The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

Yi Huan pulled the Eleventh Princess and said to Qing Wan, "Then I'll take my Eleventh Sister back first, and we can talk to my sister-in-law another day."

"Mm." Qingwan nodded, then said to the Eleventh Princess, "If you have nothing to do in the future, come and talk to us with your Tenth Sister."

The Eleventh Princess turned to look at Yi Huan, who nodded to her first and then said, "If you want anything in the future, just tell me and my Thirteenth Sister-in-law. If we don't have it, let my Thirteenth Brother go find it."

The eleventh princess smiled and said, "Thank you, tenth sister and thirteenth sister-in-law."

After Yi'an and the Eleventh Princess left, Qingwan suddenly smiled and said, "The princes in front are fighting fiercely, but the princesses in the harem seem to be getting along very well."

The next morning, Qingwan slept well and woke up when it was already bright. She lifted the curtain and called someone in.

Chenxiang entered with a smile: "The Princess Consort has been sleeping better and better lately, but she woke up at just the right time today, as the Master is in the outer courtyard."

Qingwan chuckled: "What are you saying? This is his yard, isn't it normal for him to be here?"

As Chenxiang helped her get dressed, he said, "Master is practicing his sword, and all the maids in the courtyard are too tired to walk."

Qingwan looked at the palace maid who came in carrying toiletries and raised her hand to give her a sharp tap on the forehead.

Chenxiang followed her and whispered an explanation: "I only told her this in front of the Fujin." If she hadn't always been so discreet, she would have been punished long ago.

After washing up, Qingwan also went outside, thinking of joining in the fun. In the courtyard, Yinxiang was shirtless, with a strong physique, broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He was indeed pleasing to the eye, quite different from how he looked in the candlelight.

Unfortunately, she arrived too late. After Yinxiang spun in the air and landed, he twirled his sword and sheathed it.

She raised an eyebrow in disappointment, then looked around at the palace maids and eunuchs. Fortunately, she wasn't the only one who was disappointed.

Although he doesn't have a partner, Yinxiang really looks like a peacock spreading its tail feathers right now.

After handing the sword to Zhang Rui, Yinxiang turned around and found Qingwan watching him from under the eaves, so he walked towards her.

At this moment, a palace maid was already beside Qingwan, carrying a basin and a handkerchief. She took the handkerchief offered to her and handed it to Yinxiang when he stopped at the steps. Watching him wipe his sweat, she smiled and said:

"You seem to be in a good mood today, but unfortunately I overslept and couldn't get a good look at such a beautiful woman." Qingwan's words were full of teasing.

"Beauty?" Yinxiang's words contained surprise and amusement. "The way you put it, Fujin, is really... unique."

Qingwan looked around without any attempt to hide it: "I'm not just making this up." Her actions made the others sweeping the courtyard seem even busier.

Yinxiang walked up the steps, leaned down and whispered in Qingwan's ear: "Is the Fujin jealous?"

Qingwan blinked and, mimicking Yinxiang, whispered in his ear, "Master, don't sleep too soundly tonight, or you'll miss out on a beauty throwing herself into your arms."

The two were acting very intimately, whispering sweet nothings to each other, and from a distance it looked like they were kissing. Even Zhang Rui turned his head away and glared at the others.

Yinxiang chuckled twice, put his arm around her waist, and Qingwan turned around and the two of them went inside together.

Afterwards, Qingwan slowly drank a bowl of porridge, while Yinxiang let others wipe his body. He looked at Qingwan's fair and jade-like hands from afar and suddenly felt a little regretful. He took the handkerchief, wiped his body haphazardly, and went to the study. Zhang Rui followed behind with clothes in his hands.

Qingwan watched Yinxiang's departing figure and smiled slowly. After leisurely finishing her porridge, she asked, "Has the master said anything about Shi Jia's side?"

Mu Xiang said, "No, I only mentioned it briefly when I returned to the palace that day and then I didn't say anything more. I also didn't say when I would bring him in. These past few days, whenever the master is in the palace, he stays alone in his study."

Qingwan then asked, "Are the rooms all ready? Have the people been chosen?"

"Everything is ready. The people were chosen according to the Princess Consort's instructions. They don't talk much, but they are eager to leave the palace to help out at home when they reach a certain age. Would the Princess Consort like to meet them?"

"Let her come to see me later. As for Shi Jia, have someone bring her in tomorrow."

Mu Xiang was somewhat surprised, thinking that Qing Wan would delay the date for Shi Jia's entry into the palace, but she did not ask any further questions.

In the afternoon, an unexpected person arrived at the prince's residence: Wei Zhu, a capable eunuch besides Liang Jiugong who served Emperor Kangxi.

Qingwan was surprised to see him enter: "Why is Eunuch Wei here? But the Emperor summoned the Thirteenth Prince. He is still in the study. I will send someone to fetch him."

"Greetings to the Princess Consort. This servant is not here for the Thirteenth Prince." With that, Wei Zhu made way for the people behind her: "This is a reward that the Princess Consort received when she was on the grasslands. This servant has come to deliver this reward today."

As he spoke, a palace maid behind him presented her with a tray. She picked up the red silk and looked at it; it was the pomegranate ornament that Kangxi had mentioned that day. Behind her, she also saw some medicinal herbs and silks.

She raised her hand and gently ran it over the pomegranate, and also noticed that the wound on the wrist of the palace maid holding the tray had begun to fester.

This palace maid had met Emperor Kangxi several times and had taken a liking to him. Feeling sorry for her, she said, "Muxiang, take the things with your men, and then take this girl to put them away."

Upon seeing this, Wei Zhu said, "In that case, this servant will take the others back first."

After Wei Zhu and the others left, Qing Wan asked Chen Xiang to fetch the medicine and wait for Mu Xiang to return with his men.

After the two returned, Qingwan called them to her side and said, "Pull up your sleeves so I can see."

The palace maid covered her sleeve and said, "This servant deserves to die; I have offended the Princess's eyes."

Qingwan gestured for Muxiang to help her up: "Don't worry, I just noticed your hand is injured."

The palace maid rolled up her sleeves and said, "I was just scalded by water, and I've already applied medicine."

Qingwan took a closer look and saw that medicine had indeed been applied, but it was as if no medicine had been applied at all. She didn't do it herself, but only asked Chenxiang to bring clean water to clean the wound and reapply the medicine.

The palace maid was a little embarrassed when she saw this: "Let the ladies above use the best medicine first."

Qingwan just smiled and said, "I remember you. You're from the flower dew room. Last time I sent someone to get some flower dew, you were the one who told the people around me which kind the princess liked."

When Qingwan said to remember her, the palace maid felt a secret expectation in her heart.

But she quickly suppressed her anger: "Yes, although I cannot serve at the front, I must still know the masters' preferences."

The Eighth Princess, the Thirteenth Prince, and his wife mostly enjoyed the tea, but although the Tenth Princess wasn't picky, this servant knew that she especially loved the floral dew from the south, particularly rose dew.

When it came to Yi Huan, she became noticeably more talkative. She only knew that the other three liked to drink light tea, but she didn't know what kind of tea it was. However, she accurately remembered that Yi Huan liked the rose dew that was presented as tribute from Jiangnan.

Qingwan pondered for a moment, then asked with a smile, "You seem quite concerned about the Tenth Princess's affairs."

The palace maid said, "We servants do rough work, and our hands often get injured. The princess is kind-hearted, and sometimes when she sees this, she will give us medicine."

Muxiang laughed and said, "Sister, you can brew tea in front of the emperor, so how come you're still doing rough work?"

The palace maid laughed and said, "Sister, you are joking. There is no place for us palace maids in front of His Majesty. It is all the servants who serve him. Besides, everyone has to work their way up from the bottom."

This was just a casual act of kindness from Qingwan, and she didn't think much of it. However, after the palace maid returned, Wei Zhu summoned her and asked, "Has the Princess Consort given you medicine?"

"Yes," the girl replied, holding the wrist where the medicine was being applied and her head bowed.

Wei Zhu said, "Whether it's a princess or a Fujin, this is just their occasional act of kindness. Your family background is not outstanding, nor are you an outstanding person, so don't overthink it, otherwise these two will be the first to make things difficult for you."

"Yes."