The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

Mu Xiang and the palace maids who came out watched helplessly as the two rode away in front of them without pausing for a moment.

Chenxiang nudged Muxiang and said excitedly, "Sister Muxiang, am I seeing things? Our mistress and the master are riding together! Do you think we'll have a little master soon? It's been almost a year since the master and the thirteenth prince got married."

Seeing Chenxiang's excited expression, Muxiang pulled her around and said, "You're right, but we have to go back now, otherwise the other palace servants definitely won't know the Fujin's habits as well as we do." Leading the group of palace servants back, Yi'an and Kangxi took all the people they brought with them when they left, leaving only the people around Qingwan.

After Qingwan and the other person arrived at the imperial palace, Yinxiang turned around to help Qingwan. Qingwan felt that she could dismount gracefully, but she didn't want to refuse Yinxiang's kindness, so she put her arm around his hand and used it to get off the horse.

Yinxiang seemed to have discovered something new, and he held her fingers and squeezed them again and again, and said with a smile: "You are quite diligent."

Qingwan didn't withdraw her hand. She blinked and said, "Not as good as you, Master." She knew that Yinxiang was referring to the calluses on her fingers. These were left from years of practicing calligraphy. They were different from the calluses from holding the reins. Even if medicine could remove them, they would still be there. So she kept them.

But it was the truth. Unlike princes like Yinxiang, she wasn't forced by Marhan and Li Jia to train to a certain level. She just persisted for so many years because she liked it.

Yinxiang looked at Qingwan with a smile that hadn't faded. Unlike his naturally sharp phoenix eyes, Qingwan's almond-shaped eyes were dark and moist, which, combined with her expression, made her look inexplicably innocent.

Upon seeing this, Yinxiang suddenly remembered that Yi'an had said she really liked Qingwan's eyes, and then he thought that if he and Qingwan had a daughter, it would be better if she looked like his mother.

But he quickly came to his senses: "Let's go in and pay our respects to Father Khan. I wonder what Yi Huan said."

“What you say is true, we really shouldn’t just stand here at the door.”

Upon hearing this, Yinxiang looked up and saw that the young eunuch who had come to fetch the horse was already waiting. He exclaimed "Ah!" and turned to enter the room first.

It is unknown what Yi Huan said to Kangxi or how she explained that the two returned a little late, but when the two came before Kangxi, there was no anger on his face. Qingwan even felt that she saw relief on Kangxi's face.

"Greetings to Khan Ama (Emperor Father)."

Emperor Kangxi quickly called them up and offered them seats.

As soon as Qingwan sat down, she heard the voice of Emperor Kangxi, who was sitting in the high seat: "Thirteenth daughter-in-law."

"Yes, daughter-in-law is here." Qingwan hurriedly stood up to reply before she had even sat down properly.

Emperor Kangxi waved his hand: "No need for that. We're family. You can just sit down and reply."

"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty." Only then did Qingwan have time to take a closer look. Apart from Yi'an, who was standing beside Kangxi, there were only the Crown Prince, the Prince of Zhi, and the two princes, the fifteenth and sixteenth.

Kangxi then said, "I have heard about what happened these past few days from the Tenth Princess. Not bad, she has some talent. She even knows a bit about riding and archery."

Qingwan didn't know what Kangxi meant. Seeing that he was happy, but thinking that the attitude towards Manchu women had changed in recent years compared to before the conquest of China, she was a little hesitant to stand out and cautiously replied, "We will never forget what our ancestors left us."

Kangxi simply nodded, his expression remaining calm and revealing nothing. He then continued, "A few days ago, the Imperial Workshop received a red agate pomegranate. I found it quite unique. Liang Jiugong, remember to send it to the Thirteenth Prince's wife when you get back."

Pomegranate? Pomegranates have auspicious meanings. Qingwan dared not think any further about whether Kangxi had any other intentions, and hurriedly knelt down to thank him.

Then a guard came in and announced that all the officials had arrived, apparently because there was something important to discuss. Kangxi then dismissed Yihuan and Qingwan.

Sure enough, as soon as they stepped outside, they saw several ministers and princes coming towards them. Qingwan pulled Yihuan away from these people.

Yi Huan pulled Qing Wan aside and asked, "Did your brother argue with you?"

Qingwan chuckled: "No, the princess has spoken, he would never dare. Otherwise, I would have asked the princess to help me get revenge."

Yi Huan was satisfied: "Then let's go back first. I don't know what Khan and the others have to do, but they won't bother us."

Qingwan nodded. Even if something happened, she would only call on her daughter Yihuan. It wasn't her business. They had only gone halfway when they saw Muxiang and the others rushing back.

She then realized what she had forgotten: "I forgot about you all." If she hadn't left early, Muxiang and the others wouldn't have been in such a hurry to go back.

Chenxiang quickly shook his head, lowering his voice but unable to suppress the smile on his lips: "We all saw it, Master and Master rode back together."

Even Yi Huan's eyes widened as she pointed at Chen Xiang and said, "Come here and tell me in detail. I knew it! We should have waited for my brother to come back together."

Qingwan quickly pulled Yihuan forward: "A princess, what kind of behavior is this, pulling and tugging with a maid? Go back and wash up and change your clothes. Aren't you uncomfortable?"

Yi Huan followed her lead and walked forward, her face full of smiles: "It's not painful. If you had Chen Xiang describe the situation to me in detail, I would feel even less pain."

When the two returned, someone had already brought hot water and clothes and was waiting for them. Yi Huan's clothes were naturally brought over, and as soon as they went in, they were served and helped to wash up.

As soon as Yi Huan entered the room, she pointed at Chen Xiang and said, "Come and help me wash up."

Chenxiang didn't wait for Qingwan to speak before responding and went to Yihuan's side, speaking to her with his head down.

Seeing this, Qingwan felt even more helpless, but she didn't stop her and let Chenxiang talk.

After the two had finished washing up, Yi Huan sat down next to Qing Wan and sighed after a long while, "That's wonderful."

For her and Yi'an, no matter who marries Yinxiang, they will treat this sister-in-law well. However, how long this kindness can last depends on what kind of person the sister-in-law who marries into the family is.

Before Yinxiang and Qingwan returned today, she overheard Kangxi and the Crown Prince talking and realized that her marriage would likely fall to Khorchin.

Unlike her older siblings who needed Kangxi's attention, she never cared about such things. She only cared about her older brother and sister-in-law. As for her sister-in-law, even if it was just for personal gain, she hoped that her brother and sister-in-law would be well.

As expected, Qingwan blushed slightly at her sigh. Being teased by her sister-in-law, who was several years younger than her and was also a princess, was quite a subtle situation.

The two had been out having fun all day and were a little hungry, so they had some snacks served to them. Qingwan, who was feeling hot, had a glass of chilled plum juice served, while Yihuan had a glass of warm milk tea served.

Before they could exchange more than a few words, the eunuch beside Yi Huan entered the room and whispered a few words to Xun Mei. Xun Mei glared impatiently at the door before whispering in Yi Huan's ear.

Yi Huan put down the pastries in her hand and said softly, "Let her in."

Qingwan looked at her with some confusion, and she explained, "When I went out this time, Rong'e was worried and asked my wet nurse to come with me. She must have heard about what happened at the horse farm, so she rushed over."