The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

Snowflakes were still falling outside. A young palace maid led the way with a lantern, while Muxiang supported Qingwan behind her. Muxiang's hands were very steady, and even if Qingwan slipped, she could catch her immediately.

Two other people followed closely behind.

When Qingwan arrived at Fuling's room, Yingyu was already waiting outside. Yingyu herself was not important, but she couldn't not show up, especially since she lived right across from Fuling.

Qingwan simply gestured for her to stand up: "Go back, it's a mess here, she understands your feelings."

"Yes." Yingyu glanced inside and didn't insist any further.

Upon entering, Qingwan saw that everything was in perfect order and asked one of the midwives, "How is the concubine's wife?"

"Don't worry, Madam. This isn't your first time giving birth, and the baby is in the correct position. I expect you will have a safe delivery."

"Well, that's good. Just tell me what you need, but please prioritize the concubine and the child."

"Don't worry, Your Highness, we servants know what we're doing."

Because of the midwife's words, Qingwan thought that Fuling's delivery would go smoothly, but there was still no news until almost midnight. Muxiang, who was by her side, also advised her:

"Princess, please go back and rest. I will stay here and keep watch. I will come back to inform you as soon as I have any news."

"Yes, Madam, it's not good for you to keep going like this."

Moreover…” Chen Xiang didn’t finish his sentence. Although Fu Ling didn’t scream, the occasional cries of pain must have made Qing Wan very uncomfortable. Qing Wan had been frowning ever since she entered the room and rarely relaxed her brows.

Qingwan was also about to leave when Fuling's cries of pain made her heart pound.

As soon as she got up, she heard the midwife exclaim, "The concubine is exhausted."

Then Xiying rushed out and said, "Madam, the concubine says she wants to see you."

Qingwan sighed softly and then went into the delivery room, while Fuling lay on the bed covered in sweat.

The stench of blood in the room made Qingwan unconsciously pick up a handkerchief and cover her nose.

Upon seeing Qingwan enter, Fuling weakly said, "Madam, the child..."

Qingwan shook her head slightly: "You heard what Master said on the day he left. I can't make decisions about you and the child, so if it really comes to that, I will do as Master instructed."

"If I really can't go on, please, my wife, save my child."

"You know, right, that this is a prince, the eldest son of the master." Fuling looked at Qingwan from her bed.

Qingwan tried to soften her tone: "Your maternal love is truly admirable, but things haven't reached the point of no return yet. The midwife and the imperial physician are both here to help."

Besides, I have already given the order that all the medicinal herbs are at your disposal; you don't need to do this.

With tears streaming down her face, Fu Ling shook her head: "I can feel my life slowly slipping away. I don't know what to do. I have no strength left, but my child hasn't come out yet."

"My wife is a kind-hearted person; I've seen that this past year, so I'm relieved."

Qingwan sat down beside her and whispered, "I've already asked someone to cook some ginseng soup. You'll have more energy after you drink it."

If you insist on protecting the child, I won't stop you, but I'm afraid you're mistaken about the fact that I'm a good person. I just don't want my hands to be dirty.

As for your child, people's hearts are all crooked, and so am I.

I am the child's legal mother, so I will let him grow up well, but that's all. As for what kind of person he becomes, I don't care.

As for the master, Yingyu will become pregnant in the future, and there might be a second Guarjia, Fuca, or Daijia. The master will have more and more children.

The eldest son is not as important as you think, and don't expect your child to receive more pity from the grandfather because of the loss of his mother; the others will not allow it.

Having spent so many years in the palace, you should know what kind of life a prince lives without a mother's love or the protection of his maternal family.

That's all I have to say. Take care of yourself.

Fuling wanted to say something, but Qingwan placed her hand on her lips and gently wiped away her tears: "The midwife said you're just exhausted, so don't waste your energy on these pointless things. I'll go out first."

After they left, Qingwan was still worried and asked the midwife and the imperial physician, "What is the condition of the concubine? Think it through before you speak."

The midwife said, "The baby's condition is indeed very good. We didn't expect that the concubine would be so exhausted so quickly."

"What do you think, Imperial Physician?"

"There is no certainty about childbirth. If the concubine cannot give birth smoothly, we will have to use strong medicine. However, the concubine's body may have difficulty conceiving again in the future."

"It's alright, just take the medicine. The Thirteenth Prince and I won't blame you."

Then another palace maid entered: "The ginseng soup is ready."

After the imperial physician examined her, Qingwan said, "Take her in. Xiying, try to persuade your master not to do anything rash. Only by staying alive can you hope for the future."

After coming out, Qingwan did not rush to leave, but sat back on the heated kang.

Seeing this, Muxiang asked worriedly, "Madam, aren't you going back?"

Qingwan closed her eyes wearily: "Let's wait a little longer. I don't want anything to happen to her; it will only make me think about my future."

Mu Xiang squatted down in front of her and gently comforted her: "No, the imperial physician said that you are just overthinking things because you are pregnant."

The concubine is in this state because of this; let's all listen to the imperial physician.

Shall I get you some snacks to tide you over?

Qingwan nodded: "Go ahead." She really couldn't calm down right now.

Mu Xiang gave Chen Xiang a wink before leaving.

The room returned to its original state, with basins of bloody water being carried out one after another. Chenxiang simply lowered the curtain to block Qingwan's view.

It wasn't until the clock struck midnight.

Then there was another commotion in the delivery room. The midwife said excitedly, "We can see the little master's head. The concubine followed our instructions and pushed. The little master will be out soon."

Qingwan couldn't help but peek out, but could only see shadowy figures behind the curtain.

About fifteen minutes later, the sound of a baby crying came. Qingwan breathed a sigh of relief, got up and went over. She saw the midwife and wet nurse carrying the baby to wash off the dirt.

Inside, the imperial physician was taking her pulse. Only after he withdrew his hand did she ask, "How is she?"

"Replying to Madam, it's nothing, just that you'll need to rest well in the future." Qingwan was relieved: "That's good, go and collect your reward."

"Thank you, Madam." The prince's concubines were not considered proper masters to them. In the past, when he went to other princes' palaces to take the pulse of the prince's concubines, he would occasionally receive a reward. Today, he had stayed up half the night, so after thinking about it for a while, he did not refuse.

On the other side, after the wet nurse washed the eldest prince clean, she brought him to Qingwan's side and lifted the swaddling clothes to let Qingwan see him.

This was to allow Qingwan to confirm the child's gender, whether he had any disabilities, or whether he had any birthmarks. Only after Qingwan nodded did the wet nurse wrap up the eldest prince and bring him to Fuling's bedside.

Then someone else presented a tray with a piece of paper on it, which recorded the eldest prince's identity and birth time.

The eldest son of the Thirteenth Prince, born on the sixteenth day of the eleventh month of the Bingxu year of the Kangxi reign (1696), at midnight. His birth mother was a concubine of the Guarjia clan.

After Qingwan finished speaking, she put the tray back on and said, "Send it to the Imperial Household Department at dawn tomorrow."

"Yes."

After everything was done, Qingwan turned to Muxiang and said in a relaxed tone, "Let's go back."