The Qing Palace Never Meets Spring

The two returned to the palace relatively smoothly, but at least the Crown Prince was able to see Emperor Kangxi, while Yinxiang was left out in the cold even after returning to the palace.

Two days before the Lunar New Year, the Fourth Princess Consort took the opportunity of paying her respects to the Emperor to bring Moyaqi into the palace. Qingwan looked at Moyaqi, who was nestled beside the Fourth Princess Consort, and hesitated for a moment. It wasn't until the Fourth Princess Consort coaxed the child to call her "E'nei" that she came back to her senses and blankly called out, "Fourth Sister-in-law."

Fourth Princess bent down to pick up the child and laughed, "It's clear he's gone mad. Why don't you invite us in?"

Qingwan stepped aside: "Fourth Sister-in-law, please come in quickly. I didn't send anyone to inform you beforehand, so I didn't prepare anything."

Fourth Princess Consort shoved Moyaqi into Qingwan's arms and sat down first, saying, "What are you talking about? We're really family now."

"They're being so polite even though we're family. I won't be coming again."

Qingwan held Moyaqi, their eyes meeting somewhat awkwardly. She missed him terribly when they were apart, but now that they were together, she felt a mix of homesickness and nervousness, unsure of what to say or do.

She held Moyaqi tightly and then went to speak with the Fourth Princess Consort: "Fourth Sister-in-law, what you said really makes me feel ashamed."

Moyaqi stared at Qingwan without moving, her eyes wide open. Qingwan coaxed her to call her "E'nei" several times. Perhaps it was the blood ties between mother and daughter, but after a few times, Moyaqi hugged her and obediently called out, "E'nei".

Qingwan felt a pang of sadness in her heart, wishing she could hold the little one in her arms and not let him go anywhere. But she also had to consider the feelings of the Fourth Prince's wife. She couldn't let someone else raise her child while she acted like she had suffered a great injustice. So she gently agreed and coaxed him softly.

He then said to the Fourth Prince's wife, "Thank you for your hard work these past few days, Fourth Sister-in-law."

Yinxiang entered at that moment: "Fourth Sister-in-law, what brings you here? We don't have anything good to offer right now, so we're sorry to trouble you."

Fourth Princess smiled and said, "It's clear we're husband and wife; even our polite words are the same."

Yinxiang took Moyaqi and lifted her high up, just as he had done before leaving with Kangxi.

Amidst Moyaqi's laughter, the Fourth Princess Consort suddenly said, "If you and your husband are willing, your fourth brother and I will not feel tired."

Upon hearing this, even Yinxiang stopped what he was doing. He looked at Qingwan and found that she was also looking at him. After struggling for a moment, he nodded to Qingwan.

Qingwan touched the teacup in her hand, blinked, forced back the tears in her eyes, and then said, "Thank you, Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law."

Fourth Princess Consort held Qingwan's hand and said, "Your fourth brother and I are also parents, so we naturally know how reluctant you are to part with her."

Believe it or not, Fourth Master and I intended to help you; otherwise, we wouldn't have dared to support your daughter even at Thirteenth Brother's time.

The promise to help is real, but whether or not he dares to do it is only half true, but it is indeed a good thing for Moyaqi.

Fourth Princess Consort sat down next to Qingwan and whispered in her ear, "I know that we, as women of the imperial family who have married princes, are most worried about the matter of Fumeng as long as we truly love our children."

Although the child is still young and it's a bit early to say these things, I also want to tell you that Moyaqi will also be my child in the future, and I always think the same way you do.

Qingwan squeezed the Fourth Princess's hand tightly: "Fourth Sister-in-law, thank you. It is Moyaqi's blessing to have your love."

"You know, I only have Honghui as my child. I am unlucky and cannot keep my Honghui. I will never have my own children in the future. I will treat Moyaqi as my own child, even if it is just for my own sake."

Thirteenth Sister-in-law, I won't compete with you for Moyaqi. She is still your daughter. Fourth Master and I have discussed it, and we will only bring the child to live with us occasionally. Only when she is with you and Thirteenth Brother will she truly be home.

Although you and your thirteenth brother have returned to the palace, the Emperor is still keeping your thirteenth brother waiting. You and your brother must be worried. If the worst happens, I will protect that child.

As they approached to talk, Yinxiang had already taken the child out. Mingxin had run over as soon as she learned that her younger sister was back, and was now holding Moya, lost in thought.

She only knew that her younger sister had been taken away by her fourth aunt, but she didn't know when or when her sister would return.

When asked, the wet nurse and Fuling only told her that once her father and wife returned, her younger sister would also be able to come back.

Now that she sees him, she can't stop thinking about him. When Moyaqi pushes her away, she goes closer again. This happens repeatedly, and she doesn't get angry even when she's pushed away several times.

Moyaqi, on the other hand, was completely stuck to him. She sat on the carpet looking like she was sighing, and handed the tangram puzzle to Mingxin so she could play with it.

Yinxiang found it incredibly strange. He wondered if it was just his imagination, but this child seemed remarkably mature for her age, while Mingxin, who was several years older than her, seemed to need to be coaxed by her younger sister.

When the Fourth Princess Consort left, she did not take Moyaqi with her. Since it had already been agreed upon, it would be better to wait until Moyaqi was more sensible before taking the child out of the palace and letting her stay there for a period of time from time to time.

Moyaqi's room in the Fourth Prince's residence was decorated by the Fourth Prince's wife to resemble the rooms in the palace, so Moyaqi didn't cry or make a fuss as long as familiar people were around her.

Before he knew it, the year was over. This was the first time Yinxiang had appeared in public since he was deposed as crown prince in September, and he attracted a lot of attention along the way.

He held Qingwan's hand tightly in his own. Qingwan could feel the dampness in his palm and could only squeeze back harder.

She wasn't Yinxiang, so she couldn't empathize with him, nor could she persuade him not to care about other people's opinions. She could only stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

When Yinxiang encountered Yinreng again, he hesitated whether to approach him. He thought they would meet again at the New Year's banquet, but unexpectedly they met on the way.

Yinreng was followed by Lady Shi and Hongxi.

However, it was the people around Yinreng who noticed Qingwan and the other two and told Yinreng about it.

Yinreng first saw Yinxiang and Qingwan holding hands. Yinxiang released Qingwan, and the two greeted Yinreng together.

Yinreng nodded and said to Yinxiang, "I've dragged you into this. It's good that you're out."

"Second Brother, don't say that," Yinxiang quickly called out.

Yinreng waved his hand: "Your second sister-in-law and I will lead Hongxi in first, and you can bring your sister-in-law later."

Yinxiang lowered his head and said, "Yes."

Yinreng nodded and turned to look at Shi Shi, only to find that the two were far apart, and he could not touch Shi Shi even if he stretched out his arm.

Seeing Yinreng's actions, Hongxi quickly stepped forward and asked, "Father, is there anything you need me to do?"

Looking at Qingwan, who had been standing shoulder to shoulder with Yinxiang, Yinreng shook his head: "No, let's go."

The two were neither the first nor the last to arrive, but they still attracted attention when they entered. They didn't seem to care and simply sat down.

When Kangxi arrived, whether intentionally or not, he asked many people questions throughout the process, except for Yinxiang. Yinxiang's straight body slowly hunched over, and the wine pot on the table was emptied.