The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

Qingwan was somewhat puzzled. She had always been grateful for the actions of the Fourth and Eighth Prince's wives on the day of the family reunion, but she wasn't very familiar with the Eighth Prince's wife.

In other words, they would only exchange a few words at banquets or when paying respects to each other. She interacted more with Lady Fucha and Ningyin, who were also in the palace, so why was the Eighth Prince's wife waiting for her?

However, she didn't think much of it and asked with a smile, "Does Eighth Sister-in-law need something from me? You can just send someone to let me know."

The Eighth Prince's wife said, "I only visited the Thirteenth Brother's place when you got married. Why don't you invite me over today, Sister-in-law? It's been a year since you entered the family, and we haven't had a proper conversation."

Besides, even if something happens, this isn't the place to talk. What do you think, Thirteenth Sister-in-law?

The Eighth Prince's wife was already assertive, and these words, coming from her mouth, sounded somewhat aggressive.

Qingwan tried to recall if anything had happened at the Eighth Prince's residence recently, but she couldn't figure it out, so she said, "Then please, Eighth Sister-in-law."

The two of them went together to the prince's residence.

As soon as Qingwan entered, she was embraced by Mingxin, who was playing in the yard.

"Greetings to the Princess Consort." Mingxin held onto her leg tightly, saying the words of greeting.

Mingxin is still young and not settled yet, so people address her differently, sometimes as "Fujin" and sometimes as "Emei".

She didn't understand why she had two foreheads, so she started calling Qingwan Fujin after the people around her.

Qingwan didn't deliberately correct her on what to call her.

Looking at Mingxin, whose face was covered in smears from playing, Qingwan bent down slightly and took her hand: "We have guests today. Mingxin, do you remember what I taught you to do when you meet guests?"

Mingxin nodded, then looked at the Eighth Prince's wife, tilted her head and looked at her for a while before saying in confusion, "But I don't know her."

Qingwan kept smiling as she looked at Mingxin, and only after Mingxin asked did she softly reply, "It's Eighth Aunt."

Mingxin released Qingwan's hand and bowed, imitating what her wet nurse had taught her: "Greetings to Eighth Aunt."

From the moment Mingxin threw herself into Qingwan's arms, the Eighth Prince's wife's gaze towards Qingwan was always complicated. When Qingwan taught Mingxin how to greet her, her gaze towards Qingwan was even more full of incomprehension.

But she still responded to Mingxin softly, just like Qingwan, looked at her hand for a while, and then took off a bracelet and handed it to Mingxin:

"Auntie forgot to bring you a gift, how about you take this?"

Mingxin didn't take it until she saw Qingwan nod, then she accepted it: "Thank you, Eighth Aunt."

Qingwan patted her head: "Mingxin was very good today, go play." She then instructed the wet nurse and the other palace maids and eunuchs: "Keep a close eye on the princess, don't let her fall."

After Mingxin ran out, Qingwan said to the Eighth Prince's wife, "Eighth Sister-in-law, let's go."

Upon entering, tea had already been prepared. The Eighth Princess Consort was the first to dismiss her attendants, and Qingwan followed suit, asking Muxiang and the others to leave as well.

After everyone else had left, the Eighth Prince's wife did not rush to speak, but seemed to be savoring tea. Qingwan also remained silent, and the two of them just stayed like that.

Seeing that Qingwan lacked any sense of propriety and that it was she who had suggested going to the prince's residence, the Eighth Prince's wife had no choice but to speak first: "Is that the eldest princess of the Thirteenth Prince? The Thirteenth Prince has never taken her out before, and this is the first time I've seen her."

Qingwan then replied, "The child is still young, and the Thirteenth Prince is not capable of taking care of children. How can we let him take him out?"

The Eighth Prince's wife didn't call out Qingwan's polite words. How could anyone with a bit of status take care of a child personally? There would be a wet nurse to take care of him.

“You treat that child so well,” the Eighth Prince’s wife said again. “That child seems to be close to you, and you’ve raised her very well.”

"I wouldn't say I taught her. I just play with her occasionally. It's just that the child is smart and she's willing to put in the effort to teach her." Seeing that the Eighth Princess was not yet going to explain the purpose of her visit, Qingwan chatted with her casually.

"You're quite good to the illegitimate daughter."

Seeing that the conversation had come back to the same point, Qingwan said helplessly, "Whether she's good or bad, she's still a grandson of the emperor. The rules are set here. Besides, when she grows up, she'll have to submit her nameplate and wait for the emperor to arrange her marriage. Why should I make things difficult for her? After all, she called me 'Empress' once, and I also hope she's doing well."

After a pause, Qingwan asked, "What brings you here today, Eighth Sister-in-law?"

The Eighth Prince's wife said, "I heard that you have a new concubine here. Did the Thirteenth Prince ask for her?"

Tsk, she'd been asked twice today, and Qingwan was getting impatient: "What, does Eighth Sister-in-law have a past with her? I've never heard her mention it. What kind of relationship would make Eighth Sister-in-law come to ask? Why don't you let her come and meet you?"

"Someone come here!" Qingwan called out after saying that.

"What are your orders, Madam?" Mu Xiang immediately entered and replied.

The Eighth Prince's wife was stunned for a moment, then said, "Sister-in-law, there's no need to be angry. I was just curious, not that I wanted to see her."

Qingwan waved her hand, and Muxiang withdrew again.

The Eighth Prince's wife then said, "Today, Liang'e specially summoned me to the palace. I have been childless for many years, and no other woman in the Prince's household has become pregnant. People outside say that I am jealous and will not let go of the harem."

This naturally included Consort Liang, the birth mother of the Prince. I knew she disliked me in various ways, so she didn't want me to enter the palace either—out of sight, out of mind.

After speaking, the Eighth Princess Consort looked at Qingwan's expression and found that she remained indifferent, showing neither curiosity nor impatience.

The Eighth Prince's wife smiled and continued, "This time she suddenly summoned me to the palace, and her words were full of praise for how virtuous and kind the Thirteenth Prince's wife is."

That's when I learned that although you were pregnant, you didn't act tough at all. Instead, you made all the arrangements inside and out, so that the thirteenth brother had no worries.

My thirteenth sister-in-law's magnanimity, however, allowed me to suffer quite a bit of humiliation.

Qingwan was uncomfortable sitting, so she simply leaned back on the pillow. Anyway, she was pregnant: "Eighth Sister-in-law, what you said is so meaningless. It's not like I'm the only one who does this. Every sister-in-law does it this way. How come you dare to come to me and ask me?"

Perhaps they think I'm a pushover, from a humble background, and without a mother-in-law to protect me—that I must have a temper.

The Eighth Prince's wife smiled and said, "How could I dare? Everyone says that my sister-in-law and the Thirteenth Prince have a deep and loving relationship. If my sister-in-law accidentally reveals this to the Thirteenth Prince, it would be bad if he became dissatisfied with me."

Qingwan laughed too: "I think Eighth Sister-in-law is mocking me. Everyone in the capital knows that Eighth Brother and Eighth Sister-in-law are the true couple with a deep and loving relationship. Eighth Brother only cares about Eighth Sister-in-law."

Hearing her say this, the Eighth Prince's wife suddenly felt a little discouraged: "What I really wanted to ask was, sister-in-law, you are on good terms with the two princesses, and the thirteenth brother treats you better every day."

The Emperor did not bestow people upon the Thirteenth Brother casually, and the Thirteenth Brother had no personal relatives. Therefore, he had only one woman from the Guarjia clan by his side for so many years. Now that you are pregnant, as long as nothing unexpected happens, you will have children in the future.

So, sister-in-law, I'm really curious, how did you manage to be so willing and calm as to bring the new bride into the palace?