The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

Fortunately, although Yunxiang was not in good health, he returned safely.

Qingwan asked Hongchang, who had gone outside the city to welcome Yunxiang but returned first, "Did your father say whether the trip went smoothly and when he will return to the manor?"

Hongjiao originally went to the palace with Hongchang and followed Yunxiang. After Hongchang returned to his residence, he continued to study in the Southern Study.

"Father instructed his son to tell his wife that everything was going well and that she should not worry. He would return after Father went back to the palace to report."

"That's good." Qingwan couldn't help but smile. "You can go and rest now."

After choosing another auspicious site, Yunxiang finally felt a little relieved.

As a result, Yongzheng pointed to the map and offered Yunxiang another auspicious plot of land next to the main auspicious plot as his mausoleum. Yunxiang was startled again and thanked him profusely, but tried every means to decline.

When he got into the sedan chair upon returning to the mansion, his back was still covered in cold sweat. He felt an unbearable headache and rubbed his forehead. He still had to think of other ways to dissuade Yongzheng from this idea. Besides, even if Qingwan knew, she would try her best to prevent him from agreeing to this matter.

Upon returning to the mansion, he went straight to the main room, where Qingwan was helping Yongxi learn to walk. As soon as he stepped inside, Yongxi bumped into his leg, followed by Yongxi's deafening cries.

Yunxiang wanted to bend down and pick up Yongxi, but his bones were screaming in pain. Hesitating, Yongxi was picked up by Qingwan.

Yongxi leaned on Qingwan's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. Qingwan said to Yunxiang, "Your Highness, please go and change your clothes first."

Yunxiang reached out and wiped away Yongxi's tears, which made Yongxi hum again. Then he said to Qingwan, "You will hand Yongxi over to the wet nurse later. I have something to say to you."

Qingwan coaxed Yongxi and said to Yunxiang, "I'll go in after you've changed."

Soon after, Qingwan and Yunxiang sat facing each other. Yunxiang went straight to the point, "His Majesty wants to bestow upon me the auspicious land next to the eternally auspicious land."

Qingwan pondered the pros and cons of the matter, her hand tracing the inside of the cup until her fingertips warmed before asking, "Has His Highness agreed?"

Yunxiang gave a wry smile: "Is this something we can just agree to? If it were just about being buried near the imperial mausoleum, that would be one thing, but this is a very auspicious place."

With a gentle smile, she stood up, straightened her clothes, and solemnly knelt down in front of Yunxiang.

Yunxiang reached out his hand to her, "What are you doing?"

Unlike before, Qingwan didn't just look up at him. "I'm begging Your Highness, please make the sacrifice for the sake of so many people in the manor."

"Even if you don't say it, I will find a way to refuse His Majesty."

As he spoke, he raised his hand again, gesturing for Qingwan to stand up.

Qingwan had no choice but to take his hand and get up, saying, "It is said that His Majesty has broken many precedents for the sake of the Prince. This matter will probably be recorded in history books again and again for the Prince. However, this matter is really not in accordance with etiquette and regulations."

Before Mingzhao got married, the prince told me, "A new emperor brings a new court. Today, His Majesty has bestowed such an overstepping favor upon the prince; I fear it will offend the new emperor in the future."

Yunxiang nodded, signaling her to continue.

So Qingwan continued, "Unfortunately, the prince's three remaining sons, whether it is Hongchang, Hongjiao, or Ganzhuer, are all mediocre. If the prince is no longer alive when the new emperor ascends the throne, and the new emperor investigates this matter, none of these three can be relied upon."

Yunxiang felt the pain in his body worsen. "Look at you, doing this to me. How can you complain about your own children? But their mediocrity might not be a bad thing."

Since Huang Taiji entered the pass and became emperor, every emperor has been shrinking the power held by the imperial clan. In this dynasty, the Prince Yi's mansion is already special enough. If a new emperor comes along, he may not be able to tolerate it.

When Emperor Yongzheng ascended the throne, he had already given Yunxiang a secret decree that the Prince Yi's Mansion would be hereditary and perpetual. With this decree in place, it would be a good thing for the Prince Yi's Mansion's heir to be mediocre at the right time, both above and below.

"So Your Highness, please consider this my selfish act of stopping you."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" he said, coughing twice while covering his mouth.

As soon as Qingwan heard him cough, she wanted to touch his forehead, but Yunxiang raised his hand to stop her. He felt that he must have a fever, and if Qingwan found out, she would drag him to bed.

"Come with me to the study."

Qingwan was already worried about Yunxiang's illness, so upon hearing this, she said, "Master, please rest first. Whatever you want to say, there's no rush."

"It's alright." With that, Yunxiang ignored Qingwan's advice and led her to the study.

Every time Qingwan visited Yunxiang's study, she was amazed by the world map displayed there. Yunxiang was in charge of many things, including the missionaries.

Yunxiang pieced together the world's imprint little by little by relying on the fragments of words from the missionaries who came and went.

"There were many countries outside of the Qing Dynasty, but not every country sent missionaries to the Qing Dynasty, so many things are still unclear."

"If I can finish drawing this map in my lifetime, I will have left something for future generations." Yunxiang said, appearing behind her unnoticed.

Qingwan's hand brushed over the top of the map without touching it, and she said in a barely audible voice, "It's so big, what a pity."

Then she turned to Yunxiang and asked, "What does Your Highness want to show me?"

Yunxiang led her to another map and pointed to Laishui, which was more than 60 miles away from Taipingyu, saying, "This time when I go out, I have also chosen an auspicious place for myself."

"Did Your Highness anticipate His Majesty's decision before leaving the capital?"

"No, I just feel increasingly overwhelmed, and I need to make some arrangements as soon as possible..."

"Your Highness," Qingwan interrupted him sharply, "Don't say such things, it's bad luck." She spoke very softly at the last sentence, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Yunxiang had already sat down at his desk. He held his pen up for a long time before saying, "Alright, I won't say it again."

Qingwan blinked until her eyes cleared again, then walked to the desk and said, "I'll grind the ink for you."

Although Yunxiang was exhausted, he forced himself to finish writing the memorial about the unpopular Zhongji region before going to rest.

However, there was no further news after the memorial was submitted. Yunxiang lay in bed and repeatedly asked Liu Shengfang, who came to treat him, to submit the memorial on his behalf before finally obtaining Yongzheng's approval.

Overjoyed, he expressed his gratitude and immediately sent his guards to Laishui to fetch soil.

After the guards returned, without avoiding anyone, he ordered someone to bring water, took a small handful of soil, and used the water to carry it down the river. This action caused Zhang Rui and the others in the room to exclaim in surprise, "Your Highness, this is unacceptable!"

Only Qingwan, who understood Yunxiang's intentions, did not offer any advice. Afterwards, she instructed Zhang Rui to report the day's events to Yongzheng truthfully.