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

by Usui Takumii

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

6. 51 to 60

Chapter 51: The Fifth Princess Consort

As long as someone remembers, one continues to exist.

As long as someone remembers, it is not truly death.

Yinqi looked down at the sketchbook in his hands, silently repeating these two sentences in his mind. Finally, he could no longer hold back the ache in his throat, and a tear fell onto the back of his hand.

The sound of the tear hitting his skin was particularly clear in the silent room.

An Qing quietly stepped forward and embraced him. His body stiffened for a moment before he returned the hug.

After a while, Yinqi seemed to have regained his composure. "An Qing, thank you."

An Qing smiled and shook her head. She could do little, but she hoped to offer some comfort.

Yinqi caressed the sketchbook, his expression filled with reluctance. "Mother must miss Eleventh Brother even more than I do. Can I give this to her?"

An Qing nodded gently. "Of course you can."

The next day, right after morning court, Yinqi rushed straight to Yikun Palace.

Concubine Yi had risen later than usual today and was still getting dressed. She had not slept well last night, or indeed for many nights recently.

Xizhu was combing Concubine Yi's hair, noticing the dark circles under her eyes and letting out a silent sigh.

With Eleventh Prince's memorial day approaching, their mistress was struggling more and more, yet she maintained a facade of indifference in front of others, bearing all her pain alone in the quiet of the night.

Xizhu had just finished styling Concubine Yi's hair when a young palace maid hurried in to report, "Your Highness, the Fifth Beile has arrived."

Concubine Yi was taken aback. Why was the Fifth Prince here now?

She instinctively looked at herself in the bronze mirror. No, she couldn't let the Fifth Prince see her like this; that child would be distressed if he saw her in such a state.

"Xizhu, quickly apply some more powder, especially under my eyes. Make sure the makeup looks fresh and vibrant," Concubine Yi said.

Xizhu hurriedly complied, busily reapplying makeup on Concubine Yi.

By the time they were done, Yinqi had already drunk several cups of tea in the main hall.

"Fifth Brother, why are you here? Is something wrong?" Concubine Yi asked with concern.

Yinqi shook his head. "Mother, don't worry. Everything is fine. I just came to visit."

Seeing Concubine Yi trying to act normal, his heart felt pierced. His mother was always strong, unwilling to show her vulnerability even to her son.

This was also why he did not let An Qing come yesterday, sparing his mother the need to put on a brave face.

Of course, Yinqi knew she was also worried about burdening them with her grief.

Concubine Yi was not foolish; seeing Yinqi's demeanor, she realized he was concerned about her because of Eleventh Prince. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come at this hour just to sit.

"Rest assured, Mother is fine," she forced a smile, trying to prove she was alright.

Yinqi sighed silently. With great determination, he took out the sketchbook from his robe and handed it to Concubine Yi. "Mother, please look at this."

Concubine Yi was stunned, taking the book and flipping through it aimlessly. When she first saw the cartoon figure, her body froze.

After a long moment, she suddenly looked up at Yinqi, murmuring, "Is... this Eleventh?"

Yinqi nodded softly. "Yes, Mother, it's Eleventh Brother."

Since Eleventh Brother's passing, he had become a taboo subject. Neither Yinqi nor Xiao Jiu ever mentioned him to their mother, as if not speaking of him would lessen the pain.

Concubine Yi seemed to accept this unspoken rule, but Yinqi breaking it left her visibly unsettled.

Seeing her distress, Yinqi quickly held her trembling hand, offering silent comfort.

After a while, Concubine Yi regained her composure. She gently withdrew her hand from Yinqi's grasp and patted his hand, signaling she was alright.

Then, she silently flipped through the sketchbook page by page until the end.

Like Yinqi, seeing the lively and adorable figures on the pages, Concubine Yi did not feel sorrow when thinking of Eleventh Brother. Instead, she felt transported back to those happy times.

It was almost as if Eleventh Brother was still alive, still by her side.

"This was drawn by An Qing?" Concubine Yi asked uncertainly.

Such a whimsical style could only come from her imagination.

Yinqi softly affirmed, "A few days ago, I mentioned Eleventh Brother to her, and she drew this sketchbook yesterday."

Concubine Yi gently stroked the book, nodding slightly. "You both have thought of everything."

"Mother, yesterday An Qing said something that made sense. Would you like to hear it?" Yinqi asked.

Concubine Yi paused, then nodded.

Yinqi hesitated for a moment before slowly recounting what An Qing had said about where people go after death, including her final conclusion.

Finally, he looked at Concubine Yi and softly said, "Mother, we will never forget Eleventh Brother, will we?"

They would never forget Eleventh Brother, so he would always be there—in their memories and in their hearts.

As long as someone remembers, it is not truly death.

Concubine Yi silently repeated these words in her mind, tears welling up in her eyes. The long-suppressed emotions finally broke free, and she sobbed into Yinqi's chest.

She often told herself that everyone in the imperial harem had lost children. Others aside, just among the four consorts—Hui, Yi, De, and Rong—Hui Consort's first son before Elder Brother Prince did not survive, and neither did the Sixth Imperial Son of De Consort. Imperial Concubine Rong had lost four sons before Third Brother.

So, ever since Little Eleventh left, she always tried to suppress her emotions, repeatedly telling herself that they had no mother-son fate, even deliberately trying to forget, as if doing so would prevent her from feeling sad.

But now she realized she was wrong. Yes, why should she forget? Her Little Eleventh had been with her for eleven whole years; they clearly had mother-son fate.

I'm sorry, Little Eleventh. Rest assured, Mother will always remember you. As long as I live, I will always remember you, always...

Xizhu, standing nearby, also wiped away tears. Seeing Concubine Yi sob uncontrollably, the tension in her heart finally eased. It's good to cry; otherwise, it might lead to illness sooner or later.

In Danning Residence.

After finishing the last memorial of the day, Kangxi rose from his desk and stretched his limbs.

Seeing this, Liang Jiugong approached and asked about serving dinner, "Your Majesty, will you dine here or return to Qingxi Study?"

Kangxi pondered for a moment and raised his hand, "Let's go sit with Concubine Yi."

Liang Jiugong immediately understood Kangxi's intention. The eleventh prince's anniversary was approaching, and he wanted to keep Concubine Yi company.

Kangxi did not send anyone ahead to announce his arrival, and when he came, everyone in the courtyard was startled. Xizhu was just about to enter the inner chamber to inform Concubine Yi but was stopped by Kangxi.

He lifted the curtain and silently entered the inner chamber, expecting to see a sorrowful Concubine Yi. Instead, he saw her sitting on a couch, engrossed in a book, with a hint of a smile on her face.

Even when Kangxi approached her, Concubine Yi remained oblivious, showing how deeply absorbed she was.

"What are you reading so intently?" he asked aloud.

Concubine Yi snapped back to reality, looking up at Kangxi in surprise. "Your Majesty, when did you arrive? Why wasn't I informed?"

She was about to rise and bow, but Kangxi stopped her.

"What are you reading? You seem quite happy," Kangxi said.

Concubine Yi didn't hide anything, pointing to the album before her. "I'm looking at Little Eleventh. Would Your Majesty like to join me?"

Hearing this, Kangxi was taken aback. He stared at Concubine Yi, trying to discern if her smile was forced.

Though Concubine Yi appeared cheerful, Little Eleventh was a deep pain in her heart. But now...

Kangxi's gaze slowly shifted to the album before her. When he saw the little figure on the page, his eyes widened: "This is...?"

Concubine Yi smiled slightly. "This is what Yinqi narrated, and An Qing drew. They're all about Little Eleventh's funny moments."

She flipped through a few pages and said, "Your Majesty, look, there's you too."

Kangxi looked down and was surprised to see himself depicted!

The drawings were peculiar yet recognizable with just a few strokes. Not only him, but also the fifth prince, Xiao Jiu, Concubine Yi, and Little Eleventh were instantly identifiable.

It was uncanny yet charming. Each character had its unique charm, making one smile involuntarily. No wonder Concubine Yi didn't feel sad looking at Little Eleventh in the album.

This fifth princess was indeed clever and endearing.

Looking at the comic strip, Kangxi suddenly remembered the incident. It was when he once checked Xiao Jiu and Little Eleventh's homework at Yikun Palace, and the fifth prince happened to be there.

Little Eleventh was always smart and never needed supervision, whereas Xiao Jiu was a constant headache. That day, after checking Little Eleventh's work, he moved on to Xiao Jiu.

And Little Eleventh was secretly mouthing answers behind him!

He hadn't noticed then, and without these simple drawings, he would still be unaware.

Kangxi felt both amused and exasperated. If he had caught them then, he would have been angry, but seeing these drawings now, he couldn't bring himself to be upset.

His Little Eleventh was such a good child, but unfortunately, he was always frail and destined not to stay long.

Kangxi sighed quietly and looked at Concubine Yi. "So, did you know that day?"

Concubine Yi was taken aback and feigned ignorance. "Know what?"

Kangxi looked at her with a half-smile. "What do you think?"

Concubine Yi refused to admit it. "Look, in these drawings, I didn't even look up."

Kangxi pointed out, "But you were smiling."

Concubine Yi subconsciously touched her nose, avoiding his gaze. "I wasn't. Fifth Prince must have remembered wrong."

Kangxi couldn't help but laugh.

He wasn't really pursuing the matter, and Concubine Yi knew this. After this playful exchange, they talked about many things related to Little Eleventh.

When Kangxi left after dining with Concubine Yi, he still had a faint smile on his face.

Back in Qingxi Study, Kangxi sat on the couch, lost in thought.

Over the years, he had lost count of how many children he had lost. While others sometimes slipped his mind, the four consorts—Hui, Yi, De, and Rong—had been with him for a long time, and their bond was deeper than with other concubines. Each of them had lost children early, so he would visit their palaces on those anniversaries.

Especially Imperial Concubine Rong, who lost more children, and he visited her most often. But until today, they always avoided mentioning the deceased child, trying to suppress their sadness. Never before had they spoken about it openly.

Today, they spoke freely about the child who passed away, not erasing any trace of his existence. It felt as if Little Eleventh had returned, or perhaps he had never truly left.

Kangxi suddenly recalled what Concubine Yi said earlier: "I will always remember Little Eleventh. As long as I don't forget, he will always be with us."

Thinking of this, he felt a sudden urge and called Liang Jiugong over, pointing to the large box in the corner. "Bring that box to me."

Liang Jiugong was taken aback. Others might not know, but he knew what was inside. Previously, the Emperor had always... Why open it today?

"What are you waiting for? Didn't you hear what I said?" Kangxi frowned when he saw no immediate action.

Liang Jiugong quickly snapped back to reality. "This servant heard it and will move it right away."

With that, he hurriedly got up and walked over to the corner, struggling a bit before managing to bring the box over.

Liang Jiugong stood silently beside the box, waiting for further instructions.

Kangxi seemed to hesitate for a moment. "Open it."

Liang Jiugong did not dare delay this time and swiftly opened the box, revealing scrolls of paintings inside.

Kangxi's breathing seemed to pause for a moment. After a while, he slowly spoke, "Leave now. I want to be alone."

Liang Jiugong silently retreated outside but couldn't help taking one last glance into the room.

The box contained nothing but portraits of the Emperor's deceased children, each one painted by him, from infants to those who had reached their teens, without a single one missing.

Over the years, many children in the imperial harem had died young. Each time, Kangxi appeared calm, leading outsiders to believe he was stoic. But Liang Jiugong knew well that he had become numb to such losses.

Speaking of which, it all started long ago. The Emperor's early years in the harem were indeed fraught with misfortune. Before Elder Brother Prince, several children had not survived infancy. This was why Elder Brother Prince was so dearly loved, as he was the first child to survive.

Back then, after each loss, Kangxi would be devastated, but gradually, he seemed to grow accustomed to it. However, one thing remained unchanged: he would always paint a portrait of each deceased child and place it in the box.

Similar boxes existed in the Qingxi Study at Changchun Garden and in the East Warm Pavilion of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, but Kangxi had never opened them until today.

After Liang Jiugong left, Kangxi sat quietly for a long time before getting up and opening the scrolls one by one.

He was the Son of Heaven, responsible for the nation's welfare and could not indulge too much in personal grief. But he was also a father, allowed to be vulnerable occasionally.

Just occasionally.

After a while, Kangxi called Liang Jiugong back in. The box was now closed, as if it had never been opened.

He had once again become the emperor who kept his emotions hidden.

"Liang Jiugong, go to my private treasury and select a few items to reward the Fifth Princess Consort."

In the West Garden, where the Fourth Prince resided,

An Qing was leisurely fishing, with Snowball sleeping at her feet.

This little opportunist had started to fawn on her ever since her fishing skills improved.

But An Qing ate it up, and to gain more affection from the little one, she became even more enthusiastic about fishing.

"Milady, the Emperor has sent you some rewards. Please go see them," Cui Liu rushed over.

An Qing was taken aback. Why would Kangxi suddenly reward her?

Perilla reminded her, "Could it be because of the rice blast disease?"

An Qing thought it might be possible and eagerly ran out. But when she saw the rewards on the table, she was stunned.

These were good things, but wasn't Kangxi being too stingy? Considering the significance of solving the rice blast disease and the impact on southern rice production, these rewards seemed inadequate.

Moreover, they didn't seem as generous as the previous rewards for the auspicious peony.

How could Lao Kang be so tight-fisted? An Qing pouted, knowing that having a stingy boss was not ideal and demotivating.

As she grumbled about Kangxi behind his back, Yinqi returned that evening and cleared his father's name.

"Father always rewards and punishes fairly. It's unlikely this is for the rice blast disease."

An Qing looked at him skeptically. Are you sure?

Yinqi seemed to remember something. "Father visited Mother today. I think it's about the album."

Album?

An Qing scratched her head, unsure. The eunuch who brought the rewards knew nothing except that the Emperor had given them to her.

Well, whatever. Regardless of the reason, she would accept them. She had no right to refuse or complain.

Of course, she could secretly complain.

What made An Qing happiest was that her album seemed to have helped Yinqi and Concubine Yi. They no longer shied away from talking about the Eleventh Prince.

Concubine Yi even occasionally mentioned the Eleventh Prince during casual chats, something she had never done before.

Life at Changchun Garden was comfortable and enjoyable. An Qing spent her days fishing, visiting the imperial rice fields, and studying plants from all over the country that Kangxi had transplanted there.

For example, the Southern wax plum, grapes from Hami in the West, maple trees from Wutai Mountain, and native Northern mountain maples and banyan trees. She discovered this later and developed a keen interest, often venturing out despite the heat.

Indeed, An Qing was quite content here, but reality was that even if she was happy, Lao Kang's orders must be followed.

In early August, Kangxi led everyone back to the palace from Changchun Garden to prepare for the upcoming Mulan Autumn Hunt.

At the mention of the hunt, An Qing instantly lost interest in Changchun Garden. Nothing was more exciting than going home.

The imperial harem buzzed with activity as the list of attendees for the hunt had yet to be finalized.

With so many concubines and sons, not everyone could go. The competition for spots was fierce.

Concubines sent more soups, poems, and embroidery to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, each trying to stand out. An Qing learned this from Concubine Yi.

It was understandable; a trip to the border could last two to three months, and being favored was better than being left behind.

Besides the concubines themselves, some were vying for their sons, especially those confined to the study, burdened by heavy academic pressure. This was a rare chance to get out and enjoy some freedom.

As for Concubine Yi, she ran several errands for Xiao Jiu.

As for why she didn't plead for Yinqi, it was naturally because she had already confirmed that he was on the list.

After all, this being An Qing's first year in the Forbidden City, even if Kangxi were to be unfeeling, he would still go back to see his family. Of course, he has never been an unfeeling person. Even for the palace concubines he dislikes, such as those in Xianfu Palace, if they were to go to the frontier, Kangxi would usually take them along so they could meet their families too.

The Manchu-Mongol marriage alliance is about forging ties, not enmity.

Back in the palace, An Qing also started getting busy. She and Perilla began rummaging through boxes to prepare gifts for her family.

Throughout the year, whether from Kangxi, the Empress Dowager, or Concubine Yi, she received many fine things. She carefully selected suitable gifts for each member of her family, picking out quite a few items.

If not for the restrictions on the luggage for the trip, she would have taken everything with her.

Sob sob sob, just thinking about seeing her parents and others made An Qing so excited that she felt like running a couple of laps right away.

Of course, besides An Qing, Perilla and the others were also overjoyed. Perhaps for the ladies of the Forbidden City, the cold and harsh frontier of Mongolia is something to be avoided, but for them, that place is where they grew up, their home.

No matter how splendid and prosperous the Forbidden City may be, it cannot compare to the freedom and joy they feel when riding across the grasslands.

Not long after, Kangxi finally set the date for the frontier tour: the 20th of August, said to be a favorable day according to the calculations of the Imperial Astronomers.

Chapter 52: The Fifth Princess Consort

Shortly after the date for the imperial tour to the frontier was set, the list of those accompanying the Emperor was also announced.

Among the princes accompanying the Emperor were the Crown Prince, Elder Brother Prince, Third Prince, Fourth Prince, and Fifth Prince.

It was unclear what Kangxi had in mind, but he did not bring any of the younger princes. As for the imperial concubines, only Concubine Yi was included among the high-ranking ones, along with a few young favorites who had recently gained his favor.

Additionally, Empress Dowager and Lady Xianfu were naturally on the list as well.

Speaking of Lady Xianfu, An Qing really didn't know what to say. Since their unpleasant encounter at the entrance of Ningshou Palace during Mid-Autumn Festival, An Qing had been avoiding her to avoid trouble. However, one day, she suddenly heard that Lady Xianfu had been confined to her quarters by Kangxi again.

She wasn't even released during the New Year. Once, when An Qing went to Ningshou Palace, she saw a palace maid from Lady Xianfu's entourage come over, seemingly trying to ask Empress Dowager to intercede with Lao Kang, but Empress Dowager refused outright.

Her words were, "She'll just get herself confined again within days of being released. Why bother?"

Though harsh, Empress Dowager's words were true. It was unclear what Lady Xianfu's mind was made of; despite being in the palace for so long, she hadn't learned her lesson.

After the New Year, Lady Xianfu finally served out her confinement period, but Kangxi didn't take her to Changchun Garden, so An Qing had managed to avoid her for quite some time.

However, this time there was no choice. Kangxi had decreed that all Mongolian nobles must attend, including Lady Xianfu's father. It was natural for them to meet.

After all, one of the political goals of the Mulan Autumn Hunt was to further strengthen the Manchu-Mongolian alliance.

An Qing hoped that Lady Xianfu would have learned something from her long confinement and wouldn't cause trouble. She just wanted to enjoy a peaceful reunion with her family.

With Empress Dowager and Kangxi present, nothing major should happen.

Last year, before the Fourth Princess's marriage, she had already asked Kangxi for a favor, securing spots for Lady Guo and the Eighth Princess at this year's Mulan Autumn Hunt. Thus, they were naturally on the list.

However, shortly after returning from Changchun Garden, the Fourth Princess sent a report and letter from Northern Desert, stating that she had discovered she was pregnant and was experiencing severe morning sickness, making it impossible for her to attend the event. She apologized to Kangxi.

Kangxi, being reasonable, understood that health came first. Besides, even though the Fourth Princess couldn't come, her husband, Prince Dunbodolji, would still attend the alliance meeting.

Although the Fourth Princess wasn't coming, Kangxi didn't remove Lady Guo and the Eighth Princess from the list. However, they both requested to be excused.

Lady Guo's reason was simple: if her daughter wasn't going, why should she? Of course, she couldn't say it so bluntly, so she cited poor health as an excuse.

The Eighth Princess, on the other hand, said she needed to care for her mother, Zhangjia Shi.

Of course, they had their own considerations. The spots for the Mulan Autumn Hunt were always tight, and if they went this year, they might not be able to go next year. So they decided to wait until next year.

Once everything was settled, the palace finally returned to peace, and fewer people brought soup to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

After the initial excitement, as the departure date approached, An Qing surprisingly became calm.

Given the long journey to the frontier, it was impractical to bring Snowball along. To compensate for the upcoming cat-free period, she started excessively petting Snowball, causing the cat to hide whenever she approached.

As Cui Liu put it, even a good-tempered cat like Snowball had become annoyed by her behavior. An Qing realized she needed to reflect on her actions.

While An Qing pondered whether to reflect on herself, Kangxi was discussing matters with his ministers in the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Most of the ministers present were from the Ministry of Finance and the Agricultural Administration Department, indicating the nature of the discussion.

Kangxi seemed pleased, smiling as he handed the report he had just read to Liang Jiugong, gesturing for him to pass it to the ministers.

"Take a look. This is a recent report from Huang Mao."

Upon hearing Huang Mao's name, everyone understood the topic.

Last May, Kangxi had ordered the Second and Third Brothers of the Fifth Princess Consort, along with former Grand Secretary Huang Mao, to teach farming techniques in the Mongolian regions of Aohan, Naiman, and Balin.

Later, Kangxi decided not to waste the second half of the year and instructed them to start guiding cultivation in Horqin, Aohan, Naiman, and Karasun, planting wheat before last autumn.

This spring, they went to the Balin region, guiding the nomads in land reclamation and planting barley in April. Everyone present knew about this.

Mongolia could not grow rice but was suitable for crops such as barley, wheat, barley, millet, and quinoa. They were aware of this.

Judging by the timing, it was now the season for barley harvest, leading everyone to assume that Huang Mao's report detailed the progress and yield of the barley.

From Kangxi's reaction, it seemed the barley yield was good.

Why everyone ignored last year's winter wheat in Horqin, Aohan, Naiman, and Karasun was simple: the winter was exceptionally cold, causing severe frost damage to wheat in southern regions like Hebei and Shaanxi, leading to significant reductions or total crop failures.

In the north, the winter was even colder, so the winter wheat yield was expected to be poor.

Liang Jiugong first handed the report to Minister of Finance Ma Qi, who initially seemed confident, thinking it matched his expectations. But upon reading the latter part, he was stunned.

"Your Majesty, did Lord Huang make a mistake?" he asked in surprise.

The officials from the Agricultural Administration Department rushed over, taking the report from Ma Qi, and their reactions mirrored his.

Everyone was shocked. How could the winter wheat in Horqin, Aohan, Naiman, and Karasun not fail and even produce a decent yield?

They were experts on crop yields across Great Qing, and the numbers reported by Huang Mao, while not matching southern wheat yields, were comparable to northern bumper crops.

But bumper crops required ideal conditions, which last year clearly lacked!

How did they achieve this?!

Or perhaps, they thought Huang Mao had made a mistake, as it defied their understanding.

Seeing the ministers' expressions, Kangxi's smile grew wider.

Initially, he had the same reaction, thinking it was a mistake. But Huang Mao had sent a personal letter explaining that the wheat suffered minimal frost damage, largely due to the efforts of Deb's sons, Robzang Lash and Yideri.

Moreover, the princes of Horqin submitted reports confirming the yield figures.

Ma Qi anxiously said, "Your Majesty, should we send a letter to Lord Huang to confirm? If there is a way to mitigate frost damage, then this winter..."

Though he didn't finish his sentence, everyone understood what he meant. Last year's frost damage to the wheat had indeed caused them immense suffering.

Emperor Kangxi waved his hand and replied, "No rush. I have already issued an edict summoning them to the Mulan Hunting Grounds. We can hear their reports in person when they arrive."

The letter from Huang Mao mentioned it, but the details were too complex to explain briefly. Therefore, they requested that Robzang Lash and Yideri personally report to him during the Mulan Autumn Hunt. Emperor Kangxi naturally agreed.

Although the officials did not know these specifics, they understood that correspondence inevitably delayed matters. After all, written words could never convey as much as face-to-face communication.

However, the problem was that they couldn't accompany the Emperor to the Mulan Autumn Hunt. They would have to wait for him to return from the hunting grounds.

"This year, all of you should join us at the Mulan Autumn Hunt," Emperor Kangxi suddenly said.

Initially stunned, the officials soon realized that the Emperor must have a specific reason for inviting them, likely related to the wheat cultivation in Mongolia.

Regardless of the reason, it was always better to know sooner rather than later. Especially for the officials from the Agricultural Administration Department, who had been researching ways to prevent wheat frost damage for years without success, this news was tantalizing.

If An Qing were here, she would certainly empathize with them. This shared struggle was a bond among agricultural scholars.

Ma Qi looked at Emperor Kangxi, hesitating several times before swallowing his words.

He really wanted to suggest asking Concubine Wu, since Robzang Lash and Yideri were her second and third brothers, and she was skilled in farming techniques. After all, she had found the method to treat Qingfeng disease.

But then he thought that the Emperor must be aware of this and might have already asked her privately. Perhaps even Concubine Wu didn't know.

Indeed, everyone has their expertise. Concubine Wu seemed more adept at treating plant diseases, while wheat frost damage was a natural disaster she hadn't studied.

Still, Concubine Wu's family was truly talented. If only she weren't a woman, he would have tried to recruit her for the Ministry of Finance.

Emperor Kangxi didn't notice Ma Qi's hesitation, as he was preoccupied with another matter.

Once they reached the Mulan Hunting Grounds, how should he reward Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner and Deb?

After all, Deb had raised excellent children. First, An Qing discovered the cure for Qingfeng disease, and now his sons seemed to have found a way to mitigate wheat frost damage. These were significant achievements.

At the end of last month, the rice harvest was completed, and both the Viceroy of Liangjiang and the Viceroy of Fujian-Zhejiang reported no reduction in yield from the fields previously affected by Qingfeng disease. The rice fields near Yufu Mountain in western Beijing also showed no decline. This confirmed that An Qing's method worked, ensuring that the Great Qing would no longer fear Qingfeng disease.

Emperor Kangxi knew the implications well.

He prided himself on fair rewards and punishments. Such significant contributions deserved substantial recognition. However, since An Qing was a woman, she couldn't receive official titles or promotions, limiting the personal rewards he could offer to material goods, which were not considered substantial.

Thus, there were two options: bestow the reward on Yinqi or on Deb.

To maintain balance among the princes, Yinqi couldn't be given special treatment. That left Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner and Deb.

Emperor Kangxi had already pondered this extensively, but the sudden issue with wheat frost damage made him reconsider the rewards.

After the officials left, Emperor Kangxi returned to the East Warm Pavilion, still mulling over the matter.

He felt like he had forgotten something but couldn't recall what it was, so he set the feeling aside for later.

Amidst the anticipation, the day of the imperial tour finally arrived.

It was a sunny morning, and Emperor Kangxi led a grand procession out of the Forbidden City towards the Mulan Hunting Grounds.

The Mulan Hunting Grounds were the largest royal hunting grounds of the Qing dynasty, located north of the Rehe Imperial Palace, with rolling hills, dense streams, and lush grasslands, making it an ideal hunting location.

Historically, Qing emperors enjoyed hunting because the Manchus were a nomadic people with formidable combat skills before entering the pass. The Eight Banners troops were particularly fierce and elite.

However, after the Qing entered the pass and the empire stabilized, wars became less frequent, leading to a decline in the fighting abilities of the Bannermen.

Therefore, Emperor Kangxi used hunting to train the Bannermen's archery and combat skills, establishing the Mulan Hunting Grounds in the 20th year of his reign.

The Mulan Autumn Hunt shared many similarities with warfare.

For example, the arrangements for the journey from the Imperial City, including receiving and responding to dispatches, positioning the vanguard and rear guard, supplying various materials, and assigning responsibilities once at the hunting grounds, closely resembled military operations and required close coordination among departments.

This is why Qing emperors favored hunting, and why princes and imperial descendants participated from a young age.

The goal was to strengthen their physical fitness, courage, archery skills, and teamwork.

Overall, the Mulan Autumn Hunt served as a model and competition for military training among the Eight Banners troops.

Thus, Yinqi and the other princes were assigned various duties in the camps, effectively honing their combat skills.

As for An Qing and the other ladies, they were placed in the middle of the procession, traveling slowly in carriages alongside the main force.

This "slowly" was relative to her journey from Horqin when she married into the family. Back then, the wedding procession was on a much smaller scale.

When An Qing traveled from Horqin, the journey took about ten days. This time, Yinqi estimated it would take around twenty days.

After all, if Emperor Kangxi needed to meet local officials or handle state affairs during the tour, the journey would be extended.

Moreover, considering the safety and dignity of the imperial entourage, the carriages couldn't travel too fast.

An Qing accepted this arrangement well. Traveling slowly allowed her to enjoy the scenery along the way, and accompanying the Emperor ensured comfort.

To solve the issues of food and lodging along the route, over 20 palaces were built, including the famous Rehe Imperial Palace—now known as the Summer Resort.

To prevent boredom during the journey, An Qing prepared thoroughly, bringing snacks like dried fruits, seeds, and beef jerky, and also brought playing cards for entertainment.

She planned to play cards with the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi. The third player would ideally be Mama Wu Lan, but she suffered from motion sickness, leaving one spot open.

As for Perilla and the others, playing cards with the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi would terrify them, so An Qing didn't burden them. Instead, she chose Concubine Xianfu.

Firstly, Concubine Xianfu's carriage was adjacent to hers, making it convenient. Secondly, among the accompanying ladies, she had the closest relationship with Concubine Xianfu. The other three ladies were not familiar to her.

Concubine Xianfu wasn't excluded; coincidentally, she also suffered from motion sickness, simplifying the situation.

The card games would take place in the Empress Dowager's spacious and comfortable carriage, as Emperor Kangxi always ensured her comfort.

At first, Princess Consort Four was hesitant to let loose, but An Qing believed that since she had invited the guests, she should ensure they didn't feel neglected. Thus, she actively livened up the atmosphere among the three of them. Eventually, Princess Consort Four also relaxed, and their mahjong group was established.

That day, they played mahjong for quite a while in the Empress Dowager's carriage. When they noticed her getting tired, the three of them tactfully left.

After stepping down from the Empress Dowager's carriage, An Qing began playfully pestering Concubine Yi, pretending to snatch her purse because she had lost all her money that day, having lost to all three opponents.

Princess Consort Four, seeing An Qing's appearance, thought she genuinely regretted losing the money and offered to return the winnings.

An Qing couldn't accept it; she had been joking with Concubine Yi all along. "No need, Sister Four. My mahjong skills may be poor, but my sportsmanship is good. I accept my losses!"

With a chuckle, she added, "Later, I'll go to Mother's carriage and get some nice things. I'm sure I can make up for today's losses."

Hearing this, Concubine Yi got angry and tried to chase her away, but An Qing, being as tenacious as ever, wouldn't budge.

The three soon arrived at Concubine Yi's carriage. After bidding farewell to Princess Consort Four, An Qing climbed aboard Concubine Yi's carriage, and soon laughter and scolding could be heard from inside.

Princess Consort Four looked enviously before turning back to her own carriage.

In recent days, she had witnessed the close relationship between An Qing and Concubine Yi up close, feeling both envy and admiration. But she knew that such a bond with Princess De was impossible.

However, An Qing had heard about the strained relationship between Princess Consort Four and Princess De. Through their interactions, she found Princess Consort Four to be a truly kind person, gentle and sincere.

How could one describe her better than dignified, steady, virtuous, and graceful?

As for Princess De, she didn't seem like someone who would constantly criticize her daughter-in-law. She was known for her kindness and generosity, so why did she dislike Princess Consort Four? An Qing was puzzled.

"Princess Consort Four was chosen by the late Empress Xiaoyiren for Prince Four. Princess De must still be upset," Concubine Yi explained calmly.

An Qing was taken aback. The late Empress Xiaoyiren was Prince Four's foster mother. So, Princess Consort Four was her choice.

She hadn't known this before, thinking that Emperor Kangxi had chosen all the princes' consorts.

Concubine Yi seemed to recall something and pouted. "Others might not have been able to do it, but Empress Xiaoyiren was the Emperor's cousin."

Hearing the tone, An Qing understood immediately. It seemed Empress Xiaoyiren was favored by Emperor Kangxi.

But despite her jealousy, Concubine Yi admitted, "Empress Xiaoyiren treated Prince Four well. The Ula Nara clan is a prominent Manchu family, and Princess Consort Four's father, Feiyanggu, holds a high position in the court. Before her death, Empress Xiaoyiren used her last bit of favor with the Emperor to arrange this marriage for Prince Four. I don't know why Princess De is still upset. As long as she treats her son well, isn't that enough?"

Empress Xiaoyiren raised Prince Four from childhood, loving him dearly, much like the Empress Dowager loves Prince Five.

Of course, Concubine Yi understood why Princess De felt uneasy. The situation with Empress Xiaoyiren, Prince Four, and Princess De was different from hers, Prince Five, and the Empress Dowager. One was a foster mother, the other a birth mother, competing for the role of 'mother' in Prince Four's heart. But she was Prince Five's birth mother, and the Empress Dowager was his grandmother, without any conflict.

"But what can be done now? Empress Xiaoyiren is gone. They should look forward. Many in the palace envied this marriage. Princess Consort Four is known for her dignity, steadiness, virtue, and grace in Imperial City," Concubine Yi said.

Who wouldn't be attracted to such a good match?

An Qing quietly asked, "Mother, were you ever attracted to it?"

Concubine Yi spoke without thinking, "Of course, Prince Four and Prince Five are close in age..."

Realizing her slip, she suddenly stopped talking.

An Qing pouted, looking hurt. "Mother, you really didn't want me as your daughter-in-law."

Concubine Yi felt guilty. "Well... I didn't know you then."

An Qing clutched her chest, feigning hurt. "So sad! I wasn't even considered a potential daughter-in-law."

Concubine Yi quickly affirmed, "No, you are!"

An Qing blinked, questioning, "I'm not dignified or steady."

Concubine Yi continued, "You don't need to be. I like your personality just as it is."

An Qing brought up old grievances. "But I'm not virtuous or graceful, sniff sniff. Poor Mother."

Concubine Yi was speechless.

She wished she could hit herself for speaking too quickly.

With a way to pass the time, the journey wasn't boring. However, after more than ten days on the road, they stopped playing mahjong. Although the Empress Dowager was still robust, her advanced age made long carriage rides tiring.

To let her rest, they no longer disturbed her. An Qing stayed in her own carriage, finding the ride increasingly exhausting.

Sometimes she wished she could ride a horse instead, but royal etiquette forbade it.

Finally, when An Qing was about to fall apart from the carriage ride, she saw the familiar blue sky and green grass, the vast expanse of the grasslands she had longed for.

Chapter 53: The Fifth Princess Consort

Before they arrived at Mulan, the preparations for the encampment had already been completed. It was said that the Crown Prince and several princes had worked together to set everything up.

After An Qing entered her and Yinqi's tent, Perilla and the others immediately got busy. The accompanying eunuchs helped unload the trunks from the carriages and moved them into the tent. Once inside, the women began tidying up, and Ma Xiang also brought over Yinqi's belongings.

Seeing that there was nothing she could do in the tent, An Qing did not want to get in the way, so she stepped outside and started wandering around nearby.

As evening approached, the sun set, casting a golden glow across the sky, turning the entire grassland into a sea of gold.

She stood on a small hill behind the tent, the scent of fresh grass mingling with the earthy aroma filling her nose. Looking out, she saw herds of cattle and horses grazing leisurely in the distance. At this moment, she finally felt a sense of reality.

She was back.

She was finally back!

In her previous life, An Qing had never been to the grasslands. Her impression of them was limited to the phrase "the wind blows the grass low, revealing cattle and sheep" from books. She had no particular sentiment for the grasslands, but who would have thought that after coming here, she would become a native daughter of the grasslands.

From infancy to seventeen years old, she seemed to have adapted to everything on the grasslands, but only An Qing knew deep down that she had never truly integrated herself.

Just from the Chinese names she gave herself and her maids, one could tell that those around her assumed she liked Han culture, but the real reason was something only An Qing understood.

It was ironic that it took leaving for her to realize that this land had become her cherished homeland. Perhaps people always value what they lose more.

After reflecting on this, An Qing reminded herself that she must learn from this experience and cherish what she currently has.

When Yinqi arrived, he saw An Qing standing there from a distance, looking in the direction of Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner.

He approached her and draped a cloak over her shoulders, gently reminding her, "The weather turns cold early in the frontier, especially at night. Be careful not to catch a chill."

An Qing came back to her senses and turned to look at him.

He wore a white riding outfit with silver trim, his posture tall and slender, making him appear even more handsome and heroic.

However, seeing his dusty appearance, he must have just finished his duties.

"Why did you come back so early today? Did His Majesty let you off?" she asked with a smile.

Yinqi chuckled and nodded, replying, "Even if His Majesty is reluctant, he still lets us return to sleep, right? No matter how precious his sons are, he can't keep us by his side all day."

An Qing couldn't help but laugh when she heard him joking in her tone.

Yinqi looked in the direction she had been gazing and said, "His Majesty has issued an edict for the Mongolian nobles to come and pay their respects tomorrow. Your father and brother will be among them."

An Qing nodded lightly. Yes, she would see them tomorrow.

The two stood side by side, watching the sunset and chatting casually. Soon, Perilla came to call them, and they realized it was getting late, so they returned to their tent.

The night on the grasslands was peaceful and beautiful. They spent their first night at Mulan.

The next morning, as soon as An Qing finished breakfast, Cui Liu hurriedly entered the tent.

"My lady, the princess consort is here."

Hearing this, An Qing quickly stood up. "My mother is here? Where is she?"

As she asked, she rushed towards the entrance of the tent, too eager to wait for Cui Liu's response.

The next moment, the tent flap was lifted from the outside, and a woman dressed in Mongolian noble attire walked in.

"Mother!"

An Qing's voice carried evident joy as she ran straight into the arms of the newcomer, who was none other than her mother, Princess Consort Naren.

Princess Consort Naren barely managed to steady herself, saying with a helpless expression, "You silly girl, even after more than a year, you're still as childish. You'll never grow up."

An Qing nestled in her mother's arms, wriggling slightly and pouting, "No matter how old I am, I'm still your daughter. That will never change."

Then, she added playfully, "Could it be that Mother doesn't like me after a year apart?"

Princess Consort Naren shook her head, but before she could say anything, a little boy's voice came from behind them, "Auntie, you're being embarrassing. You're so grown-up and still acting like a child."

An Qing was taken aback and quickly looked back, seeing two familiar faces.

"Sister-in-law, you're here too."

Behind Princess Consort Naren stood a woman in red Mongolian attire, An Qing's eldest brother Abulatan's wife, Rutana, who was also An Qing's sister-in-law.

Standing beside her sister-in-law was a little boy, An Qing's nephew Wuritu, the eldest son of her eldest brother and sister-in-law.

Wuritu was nine years old, a sturdy Mongolian boy, only eight years younger than An Qing. He had grown up following her around.

But in truth, he had grown up following Yideri, as An Qing preferred farming and he lacked patience, preferring to run around the grasslands with Yideri.

"You naughty boy, don't talk back or I'll tell your father and have him spank you!" An Qing said, raising her fists as if to intimidate him.

Wuritu pouted, somewhat exasperated, "Auntie, you always tattle. You've used this trick since I was little. Can't you try something new?"

An Qing shrugged, "Who cares? Why should I change if it works?"

In verbal sparring, Wuritu was clearly no match for An Qing, and he could only glare angrily.

An Qing ignored him and turned to Rutana, asking, "Sister-in-law, didn't you bring Dorlan?"

Dorlan was her eldest brother and sister-in-law's youngest daughter. When An Qing married last year, her sister-in-law was eight months pregnant and later wrote to tell her that she had given birth to a daughter, who was now over a year old.

Rutana waved her hand, looking exhausted, "Don't mention it. That little girl is very active and wants to grab everything. It's too much trouble to take her out, so I left her with your second sister-in-law. Maybe I'll bring her next year for you to meet."

An Qing smiled and nodded. She had heard from her mother that her eldest brother's daughter was very lively and energetic, making her sister-in-law quite tired every day.

Of course, her mother took the opportunity to praise her, saying that she was very well-behaved as a child, never crying or making a fuss. She had never seen such a well-behaved child.

An Qing thought to herself that with her adult soul, how could she not be well-behaved?

However, whenever she thought about her childhood, she couldn't help but feel annoyed with her Third Elder Brother. As they were twins, they were naturally placed together from a young age. He cried so much, and his voice was so loud that sometimes she felt her head throb when lying next to him.

It took her quite some effort before she managed to convince her mother to separate them, though not by much distance—just one room inside and one outside. But it was better than nothing.

After a brief chat, An Qing welcomed everyone in.

Having been apart for over a year, there was plenty to talk about. An Qing kept asking her mother and sister-in-law about family matters and hurriedly had Perilla bring out the gifts she had prepared for the family.

Wuritu loved the gem-encrusted golden dagger An Qing had given him. However, this gift wasn't something An Qing had prepared; it came from Yinqi's private collection. When he saw her preparing gifts for the family and learned she had a nephew, he sent it over.

"Aunt, I love this dagger! Thank you, Aunt!"

An Qing ruffled the little boy's hair and said, somewhat teasingly, "You little brat, now you know your aunt is good."

Wuritu chuckled, "Aunt has always been good; I've always known."

Seeing the playful interaction between aunt and nephew, Naren and Princess Ruta laughed along.

Ruta knew that her mother-in-law and sister-in-law hadn't seen each other in a long time and would have many private things to discuss. So, seeing the right moment, she took Wuritu out of the tent, leaving space for the mother and daughter.

Once her daughter-in-law left, Naren finally relaxed completely, pulling An Qing close and asking all sorts of questions about her life in the Imperial City—from whether she was adapting to the food, clothing, and lifestyle, to how well she got along with the ladies in the palace. In short, she wanted to hear everything firsthand.

Although An Qing had explained these things many times in their letters over the past year, she patiently repeated everything again. Eventually, the conversation inevitably turned to children.

"Still no news about your pregnancy?" Naren asked worriedly.

An Qing shook her head honestly, "No, my monthly cycle just ended two days ago."

Naren's face showed a hint of disappointment.

Ever since their marriage half a year ago, her mother had always asked about this in her letters. She knew what her mother was concerned about—the importance of offspring for women in ancient times needed no explanation.

But An Qing wasn't worried at all, "Mother, don't worry. It's fine. There's already a little brother in the courtyard."

Yinqi did have an heir, and even if she couldn't bear children, there were others who could ensure the royal lineage continued. What was there to fear?

Naren sighed softly. When the imperial decree for their marriage arrived, they had often felt sorry for An Qing due to the presence of a concubine's son in the Fifth Prince's household. Now, it seemed fortunate to have that child.

She suddenly thought of something and, after checking around, whispered, "Tell me the truth, have you been taking contraceptive herbs?"

An Qing quickly protested, "Mother, I haven't. You can ask Mai Dong if you don't believe me."

Naren looked at her skeptically. It wasn't that she didn't trust An Qing; rather, she knew her too well. Despite appearing obedient, An Qing had always had unconventional ideas and was quite daring.

An Qing had even mentioned several times that she didn't want to marry or have children for the rest of her life.

Feeling like she had dug her own grave, An Qing explained, "Mother, the imperial physicians come every month to check on my health. Even if I were bold, I wouldn't dare play with the royal lineage."

Mai Dong's medical skills were good, but not enough to fool the entire imperial medical team. The imperial physicians rotated every month, and their records were meticulously kept. Any irregularities would be reported immediately. Even if she didn't care about herself, she had to think of her family.

Regardless of whether An Qing had the intention, she certainly didn't have the courage.

Naren realized this was true. Although An Qing was daring, she always acted within reason. Such a significant matter would be beyond her reach.

An Qing understood her mother's concern and reassured her, "Mother, both Mai Dong and the imperial physicians have checked me. My body is perfectly fine. Perhaps it's just a matter of timing. Don't worry about me."

Naren also knew this was true, "What about Concubine Yi and Beile Yinqi?"

Yinqi hadn't shown any reaction; An Qing had never heard him mention it, so she assumed he wasn't worried either.

As for Concubine Yi, she had actually spoken to her about it.

At first, An Qing thought the beautiful mother-in-law was going to pressure her, but instead, she told her not to worry and repeatedly warned her against taking any herbal remedies.

Finally, she shared real-life examples from the palace, explaining that having children too early was not beneficial for either the mother or the child.

An Qing couldn't help but feel grateful for her fate, having such caring family members and a wonderful mother-in-law.

Perhaps it was compensation for her hardships in her previous life.

Hearing this, Naren felt relieved and kept praising Concubine Yi as a kind mother-in-law.

An Qing cheekily added, "Well, Mother, what can I say? You gave birth to such a lovable daughter, someone everyone adores."

Naren, seeing her daughter's playful demeanor, couldn't help but laugh, and the atmosphere became much lighter.

Just then, Perilla came in to report that Yinqi had brought her father and elder brother.

Outside the tent, Yinqi was greeting Deb and Abulatang.

After Wuritu and his mother took a walk nearby, they returned to see his father and grandfather standing there. He broke away from his mother and ran over.

"Father, Grandfather!" The little boy called out, then tilted his head at Yinqi, seemingly realizing something, and asked angrily, "Are you my aunt's husband?"

It was him who took away his aunt!

Looking at the hostile little boy, Yinqi was taken aback.

Before he could respond, Abulatang sternly said, "Wuritu, show respect."

Then, he bowed to Yinqi, "Beile, please forgive him; he is just a child."

Yinqi waved his hand, "Brother, no need for formalities. We're family, it's fine."

He then squatted down to be eye-level with Wuritu and said, "Yes, I am your aunt's husband. You must be Wuritu. I've heard about you; they say you are excellent at horseback riding."

Deb and Abulatang exchanged a glance, both reading a deep meaning in each other's eyes.

Previously, they had learned from An Qing's letters that the Fifth Prince was kind and treated her well. They had been somewhat skeptical, but now they were starting to believe it.

After all, if he did not care for An Qing, there would be no reason for him to treat them so kindly.

Upon hearing Yinqi mention knowing about his horsemanship skills, Wuritu was astonished and opened his mouth wide. "How do you know me?!"

Yinqi smiled and replied, "Your aunt mentioned you to me. She misses you very much."

Wuritu, hearing this, became incredibly proud and turned to his father and grandfather, lifting his chin. "Hmph! I told you, my aunt definitely misses me the most."

This earned him a roll of the eyes from his father and grandfather.

An Qing walked out of the tent and saw Deb and Abulatang from afar. "Father! Big Brother!"

The two men turned at the sound of her voice. "Little Sister/Daughter!"

Seeing his daughter, Deb changed from his stern demeanor and quickly approached her. Then, just two steps away, he suddenly stopped.

Everyone paused, wondering what he was going to do.

Unexpectedly, Deb scrutinized An Qing for a while before uttering softly, "You've lost weight!"

Everyone: "..."

An Qing silently pinched her slightly rounded waist. If she did not know her father's character, she might have thought he was being sarcastic.

After all, just this morning, she discovered that the riding outfit she brought from Horqin last year no longer fit, having become too tight.

Was this her father's unique familial filter? An Qing thought to herself.

Naren, the princess, barely resisted the urge to facepalm and hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over.

What are you doing? Your son-in-law is right here, and you're saying your daughter has lost weight. This indirectly accuses him of neglecting her.

"What nonsense are you talking about? She hasn't lost any weight; look at how round her face is."

An Qing: "..."

No need to be so blunt!

Feeling criticized by her mother, An Qing muttered quietly, "I'm not that fat."

Unbeknownst to her, Wuritu, that insensitive boy, chimed in, "I was wondering why Auntie's face looked a bit rounder. So, she's gained some weight."

An Qing: "..."

Where is the warmth and love?

After a brief chat outside, Yinqi invited everyone into the tent.

An Qing walked behind, feeling a bit dejected, silently vowing to lose weight.

Sigh~ It seems she wasn't naturally slim after all. Back in Horqin, she could eat without gaining weight, which made her quite pleased with herself. Now, it seemed that running around the grasslands had burned off the calories.

In Imperial City, life was too comfortable, and the truth was revealed.

Karma always comes back around; weight spares no one, not even her, not in two lifetimes!

Noticing An Qing's dejected appearance, Yinqi couldn't help but walk beside her and whisper, "You're not fat."

An Qing's eyes lit up. "Really?"

Yinqi nodded with a smile. "Not at all."

An Qing felt satisfied. Well, sometimes a little white lie is necessary.

As for losing weight, she'd think about it when they returned to Imperial City. For now, she wanted to enjoy the time with her family without worrying about such troubles.

Naren watched their interaction with a smile on her face.

After chatting for a while inside the tent, a eunuch from the Palace of Heavenly Purity arrived, saying that Kangxi wished to see An Qing's father and brother.

"Prince Yinqi, His Majesty also wants you to come."

Duty-bound, Yinqi, Deb, and Abulatang hurried to the yellow-tented pavilion where Kangxi was staying. However, upon entering, they were taken aback.

They had assumed Kangxi summoned Deb and Abulatang to meet with other Mongolian princes, but instead, they found officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Agricultural Administration Department, as well as four other princes besides Yinqi.

Suppressing their confusion, the three bowed, and Kangxi waved them up, explaining why he called them.

It turned out that Huang Mao and others, sent to teach farming techniques to the Baling Mongols, had arrived. Among them were An Qing's second brother Robzang Lash and Third Elder Brother Yideri, which was why Kangxi had summoned Deb and Abulatang.

Soon, the eunuch led several people into the tent, including Huang Mao, followed by An Qing's second brother Robzang Lash and Third Elder Brother Yideri.

They had traveled long distances and appeared disheveled due to the urgency of Kangxi's summons.

After bowing, Kangxi stared at Yideri, frowning slightly.

What happened to this kid? He looks even darker!

It was true that because of the previous misunderstanding with the dark-skinned princess, Kangxi always checked Yideri's complexion first.

Seated above, he was the focus of everyone's attention, and his every move was observed. Everyone followed his gaze and understood what he was looking at.

Especially the Crown Prince and the other princes, who tried hard not to laugh, glanced at Yinqi.

Yideri was looked at with confusion by everyone, and he couldn't help but scratch his head.

It's not like he had caused any trouble, why were they all looking at him?

Thinking this, Yideri couldn't help but seek confirmation from his father and his two elder brothers, but the three of them were clearly just as clueless.

Kangxi seemed to finally come back to his senses and lightly cleared his throat, but still couldn't resist speaking up, "Yideri, why is your face so black?"

Yideri exclaimed "Ah," clearly not expecting Kangxi to ask him that, and could only instinctively reply, "Your Majesty, this subject has always been prone to tanning easily since childhood. It's a bit darker now in summer, but it gets better in winter."

After saying this, he turned to look at Robzang Lash beside him, "Second Brother, I'm doing alright this year, right? I don't think I'm too dark."

This summer, he had duties and hadn't run around much on the grasslands.

Everyone: "!"

Even like this, he doesn't consider himself too dark?!

Then how dark does he get at his darkest?

Chapter 54: The Fifth Princess Consort

The Deb family of four were all bewildered and at a loss, not understanding what was happening with the subtle exchanges among the people present.

Yideri was even more puzzled. He had been dark-skinned his whole life, yet no one had reacted so strongly before. Could it be that... in the Forbidden City, fair skin was now considered the standard of beauty for men?

Yideri was slightly shocked by this thought. How absurd! After all, the Manchus were a horse-riding nation, always valuing bravery and strength. He had never seen a brave warrior who was also a pretty boy!

He decided he would ask his little sister about it another day, he silently thought to himself.

For the Deb family of four, this situation was bewildering, but for Yinqi, it was a bit of an ordeal.

Facing the teasing glances from his brothers, Yinqi could still face them calmly. However, when the Deb family occasionally looked at him with puzzled eyes seeking answers, he could only avoid their gaze.

After all, the misunderstanding about the "dark-skinned princess consort" was something he truly didn't know how to explain, especially when he recalled how he had actually been affected on his wedding night, which made him feel embarrassed and ashamed.

Yinqi helplessly looked at his father, hoping he could quickly change the topic and help him escape this awkward situation.

Emperor Kangxi, upon receiving his son's pleading look, felt amused inside. He felt no guilt and even had a bit of malicious pleasure in seeing his son in this predicament.

Of course, he knew the occasion called for restraint, so he promptly returned to the main topic and asked Huang Mao and others to give their reports, similar to a modern performance review.

As the leader of the officials dispatched to teach farming techniques to various Mongolian tribes, Huang Mao naturally took charge. Being a former Grand Secretary, he was skilled at such bureaucratic tasks and began his detailed report.

"Your Majesty, I hereby report on behalf of our team regarding the matters we have undertaken. We were ordered to go to Horqin and other Mongolian tribes last August..."

Although Huang Mao's report was lengthy, it highlighted the achievements of the past year, the problems encountered, and the difficulties faced during the mission. He provided concrete solutions for each issue, making his report substantial and practical.

From Emperor Kangxi's reaction, it was clear that he was very satisfied with their performance on this mission.

Seeing this, Huang Mao felt relieved and became increasingly confident as he continued his report.

In fact, over the past year, he had gained a lot while traveling through the Mongolian tribes. Initially, he was assigned this task because he had offended someone in the court and was sent away as a scapegoat.

While Emperor Kangxi always emphasized the importance of farming in Mongolian territories, it was a good assignment only if done well.

However, anyone with experience in the court knew that this was a thankless job for Huang Mao. As a Grand Secretary, his knowledge of farming was mostly theoretical, and the Mongolian tribes traditionally did not value agriculture. It seemed almost impossible to excel in this task.

To make matters worse, Emperor Kangxi suddenly assigned two people from the Zha Saik Doroi Prince's family of Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, the brother of the current Fifth Princess Consort. Clearly, they were just there to fill numbers.

It was obvious that these nobles' children knew nothing about farming, let alone the nomadic Mongolian tribes.

So where did this mission of "teaching farming techniques to the Mongolian tribes" come from? It was indeed quite amusing.

Faced with this additional burden, Huang Mao felt utterly hopeless. He had to manage the mission while dealing with these two Mongolian princes, fearing his career might be over.

But unexpectedly, over the next year, he learned a lot from Robzang Lash and Yideri. Without their involvement, the mission would not have been as successful.

Initially, Huang Mao did not take them seriously, even after they actively participated and offered suggestions. Instead, he relied more on the officials who understood farming. However, reality proved him wrong.

These officials knew some farming techniques but did not understand the local conditions or the needs of the nomads. They immediately tried to cultivate fertile grasslands, which led to opposition from the locals and the Mongolian nobility, as these areas were essential for grazing.

In contrast, Robzang Lash and Yideri's suggestions were more practical, encouraging the cultivation of smaller, scattered plots or areas near mountains instead of large, lush grasslands.

Huang Mao then remembered Emperor Kangxi's words in the Palace of Heavenly Purity about the semi-agricultural model in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner. He adopted their suggestions and later realized that their understanding of farming far exceeded everyone else's, leading to impressive results.

Their mission was initially to teach farming and irrigation techniques, but with Robzang Lash and Yideri taking the lead, they also addressed issues like sustainable land use, preventing desertification, and resolving conflicts between farmers and nomads.

They completed their mission exceptionally well and received multiple commendations from Emperor Kangxi.

Huang Mao knew these achievements were due to the efforts of Robzang Lash and Yideri. He dared not claim credit for their work, given their noble status and familial connections. Moreover, he was an upright person and not one to steal credit.

Therefore, in every report to Emperor Kangxi, he truthfully acknowledged their contributions.

Thus, Emperor Kangxi was already aware of their accomplishments, which was why he was particularly pleased with Robzang Lash and Yideri's work.

Over the years, Emperor Kangxi had struggled with the issue of agricultural development in Mongolia. While the Great Qing had encouraged farming in Mongolian territories since entering the capital, many problems arose, including conflicts between farmers and nomads and the degradation of fertile lands into barren wastelands.

Before seeing the success in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, Emperor Kangxi had even considered banning farming in Mongolia.

Moreover, the benefits of farming initiatives often went to the Mongolian nobility rather than the common nomads, contrary to his original intentions.

However, following the Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner model would ultimately benefit the nomads, though the nobility would gain less but more sustainably.

The officials present, most from the Ministry of Finance and the Agricultural Administration Department, recognized the excellence of their mission and anticipated commendations.

Especially those who knew the origins of Huang Mao's assignment envied him for encountering a family skilled in farming, benefiting greatly from their expertise.

However, what they were most concerned about was how the winter wheat in Horqin, Ao Han, Nai Man, and Karaqin banners avoided frost damage last year!

This question had been troubling them, as many officials had tried various methods without success.

Huang Mao turned to Robzang Lash and Yideri, indicating that he did not understand the solution.

Robzang Lash stepped forward and replied, "Your Majesty, last winter was extremely cold, and the wheat suffered some frost damage. However, we implemented measures before winter, such as fertilizing and pressing the wheat, which mitigated the damage."

After spring, they took timely remedial actions, salvaging many wheat plants and avoiding significant yield losses.

Everyone was stunned, understanding fertilization but confused about "pressing the wheat."

"What does 'pressing the wheat' mean?" Emperor Kangxi asked, echoing everyone's thoughts.

Robzang Lash replied, "Your Majesty, pressing the wheat means rolling stones over the wheat fields to suppress its growth."

Everyone was taken aback. Suppressing the growth of wheat?

Press the wheat!

This statement overturned everyone's understanding in the Ministry of Finance and the Agricultural Administration Department, or rather, everyone present except Yinqi, who had been educated by An Qing earlier.

"Why is that?" Ma Qi asked, puzzled. "Good crops yield good harvests; this has always been the case."

However, Robzang Lash shook his head and replied, "My sister taught me this method. I just followed her instructions. If you want to know more, you should ask her."

Upon hearing this, everyone present was taken aback. His sister? That would be the Fifth Princess Consort!

So, the method to reduce frost damage in wheat was also devised by the Fifth Princess Consort?!

Yinqi looked at Robzang Lash, feeling a slight stir in his heart.

Others might not know, but he did. An Qing had clearly explained the reasoning behind pressing wheat in her letter. Therefore, Robzang Lash wasn't ignorant; he simply didn't want to take credit for An Qing's work.

When Kangxi heard it was An Qing's idea, he was initially stunned but then felt a sense of "as expected."

He had underestimated the girl's talent in farming.

Suddenly, Kangxi turned to Yinqi, "Fifth Prince, how much wheat did your Princess Consort's field yield last year?"

He finally remembered what he had forgotten!

Yinqi paused before replying, "About three and a half bushels."

Previously, he and An Qing had discussed not mentioning the wheat yield from her field unless asked directly by Kangxi. After all, hiding it would be considered treason.

Hearing it was only three and a half bushels, no one was particularly surprised; instead, they thought it was quite low. With a yield of only about 60 pounds per mu, it was clearly a poor harvest. Thus, they began to doubt the effectiveness of pressing wheat.

Unexpectedly, Ma Qi suddenly exclaimed, "What, three and a half bushels?!"

He looked at Yinqi in surprise, "Fifth Beile, are you sure the small plot of land belonging to the Fifth Princess Consort yielded three and a half bushels?"

Yinqi nodded, "I was there when the wheat was harvested and weighed it myself."

Kangxi seemed to have figured out something and stood up from his chair, "Liang Jiugong, quickly invite the Fifth Princess Consort here!"

Liang Jiugong hurriedly agreed and left.

However, when he arrived at An Qing's tent, she was not there. He was informed that the Fifth Princess Consort and her mother had gone to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. Liang Jiugong immediately headed towards the Empress Dowager's tent.

Inside the Empress Dowager's tent, coincidentally, An Qing and her mother arrived at the same time as Xianfu and her mother. There were also several unfamiliar noblewomen from Kezuo Zhong Banner, presumably relatives of the Empress Dowager.

They were all from Horqin, though from different banners, still related. Moreover, the Mongolian tribes and Manchu nobles in the Imperial City were often intermarried, making An Qing's mother and Xianfu's mother-in-law distant relatives.

Everyone quickly became familiar with each other.

An Qing watched her mother socialize silently, feeling useless herself.

Her mother was a natural socialite, thriving in such settings. An Qing, despite being used to seeing her mother excel in social situations, couldn't help but marvel at it every time.

Feeling stuffy inside the tent, An Qing decided to step outside for some fresh air, planning to return shortly. After all, she wasn't needed inside for the moment.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped out, Xianfu also followed and approached her.

An Qing: "..."

Why did she forget about her? She should have stayed inside.

As An Qing regretted her decision, Xianfu had already reached her.

An Qing resignedly bowed.

Xianfu waved her hand dismissively, seeming impatient.

An Qing barely restrained herself from rolling her eyes.

Just as she prepared for Xianfu's criticism, Xianfu unexpectedly stood beside her without saying anything, as if she too had come out for fresh air.

Though confused, An Qing felt relieved, not wanting any conflict, especially here.

They stood silently for a while.

Estimating it was time to go back, An Qing prepared to leave, "Your Highness, I'll return now."

She bowed and started to leave.

"Wait," Xianfu stopped her, "I need to talk to you."

Hearing this familiar opening, An Qing silently mourned, thinking she couldn't avoid it.

"Your Highness, please speak," she said respectfully.

No matter what, as long as she maintained proper etiquette, she would be in the right even if Xianfu found fault.

Just as she braced herself for Xianfu's criticism, Xianfu hesitated for a moment before saying, "That... thank you for those mint candies. They were very useful."

An Qing was momentarily stunned. This was not what she had expected.

Wasn't she supposed to find fault? Why the sudden gratitude?

Or was this a tactic to mess with her mind?

Seeing An Qing's surprise, Xianfu looked slightly uncomfortable and said irritably, "Rest assured, I won't trouble you anymore."

With that, she stormed off.

An Qing stood there in confusion, turning to look at Perilla after a moment: "What did she just say?"

Perilla replied truthfully, "The lady from Xianfu Palace said she won't cause you any trouble anymore."

An Qing blinked. She seemed to have taken the wrong medicine; why had she suddenly changed her attitude?

But who cared if she had changed or not, as long as she didn't cause trouble. Maybe it was simply because she was in a good mood after seeing her family.

An Qing understood this feeling. Today, after seeing her parents, she felt great too. Even if her most hated person were standing before her now, she might even manage a smile.

However, the reality was that the lady from Xianfu Palace wasn't in a good mood at all. Her statement about not causing trouble wasn't due to this either.

Mainly, the Empress Dowager had repeatedly warned her not to provoke An Qing, threatening that she would no longer protect her if she did. The lady from Xianfu Palace couldn't help but be wary, knowing that without the Empress Dowager's protection, she might be confined to Xianfu Palace by Kangxi forever.

Moreover, the Empress Dowager had informed her parents about this matter, leading to another scolding.

The lady from Xianfu Palace wasn't stupid. She knew that tribes on the grasslands were interconnected, and making enemies wouldn't benefit anyone. This was precisely why she believed An Qing should stand with her.

Though she couldn't understand the reason, she took this caution to heart.

Well, if she couldn't avoid trouble, she could at least avoid An Qing. This was what the lady from Xianfu Palace thought as she left.

An Qing had no idea about these thoughts. If she did, she would definitely cry foul. Who was provoking whom? Who was avoiding whom?

As for the mint candy mentioned earlier, it was indeed a coincidence. Previously, when An Qing heard that Wu Lan suffered from motion sickness during carriage rides, she and Perilla made some mint candies and plums to alleviate the discomfort, hoping to make her journey more comfortable.

Later, on the Empress Dowager's carriage, they overheard a palace maid from Xianfu Palace complaining about severe motion sickness. Out of respect for the Empress Dowager, An Qing had Perilla give her a box of mint candies.

She assumed the lady from Xianfu Palace would throw them away, but apparently, she actually ate them.

When Liang Jiugong arrived, An Qing had just returned to her tent and had a cup of tea.

"The servant greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be well," Liang Jiugong bowed and said.

The Empress Dowager waved her hand, signaling him to rise. "Why are you here now? Is there something the Emperor needs?"

Liang Jiugong replied, "The servant has come to find the Fifth Princess Consort. The Emperor summoned the Fifth Princess Consort to the main tent."

Upon hearing that Kangxi wanted to see An Qing, the women present were surprised.

They had heard rumors that the daughter of the Deb family was highly favored by Kangxi in the Forbidden City. It seemed those rumors were true.

An Qing looked at the Empress Dowager and said, "Grandma, shall I go over now?"

After saying this, she looked at her mother with concern. Although she knew her mother wouldn't suffer much due to her temper, leaving her alone still worried her.

The Empress Dowager waved her hand, giving her a reassuring look. "Go. The Emperor must have important matters. Don't delay."

An Qing nodded and left with Liang Jiugong.

In fact, she was quite curious about why Kangxi had summoned her. Could something have happened with her father or eldest brother?

On the way, An Qing couldn't help but ask, "Eunuch Liang, can you tell me why the Emperor summoned me?"

Liang Jiugong thought for a moment and replied, "Fifth Princess Consort, your second brother and third brother are currently in audience with His Majesty."

An Qing paused, guessing something but still unsure.

But when she entered the tent and met Yinqi's gaze, she instantly confirmed her suspicions and sighed inwardly.

Her second and third brothers hadn't listened to her after all. It seemed all those letters she had written were in vain.

Over the past year, An Qing had been aware of her second and third brothers' progress in teaching farming techniques to the Mongolian tribes, including their planting of winter wheat in Horqin.

Initially, she intended to attribute all the credit except for the seed cultivation to them, as these were easily noticeable achievements. This way, when the wheat yields increased next year, Kangxi would reward them accordingly.

Then, combined with their tribe's previous contributions, perhaps her father's wish for another title of Prince of the State could be fulfilled.

But her stubborn second and third brothers refused to agree. Despite her numerous letters appealing to their emotions and logic, they remained unmoved.

If it weren't for the occasion, she would have loved to punch them both right now. What use was the credit to her? The last time, with Qingfeng's illness, the credit was significant, yet nothing came of it.

Hmph! Lao Kang could be stingy with his harem, but how could he be stingy with her, his own daughter-in-law? An Qing thought resentfully.

Of course, she would soon realize she had been mistaken, but that was a story for later.

Chapter 55: The Fifth Princess Consort

Before An Qing arrived, Kangxi had already questioned Yinqi thoroughly. Since they had discussed it beforehand, Yinqi did not hide anything and explained the situation with An Qing's land in detail.

Therefore, when Kangxi saw An Qing, he suddenly found himself at a loss for words. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "Fifth Princess Consort, please tell everyone what the reason is behind suppressing wheat growth?"

Why suppress the growth of wheat?

An Qing was taken aback; she had expected Kangxi to ask about the wheat yield, not the suppression technique. However, she remained calm and explained, "Your Majesty, your humble servant conducted tests on the estate before winter. The better the above-ground growth of wheat before winter, the less developed its root system tends to be. The soil's fertility is limited, so suppressing the above-ground growth allows the nutrients to prioritize the roots, ensuring a strong foundation. Strong roots lead to healthy foliage, which might explain why these suppressed wheat plants can better withstand winter cold."

An Qing's explanation was simple and straightforward, avoiding technical agricultural terms. She used the concept of "strong roots leading to healthy foliage" as her basis, making her point clear and logical.

Everyone present immediately understood.

However, given the significance of the matter, Ma Qi could not help but confirm again, "Fifth Princess Consort, can you be certain that suppressing wheat growth will protect against frost damage without affecting subsequent growth?"

After all, this contradicted conventional farming wisdom. Despite the evidence, it was natural to find it hard to accept at first.

An Qing was confident, but she could not reveal the scientific reasoning behind it. Instead, she said, "Please consider this: in recent years, has there ever been a year where the wheat grew exceptionally well before winter, only to suffer severe frost damage?"

The crowd paused, recalling past experiences.

After a while, Ma Qi murmured, "Indeed, last year aside, in the thirty-fifth year of Kangxi, Shaanxi had good rainfall before winter, and the wheat grew very well, yet it suffered severe frost damage. Similarly, in Shandong in the thirty-third year of Kangxi, and in Anhui in the thirty-second year..."

Having served in the Ministry of Finance for many years, no one knew these situations better than him. As he recounted each instance, everyone had no choice but to believe him.

An Qing nodded slightly and continued, "In fact, farming is like studying. Without a solid foundation, blindly pursuing quantity leads to inefficiency. Just as with studying, focusing on the basics is crucial."

Thus, in farming, laying a strong foundation early on is essential. For example, before winter, applying base fertilizer and suppressing wheat growth helps build a robust foundation.

She paused and added, "Moreover, farming should not be done superficially."

Most people's opinions do not necessarily represent the truth. As a researcher, questioning and seeking evidence is crucial.

Everyone was stunned, recognizing the metaphor of "studying." They felt a sense of shame, especially the officials from the Agricultural Administration Department, who realized their lack of deep understanding and reliance on traditional methods.

An Qing noticed their reactions and was surprised. This was not her intention. She mentioned it to reinforce her image as someone passionate about farming research, not to lecture them.

She needed to make things reasonable and ensure that the sensitive and suspicious Kangxi had no doubts about her.

This was her top priority at the moment.

However, An Qing did not realize that after the Qingfeng disease incident, Kangxi already firmly believed in her as a "farming genius."

"Do you have the manual for wheat cultivation?" Kangxi, who had been silent throughout, finally spoke.

An Qing was momentarily confused but quickly understood that Yinqi must have mentioned it.

She shook her head and said, "Your humble servant did not know Your Majesty would need it. Shall I send someone to fetch it now?"

Kangxi nodded lightly.

An Qing immediately went out and instructed Perilla to retrieve it. Perilla hurried back shortly, breathless.

Liang Jiugong took the manual and promptly handed it to Kangxi.

Seeing the title "Wheat Cultivation Experimental Guide," Kangxi smiled, feeling a familiar warmth.

He looked at An Qing with admiration. An Qing was initially surprised but sensed a mutual respect among agricultural researchers.

She was at a loss for words but realized her "farming genius" image was established.

Well, things would be easier from now on, without constantly worrying about it.

An Qing's "Wheat Cultivation Experimental Guide" was specifically compiled for Kangxi, highlighting key points clearly. He read through the thin booklet effortlessly and finished it quickly.

Then, he instructed Liang Jiugong to pass it to Ma Qi and others.

"Study this carefully and draft a plan. Select a few counties this year to test these methods," Kangxi declared decisively.

An Qing was stunned. Wasn't there more to discuss?

She had prepared herself for further questioning, but Kangxi seemed to trust her completely. She felt both honored and overwhelmed.

Kangxi noticed her reaction and chuckled.

An Qing regained her composure. There were some things she needed to clarify, even if Kangxi did not ask.

"Your Majesty, the yield from my land was an anomaly. Even if you follow my methods, you cannot expect the same results..."

Before she could finish, Kangxi interrupted, "Don't worry, I understand. Yinqi just explained that your seeds are special."

An Qing glanced at Yinqi, who nodded reassuringly. She felt relieved.

Yinqi always handled matters competently. She had previously told him that the seeds could not be widely distributed yet.

The principle was similar to Kangxi's imperial rice: limited seed quantity and the long-term nature of seed cultivation. Her wheat seeds were still in the early stages.

Of course, she had also told Yinqi that even without seeds, just by using her methods, the yield might not reach what she achieved but would still increase. Moreover, just preventing wheat frost damage alone could ensure no decrease in production.

It seemed Kangxi was aware of this as well; otherwise, he wouldn't have been so straightforward.

"You've done a great deed this time. Is there anything you desire?" Kangxi asked.

An Qing was taken aback and quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I dare not claim undue credit. You must realize that whether it's planting wheat or anything else, these results don't come overnight. My brothers and I have been experimenting for years on the estate in Horqin, wasting much of my father's money before achieving today's success. Therefore, this is not solely my achievement."

When Deb and his sons heard An Qing's words, they couldn't help feeling a bit helpless. This girl was indeed taking all the credit now, knowing they couldn't refute her. Yet, they felt undeserving of such praise.

Kangxi looked at her with a faint smile and said after a moment, "Rest assured, the contributions of Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner and your father and brothers are noted."

Hearing this, An Qing immediately flattered him, "Your Majesty is wise."

"Now, tell me what reward you want," Kangxi said.

An Qing thought for a moment and decided to ask for something modest, not wanting to take more than her share, which might affect her father and brothers' rewards.

"Your Majesty, how about granting me an estate? I have no other hobbies, I just love farming. It would be perfect for continuing my wheat experiments," she said obediently.

This request was neither excessive nor burdensome for Kangxi, and it showed her dedication to continuing her work. Her request was indeed considerate.

Kangxi was clearly pleased. "Fine, I'll grant you a royal estate to continue cultivating your wheat seeds. If you can promote their cultivation later, I will reward you greatly!"

Deb immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, you may not know, but that girl has been experimenting on the estate for years to achieve these results. So, if you grant her this estate, she might not produce significant results in the short term."

An Qing understood her father's intention: he wanted to prevent her from being blamed if she didn't meet Kangxi's expectations.

Kangxi waved his hand and said, "I understand the complexities of farming and seed cultivation. There's no need to worry; let her experiment freely."

He had spent nearly twenty years developing his imperial rice before promoting it near the capital outskirts. Such matters cannot be rushed.

Deb was relieved upon hearing this.

Kangxi was clearly in a good mood. He had often heard An Qing talk about her estate in Horqin, and now hearing Deb mention it again, he became curious.

How different could it be from his Fengze Garden?

Thus, Kangxi decided, "On our way back, I will definitely visit your estate."

Since Mulan was not far from Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, the nearest estate would be within easy reach. A visit would be convenient.

After meeting with the Mongolian princes, Kangxi led the princes and ministers, along with the Mongolian nobles, to a hunt the next day. Yinqi and Deb's family were among them.

Kangxi led the hunting party across the vast lands of Mulan, covering every mountain and river. On the first day, he shot a fierce tiger, demonstrating his prowess with a fifteen-strength bow. Truly, Lao Kang's martial skills were impressive.

The best performer was Elder Brother Prince, who outperformed many Mongolian youths and won the hunt, earning much praise from Kangxi.

The other princes varied in performance. The Crown Prince, though not as skilled as Elder Brother Prince, still performed admirably. Third Brother Prince did less well, but the worst was Fourth Brother Prince.

An Qing was not surprised. Historically, Yongzheng was known for his poor riding and archery skills, only able to draw a four-and-a-half strength bow. Even the tenth princess of Qianlong could draw a ten-strength bow, making Yongzheng seem quite weak.

After ascending the throne, Yongzheng delegated major events like the Mulan hunt to Thirteenth Brother Prince Yinxiang, showing his lack of interest in such activities.

Of course, this also demonstrated Yongzheng's trust in Yinxiang.

However, Yinqi's performance during the hunt surprised An Qing. He was only slightly behind the Crown Prince, far surpassing Third Brother Prince and Fourth Brother Prince.

An Qing knew Yinqi was skilled but chose to hide his abilities, avoiding competition with his brothers. She had noticed this over the past year, especially since historical records claimed Yinqi was poor in Chinese literature, which was not entirely true. Confucian classics were not a challenge for him.

Yet, this time, he suddenly changed his approach, performing exceptionally well during the hunt. An Qing couldn't understand why.

Little did she know, Yinqi was forced into this situation. Being watched closely by his father-in-law and three brothers-in-law, he couldn't hide his skills. Under Yideri's gaze, hiding was impossible, and he regretted not practicing more.

While the men were busy hunting, the women were also occupied, mostly with socializing.

For example, An Qing's mother, after being introduced to Concubine Yi, found a new friend. Sometimes, she even felt annoyed by An Qing's presence.

Ah~ love fades, wasn't she still their beloved daughter/daughter-in-law?

An Qing, realizing her "fall from grace," tactfully distanced herself, choosing not to bother them frequently.

The grasslands offered more freedom than the palace, so she wasn't bored.

An Qing began riding around daily, sometimes hunting small game like rabbits and pheasants, which Chunxiao would roast for her, making them delicious.

Sometimes she visited the fourth princess, but realizing she didn't enjoy such activities, she stopped insisting. The fourth princess and fourth brother prince truly were a match made in heaven, both preferring quiet pursuits.

Fourth Brother Prince had to accompany Kangxi, but the fourth princess stayed in her tent, leaving An Qing wondering why she came on this trip.

Of course, she might have had no choice.

An Qing's leisurely days on the grasslands reminded her of her unmarried life, when she often rode aimlessly, enjoying her freedom.

However, someone was unhappy—Wuritu.

Sitting gloomily in An Qing's tent, he complained, "I'm only two months younger than Temuer. Why can he participate in the hunt, but Father and Grandfather say I'm too young and would only cause trouble?"

An Qing comforted him, "Your father and grandfather are worried about your safety. In a few years, you'll be old enough to join."

Wuritu couldn't accept this. "We're sons of the grasslands, fearless of danger. Besides, Temuer's horsemanship and archery are worse than mine. Wouldn't he be more at risk?"

Wuritu couldn't understand why others his age were allowed to join while he was not.

Thinking about it made him feel discouraged.

An Qing silently sighed. She roughly understood her father and eldest brother's considerations; they probably felt that their tribe had already stood out this time and shouldn't be too ostentatious. Didn't her Third Elder Brother also hold back?

Otherwise, with her Third Elder Brother's archery and riding skills, it would have been impossible for him to remain so obscure during the hunt.

"Alright, forget about it. What's the point of thinking about him? You might as well think about what you want to do later. Today, your aunt is free, so I'll spend the day with you," An Qing said.

Wuritu immediately perked up when he heard An Qing was going to play with him. "Auntie, let's go horse racing."

Seeing the eager look on the little boy's face, An Qing raised an eyebrow. "What, you want to race against your aunt?"

Wuritu showed his big white teeth and nodded vigorously. "Yes!"

An Qing flicked his forehead. "Alright, but if you lose, no crying."

Wuritu puffed out his chest. "Auntie, you're underestimating me. Grandpa said my horsemanship has improved a lot this year. As for you, you haven't ridden much in the Forbidden City this past year. Who wins or loses is still uncertain."

An Qing chuckled. Great, this brat knows how to stir up my competitive spirit.

So, the two of them, both filled with competitive spirit, led their horses to a spacious grassland and began their race after more than a year.

At first, An Qing was confident because she had left Wuritu far behind in their race last year. However, as soon as their horses started running, she noticed something was off—Wuritu could keep up with her closely.

In the past, this had never happened. Could it be true that he had improved so much?

Indeed, by the end of the race, An Qing actually lost to Wuritu!

Jumping off her horse, she looked at him in surprise. "You've really improved a lot this year, kid."

Of course, An Qing admitted that she hadn't ridden much this year, which had affected her horsemanship, but Wuritu's improvement was evident.

Wuritu seemed equally surprised that he had won. Jumping off his horse, he looked at An Qing in disbelief. "Auntie, did I really win against you?"

An Qing patted his shoulder and smiled. "Yes, young man, congratulations on your win."

But he asked again, "Did I really win against you, Auntie?"

An Qing huffed. "Are you done yet? Are you doing this on purpose?"

She raised her fist to hit him, but Wuritu quickly dodged.

"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding." He laughed mischievously.

An Qing turned away, ignoring him. This brat always knew how to push her buttons and couldn't be allowed to get too cocky.

Wuritu grinned and moved closer to her. "Auntie, since I won against you, does that mean I can also win against Uncle Yideri?"

He was referring to Yideri.

Hearing this, An Qing glanced at him silently. "Young man, having dreams is good, but you need to be realistic. Stop dreaming!"

Wuritu wasn't pleased. "When did I dream? Uncle Yideri said he never won a race against you. Now that I've won against you, doesn't that mean I've also won against Uncle Yideri? What's wrong with that?"

"Of course there's something wrong with that."

Before An Qing could respond, laughter came from behind them. Turning around, she saw her eldest brother, second brother, and Yinqi standing there.

"How did you guys get here?" An Qing asked in surprise.

Yinqi pointed to a nearby spot and replied with a smile, "We were watching you race over there, so we came to see."

An Qing responded with an "Oh." Before she could say anything else, Wuritu couldn't contain himself.

He walked up to Robzang Lash and asked, "Second Uncle, what did you mean by 'wrong'?"

Robzang Lash shook his head and laughed. "The only person who can make your Uncle Yideri willingly lose is your aunt. You, little brat, shouldn't even think about it."

Wuritu still didn't understand.

An Qing, seeing his puzzled expression, explained kindly, "Dumb kid, don't you get it? Your Uncle Yideri lets your aunt me win."

Even her Third Elder Brother's horsemanship was unmatched, not just by her but also by her eldest and second brothers.

Wuritu exclaimed, "Then your win isn't fair!"

He looked at her with an expression of disbelief.

An Qing was speechless.

This brat needed some discipline.

An Qing looked at her eldest brother expressionlessly. "Eldest Brother, please give him a beating."

Wuritu, seeing the situation, exclaimed, "Auntie, what are you doing? We're just talking. Why are you asking my father to beat me?"

He glanced warily at his father and instinctively took a few steps back, clearly having experienced this before.

Everyone couldn't help but laugh at his reaction.

"What are you all laughing about so happily?"

As if on cue, Yideri appeared, accompanied by a young man dressed in Mongolian riding attire.

As they approached, Abulatang introduced Yinqi. "This is Muren, the legitimate prince of the Yirgenjueluo clan and Yideri's good friend."

The Yirgenjueluo clan was one of the eight prominent clans on the grasslands, and Yinqi was familiar with them. He had seen Muren from afar when his father met with Mongolian nobles, but he hadn't known Muren was friends with Yideri.

Muren, upon seeing Yinqi, was initially stunned, then placed his right hand on his chest and bowed in the traditional Mongolian manner.

Yinqi nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Muren turned to greet Abulatang and Robzang Lash, then smiled at An Qing: "Princess An Qing, it's good to see you again."

An Qing nodded with a smile, "Prince Muren, hello."

Chapter 56: The Fifth Princess

"Little Uncle, you're lying!" Wuritu finally seized the opportunity to complain after everyone had greeted each other.

He had just been disappointed, thinking he could win against his little uncle if he won against his aunt.

Yideri was completely clueless about what had happened. Seeing the little boy pouting angrily, he asked in confusion, "What are you talking about? When did I lie to you?"

Wuritu huffed, "Didn't you say you never won a horse race against Aunt? You're lying!"

Yideri still seemed bewildered, "I really haven't won."

Wuritu glared at him with a face full of grievance, "You still won't admit it! Aunt told me you were letting her win!"

Yideri responded with an "Oh," clearly not considering it a big deal, "Regardless of the reason, I've never won. How is that lying?"

Wuritu's head spun, suddenly feeling his little uncle made a good point, but... that wasn't what he wanted to say.

An Qing saw the uncle and nephew were on different wavelengths and couldn't help but rub her forehead. She quickly explained the situation to prevent them from arguing pointlessly.

Upon hearing that Wuritu had won against An Qing, Yideri immediately gave him a light tap on the head, "Brat, can't you be more sensible? Why did you have to win against your aunt?"

Wuritu exclaimed, "Why can't I win against Aunt?"

His horsemanship was better than hers; winning was only natural. Otherwise, why practice so hard?

Yideri snorted, "Brat, you think you're so great, huh? Ask your father and your second uncle if they ever won against your aunt."

Wuritu turned to look at Abulatan and Robzang Lash, who both shook their heads.

Wuritu: "..."

An Qing pulled Wuritu over and said exasperatedly, "What are you doing? Don't make it seem like I can't handle losing."

Her words drew teasing looks from the three brothers.

An Qing coughed lightly, feeling a bit uncomfortable and avoiding their gazes.

Well, she admitted there was a time when she couldn't handle losing, but back then, she was just a child. It was normal to throw tantrums.

But now, as an elder, she glared threateningly at the three, signaling them to give her some respect in front of the younger generation.

Besides, there were others present—Yinqi and Muren.

The three brothers exchanged looks of resignation but didn't expose her, as if used to her behavior.

An Qing's silent exchange with her siblings might fool Wuritu, but not the two adults nearby.

Yinqi smiled at An Qing, realizing that her lively nature stemmed from being nurtured by her family. Despite her noble birth, she empathized with common people and actively helped them.

She was like a peony blooming freely on the grasslands—elegant yet down-to-earth.

In Imperial City, seeing how well An Qing adapted to palace life without complaint, Yinqi often felt she didn't belong to Horqin, much like many women in the palace who had grown accustomed to the confined world of the inner quarters.

But watching her ride so freely in red Mongolian riding attire, he realized she yearned for freedom.

Muren, standing beside him, also watched An Qing quietly. His eyes held a smile, but a closer look revealed a subtle emotion he kept well hidden.

Yideri and Muren were heading to the wrestling grounds and only stopped briefly to greet everyone before leaving.

For some reason, An Qing felt Muren's gaze was peculiar as he left, though she dismissed it as her imagination.

An Qing turned back and noticed Yinqi deep in thought, asking, "What's wrong?"

Yinqi snapped out of his reverie and smiled, shaking his head, "Nothing, just thinking about something."

An Qing nodded and didn't press further, turning to talk to her eldest brother.

Yinqi glanced silently at the direction they had left.

If he hadn't misread it, Muren's gaze before leaving held reluctance and... regret.

Yinqi and her brothers had matters to attend to, so An Qing soon parted ways with them.

That ungrateful brat Wuritu was easily lured away by Yideri to watch wrestling, forgetting all about his aunt who had taken him horseback riding.

An Qing rode around for a while longer but found it boring, so she headed back, figuring it was time for lunch. She planned to join her mother for the meal.

On her way back, passing a small hill, she heard commotion ahead and wondered what was happening.

Approaching, she saw the First Princess being confronted by a girl in Mongolian riding attire. They seemed to be having an argument.

Deciding it was best not to get involved, she led Perilla and Cui Liu to bypass them, knowing she had no close ties with the First Princess and no need to intervene.

After rounding a small hill, they left the two behind.

Still curious, An Qing wondered what had transpired between the First Princess and the Mongolian girl. Royal etiquette demanded decorum, and public disputes were unbecoming. Given her understanding of the First Princess, she should be cautious.

The girl clearly came from a Mongolian noble family, likely a young princess from a tribe.

"My lady, that's the young princess from Tumed Left Banner, named Nabuqi," Cui Liu suddenly said.

An Qing was surprised. So it was the young princess from Tumed Left Banner. No wonder she didn't recognize her.

During the Qing dynasty, Mongolia was organized into leagues and banners. Tumed Left Banner belonged to Zuo Suotu League, while their Horqin banners were part of Jirimu League. Different leagues meant less frequent interaction among tribes.

The Tumed Mongols are divided into two banners: the Tumed Left Banner and the Tumed Right Banner. However, their lords have different lineages.

The Left Wing Banner is of the Ulianghai clan, sharing the same ancestor as the three banners of the Karachin tribe, all descendants of Jirama. The Right Wing Banner's lord, on the other hand, is a descendant of Genghis Khan, the great Khan of Mongolia, from the Borjigit clan.

In terms of ancestry, the Tumed Right Wing Banner shares the same lineage as An Qing's Horqin Mongols, both belonging to the Borjigit clan. However, they do not belong to the same branch.

The Tumed Right Wing Banner shares the same branch as the Tumed in the western city of Guihua, with their common ancestor being Altan Khan, the seventeenth-generation descendant of Genghis Khan. However, the founder of the Horqin Mongol lords is Haptu Hasar, Genghis Khan's second brother, also of the Borjigit clan.

Despite this shared ancestry, the Horqin Mongols and the Tumed Right Wing Banner have closer ties than with the Tumed Left Banner.

Therefore, An Qing had no impression of the little Princess from the Tumed Left Banner.

However, An Qing glanced at Cui Liu with some surprise. When did she become so well-connected that she even knew the little Princess from the Tumed Left Banner?

Cui Liu suddenly became mysterious and said, "Guess, my lady?"

An Qing raised an eyebrow, immediately recognizing the key word: gossip!

After all, only when discussing juicy gossip did she show such an expression, one reserved for those who love to indulge in rumors.

"I guess it must be related to Elder Brother Prince," An Qing said nonchalantly.

Sure enough, Cui Liu's eyes widened in surprise. "My lady, how did you know?!"

Then she turned to Perilla, "Sister Perilla, did you tell her?"

Perilla gave her a look of exasperation, almost too lazy to speak.

She had just found out herself. Not everyone was like her, always going around to gather gossip.

An Qing flicked her forehead, indignant. "Don't blame everything on Perilla. Can't it be because your lady is smart enough to figure it out?"

Cui Liu said "Oh" but didn't press further, mainly because she was bursting to share her gossip.

"I heard that Princess Nabuchige has set her sights on the Prince of the Direct Banner. It's been rumored these past few days that the Prince will take her as his secondary consort."

An Qing showed a knowing expression. Seeing the little Princess's arrogance earlier, it was clear that Elder Brother Prince wasn't idle either; perhaps they had already taken a fancy to each other privately.

These days, she had heard that both Elder Brother Prince and the Crown Prince were actively cultivating relationships with Mongolian princes and nobles.

Especially Elder Brother Prince, who was revered by the Mongols for his military achievements. Mongolian women, in particular, admired heroes.

Moreover, Elder Brother Prince excelled in archery and horseback riding. During the recent hunt, he ranked first among the princes and even defeated several Mongolian princes in wrestling, garnering much attention.

Thinking about it, An Qing couldn't help but remember the slightly pale face of the main consort. She had wondered why the main consort insisted on coming to the frontier despite her illness. Now it seemed she had anticipated this situation.

An Qing shook her head, wondering why she bothered.

What could be more important than one's health? If she overexerted herself, wouldn't it be counterproductive?

Besides, if a man truly wanted to marry someone, how could she stop him? It was clear that Elder Brother Prince's interest in the little Princess was not purely romantic but rather strategic, aiming to gain support from the Mongolian tribes.

A secondary consort position could secure the support of a Mongolian tribe, a very advantageous deal for someone like Elder Brother Prince, who aspired to rise higher.

Likewise, the Crown Prince was likely not idle either. Though he lacked the martial prowess of Elder Brother Prince, he was the heir apparent of Great Qing. If he wanted to cultivate relationships with Mongolian nobles, many would eagerly offer their daughters to join his harem.

For many Mongolian tribes, marrying into the royal family meant extending imperial favor and consolidating their power, a tremendous benefit.

However, both Elder Brother Prince and the Crown Prince's plans were likely to fail. An Qing knew that regardless of their intentions, Kangxi would not allow it.

If a prince in Imperial City formed a marital alliance with a Mongolian tribe, it would be easier for him to court other tribes, using the allied tribe as a bridge.

An Qing's father understood this, which is why their Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner had deliberately avoided private interactions with other Mongolian tribes to avoid arousing Kangxi's suspicion regarding their relationship with Yinqi.

An Qing sighed at the actions of Elder Brother Prince and the Crown Prince.

While the leader was still strong, the young wolves were already stirring. She wondered what Kangxi thought of this.

Kangxi's reaction was unknown, but anger was certain.

Inside the yellow tent, Kangxi's face darkened after hearing the report from the chief eunuch of the Zhan Gan Office. The eunuch inwardly groaned but dared not breathe heavily.

The Zhan Gan Office was Kangxi's intelligence agency, responsible for gathering information and executing secret missions.

Since arriving at the Mulan Hunting Grounds, Kangxi had ordered them to monitor the princes and Mongolian nobles. The chief eunuch had just reported on Elder Brother Prince and the Crown Prince's recent private meetings with Mongolian nobles.

After a while, Kangxi finally spoke, "What about the other three?"

The chief eunuch immediately understood whom Kangxi referred to. "Prince Cheng is close to the Crown Prince and accompanied him to meet some people. Beile Four and Beile Five showed no unusual behavior. Beile Five did not interact with the princes of Horqin Central Banner."

Horqin Central Banner was the Empress Dowager's maternal family. The Emperor had specifically instructed them to watch their interactions with Beile Five, hence the separate mention.

Kangxi lightly acknowledged, then asked, "How are the Dai Bu family of Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner doing lately?"

The chief eunuch replied, "Prince Dai Bu and his eldest son met with Beile Five a few times, and their interactions with other Mongolian nobles were normal, showing no unusual behavior. Prince Robzang Lash spent most of his time with officials from the Agricultural Administration Department, discussing wheat cultivation. Sometimes Beile Five was present. As for Prince Yideri, he often went horse racing and wrestling with friends, but there were no new acquaintances."

Kangxi nodded, seemingly satisfied, as his expression softened.

The chief eunuch hesitated, then said, "However..."

"What is it?" Kangxi frowned.

The eunuch hurriedly replied, "It seems that Prince Dai Bu does not hold Beile Five in high regard."

Kangxi was surprised, "Explain clearly."

The eunuch recounted their observations, revealing that Dai Bu and his sons privately expressed dissatisfaction with Yinqi as a son-in-law, though it was more a case of a father-in-law/brother-in-law growing increasingly fond of the son-in-law/brother-in-law.

"Old bastard Deb, he even looks down on My son!" Kangxi suddenly laughed in anger, his protective nature immediately showing. "How dare he, his daughter is also..."

Kangxi was about to retaliate by criticizing his daughter, but then he thought of An Qing and promptly held back.

Well, that old bastard Deb's daughter is indeed not bad.

Though Kangxi is protective of his own, he isn't one to twist the truth. Especially since An Qing is someone he genuinely approves of, he could only silently swallow this indignation.

However, after his initial protective reaction, Kangxi calmed down and began to see Deb's actions in a different light.

Their disdain for Yinqi as a son-in-law suggests they don't have any ulterior motives; otherwise, they would be scrambling to curry favor. It seems Deb truly cares for his daughter.

Most importantly, they are all capable individuals worth relying on.

The eunuch reporting to Kangxi observed his reactions and couldn't help but marvel inwardly. The family of the Fifth Princess Consort is no ordinary bunch.

Since the Emperor granted their marriage last year, he has had the Qianjian Office keep an eye on Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner. Their performance over the past year has clearly earned the Emperor's approval.

Moreover, before the Fifth Princess Consort resolved the 'Green Wind Disease' issue and provided methods to prevent frost damage to wheat, the Emperor withheld rewards, instead observing the Deb family closely. This was clearly a test.

Clearly, both the Fifth Beile and the Fifth Princess Consort, as well as Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, have passed the test.

While it's hard to tell much about the Fifth Beile yet, Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner is likely to rise in prominence.

During this year's Mulan Autumn Hunt, Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner stands out among the Mongolian tribes. Over the past year, their daughter married the current Fifth Prince, and their two sons were assigned important tasks by Kangxi, which they performed exceptionally well.

Most importantly, the daughter who became a princess consort caught Kangxi's eye. The words Kangxi spoke in the camp about giving credit to Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner and the Deb family have spread widely, leading many to speculate that the Emperor will bestow significant rewards.

Some envy them, while others are jealous, despite the Deb family's efforts to remain low-key. There are always those who can't stand it and look for trouble.

Indeed, just as Yideri and Muren left the wrestling arena, they encountered their arch-nemesis, Tondo, the young prince of Horqin Left-wing Front Banner.

They've been at odds since childhood, and whenever they meet, there's always a confrontation, ranging from verbal sparring to physical fights.

Yideri remembered his father's advice not to stir up trouble and tried to pull Muren away, but Tondo wasn't about to let him go easily, stepping right in front of him.

"Well, if it isn't Yideri. Weren't you supposed to be farming? What are you doing here at the wrestling arena? Can you still wrestle?" Tondo sneered.

Yideri clenched his fists, wanting nothing more than to punch Tondo, but remembering his father's words, he restrained himself.

"What does it matter to you whether I can wrestle or not?" he said expressionlessly.

Seeing Yideri's calm demeanor, Tondo grew even angrier.

In fact, their rivalry stems not only from mutual dislike but also from similar backgrounds.

Both are young princes of Horqin Left-wing Front Banner and Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, respectively. Both banners have received similar treatment over the years, neither being particularly favored by the Qing court. They each had only one marriage alliance with the Qing court during the Shunzhi era and only one Zha Sa Ke Jun Wang title.

So, these two equally matched rivals couldn't stand each other. But recently, Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner's sudden good fortune—marrying their daughter to the Fifth Prince and having their sons assigned important tasks by Kangxi—has made it clear that the banner is now favored.

Especially with rumors of significant rewards spreading, Tondo's father constantly compares him unfavorably to Yideri, saying they are of similar age but Yideri is more accomplished.

Hearing this, Tondo always wants to fight Yideri, but hasn't seen him around lately. Today, finally encountering him, he couldn't miss the chance.

Muren understood Yideri's reluctance to cause trouble and stepped in front of him, saying, "Tondo, we don't want trouble, but we're not afraid of it either. If you insist on picking a fight, I'll be your opponent."

Seeing Muren step in front of Yideri, Tondo grew even more furious. "Yideri, are you even a man? Hiding behind others, what kind of skill is that?"

Yideri remained unusually calm. "Whether I'm skilled or not is not for you to decide. I won't fight you today. If you really want to fight, go ahead and fight Muren."

Seeing Yideri refuse to engage, Tondo grew even angrier, ready to jump into action. His companions quickly intervened, "Enough, Yideri doesn't want to fight. If you force it, we'll be in the wrong. If this gets big, your father won't spare you."

If Yideri had engaged, a fight would be normal, as fighting is common among the men of the grasslands. But if one party refuses and the other insists, it becomes trouble.

If it escalates and reaches their parents, the instigator would be at a disadvantage. Moreover, this is happening in Mulan, where Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner is currently favored by the Emperor. With a prince brother-in-law, Horqin Left-wing Front Banner would surely suffer.

Tondo understood this and reluctantly swallowed his anger, watching Yideri and Muren walk away.

Left alone, Tondo grew even angrier. His companion consoled him, "Don't be angry. Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner is in the spotlight now. Let's avoid them for now. Better safe than sorry."

Tondo scoffed, "What do they have to be so arrogant about? I don't believe they'll get a higher title or anything. Ridiculous, I've never heard of anyone getting a title just for farming."

His companion nodded in agreement, "That's true."

The people of the Mongolian tribes have always been nomadic and don't value farming. They genuinely believe it's not a big deal.

Thus, many Mongolian nobles, upon hearing rumors of rewards for Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, didn't take it seriously.

After all, how significant could rewards for farming be?

Chapter 57: The Fifth Princess Consort

After leaving the wrestling field, Yideri appeared unusually calm, as if he hadn't been affected at all by his arch-rival Tondo.

Muren couldn't help but be surprised; he had never seen Yideri act this way before.

In the past, whenever he encountered Tondo, even when he had the upper hand, Yideri would still be furious for days. This time, he hadn't even accepted Tondo's challenge.

For the straightforward approach of the sons of the grasslands, this was already a significant change.

Yideri raised an eyebrow and said smugly, "Look at how angry Tondo was just now. When I used to pin him down and beat him, he never got that worked up."

Muren thought about it and agreed, but asked curiously, "Why aren't you angry today?"

Yideri waved his hand dismissively, looking quite self-assured. "My little sister taught me a really powerful move. I didn't believe her at first, but now I'm completely convinced."

Because Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner needed to keep a low profile recently, Yideri had been avoiding Tondo. Otherwise, he feared he might not be able to resist fighting him. After learning about this, An Qing gave him a strategy.

Muren responded with an "Oh," a hint of surprise in his eyes. "What did your little sister teach you?"

Yideri replied, "She said that ignoring someone is the greatest insult and contempt. If you ignore someone you dislike, they will definitely get furious. She told me to use this tactic against Tondo."

Just like earlier, when Tondo kept provoking him, he ignored him, and Tondo became even angrier than usual. Judging from his reaction, he'd probably be angry for at least a day.

It would be great if he died of anger. Yideri suddenly realized that solving problems without using fists could also be very satisfying.

"My little sister was right. As long as I remain calm and indifferent, the other person will inevitably get even angrier," Yideri couldn't help but marvel.

Hearing this, Muren couldn't help but smile. It sounded exactly like something she would say.

That night, Emperor Kangxi didn't summon the princes to work or the Mongolian nobles to accompany him. So, An Qing took Yinqi to have dinner with her parents.

On the grasslands, meals were not as formal as in the palace. Their family gatherings weren't held in large tents with beautifully arranged dishes, but around a bonfire, eating roasted meat and drinking wine.

After lighting the bonfire, the roasted meat was placed on the fire, and the wine was brought out. Soon, the aroma of the roasted meat mixed with the scent of the wine filled the air under the starry night sky.

As night fell, bonfires began to light up across the grasslands. Everyone seemed to have made a simultaneous agreement, and the areas in front of each tent quickly became lively.

There was singing, the music of Mongolian fiddles, and laughter and joy mingling with the sounds of people.

An Qing held her cup and plate of roasted meat and squeezed in next to her father and mother.

Princess Naren shook her head helplessly. "You're married now, yet you're still so clingy."

Even though there was plenty of space nearby, she insisted on sitting close to them, just like when she was a child.

Deb snorted and said, "So what if she's married? She's still our daughter, and it's only natural for her to be clingy."

An Qing chuckled and agreed, "Exactly! I've always vowed to stick with Father and Mother forever. You can't get rid of me."

Then, pretending to suddenly remember something, she put her hand over her heart and said sadly, "Ah, is it true that once a daughter is married, she's no longer part of the family? Are Father and Mother tired of me already?"

Deb immediately defended himself, "Father isn't tired of you at all! How could Father ever be tired of you!"

An Qing instantly changed her expression, looking deeply moved. "Wah wah wah~ I knew Father loves me the most. Being Father's daughter is my greatest happiness. I want to be Father's daughter in my next life too."

"No! In every life!"

Deb, clearly a doting father, couldn't help but laugh, his eyes nearly closing with joy.

An Qing, known for her smooth talk, didn't forget her mother after pleasing her father. "Even though Mother seems to dislike me, which makes me sad, I don't dislike Mother. So, in the next life, the life after that, and the life after that... I want to be your daughter."

Princess Naren looked at her mischievous face and gently tapped her forehead. "Your mouth can charm anyone to death."

But despite her words, she clearly enjoyed being close to her daughter, evident from her loving expression.

After a bit of playful banter, An Qing suddenly felt hungry and started devouring the roasted meat on her plate.

The meat was well-cooked, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, making it very satisfying.

Most importantly, the meat itself was excellent. The whole roasted sheep was a fat, strong black sheep from the grasslands, fed on natural grass, resulting in tender and flavorful meat. A closer taste revealed a subtle herbal fragrance, reminiscent of the pure, natural ingredients of later generations.

An Qing ate happily, finishing a small plate of roasted meat in no time. Soon, another plate of freshly cut meat was brought to her, and she enjoyed it with wine, feeling very content.

However, when she took another sip of her wine, her gaze inadvertently fell on the wine jug in front of her father.

"Father, can I try a little bit of your wine?" An Qing asked, eyeing it hungrily.

Her alcohol tolerance was poor, and she usually only drank the low-alcohol mare's milk wine, which was often consumed by children on the grasslands.

The strong liquor that her father and brothers drank was strictly forbidden by her mother. Of course, there was a reason for this prohibition, given the tradition of hearty eating and drinking among the sons of the grasslands.

Around the age of thirteen or fourteen, she had once been dragged by her Third Elder Brother to sneak some of this strong liquor. She ended up drunk for two days straight, which terrified her mother, and her brother was severely punished.

Since then, she was relegated to the children's table, with no exceptions.

But An Qing, being someone who craved what she couldn't have, was drawn to her father's wine jug.

"No!" Princess Naren glared at her, warning, "Don't you know your own limits!"

An Qing hugged her mother's arm and gestured with one finger. "Just a tiny bit, I'll take a small sip and won't drink more."

Deb, however, dismissed the concern. "It's fine. Let her have a little. We're all here watching her, nothing bad will happen."

He then handed his wine jug to An Qing.

An Qing nodded eagerly, looking at the jug but not daring to touch it. "Yes, yes, I'll only have a tiny bit, absolutely no more."

Princess Naren, seeing the collusion between father and daughter, couldn't help but glare at Deb. "You just keep spoiling her."

Having said that, she pushed the wine pot toward An Qing. "You can only have a little, mind the amount."

An Qing hurriedly agreed and took the wine pot from in front of her father, pouring a small amount into her own cup very obediently, then presented it to Empress Naren for inspection.

After the empress gave a light nod of approval, An Qing then lifted the cup and took a small sip.

Hiss* It was a bit spicy but strong—just the right taste!

However, she knew her limits; just tasting it was enough. Drinking more would be too much, especially since they were at the Mulan hunting grounds. Whether in the Forbidden City or Mongolia, countless eyes were watching. If she were to get drunk for two days and two nights, she would truly become infamous.

Empress Naren, seeing her demeanor, couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head. She looked like a kitten that had just stolen some fish.

After finishing the shallow cup of wine, An Qing felt her wish fulfilled, and her mood soared even higher.

She leaned against her mother, watching the familiar and lively scene ahead. Her eldest brother and sister-in-law were chatting and laughing while eating roasted meat and drinking wine. Yinqi and her second brother were sitting together, engrossed in conversation, seemingly getting along well.

Not far away by the campfire, her Third Elder Brother was playing with Wuritu. The mischievous boy tried to wrestle his uncle to the ground, but instead, he was swiftly flipped onto the grass by his uncle.

The little guy lay on the grass, kicking his legs in frustration before getting up again, looking for an opportunity to catch him off guard.

Being surrounded by family felt wonderful.

After everyone had eaten their fill, night deepened, and the campfires on the grassland gradually went out. People began dispersing.

Once back in the tent, An Qing suddenly felt the urge to go outside and look at the stars.

Mainly because she had had a bit of wine, and now the alcohol was taking effect. Though she was still clear-headed, her brain was buzzing with excitement, leaving her without any sleepiness.

So, rather than staring blankly inside the tent, going outside to breathe the fresh air and watch the stars seemed like a better idea.

"The stars on the grassland are beautiful. Let's go out and look at them," An Qing said, looking at Yinqi hopefully.

Yinqi was taken aback. "Now?"

An Qing nodded vigorously, not beating around the bush. "I can't sleep. I want to go out for a walk."

They didn't venture far, eventually stopping on a grassy slope behind the tent.

An Qing lay down first and patted the spot beside her, inviting Yinqi to join her.

Yinqi shook his head, smiling, and held out a hand to her. "Get up for a moment, then we can lie down."

Confused but compliant, An Qing took his hand and stood up.

Just as she wondered what he was about to do, Yinqi removed his cloak and spread it on the grass. "It's cold at night on the grassland, and the ground can be chilly. Now we can lie down."

An Qing responded with an "Oh" and silently lay down, leaving half the space for him.

Wasn't this a bit rough compared to him?

An Qing reflected for a moment but quickly dismissed the thought. It didn't matter; they were children of the grassland, unbothered by such details.

They lay side by side on the grassy slope, gazing at the low-hanging sky, lost in their thoughts, neither speaking.

The night on the grassland was truly beautiful, with twinkling stars dotting the sky.

As An Qing felt herself drifting off, she shook her head. Falling asleep outside could lead to catching a chill, so she couldn't allow it.

But she didn't want to go back either, so she decided to stay awake by chatting. She also had something to ask Yinqi.

Emperor Kangxi had promised to remember her father and brothers' achievements, yet nothing had happened in recent days, making her increasingly anxious.

After all, when she accepted the rewards, she had also made a promise to cultivate wheat seeds in the future. If Emperor Kangxi reneged on his word, she would lose out significantly.

Tsk, tsk, Lao Kang's intentions were hard to fathom, so she turned to Yinqi for help.

Yinqi pondered for a moment and replied, "Your second and third brothers performed excellently in their assignments. They will likely be given important tasks in the future."

Yesterday, Minister Huang Mao personally sought an audience with the emperor, requesting to continue guiding agriculture across the Mongolian tribes. However, he admitted his limitations and suggested that your second brother take the lead.

Though the emperor did not directly agree, he seemed inclined to consider it, given Robzang Lash's evident capabilities.

An Qing nodded subconsciously.

Previously, the reclamation and farming in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner were mainly led by her, but her second brother had been involved throughout the execution and planning. Over the years, An Qing had observed that her second brother was genuinely interested in this work.

Reclaiming and farming in the Mongolian tribes was a long-term project, but doing it well could bring significant achievements, making it a good career path for him.

As for her third brother, he was interested in riding and fighting, but there were no immediate battles to fight, so he might as well take on a steady assignment for now.

"What about my father?" An Qing asked.

Her second and third brothers' achievements were due to their own efforts. Whether promoted or assigned new tasks, they deserved it.

But how would her contributions be accounted for? That day, Emperor Kangxi seemed to attribute everything to Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner and her father, so An Qing was particularly concerned about this.

"Emperor Father always rewards and punishes fairly. Your previous accomplishments were significant, so the rewards should be substantial, but I can't predict the specifics," Yinqi replied truthfully.

The 'Qingfeng disease' had been definitively solved, and though the methods to prevent wheat frost damage and increase yield had yet to show results, officials like Huang Mao and those from the Agricultural Administration Department had been studying An Qing's notes daily and found them immensely beneficial. The emperor had noticed this as well.

An Qing nodded thoughtfully, realizing this was indeed her concern.

Emperor Kangxi never acted without concrete results, but farming required time to see tangible effects. Just like the Qingfeng disease, which took months to confirm its resolution, the wheat cultivation would need until next June to show real results.

Even if Emperor Kangxi believed her now, the credit would likely be halved.

Without beating around the bush, An Qing asked, "Do you think there's a chance of a promotion in rank?"

She had been plotting this all along. This year was the thirty-seventh year of Kangxi's reign, still in the early stages of the Nine Princes' Struggle for Succession. At this point, Lao Kang's suspicion and sensitivity hadn't reached severe levels yet, so she thought it best to solidify things before needing to avoid suspicion entirely.

After all, no matter how many rewards Kangxi bestowed, none could match the significance of a Prince's title.

It was important to note that in the Great Qing, unlike the principle of reduced titles for imperial family members, Mongolian Prince and Duke titles were generally hereditary without reduction. In other words, unless there was a grave offense leading to demotion, these titles would extend to future generations.

Yinqi was taken aback and turned to look at An Qing. Only then did he realize what she had been planning.

"What, surprised by me?" An Qing smiled.

Yinqi didn't deny it, "A bit."

An Qing's father held the title of Duke. If promoted further, it would be to Prince, the highest rank.

However, Yinqi then thought about it. Whether it was curing Qingfeng's illness or increasing wheat yields in cold conditions, both had been long-standing problems across dynasties, even categorized as natural disasters. But now they were solved, which was a significant contribution to the nation. If these achievements could be attributed to her, they indeed warranted a title.

But he felt this might not work; it depended on his father's opinion.

Thus, Yinqi began to think seriously, "But your previous accomplishments were considerable. Father is hesitant with rewards, fearing they might not match the deeds. If he wants to give a substantial reward, promoting your father's title is a viable option."

"However, Father has always been cautious with titles. In recent years, he hasn't granted any new Prince titles to Southern Mongolia. Even with Northern Desert Mongolia, where alliances were necessary, few Prince titles have been awarded..."

The existing Prince titles in Southern Mongolia were mostly granted during the early days when the Great Qing needed Mongolian support, a strategy to win over various Mongolian tribes.

After hearing Yinqi's words, An Qing understood that while it was possible, the chances weren't high.

She pondered for a moment and tentatively asked, "What if I added more leverage?"

This question left Yinqi stunned.

More leverage? What leverage?

Could she possibly have... more leverage!

Yinqi paused, recalling something, and suddenly asked, "Is it related to your estate..."

That day, when Father mentioned visiting her estate, he noticed An Qing seemed hesitant, as if she wanted to say something but was interrupted. He found it strange and intended to ask her later, but he had been too busy and forgot.

Turns out, there really was something.

An Qing nodded lightly; her leverage was indeed on her estate.

When Kangxi suddenly mentioned visiting her estate, she wanted to bring it up but hesitated slightly, and he changed the topic.

Of course, she was also uncertain, having not personally visited the estate since arriving on the grasslands.

"So, what is the leverage?" Yinqi asked.

An Qing scratched her head and replied, "Actually, nothing much, just growing some sweet potatoes."

Hearing it was sweet potatoes, Yinqi wasn't surprised, but he instinctively knew it couldn't be just growing sweet potatoes.

"Can it increase yield?" he asked.

An Qing shook her head, "No, just regular yield."

Sweet potato yields were already quite high, typically reaching 700 to 900 pounds per acre, and in some areas, even exceeding a thousand pounds.

Yinqi remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

An Qing pursed her lips and said, "I solved the problem of storing sweet potato vines through winter in the north."

Yinqi: "..."

Indeed!

He knew it couldn't be just growing sweet potatoes!

Yinqi realized he was becoming increasingly calm in response to An Qing's shocking revelations.

Sweet potatoes were introduced to China during the Ming Dynasty's Wanli era but were mainly grown in coastal regions of Fujian and Guangdong. During the early Qing, they spread inland from the coast but were primarily cultivated in southern regions.

The reason they weren't promoted in the north was the unresolved issue of storing sweet potato vines through winter.

When An Qing was in Horqin, she led her tribe's herdsmen in farming to solve their food shortages. She immediately thought of growing sweet potatoes, a high-yielding crop adaptable to various climates.

Historically, it wasn't until the Qianlong era that the problem was resolved with the introduction of cellar storage techniques.

So, An Qing relied on her foresight and started researching cellar storage methods. However, lacking detailed knowledge from the modern world, she could only experiment on her estate over the years.

In fact, she nearly succeeded two winters ago, falling short by just one step. But last year, after marrying into the Forbidden City, she couldn't oversee it herself and entrusted it to her second brother.

This was why she asked her second brother to take care of it on her estate last year.

Fortunately, the sweet potato vines survived the winter, and in spring, she instructed her brother to plant them.

Therefore, Kangxi would likely see the harvest when he visits.

As for whether the stored vines affected the yield, An Qing had people dig some up a few days ago, and the yield was unaffected.

This was why she hadn't mentioned it to Kangxi earlier. As an agricultural researcher, she valued precision, and secondly, serving the emperor was like walking on thin ice. Without complete certainty, presenting it to Kangxi could backfire, making it counterproductive.

After all, gaining favor was difficult, but losing it was easy.

Chapter 58: The Fifth Princess Consort

An Qing thought even deeper. Today, her second elder brother mentioned to her that he wanted to promote the cultivation of sweet potatoes among the Mongolian tribes in the future and asked if it was feasible.

Of course, it was feasible. The food shortage crisis among the Mongolian tribes has always been a headache for the Great Qing. Especially the newly-subjugated Mongolian tribes in Northern Desert, which the Qing court couldn't ignore. However, the national grain production was limited each year, and the treasury wasn't very well-stocked, making it very challenging.

Moreover, relying solely on government aid was not a long-term solution. The Mongolian tribes needed to become self-sufficient to solve the root problem.

However, although the land in the Mongolian tribes is fertile, their location is further north, and the climate is not as favorable as in the south. The winters are exceptionally cold, so the types of crops that can be cultivated are limited.

For example, when An Qing's second elder brother taught farming techniques in the Horqin banners last year, winter wheat could be planted, but its yield was still not high enough.

Although the Mongolian tribes have vast territories, they also face issues with agricultural and pastoral land use. The lush grasslands must be reserved for pastures, leaving less ideal land for farming. Additionally, extreme winter weather further complicates matters, causing significant concern.

This was a problem for Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, and naturally, for all the Mongolian tribes. Even the large areas of undeveloped land in the northern regions were mostly due to these reasons.

However, the appearance of sweet potatoes could solve this issue. Compared to other grains, sweet potatoes are highly productive and can adapt to various climates. Although they are not fine grains, if they could be cultivated in the Mongolian tribes, they could at least alleviate the food shortages and prevent starvation.

This was an immediate solution, and the key to achieving it was mastering the technique of storing sweet potato vines through the winter.

An Qing and Yinqi understood this, and Emperor Kangxi would understand it too.

So, if she presented this method now, even if Emperor Kangxi hadn't seen the practical results yet, half the credit would still be hers, adding to her previous contributions, increasing the possibility of her father being promoted.

"Should we tell Father Emperor first?" An Qing asked.

Emperor Kangxi had already mentioned visiting her estate, and if she didn't mention it, it would feel like withholding information.

After all, not all surprises are pleasant. If Lao Kang were to feel that she deliberately withheld information amidst his joy, it wouldn't be good.

Yinqi nodded and said, "We should indeed inform Father Emperor first."

But how and when to say it was crucial.

"I'll handle this. I'll find an opportunity to talk to Father Emperor," Yinqi said.

An Qing had no qualms about this. "If I can't trust you, who else can I trust?"

They were already on the same boat, and without basic trust, they couldn't be allies.

Yinqi smiled and agreed with a "Good."

With this pressing matter resolved, An Qing felt much more relaxed, finding the night sky even more beautiful.

Suddenly, she remembered her third elder brother's awkward inquiry earlier, and turned to Yinqi, "By the way, my third elder brother said Father Emperor seemed quite concerned about his dark complexion. Do you know what's going on?"

Yideri's original words weren't exactly like that. He asked if the Forbidden City's standards of beauty for men were different from those on the grasslands. An Qing was confused by his sudden question and only learned about the incident in Emperor Kangxi's tent after probing further.

Yinqi stiffened slightly, a hint of unease crossing his face.

He hadn't expected An Qing to ask about this and became flustered, unsure how to explain.

Seeing his reaction, An Qing immediately sensed something was amiss. She had never seen Yinqi act this way before, piquing her curiosity.

She suddenly sat up, staring at him intently, determined not to let him off until he explained.

Yinqi realized he couldn't avoid it and sighed, recounting the entire story about the "Black Princess Consort."

An Qing was stunned. She never imagined such a thing could happen, feeling both amused and exasperated.

A "Black Princess Consort"? They really came up with that nickname.

No wonder her third elder brother said everyone in the tent that day seemed strange; they were just watching the show.

After her initial shock, An Qing suddenly thought of something and turned to Yinqi, "So, on our wedding night, when you hesitated to lift my veil, was it because of this?"

Yinqi's face flushed with embarrassment, his eyes darting away, confirming her suspicion.

Though he said nothing, his reaction spoke volumes.

An Qing raised an eyebrow, thinking he was quite a lookist.

Of course, she didn't think being a lookist was bad, considering she herself was a severe lookist. She had no right to criticize others.

But despite having no grounds, An Qing still enjoyed teasing him.

Her expression suddenly changed, feigning disappointment, "So, you care so much about my appearance. If I were really as dark as they say, would you...?"

Though she didn't finish her sentence, the meaning was clear. Her hesitation only amplified her apparent disappointment.

An Qing secretly gave herself a thumbs-up, impressed by her acting skills.

Sure enough, Yinqi panicked immediately and hurriedly explained, "No, don't misunderstand. That day, I was influenced by my brothers and feared losing composure, so I hesitated to lift your veil. It wasn't because I disliked anything about you."

An Qing couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, surprised by his reason.

However, she quickly seized the key point, "So, you believed the rumors, didn't you?"

Yinqi choked, unable to refute, "But I'm not someone who cares about looks. I've never been like that. You can ask Mother."

After all, his mother once suspected he couldn't distinguish between beauty and ugliness.

An Qing tried hard to suppress her laughter, but Yinqi's earnest explanation was too amusing. She finally burst out laughing, collapsing into his arms.

"Hahaha, too funny! I was just teasing you. Don't worry, I never thought you cared about looks, hahaha..."

Yinqi was taken aback, seeing her shoulders shaking with laughter. He breathed a sigh of relief and shook his head helplessly.

"So, since you're so obsessed with looks, if I were ugly, would you dislike me?" he murmured.

An Qing's laughter abruptly stopped, and her shoulders ceased shaking. The wild look she had just moments ago vanished.

Yinqi watched her quietly, clearly waiting for her response.

An Qing felt as if she had hoisted herself with her own petard. She chuckled twice in a rather fawning manner and said, "I wouldn't be disgusted, of course. I'm not that kind of person."

Though she was a bit of a face fanatic, she would never despise someone based solely on their appearance. Liking someone was a personal preference, but judging them by their looks was a matter of character.

However, it was certain that if Yinqi were average-looking, he wouldn't be as pleasing to the eye as he is now.

Yinqi looked at her with a half-smile, clearly understanding the implications of her words.

Although An Qing felt a bit guilty inside, she always believed in maintaining dignity even when losing. So, she managed to hold her ground.

"Anyway, we're both lucky. Look, my mother didn't make me as dark as Third Elder Brother, and your mother did a good job with you too. So, let's not dwell on these hypotheticals; they're meaningless and hurt feelings."

After saying this, she gave him a disapproving look, as if to say, 'This time it's okay, but not next time.'

Yinqi: "..."

Who started making assumptions first?

After turning the tables, An Qing felt she had regained control and quickly changed the subject. "On such a beautiful night, let's watch the stars."

With that, she lay down, muttering about how pretty the stars were on the grassland and urging him to look up.

Yinqi chuckled softly, shook his head, and lay down beside her.

The night on the grassland was peaceful and serene, calming their hearts. For a while, neither spoke, simply gazing at the countless stars in the sky.

Earlier that evening, Yinqi had been dragged into drinking contests by Yideri and the others. He hadn't felt anything then, but now he felt a bit tipsy.

Under the influence of alcohol, his thoughts wandered. He turned to look at An Qing and recalled Muren's gaze before he left earlier that day.

Why was there reluctance? What was he regretting?

By instinct, Yinqi vaguely understood Muren's feelings, but he knew it had nothing to do with An Qing. From their reactions, it seemed Muren harbored one-sided feelings.

Yet, he couldn't help but think about it, couldn't stop caring.

Yinqi silently exhaled, his heart racing as he saw An Qing's profile under the moonlight. Perhaps... he knew the reason.

The next day, when An Qing told Yideri the real reason, he was stunned and took a long time to recover.

So, he had gained a reputation in Imperial City because of his dark skin?

Yideri didn't know what to say. Now he understood why the princes and Manchu nobles' sons had looked at him strangely when he visited Imperial City to escort a bride. It all made sense now.

"Little Sister, I've held you back," Yideri said guiltily.

He didn't care much about his own appearance, but he felt guilty that An Qing had been misunderstood due to him, being called 'Black Consort' and such by people in the Forbidden City.

"Hmph! I've never seen a woman as fair as my little sister."

An Qing smiled and replied, "No, no, don't say that. If it weren't for Third Elder Brother letting me have all the nutrients in Mother's womb, I wouldn't be this fair. I owe it all to you."

Yideri knew An Qing was comforting him; she had always said this since childhood. But he still felt happy every time he heard it.

If it meant his little sister could be fair, he'd be as dark as he needed to be.

Seeing Yideri staying in today, An Qing was curious. "Third Elder Brother, why aren't you out today?"

Ever since they arrived at Mulan, Yideri had been running around nonstop. This was unusual for him.

Yideri waved his hand weakly. "Don't mention it. Muren was called away by his mother this morning to meet some relatives. Going out alone isn't fun."

They had planned to go horseback riding and hunting, but now those plans were ruined. So, he came to spend time with his little sister.

An Qing responded with an "Oh," then suddenly became mysterious. "Third Elder Brother, do you know why Muren was called away by his mother?"

Yideri shook his head. "No idea. His attendant only said he had something to do but didn't specify what."

An Qing grinned and raised an eyebrow. "I know. He was probably called to meet a girl."

Yideri was taken aback. "Ah? Meet what girl?"

An Qing rolled her eyes and said impatiently, "Think about it. It must be the girl his mother wants him to marry."

A few days ago, her mother mentioned in conversation that Muren's mother had found a suitable young Princess from their clan, who was two years younger than Muren but already of marriageable age. Today was likely the meeting.

"That can't be true. Why hasn't Muren mentioned it?" Yideri said incredulously.

And yet, he... Yideri glanced at An Qing, hesitating.

An Qing didn't notice his odd behavior and smiled. "Why not? Muren is our age, so it's natural for him to start thinking about marriage. Maybe he's just embarrassed to talk about it."

After all, boys at this age tend to be shy.

"When I see Muren next, I'll definitely ask for some wedding candy," she laughed.

Hearing this, Yideri hesitated and said, "Little Sister, maybe you shouldn't bring it up next time."

An Qing looked at him, puzzled. "Why not?"

Because Muren and Yideri were friends, she had interacted with him quite a bit before her marriage. Asking for wedding candy wasn't unreasonable. Why couldn't she?

Yideri sighed, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Little Sister, you really don't know?"

An Qing exclaimed, "Know what?"

Yideri scratched his head, seemingly at a loss for words. After a long moment, he finally said, "Actually, you were almost engaged to Muren before."

An Qing: "!"

There was such a thing?

How come she had no idea about it?

Yideri didn't hide anything further and explained the matter in a few words.

It turned out that before the imperial marriage decree, her parents and Muren's parents had mutual intentions to arrange a marriage. However, before they could even seek her opinion, Emperor Kangxi suddenly issued the imperial decree, and the matter was left unresolved.

An Qing suddenly felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. After coming of age, she knew her parents had been considering potential matches for her, but she had been preoccupied with the estate and hadn't paid much attention. She never expected there would be such an incident.

However, thinking about it, it seemed quite normal. According to her parents' wishes, they wanted her to marry into a noble family on the grasslands, where they could keep an eye on her and ensure her safety.

From all aspects, Muren was indeed a good candidate. The families knew each other well, and he was one of the few outstanding young men on the grasslands, with a prestigious background. His character and appearance were excellent, so it made sense that her parents liked him.

But, as fate would have it, things didn't work out.

"Third Elder Brother, thank you for reminding me. When I see Muren next time, I won't mention it to avoid any awkwardness," An Qing said.

She didn't take it too seriously, assuming it was just the parents' wishful thinking. After all, they hadn't even reached the stage of discussing the engagement, let alone meeting Muren.

"Besides, it's not a big deal since it's already in the past. Muren probably wouldn't even remember it," she added.

Seeing his sister's nonchalant attitude, Yideri couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Others might not know, but he suspected that Muren wasn't indifferent to his little sister. After all, the initial proposal came from the Wang family through his father, and Yideri always wondered if Muren had something to do with it.

However, after the imperial decree, he stopped investigating.

Whether or not it was true, it didn't matter anymore.

"Third Elder Brother, what kind of woman do you like?" An Qing asked casually.

That day, her mother and sister-in-law were discussing his marriage when they mentioned Muren. Her mother was worried about finding a suitable match for her Third Elder Brother.

It was said that after her marriage, her mother had introduced many girls to him, but none of them worked out. Her mother often lamented that he had bad luck in marriage.

Yideri scratched his head and replied, "I don't know. As long as she looks nice, I guess."

An Qing rolled her eyes, "Third Elder Brother, you need to have some criteria. How can Mother choose for you without knowing what you want?"

Thinking about this, Yideri sighed, "Little Sister, spare me. Every time I go to Mother, she nags me about it. I'm afraid of her nagging."

Seeing his distressed expression, An Qing shook her head.

But she couldn't help feeling a bit smug. It seemed that the Manchu-Mongolian alliance had its benefits; at least she didn't have to worry about marriage like her Third Elder Brother.

After careful consideration, Yinqi decided it was best to inform his father, Emperor Kangxi, about the sweet potatoes on An Qing's estate.

However, he couldn't do it alone, so he brought along An Qing's father and her second brother to Emperor Kangxi's yellow tent.

After their meeting, it wasn't long before Emperor Kangxi sent messengers to the Mongolian nobles, ordering them to accompany him to An Qing's estate in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner the next day.

The nobles were puzzled. What was so special about An Qing's estate in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner? After all, every noble family had several estates.

Of course, some speculated that Emperor Kangxi must have a deeper purpose, likely related to the recent rewards given to Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner.

But the exact reason remained unknown.

When An Qing heard the news, she was taken aback. Tomorrow? So soon?

She thought they would visit on their way back, which was still five or six days away.

"Is it inconvenient to go now?" Yinqi frowned, surprised by his father's urgency.

An Qing waved her hand, "No, it's the harvest season for sweet potatoes. Whether we pick them a few days earlier or later doesn't make a difference."

She was simply surprised by Emperor Kangxi's change of plans.

Hearing this, Yinqi felt relieved. If it didn't affect anything, it was fine.

The next morning, Emperor Kangxi led a large entourage, including officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Agricultural Administration Department, as well as several princes. Of course, An Qing was also part of the group, being the only woman among them.

Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner wasn't far from Mulan. Although An Qing had several estates, the one growing sweet potatoes happened to be the closest to Mulan. They arrived quickly.

Emperor Kangxi wasted no time and directly led them to the sweet potato field, pointing to the rows of sweet potatoes and saying, "Today, I've brought you here to see the sweet potatoes grown in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner."

Everyone was stunned, wondering what was so special about these sweet potatoes.

However, both the princes and the officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Agricultural Administration Department knew Emperor Kangxi well enough to realize there must be a deeper meaning behind this.

Given An Qing's previous achievements, they instinctively looked at her and Yinqi.

But the Mongolian nobles were confused.

Emperor Kangxi glanced at everyone and smiled, "What do you think about promoting the cultivation of sweet potatoes among the Mongolian nomads?"

Everyone was even more bewildered. How could sweet potatoes be promoted among the Mongolian nomads?

Currently, sweet potatoes were typically propagated using vines, but these vines couldn't survive the harsh northern winters. To plant sweet potatoes in Mongolia, new vines would have to be transported from the south every spring, which would be costly and prone to significant losses during transit.

In previous years, the government had tried transporting vines from the south, hoping to reduce costs through centralized transportation, but the Ministry of Finance eventually shelved the idea due to high costs.

Another method used in the south involved cutting sweet potatoes into pieces to grow new plants, but this method was too expensive, requiring 200-300 pounds of sweet potatoes per acre. Moreover, the process was complex, lengthy, and had low success rates, making it impractical.

So it is precisely because of this that sweet potatoes have been unable to spread in the North these past few years.

This is not only known by the officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Agricultural Administration Department, but also by the princes and nobles of Mongolia present. They too grow some sweet potatoes on their own estates for personal consumption. Therefore, upon seeing the sweet potatoes on the estate of Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, they were not surprised, assuming that the sweet potato vines had been transported from the South at a high cost.

But if they were to promote them among the herders, the costs would certainly be unaffordable.

Though the officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Agricultural Administration Department had their doubts, after a moment's thought, they seemed to realize something, and their faces all showed expressions of disbelief.

The princes here were similarly stunned; they looked at An Qing, then at Kangxi.

Only the Mongolian princes and nobles were completely out of the loop. They looked at each other for a while, unable to understand why Kangxi would ask such an obviously impossible question.

Finally, Prince Darhan of Horqin Left-wing Banner and Ta stepped forward: "Your Majesty, although sweet potatoes are high-yielding, they cannot be promoted in the various parts of Mongolia due to the issue with the vine cuttings, which ordinary herders cannot afford."

Kangxi waved his hand and said calmly, "This, this Emperor is well aware of. But what if the problem of storing sweet potato vines through winter is solved?"

Everyone: "!"

What?

The problem of storing sweet potato vines through winter can be solved!

How? Who solved it?!

Chapter 59: The Fifth Princess Consort

How the problem was resolved remains unknown for now, but everyone present, except for the Mongolian nobles, had a name in mind.

They all looked at An Qing in disbelief. What else could she not do?

Under the slightly admiring gazes of the officials, An Qing straightened her back silently, unable to resist indulging in her vanity. This damned vanity—it really was quite addictive sometimes.

But these people understood that looking at An Qing wouldn't help them understand the whole story, so they quickly shifted their attention to Kangxi. The Mongolian nobles also turned their eager eyes toward him.

Kangxi finally understood how Yinqi must have felt as an insider, watching him and the ministers be stunned on several occasions.

Indeed, it felt like he was the only sober one among the drunk. It seemed this kid had some conscience, knowing to inform him beforehand this time.

Thinking about it, Kangxi gave Yinqi a rather appreciative look.

Yinqi couldn't help feeling confused. Why was his father looking at him now?

The others were even more puzzled by Kangxi's thoughts, but their faces clearly showed their eagerness.

After enjoying the moment, Kangxi decided not to keep them in suspense any longer. He gestured to An Qing's eldest brother, Abulatan, signaling him to come forward and explain.

There was a reason why Abulatan was chosen. Since both Kangxi and An Qing had tacitly agreed that her achievements belonged to Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, it made sense for Abulatan, as the eldest son of Deb and the future successor, to speak up.

Fortunately, An Qing's three brothers had often helped her with these tasks before, so they were familiar with the procedures. Plus, An Qing had already explained everything to Abulatan in detail.

Given the complexity of the sweet potato vine storage method, especially the experimental data involved, Abulatan chose to give a brief overview. For specific operations, professional guidance would be provided later during implementation.

To demonstrate more vividly, Abulatan led everyone to an old cellar. It happened to be the time for harvesting and selecting sweet potato vines for winter storage, so he demonstrated the process himself.

The principle of the storage method was not complicated—simply storing the vine cuttings in a cellar. However, the details were crucial, such as the depth of the cellar, using appropriate pesticides for disinfection before storage, the thickness of the pine needles on the cellar floor, the distance between each vine, and the amount of pine needles used as a layer between each layer of vines. These details were all determined through repeated trials by An Qing.

Moreover, controlling the temperature inside the cellar was essential. When the temperature was high, ventilation was needed; when it was too cold in winter, additional straw was required for insulation.

Abulatan demonstrated and explained while doing so. The officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Agricultural Administration Department listened intently, leaning over the cellar entrance, completely oblivious to the Mongolian nobles behind them.

Initially, the Mongolian nobles didn't take it seriously, but as they listened, their expressions became increasingly serious.

They never imagined there was so much knowledge involved in such a simple task.

In addition to the cellar storage method, An Qing had also developed a soil burial method. This method was relatively simpler, involving digging a pit in a sheltered, sunny spot with elevated terrain, laying a layer of fine sand at the bottom, placing the sweet potato vines in layers, and covering the top with straw.

This method also involved many details, such as the width and height of the pit, the thickness of the fine sand, and the thickness of the straw used to control the temperature.

Both methods had their advantages and disadvantages, and could be chosen based on local conditions. Previously, An Qing had compiled all the information, and her father had copied it, along with the records of experiments conducted over the years, and presented it to Kangxi.

Kangxi recognized An Qing's handwriting immediately, but noticed that the last part of the records from last year was written by someone else, likely Robzang Lash and Abulatan.

After explaining, Abulatan proceeded to pull out a few sweet potato plants, showing that the storage method did not reduce yield.

As the saying goes, seeing is believing. Although the Mongolian nobles traditionally did not prioritize farming, they were not foolish. They had heard that Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner excelled in farming, but seeing it firsthand made a significant impact.

The sight of the sweet potatoes before them made them realize what these meant—food for their tribesmen during harsh winters, preventing starvation.

Every winter, many livestock and nomads died due to cold and hunger. This was a common issue across Mongolian tribes, which was why An Qing had worked tirelessly to improve farming for her tribe. She wanted the elderly and children to live more stable lives without the hardships of nomadic life and to prevent deaths from hunger.

Not all Mongolian nobles had such compassion, but as leaders, they understood the importance of a thriving population.

One of Kangxi's goals was to show them firsthand the benefits of farming. In the past, his appeals had fallen on deaf ears, but now, seeing the results, they would be more willing to cooperate when experts were sent to teach farming techniques and encourage cultivation.

The nomads of Mongolian tribes were also subjects of the Great Qing. Kangxi did not want his people to die of hunger in the cold winters.

Everyone had different thoughts, but it was clear that they were all considering the implications.

Seeing the right moment, Kangxi beckoned An Qing over, "Fifth Princess Consort, come here."

An Qing was surprised, not expecting Kangxi to call her, but she quickly approached, "Your Majesty, you need something from me?"

Kangxi smiled and nodded, "Didn't you say you'd show us around your estate? Let's go."

An Qing readily led Kangxi around her estate, followed by the others.

Coincidentally, this was the largest of her estates in Horqin, located in a slightly better climate, where she had placed most of her experimental fields.

Kangxi was impressed after touring the estate.

He found that An Qing's experimental fields were well-organized, even including a dedicated pest and disease research area. No wonder she had found a way to treat the green wind disease despite having no prior experience with rice cultivation. She must have tried countless methods here.

Indeed, persistence pays off.

Kangxi looked at An Qing with admiration and then turned to Deb, "Deb, you've raised a remarkable daughter."

Though Deb was secretly pleased, he remained modest, "My daughter has always been a bit mischievous. She likes to tinker with these things, but she doesn't deserve Your Majesty's praise."

Kangxi waved his hand, pointing to the experimental fields, "Why haven't I heard about this before?"

These fields had obviously been around for years, yet Deb had kept it a secret.

Deb replied, "Your Majesty, I didn't think it was important enough to bring to your attention."

Kangxi shook his head disapprovingly, "You're mistaken. These are great talents, beneficial to the country and its people. How can they be insignificant?"

Deb bowed in apology, "I am foolish."

An Qing intervened with a smile, "Father, it's not entirely his fault. We all thought these were just small experiments, useful only for our tribe. If not for Your Majesty, we wouldn't have realized how much these could help others."

What he meant was that even if she were a thousand-mile horse, she would still need to meet her Bo Le, and her father clearly wasn't that person, but Kangxi was.

This was undoubtedly flattery, but it made Kangxi feel very comfortable.

After all, as the old saying goes: "The way of a sage ruler lies first in knowing people, second in employing them well. Knowing people leads to prosperity." Therefore, An Qing's words were indirectly praising Kangxi as a sage ruler.

"How did you come up with this?" Kangxi smiled, his expression turning serious. "Doing all this must not be easy, right?"

Such scale and dedication couldn't be simply attributed to a mere love for farming.

An Qing smiled and nodded, replying honestly, "I won't hide it from Your Majesty, it is indeed quite difficult, especially the frequent failures, which can be quite disheartening."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "But for me, doing these things just requires some effort. If it can give many families hope for survival, it would be a great merit."

Upon hearing this, Kangxi was taken aback, seemingly not expecting An Qing to say such words.

He seemed lost in thought and said, "I granted you a royal estate before. If you need to farm on the estate, you'll have to leave the palace often. From now on, when you need to leave the palace, let Yinqi accompany you."

Everyone was stunned by this statement.

It was well known that those in the harem could not leave the palace at will, yet Kangxi had given An Qing the freedom to do so, albeit with Yinqi's accompaniment, which was unprecedented.

An Qing was overjoyed. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your permission!"

Kangxi raised his hand, signaling her to rise.

Then, he glanced at Liang Jiugong, who immediately understood and took out an imperial edict from a box held by a nearby eunuch.

"Deb of Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, receive the edict."

Deb was startled and quickly knelt down, followed by everyone else.

"By the grace of heaven, the Emperor decrees that Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner has achieved three major accomplishments in agriculture..."

The edict detailed An Qing's achievements in curing 'Green Wind Disease,' preventing wheat frost damage, and the current sweet potato vine winter storage technique, followed by the commendation.

"...To reward these accomplishments, Deb is hereby appointed as the Jasaq Hoshoo Prince of Horqin Left-wing Central Banner. So decreed!"

Everyone was shocked.

They actually conferred a princely title!

This...

As everyone stood in awe, Liang Jiugong finished reading the edict and said with a smile, "Your Highness, please receive the edict and express gratitude."

Deb quickly bowed to Kangxi in thanks and respectfully accepted the edict.

An Qing and Yinqi exchanged glances, both surprised that Kangxi had announced the edict today on the estate and had indeed conferred the princely title.

However, it was a good thing, and they felt relieved.

Especially An Qing, who had planned this for a long time, finally felt a sense of closure, though it also felt somewhat unreal.

Among the crowd, the most shocked were the Mongolian nobles, who looked at each other but did not show any unusual reactions due to the occasion.

Among the princes, Elder Brother Prince didn't think much of the Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner princely title. In his view, Mongolian nobles should earn their titles through military merit, not farming. He wondered what his father was thinking.

The Crown Prince, however, visibly relaxed. For him, having his father attribute the achievements of the Fifth Prince's consort to her family in Horqin Left-wing Banner was better than attributing them to the Fifth Prince himself.

Although the Fifth Prince had always been unambitious, he was raised under the Empress Dowager's care. If he gained a higher title, it wouldn't be ideal.

The Third Prince was also surprised but reacted mildly, silently marveling at how fortunate his fifth brother was. With the Empress Dowager and his mother's protection, and now a consort favored by the Emperor, his luck was truly remarkable.

Among the princes, only the Fourth Prince silently glanced at An Qing, feeling a newfound respect for her after hearing her words.

It seemed he had underestimated his fifth sister-in-law. She was a rare woman with a noble heart. If she were a man, she would surely...

Thinking this, the Fourth Prince shook his head. No, even as a woman, someone with such talent and virtue deserved recognition.

After all, her talent in farming was exceptional.

Kangxi was always decisive and efficient. After touring the estate and announcing the edict, he led everyone back to Mulan.

An Qing, having returned after a long absence, specially sought Kangxi's permission to stay on the estate with Yinqi.

After all, she didn't know when she would return next.

Her estate was sizable, with experimental fields and hundreds of acres of land, most of which she rented to nearby residents at low rates, often waiving rent during lean years, providing them with a livelihood.

Of course, these Han Chinese settlers also reclaimed some land, combining efforts to improve their lives.

Walking along the field paths, An Qing proudly pointed to a vast area of land. "All of this was reclaimed by us. Impressive, right?"

Once barren, this land had been transformed through years of hard work and cultivation.

Proud of her achievements, she began recounting past experiences, becoming a chatterbox.

Yinqi was always a good listener and enjoyed hearing An Qing's vivid stories, feeling as if he had participated in her past.

They walked and talked, covering considerable ground, but An Qing knew the area well and wasn't worried about getting lost.

Just as An Qing was boasting about her achievements, a young boy's voice called out from nearby.

"An Qing jiejie, is that you?"

An Qing was startled by the voice and turned around to see a familiar figure. She exclaimed joyfully, "Huzi!"

The little boy named Huzi, upon seeing An Qing, immediately dropped his farming tools and ran over from the nearby field.

"An Qing Jiejie, it really is you! My mother said you got married, far, far away. I thought I'd never see you again."

An Qing smiled and patted his head, asking, "Why are you working alone in the field? Where's your father?"

It was harvest time, and Huzi had just come out of a field of grain.

Huzi replied with a grin, "Father and my siblings went to another field to harvest. This one is small, so Grandpa and I are here."

Then, remembering his grandfather, he shouted towards the other end of the field, "Grandpa, Grandpa, come quickly! An Qing Jiejie is back."

Almost immediately, an old man in his sixties appeared, shuffling over. He looked at An Qing from a distance, his voice trembling with emotion, "Princess, have you come to visit?"

An Qing smiled and replied, "Yes, Uncle Li, I've come to see you."

She then pointed to Yinqi and introduced him, "This is my husband; he came with me."

Uncle Li knew about An Qing's marriage into the royal family. After all, everyone in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner knew that their little Princess had married the son of the current Emperor, a prince.

Upon seeing Yinqi, Uncle Li pulled Huzi and knelt down.

Yinqi quickly helped them up, saying, "Elderly sir, there's no need for formalities."

An Qing also helped Huzi up.

They chatted for a while, mostly with An Qing asking questions and Uncle Li and Huzi answering.

Huzi seemed fine, perhaps not fully understanding Yinqi's status, but Uncle Li felt uncomfortable.

An Qing noticed this and decided to keep the visit brief. She said, "Uncle Li, I've told the steward at the estate to give you sweet potato vines after the harvest. They'll teach you how to preserve the vines for next year. You should plant sweet potatoes again next year; they're high-yielding."

Uncle Li immediately bowed to An Qing, "Princess, your kindness will never be forgotten by our family."

The bountiful sweet potato harvest this year was well-known among the tenant farmers, but they knew the vine supply was limited, so they hadn't dared hope for any.

To their surprise, their Princess had specifically instructed them to receive the vines, clearly because she cared about their difficulties.

Watching the two leave, Uncle Li felt a sense of relief. He could tell that their Princess was doing well. Her husband, though a prince, seemed like a good person.

And the way he looked at her—there was no mistaking the affection in his eyes.

That was enough. Their Princess deserved happiness.

After walking some distance, An Qing began telling Yinqi about Uncle Li's family.

Uncle Li's family wasn't originally from Horqin; they had fled famine from within the Great Wall two years ago. Many died on the journey, and those who survived were sick, old, or young, struggling to make ends meet.

That was why she had specifically instructed the estate to give them sweet potato vines, hoping they would have more food.

"After next year, things will get better. Other tribes may not know, but our people in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner won't have to worry about starving during winter anymore," An Qing said.

Yinqi nodded with a smile.

Her words, "my husband," still echoed in his mind, making him feel light-headed and dizzy.

After walking around the estate, they returned to An Qing's experimental fields. Suddenly, she said, "Let's dig up some sweet potatoes to take back. We can have Chunxiao make candied sweet potatoes; they're delicious."

Thinking of the candied sweet potatoes, she swallowed audibly.

Seeing her eager expression, Yinqi couldn't help but laugh.

An Qing led him through a field of grain, then climbed a small slope to reach her sweet potato field.

As they walked side by side, Yinqi glanced up and saw two figures in the distance, causing him to pause.

He subtly took An Qing's hand.

An Qing was surprised and turned to look at him, "What's wrong?"

Yinqi's eyes flickered with a hint of depth, "Nothing. The path is narrow; I'll hold your hand so you don't fall."

An Qing's first thought was, "How could I fall on such a small slope?"

He was underestimating her. She wasn't one of those delicate ladies from Imperial City who never left their homes. She had been running around these fields since she could walk.

"Don't worry, I've walked this path countless times. I could do it blindfolded without falling."

But Yinqi shook his head, insisting, "Then hold my hand; I'm afraid of falling."

An Qing exclaimed, "Ah, really?"

Yinqi nodded seriously.

An Qing blinked, thinking that although he didn't seem fragile, he wasn't used to farm work either. So, she held his hand, and they walked together over the uneven slope.

Just as they reached level ground, An Qing looked up and saw two familiar faces: her Third Elder Brother and Muren.

What are they doing here?

Chapter 60: The Fifth Princess Consort

"Third Elder Brother, why are you here?" An Qing asked in surprise.

Didn't they follow Emperor Kangxi's main contingent back?

Yideri hadn't expected to run into An Qing and Yinqi either, and he was momentarily at a loss. "Muren wanted to plant sweet potatoes in their tribe, so I came along to take a look."

Muren nodded slightly, but when his gaze fell on An Qing and Yinqi's intertwined fingers, his eyes darkened.

An Qing responded with an "Oh," not giving it much thought. She turned to Muren and said, "The mountainous area west of your tribe is quite suitable for planting sweet potatoes. This crop is highly adaptable and doesn't require such high-quality soil; just ensure good drainage."

Muren smiled lightly and nodded. "Yideri said the same thing."

An Qing looked at her Third Elder Brother with some surprise, as if she hadn't expected him to know so much now.

Back then, although he often followed her around, it was mainly to help her. He wasn't particularly interested himself, so he didn't pay much attention to details and simply did whatever she told him.

Yideri proudly raised an eyebrow, clearly pleased. "Little Sister, I've been reading all the notes you gave me and Second Elder Brother."

Moreover, his assigned task this past year had been to teach farming techniques, and even if he was sometimes unreliable, he took his duties seriously.

An Qing smiled and gave him a thumbs-up, speaking to him as if he were a child. "Third Elder Brother, you're really impressive."

Even with his thick skin, Yideri couldn't help feeling a bit embarrassed in front of his friend and brother-in-law. He scratched his head and muttered, "Little Sister, I'm not Wuritu; you don't need to flatter me."

An Qing was used to her Third Elder Brother's boastful demeanor, so seeing him shy and awkward was rare, and she couldn't help laughing.

Yinqi and Muren also chuckled.

Their laughter echoed through the fields, lightening the atmosphere considerably.

"Little Sister, are you here to see the sweet potatoes too?" Yideri asked.

An Qing laughed and shook her head. "We're here to dig up sweet potatoes. We'll roast them for you tonight."

As she spoke, she started walking toward the nearby sweet potato field but was suddenly pulled back by the hand.

An Qing paused, realizing that during their conversation, she and Yinqi hadn't let go of each other's hands.

The air froze.

She quietly released his hand and hurriedly walked into the sweet potato field.

But she seemed to have forgotten what she was supposed to do and started plucking sweet potato leaves and pulling weeds aimlessly.

Indeed, when one is embarrassed, they tend to appear very busy.

By the time they returned to the encampment, it was already evening, and the setting sun cast a warm glow over the grasslands where campfires were being lit.

Emperor Kangxi was hosting a banquet ahead to entertain the Mongolian nobles and officials. Everyone had already gathered there, and Yinqi, Yideri, and Muren promptly joined them.

The festive atmosphere of the banquet spread across the entire grassland. When An Qing returned, she didn't idle and immediately got Chunxiao to help prepare the sweet potatoes she had brought from the estate.

Caramelized sweet potatoes, sweet potato cakes, sweet potato congee, and roasted sweet potatoes over a campfire—An Qing's dinner was a sweet potato feast!

Chunxiao and the others hadn't accompanied her to the estate earlier and had collected some wild vegetables nearby, like wild chicory and purslane, which they stir-fried or served as cold dishes. These simple dishes were a refreshing change from the daily grilled meat on the grasslands, and An Qing's appetite was instantly revived.

An Qing didn't eat alone. She had sent word to Concubine Yi and the Empress Dowager earlier, and once everything was ready, she brought the food to the Empress Dowager's tent.

She had initially planned to invite her mother, but her mother was invited to a small gathering by her sister-in-law's family, so she decided against it.

At Mulan, Emperor Kangxi frequently hosted gatherings with the nobles and officials, enjoying wine and meat. Similarly, the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi would occasionally lead banquets with the Mongolian princesses and consorts, fostering their own social circles.

Even the imperial princes' consorts, led by the Crown Princess, held several gatherings.

For events led by the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi, An Qing always attended. She also supported gatherings organized by her mother and sister-in-law among their relatives.

The Crown Princess's gatherings were no different; despite any discord among the sisters-in-law, they represented the royal family's image abroad and thus always showed unity.

Without exaggeration, An Qing had attended more gatherings in these few days than she had in an entire year.

Despite this, she still preferred life on the grasslands, where she could enjoy freedom and see her family whenever she wished.

When An Qing arrived, Concubine Yi had already come and was sitting with the Empress Dowager, having enjoyed several cups of tea.

"I want to see what delicious dish you've prepared, keeping it a secret from me and your Grandmother," Concubine Yi said.

An Qing didn't keep it a secret and replied directly, "Tonight, we're having a sweet potato feast. I dug them up fresh from the estate this afternoon."

With that, she gestured for Perilla to bring the dishes to the table.

"Oh, a sweet potato feast? You're quite ambitious. Let's see if you're just bragging," Concubine Yi chuckled as she approached to inspect the dishes.

An Qing laughed and grabbed Concubine Yi's arm. "Mother knows me too well; I haven't even started bragging yet, and you've already seen through me."

Concubine Yi exclaimed, "Empress Dowager, did you see how cunning this girl is?"

She tried to push An Qing away, but An Qing wouldn't let go, leading to a playful tug-of-war between them.

The Empress Dowager watched their antics and shook her head with a smile.

Once the dishes were laid out, the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi's eyes lit up.

Undeniably, after nearly a month of grilled meat, the freshness of these dishes and the sweet potato congee was a delightful change.

"Oh, these are wild vegetables." Wu Lan's eyes lit up. "The Empress Dowager was just saying today that she's tired of eating meat all the time. I was thinking of digging some wild vegetables tomorrow to help her with that. I didn't expect the Fifth Princess Consort to be so considerate and think of it first."

An Qing smiled and said, "Grandma, Mother, although these wild vegetables aren't as tender as they are in spring, they still taste quite good."

"There's also this caramel sweet potato and sweet potato cake; they're not bad either. You should all try them."

It must be said that the dishes on the table were indeed to the Empress Dowager's and Concubine Yi's liking.

The Empress Dowager particularly enjoyed the sweet potato millet porridge paired with the plate of cold marinated purslane. She drank two bowls of porridge and would have had another if Wu Lan hadn't been there to persuade her otherwise.

An Qing and Concubine Yi had similar tastes; both loved the caramel sweet potato dish. Chunxiao knew An Qing's preferences well and made it not too sweet, so it wasn't cloying.

In the end, the two of them finished the entire plate of caramel sweet potatoes together.

Although the meal was simple, it was clear that all three were very satisfied. Afterward, Wu Lan brewed a pot of fire-reducing tea, essential on the grasslands, and the three chatted while sipping it.

"What did you go to the farm for today?" Concubine Yi asked casually.

Seeing that Concubine Yi seemed unaware of what happened at the farm, An Qing briefly recounted the events there, including the news about the Emperor granting her father the title of Prince.

"What?" Concubine Yi exclaimed. "The Emperor promoted your father's title?"

An Qing nodded, then subconsciously glanced at the Empress Dowager.

After all, most of the existing princes in Horqin were from the Horqin Left-wing Central Banner. Now that their Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner had a new prince, it could be seen as a threat to the status of the Horqin Left-wing Central Banner. So, she wasn't sure if the Empress Dowager would mind.

The Empress Dowager understood An Qing's concern and smiled, saying, "The Emperor mentioned this to me. The title of Prince for your Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner is well-deserved."

Though she was also from Horqin, she had married into the Forbidden City long ago and had never involved herself in political matters. However, having lived through two dynasties, she understood more than others and knew the importance of agriculture.

Thus, the Empress Dowager naturally understood the significance of An Qing's accomplishments.

Especially the method of storing sweet potato vines during winter, which was a great benefit to the grasslands.

The Empress Dowager was also from the grasslands and hoped for the prosperity of her homeland.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager didn't mind, An Qing felt relieved.

They chatted for a while longer. When the time seemed right, An Qing and Concubine Yi left the Empress Dowager's tent.

It wasn't too late yet, and the bonfires on the grassland were still burning brightly.

Songs, laughter, and voices floated in the night sky, and the banquet was in full swing.

Despite the festivities, a solitary figure was hidden in the darkness on a hill near the camp.

Soon, Yideri also left the banquet and found his way to the hill. Seeing the lonely silhouette under the moonlight, he sighed silently.

Muren sensed someone behind him and turned around. Seeing Yideri, he was taken aback. "Why are you here? Don't you need to drink for your father?"

Today, Muren's father had just been granted the title of Prince, and everyone, regardless of their true feelings, had to make a show of respect by offering toasts.

Though Mongolians were known for their drinking prowess, when faced with equally capable drinkers in a relay battle, even Deb couldn't handle it alone. Someone needed to step in and help.

Earlier at the banquet, Yideri had taken on the role of drinking for his father, consuming quite a bit.

Yideri sat down next to Muren and waved his hand. "It's fine. My father isn't the only son he has; my older brothers are still there."

Besides, he had a son-in-law who could handle the drinking, and with Yinqi's princely status, those trying to get him drunk wouldn't dare be too aggressive.

Of course, he couldn't say that out loud.

"Why are you here?" Yideri asked, immediately regretting it. He had hit a sore spot.

Clearly, Muren was upset from the events at the farm earlier, seeing the person he liked holding hands with another man.

Muren smiled and replied, "I got a little tipsy and came out for some fresh air."

Yideri didn't believe him; Muren's tolerance was better than his own, and getting tipsy wasn't easy.

But Yideri wasn't heartless and wouldn't expose him. Instead, he simply said, "Oh," and fell silent.

The night sky over the grassland was indeed beautiful, with stars twinkling and the moon shining bright.

However, for two men who had escaped the banquet, the silence was awkward. The peak of this awkwardness was the fact that neither spoke.

Sitting there, Yideri felt like he was sitting on pins and needles but had no choice but to endure it.

Sigh. This was too difficult. If only Muren had chosen someone else to like, he wouldn't be in this predicament.

After a while, Muren looked up at the starry sky. "Alright, I won't make it hard for you. I know you've always known."

Yideri exclaimed, "Ah!" Trying to avoid embarrassing his friend, he wanted to pretend, but then realized it was pointless.

"It hasn't been that long," he said, rubbing his nose, and couldn't resist asking, "So, when did you start having feelings for my younger sister?"

Muren glanced at him and sighed quietly, "At her coming-of-age ceremony."

"What?" Yideri sat up in shock, looking at him incredulously. "That was the first time you met my younger sister!"

That was love at first sight!

Muren smiled and nodded. Indeed, it was love at first sight.

Whenever he recalled the girl with bright eyes and a radiant smile at her coming-of-age ceremony, his heart still raced.

He and Yideri had known each other since they were young, around twelve years old. During the annual autumn hunt in Mulan, they had met for the first time and become friends.

Strangely, despite visiting Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner several times over the next few years, he never once encountered An Qing.

Muren sometimes couldn't help but think that perhaps the two of them just didn't have any fate.

Yideri silently stared at him for a while, his brows furrowed so deeply it seemed they could crush a fly.

"What are you looking at me like that for?" Muren asked, puzzled.

Yideri took a deep breath and said with difficulty, "My little sister once said that love at first sight is another way of saying lust at first sight."

After saying this, he even put on an expression as if to say, 'I never thought you were such a person.'

Muren couldn't help but be taken aback and laughed, "Perhaps."

Though he said this, he knew very well in his heart that his attraction to An Qing began the moment they met, but his affection for her grew deeper over time as he got to know her better.

Or rather, Muren glanced at Yideri. Before meeting An Qing, he had already harbored some fondness for her, after all, he had heard plenty about his sister from Yideri's mouth before.

"You're pretty useless, you know. From my little sister coming of age to the imperial decree granting marriage, there were two years in between, and you didn't make a single move," Yideri said disdainfully.

"How do you know I didn't take action?" Muren shook his head helplessly.

Yideri seemed to remember something and suddenly realized, "So, your father proposing marriage to my father was because of your efforts behind the scenes?"

Muren nodded slightly.

Of course, what he did went far beyond that. Who in Mongolia didn't know that Deb of Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner doted on his only daughter like she was his own eye? And Yideri and his brothers loved their only sister even more.

So, to marry An Qing, one had to pass the test of these men, and Muren had been working hard to leave a good impression on them for the past two years, so that when his father proposed marriage, it would go smoothly.

It turned out that his efforts paid off. If not for the sudden imperial decree granting marriage, everything might have gone according to his plan. But now, it was too late to talk about it.

Yideri couldn't help but sigh silently. Indeed.

If he hadn't taken such a roundabout approach and had proposed marriage earlier, the two families might have settled the marriage sooner, and there wouldn't have been the imperial decree.

But Muren suddenly smiled in relief, "For a year, I've been thinking this way, but today I suddenly realized that perhaps this is what suits her best."

He always knew that An Qing was different from other women on the grasslands.

He had seen her teaching farmers how to plant crops in the fields, watched her work tirelessly day and night to find solutions to crop diseases, and heard her say that she wanted to grow more high-yielding crops to feed more people.

Perhaps only the royal family could protect her and allow her to pursue her dreams.

Moreover, judging from today's events, their marital relationship seemed strong, which was enough.

At this point, seeing An Qing happy was the greatest comfort for Muren.

Seeing Muren let go, Yideri also breathed a sigh of relief.

He patted Muren's shoulder and said earnestly, "Muren, it's good that you can let go, but I can't in good conscience tell you that you'll definitely find a better girl than my little sister, because no one is better than her."

Muren silently turned to look at him. Was he here to console or to upset him?

Yideri felt a bit guilty under his friend's gaze, "But I have to admit, your taste is really impeccable."

After saying this, he gave him a thumbs up, "So, we should look forward. With your great taste, you'll surely find a decent girl."

But of course, none will match his little sister, Yideri added silently.

Muren shook his head with a bitter smile.

What girl or not, he wasn't ready to consider these things yet.

In the last few days at Mulan, Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner naturally stood out the most. After the announcement of the prince's title at the estate, Kangxi formally went through the ceremony for appointing a prince when they returned to Mulan.

Thus, Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner couldn't help but be in the spotlight.

However, An Qing and her father understood that they needed to be humble when necessary but also high-profile at times like these. Clearly, Kangxi wanted them to be high-profile to inspire the Mongolian tribes, so they couldn't remain low-key.

At least not now, given the imperial favor.

As the countdown to returning to the capital began, An Qing started to cherish every moment with her parents. If it weren't for the rules, she would have slept with her mother every night.

After all, this parting meant they wouldn't see each other until next year, making her feel increasingly reluctant to leave.

But despite her reluctance, the time to depart still came, and the main force had to return to the capital.

The night before leaving the grasslands, Yinqi came out of Kangxi's tent, and Ma Xiang hurriedly ran up to him.

Yinqi glanced at him, "Why are you here? Is there something with the Princess Consort?"

Ma Xiang quickly waved his hand, "Sir, don't worry, the Princess Consort is fine."

After saying this, he looked around and hesitated, "Sir, may we speak somewhere private?"

Seeing his reaction, Yinqi frowned instinctively but still led Ma Xiang to a place where they could talk.

"What is it?"

Ma Xiang hesitated and replied, "Sir, regarding the matter you asked me to investigate, I have found some leads."

Yinqi was taken aback and stiffened, remembering the day he saw Muren's gaze on An Qing and couldn't resist asking Ma Xiang to investigate.

After giving the order, he had regretted it somewhat. Since Ma Xiang hadn't reported back for days, Yinqi hadn't pushed, and he had almost forgotten about it. He didn't expect Ma Xiang to report back today.

Seeing Yinqi's reaction, Ma Xiang suddenly felt uncertain.

Was the master actually interested in knowing or not? But then he thought about the information he had gathered and realized that perhaps it was better for the master not to know.

After a long moment, Yinqi suddenly spoke in a deep voice, "Speak. What have you found out?"

A hint of pain flashed across Ma Xiang's eyes. He took a deep breath and resignedly replied, "This servant has learned that before the Emperor granted you and Lady Fu Jin your marriage, Prince Muren's family seemed to have plans to propose to Lady Fu Jin's family."

Yinqi was taken aback, "Propose?"

Ma Xiang nodded and replied, "It is said that Prince Muren's father verbally proposed to Prince Deb, but while Prince Deb was considering it, the Emperor suddenly issued the imperial decree for the marriage, so the matter was dropped."

Since he received this task, he knew it would be a difficult one, yet he had no choice but to report truthfully. Ma Xiang also had his own bitterness to bear.

"Furthermore, this servant has also found out that Prince Muren still has no concubines or bed companions, apparently because Lady Fu Jin once said..."

Yinqi's brow furrowed slightly, "Don't beat around the bush. What did Lady Fu Jin say?"

Ma Xiang gritted his teeth and replied, "Lady Fu Jin once said that the husband she truly marries can only have her alone."