The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

After placing her on the bed, Yinxiang leaned down and massaged Qingwan's calves. Although it hurt, he thought it would help her heal faster.

Outside the door, Mu Xiang and Zhang Rui exchanged glances before knocking and asking, "Master, Madam, would you like Zhang Rui and me to come in and serve you?"

Qingwan said, "Come in."

This was the scene that Mu Xiang and her companion saw when they entered. She quickly stepped forward and half-squatted in front of Qing Wan, saying, "Master, please let me do it. My strength will make you more comfortable."

After receiving a hint from Liang Jiugong, she and Zhang Rui stayed inside the house and did not come out.

After Kangxi left, the two of them intended to go out, but when they saw Yinxiang and Qingwan in the courtyard, they didn't move. It wasn't until they saw Qingwan being carried into the house by Yinxiang that the two of them came over.

Qingwan then said to Zhang Rui, "Take the medicine out of the cabinet and apply it to your master."

Seeing that he could only use it once more, Yinxiang asked Zhang Rui to find someone to send the medicine over.

When night fell, Qingwan couldn't sleep because of what happened during the day and because she missed her child. She stared blankly at the top of the tent.

Although Yinxiang was asleep, he was not sleeping soundly, and kept talking in his sleep. Qingwan reached out to touch him and found his hand was covered in sweat.

She patted Yinxiang, but he didn't wake up. He was still muttering in his sleep, calling out "Father!"

She pushed Yinxiang twice more, and Yinxiang slowly woke up.

Seeing this, Qingwan stepped over Yinxiang and got out of bed. She rubbed a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Yinxiang's forehead: "Did you have a nightmare? I called your name a few times but you didn't wake up. I saw you were uncomfortable, so I had to wake you up. The water is cold, but you can make do with it."

After regaining consciousness, Yinxiang kept staring at Qingwan, and even when Qingwan got out of bed, his gaze followed her.

"Hmm..." Before Qingwan could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a hot breath. Yinxiang had already pressed down on her heavily, unlike his previous tenderness, and was somewhat rough.

Too much haste made her uncomfortable, and she began to struggle, trying to push Yinxiang away.

But Yinxiang's actions became increasingly urgent. Gradually, Qingwan stopped struggling and gently opened her lips to respond and comfort her. Sensing her response, Yinxiang became even more anxious, as if he wanted to devour her whole.

After an unknown amount of time, Qingwan was finally able to breathe smoothly. Yinxiang leaned on her shoulder, panting heavily, but not because of lust.

“I had a dream,” Yinxiang said slowly. “In the dream, there was you, my mother, my sister, several children, my father, and my second brother.” He stopped there.

"Mm," Qingwan responded softly. "It's all in the past." She didn't try to comfort Yinxiang, or rather, she didn't know how to comfort him.

The medicine they ordered arrived the next day. I don't know what they said to their superiors, but from that day on, Yinxiang was spared the punishment of kneeling.

Aside from Qingwan always worrying about the children in the palace, the two of them lived a peaceful and quiet life while trapped in the palace.

Emperor Kangxi did not stay in the palace for long. A few days later, he led his concubines to go hunting in Nanyuan.

Yi Huan did not accompany the emperor, but she visited the prince's residence more and more frequently.

Mingxin and Hongchang were indeed by her side, as for Moyaqi, although Yihuan knew that with Aunt Yan watching over her, no one would dare to mistreat her.

But Yi Huan also mocked herself, saying that people's hearts are always biased. She was close to Qing Wan, and Qing Wan cared more about her child than the other three children.

Moyaqi was an energetic child, and she would cry and fuss from time to time even though she had been confined to the yard for the past few months. So she simply took the child to the Imperial Garden for a walk. Because of the wind, Moyaqi was wrapped up in a round and plump bundle, making her look even more delicate and beautiful.

On the way, they encountered the Fourth Prince's wife, who was on her way to pay her respects to the Emperor. However, since Consort De had gone to Nanyuan with Emperor Kangxi, they did not know who the Fourth Prince's wife was paying her respects to.

She thought it was just a chance encounter, but unexpectedly, the Fourth Princess asked a lot about Moyaqi's recent affairs, her concern evident in her words. Yihuan looked at her thoughtfully.

The Fourth Princess squatted down to play with Moyaqi and told Yihuan the truth: "I really like this child. I originally came to the palace to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager, but I suddenly decided to see this child. Later, I heard that you brought her to the Imperial Garden, so I followed you here."

Yi Huan looked at the child laughing happily in the arms of the Fourth Prince's wife: "It is her blessing to be valued by so many elders."

The Imperial Garden seemed unusually lively that day. Besides them, there were a few other people. Because of her advanced age, the Empress Dowager did not go to the South Garden with Kangxi. She was accompanied by the Fifth Prince's wife.

The two of them happened to see Yi Huan and the others walking towards them from Wanchun Pavilion.

The Empress Dowager turned her head and asked the Fifth Prince's wife, "I haven't heard of any children being born in the Fourth Prince's household in the past two years. Whose child is the one in the Fourth Prince's wife's arms?"

Fifth Princess Consort had met Moyaqi before, so she said, "It is the child of Thirteenth Brother and Sister-in-law. I heard that Tenth Sister has been going to Thirteenth Brother's place often these days. Perhaps Tenth Sister took the child out for a walk and met Fourth Sister-in-law."

"Oh, that's the child who shares the same birthday as the Emperor." The Empress Dowager thought for a while before remembering. "That thirteenth daughter-in-law is really something. She chased after the thirteenth prince to the beekeeping alley without a care in the world. Luckily, this is in the palace, with so many people watching. Otherwise, if something had happened to the child, I wonder what she would have done in the future."

Fifth Princess helped her sit down and gently comforted her, "Thirteenth Sister-in-law has a nanny by her side. I heard that when she took care of Consort Min, it was Thirteenth Brother who specially found her. She must be a trustworthy person. I suppose that's why Thirteenth Sister-in-law can put her mind at ease about the child."

"It's because Thirteenth Daughter-in-Law is so sentimental that she chased after them. It's just a pity for the child. Go and have them bring the child over so I can see him," the Empress Dowager said.

"Yes." Fifth Princess turned her head and nodded slightly, and someone went to report to Yi Huan and the others.

"The Empress Dowager wants to see us? When did she arrive? We should have gone to pay our respects." Yi Huan and the Fourth Princess Consort exchanged a glance and hurriedly said.

"The Empress Dowager and the Fifth Prince's wife arrived quite early and have been staying at Wanchun Pavilion. They happened to see the Princess and the Fifth Prince's wife with the little princess, so they invited the Princess and the Fifth Prince's wife to speak with them."

Seeing this, the wet nurse quickly went to take Moyaqi from her, but the Fourth Princess shook her head: "It's alright, I'll carry her over."

As soon as the two entered, the Empress Dowager waved her hand to excuse them from paying their respects. The Fourth Princess put Moyaqi down, and Moyaqi stumbled towards the Empress Dowager's side, grabbed the eighteen-beaded bracelet in the Empress Dowager's hand, and put it to her mouth.

"Oh dear!" The Fifth Princess Consort, who was nearby, exclaimed and picked up Moyaqi in her arms, her eyes full of smiles. "You can't just stuff everything into your mouth."

When the Empress Dowager saw the Fifth Prince's Consort carrying away the bewildered Moyaqi, Moyaqi didn't cry or make a fuss. She just struggled to get down and walked around the room in circles, and then she smiled.

Then he asked the wet nurse, "Does this child know how to look after her?"

"Your Majesty, the princess is extremely well-behaved and will seek out the Fujin (principal wife). She only needs to be coaxed and will not cry or fuss. Moreover, the princess does not recognize people and can play with anyone."

The Empress Dowager nodded and said, "It's normal for children in the palace not to be very affectionate towards their mothers." Glancing out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Fourth Princess Consort's loving gaze towards Moyaqi and suddenly said:

"Fourth son's wife, I remember that only one princess in your household grew up?"