The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

Ma Jia knew this was a warning to her, so she restrained the urge to scold Xunxiang and said, "This servant was selected by Consort Rong from the Imperial Household Department to serve the princess since the princess's full moon celebration, and I have been with her ever since."

"This servant's heart is always with his master. As long as the princess is well, this servant would gladly die for her."

Yi Huan put down her book and chuckled, "What are you doing, Granny? Why are you showing your loyalty? I wouldn't dare say anything about others, but Granny, I naturally trust you. You were specially chosen by Rong'e to be my trusted confidante."

I can doubt anyone's loyalty, but I can't doubt the person my father specially chose for me, don't you think?

"Indeed, indeed." Ma Jia nodded hurriedly: "Consort Rong treats the princess like her own eyes, just like Princess Rongxian. She often tells me that the princess lost her mother at a young age and that I should take good care of her. She truly has the heart of a loving mother."

Yi Huan smiled and nodded, then said to Xun Mei, "Look at you, you scared the old lady with just a few words."

Xunmei covered her mouth and smiled: "Granny won't blame me. Granny and I were just thinking of the princess. Besides, it was just a casual chat. Granny has seen a lot of things, how could she be scared? The princess is too worried about Granny."

Having said that, Ma Jia had no choice but to nod and acknowledge Xunxiang's words.

Yi Huan then said, "Granny is my wet nurse, so I'm naturally nervous. But I have something to tell Granny."

Ma Jia hurriedly said, "Princess, please speak freely."

Yi Huan then said leisurely, "Granny knows that I have been accompanying the Emperor more often these days than I have been in the palace. Judging from Father Khan's intentions, I am afraid that my marriage will fall to Mongolia."

My nanny often mentions that she has two clever and bright granddaughters who will soon be chosen for the Imperial Household Department's imperial concubine selection. I remember this, and my intention is to instruct the Imperial Household Department to assign them to my side, so they can accompany me to Mongolia in the future.

If Ma Jiashi had previously been humiliated by her words, she was now truly terrified. She stood up tremblingly and said, "The princess's dowry was made up of people carefully selected by the Imperial Household Department. Not only is my granddaughter of low status, but she is also careless and can only do rough work. She is not qualified to be a dowry maid for the princess."

Yi Huan said with difficulty, "But I trust Granny the most."

"This, this matter should naturally be decided by Consort Rong." Ma Jia lowered her head even further, making it impossible to see her expression. "There's a calming soup being simmered outside. I'm afraid the maids might not be paying attention, so I'll go check on it." With that, she quickly went out the door.

Yi Huan smiled, resting her chin on her hand. Xun Mei also smiled, but after smiling, she was a little worried. This wasn't the first time Yi Huan had scared Ma Jia Shi like this. Ma Jia Shi would also pick a few times to complain, and afterwards, Yi Huan would inevitably be called to Rong Fei's side and given a few sarcastic remarks.

Since Yi Huan became sensible, Lady Ma Jia has restrained herself a lot, but because of Consort Rong's indulgence, she still occasionally makes the same mistakes.

“Princess, now that you’ve said all this, I’m afraid she’ll go and complain to Consort Rong again.”

"Let her sue. Consort Rong just keeps repeating the same things over and over again. I've practically memorized them. They're not a problem at all."

That's all she's capable of. After all these years of seniority and so many children, she's still only the lowest-ranking of the four consorts. Luckily, she had a good son and a daughter. Look at the other consorts, who even pays her any attention?

Speaking of this, Xunmei thought of the late Consort Min. Among the concubines around Emperor Kangxi, only those of high birth or those who were favored like Consort De were able to be promoted individually. The others had to wait for their seniority to be promoted.

Consort Min was like that. She came from a bondservant family and was not considered a favorite. So although she had the treatment of a concubine, her rank did not rise. She finally reached the required level, but then she passed away. Otherwise, she might have been able to take Yi Huan back. Princes cannot be raised by their birth mothers, but princesses can receive such favors.

Consort Rong's meaning was clear to both her and Yi Huan. She was simply upset that Yi Huan, raised in her Changchun Palace, seemed closer to her own siblings than to her own son, the Third Prince, and Princess Rongxian. But how could anyone be close to her after what Yin Zhi had done?

As Yi Huan grew up, she became less and less concerned about Consort Rong's opinion. Sometimes she felt that Consort Rong was also a pitiful person. Of her five sons and one daughter, only Yin Zhi and Rong Xian grew up safely, and neither of them grew up by her side. That was bad enough, but she also had to help other concubines raise their children. It was normal for her to feel uncomfortable. Anyway, she also had her own brothers and sisters from the same mother, so why bother competing with Consort Rong for favor?

Xunmei, unaware of her thoughts, was somewhat worried: "Consort Rong is your foster mother and also one of His Majesty's concubines. We can't do anything about it, but she often sends her nanny to say things that annoy the princess. Just like today, what if the Thirteenth Prince's wife gets upset and blames the princess?"

"If she really blames me, I won't care anymore." Yi Huan just smiled indifferently.

Xunmei knew that if that were the case, Yihuan would really do it. She sighed inwardly, thankfully that the Thirteenth Princess Consort was not angry today, but instead explained things clearly to the princess.

After all, the Eighth Princess was getting married, and she hoped that the Tenth Princess would still have someone to talk to in the days to come.

Yi Huan flipped through the book in her hand again, and saw that in the eighth year of Tianming, Emperor Taizong taught the princesses about female virtues in the Dazheng Hall of the Shengjing Imperial Palace, and exhorted them "not to insult their husbands. If they are arrogant and domineering, they will be punished."

Frustrated, she flipped through a few more pages and saw that the Song Dynasty German princess treated her husband's concubines and illegitimate children very well, which was considered virtuous.

She carelessly tossed the book onto the daybed. She hadn't thought much of it when she was young, but now it all seemed wrong. She got up and went to find a book of folk tales, only to find, at random, that Princess Yongning had married Liang Bangrui, a wealthy young man. However, Liang Bangrui was suffering from tuberculosis and collapsed from vomiting blood before the wedding was even complete, dying three months later. Princess Yongning was left a widow and died of depression a few years later.

Looking at the author's response to this matter, instead of accusing the Liang family of deceiving their master, Yi Huan praised the princess's chastity and virtue. She smiled sarcastically, threw the book to the ground again, and muttered, "What kind of bullshit princesses are they? Each one is worse than the last."

Xunmei picked up the two books and placed them at the bottom of the book box. Seeing Yihuan leaning against the daybed again, staring blankly at the beam, she simply sat down on the footstool to keep watch.

After a long time, Yi Huan said, "Sister Xunmei, I may not be able to wait until you are thirty years old before I get married. Before that, I will send you to your sister-in-law's side, and you can leave the palace ahead of time."

After Emperor Kangxi ascended the throne, he issued an edict that all palace maids, except for those who were thirty years old, should leave the palace. However, most palace maids did not actually wait until they were thirty to leave the palace; they were usually released at the age of twenty-five.

However, Xunmei was her personal maid, and her family was just ordinary. If nothing unexpected happened, she would be going to Mongolia with her.

Xunmei was lost in thought when she heard Yihuan call her Sister Xunmei again. She entered the palace through the Imperial Household Department's selection at the age of thirteen and was then assigned to Yihuan's side. At that time, Yihuan was only six years old and Consort Min had not yet passed away. The three siblings were raised in different concubines' homes and were not as well off as they are now.

Because of Consort Rong's control, Consort Min, who was still a concubine, rarely saw Yi Huan. Yi Huan was also raised to be somewhat timid in her childhood, and her wet nurse, Ma Jia, managed all the affairs around Yi Huan.

She was originally just a lowly palace maid responsible for sweeping and cleaning, but by a twist of fate, she got the opportunity to serve closely. Later, on a stormy night, Yi Huan cried and grabbed her hand, asking, "Sister Xunmei, can you stay with me?" From then on, Yi Huan would often call out "Sister Xunmei" to her in private.

Later, after Consort Min passed away, Yinxiang complained to the Emperor about the matter of the Third Prince, who was then Prince Cheng, shaving his head. The Eighth Princess pulled Yihuan into Kangxi's Qianqing Palace, and the three siblings got what they wanted by taking advantage of their mother's death.

Later, Yi Huan and her half-sister got along better and better, and Yi Huan became more and more like a princess. Because of the difference in their status, and also for Xun Mei's sake, Yi Huan called Xun Mei "sister" less and less.