The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

"Yes," Qingwan agreed readily.

This time, it was Yinxiang who was stunned. He really didn't expect Qingwan to agree without saying anything: "What did you just say?"

"If you're willing to call me that, I'm happy to oblige," Qingwan said lazily, leaning against him.

"You."

The two remained silent for a while, then Yinxiang asked again, "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"I wonder how anxious the master's confidante in the outer quarters must be right now, probably with nowhere to turn for help."

With your discerning eye, she must be a rare beauty. Just thinking about such a beauty makes my heart ache.

Who knows, one day your friends or political enemies might find a way to send someone in. It seems I've come at an inopportune time, interrupting the young lady's heartfelt confession to you.

Yinxiang was amused by Qingwan's shameless words and immediately accused her of having a mistress: "How come I don't know where I kept any confidante?"

Qingwan, determined to be shameless, replied, "Who knows? The amount of money Master takes from the outer residence every month is not small."

"I am, after all, a prince. It's not unreasonable for me to have a few advisors," Yinxiang explained helplessly.

"Oh," Qingwan replied perfunctorily.

Yinxiang was annoyed by her attitude and said, "You've been thinking about this for a long time, haven't you? You've finally gotten the answer out of me."

"Don't you think about it? If I had a mistress I was keeping outside, no one would want to send her to me at this crucial moment, except for those who want to completely crush me in front of the Khan." As he said this, a cold glint flashed in Yinxiang's eyes.

"I thought the master would praise her for being affectionate, at least that's what I thought."

Qingwan naturally couldn't see the coldness that flashed in Yinxiang's eyes; she was asking what was on her mind.

Yinxiang snorted coldly: "I am a prince, after all. If there really is such a person, I may shamelessly try to pull him to my side, but that doesn't mean Father won't mind."

If you need the Khan's permission to come, and there really is someone who makes a scene in front of the Khan and the Khan agrees, then it can only mean that the Khan completely despises me, so he can tolerate this blatant slap in my face.

No, it's not just disgust, it's hatred. My father hates me because of my second brother. How am I supposed to face him in the future? In the last sentence, Yinxiang was filled with melancholy.

"For the Crown Prince?" Qingwan thought to herself, wanting to ask Yinxiang what had happened this time, but hearing the strange tone in Yinxiang's voice, she didn't ask.

Yinxiang continued, "This time when I was imprisoned, apart from the first few days, Father Khan did not actually treat me harshly."

You can come, Fuling and Yingyu can come too, and I can even choose which palace maid to stay and serve, but it can't be someone from outside whose identity is unknown.

Even if someone like that came, I might initially be moved and grateful for what she did.

But I can't guarantee that I won't think of her when I see her in the future. She came because I have been completely rejected by my father.

I've never considered myself a gentleman, and I can't guarantee how long this feeling will last. After all, wanting to be good to her and being obligated to be good to her are different things.

Qingwan listened to him sullenly, then buried her face in Yinxiang's arms and said, "Your Highness is quite frank."

Yinxiang just chuckled, his body trembling slightly with laughter: "You are different, unlike any of them."

"Is it because I was betrothed by the Emperor? But when I first entered the family, the Master treated me very coldly. Every time Fuling called, I would leave. I thought Fuling was the one who was the most beloved in the Master's heart."

Yinxiang laughed again, then sighed, "I don't believe that's what you think."

"Actually, when you first came into the family, I didn't really like you, nor did I like this marriage. From my point of view, this marriage was excellent, but from my personal point of view, it was not good."

Yinxiang spoke these words lightly, but to Qingwan, they were like a bolt from the blue. A startling thought flashed through her mind about what had happened to Yinxiang. She sat up abruptly, her fingernails digging into Yinxiang's arm in her anxiety: "You..."

Yinxiang knew what she was thinking at a glance. He stopped her from saying anything more, pulled her into his arms again, and whispered, "I know what you're thinking, but this matter has nothing to do with what you're thinking."

Yinxiang pondered for a moment before continuing, "It's impossible for us princes to say that we don't care about Father Khan's chair at all; it's just that we care more or less depending on our own circumstances."

I am no exception. I have no reliable maternal family, so I thought I could have a powerful wife's family, just like my brother. You should have heard of him. My brother's engagement banquet was held at the Prince An's Mansion. Even now, the Prince An's Mansion is privately headed by my brother.

Although your father is a high-ranking official, your clan is too weak. What I want is a wife whose clan can be used by me and can only be used by me. Unfortunately, your father has a deep connection with the lineage of Suo'etu.

As for the marriage with you, although I guessed my father's intention, this step is extremely dangerous, and a slight misstep could lead to an abyss.

For example, this time, you might not believe it, but I actually didn't do anything.

Qingwan could only comfort him: "Your position is difficult to hold. If the Crown Prince makes a mistake, it's wrong whether you do it or not. It all depends on the Emperor's decision."

Yinxiang smiled wryly and continued, "I once thought of giving you the same respect as Fifth Brother and taking good care of you in the mansion."

Later, my sister said, "You and I both had no choice," which made me think about spending time with you and waiting for the future.

Yinxiang himself hadn't expected that falling in love with his wife Qingwan would be such a natural thing for him, let alone that she had come all the way to Yangfeng Alley today. Even though he knew that Qingwan's original intention might not have been to accompany him, her presence was enough.

In the palace, Qingwan had not returned for a long time, and Moyaqi was crying and making a fuss. Even Aunt Yan was getting restless and was about to send someone to inquire when Muxiang returned first.

Upon seeing Aunt Yan, Mu Xiang wiped away her tears, but remained relatively calm: "His Majesty has ordered that the Princess Consort go to accompany him. I came back first to pack my things. After I finish packing, I will also go to the Princess Consort and the Master's place."

Chenxiang quickly grabbed her: "I'll go too."

Mu Xiang simply shook her head: "This is not something we can decide. You stay in the palace and take good care of the princess with Aunt Yan. The princess is what the Fujin is most worried about."

As they were talking, Fuling and Yingyu's people naturally arrived as well. Muxiang quickly explained the matter and then said, "The Fujin instructed that the concubine Fujin knows Yan Yi's identity and asked Yan Yi to help the concubine Fujin manage the affairs in the courtyard."

Especially regarding the affairs of our main wife and the second princess, we'll leave those to Aunt Yan for now. Second wife, listen carefully, this is not the time for you to play tricks.”

These words were naturally not spoken by Qingwan, nor did she have time to explain to Muxiang. Muxiang was able to calm everyone down before speaking.

The more you say, the more mistakes you make, so Mu Xiang and the others didn't say anything more to Fu Ling about it and went about their own business.

After returning home, Fuling recalled Qingwan asking her before she left if she wanted to go to Yinxiang's side. She had chosen two children. Now, holding Hongchang, she sighed:

"Now there's really no way to compete." He then looked at the two children: "You two must make your father proud."

After learning about this, Yingyu lay motionless on the bed. If she had previously hoped that Qingwan would return with Yinxiang, she now knew that hope was lost.

The wet nurse stood to one side, holding the second prince, looking somewhat helpless.

The Second Prince was weak, and his cries were not as loud as those of other children. It was thought that he would receive more love from his mother, but Yingyu never held him again after seeing his weakness the next day and learning from the imperial physician that the child was not easy to raise.

However, the wet nurse and the maidservant wanted to hold the child and get closer to Yingyu, so they would bring the Second Prince to Yingyu's side every day and talk to her about the child.

But she rarely received a response from Yingyu. Seeing Yingyu's expression and the Second Prince crying, the wet nurse prepared to leave with the child, but Yingyu was faster than her.

She rolled over, threw the pillow next to her away, and screamed, "Get out! Take me out!"