The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

The young palace maid, still somewhat childish, replied with a puzzled look, "Didn't the master and the princess send word back? The princess is pregnant. The master and the princess were worried that the princess's health wouldn't be able to handle traveling with the imperial entourage, so they sent her back to the palace ahead of schedule. Because we were worried about the princess's health, it took us more than a month to get to the capital."

Fuling realized she had been too happy for too long, and said with a slight smile, "I didn't congratulate you, Madam. This is the time for you to nourish your body. I even asked you for some milk."

The maid said, "Don't worry, there's enough milk in the Princess's allowance for our whole household. She won't care about the little bit I need. Besides, given the relationship between the Tenth Princess and the Princess, and how much the Prince values ​​her, she'll naturally get her share."

"Oh dear, this servant has to go attend to his duties. This servant takes his leave."

Fuling gritted her teeth and looked towards the main house before leaving.

Outside the main room, Chenxiang, who had just finished instructing the eunuch to fetch the imperial physician, stopped the little palace maid who was running towards the main room after talking with Fuling, and said, "Songhua, why are you running like that, you little girl? You're so impetuous."

Songhua ran up to her and said, "I was delayed by talking to you for a couple of minutes. I was afraid that you sisters might not be able to find me if you needed anything, so I ran over here."

"What did they ask you, and what did you say?"

Songhua honestly recounted the conversation, and Chenxiang found it increasingly amusing. He reached out and ruffled her hair, saying, "You silly girl, were you saying that on purpose?"

As Songhua listened to Chenxiang's words, her eyes gradually cleared from confusion, her face filled with terror, and tears welled up in her eyes: "Sister, did I say something wrong?"

Seeing this, Chenxiang was both amused and exasperated: "Your father worked in the Imperial Household Department, and your father also served in the palace. How can you be so timid? It's alright, you didn't say anything wrong. Go back and rest."

Songhua smiled sheepishly: "I've been timid since I was little. Before the talent show, my father tried to teach me for a long time but couldn't teach me well, so my father used his connections to send me to the Thirteenth Prince's courtyard."

Father said that the master is favored, and once the master establishes his own residence, he will ask the Fujin and the Thirteenth Prince to use the occasion of the establishment of the residence to release me.

Chenxiang quickly covered her mouth: "Grandma, why do you say such things out loud? You can't say these things anymore, understand?"

After saying that, Chenxiang still looked around worriedly. Seeing that everyone was busy and no one was paying attention to them, she felt relieved and tapped Songhua's forehead again: "Go back and rest. I won't call you to do my bidding today."

"Yes." Chenxiang watched her departing figure, thinking that because Songhua was young, Qingwan had instructed them to keep a close eye on the child as soon as she arrived, fearing she might cause trouble. Fortunately, she was an easy child to take care of, and later she was transferred to his side to be looked after. He hadn't expected that there was a reason why the child had come here.

She turned and went inside, then told Qingwan about Songhua. Qingwan was also a little surprised: "I thought her father was just worried that she would be wronged, but I didn't expect him to have this plan. Her family really dotes on her."

Her father could only tell her that he had probably already spoken to her grandfather.

"She's a lucky girl," Mu Xiang sighed.

Qingwan smiled and said, "Don't treat her too specially in the future. She's going to be a palace maid anyway. Showing her off will only make things worse for her."

Also, go to the tea room and tell them to bring the people around Fu Ling to recognize her face, and that we shouldn't touch her food.

The kitchen staff should be very experienced in this kind of thing; a little guidance will be enough for them to understand.

Seeing that she looked unwell, Mu Xiang and the other man knew she had been feeling unwell on the journey. They simply endured it, quickly agreed, and then quietly went out to collect their tasks.

Another quarter of an hour later, a young eunuch brought He Lin over. Mu Xiang said, "Physician He, please wait a moment. The Princess Consort is feeling unwell and is resting."

He Lin said, "Please come in, young lady. I'll wait outside." As he spoke, Mu Xiang went inside to call Qing Wan.

After receiving Qingwan's approval, He Lin entered the room to take her pulse. Mu Xiang interjected at the opportune moment: "The Princess Consort's pregnancy was discovered in the palace, which is why we returned early. Although we have been traveling slowly, we would still like to ask Physician He to take a look at the Princess Consort's health."

As soon as Mu Xiang finished speaking, He Lin understood her intention and said in a low voice, "Don't worry, Miss."

According to He Lin, everything was fine; all he needed to do was rest.

The fact that the Thirteenth Prince's wife, who should have been with him, suddenly returned to the palace early would likely provide fodder for gossip in the stagnant palace after Kangxi's departure. So she decided to use He Lin's words to spread the word, at least to avoid some of the idle prying eyes.

The next day, she had planned to go to Yanxi Palace to pay her respects, but early in the morning, the head maid of Consort Hui came to tell her that she didn't need to go and should rest well. Qingwan asked a few questions about Consort Hui's health and, upon hearing that she was fine, she no longer insisted on going to Yanxi Palace.

Yesterday I heard that Su Ma La Gu was not well, so I asked her a few questions. I didn't expect that Consort Hui had also given instructions on this matter. She only said that I should go and visit her a couple of times. As long as the sentiment is there, that's enough. There's no need to go too often, so as not to offend her.

At this point, she understood that Sumalagu's condition was not good, and it was likely that she would die within the next few days.

After seeing off the palace maids who served Consort Hui, she asked someone to find her a dark blue casual jacket that she usually wore, and prepared to go to Sumalagu's place.

She had just changed her clothes and hadn't even left the house when the Fourteenth Prince's wife, Ningyin, came over carrying the Second Prince she had given birth to.

Qingwan hurriedly went to greet her. Ningyin had heard the news of her pregnancy yesterday and hurriedly said, "Slow down, your movements are frightening to me."

After she finished speaking, Qingwan was already in front of her: "What are you afraid of? It's only been a little over two months. I've only walked a few steps and haven't done anything else big."

After saying that, she bent down slightly and took the Second Prince's hand in Ning Yin's arms: "Second Prince, how are you?"

Ning Yin shook the child in her arms and smiled, "Tell your aunt that you are fine."

The child, who was just over one year old and whose speech was not yet in complete sentences, managed to utter a somewhat unclear "good" under Ning Yin's guidance.

The two smiled, and Ningyin handed the child to the wet nurse. Qingwan pulled her inside to sit down, and Ningyin then asked, "Judging from your appearance, are you getting ready to go out?"

Qingwan said, "I just returned to the palace yesterday and heard that Grandmother Sumala was not well. I was just about to go and see her."

Ning Yin nodded: "Perfect, I'll go with you later."

As for you, I was worried about you yesterday when I heard you came back on your own, but thankfully I heard shortly after that you are pregnant.

You wouldn't believe it, the moment you entered the palace gates, word spread that the Thirteenth Prince's wife had offended someone and been sent back.

Qingwan smiled and said, "How did you, as the master, know about what was said in private?"

Ning Yin rolled her eyes at her: "I don't believe you don't have someone under you to gather information, and that you really don't care about things in the palace."

I don't know who said you were the most dignified and polite person; you're clearly the most mischievous and joking person ever.

Qingwan quickly begged for forgiveness, saying, "It's just a pregnancy, nothing to make a big fuss about, so I didn't send anyone back to tell you beforehand."

As for those comments, even if the news of my pregnancy gets out now, people will still have their own opinions. Can I really stop them from talking?

Ning Yin lowered her voice and said, "I'm afraid that concubine in your courtyard is gritting her teeth right now."

At this point, Qingwan found it amusing and recounted yesterday's events to her, head to head.