The Daily Life of Farming in Time-Travel to Qing Dynasty

by Usui Takumii

not mine, asia novel dot net. Beware edited mtl.

2. 11 to 20

Chapter 11: The Fifth Princess Consort

Yinqi ultimately missed the opportunity to help with the watermelon seedlings. The very next morning, Kangxi dispatched him out of the Imperial City on official business.

When Yinqi's eunuch came to inform An Qing, she couldn't help but mutter inwardly. What could be so important that he had to leave before even completing his three-day honeymoon?

Tsk~ She couldn't help but marvel at how Kangxi treated his own son like a donkey. If this was how he treated someone like Yinqi, who wasn't highly favored, one could only imagine how busy his favored sons must be.

It seemed being a prince or a grandson of the emperor wasn't as easy as it looked.

After waiting for Yinqi for a few days and seeing no sign of his return, An Qing decided not to wait any longer. After all, farming seasons were unforgiving and couldn't be delayed.

Planting seedlings was not particularly difficult for An Qing; it was just a bit tedious. But after a busy morning, she finally finished the task.

With the start of summer, the weather in the Imperial City had already begun to heat up. On a regular day, it might be bearable, but after working hard all morning, An Qing's inner garments were drenched in sweat, making her feel quite uncomfortable. She needed a good bath.

The palace maids heated water and brought it to the bathing room. She took a refreshing shower and washed her hair as well.

In ancient times, unlike today, long hair without a hairdryer was troublesome to wash and even more challenging to dry.

As soon as An Qing stepped out of the bathroom, Perilla led a young palace maid carrying a stack of towels to help her dry her hair.

The sun was bright that day, and after drying her hair halfway, she settled into a rattan chair by the window, basking in the sunlight. The warmth made her drowsy, and she eventually closed her eyes.

When she woke up again, she found a cashmere blanket covering her. Feeling a bit warm, she casually pulled it aside.

Perilla heard the movement and entered, "Princess Consort, you're awake. Chunxiao has finished building the large earth oven and is heating it up. Would you like to see it?"

An Qing immediately became interested and put on a robe before heading out.

When she arrived, a group of young eunuchs and palace maids were gathered around Chunxiao, chattering excitedly. Chunxiao, known for her gentle temperament, always had a good rapport with everyone.

"Chunxiao Jiejie, this oven looks so strange. Is it unique to Horqin?"

"You're so silly. Chunxiao Jiejie said it's not an oven but a large earth oven, also called a bread earth oven."

"Wow~ It smells amazing, even better than the pastries from the imperial kitchen!"

...

Chunxiao turned around and saw An Qing approaching, her eyes lighting up. "Princess Consort, I made honey rolls. They're ready now. Come taste them."

The eunuchs and palace maids scattered upon seeing their mistress, though they knew she was kind, they still remembered the proper etiquette within the palace.

The large earth oven was built by Chunxiao, who sent a young eunuch named Lai Fu with silver to hire craftsmen from the Office of Construction. Lai Fu had previously worked there and was familiar with the people, and with ample payment, the work was done efficiently.

They had the blueprints beforehand, and Chunxiao had supervised the construction process in Horqin, ensuring everything went smoothly.

An Qing, like an old leader inspecting, walked around the bread earth oven, then waved her hand, expressing her satisfaction and praising their efficiency.

Soon, the first batch of honey rolls from the heated oven was ready. An Qing picked one and tasted it. The crust was crispy, while the inside was soft, with the sweetness of honey and the richness of milk. It truly left a lingering flavor.

Hmm, not bad, not bad. Chunxiao's skills were as excellent as ever.

"Princess Consort, what else would you like? I'll make it for you today," Chunxiao said with a smile.

An Qing thought for a moment. Having been busy for several days, she finally had some free time. It was time to show respect and presence in the palace.

As a newcomer, she should remain low-profile, but as the princess consort of a prince, she needed to maintain proper etiquette.

For instance, Empress Dowager had shown her kindness due to their kinship, and she couldn't afford to be ungrateful. To continue this relationship, she needed to make an effort.

Moreover, since Yinqi grew up under the Empress Dowager's care, she, as a granddaughter-in-law, should actively seek closeness.

An Qing instructed Chunxiao to prepare some pastries from Horqin, "Make some milk skin rolls too, with various flavors. I'm going to Ningshou Palace later."

Chunxiao understood An Qing's intentions and worked diligently, not wanting to disappoint her mistress.

An Qing didn't idle either. Since she was going out, she dressed herself in a new embroidered blue qipao, had her hair styled in a two-braid style, adorned with a jade ornament, and wore the red gold hairpin given by the Empress Dowager.

Once ready, when she emerged from the room, Chunxiao had also prepared everything, including a pot of jasmine-scented yam bubble tea along with the pastries.

Mongolians usually drank salty milk tea, with meat, salt, and fried rice, which An Qing initially struggled to adapt to and eventually gave up on. Sweet or salty, each had its own merits, and she preferred what she liked.

When An Qing arrived at Ningshou Palace with her offerings, the Empress Dowager had just woken up. Hearing the little eunuch report that the fifth princess consort had come, she was momentarily taken aback.

"Oh, Empress Dowager, you haven't gotten used to having a granddaughter-in-law yet," Wu Lan teased, patting her thigh.

Wu Lan had been with the Empress Dowager since they came from Horqin to the palace, sharing decades of close companionship. Privately, they often shared harmless jokes.

The Empress Dowager glared at her, "Nonsense. I've had many granddaughters-in-law."

The Crown Princess, the princess consorts of the eldest, third, and fourth princes were all her granddaughters-in-law.

Wu Lan smiled and helped the Empress Dowager dress, "Yes, yes, my old tongue. You, Empress Dowager, are blessed with many granddaughters-in-law."

Though they joked, both knew that among all the princes, none could compare to the fifth prince, perhaps not even the Crown Prince, her direct grandson.

As the saying goes, love extends to those associated with the loved one. Thus, the fifth princess consort was destined to be different among the granddaughters-in-law.

While the Empress Dowager was dressing, An Qing was led by a small palace maid into the main hall to have tea. With no one else around, she took the opportunity to observe the furnishings.

At first glance, the room wasn't overly filled, but every piece was exquisite. A sandalwood landscape painting screen, a rosewood throne inlaid with sandalwood pine and crane patterns, and a lacquered embroidery cushion... Even the blue-and-white porcelain vase with red cloud dragon patterns on the hexagonal sandalwood flower stand exuded elegance without ostentation.

Everything displayed a subtle grandeur, neither extravagant nor cold, perfectly balanced.

An Qing couldn't help but feel a deep sense of admiration.

Kangxi lost his parents at a young age and was raised by his grandmother, Empress Xiaozhuang, who also helped him ascend to the throne. The Empress Dowager, as his biological mother, had no blood relation, no nurturing affection, and no contribution to the state. Yet, she earned Kangxi's respect, which lasted for decades, allowing her to enjoy much happiness.

You must know that Kangxi was a famous emperor who preferred to travel rather than stay in the Forbidden City. Throughout the year, he loved going outside, from the annual northern tour to Shengjing, western tours to Shanxi and Shaanxi, and even six trips south of the Yangtze.

During these times, whenever possible, Kangxi would bring Empress Dowager along for the journey. She had traveled extensively with him, from the north to the south.

Of course, ancient emperors were expected to rule with filial piety. His actions had an element of show, but if it were merely for show, why go to such lengths?

Perhaps it was precisely this "just right" attitude that Empress Dowager relied on.

Before coming to the Forbidden City, An Qing had heard about Empress Dowager's role in the palace. Though she was nominally the highest-ranking official in the imperial harem, she rarely interfered in affairs. Apart from the daily greetings from the concubines, she did not concern herself with other matters. The Emperor could favor or punish whomever he pleased without her meddling under the guise of being his mother-in-law.

She never involved herself in state affairs either, including those concerning her own family. Whether the Emperor rewarded or punished them, promoted or ignored them, she never intervened, content to be a carefree old lady.

Such a well-measured mother-in-law, An Qing thought, any ambitious emperor would surely respect.

When Wu Lan, the attendant, escorted Empress Dowager over, An Qing had already finished a pot of tea. She quickly rose to greet and bow to Empress Dowager, who then invited her to sit beside her after accepting the formal greeting.

"You must have been waiting impatiently," Empress Dowager said, wearing a robe embroidered with auspicious clouds, her hand resting on the side table, smiling kindly.

An Qing smiled back. "No, it's my fault for not keeping track of time. I disturbed Your Majesty's rest."

Empress Dowager waved her hand. "It's fine; I usually rise early at this hour, but today I was a bit lazy."

An Qing chuckled.

Perhaps due to her Buddhist beliefs, Empress Dowager had a faint scent of sandalwood that strangely calmed one's mind.

"Today, the palace maid by my side made some Horqin pastries. I thought I'd bring them for Your Majesty to try."

As she spoke, the nearby palace maid brought out the pastries An Qing had brought.

"Oh, how did Fifth Princess Consort know Empress Dowager didn't eat much for lunch?" Wu Lan, who had a good impression of An Qing, tried to lighten the mood. "Could it be what they say in stories, a telepathic connection?"

Empress Dowager playfully scolded her, telling her not to misuse idioms.

What telepathic connection between an old woman and a young girl?

An Qing, unperturbed by the teasing, nodded seriously. "Your Majesty, I agree with Wu Lan."

Wu Lan laughed heartily, her laughter echoing throughout Ningshou Palace, and Empress Dowager couldn't help but join in.

Looking at the familiar pastries on the table, Empress Dowager felt warm. It had been a while since she last tasted them. Her gaze fell on one particular plate, and she exclaimed softly.

"What is this pastry?" Empress Dowager hesitated for a moment. "The outer layer looks like milk skin."

An Qing smiled. "Your Majesty has a keen eye. This is called milk skin roll, made by rolling milk skin with dried fruits and candied fruits. Please try it; I think it's quite good."

Empress Dowager nodded slightly and took a small piece to taste, nodding as she ate.

Mmm, it was good. The milk skin was smooth and creamy, with a rich milk flavor, and the crushed candied fruits added a sweet and sour tang, making it refreshing.

There were several flavors in the small dish: raisin, hawthorn, peach, and fried rice. Empress Dowager found them all interesting and tried each one. While they were all good, she particularly enjoyed the hawthorn and fried rice flavors.

"You're quite clever," Empress Dowager praised, putting down her silver chopsticks.

An Qing, slightly embarrassed, replied, "I've always been a glutton. I often drag the little maids around to make these things."

Empress Dowager smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

Being a glutton wasn't a big flaw, especially for someone of their background, who could afford to indulge in such culinary experiments.

"What is this? I don't recall seeing it before. Where is it from?" She pointed to a pastry at the corner of the table.

The pastry looked golden yellow and smelled of honey and milk, making one's mouth water.

"This is called honey bread," An Qing said, looking in the direction Empress Dowager pointed. "It's something I made up."

Empress Dowager responded with an "oh" and picked up a piece to eat.

To her surprise, this simple taste opened her palate. An Qing had brought the honey bread just for Empress Dowager to try, but she ended up eating most of it.

This delighted Wu Lan, who had been worried about Empress Dowager's poor appetite recently. She eagerly asked An Qing about the recipe.

An Qing, who had developed the honey bread with Chunxiao, knew the method well. However, besides the recipe, the most important thing was having a bread oven and knowing how to use it.

Wu Lan was undeterred, saying she would visit An Qing another day to see the process and have her palace maid demonstrate it. An Qing readily agreed.

After chatting with Empress Dowager for a while, An Qing noticed that the elderly lady was getting tired and found an excuse to leave Ningshou Palace.

Wu Lan instructed a small palace maid to clear away the remaining pastries and turned to Empress Dowager, her eyes soft. "Fifth Princess Consort is truly endearing."

Empress Dowager glanced at her and laughed. "You're easily swayed by a few pastries."

"I am indeed fortunate, thanks to Your Majesty, to be remembered by Fifth Princess Consort," Wu Lan said, her eyes nearly closing with a smile.

She hadn't expected An Qing to prepare a special portion for her. Although she could have eaten the leftovers, the gesture was heartwarming.

Empress Dowager gazed out the window at the greenery, pondering for a long time, then asked, "What do you think of this girl?"

Having served together for many years, Wu Lan understood what Empress Dowager meant. After a brief reflection, she replied, "In my opinion, Fifth Princess Consort has very pure and clear eyes, open and bright."

Empress Dowager turned to look at her, and after a moment, gave a light "hmm."

She and Wu Lan had lived long enough to know people well. In the treacherous palace, where everyone wore many faces and schemed constantly, they had managed to survive unscathed. Since An Qing entered the palace, Empress Dowager had kept an eye on her. She had heard about the incident at Yikun Palace during the tea ceremony and An Qing's attitude towards Yinqi's concubines. She was someone with principles.

"From my old eyes, I can see that the Fifth Princess Consort is clear-sighted despite being younger than Lady Xianfu. She understands the situation in this palace well and handles matters better. She's quite similar to you, Empress Dowager." Mama Wu Lan said.

Lady Xianfu is one of the few Horqin consorts in Kangxi's harem. By family ties, she is a cousin to the Empress Dowager, but here in the palace, they are mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Over these years in the palace, Lady Xianfu has held her head high with pride, offending everyone from top to bottom, and she has not gained Kangxi's favor either. The Empress Dowager has tried to advise her many times, but she remains stubborn.

She never understood that a proud Horqin woman must learn to bow her head if she wants to thrive within the Forbidden City.

With each new emperor comes a new set of ministers, and as Kangxi gradually took control of the government and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang passed away, the glory of the Horqin women in the Great Qing harem has long since faded.

After a moment, the Empress Dowager sighed and said, "The Fifth Princess Consort is someone who knows how to keep things in perspective."

She can assess the situation accurately, maintain her position properly, without delusions or arrogance.

She is stronger than Lady Xianfu, and even compared to when she was young... she is stronger.

Chapter 12: The Fifth Princess Consort

Having paid respects to her mother-in-law's mother, it was only natural that she should also pay respects to her own mother-in-law.

An Qing hadn't even had time to sit down after returning when she hurriedly set off for Yikun Palace with the freshly baked pastries Chunxiao had prepared.

Hehe, just thinking about seeing her beautiful mother-in-law made her happy.

However, when she arrived at Yikun Palace, she found no one there and was informed by a palace maid that Concubine Yi had gone to the palace of Consort De.

"Princess Consort Wu, if you have any urgent matters, I can go find Her Highness," said the palace maid.

An Qing quickly stopped her. "No need, no need. It's not urgent. I just made some Horqin pastries today and thought of coming to pay respects to Mother. Since Mother is busy, I'll come another time."

Not knowing if there was something going on, it wouldn't be appropriate for her to barge in unannounced. Fortunately, they all lived in the same palace, so it wasn't a wasted trip.

An Qing left the pastries and was about to leave when she unexpectedly ran into Concubine Yi right at the entrance of Yikun Palace.

Concubine Yi seemed to have encountered something delightful, as she was smiling brightly, like a blooming azalea on the wall, radiant and eye-catching.

An Qing's eyes lit up, once again marveling at Lao Kang's good fortune.

She bowed respectfully. "Your daughter-in-law greets Mother."

Concubine Yi was taken aback upon seeing An Qing and blurted out, "Why are you here?"

And that smile froze on her face.

An Qing: "?"

It seemed as though she wasn't welcome.

"Your daughter-in-law came to greet Mother," she blinked innocently, "and brought some freshly baked Horqin pastries for Mother to taste."

Concubine Yi choked slightly, realizing her overreaction and felt a bit embarrassed.

Xizhu, who was supporting Concubine Yi, reacted quickly. "What a coincidence! Her Highness mentioned you this morning, saying you just arrived and might not be used to the palace yet."

An Qing pretended to be unaware and thanked Concubine Yi for her concern. "Thanks to Mother, your daughter-in-law is doing well."

Concubine Yi almost lost her composure and coughed lightly, inviting her in to talk.

In the main hall, Concubine Yi sat on a large lacquered bed made of sandalwood, while An Qing sat in a lower seat nearby, separated only by a small table.

The palace maids entered to serve tea, and the room fell silent. Both mother and daughter-in-law picked up their teacups, but their thoughts were far apart.

An Qing glanced up secretly. Today, Concubine Yi wore a purple hibiscus embroidered gown with a vibrant red border and a jeweled phoenix crown. She looked radiant and stunning, glowing like a beacon.

Compared to the day of the tea ceremony, today's attire was much more striking. The previous outfit, with its embroidered birds and dark purple, seemed deliberately subdued, relying solely on Concubine Yi's beauty to carry it.

An Qing couldn't help but marvel inwardly; indeed, a beauty could easily elevate her appearance with just a little effort.

While An Qing enjoyed admiring the beauty, Concubine Yi's mood was less pleasant.

This morning, an invitation was extended from the palace of Consort De to appreciate a splendid hibiscus in a pot, along with Consort Hui and Imperial Concubine Rong. She adorned herself with the intent to impress, but little did she expect to cross paths with the Fifth Princess Consort.

Lowering her eyes, she felt increasingly frustrated upon seeing her clothes.

It was a miscalculation.

This outfit would hardly intimidate anyone.

Concubine Yi sat upright, her posture stiffening, trying to maintain the dignity of a mother-in-law.

Xizhu heated the pastries and milk tea An Qing brought and served them. "Her Highness, please try these. They smell delicious."

Concubine Yi glanced over, recognizing most of the pastries.

Over the years, due to the Fifth Prince, she often visited Ningshou Palace and had eaten plenty of Horqin pastries. Honestly, she didn't particularly enjoy them.

She preferred the more refined pastries from the palace.

However, it wouldn't do to reject An Qing's offering outright. Despite wanting to maintain her authority as a mother-in-law, she didn't want to cause unnecessary embarrassment.

She wasn't foolish; such behavior would only make her a laughingstock.

Concubine Yi decided to sample a few. She picked a pastry from the nearest plate, and it tasted as expected.

Though the craftsmanship was better than the palace maids' in the Empress Dowager's palace, it still had the distinct flavor of Horqin pastries, which she couldn't quite appreciate.

As she was about to eat another piece, her gaze fell on the central plate with honey bread, something she hadn't seen before.

Concubine Yi picked up a piece and took a bite. The taste was unique—sweet but not cloying, crispy and refreshing. Could this be another Horqin pastry?

She glanced at An Qing, wanting to ask but fearing it would reveal her ignorance and invite ridicule from her daughter-in-law. So, she pretended nothing was amiss.

"Her Highness, would you like to try the milk tea Princess Consort Wu brought?" Xizhu asked softly.

Concubine Yi glanced at Xizhu, her brows furrowing slightly.

Compared to Horqin pastries, she disliked Mongolian salty milk tea even more. Xizhu knew this well, so why did she suggest it?

Well, appearances must be maintained.

"A small cup will suffice," Consort Yi remarked with a cool tone, adding, "I had an excess of tea at Empress De's palace earlier."

Xizhu complied, carefully pouring the tea from the flowering peony copper pot.

Initially unconcerned, Concubine Yi was surprised by the faint jasmine fragrance that filled the room.

"Did you put jasmine flowers in it?"

An Qing smiled and replied, "Yes, Mother. This milk tea is called Jasmine Taro Pearl Milk Tea. It's sweet. I just messed around with it, please taste it and see if you like it."

Upon hearing that it was sweet milk tea, Concubine Yi's initial resistance faded significantly. Besides, she always loved jasmine tea, so now she was curious about what jasmine milk tea would taste like.

She picked up the teacup and took a sip, her eyes suddenly brightening. The fragrance of jasmine blended perfectly with the creaminess of the milk, rich and sweet, leaving a refreshing aftertaste. It was excellent.

Xizhu handed her a silver spoon at the right moment. She scooped up a spoonful of taro pearls. An Qing had already explained that these were made from tapioca, and indeed, they were very soft and chewy.

Seeing Concubine Yi's satisfied expression as she enjoyed the food, An Qing couldn't help but feel surprised.

Earlier at Ningshou Palace, the Empress Dowager had reacted indifferently to the sweet milk tea. She didn't expect Concubine Yi to enjoy it so much.

But then again, it made sense. As a true Mongolian, the Empress Dowager grew up drinking salty milk tea and naturally wouldn't be used to this. But Concubine Yi must be like herself, not used to salty milk tea either.

A small cup of milk tea was quickly finished. Concubine Yi barely managed to resist the urge for another cup; she could have the rest later. For now, she needed to maintain her composure.

She cleared her throat and straightened her posture, saying solemnly, "You've been thoughtful."

An Qing cheerfully replied, "It's my duty."

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting late, An Qing politely excused herself.

Concubine Yi, feeling that she might have been too cold earlier, added, "Feel free to visit Yikun Palace whenever you want."

An Qing happily agreed, "I will definitely come often to keep you company, Mother."

Concubine Yi: "..."

She sure knows how to take advantage of the situation.

Leaving Yikun Palace, Perilla's brows remained furrowed, almost enough to crush a fly between them.

She glanced around and whispered, "Madam, I noticed that Concubine Yi seemed... unhappy."

An Qing blinked, thinking that Perilla meant Concubine Yi didn't seem to like her.

In fact, she had been pondering this issue. They had only met twice, and there was no enmity between them.

As for any family issues, that was even less likely. Her family was far away in Horqin, and before this, there had been no interaction with Concubine Yi or her family.

Moreover, An Qing felt that Concubine Yi wasn't exactly displeased with her; rather, she seemed to be subtly competing with her, as if trying to prove something.

This puzzled her. If it were about a mother-in-law disapproving of her daughter-in-law or trying to assert dominance, it would make sense. But strangely, Concubine Yi hadn't given her any trouble.

Though she appeared distant, she didn't pick on her. Instead, she seemed to consider An Qing's feelings, such as eating the pastries from Horqin despite not liking them.

So, there was only one explanation left: perhaps it was the inherent tension between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Historically, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships have often been fraught with conflict, with each side wary of the other. So, it wasn't her fault or Concubine Yi's fault.

"Whose fault is it then?" Perilla was confused.

An Qing shrugged, "It's a historical issue."

Perilla looked bewildered, wondering why history was brought into it.

"What should we do?"

Setting aside historical issues, the immediate concern was resolving the current problem.

Compared to Perilla's worry, An Qing was quite optimistic. She believed their issues weren't irreconcilable.

After all, she wasn't competing with Concubine Yi for her son, and they didn't live together, nor did they have any conflicts of interest. Over time, things would improve.

However, she had to admit that Concubine Yi looked even more beautiful when she was cold-faced, exuding an icy beauty.

Cold, distant, and aloof.

"It's fine. We'll visit often. A smiling face never invites a slap."

Concubine Yi never dreamed that her casual invitation would be taken seriously by An Qing, who showed up at Yikun Palace every day for several days.

Initially, she managed to maintain her composure, but over time, she inevitably relaxed. Especially since An Qing had an innocent face that easily put people at ease, often breaking her stern demeanor.

Besides, she wasn't inherently strict and rigid. Maintaining such a facade was exhausting, even more so than her early days vying for favor.

On this day, Concubine Yi finally saw An Qing off, watching her disappear at the entrance of Yikun Palace. Her stiff back finally relaxed, and she slumped onto a nearby couch.

Xizhu hurried over to massage her back.

Concubine Yi sighed heavily, her tone filled with despair, "She's been coming for five days straight. She won't come tomorrow, will she?"

Xizhu pursed her lips and cautiously replied, "She probably will."

Concubine Yi groaned, burying her head in the blanket.

Who had she offended? Women from Horqin were truly her nemesis!

Xizhu thought for a moment and suggested, "Why don't you lie down in your room tomorrow when Madam comes? I can go out and tell her you're indisposed."

Concubine Yi seriously considered the suggestion but eventually waved it off, "No, what if she insists on coming in to attend to me..."

Mid-sentence, she suddenly realized something and abruptly sat up from the couch.

Xizhu was startled. "What's wrong, Your Highness?"

Concubine Yi looked at her with a serious expression. "Fifth Princess Consort has been coming here every day. Do you think there might already be gossip in the palace, like when it happened with Concubine De..."

Xizhu's expression turned grave. "That shouldn't be the case. You haven't deliberately made things difficult for Fifth Princess Consort. It's different from what happened with Concubine De."

Back when the Fourth Prince first married his princess consort, Concubine De had some disagreement with him and kept making things difficult for the Fourth Princess Consort, claiming headaches one day and chest pains the next, insisting that the Fourth Princess Consort come to attend to her.

This incident caused quite a stir in the palace, lasting for nearly half a month.

Concubine Yi huffed. "Of course, I am not like her."

Not everyone is like Concubine De, who would take out her anger on her daughter-in-law by lying in bed feigning illness, just to make others serve her. That's simply degrading.

She truly despised such behavior.

Concubine Yi never understood how someone as cautious and cunning as Concubine De could have made such a foolish move.

It led to endless gossip throughout the palace, and behind closed doors, many laughed at her.

After all that trouble, she only managed to alienate her son further and incurred the Emperor's displeasure. Was it worth it?

"No, this worries me. Go find out if there's any gossip in the palace."

Although Fifth Princess Consort came here of her own accord these past few days, outsiders don't know the details. If they assume I'm deliberately making things difficult for my daughter-in-law, that would be disastrous.

After all, there's no daily ritual of paying respects in the palace. Even we, the Four Concubines, only go to pay our respects to the Empress Dowager every few days.

Xizhu hurriedly agreed. After about half an hour, she finally returned.

Concubine Yi asked anxiously, "What did you find out?"

Xizhu shook her head. "Your Highness, rest assured. I asked around and even sent Little Linzi to inquire. There is no gossip in the palace."

Concubine Yi breathed a sigh of relief.

Good, she didn't want to be the subject of ridicule.

"Today, Yinqi returned to the palace. Send someone to bring him here."

Yinqi had just returned from a mission and went straight to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to report to the Emperor before heading back to his residence.

However, before he could even have a cup of tea, someone from his mother's palace arrived, saying there was something urgent.

Yinqi, unsure of what had happened, rushed to the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.

"Mother, why did you call for me?"

Concubine Yi glanced at Xizhu, who nodded slightly, then bowed and explained everything about An Qing's frequent visits to the Palace of Tranquil Longevity over the past few days.

"Mother, do you not want her to come?" Yinqi was confused.

Concubine Yi was taken aback. Did her son even understand the main point?

Was this about whether she wanted her or not?

Seeing the situation, Xizhu quickly stepped forward to explain. "Fifth Prince misunderstood. How could Your Highness not want Fifth Princess Consort to visit? It's just that there's no daily ritual of paying respects in the palace, and Your Highness is worried about unnecessary rumors suggesting she's deliberately making things difficult for her daughter-in-law."

Concubine Yi, tired of beating around the bush with her straightforward son, decided to get straight to the point. "Yinqi, do you know why your princess consort comes here every day?"

There must be a reason. What does Fifth Princess Consort want? Is she trying to cause trouble and tarnish her reputation?

But lately, she had noticed that the girl seemed quite innocent and probably had no ill intentions.

Yinqi hesitated for a moment, thinking he knew the reason.

But for some reason, he found it hard to say it aloud.

Could he really admit that his princess consort was infatuated with his mother's beauty, which is why she kept coming to the Palace of Tranquil Longevity?

That would be too absurd.

"What's the matter? Is there something you can't tell me?" Concubine Yi's face darkened. "Is it really intentional on your princess consort's part?"

Yinqi hurriedly explained, "No, Mother, you misunderstood."

He paused, not wanting the misunderstanding to deepen, and decided to tell the truth. "She... just thinks you're beautiful."

"What?" Concubine Yi was baffled.

She understood each word individually, but together, they made no sense.

Yinqi sighed and continued. "On the day of the tea ceremony, I noticed her constantly looking at you. When I asked her about it later, she stammered and said..."

"What did she say?" Concubine Yi asked.

Yinqi rubbed his forehead and replied, "She said you are the most beautiful person she has ever seen, and she couldn't help herself."

Concubine Yi was stunned, her mouth agape, unable to respond for a long time.

The mother and son stared at each other in silence.

"Don't tell me you're making this up to protect your wife," Concubine Yi said suspiciously.

Yinqi's eyes showed a hint of exasperation. "Mother, think about how she acts around you. Then decide if what I'm saying is nonsense."

Concubine Yi: "..."

In the evening, Concubine Yi sat in front of the bronze mirror while a palace maid helped remove her headdress from behind.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Concubine Yi couldn't help but recall Yinqi's words from earlier that day, still finding them somewhat amusing yet exasperating.

At her age, she was already a grandmother, and in a few years, her green headpiece would likely be put away. What did beauty matter now?

However, she had faced much scrutiny due to her appearance since childhood. Before entering the palace, whenever she accompanied her mother to banquets, she could always see different expressions on the faces of the other women.

Some were envious, some jealous, and others seemed to wish nothing more than to destroy her beauty.

Those high-ranking ladies would often make veiled insults, saying her face lacked the grace and virtue suitable for a wife. After entering the palace, she faced even more criticism for being overly favored, with many calling her face that of a seductress.

As for the men, most harbored covetous gazes, all equally unsettling.

Reflecting on it, she had encountered too many uncomfortable looks over the years, but never one of pure admiration. This made her realize she hadn't even considered such a possibility.

The palace maid finished taking down her hair ornament, and Xizhu approached with a comb to help Concubine Yi relax her tense scalp.

While combing her hair, Xizhu smiled and said, "I never would have thought that the Fifth Princess Consort came to our Yikun Palace every day for this reason. She really is like a child."

Concubine Yi gave a light 'humph': "That Fifth Princess Consort is truly... outrageous."

Xizhu knew Concubine Yi wasn't genuinely angry and continued smiling, "But I think the Fifth Princess Consort is sincere. She's not the type to flatter with empty words. If she says you're beautiful, she must believe it."

Concubine Yi gently touched her hair by the mirror, her face showing a hint of pride: "Fine, let's say she has good taste."

After combing her hair, Xizhu helped Concubine Yi change into her nightclothes, preparing for bed.

Just as she was about to get into bed, she suddenly turned to Xizhu and said, "Have someone pack up those somber clothes and accessories and bring out some brighter ones."

These days, in an attempt to maintain a dignified demeanor as a mother-in-law, she had chosen darker clothing. Now looking back, these clothes were indeed too old-fashioned.

When the Fifth Princess Consort comes tomorrow, she must be thoroughly impressed.

Chapter 13: The Fifth Princess Consort

The next day, Concubine Yi did not get to see An Qing as she had hoped, because early in the morning, Ma Xiang, Yinqi's trusted eunuch, came to An Qing's courtyard.

"Princess Consort, His Highness sent me to inform you that your brothers will be visiting today. He said you should wait for them in the study in the front yard," Ma Xiang said.

An Qing did not seem too surprised, but the joy on her face was genuine. "Please thank His Highness for his arrangement. I'll prepare myself and be there shortly."

With that, she gave a subtle nod to Perilla beside her.

Perilla immediately understood and handed an embroidered pouch to Ma Xiang, exchanging pleasantries before politely escorting him out of the courtyard.

As soon as Ma Xiang left, An Qing turned and headed toward the study in the west warm pavilion.

Her brothers were coming over today, which meant they must be preparing to return to Horqin. They had come to see her before leaving, and she had some things to give them.

An Qing tidied up the study and then brought a wooden box to the front yard.

Grandmother Feng, the caretaker of the front yard, greeted her. "Greetings, Princess Consort. May you have good fortune."

An Qing smiled and helped Grandmother Feng up. "Please rise, Grandmother Feng."

Grandmother Feng was Yinqi's wet nurse, and everyone in the household treated her with respect, including An Qing herself.

An Qing knew that Grandmother Feng's husband and son were highly regarded by Yinqi, and she managed the affairs of the front yard, indicating her significant status.

"Princess Consort, this is the list of gifts for the third-day return visit that His Highness asked me to prepare. Please review it, and if anything needs to be changed, I will do so immediately," Grandmother Feng said respectfully, handing over the list.

An Qing was taken aback, not expecting this.

Horqin was too far from the Imperial City, so the third-day return visit had to be canceled. She hadn't expected Yinqi to remember and prepare the gifts.

Although she couldn't go back, her brothers could take the gifts with them.

An Qing couldn't help but marvel inwardly at Yinqi's thoughtfulness. She felt he would make an excellent boss or colleague.

Smiling, she said, "I trust Grandmother Feng's work. Thank you for your efforts."

Perilla took the list, sparing Grandmother Feng the need to hold it.

An Qing's three brothers were still in the Palace of Heavenly Purity meeting with the Emperor. After their audience, they would come over. Under Grandmother Feng's guidance, An Qing went to Yinqi's study.

After serving tea, Grandmother Feng and the palace maids withdrew, leaving Perilla standing guard outside the door.

Alone in the room, An Qing looked around. This was her first time in the front yard and Yinqi's study.

She was surprised to find that most of the furniture was made of huanghuali wood, except for a large zitan desk.

In the Qing dynasty, zitan was favored by the imperial family, symbolizing nobility and grandeur, while huanghuali represented simplicity and elegance.

As a prince, Yinqi could use huanghuali furniture, but it was unusual to see it so extensively used. One might think the servants were neglecting their duties.

Of course, An Qing knew this was impossible. As an adult prince, Yinqi wouldn't let himself be bullied by servants.

Moreover, with his mother being a favored concubine and the Empress Dowager's support, even Emperor Kangxi wouldn't neglect him, let alone the servants who were adept at reading the wind.

Clearly, this was Yinqi's own choice.

An Qing nodded thoughtfully. It suited his character—gentle and unassuming. She approached the carved dragon huanghuali bookshelf and touched it.

The craftsmanship was exquisite and unique.

Her gaze swept across the books on the shelf—*The Book of Songs, *The Book of Documents, *The Book of Changes, *The Spring and Autumn Annals, *The Rites of Zai, and works by Song scholars. There were also *The Outline of General History, *Records of the Grand Historian, *The History of the Han Dynasty, and other classics.

Impressive. Emperor Kangxi truly was a top-notch educator. Being his son must be exhausting.

She glanced at a row of books on hydraulic engineering and architecture. He actually read these too.

But then again, Yinqi was currently working in the Ministry of Works, so it made sense.

She didn't wait long in the study. About the time it took to drink a cup of tea, she heard movement in the courtyard.

The door opened, and Yinqi entered first, followed by her three brothers.

An Qing hurried forward, curtsied to Yinqi, and then rushed to greet her brothers. "Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, you finally came to see me."

"Sister," they all said together.

Yinqi watched the four of them standing at the door, staring at each other, and chuckled. He led them to a side room.

After the palace maids served tea and snacks, Yinqi chatted briefly with An Qing's brothers and then excused himself, leaving them alone.

They relaxed and spoke freely.

"Sister, are you comfortable here? Are you eating well? Sleeping well?"

"Sister, how is the Fifth Prince treating you?"

"Sister, has anyone been bullying you? Don't hide any troubles from us..."

Their voices overlapped, and their expressions were identical. An Qing paused, then burst into laughter.

"If Father were here, he'd scold you for being so fussy."

Her father was a true Mongolian man, fond of hearty meals and drinks, and he was always carefree. If he saw his sons being so nagging, he'd surely explode in anger.

Yideri huffed indignantly. "If Father were here, he'd be even fussier than we are."

He knew that on the day of her wedding, his father had secretly wiped away tears.

An Qing helplessly shook her head and then looked at her eldest brother Abulatang and her second brother Robzang Lash. "Eldest Brother, what did the Emperor summon you for today?"

After sending off the wedding party that day, they didn't rush to leave the Imperial City because the Emperor had summoned them. They just didn't expect it to take nearly half a month.

However, seeing the sudden downturn in her second brother Robzang Lash and Third Brother Yideri's expressions, she felt a momentary pause in her heart. "What's wrong? Is there something bad?"

Abulatang, however, smiled mysteriously. "Little Sister, you're so smart; why don't you guess?"

Seeing her eldest brother still in the mood to play around with her, An Qing instantly relaxed. It must not be anything serious.

"Eldest Brother, stop keeping us in suspense. What is it?"

Abulatang saw how anxious An Qing was and became even more delighted but didn't continue teasing her.

"The Emperor has assigned your Second Brother and Third Brother, along with former Grand Secretary Huang Mao and others, to go to Aohan, Naiman, and Baling tribes in Mongolia next spring to teach farming techniques."

"Really?" An Qing's eyes lit up as she turned to look at Robzang Lash and Yideri. "That's great news. Why do you look like that?"

Yideri's face turned red, and he hesitantly said, "But this is all because our tribe's farming efforts have been excellent, which caught the Emperor's attention. However, this is all due to your hard work, Little Sister. You've been doing all of this, while Second Brother and I..."

An Qing smiled, immediately understanding the reason behind their behavior.

They felt they were taking credit for her achievements.

Back in Horqin, their family had been wondering about Emperor Kangxi's intentions in suddenly arranging her marriage to Yinqi. If it was to use her father on the battlefield this year, they were not sent to the front lines, leaving everyone puzzled.

After the victory over Dzungaria, her father met the Emperor in Ningxia and finally guessed the reason from his words.

At that time, Emperor Kangxi praised their Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner's farming efforts in front of the Mongolian nobles.

An Qing realized that both the arranged marriage and the public praise were merely Emperor Kangxi's way of showing support to the Mongolian tribes, encouraging them to focus on farming.

It was similar to setting an example for future generations.

She thought the matter was settled, but unexpectedly, Emperor Kangxi assigned this task to her second and third brothers, a pleasant surprise indeed.

If they succeed, it would greatly benefit their future careers, much to An Qing's delight.

Over the years, Emperor Kangxi had indeed been courting Mongolian forces, but he also balanced the power among the tribes, preventing any one from becoming too powerful. Therefore, the glory of each tribe could only come from the Great Qing court.

Since the Great Qing entered the pass, their Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner had never received as much favor as the Horqin Left-wing Central Banner. The latter could have multiple princes and dukes, while their banner only had one Zha Saikhan Doroi Duke title.

Her eldest brother was the heir to the tribe and would inherit their father's Zha Saikhan Doroi Duke title, but her second and third brothers could not inherit any official titles.

For example, her second uncle was only granted the title of Zhenguogong after their tribe achieved some minor victories against Dzungaria in 1690, but he lost a leg in battle.

Last year's campaign against Dzungaria was better; her father and clan members went to the front lines and earned some merit, though not enough for a title. So, her father planned to earn another Zhenguogong title for her second or third brother by achieving more victories this year.

However, plans didn't keep up with changes. Emperor Kangxi placed their tribe in charge of logistics, denying them the chance to earn titles through military service. This left her father and others disheartened.

As for future opportunities, An Qing knew that after 1697, there would be no major battles in Dzungaria for a long time. The next significant conflict would be near the end of Emperor Kangxi's reign, over twenty years later, when her second and third brothers might not even be able to fight anymore.

"At the time, Father didn't understand the Emperor's intentions. If he had known the Emperor cared so much, he should have given you credit," Robzang Lash said with a frown.

When Emperor Kangxi suddenly mentioned their tribe's farming efforts, Deb couldn't gauge his intentions and simply said it was the work of his sons. This was probably why Emperor Kangxi summoned the three brothers today.

By then, An Qing had already been granted a marriage, and they thought the noble ladies in the Forbidden City would disdain such earthy activities, considering them uncouth. They feared it might bring trouble to An Qing.

After all, the imperial family didn't mind their daughter/sister working in the fields, but others might judge her differently.

But they never expected Emperor Kangxi to value this so highly. If they had known, they would have clearly credited An Qing's efforts, giving her more support in the Forbidden City.

However, An Qing didn't see it that way. Even if they had credited her, Emperor Kangxi wouldn't grant her any titles. At most, he would give her more rewards and praise, which paled in comparison to securing a good future for her brothers.

Given the policies of the Qing court over the years, Emperor Kangxi genuinely wanted to encourage farming in Mongolia. If her second and third brothers gain his trust, their futures would be secured.

"Third Brother, what you said isn't fair. How can you say I did everything? Without your support these years, I couldn't have accomplished this," An Qing said.

Farming in a tribe is a massive undertaking. Without her family's full support, she couldn't have done it.

Mongolians traditionally focused on nomadic life and didn't prioritize farming, even with the Qing court's encouragement. Other Mongolian tribes didn't take it seriously either.

But when she expressed her desire to farm, they supported her unconditionally. Her brothers worked tirelessly alongside her, running errands without complaint, investing countless resources and effort.

Through years of hard work, they gradually transformed their tribe into a semi-agricultural community.

At least the elderly and children in the tribe now had stability and didn't have to endure the hardships of nomadic life.

Suddenly thinking of something, An Qing said, "Brothers, wait a moment. I have something to give you."

Chapter 14: The Fifth Princess

An Qing turned and went to the outer room, where the wooden box she had brought with her was still sitting on the desk.

This box contained all her treasures.

An Qing returned, happily carrying the wooden box. In front of her three brothers, she opened it and took out several booklets, proudly handing the top one to her eldest brother Abalatang.

"Big Brother, I've compiled all the procedures for our pasture planning and livestock disease prevention. These are the methods we developed and practiced with the tribal veterinarians, which should be useful for you and Father."

After saying this, An Qing handed the other two booklets to her second brother Robzang Lash and Third Elder Brother Yideri.

"And here's another one. This contains the precautions for farming in our tribe and some key points about crop cultivation on the grasslands. It turns out that these will come in handy now. Second Brother, Third Brother, you can read them together when you return. They'll definitely be useful next year when you go on your assignments."

An Qing had long wanted to compile these materials, but due to the many tasks she had over the past few years, she kept postponing it. Only after the imperial decree for her marriage came down did she have to hurry up and finish it, completing it just a few days ago.

The most challenging part was the section on livestock disease prevention. She wasn't an expert, but during her graduate studies, she had a roommate who specialized in veterinary medicine, and she learned a bit through osmosis. Fortunately, their tribal veterinarians were experienced.

Now that An Qing was far away in the Forbidden City, she had to arrange things in Horqin so she could feel at ease. After all, she had lived there for over a decade, and her family and clan members were there. She sincerely hoped they would all be well.

Initially, according to her father's wishes, he wanted her to marry into a noble family on the grasslands, where she would be close by and protected.

An Qing also wanted to be closer to her family and take care of them more often.

But ultimately, human plans couldn't match the will of heaven.

Abalatang, Robzang Lash, and Yideri looked at each other, seeing a hint of guilt in each other's eyes.

As elder brothers, they often relied on their sister to shoulder responsibilities.

Their tribal pastureland used to be barren, but when An Qing was only eight years old, she found a way to improve it by reading various books and collecting seeds of high-quality grasses.

When she was twelve, their tribe's livestock suffered from an epidemic. She worked tirelessly with the veterinarians, poring over medical texts, and eventually found a cure, saving most of the cattle and sheep and ensuring the survival of many herdsmen that year.

And the farming efforts in their banner were almost entirely her initiative.

Other princesses of her age would be spoiled, but their little sister was mature and considerate.

Seeing their expressions, An Qing knew what they were thinking. To avoid an overly emotional scene, she quickly changed the subject.

"Second Brother, even though you have other duties now, please keep an eye on my estates in Horqin. And don't forget the task I entrusted to you; don't slack off."

Robzang Lash assured her, "Little Sister, don't worry. I won't start until spring next year, but I'll get everything done for you this winter. Your estates will be well taken care of."

"I'll help too," Yideri added. "Big Brother is busy with official duties, but Second Brother and I can manage the estates."

An Qing chuckled, like a mouse that had stolen honey. "Thank you, Second Brother and Third Brother."

Though they hadn't seen each other for just a few days, the siblings had endless things to talk about. Abalatang, being the eldest, mostly watched his younger siblings chat while sipping tea, occasionally joining in.

They talked for a long time until someone reminded them that it was time for lunch. They then realized how much time had passed.

Lunch was served in the front courtyard. Yinqi had returned and joined them for the meal. He stayed with them throughout the afternoon until it was nearly time for the palace gates to close, and An Qing's three brothers hurriedly left.

Watching their figures disappear at the palace gate, An Qing felt a tinge of sadness. They would leave for Horqin tomorrow, and she didn't know when they would meet again.

Yinqi looked at her, unsure how to comfort her, and awkwardly said, "We'll see each other at the autumn hunt in Mulan next year."

An Qing's mood lifted immediately at the thought of seeing her family soon. She grabbed Yinqi's hand and turned back towards their courtyard.

It was already getting dark, and the palace servants had lit the lanterns along the way. A young eunuch carried a lantern ahead to light their path.

Yinqi couldn't help but think about what happened earlier in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. When Emperor Father asked Abalatang about the farming efforts in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, he mentioned assigning one of them a task to teach farming techniques to other tribes next spring alongside Huang Mao.

Emperor Father always emphasized the importance of farming, making this a rare opportunity. However, before he could assign anyone, the three brothers humbly deferred to each other, insisting that the others had contributed more.

Yinqi, accustomed to sibling rivalry, was surprised by their mutual humility. Even Emperor Father seemed taken aback and was moved by their brotherly bond, changing the initial single assignment to two, giving both Robzang Lash and Yideri the task.

Yinqi was touched by their brotherly affection.

Recently, the Crown Prince and the eldest brother had been clashing fiercely in court, often arguing until they were red-faced. Yinqi never understood why siblings needed to fight so much. High positions were not necessarily better.

Yinqi knew that families like An Qing's were exceptions. Even among the Manchu nobility in the Imperial City, disputes over titles often led to sibling rivalries.

He never imagined that Abalatang and his brothers hadn't considered such things; they simply felt it was shameful to claim their sister's achievements.

Today, Yinqi finally understood the real reason behind Emperor Father's decision to arrange his marriage to An Qing. Over the years, they had seen him struggle with the farming efforts in Mongolia, feeling helpless.

Unexpectedly, Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner had made significant progress. A nomadic tribe achieving such success in farming must have put in considerable effort over the years.

Yinqi glanced at An Qing and muttered, "No wonder you love planting things."

She must have been influenced by her family.

An Qing, lost in thought, didn't hear him clearly. "What did you say?"

Yinqi smiled and replied, "I said, your three brothers are really good to you."

An Qing responded with an "oh," blinked, and then said mysteriously, "That only proves one thing."

Yinqi raised an eyebrow. "What thing?"

An Qing shrugged, matter-of-factly. "It means congratulations to you, sir."

Yinqi exclaimed, "Ah?" looking confused, clearly not understanding the meaning.

Why congratulate him?

An Qing explained with a serious expression, "Think about it, feelings are mutual. If my three elder brothers all like me, doesn't that also show that I'm pretty great?"

Yinqi almost nodded instinctively but managed to hold back, "Then why should I be congratulated?"

An Qing blinked and said earnestly, "Of course, congratulations are in order for you, because you've married a wonderful wife."

Yinqi was taken aback for a moment. Once he realized what she meant, he couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated.

What kind of twisted logic is this? Who brags about themselves in such a roundabout way?

Chapter 15: The Fifth Lady

An Qing's spirits were high after seeing her family during the day. As a result, she ate heartily at dinner and inadvertently overindulged.

Seeing this, Chunxiao hurried to brew some hawthorn tea to aid digestion. After drinking it, An Qing began to walk around the table in the room to help digest her meal.

Yinqi sat on the couch, sipping his tea while teasingly watching An Qing.

How could you be like a child, overeating until you're stuffed?

An Qing pretended not to notice his expression but couldn't help but silently criticize him.

This man really enjoys seeing me in trouble. It's just overeating; what's the big deal?

What's most frustrating is that he looks so gleeful but says nothing, leaving me no chance to defend myself.

Just as they were secretly competing, there was a commotion outside the door. Little Xizi quickly lifted the curtain and entered.

"Reporting to Master and Lady, someone from Lady Liu's quarters has come to report that the little prince is ill."

An Qing paused, her tone filled with concern: "Ill? What kind of illness? Has a physician been called?"

For such a young child, being sick is no small matter.

Little Xizi shook her head, explaining that the young palace maid from Lady Liu's quarters only said the little prince was ill and knew nothing else. Further questioning only made her cry, providing no useful information.

An Qing turned to Yinqi and said, "Please go quickly. Hongsheng is still very young, and we can't take any chances."

Yinqi had already stood up and approached her, nodding slightly. Though his face showed some worry, he was calmer than An Qing.

Hongsheng was his first child, born weak due to insufficient nourishment in the womb. Despite careful care, he often fell ill. This wasn't the first time.

An Qing thought for a moment and added, "I'll go too and see if I can help."

As the main lady, it was her duty to visit, regardless of personal feelings.

Lady Liu resided in the eastern annex. From the main hall, they walked through a garden and past an arched gate to reach the eastern annex.

The courtyard was brightly lit. Upon entering, the leading eunuch took them directly to the little prince's room.

The little prince lay in bed with his eyes closed, his face pale, and his sleep seemed restless.

Lady Liu sat by the bed, holding her son's hand, her face full of worry.

Hearing the commotion, she turned to see An Qing and Yinqi, hesitated for a moment, then hurriedly bowed.

Yinqi raised his hand, signaling her to rise, and asked softly, "How is Hongsheng? Has a physician been called?"

Before Lady Liu could answer, her voice trembled with tears: "Master, a physician has been called. He said it's indigestion and has given medicine."

Yinqi nodded lightly, leaning closer to the bed. Seeing the little one sleeping more peacefully now, his heart eased, realizing the medicine was working.

After confirming Hongsheng was stable, they moved to the outer room to discuss the situation further.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they arrived, Lady Liu suddenly knelt down and began crying pitifully.

"Please forgive us, Master and Lady. Earlier, Hongsheng kept crying, and I panicked, so I sent for you, disrupting your rest. It's my fault."

An Qing was momentarily stunned and quickly helped her up, saying, "It's not your fault. A child's illness is serious, and as a mother, it's understandable to panic."

Lady Liu rose, looking grateful at An Qing: "Thank you, Lady, for understanding. For Hongsheng to have a main lady like you is his fortune."

An Qing wasn't naive; Lady Liu's actions were clearly not aimed at her. She smiled and said nothing more.

Indigestion in a child could be minor or severe, but those responsible needed to be reprimanded both for accountability and as a warning.

"How did Hongsheng suddenly get indigestion? How are you serving him?" Yinqi demanded sternly.

The two wet nurses serving the little prince immediately knelt, begging for mercy.

Seeing this, Lady Liu also rose to apologize: "It's all my fault. We were very careful during dinner, not giving him anything hard to digest. I don't know how he suddenly got indigestion..."

She started crying again.

An Qing looked disapprovingly at her. Yinqi was clearly trying to discipline the servants, but Lady Liu was taking all the blame, which was counterproductive.

Just like in her previous life, when married couples discussed how their elders would interfere when disciplining children, undermining the purpose entirely.

Long-term, this would lead to the child becoming reckless, and the same principle applied to disciplining servants.

An Qing didn't say anything, though. After all, both parents were present; why cause trouble?

Yinqi understood this well. Given Hongsheng's frail health, he usually sympathized with Lady Liu. Seeing her distraught, he comforted her instead.

"Hongsheng was born weak due to insufficient nourishment. Occasional illnesses are inevitable. You've been very attentive, and I appreciate your efforts."

Lady Liu was deeply moved, lifting her tearful eyes: "Your praise is undeserved. It's my duty."

An Qing sat quietly, nodding in agreement, showing sympathy towards Lady Liu.

But inwardly, she sighed. Yinqi, usually rational, lost his principles when it came to his favored concubine.

Men, ultimately, cannot resist the allure of beauty.

Interrupted thus, Yinqi couldn't continue, so he gave a symbolic reprimand and turned to ask Lady Liu about the physician's instructions.

Indigestion in a child isn't a serious illness. After taking the prescribed medicine, Hongsheng was sleeping soundly, indicating he was fine.

Who knew that just as An Qing and Yinqi were about to leave, Liu Jiashi suddenly stammered, "My lord, you know how useless I am. Whenever Hongsheng cries, I lose my composure. If his condition worsens tonight, what should I do? So, I have an unreasonable request..."

She paused here, hesitating and glancing at An Qing.

Initially, An Qing was puzzled, but then she seemed to realize something, her eyes suddenly brightening.

Given the situation, even if she were dull-witted, she would understand now. Liu Jiashi's unreasonable request was likely for Yinqi to stay the night.

Roar! The classic scenes of vying for favor from palace dramas were about to unfold?!

An Qing suddenly felt excited. Although she had seen many of her father's concubines vie for his attention in the inner quarters since childhood, both her father and mother always made sure to keep her away from such direct displays of favor-seeking.

After all, he was her father, and no matter what, he wanted to maintain some dignity in front of his daughter. That was understandable.

As for her mother, she simply didn't want An Qing to witness those unsavory scenes.

But they never knew that An Qing had always been curious about it, just lacking the opportunity. This was her first time witnessing such a scene.

However, she hadn't paid much attention earlier, only now noticing Liu Jiashi's attire. She wore a plain dress embroidered with orchids, with light makeup on her face. Perhaps because she had washed up, she did not have the Manchu hairstyle, instead letting her black hair fall freely behind her, held back by a jade hairpin.

Tsk, this innocent and delicate appearance, this pitiful face, this teary expression—anyone would find her pitiable.

Throughout history, weak women without backbone have always stirred men's protective instincts. An Qing thought that Yinqi would find it hard to refuse.

She was enjoying the spectacle, completely unaware that she was the rival in this competition for favor. She had no intention of retaliating, which left Cui Liu in a state of anxiety.

Yinqi naturally understood Liu Jiashi's intentions. He had encountered similar situations before, but not today. His gaze subconsciously turned to An Qing.

When his eyes fell on An Qing, he was momentarily stunned. What was that look in her eyes?

An Qing blinked innocently and turned to look at Yinqi.

Why was he looking at her?

Yinqi gave her a half-smile.

An Qing coughed lightly, feeling a bit guilty as she touched her nose.

Fine, she admitted that Liu Jiashi looked particularly charming tonight, and she had glanced at her a few times more than usual, only to be caught red-handed.

A hint of helplessness flashed in Yinqi's eyes. He considered himself not someone swayed by beauty, often mocked by Third Elder Brother for being unromantic. Who would have thought he would end up marrying a wife who appreciated beauty.

The incident with his mother already left him speechless, and now she was captivated by Liu Jiashi. Really... he didn't know what to say.

Yinqi turned to Liu Jiashi and said, "Since the imperial physician said there's nothing to worry about, don't be too concerned. I'll come back tomorrow to check on Hongsheng."

After the ordeal in the east wing, An Qing and Yinqi returned to the main hall, and it was clearly late.

Yinqi had to attend court early the next morning, so they decided to bathe separately. An Qing let Yinqi use the bathing room in the side chamber while she went to the one near the western warm pavilion.

The palace maids had prepared hot water for them. An Qing soaked in a large wooden tub, with only Cui Liu and Perilla attending to her.

Cui Liu finally seized the opportunity to vent: "Princess, why didn't you pay attention to what I told you earlier? It was so close in the east wing; we almost lost to the secondary consort. Luckily, the master was firm and wasn't swayed. Otherwise, you would have become a laughingstock in the inner quarters tomorrow."

Even Perilla sided with Cui Liu, chiding An Qing: "Your appreciation for beauty needs to be reined in. You really don't know when or where to draw the line. If you were a man, your household would be in chaos."

Liu Jiashi clearly had ill intentions tonight, yet An Qing showed no vigilance, nearly driving Cui Liu and Perilla mad.

An Qing didn't get upset despite their scolding, understanding their reactions.

There was an unwritten rule within the Forbidden City: upon marriage, a husband should stay with his wife for at least half a month to show respect and establish her position in the inner quarters.

Whether among Manchu nobles or imperial princes, most adhered to this rule to avoid discord in the household.

Of course, there were exceptions. For example, when Third Prince married his third consort, he was lured into a concubine's room halfway through, leading to the third consort being secretly ridiculed by her sisters-in-law, and the concubine becoming increasingly arrogant.

Today marked the fifteenth day of An Qing and Yinqi's marriage, right at the halfway point. Liu Jiashi's actions could easily be seen as a deliberate attempt to humiliate An Qing.

However, An Qing wasn't entirely oblivious. Initially, she hadn't thought much of it, but after seeing Cui Liu's signals, she realized the situation.

But what could she do in that moment? The royal family valued heirs, and using the child as leverage, Liu Jiashi left her with no options. Acting rashly might lead to accusations of jealousy and mistreatment of a concubine's son, which would be counterproductive.

So, the best choice was to do nothing and let Yinqi decide.

An Qing admitted that she also tested Yinqi, wanting to see if he would still respect her as the primary consort when faced with a favored concubine. This would determine her future path.

It turned out that Yinqi was not someone swayed by beauty. At least for now, he showed no signs of favoring a concubine over his wife.

This incident further convinced An Qing that Yinqi was a good partner.

"But you were too passive. What if Liu Jiashi succeeded? What would you do?" Cui Liu still disapproved of An Qing's inaction, seeing it as sitting idly by.

An Qing replied mysteriously, "Don't worry, I have a backup plan."

"What backup plan?" Cui Liu asked.

An Qing shrugged, her tone relaxed, "Worst case, I can stay in the east wing too."

If Liu Jiashi used concern for her son to keep Yinqi, An Qing could use the same reason. No one could fault her for staying, and at worst, they'd all spend the night in Hongsheng's room.

Even if it spread the next day, it would highlight her kindness towards the concubine's son. Playing defense is a skill anyone can master.

Understanding this, An Qing remained calm in the east wing, even having the leisure to admire Liu Jiashi's subtle makeup tricks.

Chapter 16: The Fifth Consort

News of Liu Jiashi's failed attempt to win favor the previous night spread quickly through the courtyard the next day, and many people openly or secretly mocked her.

Cui Liu returned after gathering information and eagerly reported to An Qing, "I heard that quite a few things were smashed in the eastern annex last night. Hmph, serves her right. She really shot herself in the foot."

An Qing glanced at her, noticing the gleeful expression on the girl's face, and asked suspiciously, "Did you spread this news?"

"Absolutely not!" Cui Liu exclaimed indignantly. "You specifically told us yesterday to keep our mouths shut and avoid causing trouble here. I wouldn't dare do such a thing."

An Qing thought about it and agreed. Although Cui Liu was usually carefree, she always followed instructions. Perilla was even more obedient.

"It must be someone from their own courtyard who couldn't keep their mouth shut. It has nothing to do with us," Cui Liu said.

An Qing nodded thoughtfully. Last night, only Perilla and Cui Liu were with her, while Yinqi had his personal eunuch Ma Xiang with him. His people wouldn't have spread the news either.

So the problem must lie within Liu Jiashi's own courtyard, but that was no longer An Qing's concern.

She didn't stop Cui Liu and the others from getting involved out of kindness; rather, she knew that walls had ears.

In the palace, any action would leave traces, so why give anyone a chance to find fault? It wasn't worth it.

Besides, watching palace intrigues was entertaining, but An Qing never intended to get deeply involved. Her life had far more interesting things to offer.

For example, transplanting the watermelon seedlings in the flower pots along the western corridor.

Time had flown by since planting the seeds. It had been half a month since then, and the seedlings had sprouted three days after sowing. Now they had grown five or six true leaves and were ready for transplantation in a few days.

Watermelons belong to the cucurbit family and are annual climbing vines. They thrive in sunny, moist conditions and require ample sunlight and water to grow well. Therefore, proper management of fertilizer and water is crucial, as is pest control.

These measures should be implemented from the seedling stage until the fruit matures, covering the entire growing process.

Before transplanting the seedlings, An Qing needed to thoroughly till the soil again.

Although Little Xizi had already tilled the land, An Qing felt it was too shallow and needed to be deeper.

Deep tilling has many benefits: it clears weeds, improves soil quality, deepens the plow layer, and eliminates pests. In ancient times, without pesticides, this step was particularly important.

Little Xizi was efficient. When An Qing instructed him to find some shovels and small hoes, he brought them back the next day. However, due to being new, she had delayed taking action. Now seemed like the right time.

An Qing changed into more comfortable clothes and started tilling the land with a hoe.

"My Lady, let me do it," Little Xizi said anxiously, seeing An Qing working in the field.

An Qing waved her hand. "No worries, we'll finish faster together."

The seedlings were almost ready for transplantation, and the conditions in the wooden boxes were limited. Planting them in the ground sooner would be better.

Moreover, tilling the land required skill, not just anyone could do it well.

Cui Liu pulled Little Xizi aside, who wanted to persuade further. "My Lady enjoys doing this. You'll get used to it. Come, I'll show you how to till the land."

An Qing ignored them. Cui Liu and the others had been with An Qing for a while and, although not experts, had learned how to till the land through observation.

Tilling the soil was just the first step; the next was to prepare the beds.

Preparing beds improves drainage and irrigation, controls soil moisture, and can also regulate soil temperature, promoting healthy plant growth.

The direction of the beds affects the intensity of light, heat, and water received by the crops. Common bed types include flat beds, low beds, high beds, and ridges.

Given the planting time, these were mid-to-late maturing watermelons, which require flat beds during the rainy season for easy irrigation and drainage.

If they were early maturing watermelons, with less rainfall later in the season, low beds or wave-shaped flat beds would be better, helping retain soil moisture early and facilitating irrigation during fruit expansion.

After preparing the beds, the final step was to apply base fertilizer.

Although there were no chemical fertilizers in ancient times, the wisdom of ancient farmers was remarkable. Many agricultural texts detailed methods of fertilizer production and application.

Various types of fertilizers were used, including manure, cake fertilizer, and residue fertilizer.

Thanks to her interest in "organic and pesticide-free" foods in her past life, An Qing had studied this topic extensively and had considerable knowledge.

Ideally, manure is the best base fertilizer, but given the palace setting, An Qing didn't want to cause a stench. So, she asked Little Xizi to bring some wood ash from the greenhouse.

Wood ash, made from burnt plants, is an ancient and important agricultural fertilizer. It contains potassium carbonate and calcium oxide, providing nutrients and preventing crop diseases, enhancing disease resistance.

After spreading a layer of wood ash over the soil, An Qing finally finished the task.

With the recent good weather, the soil could be left to dry for two or three days before transplantation.

Little Xizi, who had followed the entire process, listened to An Qing explain a few points to Cui Liu and the others, and ended up feeling deep respect for her.

Not for her title as Consort, but for her as a person.

"I remember helping my family with farming when I was young, but I never realized there were so many intricacies involved," Little Xizi remarked, filled with admiration.

An Qing smiled, looking at the freshly tilled land, feeling genuinely satisfied.

From ancient times to the present, farming has never been simple. It's not just about throwing seeds into the soil. Soil, temperature, fertilizer, and water all play crucial roles. Any oversight could lead to a poor harvest.

An Qing always believed she had patience in farming, but meeting the farmers of this era made her realize how much she still had to learn.

Here, land was the livelihood of the common people, the foundation of their survival!

However, Little Xizi's lack of knowledge about farming did not mean that the current agricultural techniques were lacking. On the contrary, the level of intensive cultivation had reached unprecedented heights.

In Horqin, An Qing met some old farmers who had fled from the inland regions. Through generations of oral tradition, these laboring people summarized their experiences with hardship, wisdom, and diligence, accumulating many valuable lessons.

However, these experiences were limited by certain individuals and regions, scattered and lacking systematic support.

"Little Xizi, where is your hometown?" An Qing asked casually. "Why did you enter the palace?"

If one had land and family back home, why would they choose to become a eunuch in the palace?

The eunuchs and palace maids in the palace were different. Palace maids were selected by the Imperial Household Department and could leave the palace after a certain age, but eunuchs had no such option. Anyone with another means of survival would not choose this path.

Little Xizi replied, "Replying to Her Ladyship, this servant's hometown is in Henan. Our family originally had a few acres of farmland, but in recent years, our hometown suffered consecutive droughts, leaving no harvest. In the end, only this servant survived and thus entered the palace."

As Little Xizi spoke, her eyes welled up with tears. Realizing she had lost composure before her mistress, she quickly apologized and retreated.

An Qing silently sighed, as it was just as she had expected.

How hard the farmers of this era lived was something she had learned about in agricultural history classes, but truly experiencing it here gave her a real understanding.

Without modern technology for seed breeding, fertilizers, and pesticides, farming in ancient times was much more arduous.

It must be acknowledged that in modern times, pesticides can solve most problems. In the agricultural textbooks An Qing studied, the solutions to specific crop diseases and pests were straightforward pesticide mixtures.

Ancient farmers, however, could only rely on prevention. Once a disease or pest problem arose, it was often difficult to treat.

At best, there would be reduced yields; at worst, complete crop failure!

Therefore, farmers had the least ability to withstand risks.

Moreover, their yields were far lower than those in modern times. The annual yield per mu in this era was very low, even in the fertile southern fields under favorable conditions and multiple cropping, reaching only 2.5 to 3 dou, approximately 400 pounds.

After deducting taxes, the limited land owned by ordinary families left them with barely enough food to survive, let alone any surplus.

Under such circumstances, encountering major natural disasters like the one that befell Little Xizi's family meant the entire family could not endure.

The hardships of farmers have never been just a light-hearted phrase throughout history.

Chapter 17: The Fifth Fulinjin

It was three days later when An Qing finally managed to transplant her precious melon seedlings into the ground.

These seedlings were hard-won treasures. Losing even one would break her heart, so she insisted on doing the transplanting herself, not letting anyone else touch them.

The task wasn't difficult but required precision. She carefully moved each seedling from its pot, soil and all, into the ground and then watered them thoroughly.

After the successful transplant, in about seven to ten days, the melon seedlings would start to grow vines. At that point, she needed to lay straw and wheat stalks around each plant.

An Qing had already instructed Little Xizi to prepare these materials. Although straw and wheat stalks were uncommon in the Forbidden City, they weren't out of place. With some silver, the eunuchs who went out daily to buy firewood could easily bring some in.

After transplanting the melon seedlings, An Qing didn't forget the tomato plants Yinqi had given her earlier. She had already told someone to till and air out the two small flower beds for several days, and today was the perfect time to transplant the tomatoes as well.

"Fulinjin, what are you building?" asked the young eunuch Li Fu, puzzled.

He had previously worked in the flower house at Fengchen Garden and continued to take care of the flowers in An Qing's courtyard after coming here. He was also responsible for looking after the tomato plants Yinqi had brought.

An Qing tied the last piece of wood and dusted off her hands. "A trellis."

A trellis?

Li Fu looked confused. He had helped look after the tomatoes before but had never seen anyone build a trellis. He couldn't imagine its purpose.

An Qing smiled and didn't rush to explain. Instead, she transplanted four tomato seedlings around the trellis, forming a circle, and then pointed to it.

"This is for the tomato plants to climb. When the tomatoes cover the trellis, they will grow like a tree, becoming a tomato tree."

"A tomato tree?" Cui Liu exclaimed, coming over curiously. "Will it look nice?"

An Qing nodded. Of course.

When the tomato vines were laden with ripe fruit, the red tomatoes hanging from the trellis would be a sight to behold. More importantly, the trellis would improve ventilation and light exposure, reduce disease and pests, and increase both yield and quality.

After transplanting both the melon and tomato seedlings, An Qing felt a sense of relief. Standing in front of the main hall's veranda, she admired her newly transformed courtyard, feeling very satisfied.

Indeed, Perilla and the others were capable. In just half a month, they had completely renovated the courtyard according to her preferences.

Cui Liu had custom-made a large reclining chair placed under the grapevine trellis in the courtyard, perfect for cooling off after sunset. The corner of the courtyard had been cleared by Maidenhair, who planned to plant medicinal and ornamental flowers like peonies and chrysanthemums.

Chunxiao had also raised a few koi in the large bronze vase in front of the main gate, giving the courtyard a rustic charm.

Through their observations over the past few days, An Qing and Perilla noticed that Little Xizi was efficient, observant, and most importantly, trustworthy. He knew what to ask and what not to ask, and what to say and what not to say.

Having a reliable eunuch in charge of the courtyard was essential. An Qing hadn't mentioned this before, wanting to see how things would unfold first.

Now that she was satisfied, she asked Cui Liu to gather everyone in the courtyard and announced the decision.

Little Xizi was surprised by the sudden promotion and quickly knelt down to thank her.

"Fulinjin trusts you," Cui Liu warned. "You must serve diligently."

Little Xizi replied eagerly, "This servant will serve Fulinjin wholeheartedly and never have a second thought!"

The other palace maids and eunuchs watched Little Xizi enviously. It had only been a short while since he caught Fulinjin's attention and became the head eunuch, setting him apart from the rest.

But this event gave everyone hope for advancement, and they began to work even harder, believing they could achieve the same.

In contrast to the vibrant atmosphere in the main hall, the air in Liu Jiashi's eastern wing was suffocatingly tense.

The servants there lived in constant fear, afraid of making any mistake that might anger Liu Jiashi, who was in a foul mood.

No matter how careful they were, their mistress could always find fault. Since her failed attempt to win favor, almost every servant had been scolded or beaten for various reasons.

Ruijuan watched as a young eunuch was sent to kneel in the courtyard and sighed inwardly. She could no longer help much, having been reassigned to serve the little prince after trying to persuade Liu Jiashi a few times.

She saw Old Zhao hurry into the room, wondering what new trouble was brewing.

Inside, Liu Jiashi lay listlessly on a soft couch, looking drained.

Old Zhao entered and whispered something in her ear. Liu Jiashi suddenly sat up straight. "Is this true?"

"Absolutely!" Old Zhao said excitedly, gesturing wildly. "The main hall is usually guarded like a fortress, but I managed to get the information after much effort."

Liu Jiashi sprang to her feet, pacing back and forth. "Ha! She pretends to be a proper lady, but secretly behaves like this!"

Old Zhao agreed. "Who would have thought that a noble Fulinjin would act like a peasant, doing menial farm work? If this gets out, people will laugh at her and make Yinqi lose face. No man would find such behavior appealing."

These words struck a chord with Liu Jiashi. Over the past few days, others assumed she was upset about the incident, but she was actually more anxious.

Before An Qing arrived, everyone thought Liu Jiashi was favored in the Fifth Prince's household, but only she knew that Yinqi didn't truly care for her. His visits were mostly to see the child, and even staying overnight was often just sleeping separately.

Sometimes she wondered if there were really men who didn't desire intimacy. Liu Jiashi didn't believe it; her father, despite his love for her stepmother, still had several favored concubines.

This meant she hadn't yet captured Yinqi's heart. So she brought Old Zhao into the palace to give her advice, hoping to use the same tactics her stepmother used to captivate her father.

But before she could succeed, An Qing arrived, causing Liu Jiashi great anxiety. Seeing Yinqi's affectionate gaze toward An Qing that night made her feel threatened. An Qing held the title of Fulinjin and had a prestigious background. If she also won Yinqi's heart, Liu Jiashi and Hongsheng would be left with nowhere to turn.

However, now it seemed fate was on her side. Liu Jiashi smiled, her happiest smile in days. An Qing had put on a good show, but now her true colors were showing.

Their marriage was still new, and she doubted their bond was deep. Exposing An Qing's unsavory side, adding some drama, would likely erase any favor she had gained from the Emperor and Yinqi.

Then, Fulinjin would become a laughingstock throughout the Forbidden City!

At this moment, in the east warm pavilion of the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Kangxi was meeting with ministers. Unaware of what difficulty he faced, his brows were deeply furrowed as he stared at a potted peony beside the table. This was a tribute recently sent from Luoyang, Henan. It was said to be rare, with only one such plant in all of Luoyang.

Standing below were the Minister of Rites, Zhang Ying, the Minister of Finance, Ma Qi, and the Fourth Prince Yinzhen and the Fifth Prince Yinqi.

All held their breaths, waiting silently for Kangxi to speak.

After a long while, Kangxi's gaze finally moved away from the potted peony and fell upon his sons Yinzhen and Yinqi. "Fourth Son, Fifth Son, are you sure you've searched every flower garden in the capital outskirts?"

The two quickly affirmed, and Yinzhen, bowing slightly, replied, "Your Majesty, this matter concerns the grand sacrifice. Your subject and Fifth Brother did not dare to neglect it. We personally inspected each one, and indeed found no peony similar to this one."

The Minister of Finance, Ma Qi, also hurriedly reported, "Officials from Luoyang also thoroughly searched the entire region and its surroundings but could not find another peony like this one."

A hint of disappointment flashed across Kangxi's face. What a pity.

The peony is the national flower, symbolizing auspiciousness and prosperity since ancient times.

This particular potted peony, the supreme-grade Mandarin Duck Butterfly Peony, was even more special. Unlike ordinary Mandarin Duck Butterfly Peonies, each petal had a golden edge, as if encrusted with gold, giving it a radiant appearance. This was a rare omen of good fortune.

Throughout history, which emperor did not favor such auspicious signs? Kangxi was no exception.

Recently, after two consecutive years of personally leading campaigns against Galdan, although great victories were achieved, the continuous warfare inevitably strained the people and resources. Last winter, Sichuan and Chongqing suffered snow disasters, causing unrest among the populace.

With the summer solstice sacrifices at the Altar of Earth approaching, an important annual ceremony, Kangxi decided to use this potted peony as an offering, hoping to show the people that the Great Qing was blessed by heaven and that he, as emperor, was divinely ordained.

However, unexpectedly, the peony suddenly fell ill, developing grayish-brown spots on its stems and some leaves. The palace gardeners were at a loss.

A sick peony could not serve as an offering. Disappointed, Kangxi could only reluctantly accept the situation.

He waved his hand and instructed Ma Qi and Zhang Ying, "Very well, proceed with the usual preparations for the sacrifices."

As for how to handle the peony, Kangxi pondered for a moment before turning to Liang Jiugong.

"Have it sent to the Empress Dowager's Ningshou Palace. My mother has always loved flowers. This peony is truly rare. While it still looks good, let her see it."

Chapter 18: The Fifth Princess Consort

In the main hall of Yikun Palace.

Concubine Yi lay listlessly on the Luohan bed, her gaze fixed on a copper cloisonné enamel incense burner with floral patterns, from which smoke was wafting erratically.

She would occasionally glance toward the door, looking distracted and restless.

"Your Highness, these are freshly made milk cakes from the imperial kitchen. Would you like to try some?" Xizhu placed a plate of pastries on the side table, then turned to take a cup of tea from a young palace maid, replacing the already cold tea on the table.

Concubine Yi glanced at them but waved her hand dismissively. "Put them aside for now. I'm not in the mood."

Xizhu, seeing her mistress's distracted state, sighed silently and did not press further.

After glancing at the door yet again and finding no one there, Concubine Yi finally turned to Xizhu, unable to contain her curiosity. "Do you think the Fifth Prince said something to his Princess Consort when he went back that day?"

Otherwise, why wouldn't he come here anymore?

Xizhu hesitated, her expression uncertain. "I don't think so, Your Highness. Didn't you specifically tell the Fifth Prince not to say anything to the Fifth Princess Consort? Since he agreed, he probably wouldn't go against your wishes."

Concubine Yi thought about it and nodded. The Fifth Prince had always been honest; he wouldn't break his word.

But then why?

Xizhu thought for a moment and suggested, "Perhaps the Fifth Princess Consort is busy with something. If you want to see her, we could send someone to the Prince's residence to invite her over."

"I don't want to see her!" Concubine Yi raised an eyebrow and huffed. "I'm just worried about the Fifth Prince. Women from Horqin are known to be domineering. Although the Fifth Prince's consort seemed nice at first, I still need to keep an eye on things."

Seeing her mistress's contradictory behavior, Xizhu suppressed a smile.

These days, Concubine Yi never mentioned the Fifth Prince but often spoke about the Fifth Princess Consort. It seemed she was only trying to convince herself.

It was amusing how, after understanding why the Fifth Princess Consort visited Yikun Palace daily, Concubine Yi didn't say much but started dressing up every day, changing her attire and accessories without repeating any. She even stayed in the palace all day, refusing invitations to play mahjong from the other consorts. Clearly, there was a reason behind this.

But since the Fifth Princess Consort suddenly stopped coming, Xizhu could see that Concubine Yi's patience was wearing thin. They needed to find a solution.

"Forgive me, Your Highness. You're just concerned about the younger generation, making sure the Fifth Princess Consort isn't uncomfortable in the palace," Xizhu said with a smile.

As for Concubine Yi's comments, as a servant, Xizhu couldn't voice them openly, lest it be seen as intentional provocation. Besides, Xizhu knew her mistress was actually quite satisfied with the Fifth Princess Consort despite her words.

Seeing that Concubine Yi didn't contradict her, Xizhu continued, "However, it has been several days since the Fifth Princess Consort came by. Perhaps I should discreetly inquire about her at the Prince's residence?"

This suggestion struck a chord with Concubine Yi. She had been pondering whether to send someone to check, but wasn't sure how to bring it up without seeming too concerned.

Concubine Yi touched her gold hairpin and feigned nonchalance. "Very well. Send someone to check, but make sure they're careful and not too obvious."

Xizhu smiled and agreed, calling over a clever young eunuch from the courtyard and giving him instructions. The eunuch promptly ran off towards the Prince's residence.

About half an hour later, the eunuch hurried back to Yikun Palace, looking hesitant when questioned by Xizhu, unsure how to proceed.

Concubine Yi frowned impatiently. "Just tell us what you found out. No need to be coy; it's infuriating."

The eunuch apologized and nervously reported, "Your Highness, when I arrived at the entrance of the Prince's residence, I saw a group of cleaning eunuchs and palace maids gossiping. They were talking about the Fifth Princess Consort."

Concubine Yi's expression turned serious. "What were they saying about her?"

The eunuch looked frightened and knelt down. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I dare not say."

Concubine Yi waved her hand. "Speak plainly. You are pardoned."

Hearing this, the eunuch recounted what he had heard.

He had intended to ask a few acquaintances about the situation at the Prince's residence, but upon arriving, he overheard a group discussing the Fifth Princess Consort. They said she was from Horqin and not well-versed in literature, yet tried to appear cultured. However, she was clueless about playing music, poetry, chess, or tea appreciation, so she chose gardening, thinking it was simple.

This wouldn't have been a problem, but she decided to dig up a plot in the courtyard instead of using flower pots, rolling up her sleeves and digging the soil herself, behaving like a commoner.

Even worse, they claimed she applied manure herself, making the entire courtyard stink, losing all dignity as a princess consort.

"Before returning, I checked around the palace, and this rumor has spread widely. They are saying..."

Concubine Yi's face darkened. "Saying what?"

The eunuch shivered. "They say the Fifth Princess Consort is a poor imitation, very laughable, and has disgraced the Fifth Prince."

"Outrageous!" Concubine Yi slammed her hand on the table. "How dare they mock their mistress behind her back! They must be tired of living!"

No one dared to breathe loudly as Concubine Yi fumed.

What was going on with the Fifth Prince's household? No wonder she hadn't come to Yikun Palace recently. This behavior was unacceptable. A princess consort should maintain her dignity, and now this scandal would be hard to resolve.

When the messenger from Yikun Palace arrived, An Qing was happily enjoying freshly made cherry pancakes.

That morning, Yinqi had sent several baskets of cherries, saying they were gifts from his subordinates and asking her to distribute them accordingly.

It was cherry season, and these cherries were large and red, resembling pearls and rubies. An Qing believed in fairness and distributed the cherries evenly among the various quarters of the residence.

Thus, Baijia Shi and Guoerjiashi each received a portion, while Liu Jiashi, due to Hongsheng, received two portions.

The remaining cherries were for An Qing, who loved cherries. She washed a small bowl to eat immediately but still felt unsatisfied, so she asked Chunxiao to help her make cherry pancakes.

Cherry pancakes are a sweet fruit preserve originating from the Southern Song Dynasty, and their preparation method is straightforward.

First, wash the cherries and remove the pits. Set them aside. The first step is to pan-fry the cherries, trying to draw out as much moisture as possible before marinating them in honey. Then continue to cook over low heat until all the juice from the cherries has evaporated. Finally, place them in the bread oven to dry.

The texture of the pan-fried cherries is sweet and sour, making them appetizing and beneficial for digestion. An Qing particularly enjoys them.

"A trip to Yikun Palace?"

Hearing that Concubine Yi was looking for her, a look of surprise flashed across An Qing's face. "Did Mother mention what it's about?"

The young palace maid shook her head and said, "Perhaps Her Highness just wants to chat with you."

An Qing nodded, not thinking too much of it, assuming Concubine Yi simply wanted her to visit.

It had been several days since she last went to Yikun Palace to see her beautiful mother-in-law. Lately, the weather had become increasingly hot, and An Qing, who disliked the heat, had become even more reluctant to move around.

Many places in the palace were already using ice, and the residence of the princes also received daily deliveries. An Qing, seeking coolness, had brought out the ice container early and switched to a cool mat.

But Mai Dong strictly monitored her, citing her naturally cold constitution as a reason to prevent her from using ice too early, saying something about staying calm to feel cool. It was quite frustrating.

With no choice, she resorted to the simplest method: reducing her activities to achieve a state of calmness.

An Qing brought a plate of freshly made pan-fried cherries and cheerfully arrived at Yikun Palace. However, as soon as she stepped into the main hall, she was dazzled by Concubine Yi's appearance.

Wow~ Did her beautiful mother-in-law have some important engagement today? Why was she dressed so elegantly?

Could it be that she was going to vie for the Emperor's favor?

The more An Qing thought about it, the more likely it seemed. After all, why else would the women of the harem dress up if not for Emperor Kangxi?

Concubine Yi, who had been seething with anger, saw An Qing's reaction and her fury dissipated. Her stern expression softened slightly.

Xizhu, standing nearby, almost couldn't hold back her laughter. She now understood why the Fifth Prince had hesitated to explain the situation on that day.

The Fifth Princess Consort was truly... Xizhu didn't know how to describe it.

However, seeing Concubine Yi's expression, she suddenly felt that this crisis might be resolved. It was a lucky coincidence.

Concubine Yi cleared her throat lightly, trying to compose herself and regain An Qing's attention.

But An Qing wasn't worried. She always adhered to the principle of not hitting a smiling face and cheerfully greeted her, "Daughter-in-law greets Mother. You look stunning today!"

Concubine Yi: "..."

How could one stay angry with such an innocent and straightforward reaction?

She stared at An Qing for a moment, thinking it was pointless to be upset. Clearly, it wasn't intentional.

Thinking about it, it wasn't a significant matter as long as there were no ill intentions. In the future, she could guide her more.

Moreover, who didn't have a competitive spirit when they were young? When she first entered the palace, she tried to emulate Empress De's gentleness and secretly read books after hearing praise for Imperial Concubine Rong's literary talents. She caused many private jokes.

Only later did she realize that she shouldn't compare herself to others.

Thinking of this, Concubine Yi looked at An Qing with increasing sympathy. Coming from Horqin, facing a sudden change in environment, and having family far away, how could she not be anxious?

Ultimately, it was due to the lack of support in the deep palace.

Concubine Yi didn't even realize how much her heart had softened, pondering how to ask questions without upsetting An Qing.

"Mother, I heard you were looking for me?" An Qing asked innocently.

Concubine Yi nodded lightly, "It's nothing serious, just wanted to chat."

An Qing responded with an "Oh," marveling inwardly that Concubine Yi was actually initiating a conversation.

Previously, her visits had always seemed perfunctory. What had changed today?

Was this a classic case of playing hard to get?!

As An Qing pondered, Concubine Yi finally gathered her thoughts and asked, "What have you been busy with these days?"

An Qing blinked, realizing it was indeed casual talk. "Not much, really. My brothers came to visit recently, and my husband accompanied me to see them. Since then, I've been busy arranging the courtyard."

Concubine Yi hummed softly, knowing about An Qing's brothers returning to Horqin. But arranging the courtyard?

"You just moved in; it's good to tidy up." She took a sip of tea, then subtly shifted the topic, "I heard you planted flowers in the courtyard yourself?"

An Qing, being highly sensitive, immediately sensed something in the question. How did Concubine Yi know about the flowers?

If Yinqi had mentioned it casually, it wouldn't be a big deal, but if not...

"Mother, I planted more than just flowers," she replied innocently, pretending to notice nothing.

Concubine Yi was taken aback. "More than just flowers?"

An Qing nodded, "There's an empty space behind the rear building in my courtyard. I thought it was a waste, so I planted some watermelons there."

She believed that one lie required a hundred more to cover it up. If Concubine Yi asked, there was no point in lying, as it would only make things worse if discovered later.

Of course, An Qing could have been vague, but honesty was crucial in relationships. She wanted to build a good relationship with Concubine Yi, so she couldn't hide anything.

Concubine Yi was stunned, finding it both amusing and exasperating. She was growing watermelons in her courtyard? What was going on in her head?

Still, she had seen the courtyard and knew the spot was relatively secluded.

Feeling uncertain under Concubine Yi's gaze, An Qing asked, "Mother, is it not allowed in the palace?"

She quickly added, "But I asked my husband, and he said it was fine."

Concubine Yi, hearing that Yinqi had approved, was even more at a loss for words. It turned out her son was involved too.

But then she reconsidered; An Qing always consulted Yinqi on everything, showing her respect for him as her husband. It seemed her previous worries were unnecessary.

However, Concubine Yi, recalling the rumors in the palace, hinted delicately, "You might not be fully aware since you just arrived. A few years ago, the Emperor specially had a melon patch cultivated in the southern gardens of the capital outskirts to supply watermelons for the palace every summer. When the time comes, you can have as many as you want without any trouble or strain."

An Qing waved her hand dismissively, "Mother, don't worry. I enjoy doing these things. Back home, I often helped my brothers with the fields, so a bit of farming won't tire me."

She added boastfully, "Besides, the melons I grow are sweeter than others. I'll pick the sweetest one to offer you."

An Qing's skill at flattering and promising was becoming more adept, and she didn't see anything wrong with promising the sweetest melon to two people.

Hearing this, Concubine Yi couldn't help but feel both amused and touched. She certainly wasn't lacking in watermelons, but it still warmed her heart.

However, the news that An Qing's two brothers had recently received good positions under Emperor Kangxi had spread throughout the palace, and Concubine Yi was aware of it too. This was when everyone realized the true intention behind Emperor Kangxi's approval of the fifth prince's marriage.

Given how much importance Deb of Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner placed on agriculture, it wasn't surprising that his children would participate. Otherwise, the Emperor wouldn't have favored An Qing's brothers.

Thinking about this, Concubine Yi understood. Indeed, what imitation? It was simply a habit formed back home.

"Since you enjoy doing these things, I won't stop you, but remember to be cautious, especially with fertilizing," Concubine Yi advised earnestly.

An Qing blinked and immediately understood, "Mother, don't worry. I know my limits. The fertilizer used is wood ash, nothing else."

Concubine Yi felt relieved, further convinced that An Qing knew how to handle things properly.

With this matter settled, Concubine Yi no longer pressed the issue and instead enjoyed the cherry pastries An Qing brought, chatting warmly like mother and daughter.

Xizhu asked curiously, "Your Highness, why didn't you tell the Fifth Princess Consort about the rumors?"

Concubine Yi waved her hand, "That child was clearly raised in a pampered environment. She's too innocent. It's not a big deal, and I'll take care of it. No need to scare her."

What's wrong with farming? The Emperor himself plows the fields every year to encourage agriculture. If he can do it, who dares say it's crude?

Xizhu understood. Her mistress genuinely treated the Fifth Princess Consort as family.

Everyone in the palace knew Concubine Yi was fiercely protective of those she truly cared for. Once someone gained her trust, they were always seen in a favorable light.

The Fifth Princess Consort truly had a stroke of luck, inadvertently winning her mother-in-law's favor, which would provide support in the palace.

And a harmonious relationship between mistress and daughter-in-law was beneficial for everyone in Yikun Palace.

After returning to the princes' residence, An Qing felt something was amiss.

She wasn't foolish. Being summoned to Yikun Palace without any apparent reason suggested there was something she didn't know. Concubine Yi wouldn't have asked about planting flowers in the courtyard for no reason.

Before she could investigate, Cui Liu rushed in, sweating profusely, "My lady, something terrible has happened."

An Qing sensed that this incident was related to her visit to Yikun Palace.

"Calm down, tell me slowly."

An Qing gestured for Perilla to give her a handkerchief and offered her a cup of cool tea from the table.

It was scorching outside, and rushing like that must have been exhausting.

Cui Liu wiped her face hastily but didn't drink the tea, instead recounting the situation.

She had heard the rumors about An Qing circulating in the palace and rushed back to report.

"My lady, what should we do? They're spreading such lies about you. How can we explain it all?" Cui Liu fretted.

After understanding the situation, An Qing pondered for a moment, "It shouldn't be that serious."

Otherwise, Concubine Yi wouldn't have handled it so lightly, only confirming the facts without revealing the details.

Clearly, the situation wasn't dire.

Cui Liu, though impulsive, trusted An Qing implicitly and relaxed upon hearing her reassurance.

"That's good. Whoever did this deserves punishment!"

Compared to Cui Liu's anger towards the culprit, Perilla was more concerned about another matter, "My lady, shouldn't you explain to the master first?"

Cui Liu also panicked visibly, "Yes, Your Highness, you should talk to him right away. We can't let this cause a rift."

"Don't worry, he knows. I told him before," An Qing said.

In Yikun Palace, Concubine Yi had dismissed the servants, leaving only Little Xizi to serve, while Perilla was taken to the side hall for tea. Thus, they didn't hear their conversation.

Hearing this, Perilla and Cui Liu felt relieved. Compared to the rumors, they were more concerned about their mistress's marital relationship.

They knew that even if their mistress was capable in Horqin, she needed to maintain the title of Fifth Princess Consort in the Forbidden City, making a harmonious marriage crucial.

An Qing reviewed the situation and quickly identified its direction. Based on Cui Liu's description, it was clearly an organized and premeditated act.

If Concubine Yi had heard the rumors, they must have spread beyond the princes' residence.

Whoever was behind it, the source was likely within her courtyard.

Having informed Yinqi about the farming beforehand, An Qing usually kept a low profile. During both the soil preparation and transplanting, she closed the gates. So, how could outsiders see through walls?

Only those in her courtyard could witness her activities, meaning the information leaked from there.

If she could identify the traitor, the mastermind would be exposed.

"Perilla, bring Little Xizi here."

After Perilla fetched Little Xizi, An Qing instructed someone to guard the door, indicating she had questions to ask.

Among the servants in her courtyard, Little Xizi was the least likely to be involved. He had just been promoted and wouldn't risk his position now.

"Madam Fu Jin, I've also heard the rumors outside. Do you suspect that someone from our courtyard might have leaked the information?" Little Xizi spoke up first.

An Qing looked at him appreciatively; indeed, he was quite astute: "Do you have any suspicions?"

"Or perhaps, has anyone in this courtyard been acting unusually recently?"

Little Xizi pondered for a moment and replied, "I won't hide it from Madam Fu Jin. When Cui Liu and I heard about this matter, we found it strange. So, I discreetly went to chat with the little eunuch guarding our courtyard."

An Qing nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.

This approach of seeking information from the gatekeeper was sound, as he saw everyone coming and going daily and was most familiar with the courtyard's situation.

Of course, the first step was to determine if the eunuch could be cleared of suspicion.

"I talked with him for a while and observed his reactions. There was nothing unusual, so I felt confident enough to rule him out. Then, I directly asked him if anything peculiar had happened with others in the courtyard over the past few days. He provided an important clue."

"What clue?" Cui Liu interjected impatiently.

Little Xizi replied, "He said that a few days ago, early in the morning, he saw one of our palace maids, Man'er, returning from outside in a hurry, carrying something in her arms."

An Qing didn't rush to speak. She knew Little Xizi always handled matters carefully and would verify his suspicions further.

Sure enough, Little Xizi did not disappoint her and continued, "I investigated further and learned that someone unexpectedly noticed she suddenly had a finely crafted gold hairpin. No one had seen this pin before, not even her roommate Danqing."

An Qing nodded slightly, deep in thought.

In theory, gold hairpins weren't rare in the palace, but on a small palace maid, they raised many questions.

If she remembered correctly, Man'er was one of the palace maids responsible for sewing in her courtyard. According to Perilla's records, Man'er was a bondmaid under the Third Banner of the Imperial Household Department, and her family wasn't well-off.

Of course, this couldn't exclude the possibility of being rewarded by the mistress, but such rewards were documented. Suddenly having such an expensive item was suspicious.

An Qing waved her hand, saying, "Since that's the case, bring her here for questioning."

Little Xizi quickly responded, "Yes, I'll go right away."

Apart from Perilla and a few others who served closely, everyone else in An Qing's courtyard lived in the rooms behind the flower gate.

Today was Man'er's day off, so when Little Xizi brought her there, she was in her room, secretly examining the gold hairpin. Now, there was no need to search.

When Man'er was dragged before An Qing, a flash of panic crossed her face, but she quickly composed herself and began crying out in innocence.

"Madam Fu Jin, please understand. I serve diligently and don't know what I did to offend Eunuch Little Xizi. Please vindicate me."

Seeing her trying to shift the blame, Little Xizi threw the gold hairpin in front of her, "Tell us, where did you get this gold hairpin?"

Hearing this, Man'er's body visibly stiffened, "This... This is a gift from my family when I entered the palace. They gave it to me because they knew serving in the palace wouldn't be easy."

"Since you brought it into the palace, why has no one seen it before?" Little Xizi pressed.

Man'er argued, "I'm not someone who shows off. Such an important item must be kept hidden. How could I flaunt it?"

Cui Liu, seeing her clever tongue, became furious, "Stop lying. You know your family's situation. Don't think you can fool us."

A drunkard father, a sick mother, and a useless brother—there was no way they could give her a gold hairpin.

"Cui Liu sister, you're being unreasonable. As the saying goes, 'Even a broken ship has some iron.' My family used to be prosperous, so a single gold hairpin isn't too extraordinary."

She referred to her grandfather's generation, who once held a minor position in the Imperial Household Department. But by her father's generation, they had fallen into poverty. This was all recorded in Perilla's ledger.

Man'er put on a face of being wronged, "Madam Fu Jin, I am innocent. This hairpin truly came from my family. I admit I hid it during the inspection when I entered the palace, but I deny everything else."

Seeing her stick to her story, An Qing suddenly smiled.

What a clever and articulate girl, devising a plan so quickly. She was not simple.

She played her cards well, knowing that hiding the hairpin would only result in being sent back to the Imperial Household Department. She relied on the lack of evidence against her.

"Do you really not know why you were brought here today?" An Qing's voice carried a chill.

Man'er's eyes flickered, and she clenched her teeth, "I am foolish and truly do not know. Please, Madam Fu Jin, understand."

An Qing stared at her, a hint of a smile on her lips, "Coincidentally, I lost a similar gold hairpin. It was a precious gift from my mother on my coming-of-age ceremony."

Man'er's body stiffened, and a look of confusion flashed across her face.

When Little Xizi suddenly burst into her room, she suspected the truth might be exposed. When questioned about the hairpin, she understood everything.

But she never expected An Qing to claim it was hers.

Such an ordinary gold hairpin, and yet Fu Jin was a princess from Mongolia. Who would believe her coming-of-age gift was this?

But now, belief didn't matter. If An Qing insisted, who could...

She looked up in disbelief. It was clear now. An Qing wanted to frame her!

Even if it was an ordinary hairpin, once given a different meaning, An Qing could punish her severely without much debate.

"You can't do this, you..."

"Why can't I?" An Qing sneered coldly.

She had a bit of cunning, but she forgot one thing: master and servant were distinct. The master's word was final, leaving no room for a servant's arguments.

"This is such a time. I don't want to control others' lives, but sometimes, I have no choice," An Qing thought.

"This hairpin is nothing special. You can't falsely accuse me like this. I will never admit it. Don't you fear others' criticism?" Man'er continued her desperate struggle.

An Qing, seeing she still hadn't given up, glanced at her meaningfully, "Very well, since you say so, I won't falsely accuse you. Let's send you to the Punishment Bureau for a thorough investigation. That should clear your name."

When Man'er heard that An Qing was going to send her to the Office of Punishment, she finally realized the gravity of the situation.

The Office of Punishment was a place where no one ever came out unscathed.

She knew she couldn't endure it; she would confess everything and suffer terribly. Whether she could even keep her life was uncertain.

"Servant begs to speak, servant will tell all!" Man'er broke free from Little Xizi's grasp. "It was Lady Liu Jiashi's Nurse Zhao who gave me this gold hairpin!"

The room fell silent. An Qing's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and everyone else dared not speak.

She had suspected Liu Jiashi before, but when faced with the truth, she still felt stunned.

"You traitorous wretch, how can you say such things? Although the Lady has only been here for a short time, when has she ever mistreated us servants?" Little Xizi pointed at Man'er on the ground and scolded her.

On the first day An Qing arrived, she gave each person in the courtyard six taels of silver, which was already a generous reward in the palace. This showed she was not a stingy person; as long as they served well, there would be more benefits to come.

Man'er, who had been lying on the ground in despair, suddenly went berserk upon hearing Little Xizi's rebuke: "Eunuch Little Xizi speaks so easily. You are now in a glorious position and think everything is fine."

Then, she glared venomously at Perilla and Cui Liu. "With those few personal maids around, we palace maids have no chance to get close to the Lady. You've blocked all our paths for advancement."

"So, Lady, don't blame servant. People always strive for higher positions. Since you didn't leave any path for servant, servant had to plan for herself."

In the end, she wasn't bought off by just one gold hairpin from Lady Liu Jiashi. It was Nurse Zhao's promise to make her a personal maid to Lady Liu Jiashi that tempted her. The allure of serving directly under a master was too great compared to spending days in the sewing room.

Man'er hadn't expected the scheme to be exposed so quickly. She had planned to commit minor mistakes to be sent away, even if she couldn't go to Lady Liu Jiashi, she could find another way out.

Seeing that Man'er still refused to repent and blamed An Qing, Cui Liu became furious: "You shameless wretch, who do you think you are? How dare you demand that the Lady pave your way?"

How audacious! Instead of trying to perform well upon arriving, she complained about not being given opportunities. What an outrageous and shameful act!

An Qing, however, didn't want to argue further. She instructed Little Xizi to take Man'er away and detain her temporarily, to be dealt with later.

Perilla, who managed the entire courtyard for An Qing, felt responsible for this incident: "It's servant's negligence. I failed to manage the people in the courtyard properly, allowing someone to exploit the gap."

But An Qing waved her hand dismissively. One cannot guard against every possible threat forever.

If Liu Jiashi harbored such intentions, it would be impossible to prevent them indefinitely. The root of the problem lay elsewhere.

An Qing never saw Liu Jiashi as a mortal enemy. Her ambitions lay elsewhere.

Liu Jiashi was a favored concubine, while she was the legitimate wife. If both fulfilled their roles and followed the rules, they could coexist peacefully.

Unfortunately, Liu Jiashi didn't see it that way.

Though An Qing didn't seek conflict, she was not one to be bullied either.

For Liu Jiashi's previous provocations, whether intentional or not, An Qing had dismissed them as trivial nuisances. But this time was different; Liu Jiashi had crossed a line.

This could no longer be handled lightly.

"Lady, what will you do about Liu Jiashi?"

Cui Liu looked ready to tear Liu Jiashi apart with her bare hands.

Dealing with Liu Jiashi? An Qing shook her head.

Although she was the Lady, Liu Jiashi was also a registered concubine with favor and a son. She couldn't simply dispose of her.

"Do you know where Yinqi is now?" she asked Little Xizi.

Little Xizi replied, "Servant just had someone inquire. Master has returned from the ministry and should be in the study in the front yard."

An Qing nodded slightly and decided, "Let's go. Bring Man'er with us. We'll visit the front yard."

After all, this was Yinqi's household; she was his Lady, and Liu Jiashi was his beloved concubine. This matter needed his judgment. Why should she trouble herself?

Moreover, dealing with the rumors outside was beyond her capabilities as a newcomer. Only Yinqi could resolve them.

"Oh, Cui Liu, bring the account books from Liu Jiashi's chambers," An Qing instructed.

Cui Liu immediately understood and her eyes lit up. "Yes, servant will fetch them right away."

When An Qing arrived at the front yard, Yinqi was in the study discussing matters.

Regarding the summer solstice offerings at the Earth Altar, his father was still not satisfied. Yesterday in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, his father had instructed them to continue searching for a similar peony, insisting they not give up until the last moment.

Thus, Minister of Finance Ma Qi and Minister of Rites Zhang Ying were tasked with continuing to supervise the search in Luoyang, while he and his fourth brother were to search nearby in the capital outskirts. This time, they didn't need to go personally; they just needed to send people.

Yinqi was responsible for the north and east, while his fourth brother Yinzhen was to send people to the south and west.

At that moment, Yinqi was assigning search tasks to his subordinates, ensuring they left no stone unturned.

Chapter 19: The Fifth Princess Consort

"Master, Princess Consort has arrived."

Just as Yinqi finished his work, his personal eunuch, Ma Xiang, came in to report.

An Qing is here?

Yinqi couldn't help but be surprised; she never came to the front courtyard unless there was something important. "How long has she been here? Where is she now?"

Ma Xiang replied, "She's been here for a while. Since you were busy earlier, I took her to the side room next door."

Yinqi nodded lightly and started walking toward the neighboring room without hesitation.

But before he could take two steps, Ma Xiang stopped him. "Master, there's something important I need to report."

He paused and added, "I think Princess Consort came here for the same reason."

Yinqi frowned and asked, "What is it?"

Ma Xiang briefly recounted the rumors circulating outside. When he finished, he cautiously glanced at Yinqi, who had already turned ashen-faced.

"This is utter nonsense!" Yinqi slammed his fist on the table, his anger palpable.

Ma Xiang shrank back, unsure whether this fury was directed at him or someone else.

After all, if the rumors about Princess Consort were true, and they were spreading so widely, his master would inevitably feel humiliated.

Yinqi clenched his fists on the table and sneered, "The palace's habit of jumping to conclusions hasn't changed. The fertilizer used was clearly wood ash, not manure. This is sheer nonsense!"

Ma Xiang, who had been keeping his head down to avoid drawing attention, was taken aback by these words.

He looked up, startled. "Master, you know about this?"

Yinqi glanced at him and nodded slightly. "Princess Consort mentioned it to me before, and I agreed."

Ma Xiang's heart instantly relaxed, and he let out a silent sigh of relief.

He had thought Princess Consort had acted without informing his master, which would have been far worse than the rumors.

Ma Xiang suddenly realized he had underestimated An Qing. Having served Yinqi since childhood, he had seen many women in the palace, including those from prestigious backgrounds. But most of them shared one common trait—they were overly proud.

Certainly, their noble origins gave them reason to be proud, but this innate arrogance often led them to act independently, which could be detrimental when dealing with their husbands.

Even the current Emperor, who valued noble birth, favored concubines from humble backgrounds over those from prestigious families. Many of the Empresses and Noble Consorts had not received much favor, and some even died young.

In contrast, the favored concubines, like the current four Imperial Concubines—Hui, Yi, De, and Rong—came from ordinary backgrounds but had risen to high positions. With no Empress, Noble Consort, or Imperial Noble Consort in the palace, they held unique positions.

Similarly, other adult princes and the Crown Prince preferred their concubines over their noble-born Princess Consorts.

Ultimately, whether it was the Emperor or his sons, they all wanted their wives and concubines to rely more on them.

Since Princess Consort entered the household, Ma Xiang had been observing her. Seeing how well she managed everything, he worried that she might be too capable and independent.

If the master and Princess Consort did not get along, the household would suffer, and so would the servants.

To his surprise, despite her competence, Princess Consort was also considerate and measured.

Indeed, even in this situation, Yinqi stood by her side immediately. She was truly remarkable.

An Qing, however, was unaware of Ma Xiang's thoughts. To her, this was simply mutual respect.

This was Yinqi's territory, and informing him was basic courtesy. Besides, they were on the same boat in the palace, and it was best not to keep secrets.

Of course, she believed respect was reciprocal. When it came to defending her own interests, she would never back down.

When Yinqi arrived, An Qing was drinking tea in the room. Hearing the commotion at the door, she got up to greet him.

"You don't need to worry about the rumors outside; I'll handle them," Yinqi said first.

An Qing's expression changed, and she silently sighed inwardly.

Once again, she confirmed that Yinqi was an excellent partner, upright and responsible. Despite the damage to his reputation caused by her actions, he did not blame her but instead focused on resolving the issue.

However, there were still things that needed to be addressed.

An Qing, always rational, knew that when things went smoothly, everyone was fine, but when issues arose, they could not be swept under the rug.

And she often chose to address them proactively.

"Thank you for your support and trust, Master." An Qing bowed respectfully, her expression solemn.

Yinqi was taken aback. What was going on? An Qing usually smiled, but now she looked serious.

Could Ma Xiang have been wrong, and she wasn't here about the rumors?

An Qing looked at him calmly and asked, "We've been married for some time now. How do you find my performance as Princess Consort?"

Yinqi furrowed his brows. Why ask this now?

"It's good," he said, realizing it sounded too vague and added, "You manage the household well, and everything is harmonious."

An Qing shook her head. "I am ashamed to say I have disappointed your expectations."

"Why do you say that?" Yinqi seemed to sense something.

An Qing didn't beat around the bush; she quickly explained the situation and had Little Xizi bring in the palace maid named Man'er. Then, the stolen gold hairpin was also presented.

It was a case with both witness and evidence.

"I admit that I'm not one to bear grudges. Since marrying into this household, I've heard some rumors and know that Liu Jiashi is someone you hold dear. She has borne you your eldest son, and I have never intended to cause her any trouble. I hope you understand this," An Qing said earnestly.

"However, Man'er is still under my care, so I should avoid suspicion. Therefore, I leave this matter entirely in your hands."

With that, An Qing signaled for everything and everyone to be handed over to Yinqi's eunuchs, then left without further ado.

The entire process was swift and efficient, from presenting her grievances to handing over the evidence, without a hint of hesitation. Even those around her were momentarily stunned.

Cui Liu followed her out of the front courtyard and couldn't help but feel bewildered. "Mistress, is that it?"

An Qing shrugged. "My part is done."

As for what happens next, it was no longer within her control. She would simply wait for the outcome.

Cui Liu responded with an "oh," scratching her head. Something felt off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. When she saw An Qing devour a plate of honey-roasted chicken wings made by Chunxiao, she finally understood!

Wasn't her mistress being too calm?

This was such a perfect opportunity to strike at Liu Jiashi, yet An Qing handled it so lightly, without even shedding a tear or raising her voice. She just went to the front courtyard and left.

"Mistress, are you slacking off again?" Cui Liu asked suspiciously.

An Qing glanced at her guiltily. "What do you know? This is called retreating to advance!"

It was frustrating having a servant who knew her so well. Nothing escaped her eyes.

Seeing this, Cui Liu became exasperated and turned to Perilla, complaining.

"Perilla, look! Mistress is doing it again. At a time like this, she's being lazy again!"

Perilla also looked disapprovingly at An Qing. She had noticed during their visit to the front courtyard.

Unlike Cui Liu, Perilla had been trained by An Qing's mother over the years and thus had a better understanding of the complexities of household affairs.

In matters of the inner quarters, subtlety was key. Being too direct could often backfire.

But Perilla knew that An Qing wasn't ignorant or incapable; she simply chose not to engage.

Sighing, Perilla said, "You once said that children who cry get candy."

Cui Liu agreed, "Exactly! Yinqi will surely question Liu Jiashi. You should be there to watch. What if she cries and causes a scene, and he falls for her lies?"

An Qing smiled and replied, "That's precisely why I need to stay away."

Both women looked at her in confusion.

An Qing explained directly, "Too much involvement can be counterproductive. As you said, Liu Jiashi is favored. Her relationship with Yinqi is different. If I insist on watching him lose his composure, wouldn't that embarrass him?"

She admitted that her hands-off approach was partly due to laziness, but she also wanted to give Yinqi some leeway.

It was her way of returning the favor.

An Qing knew that the women in the Forbidden City valued poise and grace. She had heard stories about other ladies, but Yinqi had never demanded such behavior from her.

In many ways, he had been quite accommodating.

Empathizing with him, she couldn't be too demanding.

People aren't saints; they all have their biases. Within reason, she didn't need to be overly critical.

In a society where polygamy was the norm, especially in the imperial family, An Qing had long accepted this reality. Even her own father had concubines and mistresses, let alone the royal family.

After all, they viewed numerous offspring as a sign of prosperity for the Great Qing Empire.

To be more blunt, even Yinqi couldn't always make decisions on his own.

Since coming here, An Qing had realized that her expectations for marriage were modest: finding a companion and a respectful husband was already a great achievement.

People can't have everything. In her previous life, she was an orphan raised in an orphanage. Her biggest wish was to find love and build a home.

In college, she dated a boyfriend who cared deeply for her and promised to marry her after graduation. But when his parents learned she was an orphan, they vehemently opposed the relationship and refused to meet her. Initially, he stood firm, but when his family threatened to cut off all financial support, including housing and resources, he gave in and broke up with her before graduation, marrying someone more suitable for his career.

That experience taught her that love could easily crumble under pressure. There was no point in holding onto unrealistic expectations.

Fortunately, in this life, she had a loving family and supportive clan members.

An Qing was content with her current situation. She could treat Yinqi as a friend, colleague, or even family, but never as a romantic partner. As her senior once said, "No dating, no drama."

So, when she learned about Liu Jiashi's favoritism shortly after their arranged marriage, she wasn't bothered. The fifth prince had hastily promoted her to a secondary consort before An Qing's arrival, clearly showing his favoritism.

Everyone worried, but An Qing didn't take it personally. Favored concubines were common, and she wasn't competing for that role.

For herself, dignity wasn't crucial. She could live her life quietly. However, she represented the entire Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner in the Forbidden City. Her actions reflected on her family and clan. Thus, she needed to stand firm to maintain their honor.

"Since that's the case, why did you bother today?" Cui Liu asked, puzzled.

If she wanted to save face for Yinqi, why did she have to say those things in the front yard? It still hurt their relationship. It would be better to act as if she didn't care at all, making the other party feel guilty.

But An Qing shook her head. In human relationships, one couldn't always seek peace and quiet; sometimes it was necessary to clearly state one's boundaries and stance. Otherwise, over time, the other party might truly ignore all your feelings.

Of course, this wasn't to say that Yinqi was a bad person; it was simply human nature.

As she had previously told her brothers, no matter where she went, she would ensure she lived well.

In a sense, she was quite selfish. To secure internal peace before external stability was true for An Qing as well.

This time, she gave Yinqi some leeway, but she also demanded an explanation from him, ensuring her position as the main wife remained stable within the household.

Only then could she focus on other matters.

An Qing had always been clear about her role. Her ambition was never to be a woman confined to managing the household and raising children. In her previous life, this was already evident, and in this life, her family certainly didn't restrict her. There was no reason for her to resign herself to such a fate now.

In the front yard, in the study.

Ma Xiang glanced furtively at his master sitting above, not daring to breathe loudly.

Yinqi sat at the desk, with a heavy aura surrounding him. His fingers continuously flipped through the ledger, the rustling of pages sounding particularly piercing in the silent room.

This was what An Qing left him before leaving, claiming it was the ledger Liu Jiashi had submitted to her, with all problematic areas marked in cinnabar.

After going through it, his expression grew increasingly grim. Misappropriation of funds, falsification of accounts, and embezzlement—it was outrageous.

Most importantly, how could Liu Jiashi dare to submit such a flawed ledger to An Qing, relying solely on the fact that it was written in Chinese characters?

This was indeed her clever move. If not for An Qing marking each entry, even Yinqi would have struggled to read it, given that both the imperial family and Manchu nobles primarily used Manchu script.

Yinqi wasn't foolish; he quickly realized Liu Jiashi's ulterior motive—she wanted to embarrass An Qing, the main wife.

There was no excuse about being accustomed to using Chinese characters. From the imperial decree to their marriage, there was a gap of several months. Re-copying the ledger into Manchu wouldn't have taken much effort, and it could have been handed over together. Clearly, she harbored intentions of disrespect and overstepping her bounds.

With a loud slap, Yinqi threw the ledger onto the table, regretting having thought Liu Jiashi was honest and capable in managing finances, which is why he entrusted her with the household affairs. He hadn't expected her to be so audacious.

Ma Xiang instinctively shrank back, thinking that Concubine Liu had really hit a nerve this time.

Although his master was gentle and kind, he could not tolerate betrayal and deceit.

She had committed all these offenses at once.

If Liu Jiashi were truly the favored concubine as rumored, there might have been room for leniency, but Ma Xiang knew she wasn't.

Even when the Emperor granted the marriage, the urgency to elevate Liu Jiashi to concubine status had other reasons.

However, Liu Jiashi had borne the eldest son, the only child in the household. Perhaps considering the young prince's sake, she might escape punishment.

"How is the investigation going?" Yinqi asked coldly, looking up.

Ma Xiang dared not provoke his displeasure and immediately replied, "My lord, we've traced the source of the rumors. It was a small palace maid responsible for cleaning in the prince's residence. She confessed that Nurse Zhao bribed her to spread the rumors."

Without the clues provided by the main wife, this investigation might have taken longer, but with the suspected results, it was easier.

He added, "The maid also admitted that Nurse Zhao was behind the earlier rumors against the main wife."

Yinqi clenched his fists, his eyes filled with coldness.

"My lord, shall I bring Nurse Zhao from the east wing for interrogation?" Ma Xiang asked cautiously.

Yinqi's expression was inscrutable. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Go ahead. Do what needs to be done."

When Cui Liu rushed in to report the outcome of Liu Jiashi's punishment, An Qing was caught off guard.

She hadn't expected the matter to be resolved so quickly, thinking it would take a few days. This efficiency suggested that Kangxi's evaluation of Yinqi was perhaps too low.

Decisive action without emotional interference was commendable.

It was said that Liu Jiashi cried and blamed everything on Nurse Zhao, claiming she knew nothing, completely absolving herself. Nurse Zhao remained defiant, insisting she acted alone, fearing that the main wife might mistreat her master in the future.

Though absurd, this reasoning was unassailable, given the common occurrence of loyal servants in ancient times.

In the end, Nurse Zhao received thirty strokes and was expelled from the palace without medical treatment. When carried out, she was covered in blood, and whether she survived was uncertain.

Liu Jiashi was placed under house arrest, and the young prince was taken to the front yard under the temporary care of Nurse Ma. The east wing was reportedly in chaos.

"Cheap shot for Liu Jiashi. She managed to distance herself cleanly," Cui Liu grumbled, pouting.

Perilla was also surprised: "I underestimated Nurse Zhao. She turned out to be quite resilient."

An Qing nodded lightly. Every time Liu Jiashi came to pay respects, she brought Nurse Zhao, who seemed full of schemes, far from being a loyal servant.

But upon reflection, it made sense. A wet nurse like Nurse Zhao, sent by the Liu family, likely had their lives in her hands, leaving them no choice.

This was why servants in ancient times signed lifelong contracts.

With evidence from Man'er and the palace maid, Nurse Zhao couldn't escape responsibility. In such a situation, it was better to play the loyal servant, possibly earning a better future for her family.

Regardless, Liu Jiashi's misfortune lifted Cui Liu's spirits: "Looks like Yinqi is on your side after all."

An Qing smiled and shook her head. It wasn't about sides; she had solid evidence and was a genuine victim.

Moreover, she had added fuel to the fire. Even with Nurse Zhao taking all the blame, Liu Jiashi still faced punishment, suggesting the ledger played a part.

This indirectly showed that Yinqi was more law-abiding and upright than she imagined.

While adherence to rules might not be ideal for concubines, for her as the main wife, it was perfect.

At the very least, within the bounds of propriety, favoring a concubine over the wife is absolutely not allowed.

Realizing this, An Qing suddenly felt that her future had become much brighter once again. The future, after all, still held great promise.

Chapter 20: The Fifth Lady

When Yinqi came over in the evening, there was an obvious unease on his face. The two of them ate their most silent meal since their marriage.

An Qing's silence stemmed from her belief that she had the upper hand; she thought it best not to gloat.

After all, in her view, Yinqi had just dealt with his beloved concubine fairly and painfully. His mood must be terrible, yet he still had to come comfort her, the victim. It must be difficult for him.

Tsk~ Although she couldn't console him, she could at least refrain from adding to his troubles.

However, An Qing's unusual behavior made Yinqi interpret it differently. He thought she was dissatisfied with how Liu Jiashi was handled.

Yinqi sighed silently. Indeed, he had wronged An Qing. He had spared Liu Jiashi some dignity for Hongsheng's sake.

After Nurse Zhao insisted she was solely responsible, Yinqi didn't insist on further interrogation. Instead, he confined Liu Jiashi to her quarters under the pretext of poor supervision and mismanagement.

He couldn't let Hongsheng have a mother with a tainted reputation.

After dinner, Perilla and the others came in to serve the two masters as they washed up, then tactfully withdrew.

Yinqi sat at the desk reading, while An Qing lay on the couch, idly flipping through a storybook.

This book was something Little Xizi had found for her, claiming it was popular in the palace and many nobles enjoyed it.

But to An Qing, it seemed quite ordinary. It told the tale of a young lady from a wealthy family who went out of town to pray and encountered a heavy rainstorm. She took shelter in an old temple where she met a scholar heading to the capital for exams.

The plot was too cliché—predictably, the lady and the scholar fell in love at first sight, but her family strongly opposed the match due to the scholar's humble background. Eventually, the scholar passed the imperial exams with flying colors, proving himself to her family and winning her heart.

Moreover, the scholar would likely be either the top scorer or one of the top three, never the second place. An Qing could guess the ending from the beginning, typical of most storybooks of this era.

The more she read, the more bored she became. Besides, she wasn't used to reading at night; candlelight hurt her eyes. On any other day, she'd prefer lying in bed counting sheep to fall asleep rather than staying up like this.

But... she glanced secretly at Yinqi. Fine, she'd endure a bit longer.

Sigh, their relationship now felt like that of colleagues who had only recently started working together. Initially, things were fine, but then a conflict of interest arose, making everything awkward.

It was uncomfortable.

Yinqi wasn't feeling much better. He hadn't turned a page in his book for a long time, his thoughts often drifting to An Qing nearby.

After a while, he suddenly got up and walked toward her.

An Qing, who wasn't focused, immediately turned when she sensed movement. Seeing Yinqi standing right in front of her, she was taken aback.

"Is... is there something?" she stammered.

Yinqi nodded instinctively. After a moment of hesitation, he seemed to make a decision and said, "I'm sorry for upsetting you."

An Qing exclaimed, "Ah," confused by his sudden apology.

And why was he apologizing? Wasn't he the one who should be upset?

"I'm not upset," she said sincerely, looking at him. Then, realizing what might have prompted his words, she quickly explained, "I have no objections to how Liu Jiashi was handled. Thank you for dealing with it fairly."

In fact, the outcome exceeded her expectations. She never anticipated Yinqi would take Hongsheng away from Liu Jiashi's courtyard.

To put it bluntly, Liu Jiashi hadn't attempted anything lethal. With Nurse Zhao taking full responsibility, she could only be blamed for poor supervision.

That charge could be minor or severe. If Yinqi truly wanted to protect her, he could blame the servant's insubordination and Liu Jiashi's weakness. She might even be seen as a victim.

The only concrete evidence against her was the ledger.

Regardless of whether An Qing admitted it, the ledger issue could be minor or major. Liu Jiashi had already lost her management rights, so the punishment would be limited to making her return the embezzled funds.

So, An Qing's initial goal wasn't about punishing Liu Jiashi; it was about Yinqi's attitude.

By taking Hongsheng away, Yinqi sent a clear message to the household and gave Liu Jiashi a stern warning.

"Then why haven't you spoken much tonight?" Yinqi asked, seeing she seemed sincere.

An Qing blinked innocently. "I thought you were in a bad mood."

Yinqi was taken aback, not expecting this reason.

So, both of them assumed the other was in a bad mood, leading to their silence?

Though amusing, it made sense.

He nodded slightly, then asked, "Did you initially plan not to tell me about the ledger?"

The ledger had been in her possession for days, and the markings indicated it wasn't written recently.

An Qing smiled, not denying it. "I thought these small matters shouldn't trouble you. Since Liu Jiashi hasn't been managing for long and nothing irreparable has happened, I planned to find a reason later to compensate the servants and the two Princesses for what they lost."

As for where the compensation would come from, she wouldn't bear the cost. Liu Jiashi would have to pay.

After all, the ledger existed, and she couldn't deny it.

But now, it was easier. This afternoon, Nurse Feng from the front courtyard came and said Liu Jiashi had returned the embezzled funds, which An Qing would use to compensate those affected.

Perilla estimated the amount to be more than enough.

Yinqi understood everything. He recalled An Qing's earlier words, "Liu Jiashi is someone you hold dear, and she bore your eldest son. I never intended to cause her trouble."

He then remembered the rumors in the palace when he requested Liu Jiashi's promotion to concubine. An Qing must have heard them, which is why she said that.

Seeing his hesitant expression, An Qing couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

A hint of guilt flashed across Yinqi's face. "Shortly after our arranged marriage, I hurried to request Liu Jiashi's promotion to concubine. I didn't want Hongsheng to be separated from his mother at such a young age. I didn't mean to offend you."

An Qing was taken aback. She had thought about the concept of a mother gaining status through her son, but she hadn't considered it to this extent.

However, she quickly understood.

Yinqi had grown up under the care of the Empress Dowager. Although she doted on him, no child could be without thoughts of their birth mother. This must have been a significant regret deep in his heart.

Therefore, after his own son was born, he immediately wanted to keep the child with his birth mother, as a form of compensation for his own childhood.

Yinqi sighed and murmured, "But I never expected her character to be so despicable. The child cannot stay with her any longer; otherwise, he will surely be led astray."

After saying this, he seemed to think of something and looked at An Qing, "I've sent Hongsheng to the front yard for now. By the rules, the child should be raised in your courtyard, but seeing how weak he is, I thought it best to..."

An Qing's alarm bells went off. What did he mean by that?

Was he going to raise the child for a while before handing him over to her?

No way! She didn't want to raise a child.

But she couldn't say that outright. As a Fu Jin, one of her duties was to raise the children, not just her own, but all of Yinqi's children.

"Your consideration is wise," An Qing said sincerely, looking at him. "You've seen it yourself, I am indeed useless, unable even to manage my own servants. If anything were to happen to the little prince under my care, I would be utterly responsible."

She then lowered her head in shame, showing a deeply remorseful expression.

Seeing her so self-reproachful, Yinqi comforted her, "Don't worry about today's incident. It was all due to those disloyal servants, not you."

An Qing couldn't really feel too guilty and quickly took the opportunity to move on.

However, she didn't want to linger on the topic of the child, so she changed the subject, "What about the rumors in the palace?"

Yinqi waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, Mother has already handled it. You can plant whatever you like in your courtyard now; no one will dare to say anything."

With his mother bringing in the Emperor, who would dare to challenge her?

Hearing that Concubine Yi had helped, An Qing was surprised.

So after she left Yikun Palace this morning, Concubine Yi had already sent someone to handle the matter?

Oh, what good fortune to have such a kind and beautiful mother-in-law!

An Qing was so excited she almost jumped up.

Even until bedtime, her mind was filled with only one thought: tomorrow morning, she would choose a proper gift from the storeroom and personally thank her beautiful mother-in-law at Yikun Palace.

However, plans often don't keep pace with changes. The next day, just after breakfast, before she could even open the storeroom, someone from Ningshou Palace arrived, saying the Empress Dowager wanted to see her.

An Qing guessed it might be related to yesterday's incident. Liu Jiashi was chosen by the Empress Dowager for Yinqi, and he must have informed her about the punishment.

But why today... Could it be to admonish her?

The more An Qing thought about it, the more likely it seemed. In a sense, Liu Jiashi was also the Empress Dowager's person. With the incident, she might feel disgraced and blame An Qing.

If that were the case, she would have to accept it, as the word 'filial piety' left no room for argument.

With a nervous heart, An Qing arrived at Ningshou Palace. To her surprise, the Empress Dowager showed no signs of displeasure. She treated An Qing as warmly as before, chatting amiably and offering her some snacks from Ningshou Palace.

"These red bean pastries are made by the palace maids here. They taste quite good; try them."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

An Qing picked up a piece of red bean pastry and took a small bite, wondering if this wasn't meant to be a reprimand.

Just as she was confused, the Empress Dowager finally sipped her tea and got to the point.

"I heard you enjoy planting flowers. Coincidentally, Fengcheng Garden sent a few pots of orchids recently. They look nice; take two pots back to grow."

An Qing was momentarily stunned, not quite understanding.

Why was she suddenly being given flowers?

But she wasn't foolish. After considering the events, she quickly understood the Empress Dowager's intention.

Yesterday, the entire palace was filled with rumors about her planting flowers herself, calling it crude. Today, the Empress Dowager gave her two pots of flowers, clearly supporting her actions and warning others not to criticize.

She had misjudged the Empress Dowager, thinking she would make things difficult for her. An Qing felt embarrassed.

Of course, she knew the Empress Dowager's support was due to Yinqi, to maintain his dignity.

She had no such face in the Empress Dowager's eyes.

Indeed, people in later generations always remarked that Yinqi had a wonderful grandmother. Whenever there was something good, Emperor Kangxi would never leave out his fifth son, all because of the Empress Dowager's influence.

Now, experiencing it firsthand, An Qing truly felt the weight of this favor.

While Concubine Yi dealt with the rumors by leveraging Emperor Kangxi's authority, the Empress Dowager was straightforward—her rules were the rules.

An Qing was now completely reassured and chatted with the Empress Dowager for a while. Then, the Empress Dowager said she was tired and asked Wu Lan to take An Qing to the flower house to pick the flowers.

The flower house was behind the main hall, circling around the east warm pavilion and walking along a pebble path.

Since the Empress Dowager liked tending to the flowers herself, the flower house was meticulously built and beautifully maintained.

"The orchids are at the far end of the flower house. Follow me, Fifth Fu Jin," Wu Lan said.

An Qing smiled and replied, "Thank you, Auntie."

The flower house didn't seem very large, but it housed many varieties of flowers. She saw roses, hibiscus, begonias, and honeysuckle. Even a few unopened night-blooming cereus were growing in copper pots in the corner.

Apart from these seasonal flowers, An Qing also noticed that there was a greenhouse next to the flower house, which was presumably used for cultivating out-of-season flowers during winter.

An Qing followed Wu Lan for a while and finally stopped in front of a flower stand.

"Fu Jin, these are the orchids Empress Dowager mentioned. Please choose two pots," said Wu Lan, pointing to the side.

An Qing looked over and indeed saw several pots of thriving Cymbidiums placed there. It was currently the flowering season for Cymbidiums, and all the pots had bloomed with vibrant flowers, emitting a unique fragrance of orchids when approached closely.

"In that case, I won't be polite, Wu Lan."

Wu Lan smiled kindly, "Fu Jin, please don't hesitate. Empress Dowager genuinely wants to show affection to her juniors. If you're too polite, she would be unhappy."

Though Wu Lan said this, An Qing wasn't one to be unreasonable. She chose two pots conventionally, not picking the best-blooming ones nor the worst-looking ones.

Wu Lan observed this and couldn't help but flash a look of approval.

After selecting the flowers, everyone prepared to leave. However, An Qing's gaze suddenly fell on the peony section nearby.

That peony...

Seeing An Qing pause, Wu Lan turned around and followed her gaze, asking, "Fu Jin, is there something wrong?"

An Qing snapped back to reality and quickly smiled, "No, nothing. Let's go out, Wu Lan."

Wu Lan personally escorted An Qing out of Ningshou Palace before returning to Empress Dowager's side.

Empress Dowager glanced at her, "She's gone?"

Wu Lan smiled, "Rest assured, I personally escorted Fu Jin out, and many people witnessed it."

Empress Dowager lightly hummed in acknowledgment and didn't say anything else.

Noticing that Empress Dowager's tea had cooled, Wu Lan brewed a fresh pot, and the two chatted idly.

"Just now, I almost couldn't hold back seeing Fu Jin's expression. She must have thought you were going to take Liu Jiashi's side."

Recalling An Qing's timid expression, Wu Lan couldn't help but laugh.

A hint of amusement flashed in Empress Dowager's eyes as she lightly hummed, "I'm not senile yet; I know who's close and who's distant."

Although she had chosen Liu Jiashi for the Fifth Prince, it was merely because she found her attractive; there was no other intention.

She didn't even meddle in Kangxi's harem, so why would she interfere in the Fifth Prince's household?

Moreover, An Qing was her maternal family's junior, far more significant than any Liu Jiashi.

Wu Lan understood Empress Dowager and smiled, "But from this incident, we can see that the Fifth Prince treats Fu Jin well. They will surely live harmoniously in the future."

Empress Dowager sipped her tea, "I hope so."

The Fifth Prince was someone she truly cared for, and she hoped he and his Fu Jin could live happily together, united as one.

Additionally, she had a personal wish. Having spent most of her life in the palace, from the Grand Empress Dowager to herself and then to Xianfu Palace's concubines, spanning three dynasties, the only woman from Horqin known to have found happiness in the imperial harem was Empress Dowager Xiaozhuangwen, Haizhuyu, whom she had never met.

Over the years, countless women from Horqin had come and gone through the Forbidden City, entering full of vitality but losing their luster soon after.

Empress Dowager sincerely hoped to witness a woman from Horqin find happiness within the Forbidden City in her lifetime.

Having served her for many years, Wu Lan could read Empress Dowager's thoughts and shifted the topic to prevent her from dwelling on negative emotions.

"While in the flower house, Fu Jin lingered for a long time in front of the peony sent by the Emperor. She seemed to appreciate its rarity. I believe Fu Jin genuinely loves and understands flowers."

Empress Dowager was somewhat surprised, "Really?"

In Mongolia, where nomadism predominates, people generally aren't skilled in such matters. She herself only developed an interest in flowers after coming to the palace.

The palace was lonely, and movement was restricted, so finding a pastime to pass the time in a confined courtyard was essential.

She assumed An Qing was similar.

"Well, since it still has some aesthetic value, you should personally deliver the Emperor's peony to the Fifth Prince's household."