The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

The next day, both of them woke up early and were helped by servants to put on their court robes. They then went to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor according to custom.

However, following Kangxi's instructions, the two went to the Empress Dowager's place first.

The Empress Dowager was a kind old lady, and Qingwan could still exchange a few words with her in broken Manchu. However, when Yinxiang and the Empress Dowager spoke in Mongolian, Qingwan was completely unable to get a word in edgewise.

After the two left the palace gates and were on their way to the Qianqing Palace, Yinxiang asked, "You can speak Manchu, but it doesn't sound very familiar to me."

Qingwan was wearing thick-soled court boots with her court robes today. Supported by Muxiang, she followed behind Yinxiang. She had been keeping her eyes down, focused on the road, but upon hearing Yinxiang's words, she had no choice but to raise her eyes and reply:

“I learned it from my father when I was young, but I didn’t have many opportunities to say it, which is why it doesn’t sound familiar to you today.”

Yinxiang nodded, but Qingwan couldn't tell whether he was satisfied or not.

When they arrived at the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Kangxi had not yet arrived, but Consort Hui had already arrived, since Yinxiang had been raised in Consort Hui's Yanxi Palace since childhood.

Although they were said to be raised under her care, they simply lived in the palace. Consort Hui had people watching over them and would call them over from time to time to ask them a few questions. Moreover, most of the princes in the palace were raised by Consort Hui when they were young.

As soon as the two entered the palace gate, they saw a woman in palace attire walking gracefully towards them. Perhaps because of the sunlight, her eyes were slightly narrowed, and her pride could not be concealed even in the red walls and yellow tiles of the palace.

Upon seeing this person, Yinxiang quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Why is Eighth Sister-in-law out here again?"

The woman called Eighth Sister-in-law laughed and said, "When I heard the little eunuch report that you and your husband had arrived, everyone inside was eager to see you but also trying to maintain their composure. I don't care about that, so I came out to see you first."

Yinxiang smiled and said, "Eighth Sister-in-law is joking." He then stepped aside, making way for Qingwan, who had been standing behind him.

Qingwan then curtsied to greet the Eighth Prince's wife, who returned the greeting with proper family etiquette. The Eighth Prince's wife then pulled Qingwan aside and said, "Truly a beauty." She then turned to Yinxiang and said:

"Since the Emperor hasn't arrived yet, I'll take some people to greet my sisters-in-law first. I hope my thirteenth brother won't be reluctant to leave."

Yinxiang cupped his hands and smiled, "I am more than happy to have Eighth Sister-in-law grace me with her presence, but I am sorry to trouble you."

The Eighth Prince's wife waved her hand dismissively and pulled Qingwan past Yinxiang as they walked inside.

Before she even entered the room, someone lifted the curtain and came out. The Eighth Prince's wife smiled when she saw her: "Fourth Sister-in-law, why did you come out? Are you worried that I will lead your new sister-in-law away?"

Fourth Prince's wife pretended to pinch Eighth Prince's wife's face, but Eighth Prince's wife laughed and begged for mercy and ran away. Fourth Prince's wife then laughed and said, "Only Eighth Brother can stand your mouth."

Qingwan didn't want to interrupt, so she just listened to the two of them chatting and laughing with a smile. But she also noticed that when the Eighth Prince was mentioned, the Eighth Princess Consort looked a little shy.

She had heard from her youth that the Eighth Prince and his wife were a rare loving couple, and that the Eighth Prince's harem was also very clean, with only his wife by his side.

Although outsiders say it's because the Eighth Prince's wife is jealous, if the Eighth Prince is unwilling, no matter how jealous she is, she can't go against her husband's wishes.

As she spoke, the Fourth Prince's wife reached out and pulled her into the room, which was already filled with the other princes' wives dressed in red and green.

As soon as Qingwan entered the room, she felt dazzled. Fortunately, the Fourth Prince's wife and the Eighth Prince's wife were kind enough to lead her and the others to pay their respects.

Although Yinxiang was two years older than Yinzhen, she and the Fourteenth Prince's wife, Wanyan, were both selected as imperial concubines in the same year. However, for some unknown reason, her marriage to Yinxiang was arranged after Yinzhen's.

So she ended up being the last to enter, and the Crown Princess and the other wives, regardless of their motives, were all smiling and friendly towards her today.

There was only one person who gave her a half-smile. After the Fourth Prince's wife introduced this person as the Third Prince's wife, Qingwan knew where this person's attitude towards her came from.

She felt helpless. She was a newlywed who had just entered the family and was still confused herself. What did the past grievances have to do with her?

Fortunately, neither the Fourth Prince's wife nor the Eighth Prince's wife gave the Third Prince's wife a chance to lash out, so they skipped over her and introduced the next person.

Just as they finished recognizing the people, a palace servant came to report that the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine were heading this way, and everyone stopped laughing.

Qingwan also went with the others to the palace gate to welcome Emperor Kangxi.

After entering the room, she discovered that besides a noblewoman in Manchu attire, Emperor Kangxi was accompanied by two girls who looked alike. The two girls seemed to be very interested in her. The older one was alright, but the younger one always kept her in her sights.

She caught him several times in a short time. When the child saw that Qingwan had noticed her staring, he just smiled shyly. He would do it again next time.

Qingwan seemed to have some idea of ​​the two girls' identities. As for the noblewoman, she was probably Consort Tongjia, who currently held the highest status in Emperor Kangxi's harem.

Consort Tongjia was the younger sister of Empress Xiaoyi. She had been in charge of the inner palace since she was conferred the title of Consort in the thirty-ninth year of her reign.

However, soon palace servants placed cushions in front of her and Yinxiang, and she didn't have time to think much before bowing to Kangxi along with Yinxiang.

Yinxiang performed three kneelings and nine kowtows, while she performed four kneelings, three kowtows, and three bows.

Perhaps because his son was getting married, Kangxi's voice was not as majestic as Qingwan had imagined; instead, it was somewhat gentle.

She was wearing court attire to kowtow today, and she was feeling unwell because she had been tired all day yesterday. She was a little slow when she got up, and Yinxiang was able to help her when he was replying to Kangxi.

Qingwan was startled by Yinxiang's actions, but fortunately Kangxi didn't say anything. However, Consort Tongjia laughed at her a couple of times.

After bowing to the two consorts, he then bowed to the other princes and their wives, and only then was the audience considered over.

She felt that the Crown Prince was indeed the most handsome of all the princes, just as everyone said. His imposing presence overshadowed the other princes in the room. She secretly thought that this was probably the aura cultivated by the two-bow and six-kowtow ceremony. After all, even if the Empress were still alive, she would only receive one bow and three kowtows.

The Third Prince was quite interesting; he didn't utter a single word, leaving everything to his wife. As for the Fourth Prince and his wife, they were indeed a perfect match, sharing a similar air. As for the others, I hadn't had a chance to observe them closely yet.

Emperor Kangxi must have really had something to do, because after a short while he said to everyone, "Disperse."

Yinxiang stepped forward and bowed after Kangxi left, saying, "Your subject wishes to take Lady Zhaojia to the rear hall of Yanxi Palace."

Kangxi seemed to recall something, and a look of nostalgia appeared on his face. After a long while, he said to Yinxiang, "Go, go and give your Hui'e a head massage." He then pointed to the two young girls who had come with him and smiled:

"And these two girls are now in your care today, you two. They've been clamoring to come over for ages, and they've been making a racket all morning, giving me a headache."

Yinxiang looked at the two girls with a doting expression and said with a smile, "Father, don't worry."

After Emperor Kangxi left, Consort Hui stepped forward and asked Yinxiang, "Did you get your father's permission?"

Yinxiang first replied to Consort Hui: "I have received your reply, E'nei." Then he went to look at the two girls: "Your sister-in-law and I will go to Consort Hui's palace first. Would you two like to come with me?"

The older one knew exactly where Yinxiang was referring to, so he shook his head and said, "Today is a special day, so my sister and I won't go. We'll wait for you to come back."

Consort Hui also said, "In that case, these two children can come with me. You two go first, and come back to pick them up when you leave."

Yinxiang had no choice but to bow again and say, "Then I'll have to trouble you."

Qingwan listened to their conversation in a daze and didn't dare to interrupt, but she did confirm that the two were Yinxiang's half-sisters, the Eighth Princess and the Tenth Princess.