The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

When the Mongolian princess's residence was completed, she knew that the wedding date should be set. However, she was still worried about her fourteen-year-old sister, so she found He Lin, who had not yet been promoted to imperial physician, and asked him to help her stage a grand deception, using a fake illness to postpone the wedding for more than two years.

He Lin shook his head and said, "Princess, at that time, other imperial physicians may have been able to diagnose the specific cause of your illness, but no one wanted to get involved in this trouble, so it was kept secret."

As you know, imperial physicians tend to exaggerate minor ailments and downplay serious ones, so that wasn't my doing. I must repay the princess's kindness.”

“Why did it have to come to this, He Lin?” Yi An smiled bitterly.

He Lin lifted his robe and knelt down: "Princess, please let this servant go. Not a day goes by that this servant does not regret helping the princess two years ago. No matter what the reason was, it ultimately caused damage to the princess's health. If this servant goes, at least I can help the princess continue to recuperate."

If the doctors in Mongolia were truly so skilled, His Majesty wouldn't have repeatedly brought other pregnant princesses back to the capital to give birth.

Yi An shook her head again: "Even if I hadn't looked for you, I would have looked for someone else. Besides, my illness has indeed been cured, as you know."

"He Lin, don't go. I'll talk to my brother. If your younger brother really wants to take the imperial examination, I'll ask my brother to help him too."

"Princess......"

"do not go."

The two were locked in a stalemate. He Lin knew that Yi An would not change his mind once he had made up his mind. Even if he insisted, Yi An could persuade Yinxiang to change his mind. After a moment of silence, he finally said in a trembling voice, "This servant obeys the decree."

Yi An turned her face away, and after a long while said, "You should go back."

"Yes." After standing up, He Lin did not dare to look up at Yi An again. He lowered his head and answered in a muffled voice, "This servant will compile the princess's medical records into a book and record all the medicinal materials used to treat the princess's condition before handing them over to the Thirteenth Prince."

"Thank you."

"This is what a servant should do; I dare not accept the princess's thanks."

After He Lin left, Yi An remained motionless in her previous position for an unknown period of time until someone entered the room and told her, "Princess, the Tenth Princess has returned."

Yi'an snapped out of her daze: "Okay, I got it. Go get some snacks."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Yi Huan entered the room: "Sister."

After carefully examining Yi'an, Yi Huan said, "Are you feeling unwell, sister? Your eyes are a little red."

Yi An paused for a moment, then gently rubbed her eyes: "Really? When I came back from Yikun Palace just now, the wind got into my eyes, and I rubbed them a few times. That's probably why they were red, but they're fine now."

Yi Huan said "oh" and didn't ask any further questions. She then said, "I saw Physician Xiao He when I came back. He came to take your pulse. What did he say?"

Yi An pulled her to sit down: "Jing He is learning from his brother. He Lin is two years older than your brother, yet you keep calling him 'Little Physician He'."

Yi Huan found it funny: "We call him Doctor Xiao He not because he's young. Just by looking at his face, you'd think he's still young."

"You..."

"Oh, sister, don't talk about me like that. You still haven't answered me. What did he say? How are you feeling? You shouldn't have gotten sick two years ago." Yi Huan tugged at Yi An and acted coquettishly, a hint of gloom flashing in her lowered eyes.

Yi An naturally didn't notice, and only comforted her, saying, "It's very good. We raise it in different ways every day, how could it not be good?"

"Okay, then I'm relieved."

Yi An was both amused and exasperated: "It's clear she's grown up; she even knows how to worry about her older sister now."

Yi Huan leaned against her and murmured, "I also wish I could stay young forever, but then you would always be worried."

"What?" Yi An heard her speak but didn't hear what she said, so she couldn't help but ask.

"It's nothing." Yi Huan shook her head: "I just thought about the border patrol I'll be going on with Khan in a few days."

Yi'an then reminded her, "Listen to your brother and sister-in-law when the time comes, and don't run around on your own."

Yi Huan nodded hurriedly.

Several more days passed, and on May 21st, the day of departure arrived. The imperial carriage set off from Changchun Garden. Qingwan led Yihuan and the other women in the carriage, while Yinxiang, the fifteenth prince Yinwu, and the sixteenth prince Yinlu rode horses outside.

Once they were out of the city, Yinxiang rode up to the two of them again, giving them repeated instructions before going to Kangxi's side.

Yi Huan first saw the two princes, the fifteenth and sixteenth, who were younger than her, riding horses, and then she saw Yinxiang riding away and was eager to try it herself. Qing Wan had no choice but to pull her back and persuade her: "This official road is not like the one in the capital, which is paved with stone slabs. We have a lot of people and horses. If you really get off and ride a horse, you'll probably get a mouthful of dust."

Once you reach the palace or the hunting grounds, there will be a place where you can ride a horse; then you can do whatever you want.

Yi Huan lowered the curtain and said with some regret, "Alright."

Going out is certainly an exciting thing, but the journey itself is hard to predict, especially after Yi Huan was called away by Kangxi for a chat, she became even more bored.

Since the royal family was riding in carriages reserved for women, the interiors were naturally as soft as possible. This was fine for short periods, but Qingwan couldn't take it for long.

Fortunately, Emperor Kangxi was in high spirits and was not in a hurry to travel. In addition, he had to meet with officials along the way, and there were many palaces of all sizes along the way, so he could rest well at night.

The journey was marked by frequent stops and starts, until June 13th when the emperor arrived at Karahetun. Due to the large number of people coming to pay their respects, the emperor would stay at the palace for several more days.

As a result, Qingwan relaxed and leaned on Muxiang's shoulder to doze off. This was the look on her face when Yinxiang lifted the curtain to get into the carriage.

When Muxiang saw Yinxiang, she was unsure whether to stand up and greet him or remain seated, as any movement would surely wake Qingwan. Fortunately, Yinxiang simply waved his hand to indicate that she was exempt from the formalities.

Mu Xiang sat stiffly beside Qing Wan. Yin Xiang disliked others getting close, and Zhang Rui usually served him, so she didn't have much contact with him. Now Qing Wan had closed her eyes and leaned on her shoulder, and she didn't know if she was awake or asleep. She secretly groaned and dared not move. She was afraid that if she stiffened her body, Qing Wan would be uncomfortable leaning on her. She was in a dilemma.

Yinxiang had just settled down when he was jolted, and Qingwan, who was on Muxiang's shoulder, inevitably fell forward as well. Yinxiang quickly caught Qingwan and considerately supported her head with one hand.

Mu Xiang was so scared that her heart almost jumped out of her throat. Then she saw Qing Wan, who had already woken up, slowly rubbing her hand against Yin Xiang's before saying, "Mu Xiang, have I mistreated you these past few days? Why are your hands covered in calluses?"

Yinxiang raised an eyebrow with interest, watching Qingwan's next move. He saw Qingwan slowly straighten up, look at him, her eyes still a little confused. After her gaze cleared, she said with some surprise, "Your Highness, it's you."

Thinking of the touch just now, she asked again, "Did you help me up just now, Master? Don't you have to accompany the Emperor today? When did you arrive? You didn't even wake me up, and I was made to be impolite in front of you."