The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

Yinxiang listened to their discussion without saying anything. Since Moyaqi had already completed her first birthday celebration, he didn't plan to keep her any longer.

The end of the banquet did not mean that the people around Emperor Kangxi had also left.

He also took time to come back today, and before getting up to leave, he asked Yi Huan, "Are you coming with me?"

Yi Huan reluctantly stood up: "Let's go."

Qingwan simply smiled as she saw the siblings off, harboring no resentment or other dissatisfaction. Just as Yinxiang had said before, now was not the time for him to relax and play with the children.

For a prince, the most important thing is naturally the emperor's favor.

If the time for the baby's first birthday celebration hadn't been predetermined, none of the group, including Qingwan, would have considered leaving early.

Yinxiang was able to leave only because he informed Kangxi in advance. Fortunately, he had previously asked Kangxi to bestow a name upon Moyaqi, so it wouldn't be abrupt to ask again.

After the two left, Qingwan also sent Fuling back with the two children, leaving Mingxin alone.

It's best to keep your distance from Hongchang and Yinxiang when they're not around.

Because it was Emperor Kangxi's birthday first, and then Moyaqi's first birthday celebration, she ate dinner later than usual, but she still didn't see Yinxiang.

During the meal, she first rewarded everyone in the courtyard with food, and then gave them two months' worth of monthly allowance.

The people in the courtyard naturally came to kowtow and express their gratitude, which made things lively for a while.

As the day of Yinxiang's departure drew closer, Yingyu, who usually followed Yinxiang around, stopped going near Qingwan.

She had a vague guess in her mind and was just waiting to confirm it.

The wait continued until the day for paying respects.

To be honest, paying respects to Qingwan is actually a rather boring thing.

Qingwan didn't care how Yinxiang, Fuling, and Yingyu got along.

It's unclear whether Yinxiang considered them suitable concubines, but for Qingwan, they were the perfect concubines for her at that moment.

At least the two of them didn't engage in any underhanded tactics; they only exchanged a few sarcastic remarks when greeting each other.

The reason they didn't make any underhanded moves was because neither of them had any trusted confidants, and Qingwan would know everything they did.

If Qingwan knew, it meant that Yinxiang knew too, and no one wanted to test Yinxiang's bottom line.

Qingwan never participated in the verbal disputes between the two when they paid their respects. If there was tea, she would hold it in her hand; in winter, she would hold a hot water bottle or a hand warmer; or at the very least, she would read a book.

If she was listening, Qingwan's expression was truly dazed, as if she were in a daze.

If they didn't listen, but a few words occasionally dragged Qingwan or Moyaqi into it, Qingwan would immediately realize that what awaited them was copying scriptures and kneeling on the scriptures.

The reason was quite valid: the ladies in the palace were celebrating their birthdays, and the scriptures they copied were birthday gifts.

She did try to complain to Yinxiang, but Yinxiang gently told the two of them that they had worked hard.

As for whether it was a real birthday gift, they didn't know. Anyway, they couldn't go, and what to give and how to give it was never something the two of them could interfere with.

Furthermore, if we insist on pinpointing which concubine it was given to, there are so many concubines in the palace, it's hard to say who it was given to. With so many concubines in the palace, you can always find one or two celebrating their birthdays every month.

After a while, the two learned their lesson and started fighting amongst themselves. Once Qingwan had had enough, she would send them away.

Today was no different; the two started arguing again over who should leave the palace with Yinxiang.

However, Fuling has never left the palace since she had the eldest prince, while Yingyu usually goes with her to serve her after Yingyu enters the palace.

So whenever the two of them argued, Fuling would always end up bringing up the two children, but Yingyu would always say something sarcastic.

But today, Yingyu was unusually quiet. Fuling noticed this and, after saying a few words, found it boring and shut up.

Qingwan simply waved for the two to leave.

Then he called Muxiang over: "Go ask the people around Yingyu if there's anything wrong with her."

"Does Your Highness suspect that Princess Shijia is pregnant? Should we summon the imperial physician to examine her?"

"No need for now. I know a bit about her family situation. She's always wanted a child to support herself and give her mother back."

So there are always a lot of little things going on when the master is going out, but things have been quiet lately.

As for the imperial physician," Qingwan hesitated for a moment before saying, "let's wait for news."

A few days later, Yingyu's maid came to talk to Muxiang.

After hearing this, Mu Xiang went straight to Qing Wan and said, "They said that Shi Jia Gege's period is almost ten days late."

The girl was afraid of making a mistake, so she waited so many days before reporting it.

Shi Jia Gege had probably guessed as much, and had been very cautious in her actions during this period.

"I understand. Did Your Highness leave the palace today, or is he still in the palace?"

"Today, His Highness went to the Southern Study with the Crown Prince and also bestowed seasonal fruits upon the ministers."

"It's fine if he's in the palace. Have someone go and tell the prince that the kitchen has served his favorite dishes today, and ask if he wants to wait for him to eat."

"Yes, slave, go right away."

A little while later, a young eunuch returned to report: "Reporting to the Princess Consort, the Master said he has other matters to attend to and may not be able to return for dinner."

"Tell the lady not to wait for the master; he will return to the main room tonight."

Qingwan nodded, as long as she got Yinxiang's permission to return to the main house that night.

In the evening, while it was still slightly light, Yinxiang returned to his room. As soon as he entered, he waved his hand to stop everyone from paying their respects.

When she entered the bedroom, Qingwan tilted her head slightly and unbuttoned the top few buttons of her clothes, revealing a pure white undergarment underneath.

Even though only a sliver of her fair neck was visible, it somehow reminded Yinxiang of their past intimacy.

Qingwan turned around slightly and saw Yinxiang hurriedly buttoning up her clothes: "Your Highness, you didn't say a word when you came back. Look at me now."

Yinxiang then noticed that she was wearing a bright red dress with a single flower and butterfly pattern. Qingwan rarely wore such a bright color, and now she was standing under the candlelight.

Yinxiang felt as if this fire had burned into his heart.

He stepped forward, took Qingwan's hand, and said with a smile, "Why are you still buttoning it up? You'll be resting soon. Aren't you tired of this?"

Qingwan lowered her head slightly upon hearing this, revealing her blushing ears, and said softly, "I have already asked someone to prepare water. Please go and wash up first, Master."

After Yinxiang left, Qingwan slowly changed her clothes.

In the middle of the night, after the two washed off their sweat and lay in bed, Yinxiang remembered that Qingwan must have sent someone to find him earlier that day for a reason.

He leaned against the headboard, half-sitting and half-reclined, and asked, "Do you have something to tell me today?"

After waiting a while and not hearing any sound, he called out again, "Qingwan."

Then he felt Qingwan rubbing against him. He looked down and found that Qingwan had her eyes closed, looking like she had been disturbed.

He reached out and brushed away the stray hairs that had fallen over Qingwan's eyes, only to find that Qingwan was even more impatient and buried her head in his chest, snuggling closer.

He slowly moved his hand down from Qingwan's face and patted her back twice, waiting for Qingwan's furrowed brows to slowly relax.

He gently slid into the covers and lay down. He tilted his head and looked at the still-burning candlelight for a while, then reached out and hugged the person in his arms, slowly tightening his embrace before closing his eyes and falling asleep.