Wusu Shi did indeed begin to focus on recuperating and even started going out for some fresh air. After receiving the news, Qingwan, who was in the garden, finally agreed to let her go to Pujue Temple.

As the days grow warmer, the garden bursts into life with blooming flowers and chirping birds.

Qingwan rested with her eyes closed on the daybed in the pavilion by the lake. Next to her, a little girl who could read was reading. Ever since she discovered that her eyesight was failing, she had stopped doing things like needlework that were harmful to her eyes.

Sometimes, when she needed to read to pass the time, she would occasionally ask literate young maids or eunuchs to read to her.

A moment later, Qingwan felt the voice beside her stop for a moment, and then it turned into a familiar voice. Without opening her eyes, she said, "You didn't even tell anyone you were coming back so that someone could prepare what you like."

"Look at what you're saying. Do you think I'm going to eat dragon liver and phoenix marrow that would make you so concerned?"

Qingwan opened her eyes. Beside her, smiling, was Mingxin, and her son Sayun'a sat obediently at the other end of the daybed.

Seeing that Qingwan had woken up, he stood up and bowed, saying, "Grandson greets Mama Guoluo."

Qingwan said to Mingxin, "Quickly pick up the child."

Mingxin didn't rush to hug Sayun'a, but instead helped Qingwan up, saying, "It's rare for him to come and pay his respects to you. He's just kowtowing. Don't feel sorry for him."

Qingwan called over Ganzhuer, who was shooting arrows outside the pavilion. Ganzhuer ran in and called her "Big Sister" with a smile, then poked Sayun'a's face. Sayun'a looked aggrieved and called her "Little Uncle".

Qingwan stopped him: "You are older than Sa Yun, and you are also an elder. You are not allowed to bully him. Take him to play."

After the two had walked away, Qingwan asked Mingxin, "Did something happen? Otherwise, why did you suddenly come back?"

Because she was already married, Mingxin would always send someone back to deliver a message whenever she returned home.

"It's about my son-in-law. I heard that His Majesty is going to use troops, and my son-in-law wants to ask for a position at the front, so I came back to ask you and Father for your advice."

Qingwan got up and looked at the lake. When the topic of military affairs came up, she couldn't help but let her mind wander to Mingzhao's marriage.

Only when the wind from the lake brushed against his face and his mind cleared did he say, "When your father returns, I'll have someone call you over. You can ask him directly; I don't know anything about what's going on over there."

Mingxi nodded, then asked hesitantly, "Have you and Father made a decision about Fourth Sister's matter?"

Qingwan shook her head, "Let's see what His Majesty decides."

When Yunxiang returned in the evening, Qingwan told him about Mingxin and then called Mingxin over. After pondering for a moment, Yunxiang said to Mingxin, "Tomorrow, call the prince consort into the garden and tell him to come and talk to me about whatever he has to say."

Mingxin smiled and said, "Yes."

That evening, Yunxiang brought up Mingzhao's matter, saying, "Although the marriage has not yet been arranged, Mingzhao's marriage is already settled."

Qingwan paused, put down the cup in her hand, and said, "Your Highness, please speak. I have already made preparations."

Yunxiang said, "It is Dorji Sebuteng, son of Danjin Dorji, the Khalkha Mongol prince, who is currently serving His Majesty."

The name sounded familiar. After recalling it, Qingwan said with a self-deprecating laugh, "I was wondering why Mingzhao had been accompanied by a Mongolian guard every time he came back. It turns out you had already made your decision."

I was blinded by greed and deceiving myself back then.

Qingwan turned her head to Yunxiang and said, "Since a decision has already been made, the location of the princess's residence must have been decided as well."

Both being Khalkha, is Princess Mingzhao's residence in Guihua City like her fourth sister's, or...?

"In the capital."