The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

Qingwan was surprised that the Eighth Prince's wife would ask this. She suddenly felt a little envious of the Eighth Prince's wife and seemed to understand why she asked the question. She probably wanted to find a companion.

She stared at the gemstone bonsai on the table, her vision slowly blurring. After blinking, her eyes cleared. This bonsai was one of the gifts Emperor Kangxi had bestowed upon her a couple of days ago, and it was the first time she had ever seen such an exquisite ornament.

When the Eighth Prince's wife saw Qingwan suddenly lost in thought, she didn't urge her. Instead, she followed Qingwan's gaze and saw the gemstone bonsai.

After a long while, Qingwan smiled and said, "My family only has my father as an official. Logically speaking, my father has been a minister for so many years, and there should be no successor in the family."

But my eldest brother died young, my younger brother was unruly, and my father had to support the whole family, so this was the first time I had ever seen something so exquisite.

This was a gift from my father when he returned to the palace a few days ago. He said it was a reward for my riding and archery skills, but the first thing he gave me was a pomegranate ornament. I only dared to look at it before I hurriedly had it taken to the storeroom and stored away carefully, afraid it would get bumped or knocked over.

"What does this matter have to do with you and your thirteenth brother, and with the Emperor's reward?"

"Then why did Eighth Sister-in-law come to ask me today? Aren't you and Eighth Brother very good together?"

As for the child, it can simply be adopted from one of the brothers later. The eighth brother is on good terms with the fourth, ninth, tenth, and fourteenth brothers, so they'll surely be happy to accept it.

The Eighth Prince's wife smiled bitterly: "Sister-in-law, there's no need for this. I meant no harm. Your situation is actually the best. I thought you could choose a different path, but I didn't expect you to be just like everyone else."

"The others?" Qingwan asked back, "Who are the other people in Eighth Sister-in-law's name? The Crown Princess, Fifth Sister-in-law, or Fourteenth Brother's wife?"

We cannot compare to Eighth Sister-in-law's noble family background, so we can only be cautious in our words and actions.

The Eighth Prince's wife was also somewhat uncomfortable after being assassinated one after another, especially since she was of noble status.

Her family background seemed glamorous, but it was all just a facade. The Prince An's mansion was in complete chaos, and apart from her maternal grandmother, no one cared about her. She only became the lady-in-waiting of the mansion after being betrothed to a prince.

After marrying Yinzhi, she thought her family background could be her support, but unexpectedly, after inadvertently offending the Ninth Princess, her family background became the point she couldn't mention the most.

People often mentioned her noble family background, but since she had started this whole thing herself, she decided to hold back and said:

"Everyone says that my sister-in-law is a gentle person, and she is always very amiable to my third sister-in-law. Today I have offended my sister-in-law."

Qingwan changed her posture and said, "I know what Eighth Sister-in-law means, but everyone has their own destiny. I can't help you with your suffering, and please don't say anything about my choice."

Having received her answer, the Eighth Prince's wife stood up and said, "Since that's the case, then I'll go back. I apologize to my brother and sister-in-law for what happened today."

Qingwan simply nodded, rose, and saw her to the door. Just as she thought the Eighth Prince's wife was about to turn and leave, the Eighth Prince's wife said another word:

"Are you curious about who your thirteenth brother keeps in his outer residence?"

“I’m not curious, nor am I interested. If you’re interested, Eighth Sister-in-law, I can ask the Thirteenth Prince for you.”

The Eighth Prince's wife tightened her grip on her handkerchief and said, "Thirteenth Brother is so lucky, and Fourteenth Brother is so lucky too."

Upon hearing this, even Mu Xiang nervously looked at Qing Wan, then stood behind her, reaching out her hand, fearing something might happen to Qing Wan.

Qingwan simply smiled faintly: "Thank you for the compliment, Eighth Sister-in-law. As for Fourteenth Sister-in-law, I don't know why you brought her up again, but I will pass on your message."

After the Eighth Prince's wife left, Mu Xiang looked at Qing Wan with concern and called out, "Prince's wife."

Hearing the reassuring tone in her words, Qingwan smiled and said, "It's alright. Let's ask the kitchen to make a special duck and tofu soup later. I don't know why, but I'm craving it."

"Then have the kitchen prepare two more dishes for Shi Jia's family, from my ration, as a reward."

"My lady, I'll send the others; I'll stay here and keep watch."

Qingwan shook her head: "Do you remember what I told you when Shijia entered the palace? This is nothing. If I care about everything, how will I live the next few decades?"

"It's alright, find me a book, like that one from before, 'Ping Shan Leng Yan,' I'll read for a while."

"Yes." Mu Xiang couldn't persuade her otherwise, so she had to leave.

However, Qingwan's wish to concentrate on reading was ultimately not fulfilled. After a while, Ningyin poked her head in and asked, "Thirteenth Sister-in-law, what are you doing? You seem so focused."

Qingwan put down her book and got up to greet her: "These little girls are really asking for trouble, they didn't even announce themselves."

Ning Yin pulled her to sit down: "What does this have to do with the little girl? I came uninvited, so I told them not to talk about it."

Seeing that someone was talking to Qingwan, Muxiang felt relieved and said while serving tea, "Fourteenth Princess, please plead for us."

Ningyin picked up her teacup and said with a smile, "Leave it to me, I definitely won't let your wife punish you."

After bowing deeply, Mu Xiang took her leave.

Ningyin then noticed the books on the kang table: "You have the leisure to read such books about talented men and beautiful women."

Your book is still the Thirteenth Prince's book. The Fourteenth Prince's study is full of military books. I can look at them occasionally, but I get bored after a while.

Every time he left the palace, he would ask me to bring these back, and he would always laugh at me for reading so many idle books.

Qingwan watched her flipping through the book and smiled, "I brought it into the palace myself. I asked the Thirteenth Prince to bring it. He didn't laugh at me, but I suspect he didn't even look at the book list I gave him. He sent a servant to do it."

On her few visits to Yinxiang's study, she noticed that his books were a mixed bag, covering various categories, but the oldest ones were mostly about water conservancy, probably because he had read them many times.

Ning Yin flipped to the very end before saying, "That makes sense. Thirteenth Brother doesn't look like someone who reads this kind of book."

Actually, this book is quite good. It tells the story of a talented man and a beautiful woman; although there are twists and turns, they ultimately achieve their goals.

Qingwan reached out and pointed at the book: "I've read quite a lot."

Ningyin nodded: "That's right." Seeing that Qingwan didn't look upset, she continued: "I thought you would be in a bad mood, but after you came in, I saw that you were still able to calm down and read. I guess you didn't take what your eighth sister-in-law said to heart."

"So they've contacted you too?"

"That's right. I wasn't as calm as you back then, and I couldn't take it out on her, so I could only sulk by myself."

But actually, I don't dislike her. I quite admire and respect her. If she can truly persevere, I'll only be happy for her. Ning Yin's voice gradually lowered until it was barely audible.

After a pause, Ningyin continued, "But I also pity her. This is clearly a matter between her and my eighth brother, but it's only her that's being talked about by others."

Qingwan nodded: "So I was only angry when she first started talking, and I felt a little offended, but I couldn't hate her."

Qingwan could understand the Eighth Prince's wife's struggles and why she needed to gain the approval of others.

However, she considered herself just an ordinary person among the masses and couldn't ignore other people's opinions, so she couldn't give the Eighth Prince's wife the answer she wanted.