The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

The two talked for a while, and seeing the sky was getting dark, they went out together to Sumalagu's place. Ningyin also asked the wet nurse to take the second prince back.

As they walked, they made conversation. Qingwan asked, "Has the Second Prince been named yet?"

"Not yet. The Fourteenth Prince said that when the Emperor returns, he will ask the Emperor to bestow names on both the eldest prince and the first prince. The eldest prince is three years old, and it's time for him to be named."

"fair enough."

The two went straight to the main hall where Sumalagu lived, where Yintao's wife, Lady Fucha, came out to greet them. She had given birth to Yintao's second son in June, and her face was sallow. It was hard to tell whether she hadn't recovered from giving birth or had been exhausted from taking care of Sumalagu.

The three entered the house and greeted Yin Tao before sitting down. Qing Wan noticed that Yin Tao's complexion was not good, so she said, "Twelfth Brother, Twelfth Sister-in-law, please take good care of yourselves."

Lady Fucha shook her head with a wry smile: "We are all fine. Since Grandmother fell ill, Twelfth Prince has stayed by her side without leaving for a moment. After I married into the palace, Grandmother treated me well too. There's nothing else we can do but stay by her side so that Grandmother can see us when she wakes up..."

Yin Tao also said, "Thank you for thinking of me, my two younger brothers and sisters, and for making a special trip to see me. How is Father?" The last sentence was asked in a gentle and refined manner.

Qingwan hurriedly replied, "Okay." As she spoke, the unconscious Sumalagu slowly opened her eyes. As soon as there was movement, Yintao strode to the bedside: "Grandmother, you're awake."

Sumalagu reached out her hand, and Fucha stepped forward to help her up. Sumalagu looked to be in good spirits and even started talking to the others. The people in the room were not happy at all, but instead became more and more worried.

Yin Tao's sorrow was even more evident, but Su Mala Gu smiled at him and said, "What is there to be sad about? I've lived to such an old age, that's enough."

You should be happy for me, I'm going to see Empress Dowager Xiaozhuangwen. I haven't seen her in so long, I miss her terribly, and I also miss the days when she taught me to ride horses on the grasslands."

Seeing this, Qingwan and Ningyin exchanged a glance, gave Fucha a look, and then left, leaving the time to them.

Inside the house, Sumalagu watched the two leave and then said, "Quite a few people have come these days, haven't they?"

Yin Tao nodded, and Su Mala Gu leaned against Fucha Shi's chest, her voice gradually weakening: "You've all had a hard time these past few days. Go back and get some rest. I don't have much to give you. I'll tell you that Father has left everything to you."

Sumalagu paused for a moment and said to Fucha, "Go and check today's medicine. I don't want to drink anything too bitter."

Fucha knew they had something to say, so she replied "yes" and left.

After Lady Fucha left, Sumalagu continued, "Yintao, your maternal clan is not prominent. Although I have taught you to grow up, you cannot get any help from me."

Your brothers are tigers and wolves; they won't give up.

Don't argue with them. As long as you don't argue, even if your father doesn't favor you, he won't mistreat you.

“But Grandmother, I am also Khan’s son. My thirteenth brother also has no maternal clan, so why can he compete while I cannot? Grandmother, please show me the way.”

Sumalagu knew Yintao's unwillingness as soon as she heard it. She didn't have much time left and couldn't talk to Yintao slowly. So she hardened her heart and spoke more clearly: "What do you have to compare with the thirteenth prince? Do you know who he is fighting for? He is fighting for the crown prince. He was personally trained by your father for the crown prince."

You say he has no maternal clan? Yes, he doesn't. But at the age of five or six, he managed to catch your father's eye before all his brothers by doing something seemingly ridiculous like sniffing his shoes while lying down.

And when he was thirteen, he used the loss of his mother to bring down the third prince who had just been granted the title of Prince. Not only did he not make your father despise him, but he also made your father feel sorry for him for losing his mother and send him to the side of the then-prominent Crown Prince. Just these two things alone, do you have such scheming and cunning?

If you think you have it, and you can too, then after I'm gone, you can try to use my death to fight for a position like his, by your Khan's side.

Furthermore, you should go and ask Fulton and the others whether they would prefer to follow you or the thirteenth prince; they are your brother-in-law.

After saying so much in one breath, Su Ma La Gu began to pant heavily. Yin Tao patted her back to help her catch her breath and promised, "Grandmother, I understand. I won't argue with them. Please don't be angry."

Seeing this, Sumalagu knew that he still harbored resentment. She closed her eyes, feeling somewhat tired, and said, "This is the last time I will teach you. I have said all I have to say. From now on, you will have to rely on yourself."

Your father is a good emperor; he has done a great job governing the Qing Dynasty very well. I have seen it all. When I see Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, I can slowly tell her about it.”

Qingwan and Ningyin did not linger outside the door. On the palace road, Ningyin said, "Grandmother Sumala will probably be gone in the next few days. Father Khan has not returned yet either."

Thinking about the several weddings this year, Qingwan couldn't help but sigh, "This year has really been a hectic one."

“That’s right, the Sixth Princess’s homecoming is in a few days, if it really is…” Ningyin said, glancing back at the scene.

Su Ma La Gu ultimately did not survive. On the seventh day of the ninth month, this legendary woman passed away in the Forbidden City. Several princes who were still in Beijing that day rushed to the palace, with Yin Zhi leading the way, and submitted a memorial to Emperor Kangxi.

When Qingwan heard the news of Sumalagu's death, she was doing needlework and did not go to the coffin. Since Yinxiang was not there, she did not know what the memorial jointly submitted by Yinzhi and others had asked for instructions on.

Because Lady Fucha accompanied Yin Tao at the memorial altar of Su Ma La Gu, Ning Yin came to talk to her every day. It was Ning Yin who told her about the memorial.

The two sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, with a carpet spread on the ground. The eldest princess was playing a game of nine-linked rings with Yinzhen's second son.

“She would be willing to send the child to you,” Ningyin couldn’t help but say, watching the eldest princess patiently playing with the second prince.

"Why wouldn't I be willing? Haven't I treated the eldest princess well?"

"Yes, yes, who is as generous as you, taking all the children to the two princesses?"

Qingwan only said, "In the forty-second year, the eldest daughter of Prince Zhi was granted the title of Heshuo Gege and married into the Khorchin.

Emperor Kangxi didn't have enough daughters to marry off, so in the future, the daughters and granddaughters of other princes and nobles were the ones he married off to through marriage alliances.

Ning Yin immediately understood what she meant: "Yes, she's just a girl, and they've even decided on her destination."

Qingwan then asked about Sumalagu's funeral arrangements: "What did the Third Prince and the others say in their memorial to the Emperor? It seems like the funeral arrangements for Grandmother have stopped."

With Yinzhen by her side, Ningyin naturally knew more than she did, so she said, "The brothers discussed that everyone except Fifth Brother, Tenth Brother, and our master should go to the funeral. However, the Emperor rejected this, saying that they would arrive in the capital on the 15th and then keep the coffins for another seven days until the Emperor returns to the capital."

As for the matter of the twelfth brother providing food and chanting scriptures, although there was no precedent to follow, the Emperor still approved it.

Kangxi is going back to the capital. Will Yinxiang also return to the capital? Qingwan couldn't help but wonder.