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

by Usui Takumii

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

8. 71 to 80

Chapter 71: The Five Princesses

The imperial boat arrived at the dock, where Li Xu, the Imperial Silk Commissioner of Suzhou, came to greet the entourage with great pomp and ceremony.

The position of Imperial Silk Commissioner is a fifth-grade official, directly under the Imperial Household Department, responsible for producing silk and other royal garments and supplies.

At first glance, it might not seem like a significant role—merely assisting in making clothes and providing necessities for the royal family. Moreover, the rank is not particularly high. However, those appointed to this position are usually close confidants of the emperor, and it is a lucrative post that holds equal status with the provincial governors of Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

For example, the current Imperial Silk Commissioner of Suzhou, Li Xu, and the Imperial Silk Commissioner of Jiangning, Cao Yin, are both trusted confidants of Kangxi.

As for their relationship with Kangxi, one must start with their mothers.

Kangxi had two wet nurses, Sun and Wen. When he was very young and contracted smallpox, he was sent outside the palace, where these two wet nurses took care of him with utmost dedication and never abandoned him.

The sons of these two women are Cao Yin and Li Xu, who are thus considered Kangxi's foster brothers.

Therefore, to repay the kindness of his wet nurses, Kangxi bestowed favors upon their sons, entrusting them with important positions. They have not disappointed Kangxi's trust and remain loyal to him.

However, they are not only Kangxi's confidants but also his eyes and ears in Jiangnan. While officially appointed as Imperial Silk Commissioners, they secretly monitor the local officials on Kangxi's behalf and have the right to submit confidential reports directly to him.

It makes sense when you consider that Jiangnan is a crucial tax region for the Great Qing. No wonder Kangxi places such importance on it.

Speaking of Li Xu and Cao Yin, An Qing is no stranger to them, especially Cao Yin. Even those unfamiliar with Qing dynasty history would recognize him. If not, mention his grandson, and everyone would know him.

Cao Yin's grandson is none other than Cao Xueqin, the author of "Dream of the Red Chamber." Most scholars believe that the Jia family in the novel is based on the Cao family, revealing their immense wealth during that time.

Another noteworthy point is that Wang Yingtong, now promoted to Noble Consort Wang, is Li Xu's cousin. However, An Qing heard from Concubine Yi that there is no familial connection between Noble Consort Wang and Li Xu. He merely found her for Kangxi in Jiangnan and brought her into the palace under the pretense of being his relative.

It is well known that Kangxi has a preference for Han women in recent years. Several Han concubines reside in the palace, though their ranks are not high, they are quite favored. Additionally, many nameless ladies live in the side halls of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, all selected by Li Xu and Cao Yin from Jiangnan and brought into the palace for Kangxi.

As Kangxi's confidants, Li Xu and Cao Yin wield considerable influence in Jiangnan, amassing considerable wealth over the years.

It is said that during Kangxi's southern tour in the twenty-eighth year, the Elder Brother Prince and the Crown Prince were part of the entourage. After returning, the Elder Brother Prince often hinted that the lives of Li Xu and Cao Yin were more luxurious than those of the princes.

Many people in later generations commented that Kangxi treated Li Xu and Cao Yin better than his own sons. For instance, despite accusations of misusing public funds, they remained in favor with Kangxi.

After all, even though favored ministers may have flaws, they still share a bond with the emperor. They are loyal to him, and most importantly, they pose no threat to his throne.

Kangxi, although an emperor, is human too, with his own biases. Having two loyal confidants who can serve as his eyes and ears in Jiangnan, gather intelligence, and find him beautiful women, anyone would favor them.

An Qing admitted that if she were in Kangxi's position, she might do even worse.

In fact, much of the wealth of the Li and Cao families was spent on Kangxi's southern tours, including the misappropriated public funds.

During Kangxi's six southern tours, four times he stayed at Cao Yin's residence, with all expenses borne by him. Despite Kangxi's efforts to be frugal, the royal entourage always required lavish spending.

Moreover, maintaining the dignity and grandeur of the imperial court was essential, with thousands of relatives, officials, and attendants accompanying him, all requiring substantial funds.

Apart from the extravagant reception, building palaces for Kangxi in Jiangnan was another massive expense.

Kangxi understood this well and often defended Li Xu and Cao Yin when officials accused them. He even allowed them to serve as salt commissioners of Huaihai for ten years, a highly lucrative position, to help them recoup their losses.

As the saying goes, every emperor has his own ministers. During the reign of Yongzheng, these favored ministers of Kangxi became thorns in the new emperor's side, leading to their downfall, confiscation of property, and exile.

Of course, these are events for the future.

Currently, Li Xu and Cao Yin are at the height of their glory, with their families at their peak.

Upon docking, everyone disembarked, and An Qing and the other ladies-in-waiting accompanied the Empress Dowager to the temporary palace.

Kangxi led the others on horseback, with crowds of welcoming citizens lining the route. This gesture was a way to connect with the people. All the local gentry and elders had gathered, displaying silk banners with their names and greetings.

After arriving at the temporary palace, An Qing and the others were shown to their quarters.

They had been on the boat for over a month, and although she did not suffer from seasickness, the journey was tiring. The Empress Dowager instructed them to rest and recover before attending to her.

However, An Qing, with her robust health, recovered quickly after a few hours of rest, transforming from a tired state to full energy.

She began preparing a travel itinerary for Suzhou, drawing on her experience from her previous visit. Although the modern Suzhou she knew was different from the ancient one, she still sought advice from locals in the temporary palace to finalize her plan.

However, her itinerary was never used, as when Yinqi returned in the evening, he saw her travel guide on the table and informed her that Kangxi planned to take the Empress Dowager on a tour the next day.

An Qing was puzzled. Why would Kangxi suddenly decide to take the Empress Dowager on a tour?

"Does His Majesty not need to handle state affairs?" An Qing asked curiously.

Yinqi replied, "He does, but he said the matters are not urgent and can be postponed. Accompanying the Empress Dowager first is fine."

An Qing frowned, giving him a skeptical look.

Yinqi sighed, understanding her doubt. "His Majesty always advocates ruling with benevolence and filial piety. Jiangnan values Confucian culture and filial piety, so this is a way of showing respect to local customs."

Goodness, this is just acting, isn't it? Pulling the Empress Dowager into a performance with him to win over the hearts of the people in Jiangnan and those Han scholars.

Recalling Kangxi's actions along the way, An Qing couldn't help but marvel again. Kangxi truly was a capable emperor. When passing through disaster-stricken areas, he generously distributed food; in impoverished regions, he reformed governance, earning applause from the locals. But upon entering the prosperous region of Jiangnan, he took the opportunity to showcase his filial piety.

Adapting strategies based on people and places, knowing how to blend in, he had mastered the art of winning hearts.

After finishing dinner, Yinqi, having nothing else to do, began flipping through An Qing's guidebook. It was indeed quite detailed, even specifying where the most authentic Pingtan performances were in Su Zhou.

However, when he turned to a page mentioning the Humble Administrator's Garden, he instinctively shook his head.

An Qing asked, puzzled, "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with making the Humble Administrator's Garden our first stop?"

Everyone says that the gardens of Jiangnan are the best in the world, and the gardens of Su Zhou are the best in Jiangnan. The most famous garden in Su Zhou is undoubtedly the Humble Administrator's Garden.

In her previous life, she had visited it. The pavilions stood tall, the buildings stretched out gracefully, the waters were picturesque, and the flowers bloomed splendidly, creating a scene that could be described as poetic and picturesque.

Moreover, at this time, the Humble Administrator's Garden hadn't yet been worn down by the passage of time, so it must have been even more beautiful.

Yinqi waved his hand and replied, "There's nothing wrong with it, but you probably won't be able to visit the Humble Administrator's Garden this time. Perhaps another day."

An Qing let out an "ah," about to ask why, but then she understood.

Did this mean that Kangxi didn't include the Humble Administrator's Garden in the itinerary?

"Father doesn't particularly like this garden, so Li Xu crossed it off," Yinqi explained.

An Qing blinked. She had heard rumors before that Kangxi didn't like the Humble Administrator's Garden. During his first southern tour in the twenty-third year of his reign, he visited the garden first upon arriving in Su Zhou but seemed unimpressed after touring it.

It was said that Kangxi, who usually loved to write poems and inscriptions, didn't leave any words or ink after seeing the garden.

But why? The Humble Administrator's Garden was so beautiful; did Kangxi dislike this style of garden?

That didn't seem right either. Changchun Garden was built in the style of these Jiangnan gardens, indicating that he should like them.

Yinqi shook his head and replied, "Father said that the Humble Administrator's Garden is indeed a good place, but unfortunately, it's too beautiful. Living there for too long would sap one's will."

Everything there was built beautifully, each view naturally perfect, and living in such a garden was indeed pleasant. However, it often led to indulgence and complacency.

An Qing was momentarily stunned. It was because of this!

She suddenly remembered what the tour guide had said during her visit in her previous life: whoever lived in this garden would suffer misfortune. Historically, the owners of the garden changed frequently, and their wealth rarely lasted beyond three generations. The longest any family stayed was about a hundred years.

From Kangxi's perspective, it made sense. Those who lived there indulged in comfort and ease, and the younger generation developed habits of complacency, leading to the inevitable decline of the family.

Tsk, Lao Kang really had something going for him.

Undoubtedly, with Kangxi taking the Empress Dowager on a tour, they all had to accompany them throughout.

The first stop was Tiger Hill, the top scenic spot in Wu.

An Qing felt it was indeed fitting. After all, Tiger Hill's peak period was during the Kangxi and Qianlong eras, and it had a significant connection with this grandfather-grandson duo.

Both Kangxi and Qianlong visited Tiger Hill six times during their southern tours, staying there. Additionally, several times while returning to Beijing from Zhejiang via Su Zhou, they revisited Tiger Hill.

Furthermore, the grandfather-grandson pair wrote dozens of inscriptions and couplets and composed over twenty poems at Tiger Hill.

Of course, Qianlong might have wanted to emulate his grandfather Kangxi, but Kangxi's love for Tiger Hill was genuine and pure.

An Qing remembered that the vertical plaque "Hu Fu Chan Si" at the entrance gate was written by Kangxi.

After appreciating Tiger Hill, they didn't idle for the next few days. Kangxi led everyone on a whirlwind tour, visiting the ancient temple Hanshan Temple, known for its winding paths and deep flower-filled courtyards.

Though they couldn't visit the Humble Administrator's Garden, it didn't matter. There were plenty of gardens in Su Zhou. They visited the Lion Grove Garden, Lingyan Temple, and Ruiguang Pavilion, among other famous sites.

They also dined and watched Kunqu opera at the Suzhou Weaving Bureau within the city walls and listened to several Pingtan performances.

On March 18th, coinciding with Kangxi's birthday, a grand birthday banquet was organized by local officials. People sang blessings and recited poems praising the emperor, creating a lively atmosphere.

In every place where the imperial entourage stayed, golden pavilions and painted corridors were erected, decorated with lanterns and splendid decorations.

Clearly, Li Xu and the local officials had put in great effort and spent a considerable amount of money.

After five full days of touring, Kangxi finally allowed everyone to rest.

An Qing experienced a whirlwind tour, but honestly, it wasn't very enjoyable.

To put it bluntly, they visited all the essential places and symbolically played tourist, but it wasn't satisfying. It felt more like a business inspection than a leisurely trip.

Or perhaps it was like a special forces tourism mode, not as extreme as modern-day students changing cities daily, but still far from An Qing's concept of comfortable and relaxed travel.

An Qing couldn't help but think that it was fortunate the Empress Dowager was in good health; otherwise, it would have been challenging to maintain the appearance of filial piety.

During this period, Concubine Yi had secretly complained to her that traveling with Kangxi wasn't as fun as traveling with her.

Pleased by the compliment, An Qing thought, "Of course, my principle of travel is comfort and enjoyment."

Despite her detailed planning for each stop, she remained quite casual when actually traveling. If she didn't enjoy herself, she wouldn't move on. If there wasn't enough time for the remaining itinerary, no problem; they would skip it since they started with the things they wanted to do most.

Strictly speaking, Kangxi's trip wasn't purely for pleasure. At each stop, he had to meet with locals and local gentry, essentially combining work with leisure.

While the ladies rested at the palace, Kangxi met with officials, using the last bit of time before they left Su Zhou for Hangzhou the next day.

Thankfully, she didn't have to work, An Qing thought gratefully.

But just as she muttered this, Perilla turned to look at her, "Mistress, didn't you say you wouldn't say that anymore?"

An Qing exclaimed, "Ah, when did I say that?"

Maidong couldn't help but remind her, "When we encountered the ghost wheat in Dayangliu."

An Qing suddenly realized something and immediately spat out several "tut-tuts." "I was just talking nonsense earlier. It doesn't count, it really doesn't count."

Thinking about it, she couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. The last time in Da Yangliu, she had just finished gloating over Yinqi being dragged away by Kangxi to work, when that very day ghost wheat appeared. She was still on the street when she was pulled in for overtime.

Goodness, she was busy for five whole days without a moment's rest.

Though she didn't hold an official position now, she was known to Kangxi for her skills, which carried some risk. After all, Kangxi's trip was ostensibly about promoting agriculture, so this situation was uncertain.

Moreover, An Qing had noticed that whenever Kangxi sought her out, it was usually for something tricky that would keep her extremely busy.

That wouldn't do at all. Her main task this time was to enjoy herself and travel. Now that they were finally in Jiangnan, if she were dragged back to work like an old ox, it would be too miserable.

According to the schedule, everyone thought they would continue south to Hangzhou the next day. However, that evening, Kangxi unexpectedly adjusted the itinerary, saying they would stay in Su Zhou for two more days.

With these sudden extra two days off, An Qing felt a bit lost and unsure how to arrange her time, mainly because it was so unexpected.

Should she visit the Humble Administrator's Garden?

As soon as this thought crossed her mind, An Qing immediately dismissed it. Kangxi had clearly stated that the garden could lead to indulgence; rushing there would only invite his annoyance, which wasn't worth it.

Although she didn't think a visit would cause any harm, since it wasn't a long-term stay, what mattered most was political correctness.

After all, Kangxi was the boss, and those under him, like her, were better off being cautious.

There weren't many other places to go in Su Zhou. Over the past few days, Kangxi had already taken them to see all the major attractions, though they hadn't fully enjoyed them. She didn't want to revisit them right away, at least not anytime soon.

"Maybe I'll just wander around this imperial villa," An Qing suggested.

The scenery of the imperial villa was indeed beautiful and could pass the time, but it wasn't very large, and she had already explored most of it over the past few days. Now, she wasn't sure where to start.

Sigh... before, she had no time to worry, but now with free time, she still had worries.

There was no way around it. Whenever An Qing visited a place, she always wanted to make the most of it, since she didn't know when she might return.

Seeing her expression, Yinqi couldn't help but laugh. "Didn't you complain about being tired just a few days ago? Are you recovered now?"

An Qing thought to herself, how could it be the same? With Kangxi's style of touring, anyone would get tired, especially mentally. Maintaining the demeanor of a royal consort was exhausting enough, let alone dealing with the spouses of accompanying officials.

"I've always been healthy. Even if I'm tired, I recover quickly. I've rested for half a day now," she said.

Seeing that she didn't look fatigued, Yinqi nodded slightly and suggested, "Didn't you say you wanted to see the local farmers' spring plowing? I happen to be free these two days. How about we go to the outskirts tomorrow?"

An Qing's eyes lit up. Indeed, that was a great idea.

A few days ago, while visiting Tiger Hill with Kangxi and standing on the Emperor's Pavilion, she had casually mentioned wanting to see the farmers working. She had forgotten about it herself, but Yinqi remembered.

"Sure, sure! Let's go early tomorrow and explore more. I'd love to see the crops in the south."

They settled on the plan, and Yinqi asked Ma Xiang to prepare a carriage and find a local driver.

The next morning, after having breakfast, An Qing and Yinqi set out.

However, just as they stepped out of their courtyard, they ran into Fourth Prince Yinzhen, who seemed to be heading to their courtyard to find Yinqi.

"Brother Fifth, are you going out?" Fourth Prince looked at their attire and asked.

Yinqi nodded slightly. "Yes, Brother Fourth. We're planning to visit the outskirts. Did you come here for something?"

Fourth Prince lightly responded, "Nothing important. I just thought I'd drop by since I have nothing to do today. Since you're going out, we can talk another time."

Yinqi and An Qing exchanged a glance. This was indeed awkward; they hadn't expected Fourth Prince to show up.

But he had made the effort to come, should they really send him away without even letting him in?

Even if they invited him in now, knowing they were leaving, he might not stay long, making things even more awkward.

Just as they were unsure what to do, Yinqi had an idea. He looked at An Qing, seeking her opinion.

An Qing was initially surprised but then understood Yinqi's intention. Was he inviting Fourth Prince along?

It was fine with her; it was just one more person, and Yinqi could handle it.

Seeing An Qing nod, Yinqi turned to Fourth Prince.

"Brother Fourth, if you have nothing else to do today, why don't you join us in visiting the local farmers' spring plowing?"

Chapter 72: The Fifth Princess Consort

Going to the outskirts to observe the local peasants' spring plowing?

The Fourth Prince's first reaction was naturally one of interest. Today, he happened to be free and thought that going would help him better understand the local conditions in Jiangnan.

However, just as he was about to agree, he suddenly looked up and saw An Qing and Yinqi. The words that were already on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down.

This... might not be convenient.

Seeing this, An Qing immediately understood the Fourth Prince's concern and said, "Fourth Brother, why don't you send someone to ask the Fourth Princess Consort to see if she is free today and willing to go out for a stroll?"

Hearing this, the Fourth Prince's eyes lit up, and he turned to the eunuch beside him, saying, "Supeisheng, go and ask the Princess Consort. Hurry back."

An Qing had not paid much attention to the eunuch beside the Fourth Prince before, but when she heard the name 'Supeisheng,' she was instantly drawn to him.

Ah~ So he is the famous 'Sufei' who served Emperor Yongzheng in later dramas.

Supeisheng, confused by the Fifth Princess Consort's sudden intense gaze, felt a bit uneasy. He did not recall having offended her before.

However, he knew this was not the time to dwell on it and hurriedly left to deliver the message.

When Supeisheng arrived at the Fourth Princess Consort's residence, she was idly embroidering.

"The servant greets the Princess Consort," Supeisheng bowed.

The Fourth Princess Consort raised her hand, signaling him to rise, "Why have you come? Is there something the master needs?"

Supeisheng nodded and briefly explained the situation.

"The master sent me to ask if you want to go out for a stroll."

The Fourth Princess Consort had no reason to refuse. Firstly, she had nothing else to do, and going out for a walk sounded good. Secondly, she understood her husband well; sending Supeisheng specially meant he wanted her to join them.

On An Qing's side, after Supeisheng left, the three of them standing at the garden gate seemed awkward. So, Yinqi invited the Fourth Prince inside, suggesting they wait in the house.

The Fourth Princess Consort did not delay either. After quickly preparing herself, she joined them, and the four set off together.

An Qing and the Fourth Princess Consort sat in the carriage, while Yinqi and the Fourth Prince rode horses outside.

Coincidentally, as soon as they left the palace, they ran into the Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince, who were out for fun. Upon hearing that they were heading to the outskirts, they immediately asked to join them.

Thus, what was originally a trip for two became a group of six, plus their attendants, making a total of nearly twenty people. It was quite an impressive sight.

Soon, they left the city, and the carriage slowly transitioned from the main road to the countryside paths. The scenery changed from the bustling city of Su Zhou to the fresh air of the fields, filled with the scent of earth and grass.

Today happened to be the Spring Equinox.

There is a folk saying: "Spring Equinox, Spring Equinox, plows and hoes everywhere." This indicates that it is the busiest time for spring plowing.

In Su Zhou, there are both dry fields and paddy fields. Dry fields grow winter wheat, which is entering its rapid growth phase in spring, hence the saying, "At the Spring Equinox, wheat grows fast, every moment is worth a thousand gold."

Paddy fields plant rice, and now is the time for transplanting early rice seedlings. The fields were bustling with busy peasants.

In the carriage, An Qing and the Fourth Princess Consort lifted the curtain to look outside.

For An Qing, this scene was familiar, but for the Fourth Princess Consort, it was novel.

"Five Sister-in-Law, are they transplanting rice?" The Fourth Princess Consort observed the farmers wearing straw hats, rolling up their pants, and bending over in the waterlogged fields.

An Qing smiled and replied, "Yes, they are transplanting rice."

The Fourth Princess Consort nodded slightly but then suddenly exclaimed, "Why are they walking backwards?"

Aren't they afraid of falling? And wouldn't it be inconvenient to walk in the muddy fields?

An Qing chuckled and then said mysteriously, "Have you heard of the Tang Dynasty monk Po Tsang's poem 'Transplanting Rice'?"

The Fourth Princess Consort shook her head.

An Qing recited the poem: "With hands full of young rice plants, I fill the field; looking down, I see the sky reflected in the water. A pure heart is the path; stepping backwards is moving forward."

This poem vividly depicts the lively scene of rural farming during the transplanting season.

"A pure heart is the path; stepping backwards is moving forward."

The Fourth Princess Consort murmured these lines, feeling a vague understanding but still unsure.

Do the peasants need to contemplate while planting?

Seeing the Fourth Princess Consort struggling to understand, An Qing couldn't help but laugh, "Alright, alright, I'm not teasing you anymore, Fourth Sister-in-Law."

Actually, the peasants walk backwards to prevent stepping on the newly planted rice seedlings and to ensure they plant in straight rows. Additionally, walking backwards helps flatten their footprints, preventing unevenness in the paddy fields, which could affect the rice roots and water retention.

The Fourth Princess Consort gave her a playful glare but then felt enlightened upon hearing the explanation.

Just then, a voice came from outside the carriage, "Oh~ That's why!"

An Qing was taken aback and instinctively peeked outside. She saw Yinqi, the Fourth Prince, the Ninth Prince, and the Tenth Prince riding alongside their carriage.

Wait, weren't they leading the way earlier? When did they come over?

The reactions of the group varied when they noticed An Qing looking their way. Yinqi smiled at her quite naturally, as if he had no guilt about eavesdropping. The Fourth Prince, on the other hand, looked slightly embarrassed and shifted his gaze away.

As for the Ninth Prince and Tenth Prince, those two unlucky brothers didn't even notice An Qing; they were too busy bickering.

"Ninth Brother, you're just making things up. You told everyone that the villagers did this on purpose because they were happy," said the Tenth Prince, looking disapprovingly at his ninth brother.

The Ninth Prince, however, was not flustered at all and replied shamelessly, "Why are you looking at me like that? So what if I made it up? You don't know either!"

After saying that, he pointed to Yinqi and the Fourth Prince nearby. "What's the big deal? Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother probably don't know either." The Tenth Prince seemed to agree, nodding seriously. "That's true; otherwise, why would they be eavesdropping?"

Yinqi: "..."

Fourth Prince: "..."

Then, in a remarkably synchronized move, they both glared at the two unlucky brothers and promptly rode away on their horses, their backs suggesting a hasty retreat.

Seeing their older brothers leave, the Ninth Prince and Tenth Prince hurriedly followed on their horses, completely oblivious to the trouble they had caused.

Inside the carriage, An Qing and the Fourth Princess Consort exchanged glances and couldn't help but laugh.

How old were they now, acting so childish? If they wanted to know something, they could have just asked openly instead of sneaking around. This wasn't some major secret.

The Fourth Princess Consort turned to look at An Qing and sincerely said, "Fifth Sister-in-law, you're really amazing. How do you know everything?"

An Qing quickly waved her hands, modestly replying, "No, Fourth Sister-in-law, your words are embarrassing me. I only know a bit about farming."

The Fourth Princess Consort smiled. "Knowing about farming is already impressive."

Especially someone who knows as much as she does. Last year's rice blight and the recent ghost wheat incident—both were significant issues. Particularly with the ghost wheat, back in Dayangliu, they had heard about the ancient and mysterious event, which she managed to solve.

But what impressed her most was not the method An Qing used to solve the problem, but her courage to investigate it when everyone else avoided it. That was not something an ordinary woman could do.

Her husband rarely praised people behind their backs, but he had mentioned to her that Fifth Sister-in-law was a woman of great virtue.

An Qing had no idea that she had such a grand image in the future Yongzheng Emperor's eyes.

However, it was all a coincidence. She knew her limits and genuinely wasn't as capable as they thought. At best, she had a golden finger cheat.

"Fourth Sister-in-law, do you like planting?" An Qing asked casually.

The Fourth Princess Consort shook her head, somewhat embarrassed.

She truly wasn't skilled at it. As a child, she had tried to grow flowers, but they never lasted long. During their time at Changchun Garden, when An Qing found a solution to the rice blight, everyone followed suit and started planting. The Fourth Princess Consort was quite troubled because she knew how unskilled she was.

Fortunately, her husband later said that Fifth Sister-in-law's talent was extraordinary and advised her not to follow the trend.

It turned out that he was right. Those who had tried to emulate Fifth Sister-in-law, including the Crown Princess and Third Princess Consort, as well as the concubines and palace maids in the palace, eventually gave up quietly.

They realized that while anyone could plant, not everyone could do it well.

An Qing knew about this, thanks to Cui Liu, who was always well-informed.

At the time, Cui Liu was unhappy that others were imitating her mistress, so she kept track of the situation. For a long time, Cui Liu's daily routine involved reporting who had killed what plant and which palace had wasted its efforts.

"Not really interested, and I'm not good at it. I feel ashamed; I'm far inferior to Fifth Sister-in-law," the Fourth Princess Consort admitted.

An Qing disagreed. "Fourth Sister-in-law, what are you talking about? There's nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone has their strengths. Like embroidery, I can't do it."

She knew that the Fourth Princess Consort was skilled at embroidery, earning praise from Concubine Yi and the Empress Dowager. She had even seen it once, and it was truly lifelike.

Saying this, An Qing extended her hands. "These hands are good with a hoe, but not with a needle. I can't even embroider my husband's purse properly."

Thinking about the purse, she sighed. One day, Yinqi suddenly asked her to embroider a purse for him, saying that all the other brothers had purses embroidered by their wives, and he didn't.

An Qing felt that it was unfair that he was the only one without one, so she agreed. She thought that since she had learned embroidery before, it shouldn't be too difficult, especially since a purse was one of the easier items to embroider.

However, when she picked up the needle the next day, she was proven wrong. Memories of being forced to learn embroidery by her mother flooded back, and she realized it had been six or seven years since she last held a needle. All the skills she had learned were long forgotten.

Cui Liu sarcastically remarked that even her dowry was embroidered by the family's seamstress, wondering where she got her confidence from.

An Qing was speechless, thinking that perhaps her confidence came from birth. Otherwise, how could she have taken on such a task?

But she also valued her dignity. If she had refused initially, it wouldn't have mattered, but since she had already agreed, she couldn't back down. So, she persevered with Perilla for several days, pricking all ten fingers, but still ended up with a mess of tangled bamboo.

Finally, when Yinqi asked about the purse again, she turned the tables, criticizing his competitive attitude, and the matter was settled.

Of course, An Qing suspected that Yinqi might have figured out the reason, but it didn't matter as long as he didn't ask her to embroider again.

She could grow flowers for him, any kind, but embroidery was truly beyond her.

Hearing her self-deprecating remarks, the Fourth Princess Consort couldn't help but laugh. However, she wasn't ungrateful and understood that An Qing was giving her a way out.

Everyone has their strengths, but what An Qing excelled in was beneficial to the country and its people. In the Fourth Princess Consort's view, An Qing was truly capable.

As they traveled, they sometimes stopped to chat with the local villagers and inquire about their spring plowing progress.

This was mainly handled by An Qing, as the others lacked her familiarity with farmers. When they spoke, they often disrupted the villagers' work rather than understanding their situation.

An Qing and the others continued walking and stopping throughout the morning, gaining considerable insights into the local conditions.

Finally, they found a flat grassy area by the river to set up camp for an outdoor picnic.

An Qing had planned this the night before. Since they were going to the outskirts, a spring outing and picnic sounded perfect.

So, she had instructed Perilla and Maidong to prepare everything early in the morning. This was something she often did in Horqin, and they were experienced in organizing such outings.

Snacks, fruits, drinks, meals, and ingredients—all were prepared. They even brought a barbecue grill to enhance the camping atmosphere.

An Qing hadn't anticipated so many people, but it didn't matter. Perilla and Maidong had prepared plenty, enough for six people. For the others, Yinqi sent Ma Xiang to buy chickens, ducks, and food from nearby farms. Thus, everyone was busy preparing lunch.

An Qing and Si Fujin laid a colorful cloth on the grass and placed the snacks and fruits on it one by one. The barbecue grill was set up by the river. Yinqi and Fourth Prince often went hunting with Kangxi, so they were familiar with roasting meat and got busy right away.

Tenth Prince ran around helping An Qing, but Ninth Prince was alone, happily throwing stones into the river.

Seeing his behavior, An Qing shouted, "Xiao Jiu, what are you doing? Don't think you can just sit back and eat. Go to the carriage and get me the blue bundle."

Ninth Prince replied unwillingly, "There are so many servants here. Why do you have to order me around?"

An Qing huffed, "I only see you idling around. If you don't work, don't eat later!"

Ninth Prince turned angrily and glared at her. An Qing glared right back.

Ninth Prince dared not speak up and reluctantly went to fetch the items from the carriage.

Ever since An Qing had gotten him beaten by his mother and embarrassed in front of his brothers, he harbored resentment but didn't dare to provoke Fifth Sister-in-law anymore.

He had no choice; no one stood up for him, and he couldn't afford to lose face again.

Especially when Ninth Prince glanced at Yinqi near the barbecue grill. He noticed that his Fifth Elder Brother had been watching them closely.

He didn't want to be scolded by his Fifth Elder Brother.

The simple yet sumptuous picnic began soon. Amidst green mountains and clear waters, birds singing and flowers blooming, everyone sat on the grass, eating and chatting.

This kind of scene truly relaxed everyone. Even the usually quiet Fourth Prince spoke more than usual, let alone the talkative Ninth Prince and Tenth Prince.

Suddenly, Tenth Prince turned to An Qing, "Fifth Sister-in-law, this morning I noticed many people here greet each other by asking if they've eaten. Is this their local custom?"

An Qing shook her head, "It's not a local custom. Many places use this greeting."

Tenth Prince responded with an "Oh" but still scratched his head, "Is there any particular reason behind it?"

Everyone looked over curiously.

An Qing explained, "There's no special reason. It's a sign of respect for food."

"Respect for food?" Tenth Prince murmured.

An Qing nodded, "Because too many people go hungry. Asking if someone has eaten is a way of showing care, which gradually became a common greeting among the common folk."

Or perhaps it could be said that people care about what they lack.

Over time, this form of greeting, showing concern for others, persisted even after the basic needs were met.

Everyone nodded thoughtfully, understanding the reason.

Ninth Prince frowned, "I often heard in the Imperial City that Jiangnan is very prosperous. But today, why do these people not seem wealthy?"

Their clothes were full of patches, and they didn't look well-fed.

An Qing glanced at him irritably, "Do you know anything? They are ordinary people, not wealthy landlords."

Hearing this, Ninth Prince was taken aback. What were wealthy landlords?

But then he realized his focus should be on…

"Fifth Elder Brother, she keeps insulting me! She talks fine with others, but always picks on me!" Ninth Prince turned to his Fifth Elder Brother, feeling wronged.

She clearly had something against him. She answered Tenth Prince nicely but always picked on him.

Yinqi gave An Qing a helpless look but defended her, "You're overthinking it. Your Fifth Sister-in-law doesn't mean it like that."

Ninth Prince: "..."

An Qing subconsciously touched her nose. Okay, she admitted she had lost patience with Xiao Jiu.

Since the willow-beating incident, they had developed a rivalry. Though An Qing never lost, she had formed a habit of picking on him.

But objectively, she had reacted too strongly this time.

"I apologize for my tone earlier," An Qing admitted without hesitation.

Seeing An Qing actually apologize, Ninth Prince immediately felt smug. But before he could say anything, his Fifth Elder Brother gave him a stern look.

An Qing ignored him and continued, "Most wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few..."

So, the prosperity of Jiangnan lies with the officials and wealthy merchants. They had seen this firsthand in Su Zhou. How rich could the commoners be?

In this era, commoners often sought not great wealth but enough food.

Without basic survival, everything else was irrelevant.

Besides, poverty exists everywhere. Compared to other places, the people here were already better off.

Look at them; despite their patched clothes, they wore happy faces, filled with hope for spring and the harvest to come.

Jiangnan's fertile land, abundant water, and mild climate made it suitable for farming, so life was relatively better here.

After the picnic, they stayed a while longer, rested, and then decided to explore nearby before heading back to the city.

An Qing and Si Fujin walked instead of taking the carriage, as post-meal strolls were good for health.

As they walked together, Yinqi and Fourth Prince led the horses beside them. Passing through a village, they saw a crowd gathered ahead, making a commotion.

Listening closely, they heard a baby crying.

Yinqi sent Ma Xiang to check. He ran over and returned shortly, looking uneasy and hesitant.

Chapter 73: The Fifth Princess

Seeing Ma Xiang's reaction, everyone felt a sense of unease creeping in.

Ninth Prince, known for his impatience, snapped, "Stop dawdling. What is it?"

Yinqi gave Ninth Prince a stern look, signaling him to calm down, then turned to Ma Xiang and said, "Tell us what you saw."

Ma Xiang took a deep breath, as if finally gathering the courage, and spoke, "My lord, that family was killing an infant!"

Everyone: "!"

Killing an infant?!

A chill ran through An Qing. She had heard before about the practice of abandoning and killing infants in Jiangnan during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Throughout ancient China, this was a widespread social issue.

She never expected to witness it firsthand today.

The Fourth Princess shuddered and asked Ma Xiang, "Is the girl still alive?"

Everyone looked over with concern, but they all knew deep down that the situation was grim. There were no cries from the infant anymore, which did not bode well.

Sure enough, under their gaze, Ma Xiang shook his head and replied, "When I arrived, the old woman had already drowned the infant for quite some time. It was confirmed dead."

By the time he pushed through the crowd, it was too late. Otherwise, he would have saved the infant regardless; after all, it was a life.

He added, "Fourth Princess, it wasn't a girl, it was a boy."

The Fourth Princess stumbled, but Fourth Prince caught her in time.

Her face paled as she whispered, "How could this be..."

Back in the Imperial City, she had often heard about the practice of drowning girls in Jiangnan due to a preference for boys. But why were they killing boys too?

A serious expression crossed An Qing's face. She thought she understood the reason.

Indeed, due to the preference for boys, ancient societies typically chose to kill girls first. However, the root cause of infanticide was not simply a preference for boys.

"Does that family already have several boys?" An Qing asked.

Ma Xiang was taken aback by the question but quickly replied, "I heard that this family already has five boys."

When he arrived, he overheard someone in the crowd murmuring about how tragic it was, saying that while the boy was healthy, the family already had too many boys.

An Qing nodded lightly, confirming her suspicions.

Several people present had heard rumors about the practice of infanticide in southern regions, but Ninth Prince and Tenth Prince were completely shocked and bewildered.

Wasn't having more children considered a blessing? Why would anyone kill them? This clearly exceeded their understanding.

Moreover, their tutors in the Imperial Academy had taught them that infanticide was illegal according to Great Qing law.

"Did the child have any congenital defects?" Ninth Prince wondered aloud.

In the imperial family, children with congenital defects were often seen as ill-omened and quietly disposed of. This was not a secret among the nobility.

Ma Xiang shook his head and replied, "I asked around, and the child was very healthy."

From the loud cries they heard earlier, they could tell the infant was healthy.

Ninth Prince's eyes widened in disbelief. After a long pause, he muttered, "Then why?"

An Qing sighed softly and replied in a low voice, "Because they can't afford to raise it."

Since the Great Qing entered the capital, years of war and turmoil had given way to stability, leading to rapid population growth. The conflict between population and land had become evident.

But what does this have to do with infanticide? This ties into the ancient tax policy—the head tax, or the current labor tax.

With limited land and fixed annual harvests, the more people there were in a household, the higher the head tax. This created the conflict between population and land.

Thus, the Qing court encouraged land reclamation to expand agricultural land and reduce the conflict. For ordinary people, the most effective solution was to reduce the number of mouths to feed, as they simply couldn't afford it.

However, without effective contraception, like the rare birth control herbs used in the palace, ordinary families had no choice but to bear and then kill their children.

This was happening even in the prosperous regions of Jiangnan during peaceful times. Imagine how many such incidents occurred elsewhere.

This was a tragedy of the era and of the poor.

Thinking of this, An Qing glanced at Fourth Prince. During Emperor Kangxi's reign, due to severe conflicts between population and land, he issued the decree of "no increase in taxes," meaning that regardless of population growth, the amount of land tax and labor tax would remain unchanged.

After Emperor Yongzheng ascended the throne, he implemented the policy of "allocating the head tax to the land," which meant averaging the fixed head tax into the land tax, collecting a unified land-labor tax without taxing individuals directly.

This reform essentially shifted the burden of the head tax from farmers to landlords, who owned most of the land. Naturally, this policy conflicted with the interests of officials and scholars, so local officials were reluctant to implement it. However, Emperor Yongzheng enforced it strictly, alleviating the pressure on ordinary people.

An Qing admired Emperor Yongzheng for his reforms. Regardless of other matters, his efforts to improve governance and implement the land-labor tax policy benefited the common people.

Undoubtedly, he was a capable emperor who cared for his subjects, a rarity in history.

As they were lost in thought, the crowd ahead stirred. An old woman carrying something approached them.

Everyone froze. Yinqi quickly pulled An Qing into his arms, and Fourth Prince shielded the Fourth Princess. Others also realized the situation and averted their eyes.

The old woman slowly approached, carrying the drowned infant. She was heading to the back mountain to dispose of the body when she saw the strangers and looked panicked.

The local villagers accompanying her watched An Qing and the others warily, but seeing their fine attire, they dared not approach.

Yinqi and the Fourth Prince exchanged a glance, then quickly led everyone away to avoid further complications.

When they arrived, the journey was filled with the promise of spring. However, the return trip was shrouded in a somber atmosphere, with everyone's faces clearly reflecting their distress.

Back at the palace, Yinqi escorted An Qing to her quarters before hurriedly departing.

An Qing knew he had to deal with the infant drowning incident they witnessed that day. After all, according to Great Qing law, the villagers' actions were illegal.

Although such behavior was officially prohibited by the government, it remained prevalent due to mutual cover-ups among the people, much like the villagers they encountered, who reacted with suspicion upon seeing outsiders, indicating their awareness of the illegality.

Yinqi would likely seek out officials to handle the matter involving the drowned infant. While this might only address the symptoms rather than the root cause, it could serve as a deterrent, which is better than doing nothing.

Perilla and Maidong were also frightened, especially Perilla, who was born and raised in Horqin. She had never seen anything like it.

Maidong fared slightly better, being Han Chinese; her family had heard about such incidents before fleeing famine, so she was somewhat prepared, though not entirely.

While An Qing wasn't scared, she felt uneasy. She always knew life was hard for commoners in this era, and she was aware of the practice of infanticide in Jiangnan. But knowing and witnessing it firsthand were two different things.

On the way back, she couldn't help but think: if she had lived this life with her past experiences, without being the daughter of her parents or born into a prominent family, she might not have survived.

After all, infants, especially girls, from ordinary families often needed luck to survive.

Affected by the day's events, An Qing didn't sleep well that night, waking up several times, leaving her exhausted the next morning.

After a simple meal, she considered going back to bed, as there was nothing pressing today. They were set to continue south tomorrow, so she didn't plan on going out.

Unexpectedly, a palace maid from Concubine Yi's quarters arrived.

"Madam, Her Highness has sent me to invite you over," the palace maid said.

An Qing was taken aback. Why did Concubine Yi suddenly want her to visit? She didn't dwell on it, tidied herself up, and went to Concubine Yi's courtyard.

"Mother, what's wrong?" she asked casually as she entered the room. "Why did you call for me?"

Concubine Yi didn't mind her casual manner. Seeing her enter, she got up and scrutinized her closely before sighing, "I heard everything from Xiao Jiu. How did you end up encountering such a thing yesterday?"

An Qing sighed, "Who knows."

Then, she added, "Is Ninth Brother alright?"

Yesterday, Xiao Jiu was slow to react and ended up face-to-face with the infant in the woman's arms. When they left, An Qing noticed his pale face.

He must have been terrified.

Concubine Yi waved her hand dismissively, "He's a boy; he'll be fine. I'm more worried about you. Did you have any nightmares last night?"

An Qing shook her head, "Mother, don't worry. I'm fine. Yinqi shielded me, so I didn't see anything."

Concubine Yi breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good. It's better you didn't see it."

She then noticed the dark circles under An Qing's eyes and frowned, "If you weren't scared, why do you have such heavy eye bags?"

An Qing waved her hand, not hiding the truth, "I was thinking about something last night and didn't sleep well."

She wasn't the only one; Yinqi also woke up several times when she did.

"Mother, do you think if peasants could harvest more food each year, these incidents would decrease?" she asked earnestly.

Concubine Yi assumed she was overthinking and reassured her, "Don't worry too much. This isn't your fault."

An Qing realized Concubine Yi misunderstood and explained, "Mother, I'm fine. I'm just wondering if there's anything we can do."

Seeing her genuinely unaffected, Concubine Yi relaxed, "Alright, you've always been resourceful. Whatever you decide, I support you. Just remember not to stress yourself too much. You're already doing great."

Touched, An Qing hugged Concubine Yi, "Mother, you're the best. I love you most."

Concubine Yi chuckled, "You're such a sweet talker."

An Qing laughed, "I only sweet-talk you, no one else."

Meanwhile, Kangxi summoned Yinqi and the Fourth Prince to his study.

"I heard you went outside the city yesterday?" he asked. "Did you gain any insights?"

Yinqi and the Fourth Prince confirmed and shared their observations of the local customs and their reflections, including the incident of infanticide.

Kangxi was aware of this issue. Upon returning, Yinqi and the Fourth Prince had reported it to local officials, who promptly addressed it and informed Kangxi.

Since the Ming Dynasty, infanticide had been rampant in Jiangnan. Despite numerous edicts prohibiting it, the practice persisted, causing Kangxi considerable distress. Such deep-rooted issues were not easily resolved.

"Your Majesty, ultimately, this problem stems from the hardships faced by the common people," the Fourth Prince said.

As An Qing mentioned yesterday, if people could afford to raise their children, no one would choose such a path.

The contrast between the extravagance of the officials and gentry in Su Zhou and the infant drowned in a bucket was stark.

Kangxi understood this, "Do you have any suggestions to address this issue?"

Both princes, having participated in state affairs since their ennoblement, had their own views.

The Fourth Prince thought for a moment and replied, "Your Majesty, I believe the crux of the problem lies in the tax system. With peace and prosperity, the population grows rapidly, but land does not increase. Reducing taxes on new births could alleviate the burden on the people."

Having worked in the Ministry of Finance, the Fourth Prince was well aware of the situation. He believed transferring the tax burden from the commoners to wealthy landlords and gentry would be more effective.

But the Fourth Prince also knew that even if he proposed this method, his Emperor Father would not agree. After all, one of the purposes of this southern tour was to win over the local Han scholars in Jiangnan. If their interests were violated, not only would they not be won over, but they might even be pushed to the opposite side.

It was clearly not the right time for such a move, and both the Fourth Prince and Kangxi understood this.

Then, after the Fourth Prince, Yinqi also expressed his views, which were largely similar to those of the Fourth Prince, though not as detailed.

Kangxi lightly nodded and suddenly looked up at Yinqi and asked, "What did An Qing say?"

Yinqi was taken aback for a moment before realizing what his Emperor Father meant. "She said she doesn't understand the policies of the court; she can only do what she knows."

As for what An Qing understands, the three of them knew well—it was farming.

It seemed that yesterday's events had quite an impact on her. A hint of satisfaction flashed across Kangxi's face. That child is kind-hearted, as evidenced by her past actions.

The Fourth Prince seemed to ponder for a moment before stepping forward and saying, "Emperor Father, I believe that with Fifth Brother's wife's talents, it is a waste to confine her to the inner quarters. You should provide her with a better platform to utilize her abilities, which would be beneficial for the Great Qing and its people."

Upon hearing this, Yinqi was stunned, completely unprepared for his Fourth Brother to make such a statement.

Kangxi was also surprised. Although he always feared the princes forming factions, he did not think much about it in this context.

He was not foolish. Previously, when Ma Qi and Zhang Ying submitted memorials suggesting that An Qing establish an agricultural school, these two seasoned officials never involved themselves in princely affairs. There was only one explanation: they valued talent.

This time, the Fourth Prince was the same. After all, Kangxi knew his son well.

And if they all valued talent, how could Kangxi not?

Ever since the incident with the 'ghost wheat,' he had been considering this issue, thinking that if more talented individuals in agriculture could be cultivated for the Great Qing, it would benefit the state and the common people immensely.

"Old Five, what do you think about sending some people to An Qing to teach farming?" Kangxi asked.

Yinqi exclaimed, "Ah!" He had not yet recovered from his Fourth Brother's words and was further surprised by his Emperor Father's question.

Caught off guard, he instinctively replied, "I don't know, but I think we should respect An Qing's wishes. If she doesn't want to, I hope Emperor Father does not force her."

Kangxi remained silent.

Hmph~ He never expected Old Five to react like this.

What did he mean by not forcing his wife?

Kangxi couldn't help but laugh in frustration, but Yinqi's reaction dispelled his doubts.

After returning, Yinqi immediately told An Qing everything that had happened.

An Qing was stunned. So, the Fourth Prince recommended her to Kangxi, who agreed and wanted her to establish an agricultural school?

No way, this was so surreal. Did this mean that her farming skills were now recognized by the emperors of the Kangxi and Yongzheng dynasties?

Wah wah wah, mentors, senior brothers and sisters, look up! Your student/sister has made you proud, bringing honor to our lineage.

Thinking she was unwilling, Yinqi quickly said, "Don't worry. If you don't want to, it's fine. I'll go talk to Emperor Father and decline the offer."

An Qing exclaimed, "Ah!" Then, realizing what he meant, she waved her hands and said, "No, no, I'm willing."

Not for any other reason, but she had always wanted to do more for the poor in this era. Over the past few days, she had been thinking that her efforts alone were insufficient. She needed to leverage the power of more people.

If more people could be trained in scientific farming techniques, more ordinary people would benefit.

At least, apart from natural disasters, they would avoid unnecessary crop failures, giving children a chance to survive and have enough food. She was willing to do this.

Looking at Yinqi, An Qing said meaningfully, "But if that happens, you might encounter some trouble."

If this were true, Yinqi would need to be even more cautious in the court.

"It's fine. If you're not bothered by it, my troubles are nothing," Yinqi smiled, gently stroking An Qing's head. "Don't worry. I can handle it. Just focus on doing what you want."

He added, "Besides, helping more people is worth any trouble."

These words resonated deeply with An Qing. It was troublesome for Yinqi, and for her too, but it was worth it.

They exchanged glances and shared a knowing smile, reaching a tacit agreement.

Many things in this world depend not on whether they are troublesome, but on whether they are worth it.

The next day, according to the original plan, Kangxi continued the southern tour with everyone, arriving in Hangzhou on March 22nd, at the Solitary Hill Palace.

This time, Kangxi had no time to entertain the Empress Dowager with sightseeing. Upon arrival in Hangzhou, he was busy meeting local officials and handling various matters. He also led the princes in inspecting the troops stationed in Hangzhou.

Meanwhile, An Qing once again demonstrated her tour guide skills, leading the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi around Hangzhou, allowing them to fully enjoy the pleasures of travel.

They went boating on the West Lake, visited Lingyin Temple, and saw the blooming peach blossoms at the Broken Bridge and Su Causeway. The itinerary was still leisurely and comfortable, emphasizing enjoyment.

During their five-day stay in Hangzhou, they returned to Su Zhou and then, on April 10th, Kangxi led them to Jiangning Prefecture, staying at Cao Yin's residence.

Chapter 74: The Fifth Consort

Kangxi had toured the south six times, and on four of those occasions, he chose to stay at the Cao family's residence. In Kangxi's view, this was a sign of favor toward the Cao family. Secondly, it was also to avoid criticism and maintain a good reputation.

The notion of 'favor toward the Cao family' is understandable, for in ancient times, having the emperor stay at a minister's home was an immense honor.

After all, the emperor did not stay at just any minister's house. It had to be someone he trusted deeply, and the Cao family was such a household.

For example, during his eastern tour, when passing through Shengjing, Kangxi chose to stay at Concubine Yi's family home, the residence of San Guanbao, to show favor to Concubine Yi. This earned him much envy both within the imperial harem and among the officials and nobles of Shengjing.

Regarding the second point, Kangxi always cherished his reputation. He traveled light each time, unwilling to leave an image of extravagance among the common people.

This was one of the main reasons he chose to stay at Cao Yin's residence during his southern tours. Cao Yin was Kangxi's personal servant, and staying at his servant's home meant that no matter how luxurious the accommodations were, others could not criticize him.

Moreover, Kangxi's wet nurse, Lady Sun, lived with the Cao family. Staying at his wet nurse's home also earned him a reputation for remembering old ties.

As the imperial barge entered Jiangning Prefecture and docked, Kangxi led everyone to the Cao family's residence.

Upon arrival, An Qing and the other ladies were taken to their respective quarters, while Kangxi went to the front hall with the ministers and princes, accompanied by local officials from Jiangning Prefecture.

Cao Yin brought his family to greet Kangxi, including his mother, Lady Sun. He helped her walk forward to kneel, but Kangxi stopped her.

"Auntie, we are all family; there's no need for formalities." Kangxi held Lady Sun's arm warmly and escorted her to a seat.

Though the officials present did not show it, they were surprised inwardly. Being called 'family' by the emperor clearly indicated the Cao family's esteemed position in his heart.

Before the ministers could recover, Kangxi introduced Lady Sun to them: "This is an elder in my family."

This statement further solidified the Cao family's status in the eyes of both the ministers from Imperial City and the local officials of Jiangning Prefecture, especially affecting the latter's attitude toward Cao Yin and his family.

Meanwhile, after being shown to her quarters, An Qing began tidying up with Perilla and Maidong. When she estimated it was almost time for dinner, she led Perilla and Maidong to Empress Dowager's place, as she had promised to dine with her.

Upon arriving, she saw Wu Lan arranging the meal and greeted her, "I was about to send someone to your courtyard to call you, but here you are."

An Qing waved her hand and replied, "Auntie, you know me well. I'm always eager to eat; no need to remind me."

After all, her principle was simple: if you're not eager to eat, there's something wrong with your brain!

She then added, seemingly troubled, "And I'm also eager to sleep. I've always needed at least four hours of sleep a day, or else I feel drained."

Wu Lan smiled and said, "Being able to eat and sleep well is a blessing. When you reach my age, you'll appreciate it even more."

An Qing nodded in agreement, "Auntie is right; I think so too."

Then, she turned to Perilla and Maidong, "Did you hear that? From now on, don't try to control my eating or sleeping habits."

Recently, she had overslept one morning, and Perilla nagged her for days. Yesterday, she wanted some fruit, but Maidong tried to stop her. Thinking about it made her sigh.

Perilla and Maidong exchanged glances, both feeling helpless. Wu Lan did not mean they should let her indulge without limits. She meant it as a blessing, not an excuse for excessive sleeping or eating cold foods.

But neither of them was as articulate as Cui Liu, so they were at a loss for words and silently disagreed, knowing they would still need to manage her habits.

Feeling triumphant, An Qing went to find Empress Dowager. As she helped her out, the meal arrived.

Wow, the Cao family was indeed extravagant—the table was filled with delicacies that almost dazzled An Qing's eyes.

But one question remained: did they really need so much food for just two people?

Empress Dowager frowned slightly, then looked at Wu Lan.

Wu Lan quickly explained, "I only mentioned the Empress Dowager's dietary restrictions and didn't expect them to bring so much."

Empress Dowager nodded, her frown easing, and invited An Qing to join her for the meal.

Observing this, An Qing marveled at Empress Dowager's wisdom. She never meddled and accepted whatever arrangements were made.

Whether the Cao family was trying to curry favor or simply being extravagant, it mattered little to her. Indeed, it was typical of Empress Dowager's style.

With just two of them, they couldn't finish all the dishes, so they shared the leftovers with the servants, avoiding waste.

After the meal, An Qing stayed to chat with Empress Dowager and enjoyed a cup of digestive tea.

The Cao family's chef was truly skilled; the food was delicious, and she ate until she felt full. Luckily, there was no one else around, or it would have been embarrassing for the royal family.

Empress Dowager watched An Qing and chuckled.

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the door. An Qing looked up and saw a young eunuch entering.

Hmm, this eunuch looks familiar. If she remembered correctly, he was one of Kangxi's attendants.

The eunuch knelt and greeted, "Your servant greets Empress Dowager and the Fifth Consort."

Empress Dowager raised her hand, signaling him to rise, "What does the Emperor want?"

The eunuch replied, "The Emperor wrote a poem and wishes to present it to Empress Dowager. He sent me to deliver it."

An Qing was initially indifferent but then became puzzled. Although she knew Kangxi loved writing poetry and had left many works during his travels, why was he suddenly writing a poem for Empress Dowager?

Clearly, Empress Dowager was equally confused. After the eunuch left, she asked Wu Lan to inquire about the reason.

"Read this for me," Empress Dowager handed the poem from the brocade box to An Qing.

An Qing paused, then realized Empress Dowager could barely speak Mandarin and certainly couldn't read the poem.

Taking the paper, she first noticed Kangxi's elegant handwriting. She couldn't help but admire it internally—regardless of the content, the writing was impeccable.

When she finished reading the poem on the paper, she immediately felt a bit troubled. With her limited education and translation skills, she really couldn't translate this poem into Mongolian for the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager seemed to notice An Qing's difficulty and said with a smile, "No need to translate it. Just tell me what it's about."

An Qing responded with an "Oh," thinking to herself that this was simple. "Grandma, the general meaning of this poem is about a son's filial piety towards his mother."

The Empress Dowager clearly paused for a moment, and they looked at each other in silence, both seeing a sense of amusement in each other's eyes.

What was Kangxi up to now? Truly, the emperor's mind was as unfathomable as the depths of the sea, leaving one utterly baffled.

Fortunately, Mama Wu Lan returned quickly, clearing up their confusion.

It turned out that when Kangxi met with Lady Sun, they talked about many old memories, and he couldn't help but feel sentimental.

Earlier, when facing the ministers in the main hall, his attitude towards Lady Sun had political showmanship, but there was also genuine feeling.

Kangxi missed his former wet nurse deeply. He had been cared for by Lady Sun since childhood, and the years of companionship were unmatched by anyone else. After chatting with her, he personally escorted her back to her quarters.

Then, in Lady Sun's courtyard, Kangxi saw the blooming daylilies and had someone bring him the imperial brush to personally write the characters "Xuan Rui Hall" and bestowed them upon her.

In ancient times, daylilies symbolized mothers. When children went far away, they would plant daylilies in front of their mothers' northern chambers, offering them for their mothers to admire and expressing their filial piety.

This gesture expressed Kangxi's gratitude and affection for Lady Sun.

But after returning and calming down, he realized that the Empress Dowager was also at the Cao residence. After a moment's thought, he composed this poem and sent it over.

An Qing: "…"

So, Kangxi was balancing the scales!

She was surprised; Lao Kang's reputation for balancing the scales was indeed well-deserved. He balanced among the concubines, among his sons, among the ministers, and now even before the Empress Dowager.

An Qing didn't know what to say, only silently marveling that the master of balancing the scales remained unshaken.

The Empress Dowager shook her head helplessly, "Your father always does things properly."

Indeed, always mindful of balancing the scales—how proper indeed.

However, An Qing was somewhat surprised after hearing this. Although both Lady Sun and Lady Wen were Kangxi's wet nurses, it seemed that he was closer to Lady Sun.

After all, in Su Zhou, he hadn't shown such closeness to Lady Wen, the mother of Li Xu.

Mama Wu Lan explained with a smile, "Lady Sun was the wet nurse whom the Emperor trusted most during his childhood. It's natural for him to be closer to her."

Hearing this, An Qing instantly understood. Yes, even among wet nurses, there were degrees of closeness.

Still, An Qing glanced at the Empress Dowager subconsciously. Could she truly not care at all? If Kangxi regarded Lady Sun as a 'mother,' what did that make the Empress Dowager, who was his legitimate mother?

The Empress Dowager glanced at An Qing and smiled, "I learned a truth early on in the palace and have followed it ever since. Do you know what it is?"

An Qing shook her head, "Please enlighten me, Grandma."

The Empress Dowager sipped her tea and said calmly, "Don't compare yourself to anyone else. That way, you are the best."

An Qing was taken aback, then understood the deeper meaning behind the Empress Dowager's words.

Yes, people's worth is often determined through comparison. As long as you don't compare yourself to others, you remain unique.

Just like this situation: as long as the Empress Dowager doesn't compare herself to Lady Sun, this poem is Kangxi's greatest expression of filial piety towards her. This way, there would be no resentment, and she could continue living happily without any worries.

An Qing couldn't help but marvel inwardly. The Empress Dowager truly was a wise old lady. Those who survived in the palace were never simple.

"Grandma, you are truly wise. I've learned my lesson."

Saying this, she playfully bowed in a clumsy manner.

The Empress Dowager chided her with a smile, "You're always up to mischief."

By the time An Qing returned from the Empress Dowager's quarters, it was already dark, but the courtyard was lit up.

Entering her room, she saw Yinqi and was momentarily stunned.

"You came back quite early today. Did things finish up with your father?" she asked.

Yinqi had been reading a book but put it down when An Qing returned and walked over. "Father wanted to meet with Cao Yin alone, so he dismissed us."

An Qing couldn't help but "tsk" and said casually, "Father is still meeting with someone at this hour. Is he planning to talk all night?"

Yinqi smiled and replied, "Probably."

An Qing was a bit stunned. She had just said it casually, but it was true.

Even if Kangxi favored Cao Yin, there was no need to keep him up talking on the first day in Jiangning. What was the rush? They weren't leaving tomorrow.

Seeing her reaction, Yinqi couldn't help but laugh and then explained the reason.

His father wasn't meeting Cao Yin merely to reminisce; rather, he wanted to better understand the situation in Jiangning Prefecture and throughout Jiangnan through Cao Yin's insights.

To truly grasp the local conditions, a few visits to the south wouldn't suffice. It required someone who lived here long-term to observe and summarize the situation, which would help in formulating governance strategies, including administration and taxation.

That's why his father summoned Cao Yin today—to prepare for meetings with local officials and gentry, ensuring he had a clear understanding of the situation.

An Qing finally understood. Indeed, being an emperor was no easy task.

Although she often joked about Lao Kang using his sons like donkeys, he himself was no different. During this southern tour, Kangxi barely rested, constantly running around, busy with political objectives even during leisure activities. Most people couldn't handle such a demanding schedule.

On the second day in Jiangning, Kangxi got everyone busy again. He first paid homage to the Ming Emperor's tomb, visited the descendants of the Ming dynasty, and ordered Governor Song Luo and Cao Yin to repair the Ming Emperor's tomb. Kangxi even personally inscribed the hall with the title "Zhilong Tangsong."

Then came the meetings with local officials of Jiangning Prefecture and the handling of related governmental affairs. In short, they were extremely busy.

Meanwhile, An Qing and the other ladies were not idle either. However, her skills as a travel enthusiast did not get much use this time, as their schedule was filled with events hosted by the Cao family's inner circle and the ladies of local officials.

There were endless gatherings, banquets, and theater performances. An Qing felt that in these few short days, she had attended more events than she did all last year combined.

But it was hard to decline; since Kangxi held the Cao family in such high regard, they naturally couldn't refuse the ladies of the Cao family, lest it appear as if they were disrespecting them.

Fortunately, after a few days, the ladies of the Cao family seemed to have some sense of moderation, understanding the need for rest. On this day, there were no more banquets, and An Qing finally got some respite.

In the morning, she had her first lazy sleep since arriving in Jiangning Prefecture. There was no choice; previously, she had to wake up early every day to prepare and dress up for various events, after all, she couldn't bring shame to the imperial family.

After rising late, An Qing leisurely had her breakfast. Seeing that there was nothing pressing, she thought about visiting Concubine Yi and perhaps catching up on some gossip.

However, when it came to gossip, An Qing had to admit that she missed Cui Liu... and her gossip.

When Cui Liu was always around, An Qing hadn't realized it, but during this southern tour, she truly understood how much she relied on the girl for news from the outside world.

After all, Perilla and Mai Dong never cared about such things.

Even back in Su Zhou, she had learned about the juicy gossip among the ladies of local officials from the Fourth Princess Consort's maid.

Of course, it wasn't the Fourth Princess Consort herself who said it; it was her maid.

That was when An Qing realized why she had felt something missing—she hadn't heard any gossip in a long time.

She didn't feel comfortable asking the Fourth Princess Consort for gossip, as her enthusiasm for it was a bit too unrefined. So, she decided to visit Concubine Yi instead, who knew her well enough not to judge.

Leaving the garden where they were staying, An Qing headed towards Concubine Yi's quarters. However, while passing through a garden, she happened to encounter Ninth Prince, Tenth Prince, and Fourteenth Prince.

She had heard that Kangxi was meeting with some renowned Han scholars from Jiangning Prefecture today. It seemed he didn't want his younger sons to be a distraction, so he only brought Yinqi, Fourth Prince, and Eighth Prince, who had already received titles.

Since they were at a distance, An Qing didn't plan to disturb them. But just as she was about to walk past, Ninth Prince and Fourteenth Prince started pushing each other.

It looked like they might come to blows, so she had no choice but to intervene. After all, she couldn't let them fight in public, which would surely bring disgrace upon Kangxi.

"What are you all doing?" An Qing shouted from a distance. Her voice had an immediate effect, stopping the three of them in their tracks.

The three turned to look at her, each with different reactions.

Tenth Prince, still looking honest, obediently called out, "Fifth Sister-in-law." Ninth Prince, fearing that An Qing might report him to his mother, nervously looked away.

As for Fourteenth Prince, he remained indifferent upon seeing An Qing.

An Qing didn't bother with pleasantries and went straight to the point, asking what they were doing. Then she heard Ninth Prince and Fourteenth Prince bickering again.

Their arguments gave her a headache, but eventually, she figured out the main issue.

Ignoring the trivial details of their argument, the core problem was that when Ninth Prince was nine years old, he had developed an abscess on his ear, nearly dying. The court physicians were helpless, but a Western doctor saved him through surgery.

Upon waking up, Ninth Prince claimed that he saw divine light and celestial beings on the ceiling in a half-dream state, saying that he was blessed by gods.

Others found this hard to believe, leading to many jokes. Earlier, Fourteenth Prince had mocked him about it during an argument.

"I'm not lying, Ninth Brother is a liar. What celestial beings? I don't believe it," Fourteenth Prince said provocatively.

Ninth Prince became furious, "I'm not lying! I saw them!"

Fourteenth Prince scoffed, "Ninth Brother, you can fool your servants, but you should know no one in the palace believes you. They all laugh behind your back."

Ninth Prince was clearly enraged but was being held back by Tenth Prince, glaring angrily at him.

Fourteenth Prince glared back equally fiercely.

Just as the tension reached its peak, An Qing spoke up, "I believe you."

Concubine Yi had joked about this before, calling Ninth Prince a liar. At the time, An Qing guessed it might have been a reaction to anesthesia, knowing that hallucinations can occur under certain conditions.

Observing Ninth Prince's reaction carefully, she saw no signs of deceit. When Fourteenth Prince mentioned that no one believed him, a hint of loneliness flashed across his face.

It wasn't the panic of being caught in a lie but the sadness of not being trusted, which was telling enough.

Hearing An Qing's words, the three turned to look at her, their faces full of surprise.

Especially Ninth Prince, whose expression showed both surprise and a hint of relief, as if finally being acknowledged.

An Qing, sensing their disbelief, repeated her words calmly, "Who says no one believes you? I do."

Chapter 75: Fifth Princess Consort

As An Qing's words fell, the scene fell into a brief silence. Then, the Fourteenth Prince was the first to react. He looked at An Qing, then at the Ninth Prince, and couldn't help but sneer.

"Huh~ Fifth Sister-in-law, even if you want to favor the Ninth Brother, you can't just tell blatant lies, right? Have you seen that great celestial being too?"

His tone was full of disdain, and his mocking expression was vividly displayed.

An Qing couldn't help but sigh inwardly. It was no wonder Xiao Jiu wanted to punch him.

However, the Fourteenth Prince was only eleven years old, yet he had such a sharp tongue. Who could have thought that the virtuous Concubine De in the palace would raise such a spoiled son?

Perhaps it could only be explained as "too much kindness spoils the child."

"Fourteenth Brother is overthinking it. I really haven't had such an opportunity," An Qing said calmly.

As if meeting a celestial being was something one could do casually. First, one must sincerely believe in the existence of deities, and second, one must be under anesthesia.

The Fourteenth Prince laughed upon hearing this, "With no proof, Fifth Sister-in-law, do you think everyone is a fool?"

An Qing reminded herself not to get angry with such a brat. "What if I do have proof? What then?"

The Fourteenth Prince didn't believe she could have any proof for such a supernatural event after so many years. "Then the Fourteenth will abide by Fifth Sister-in-law's judgment."

An Qing raised an eyebrow and declared, "Good, let's seal the deal."

She then explained how anesthesia could induce hallucinations.

Thus, proving that the Ninth Prince's vision of the celestial being was merely a hallucination caused by anesthesia, which wasn't a lie.

The Fourteenth Prince was stunned, "This is still just your word. Who can prove that anesthesia causes hallucinations?"

An Qing smiled slightly, "Who said there's no one who can prove it?"

Coincidentally, Emperor Kangxi had brought along a Western missionary on his southern tour, who was knowledgeable about Western medicine. Asking him would settle the matter.

All of them were decisive people, so they went straight to the missionary's residence. As An Qing was a member of the imperial harem, she couldn't directly visit the missionary's quarters, so she sent Xiao Jiu and the others to verify the information.

After the three entered, An Qing took Perilla and Maidong to a nearby pavilion to rest.

She had originally planned to ask Concubine Yi about some gossip, but instead found herself judging their dispute here.

"Madam, do you think the missionary really knows?" asked Maidong.

She studied traditional Chinese medicine and knew nothing about Western medicine. If not for following her mistress to the palace, she might not even know what Western medicine was.

An Qing shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't."

Actually, she had mentioned this to Yinqi before. Yinqi said that during their science class, the missionary teaching them had mentioned that some patients under anesthesia might experience hallucinations, indicating that this theory was already verified in the West.

Moreover, if this missionary didn't know, they could always ask the Fourth Prince or the Eighth Prince. They had taken the same science classes as Yinqi and would likely know.

In short, finding a witness to confirm it would suffice.

Perilla and Maidong exchanged glances, seeing their mistress's confident demeanor and felt reassured. Both were naturally quiet and didn't ask further questions.

An Qing didn't wait long before seeing the Ninth Prince, Tenth Prince, and Fourteenth Prince emerge from the missionary's quarters.

The Ninth Prince and Tenth Prince looked delighted, walking briskly ahead, while the Fourteenth Prince followed with a frown and a sullen face. From their expressions and reactions, the outcome was clear.

When they approached, An Qing smiled and asked, "How did the missionary respond?"

The Ninth Prince started excitedly, "He confirmed what Fifth Sister-in-law said. He has seen people hallucinate after anesthesia in his own country. When I described my situation, he said it matched exactly."

The Fourteenth Prince muttered, seemingly unconvinced, "He only said it was possible."

The Ninth Prince turned back and glared at him, emphasizing, "His exact words were 'very possible!'"

The Fourteenth Prince persisted, "That's not absolute."

The Ninth Prince was flustered but couldn't find a counterargument, so he instinctively looked at An Qing.

An Qing nodded thoughtfully, "Fourteenth Brother has a point."

The Ninth Prince's eyes widened in disbelief, looking at An Qing as if questioning whose side she was on.

An Qing couldn't help rolling her eyes. Who would gang up like him?

But she didn't have time to deal with him and turned to the Fourteenth Prince, "Since you insist your Ninth Brother lied, please provide evidence, just as you demanded earlier. You can't just say anything without proof."

Whoever raises a doubt must provide evidence; it's only fair.

She added, "Also, I remind you that I said I had a basis, not evidence."

There's a significant difference between the two. Evidence refers to concrete proof, while a basis is a broader concept, including reasons for decision-making or judgment.

Therefore, the possibility of hallucinations after anesthesia serves as a strong basis for determining whether Xiao Jiu lied.

An Qing sighed heavily, grateful for her scientific rigor. Otherwise, this brat might have caught her in a loophole.

The Fourteenth Prince's face darkened upon hearing this. He couldn't find evidence to prove his Ninth Brother hadn't seen the celestial being!

This was harder than proving he had seen it, as the latter could be attributed to anesthesia. Clearly, he had lost the bet with An Qing.

As he pondered how to wriggle out of it, An Qing saw through his thoughts.

She hummed lightly, "Fourteenth Brother, can't you handle losing?"

The Fourteenth Prince was speechless, his face turning red as he stubbornly held his ground.

An Qing didn't care whether he was stubborn or not. She directly said, "Since you just said that I could do whatever I wanted with you, then first apologize to me and your Ninth Brother."

After saying this, she seemed to remember something and turned to look at the Tenth Prince. "Xiao Shi, did he say anything disrespectful to you?"

If he had, it would be necessary for him to apologize as well.

The Tenth Prince shook his head honestly. "Thank you, Fifth Sister-in-law. The Fourteenth Prince did not say anything disrespectful to me."

Although the Fourteenth Prince was young, he was always very cunning. Hearing An Qing's words, he knew that an apology would only lead to more demands, so he immediately became unwilling and wanted to renege.

However, he met the wrong person.

An Qing never tolerated unruly children. Seeing his attempt to back out, she said, "Xiao Shisi, didn't your Ninth Brother tell you?"

The Fourteenth Prince was taken aback and didn't quite understand. "Tell me what?"

An Qing looked at him with a half-smile. "Didn't he tell you that your Fifth Sister-in-law is best at tattling?"

So if he dared to act up, she wouldn't hesitate to make a big fuss about it.

Hearing this, the Fourteenth Prince hadn't reacted much, but the Ninth Prince immediately turned around and explained hesitantly, "I, I didn't..."

An Qing glared at him and replied irritably, "Don't give me that. I know you've been badmouthing me behind my back."

Badmouthing her?

The Ninth Prince widened his eyes and whispered weakly, "It wasn't that serious."

He had only complained to others a few times at the beginning. Later, his Fifth Elder Brother found out and gave him a good scolding.

Besides, he had just been whipped by his mother and punished by his father, so he felt resentful.

An Qing ignored him and stared straight at the Fourteenth Prince.

The Fourteenth Prince finally understood. "My mother won't listen to you. It's useless to complain to her!"

After saying this, he looked at the Ninth Prince proudly. "My mother loves me the most. She wouldn't dream of whipping me with willow branches."

An Qing: "..."

Tsk, indeed, those who are favored have no fear.

But why did she feel increasingly annoyed looking at Xiao Shisi?

"Who said I was going to complain to Noble Consort De? Since she spoils you so much, I'll find someone she can't control." An Qing said calmly.

"Maybe I should go to Empress Dowager... Oh, no, she's old and shouldn't be troubled. So, I'll go to the Emperor instead..."

When the Fourteenth Prince heard An Qing mention going to the Empress Dowager, he wasn't too worried, but when she mentioned Kangxi, he immediately became scared.

He knew very well that his father was strict with them. In this matter, he was already in the wrong, and breaking a promise would be a major taboo for his father.

Moreover, his mother had told him that his father liked their Fifth Sister-in-law very much. If she really went to complain to his father, he would believe her.

No way, absolutely not. His mother might not even be able to protect him then.

Under such circumstances, the Fourteenth Prince had no choice but to reluctantly apologize to An Qing and the Ninth Prince, and then resigned himself to waiting for further demands.

An Qing rested her chin on one hand, pondering how to punish him. She needed to think carefully.

Seeing this, the Ninth Prince tried to suggest some mischievous ideas but was silenced by her glare.

While An Qing was deep in thought about how to teach the Fourteenth Prince a lesson in the Cao family's backyard, things were also happening in the front yard.

At that moment, Kangxi was leading the ministers and three princes to meet with influential Han scholars from Jiangning Prefecture. Several of these scholars held significant influence among the Han scholars throughout Jiangnan.

Unlike the high-pressure policies towards Han scholars during the early Qing dynasty under Shunzhi and the four regents, Kangxi adopted a policy of conciliation and inclusion to consolidate Qing rule.

His actions, including the repeated visits to Confucius' temple in Qufu and the recent visit to Ming tombs, were all aimed at winning over the hearts of Han scholars.

This meeting was no different.

Kangxi engaged in pleasantries with these scholars, who included both officials and respected scholars without official positions.

Everyone had their own motives, probing each other's intentions. Kangxi sought to win them over, while they tried to gauge the emperor's intentions.

Undoubtedly, Kangxi was a skilled negotiator. He was clear about his goals and subtly demonstrated the strength of the Great Qing while winning hearts.

Suddenly, the conversation shifted to agriculture. A white-bearded elder in the front row stood up and bowed to Kangxi. "Your Majesty, I heard that both the Qingfeng disease and ghost wheat were solved by the Fifth Princess Consort. Is this true?"

Kangxi raised his hand. "Elder Li, please rise. It is indeed true. My daughter-in-law is quite skilled in agricultural matters."

This white-bearded elder was named Li and was the headmaster of a renowned local academy. Though he held no official position, his influence among Han scholars in Jiangnan was considerable, making him a key target for Kangxi's efforts.

Elder Li nodded slightly. "Last year, nearly all the rice fields around Jiangning Prefecture suffered from the Qingfeng disease. To say the people were desperate would be an understatement; it was a disaster for them."

Recalling the scene, he sighed. "To be honest, Your Majesty, I personally inspected the situation and led the students of the academy to search through ancient texts, but we found no solution. Fortunately, the court provided the remedy, saving the people from disaster."

Hearing this, Kangxi knew it was his time to shine. He praised Elder Li and others for their compassion and concern for the people, which was commendable.

He then recounted how worried he was upon hearing about the rice crop issues in Jiangnan last year. He and the ministers worked tirelessly, searching through ancient texts, until An Qing conducted complex experiments to find a solution.

In short, he emphasized that he and the Great Qing government truly cared about the people and deserved their trust and loyalty.

Impressed, Elder Li spoke up. "Your Majesty, may I humbly request to meet the Fifth Princess Consort, the agricultural genius?"

Other local Han scholars echoed his sentiments, elevating An Qing's reputation even higher.

An Qing wasn't there. If she had been, her jaw would have dropped at the praise. Is this really about her?

A farming genius?

At this title, Kangxi was initially taken aback but then realized that An Qing truly was a farming genius.

However, he couldn't refuse the requests of the others, so he turned to Liang Jiugong beside him and said, "Go fetch Fifth Sister-in-law."

Liang Jiugong immediately complied, not daring to delay, and left. However, he soon rushed back without An Qing in tow.

"Your Majesty, Fifth Sister-in-law is not in the courtyard."

Kangxi was surprised. "Did she go out with Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi?"

He knew that during the southern tour, An Qing often took Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi out for sightseeing. Hearing that An Qing wasn't at the Cao residence, he assumed they had gone out again.

But Liang Jiugong shook his head and replied, "Your Majesty, this servant heard that Fifth Sister-in-law took Ninth Prince, Tenth Prince, and Fourteenth Prince to the outskirts of the city. They went to see if they could help with the pest infestation in the rice fields of Jiangning Prefecture..."

Indeed, An Qing and the others were on their way to the outskirts.

This all started when she was trying to think of a way to punish the mischievous Fourteenth Prince. She overheard some servants discussing the pest problem in the rice fields outside the city, mentioning how the villagers were busy catching pests in their fields.

A lightbulb went off in her head—she would make him catch pests in the rice fields!

Although she didn't advocate corporal punishment, sometimes "rehabilitation through labor" was effective. Since she couldn't hit or scold the Fourteenth Prince, this idea seemed perfect.

Of course, it was perfect for An Qing, but for the Fourteenth Prince, it was pure suffering. He couldn't refuse and had to follow her out with a grim face.

As for Ninth Prince and Tenth Prince, they came along to watch the spectacle, but little did they know that spectacles weren't always fun, especially when following An Qing into the fields.

An Qing and the others arrived by carriage at the outskirts and soon saw vast rice fields filled with busy villagers.

After getting out of the carriage, An Qing found a nearby field and squatted down to inspect it. Ninth Prince and the others followed closely behind.

On the way, An Qing had guessed that the pests in the fields were likely common rice pests such as armyworms, aphids, stem borers, and thrips, which commonly appear during the tillering stage.

Upon inspection, her guess was confirmed—it was indeed an armyworm infestation.

Armyworms, also known as cutworms, night crawlers, or marching worms, primarily damage rice during the tillering and heading stages by eating leaves and stems, significantly affecting yield and quality.

An Qing was used to these pests and even picked one up to examine it, but Ninth Prince and the others instinctively stepped back, having never seen such pests before.

An Qing glanced at them, noticing their discomfort. It was understandable; the soft larvae of armyworms could be unsettling.

But understanding didn't mean she would let them off the hook, especially the Fourteenth Prince.

Seeing the farmers nearby, An Qing approached them with the others. "Old man, do you need help catching pests? I have three younger brothers who are interested in helping."

Ninth Prince and Tenth Prince, who had been gloating, widened their eyes upon hearing "three."

They exchanged glances. Did Fifth Sister-in-law mean they had to catch pests too?

Ninth Prince wanted to ask but couldn't interrupt An Qing's conversation with the farmer, so he fretted silently.

The old farmer looked at their clothes and instinctively shook his head. These were clearly wealthy young masters and mistresses from the city, not suited for fieldwork.

"Young lady, please don't. It's not that I'm being unreasonable, but our livelihood depends on this crop, and we can't afford any mistakes."

An Qing understood his concern and smiled. "Old man, what if they damage your rice seedlings? We'll compensate for all losses."

She pointed at the Fourteenth Prince. "Rest assured, my brother is well-loved by his mother and has plenty of money to cover any damages."

An Qing also offered to pay the farmer for their work, ensuring that the money would come from the Fourteenth Prince.

The Fourteenth Prince instinctively wanted to protest, but seeing Ninth Prince and Tenth Prince, he stayed silent. He'd rather pay than go alone.

So, he didn't argue when An Qing asked him to give the farmer some silver as a deposit.

The old farmer, seeing An Qing's insistence, accepted the silver and allowed them to work in the fields.

Ninth Prince and Tenth Prince protested, but An Qing dismissed their complaints and coerced them into the fields.

Tenth Prince liked An Qing and was willing to listen to her, while Ninth Prince simply feared her.

The old farmer, despite the deposit, patiently taught them to minimize damage to the crops.

The three worked diligently under An Qing's supervision, not daring to cause more harm.

The old farmer shook his head, puzzled by An Qing's actions. He had never seen someone eager to pay for manual labor.

An Qing explained, "Boys shouldn't be too pampered. This will teach them a lesson."

The old farmer smiled and continued working.

An Qing stood at the edge of the field, watching the villagers bent over, catching pests. The infestation seemed severe.

But catching pests wasn't a long-term solution. During the tillering stage, even if all visible pests were caught, the remaining eggs would still cause problems during the heading stage.

An Qing knew which natural pesticides could control armyworms, but convincing the villagers was another matter.

In ancient times, the main methods to deal with pests were washing, smoking, and manual catching.

Even when thinking of using arsenic and other poisons to kill pests, people generally opt for the baiting method, which means luring the pests away from the crops before poisoning them.

Even with the previous houses used to treat 'Green Wind Disease,' the direct application of chemicals on crops is still widely feared by the common folk. After all, these leafrollers are different from Green Wind Disease; there is still the option of manually catching the pests. Even if some of the harvest might be lost due to the pest infestation, as long as they catch the pests quickly, total crop failure can be avoided.

Therefore, they still cannot accept the direct application of chemicals on crops and instinctively feel that it would damage the crops themselves.

Perhaps I should discuss this with Yinqi when I return and have him report it to Kangxi, then let the government handle it, An Qing thought.

Chapter 76: Fifth Princess Consort

"Fifth Sister-in-law, what are you thinking about?" Ninth Prince had somehow appeared beside An Qing and asked, poking his head around.

An Qing was deep in thought when she was startled by the sudden voice in her ear. She frowned and looked over. "Don't think about slacking off; go to the fields and catch some pests."

Upon hearing this, Ninth Prince was not pleased. "Fifth Sister-in-law, I wasn't trying to slack off. I just saw you spacing out and thought you might have some ideas on how to deal with these pests."

An Qing didn't expect him to notice. She found his perceptiveness rather impressive and decided not to hide anything from him. "Yes, I'm trying to figure out how to convince the old man to let me use medicine on the crops."

Ninth Prince immediately puffed up his chest and said boldly, "What's so difficult about that? You can tell him that if anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility for all the rice in his field and compensate him at the harvest price. Or you can offer to pay him now for the value of the rice."

Today, he had been cleared of years of injustice, and his mood was exceptionally good. Even though he didn't say much, he genuinely felt grateful to An Qing and wanted to repay her.

As for their past conflicts, Ninth Prince generously dismissed them in his mind, saying they were all in the past and he wouldn't hold a grudge.

An Qing had no idea what he was thinking; otherwise, she would have chuckled sarcastically. He acted as if it was solely his decision to move on.

But it was true that they were thinking along the same lines. An Qing had been considering that even if she reported back to Kangxi, she would still need to handle things herself. It would be better to demonstrate the method right away.

After all, the pesticide worked quickly, and showing the results to the villagers would make it easier for the government to promote its use, saving time and preventing further damage to the rice plants.

"No need. I don't accept favors without doing something in return. I'm not poor enough to be unable to afford the silver," An Qing replied.

Seeing his offer rejected, Ninth Prince became flustered. "H-how is it without doing something in return..."

He scratched his head awkwardly. "You helped me today. You proved my innocence and cleared my name after all these years."

It was a huge favor. As Xiao Shisì mentioned earlier, he had been ridiculed behind his back for years because of that incident. Now, he could finally stand tall.

He silently resolved to spread the news once they returned to the palace after the southern tour, to restore his reputation.

An Qing waved her hand and said, "No need to thank me. I was just speaking the truth."

She then glanced at Ninth Prince coolly. "Moreover, I need to correct you. I don't think you're completely innocent."

Ninth Prince exclaimed, "Ah! I'm not lying. I really did see the Great Immortal at the time."

Hadn't she previously explained that it was due to the hallucinogenic effects of anesthetic? Why was she suddenly changing her mind? Did she not believe him?

"I'm not talking about that," An Qing said straightforwardly. "Xiao Jiu, ask yourself honestly. Are you completely blameless in this matter? Didn't you want to use it to gain some fame?"

He had blown the incident out of proportion because he had spread it himself, leading to a big joke. An Qing guessed his motives—trying to create a 'divine movement' to highlight his uniqueness. Otherwise, why would he claim he saw the Great Immortal before passing out and woke up healed, implying that the deity had saved him?

He knew the Western doctor had treated the abscess surgically but downplayed it when telling others. His intentions were clear.

In daily interactions, An Qing found Xiao Jiu to be quite smart and linguistically gifted, but he often used his intelligence for shortcuts and tricks.

Creating a 'divine movement' was something emperors did to prove their divine mandate. What was he thinking, trying it as a prince? His political acumen was low, as evidenced by his foolish speculations during the succession struggle, first supporting Eighth Prince and then Fourteenth Prince.

An Qing wanted to use this opportunity to guide him, hoping to prevent him from repeating history's tragic ending. Being a wealthy prince and doing what he loved would be better.

Of course, she knew rushing things could backfire, and mere lecturing wouldn't work. She needed to address issues as they arose, like last time and now.

After making her point, An Qing turned to discuss using the pesticide with the old farmer.

Ninth Prince stood there, watching An Qing's back, trying to speak but ultimately remaining silent.

He couldn't refute her words. His Fifth Sister-in-law spoke the truth. He had wanted to gain attention, but mainly to catch the Emperor's eye.

Among his brothers, Ninth Prince knew he wasn't the Emperor's favorite. He wasn't as scholarly as Eighth Brother, nor as skilled in archery as Thirteenth Brother, nor as obedient as Tenth Brother. So, he always sought opportunities to stand out, hoping to catch the Emperor's attention.

However, his efforts often backfired, leaving him feeling foolish.

Ninth Prince sighed and returned to the fields, channeling his frustration into catching pests, tossing them one by one into a nearby bucket.

Tenth Prince scratched his head, wondering why Ninth Prince suddenly seemed so intense. Had Fifth Sister-in-law scolded him?

But An Qing had no time to worry about Ninth Prince's sulking. She was discussing the pesticide with the old farmer.

As expected, the farmer was initially resistant to her idea, but he agreed after she offered to rent a small plot of land at the harvest price.

With Perilla paying the silver, the rented plot became An Qing's experimental field. She then began gathering the ingredients for the pesticide.

She knew several recipes to combat the pests but chose the simplest and most accessible one, chicken ginseng. On the way, she noticed some growing nearby and confirmed with the old farmer that more could be found nearby.

The pesticide required chopping the leaves and boiling them with water, which was labor-intensive but eventually completed.

The rented plot was nearby, and An Qing led the team to spray the pesticide while Ninth Prince, Tenth Prince, and Fourteenth Prince continued catching pests.

Fourteenth Prince, being young and impatient, had grown frustrated after catching pests for a while. The slimy feel of the pests made him nauseous.

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and quit, shouting, "Whoever wants to do this can do it. I'm done!"

To express his anger, he kicked the nearby rice plants, toppling a small patch.

The old farmer was heartbroken. "Oh, young man, what are you doing? How can you destroy the crops like this?"

But Fourteenth Prince ignored him. "Hmph! I paid for it, so I can do whatever I want with it. It's none of your business."

With that, he stomped on several rice seedlings with his foot.

The old man opened his mouth hesitantly, wanting to persuade him, but since he had taken the silver earlier, he had no grounds to do so. Thus, he could only stand there with a pained expression.

Ninth Prince was already in a bad mood, and seeing this bastard's attitude, he walked over without a word, grabbed Fourteenth Prince by the clothes, and dragged him to the edge of the field. Then, he coldly threatened, "Little Fourteen, are you asking for a beating?"

Fourteenth Prince struggled hard, but due to the age difference, he was no match for Ninth Prince and couldn't break free. In the end, he could only look up defiantly and say, "If you dare lay a hand on me, I'll definitely tell my mother when we get back!"

Ninth Prince didn't care at all and sternly warned, "Little Fourteen, let me warn you. I'm not Fourth Brother. Even if Empress Dowager De is biased, she won't be biased towards me. You can't threaten me."

Fourteenth Prince choked for a moment. He wasn't stupid and knew this was true, but he couldn't bring himself to back down, so he remained stubborn.

Ninth Prince caught sight of the old man in the field trying to prop up the fallen rice seedlings. This reminded him of the baby who drowned in the bucket, and he suddenly understood An Qing's words about "not being able to afford it" more deeply.

He turned around abruptly, looking at Fourteenth Prince with a cold gaze. "Also, remember this: the common people have such reverence for food. No matter how much you misbehave, you can't destroy crops. If you do, I'll beat you every time I see you!"

When Kangxi arrived with everyone, he saw his two sons standing at the edge of the field, ready to fight, and heard their entire conversation.

Though he didn't know what had happened before, from their conversation and the old farmer trying to prop up the fallen seedlings, everything was clear.

Kangxi's face darkened immediately. On the way over, Li Lao and the other Han scholars praised An Qing for helping the commoners outside the city. Kangxi felt very proud.

But this was how they were helping!

Fortunately, Xiao Jiu's final words saved some face for him, preventing him from losing too much dignity.

He gave a meaningful glance to Fourth Prince and Eighth Prince, signaling them to separate the two troublemakers. It wouldn't look good to have them fighting in public.

As for why he didn't signal Yinqi, it was because Yinqi wasn't there. When they arrived, Yinqi had rushed directly to An Qing, ignoring the two unlucky brothers.

Of course, this was also at Kangxi's suggestion.

It must be said that Kangxi and his sons had great rapport. Often, just one look was enough for them to understand each other.

For example, with just one glance, Yinqi knew that his father wanted him to find An Qing, not to deal with Xiao Jiu and Little Fourteen. Moreover, he was supposed to explain the situation to her while bringing her over.

An Qing noticed the commotion and saw Xiao Jiu and Little Fourteen seemingly fighting. Though she didn't know what had happened, she initially didn't think much of it, planning to finish spraying the pesticide and then check on them. After all, they weren't at the Cao residence, so even if they fought, it wouldn't disgrace the royal family.

However, when she saw Kangxi and the others, she realized the two boys' luck had run out. She also knew her own luck wasn't any better, as these two had come with her.

As An Qing hurried out of the field, Yinqi approached.

"Why are you here?" she asked.

Seeing quite a few people, she wondered if it was a coincidence.

But that didn't make sense; Kangxi was supposed to be entertaining guests at the Cao residence. How did they end up here, right when Xiao Jiu and Little Fourteen were fighting?

Yinqi replied straightforwardly, "To find you."

An Qing: "?"

Why find her?

Without beating around the bush, Yinqi explained the situation, emphasizing that Li Lao and the others wanted to meet An Qing.

At first, An Qing was confused when she heard that the Han scholars Kangxi was trying to win over wanted to see her. But when she learned it was because of the method for treating 'qingfeng disease,' she relaxed.

After all, she was confident in her expertise. Since they wanted to meet her about agricultural matters, there was nothing to fear.

As they walked towards Kangxi, An Qing listened to Yinqi's explanation. When they arrived, Kangxi had just finished scolding his sons. Both stood with their heads down, but a closer look revealed their differences.

From their expressions, it was clear that Fourteenth Prince had been severely reprimanded, while Ninth Prince stood obediently without showing any fear.

An Qing didn't know the details, but upon approaching, she quickly greeted Kangxi and apologized, "Father, forgive me. It's my fault for not watching them properly."

Kangxi waved his hand, "This has nothing to do with you. As their sister-in-law, you thought of bringing them out to familiarize themselves with civilian affairs. That's for their benefit. They're the ones who aren't living up to expectations, not you."

An Qing immediately understood. Good, she hadn't been implicated by those two troublemakers.

She didn't blame herself for not being loyal. In such situations, self-preservation was necessary. After all, they were Kangxi's own sons, and he might forgive them soon enough.

That's the power of blood ties, undeniable.

Seeing An Qing approach, Kangxi put aside scolding his sons. There were others present, and important matters needed attention.

Thus, he introduced An Qing to Li Lao and the other Han scholars. An Qing, being well-versed in such settings, handled the situation gracefully.

Her demeanor, knowledge, and presence would not embarrass the royal family or Kangxi.

Of course, her knowledge was limited to agricultural matters, excluding poetry and literature.

However, Li Lao and the others were interested in her method for treating 'qingfeng disease,' so they focused on that topic. An Qing engaged them in conversation, gradually leading to the issue of rice pests.

"Forgive my boldness, but does Fifth Princess Consort have a method to deal with the pests in the rice fields?" Li Lao asked.

An Qing smiled and pointed nearby, "To be honest, I was just spraying pesticide."

Everyone became excited at this. Li Lao's slightly cloudy eyes suddenly brightened.

In recent years, he had paid close attention to agriculture and knew that these pests always appeared annually, causing significant hardship for farmers. If there was a method to control these pests, it would be a tremendous relief for the common people.

"May I go and take a look?" Li Lao asked.

An Qing glanced at Kangxi, and upon seeing his slight nod, she agreed and led the group to the field where she had been applying the pesticide.

Upon arriving, she explained to everyone. Since she had already sprayed the pesticide for some time, the areas near the edge of the field showed visible results. The pests that had been crawling on the seedlings were now completely motionless.

However, it was still unclear whether the rice seedlings were affected, and they would have to wait until tomorrow to be certain.

But since An Qing had taken action, everyone subconsciously believed that everything would be fine. This was the result of her previous impressive performances that had left a lasting impression on them.

However, An Qing truly hadn't expected that Old Li would be so knowledgeable about farming. He asked her numerous questions about cultivation, including pest control, breeding, and even fertilizers.

It must be said, those who delve into academia indeed have clear and logical thinking.

Thus, An Qing led the group of scholars headed by Old Li through this small field for an impromptu session of agricultural Q .

But she wasn't foolish; this was the perfect opportunity to subtly promote Kangxi. For example, when they asked how she discovered the method to combat the rice worms, she mentioned seeing it last year in Fengze Garden, and cleverly praised Kangxi's personal research on rice cultivation. She also took the chance to praise Kangxi's encouragement of Mongolian land reclamation, which gave her the opportunity to learn about farming.

In short, she made sure to attribute as much credit as possible to Kangxi. She was quite adept at this task.

Seeing the reactions of Old Li and the others, An Qing felt reassured and silently glanced at Kangxi, receiving an approving look from him.

"Madame Wu, you mentioned trying many methods to deal with the rice worms, some of which were very effective. So, is this method the most effective one?" Old Li asked.

If it was the most effective, then after confirming it was harmless to crops, it could be promoted immediately.

Unexpectedly, An Qing shook her head. "No."

Everyone was stunned, looking puzzled.

If it wasn't the most effective, why was she using it now? It seemed contradictory.

An Qing didn't keep them guessing and replied directly, "The method of making medicine from the cocklebur vine isn't the most effective, but it's the most suitable for the people here. The cocklebur vine is common here, so it won't burden the people economically."

After a pause, she added, "I believe that farming should always take local conditions into account."

Hearing this, Old Li looked at An Qing with admiration and bowed slightly. "Madame Wu, your righteousness is commendable. I am humbled."

An Qing quickly returned the bow. "Old Li, you flatter me. I don't deserve such praise."

Old Li waved his hand, indicating she needn't be modest, and then turned to Kangxi, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty, your benevolence and wise guidance are evident. It is a blessing for all the people that the imperial family cares so deeply for the common folk."

The other Han scholars echoed their agreement.

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Kangxi's eyes. He knew he had chosen the right approach to win over these Han scholars.

Agriculture is the foundation of the state, and food is the basic necessity of the people. Showing them hope in agriculture would make them see that the Great Qing was the choice of the people, and they would genuinely believe in its legitimacy.

Kangxi decided to reinforce their confidence further. He glanced at Zhang Ying, who immediately understood and stepped forward to chat with Old Li. In just a few words, he revealed that after returning to the capital, Kangxi planned to have An Qing establish an agricultural school to cultivate more agricultural talent for the Great Qing.

"Is this true?" Old Li asked in surprise.

Zhang Ying smiled. "Absolutely true. To be honest, I intend to send my second son to study under Madame Wu."

An Qing: "?"

Wait, she knew about Kangxi's plan to have her set up an agricultural school, but she thought it would only involve teaching the people from the Agricultural Administration Department. But Zhang Ying mentioned sending his second son to study with her?

If she remembered correctly, his second son was none other than the famous Qing dynasty official Zhang Tingyu!

Chapter 77: The Fifth Princess Consort

An Qing and the others returned to the city with Kangxi. The plot of land she had rented from the old man was taken over by Kangxi's men, and the natural pesticide had already been applied. It would only take one or two days to confirm that the crops were unaffected before the local government could promote its use.

Everyone seemed satisfied with this trip, whether it was the Manchu nobles and officials led by Kangxi or the Han Chinese scholars led by Old Li. They had tacitly reached a consensus on certain matters.

After their carriages entered Jiangning Prefecture, Kangxi, in a gesture of consideration, dismissed everyone to rest at their respective residences. He then took the princes directly to the Cao residence.

The journey back was uneventful, and An Qing noticed that Kangxi seemed to be in a good mood all along. She couldn't help but think that Xiao Jiu and Xiao Shisihad narrowly escaped trouble and marveled at their luck.

But as soon as they arrived at the Cao residence, Kangxi's previously sunny demeanor suddenly darkened, turning stormy.

An Qing had never seen such a scene and was startled. "Goodness, he's playing face-changing tricks."

Indeed, the wrath of an emperor was not to be underestimated.

Fortunately, this anger wasn't directed at her, and she silently felt relieved.

However, she observed that Yinqi and the others didn't react much, clearly used to Kangxi's quick changes. But Xiao Jiu and Xiao Shisi, being younger, weren't so composed, cowering as if waiting for a storm to hit.

Especially Xiao Shisi, his face pale.

"Shisi, you wretched child, kneel down!" Kangxi suddenly barked.

Prince Shisi fell to his knees and immediately confessed, "Please forgive me, Father Emperor. I know I was wrong."

An Qing watched in amazement. She had thought Prince Shisi was stubborn and would resist admitting fault, but who knew he would do so promptly.

It seemed he was someone who responded to authority; in front of the absolute authority of Kangxi, he was obedient, sliding to his knees and confessing quickly.

Kangxi wouldn't let him off easily. Thinking about what happened outside the city, his anger flared up again. At the time, he had restrained himself due to the situation, but now it was fully unleashed.

"You've learned nothing from your studies! How dare you trample on the crops in the peasants' fields? You've been spoiled rotten by your mother!"

Kangxi was adept at discerning deeper issues. From the argument between Ninth Prince and Prince Shisi, he picked up several key points.

When faced with Xiao Jiu's warning, Xiao Shisi's first reaction was to threaten to tell his mother. At eleven years old, a boy should not rely on his mother when in conflict with his brothers. This display of weakness and bullying displeased Kangxi.

Xiao Jiu's words, "I'm not Fourth Brother; Empress Dowager De won't favor me," also hinted at something.

Kangxi glanced at Fourth Prince. Clearly, Empress Dowager De did not treat her sons equally. Moreover...

He recalled that she always praised Xiao Shisi in his presence but rarely mentioned Fourth Prince. He had assumed it was because Xiao Shisi was younger, but now it seemed there was more to it.

An Qing grew increasingly confused. She had thought Kangxi was upset about the fight damaging the royal reputation, but it seemed there was more to it.

And what was this about Xiao Shisi trampling crops?

After scolding Prince Shisi, Kangxi unexpectedly praised Ninth Prince, saying he had matured and understood the hardships of farmers and the value of food. He commended him for guiding his younger brother and called him a fine young man.

An Qing was surprised. She hadn't expected the reason for the fight to be this; she had thought it was just a disagreement.

Wow, Xiao Jiu, you little rascal, you've really grown!

Ninth Prince, suddenly praised by his father, felt immense joy. "Thank you, Father Emperor. It's my duty."

Then, he seemed to remember something and turned to look at An Qing. "Much of what I learned is thanks to Fifth Sister-in-law and Fifth Elder Brother."

An Qing smiled inwardly. Good, this kid still remembers to credit us. Not bad, not bad.

Kangxi was even more pleased upon hearing this.

He looked at Xiao Jiu and Fifth Elder Brother, thinking that Concubine Yi had done well by not showing favoritism, which allowed An Qing and Fifth Elder Brother to teach Xiao Jiu without hesitation.

But his dissatisfaction with Empress Dowager De increased. As the saying goes, a doting mother often spoils her son. Her indulgence of Xiao Shisi could lead to serious problems.

He suddenly looked at Fourth Prince. "Fourth, I hereby authorize you to discipline Shisi on my behalf. If he doesn't change, I give you permission..."

Kangxi suddenly looked at Ninth Prince and said, "I authorize you to whip him with willow branches!"

Ninth Prince: "..."

Why bring this up now? Doesn't he have any dignity?

After a busy morning, An Qing and Yinqi returned to their residence, had lunch, and went to rest.

An Qing slept soundly and woke up to find Yinqi gone.

She called Perilla in and learned that he had gotten up early because Kangxi had sent a message about some urgent matter.

An Qing didn't pay much attention; Kangxi, the workaholic, always had urgent matters. It was routine.

In the afternoon, with nothing else to do, she stayed in her room working on her teaching plan.

From Kangxi's earlier remarks, it seemed the agricultural school would be established after returning to the capital. Though An Qing didn't know the specifics, she preferred to be prepared. Since she decided to do it, she wanted to do it well.

After discussing the matter with Yinqi, An Qing had been pondering how to run the agricultural school. She had only been a student and had no experience as a teacher.

She considered emulating her mentor's teaching style but realized it wouldn't work. These people weren't here for research but for practical knowledge.

So, rather than teaching, it was more about imparting advanced agricultural knowledge.

With this approach in mind, she outlined what to teach and how. She began drafting a basic plan.

By the time Yinqi returned in the evening, An Qing had a rough outline ready. She showed it to him, and he highly praised it.

This boost of confidence was greatly appreciated.

"Do you think what Lord Zhang Ying said is true?"

Yinqi was momentarily taken aback. "What do you mean by 'really'?"

An Qing blinked and said, "It's about this morning when Minister Zhang Ying told Old Li that he wanted his second son to attend the Agricultural School too."

Thinking about teaching Zhang Tingyu made her feel inexplicably nervous, but at the same time, her damned vanity kicked in immediately.

It felt like she was about to bring glory to her teacher's name.

"You're talking about Hengchen?" Yinqi was stunned.

An Qing nodded vigorously. "Yes, him!"

Seeing her reaction, Yinqi subconsciously furrowed his brows. "It should be so. Minister Zhang always acts prudently. Since he mentioned it publicly, it must have been approved privately by His Majesty."

Although he wasn't entirely clear on his father's intentions, he could guess that it was proposed by Minister Zhang Ying. However, he didn't understand why his father would agree.

After all, Zhang Tingyu was different from the officials of the Agricultural Administration Department. Regardless of his own abilities—since he hadn't yet participated in the imperial examinations and his future was uncertain—it was clear that his father intended to promote Minister Zhang Ying to a higher position.

Therefore, his father shouldn't let him have much interaction with the princes. So why did he allow Zhang Tingyu to come to the Agricultural School?

However, Yinqi couldn't dwell on these thoughts right now. His focus was on another matter. "Why did you suddenly ask about Hengchen?"

Recalling An Qing's reaction when they last saw Zhang Tingyu, it seemed indeed different, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly how.

An Qing didn't pay much attention and waved her hand. "Nothing, I just admire him."

"Admire?" Yinqi paused.

His mind instantly jumped to something. An Qing liked good-looking people. To be honest, Zhang Tingyu was indeed handsome. People had joked that he had the appearance of a third-place laureate, which referred to his looks.

It was well-known that the third-place laureate not only needed academic excellence but also had to be exceptionally handsome.

Moreover, as far as he knew, Zhang Tingyu only had one wife, Lady Yao, and no concubines. Despite being over twenty-five years old and without any children, he still hadn't taken a concubine.

No wonder An Qing admired him.

An Qing had no idea about Yinqi's train of thought. She had merely said it casually and didn't really admire Zhang Tingyu. After all, she wasn't part of historical circles.

In essence, it was just her vanity acting up, which she was fully aware of.

Of course, she knew that this vanity was harmless; it just made her feel good for a while. In a few days, she'd probably forget all about it.

"Yes, didn't you say he was very capable? You praised his knowledge and character. I agreed, so I naturally admire him."

Yinqi: "..."

He hadn't expected it to be because of that. Well, he had overthought it.

"When your Agricultural School starts, I want to learn too," Yinqi said.

An Qing exclaimed, "Ah," a bit confused.

Weren't they talking about Zhang Tingyu? Why did it suddenly shift to this?

Yinqi, thinking she was unwilling, frowned. "Do you think I'm not as smart as Hengchen and don't want to teach me?"

An Qing: "?"

What was he talking about?

Days passed slowly. Due to Empress Dowager's recent bout of cold, she needed rest, so An Qing's travel group had to pause their plans.

However, Concubine Yi had been quite prominent recently. Emperor Kangxi had stayed in her quarters for several consecutive nights, making An Qing hesitant to visit her mother-in-law, fearing she might disturb her.

But An Qing wasn't idle. She spent most of her time perfecting her teaching plan and didn't pay much attention to external matters.

One day, a palace maid from Concubine Yi's quarters came to invite An Qing over.

An Qing thought there was something important, but upon arriving, she realized Concubine Yi just missed her and wanted to chat.

"What have you been busy with these past few days? Why haven't you come over?" Concubine Yi asked.

An Qing picked up a pastry from the table and started eating. "Mother, wasn't I just avoiding disturbing you?"

Concubine Yi was momentarily confused and asked, "What disturbance? You used to come here often."

An Qing chuckled and winked, hinting, "Didn't I hear that Mother has been enjoying the favor of the harem these days?"

Concubine Yi's eyes sparkled with amusement.

Everyone knew that during the southern tour, Emperor Kangxi had been attended by lower-ranking concubines, while she and Noble Consort De were mere decorations.

This wasn't unusual. In recent years, Emperor Kangxi preferred younger concubines, and the four high-ranking concubines had grown accustomed to it.

But who would have thought that Emperor Kangxi would suddenly change his behavior and stay at her quarters for several nights? Concubine Yi was delighted, not because of the favor but because she had surpassed Noble Consort De.

The day Xiao Jiu and Xiao Shisih fought, Concubine Yi learned that Emperor Kangxi had sent Xiao Shisih back with a message to Noble Consort De. Though the content was unknown, Noble Consort De had since closed her doors.

Then, Emperor Kangxi kept coming to her quarters, praising her for raising Prince Wu and Xiao Jiu well, saying she was an excellent mother, fair and unbiased, better than Noble Consort De.

How ironic. Over the years, Concubine Yi had always been outshone by Noble Consort De in every aspect except appearance. Emperor Kangxi often praised Noble Consort De's virtue and fairness, urging Concubine Yi to emulate her.

Now, the tables had turned. Who would have thought that Noble Consort De, known for her fairness, would show favoritism between her sons and be reprimanded by the Emperor?

Concubine Yi sighed and then remembered something. Turning to a palace maid, she said, "Go get the wooden box from the dressing table."

The maid quickly fetched a large wooden box and placed it before An Qing at Concubine Yi's gesture.

An Qing looked at the box, feeling a bit confused. "Mother, are you giving me a gift?"

Why would she suddenly give her a gift?

Concubine Yi waved her hand and replied, "It's not from me; it's from Xiao Jiu. It's a token of appreciation from him, but he was too embarrassed to give it himself, so he asked me to do it."

An Qing was taken aback for a moment, not quite understanding. "What kind of token of appreciation?"

After saying this, she immediately realized what it must be about—the day she had vouched for him in front of the Fourteenth Prince.

Indeed, Concubine Yi briefly recounted the incident and then sighed softly. "Thank goodness you helped Xiao Jiu clear things up. To be honest, even I, his mother, didn't believe him."

An Qing shook her head. "Mother, you didn't know about it. Don't blame yourself. Xiao Jiu himself didn't understand either."

Concubine Yi smiled and replied, "Don't worry, I'm not blaming myself. It's all in the past. No point dwelling on it."

Seeing that she was genuinely fine, An Qing felt relieved. Indeed, Concubine Yi had always been straightforward and wouldn't get bogged down by such matters.

However, when she opened the box Xiao Jiu had given her, she was completely stunned.

Wow! Xiao Jiu is really something, giving a golden Buddha as a token of appreciation. He has the flair of the future Eighth Prince's 'moneybag.'

Concubine Yi seemed equally surprised that the Ninth Prince had prepared such a gift. No wonder she had found it heavy earlier.

"This was a gift my father gave Xiao Jiu when we went to Shengjing. He adores it, so I never expected him to give it to you," Concubine Yi said.

Hearing this, An Qing immediately responded, "Mother, why don't you return it to Xiao Jiu for me? Just tell him I received his gesture."

If Xiao Jiu liked it so much, she couldn't bear to take it away from him. The fact that he carried it with him showed how much he cherished it.

Concubine Yi chuckled but waved her hand. "No worries. That child isn't usually generous, but since he chose to give it to you, he must have thought it through. Just accept it."

She added, "Actually, Xiao Jiu is thanking you not just for that incident, but also because you helped him earn praise from the Emperor that day."

An Qing quickly explained, "Mother, that had nothing to do with me. Xiao Jiu did well on his own, which is why the Emperor praised him."

Concubine Yi shook her head. "I know that boy very well. If not for your guidance and that of the Fifth Prince, he wouldn't have spoken like that."

She then sighed again, recalling something. "You don't know, but Xiao Jiu has always known that the Emperor doesn't favor him. He's always trying to win his father's approval, which is why he was so happy this time."

An Qing was taken aback. Did the Emperor dislike Xiao Jiu?

Concubine Yi seemed to read her thoughts and laughed. "In this regard, you're quite similar to the Emperor."

An Qing exclaimed, "Me? How could I be similar to the Emperor?"

Concubine Yi smiled and replied, "The Emperor likes good-looking people."

This preference extended not only to concubines but also to his sons.

An Qing blinked. She knew this to be true; historically, the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong emperors were known for their preference for good looks, especially Kangxi. But...

"Xiao Jiu isn't bad-looking."

Concubine Yi sighed. "Xiao Jiu isn't bad-looking, but he's always been a bit chubby. When he was little, it was cute, but now it's not ideal. The Emperor once mentioned to me that Xiao Jiu should eat less and not be too fat."

But Xiao Jiu, no matter what he tried, couldn't lose weight. It was a constant source of frustration for her, but there was nothing she could do about it.

An Qing was dumbfounded. The Ninth Prince was a bit plump, but not unattractive.

So, did the Emperor prefer slender figures?

Hmm~ They were indeed different. She believed in diverse beauty standards.

With Concubine Yi's insistence, An Qing eventually accepted the golden Buddha from the Ninth Prince.

Indeed, it was quite heavy. On the way back, Perilla and Maidong had to take turns carrying it, or else one person couldn't handle it.

An Qing couldn't help but wonder what Xiao Jiu was thinking, bringing such a heavy item with him.

Fortunately, they were almost back to their courtyard, but as they passed by the Eighth Prince's quarters, they heard a commotion inside. It sounded like the Eighth Princess Consort and the Eighth Prince arguing.

Oh~ This was definitely juicy gossip.

But wait, the Eighth Prince and the Eighth Princess Consort had always been inseparable since their marriage. Their relationship seemed perfect, and the way the Eighth Prince looked at his consort didn't seem fake.

So why was there talk of a 'seductress' now? Could it be that the Eighth Prince met someone in Jiangnan?

But they couldn't linger, so An Qing hurriedly left. Back in their courtyard, she couldn't stop thinking about it. She knew curiosity killed the cat, but hearing half a story made her restless.

At that moment, she really missed Cui Liu.

Perilla sighed and said, "My lady, shall I go find out more?"

An Qing looked at her skeptically. "Can you handle it?"

She couldn't imagine Perilla seriously gathering gossip. More importantly, she didn't want Perilla to get caught and make things worse.

Perilla hesitated. "Perhaps Maidong could go?"

Maidong, hearing this, quickly waved her hands, looking terrified. "My lady, I can't do it."

She could treat patients, but she had no idea how to start gathering gossip.

An Qing watched them for a few seconds and sighed. Fine, she'd do it herself.

"It's been a while since I chatted with the Fourth Princess Consort. Let's go; she's probably free now."

Perilla and Maidong may not be good at gossip, but they know their mistress well. They exchanged a glance and immediately understood An Qing's intention.

The Fourth Prince lives next to the Eighth Prince, so with all the commotion in the Eighth Prince's courtyard just now, the Fourth Princess must have heard something.

At the very least, if they go over there now, they might still hear something.

But things did not go as hoped. When An Qing returned, the arguments in the Eighth Prince's courtyard had already ceased, leaving her to pin all her hopes on the Fourth Princess.

Chapter 78: The Fifth Princess Consort

An Qing, her heart brimming with curiosity, hurried to the Fourth Princess Consort's courtyard.

But as soon as she entered the Fourth Princess Consort's room, her attention was drawn to two women dressed in Han Chinese attire. Their delicate features and fair skin made them stand out, like lotuses blooming in water, standing gracefully before her.

Who were they?

An Qing paused and looked up at the Fourth Princess Consort.

A hint of bitterness flashed across the Fourth Princess Consort's face. She gestured for someone to bring the two women forward, then turned to invite An Qing to sit down.

"Fourth Sister-in-law, are those maids from the Cao residence?" An Qing asked hesitantly.

The Fourth Princess Consort shook her head. "They were sent by Lord Cao, saying they are here to serve our master."

Well... serving the Fourth Prince implied more than just service.

An Qing was taken aback. Wasn't Cao Yin one of Emperor Kangxi's trusted aides? How could he so openly send women to the Fourth Prince without fear of suspicion?

Or perhaps... there was something else going on?

"Does His Majesty know about this?" she asked tentatively.

Upon hearing An Qing's question, the Fourth Princess Consort was momentarily stunned before nodding.

Since An Qing wasn't an outsider, the Fourth Princess Consort didn't hide anything and explained the situation.

These two women were indeed sent by Cao Yin, but the Fourth Prince initially refused them. Later, he was summoned by Emperor Kangxi, who simply said he knew about it and that it wasn't a big deal, instructing him to keep them for service.

With the Emperor's order, the Fourth Prince couldn't refuse and brought them back, leaving their arrangements to the Fourth Princess Consort.

After hearing the whole story, An Qing was speechless and couldn't help but silently criticize Lao Kang. While she understood it was his way of showing concern for his son, sending women like this was quite questionable.

There were many ways to show care, why not send something simpler, like gold as Ninth Prince did? But instead, he preferred to send concubines.

Sigh, the cruel feudal society.

An Qing sighed inwardly, then suddenly pointed towards the neighboring courtyard and asked, "So, Eighth Sister-in-law just now..."

The Fourth Princess Consort immediately understood and nodded slightly. "Eighth Brother and our master were both summoned by His Majesty."

Naturally, the women were brought back together.

An Qing nodded knowingly. Ah, finally, she understood the situation.

So, it wasn't that the Eighth Prince had fallen for someone else.

But this Eighth Princess Consort was quite bold, daring to make such a scene over people personally approved by Emperor Kangxi, calling them "fox spirits" and accusing them of ill intentions.

Goodness, was she insulting Cao Yin or Lao Kang? But given normal people wouldn't dare do that, she must be referring to Cao Yin.

Seeing An Qing's expression, the Fourth Princess Consort asked, "Fifth Brother, didn't you bring anyone back?"

An Qing was momentarily stunned but quickly understood what the Fourth Princess Consort meant.

Indeed, if the Fourth Prince and Eighth Prince both received women, it would be odd for Yinqi, who was between them, to receive none. So, they must have also received some.

"When I came over, our master hadn't returned yet. He probably has someone too," she replied after thinking for a moment.

The Fourth Princess Consort nodded lightly, agreeing with this explanation.

Suddenly remembering something, An Qing asked, "Fourth Sister-in-law, how did you arrange those two women?"

She genuinely lacked experience in this matter, but the Fourth Princess Consort always handled things well, so following her lead would be safe.

The Fourth Princess Consort paused and replied, "His Majesty didn't specify concubines, only that they should serve him."

An Qing blinked, quickly grasping the key point from the Fourth Princess Consort's words.

Ah, got it. Emperor Kangxi didn't care much about their status, so he left them without titles.

Like the ladies-in-waiting in the side chambers of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, they perform palace maid duties while also serving as bed companions.

When An Qing and her servants left the Fourth Princess Consort's courtyard, their hearts felt somewhat conflicted.

Perilla and Maidong appeared troubled, never expecting to learn about such a situation. Would someone be waiting for them when they returned home?

An Qing felt a mix of awkwardness and amusement, as if she had become part of the gossip herself.

Upon returning to their courtyard, they all walked more quietly. Seeing no unexpected guests in the room, they instantly relaxed.

An Qing couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. Why were they sneaking around their own home like this?

Perilla scratched her head and replied, "It's not fear, just strange."

Returning to find two new women in the house seemed odd.

An Qing thought the same. If she were at home, she wouldn't mind Yinqi bringing two women back, but if she weren't, it would feel strange to return to find them there.

Though she couldn't pinpoint the exact difference, it might just be the psychological advantage of being present.

Fortunately, Yinqi hadn't returned yet, and An Qing silently rejoiced.

As for what to do next, she didn't think it was a big deal. She would follow the Fourth Princess Consort's example.

Yinqi, meanwhile, had been busy assisting officials in Jiangning Prefecture with promoting the rice pest control method An Qing devised, which had already passed its observation period.

Today, things have finally come to a temporary end. He had planned to report back to his father the Emperor about his mission, but was unexpectedly intercepted by Cao Yin, who asked to speak with him privately.

Yinqi thought there must be something important, but Cao Yin didn't say anything and instead brought in two women, claiming they were servants for him.

"Your kindness is appreciated, Beile, but I don't need more servants. Please take them back," he said, frowning slightly as he refused outright.

Cao Yin seemed unsurprised by Yinqi's response, having already experienced similar situations with the Fourth Prince and the Eighth Prince.

"Rest assured, Fifth Beile, this was ordered by His Majesty."

Yinqi was taken aback and asked uncertainly, "Are you sure it was my father who sent these women?"

Cao Yin bowed respectfully and replied, "I would not dare deceive you. This is absolutely true."

Yinqi sighed silently and waved him off, saying, "I don't want them. Take them back. I will explain to my father myself."

Without another word, he turned and headed towards Kangxi's residence.

Cao Yin was stunned, completely unprepared for Yinqi's reaction. Looking at the two women beside him, he was unsure what to do next.

Yinqi rushed to Kangxi's residence without delay. He did not immediately mention the two women but first reported on his mission.

After Kangxi nodded in satisfaction, Yinqi suddenly blurted out, "Father, please don't send me any more servants. I don't want them."

Kangxi was taken aback and, after a moment, frowned and asked, "Why?"

Yinqi, having prepared his explanation during the journey, calmly responded, "An Qing is busy writing that teaching plan. If I bring these women back, she won't have the energy to manage everything."

He added, "You've also tasked her with farming and running an agricultural school for the Great Qing. She takes your orders very seriously and barely sleeps."

Then, he looked at Kangxi with a 'please don't cause trouble' expression.

Kangxi was momentarily speechless, wanting to argue that An Qing didn't need to manage the servants, but then realized it should be the responsibility of the Princess Consort.

Initially, he thought sending servants to his son wasn't a big deal, but now he felt guilty. An Qing was working hard for him, and sending servants to the Fifth Prince's household seemed inappropriate.

Moreover, the Fifth Prince didn't have a legitimate heir, and An Qing had no children either. Sending more servants...

"Fine, fine. If you don't want them, don't want them. Enough talk. Dismissed," Kangxi said impatiently, feeling increasingly uncomfortable.

Yinqi was relieved and quickly left.

On his way back, he couldn't help but feel proud of his reasoning, thinking it might work again. As for future gifts from his father, he'd deal with them when they came.

Solving this problem, Yinqi returned home in good spirits.

However, upon entering, An Qing looked at him and then behind him, puzzled, "Where are the people?"

Confused, Yinqi asked, "What people?"

An Qing was equally perplexed, "Didn't Father send two servants through Cao Yin? That's strange, since the Fourth Prince and Eighth Prince both received them."

Could it be that Kangxi favored the Fourth Prince and Eighth Prince?

Yinqi understood her concern and realized that his father had indeed sent servants to the Fourth Prince and Eighth Prince.

But seeing An Qing focused solely on whether his father was being fair, he found it both frustrating and amusing. She really was...

"I didn't accept them," Yinqi replied honestly.

An Qing was surprised, "Why not?"

After all, this was Kangxi's way of showing care for his sons. Refusing required a good reason.

Yinqi, unsure how to explain, simply said, "Troublesome."

An Qing raised an eyebrow, "Troublesome?"

She chuckled, imagining him as a domineering CEO in modern times. But she knew Yinqi didn't mean it like that; he likely meant dealing with Cao Yin was troublesome.

Though Cao Yin was Kangxi's trusted aide, An Qing knew that during the succession struggle, the Cao family had sided with the Eighth Prince. Perhaps Cao Yin had connected with the Eighth Prince during this southern tour?

But she doubted it. The Eighth Prince wasn't yet powerful, and the succession struggle hadn't reached its peak. Cao Yin wouldn't risk siding with anyone so early.

Regardless, it was better for Yinqi to avoid such complications.

An Qing nodded and said, "So you find it troublesome. I thought..."

"Thought what?" Yinqi asked.

An Qing raised an eyebrow, teasing him, "I thought you weren't interested in women."

Yinqi laughed, "Am I not interested in women? You don't know?"

An Qing shrugged, sometimes she did, sometimes she didn't.

If he wasn't interested in women, why did he act differently during intimate moments? But if he was, why did he never visit the other courtyards?

They had been married for two years, and Yinqi only stayed in her main courtyard or the front courtyard. He never visited the others.

Even someone like the Fourth Prince, who appeared indifferent, occasionally visited his concubines.

So why did Yinqi do this? An Qing frowned, wondering if it was because he couldn't...

She suddenly widened her eyes, as if a new idea had struck her. Indeed, it was quite possible.

After all, thinking back now, she had often been the one to initiate things in bed!

An Qing looked at Yinqi with a face of surprise, as if she had uncovered a great secret. "That, actually, Maidwinter's medical skills are pretty good. How about letting her..."

Yinqi was taken aback for a moment, not quite understanding at first. But when he did, he couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.

He had always known An Qing to be a bold woman, never shy about their intimate moments. Sometimes, she would even take the initiative and assert that as husband and wife, it was perfectly natural for them to be together. "If not me, who else would I sleep with?"

Of course, she could sleep with him, and only him!

But he never imagined she would...

The truth was, even the most patient man could not tolerate any doubt about his abilities in that area. That night, An Qing paid the price for her careless words, being thoroughly exhausted until the moon was high in the sky.

The next day, she held her sore waist and sighed to the heavens. Yinqi wasn't avoiding women at all; he just found it troublesome to have Cao Yin's people around!

Emperor Kangxi stayed in Jiangning Prefecture for a few more days, bustling about nonstop. Even during the day, Yinqi and the others rarely saw him.

On April 21st, the imperial barge left Jiangning Prefecture and made its way back to Yangzhou, marking the beginning of the return journey from the southern tour.

Throughout the journey back, Emperor Kangxi didn't idle. He summoned Li Guangdi and others again to discuss river management, truly embodying the emperor's busy schedule.

The only difference was that on the return trip, besides bringing Yinqi, the Fourth Prince, and the Eighth Prince along to participate in state affairs, he also occasionally included the Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince for learning purposes. This delighted the two every time they saw An Qing.

The return journey went smoothly, and they arrived back in the Imperial City on May 17th, officially ending the southern tour.

An Qing, accompanied by Perilla and Maidwinter, returned to the Prince's residence after being away for over three months. The first to greet them was Cui Liu's big bear hug.

"Wah wah wah, my lady, you're finally back! I've missed you so much!"

Cui Liu clung tightly to An Qing, who was almost suffocating. She laughed and said, "It looks like you're not missing me but trying to murder your mistress. Let go quickly, or I'll be strangled to death."

Perilla and Maidwinter hurriedly pulled Cui Liu away. "You silly girl, don't be so rough. My lady has been traveling and is already exhausted. Don't add to her troubles."

Cui Liu pouted unwillingly and complained, "Sister Perilla, you and Maidwinter had a great time outside with my lady, so you wouldn't know how hard it was for Chunxiao and me to stay home. Look, I've even lost weight because I missed you so much."

Perilla rolled her eyes. "Naughty girl, look at your round face. You must have had Chunxiao make you lots of delicious food."

Maidwinter teased Chunxiao, "Chunxiao, do you open the bread oven three times a day or more to make food for this girl?"

Cui Liu protested immediately, "Maidwinter, don't slander me. I didn't!"

Then, she looked at Chunxiao with a pitiful expression, hoping for her support.

Chunxiao patted her shoulder and explained seriously, "Indeed, it wasn't more than three times a day, just three times."

Everyone burst into laughter at this, and Cui Liu chased Chunxiao in anger.

Watching the girls play and bicker, An Qing smiled warmly. This familiar scene was indeed something she had missed.

And there were the familiar faces led by Little Xizi, the familiar red walls and green tiles. She finally understood the saying, "A golden nest or a silver nest is not as good as one's own doghouse."

"I brought gifts for everyone from the southern tour. Perilla, please distribute them," An Qing said.

Everyone cheered and rushed to help Perilla move and distribute the gifts.

An Qing shook her head with a smile and led Cui Liu and Maidwinter into the house. "How has the palace been these past few months?"

Cui Liu replied, "Don't worry, my lady, everything is fine."

Then, she briefly summarized the situation in the inner courtyard and the palace, confirming that everything was indeed well.

But when she mentioned the Eighth Princess, Cui Liu paused. "Concubine Zhang isn't doing well. The imperial physician said it might only be a matter of months."

An Qing paused, then silently sighed. Life was unpredictable, and aging and death were beyond control. It was heartbreaking for the Eighth Princess and her siblings.

Seeing it was still early, she asked Perilla to gather the gifts she had prepared for the Eighth Princess during the southern tour and then went to visit her at Zhaoxiang Palace.

When An Qing arrived, the Eighth Princess was about to visit her mother. Seeing An Qing, she was surprised.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, why are you here so soon? I was planning to visit you tomorrow."

The fact that the southern tour group had returned today was no secret in the palace. The Eighth Princess thought An Qing would need rest after the long journey and planned to visit her the next day.

But she never expected An Qing to come directly.

Looking at the young girl before her, An Qing sighed silently. She had lost weight again, which was truly heart-wrenching. "Eight Sister, you can't keep doing this. Your mother would be worried seeing you like this."

The Eighth Princess was stunned and immediately realized that An Qing must have heard about her mother's condition and came to see her urgently.

These days, she had been strong in front of her mother, her Thirteenth Brother, and her younger sister, never shedding a tear. But seeing Fifth Sister-in-law, she couldn't hold back anymore.

"Wah wah wah, Fifth Sister-in-law, what should I do? My mother is really ill and can barely eat anything. I'm so scared, so scared..."

An Qing didn't know how to comfort her, so she gently patted her back, trying to soothe her. "Don't be afraid, we're all here for you. We'll be with you."

Hearing this, the Eighth Princess cried even harder, knowing deep down that her mother wouldn't be able to stay with her much longer.

An Qing silently stayed with her until she had cried herself out and released her emotions. Then, they slowly began talking.

Pointing to the items on the table, she introduced each one, explaining where they came from. These weren't expensive gifts, just small trinkets An Qing had bought along the way—clay figurines, windmills, and such.

The Eighth Princess played with them lovingly. She really liked them because they were specially chosen for her by Fifth Sister-in-law, and each item reminded her of her.

"Here are some supplements I brought for you, Eight Sister. Listen to Fifth Sister-in-law and use them daily. Don't let yourself become too weak," An Qing instructed.

The Eighth Princess nodded lightly, her eyes slightly red. "Thank you, Fifth Sister-in-law. I will listen."

An Qing stayed with her for a while longer, and the Eighth Princess cried several more times. Perhaps she had cried herself out, or perhaps the pressure she had been under for these days finally found release. Soon, she fell asleep leaning against the soft couch.

The Eighth Princess's personal palace maid escorted An Qing out, her eyes red as she said, "We are truly grateful that you, Lady Wu Fu, came over. The past two days have been difficult; Concubine Zhang suddenly took a turn for the worse. Fortunately, the imperial physicians managed to save her. Our princess hasn't slept for two whole nights because of this."

An Qing hadn't expected this and hurriedly asked, "How is Concubine Zhang now?"

The palace maid replied, "She is holding on, insisting that she must wait until the Emperor returns from his southern tour. This thought has kept her going. But now that the Emperor is back, I fear that after she sees him, my lady..."

Though she didn't finish her sentence, An Qing understood her unspoken words.

So, Concubine Zhang had been holding on just to see Kangxi one last time.

Those who know the history of the struggle for succession among the nine princes are well aware that the Thirteenth Prince received more attention from Kangxi only after his mother's death. Consequently, whether it was during his tours or the Mulan hunts, Kangxi always preferred to bring the Thirteenth Prince along.

Now, Concubine Zhang's determination to hold on until Kangxi's return was likely not just to see him. Rather, she probably wanted to use the last bit of affection she had with Kangxi to pave the way for her children before she died.

Chapter 79: The Fifth Princess Consort

After returning from Zhaoxiang, An Qing felt a bit down. As she stepped into the house, a furry ball suddenly rolled up to her feet. She looked closely and realized it was Snowball.

Hey! When did this little guy come back?

This southern tour was different from the previous trip to the frontier. With Cui Liu and Chunxiao staying behind, An Qing wasn't too worried that Snowball would react as strongly as before.

After all, compared to her, the nominal cat owner, Cui Liu and Chunxiao took care of Snowball more often in daily life. Especially Chunxiao, who almost always provided Snowball with all its cat treats. In a way, Chunxiao was truly Snowball's provider.

An Qing had anticipated that Snowball wouldn't be as clingy this time, but she never expected that when she returned, eager to play with the little guy, he wouldn't even be home!

Cui Liu mentioned that Snowball had been running around a lot lately. Not only was he absent during the day, but sometimes he didn't even come back at night. She suspected he might have found another female cat outside and had followed him several times with Little Xizi, but each time they lost him, leaving them clueless about his activities.

Meow~ Meow~

Seeing that An Qing didn't pick him up, Snowball tilted his head and protested with a meow.

An Qing smiled, bent down, and picked him up. Seeing how dusty he was, she said with a look of disgust, "Where have you been, little one? It's one thing to be out all day, but why are you so dirty? Don't forget, you're a domesticated cat, not a stray."

She then called for Cui Liu to bring a basin of water and a towel to clean him up. Otherwise, she couldn't bear to hold him.

Cui Liu quickly brought in a basin of water and skillfully took over Snowball, complaining about his wandering while cleaning him. Her practiced movements showed she had done this many times recently.

Snowball seemed to know he was in trouble and cooperated throughout, neither struggling nor making a sound. Soon, a soft and fragrant kitten was back in An Qing's arms.

An Qing cuddled him for a while, feeling very fond. She hadn't realized how much she missed him after being away for months.

Suddenly remembering what Cui Liu had said about him having another female cat, she thought of a method she had seen online to check if a cat had a partner. She turned him around to examine his eyes.

Indeed, his eyes weren't as clear and innocent as before, seeming to carry worldly desires. Hmm~ Could he really be dating outside?

But then again, Snowball was nearly two years old, which is the age for marriage and offspring in human terms.

An Qing tapped his nose gently and said earnestly, "Snowball, dating is fine, but don't be a heartless man. If you have a family outside, bring them back. Your old mother has some money and can take care of them. We shouldn't abandon our family."

Snowball responded with a couple of meows, seemingly acknowledging her words.

An Qing didn't pay much attention, still pondering whether to send Little Xizi and a few other eunuchs to follow him and see what he does all day. They couldn't let him roam freely in the palace.

Unexpectedly, before she could give instructions to Little Xizi, Snowball returned late the next evening, bringing along a female cat and two kittens.

An Qing was stunned, feeling like a mother whose son had brought an unexpected family home.

Meow~ Meow~

Snowball meowed at An Qing, then moved aside to show her his family, as if saying, "Mom, look, I brought my wife and kids back. You promised to take care of them."

Wow, it was a beautiful calico cat. An Qing stared wide-eyed at the large calico and two small calico kittens, thinking, "My baby, how did you get so lucky?"

Everyone knows that calicos are the beauties among cats.

"Snowball, you've really done well for yourself, finding such a pretty wife," An Qing praised.

And having two beautiful kittens, he was truly a winner in life.

Snowball seemed to understand her praise, proudly tilting his head and meowing.

At this point, everyone else finally reacted. Cui Liu, hands on her hips, scolded Snowball, "I followed you before, and you always managed to shake me off. I knew something was up. Turns out you really did find a female cat outside."

Snowball seemed to protest, turning to face Cui Liu with a slightly aggressive meow, different from the friendly ones he gave An Qing.

Cui Liu retorted, "You're talking back now, aren't you? Well, you may be clever, but you still brought your family back!"

Little Xizi chuckled, "Our Snowball is indeed smart. He knows the master is the one who makes decisions here."

Everyone agreed. Coincidentally or not, Snowball brought his family back right after An Qing returned.

An Qing shook her head helplessly. Regardless of coincidence, since Snowball brought his family back, she had to take care of them.

However, she first needed to ask Little Xizi to investigate if the calico cat had an owner. If Snowball had brought someone else's cat, it would be troublesome.

Little Xizi didn't delay and went to inquire. Previously, there were no leads, but now it was easier. Soon, he learned everything about the calico cat.

It turned out the cat belonged to a minor concubine in Kangxi's harem, who had passed away due to illness. The cat became a stray, wandering the palace until it settled in a small garden near the princes' quarters. Some palace maids occasionally fed it, and nearby eunuchs saw a Persian cat bringing food to the garden, likely Snowball.

An Qing sighed, realizing Snowball had taken advantage of the situation.

Well, since the calico cat was now ownerless, it made things easier. She just needed to arrange for the family properly.

The two calico kittens seemed to be about a month old, suggesting Snowball and the calico cat had mated around the time of the southern tour.

An Qing laughed and cried, realizing she had worried for nothing; Snowball had been busy with his mate.

However, while the kittens were playful, the calico cat remained wary, likely due to her past experiences as a stray.

Fortunately, she trusted Snowball and followed him closely, though still cautious around others. This would require patience.

An Qing then arranged for the family. The old cat bed was too small, so a new one was needed. A new climbing frame and toys for the kittens were also necessary.

Money wasn't an issue; she wanted everything to be perfect.

Since bringing his family back, Snowball had become a "married and forgetful" cat, leaving both kittens in An Qing's care.

Looking at the two lively little kittens at her feet, it felt no different from becoming a grandmother painlessly.

When Yinqi returned, he saw An Qing squatting there, playing with the two little calico cats.

"Where did these little kittens come from?" he asked.

An Qing looked up and replied with a resentful expression, "They're the offspring of that little scoundrel Xuetuan."

Yinqi exclaimed, "Ah," clearly not quite understanding.

So, An Qing began to recount the story of how Xuetuan had found his mate and their kittens, adding that this little guy had really lucked out by finding a calico mate.

Yinqi smiled and responded, "If you put it that way, our Xuetuan isn't so bad after all. He did bring back both his mate and kittens."

An Qing was unconvinced and insisted, "This is called acting first and explaining later. How is that not being a scoundrel? If it had taken a fancy to someone, it should have brought them back first. After all, which respectable kitten doesn't get married through parental arrangement and matchmakers? This kind of thing is just called mating without a matchmaker, which is unfair to the poor calico cat."

If this isn't being a scoundrel, what is?

Yinqi could only shake his head helplessly at her twisted logic; it was just a kitten, after all, and didn't understand such things.

Fine, if they were her kittens, she could call them scoundrels if she wanted.

Seeing Yinqi return, An Qing stopped playing with the kittens. She had something to discuss with him. She had the two kittens taken away, washed her hands, and then entered the room.

An Qing walked around to the desk and handed Yinqi the final version of the Agricultural School's teaching plan. "Please give this teaching plan to His Majesty tomorrow."

Yinqi took it and said with a smile, "It's quite coincidental; His Majesty was asking about it today."

An Qing shrugged. She knew that with Emperor Kangxi's workaholic nature, he would surely urge her upon returning to the capital. Fortunately, she was prepared, or else she might have been caught off guard.

Yinqi opened the plan and was somewhat surprised. "You made changes?"

An Qing nodded. "Yes, instead of setting up a school, let's go straight to practical training in the experimental fields."

Farming is different from other disciplines. Emperor Kangxi's intention wasn't for her to teach agricultural theory but to train people who could start working immediately. Training directly in the experimental fields would be more effective, eliminating the need for theoretical discussions and focusing on every step of scientific farming.

It was similar to a modern "accelerated training program."

Thus, setting up a formal school was unnecessary. Besides, having An Qing lecture in front of a classroom would be too awkward for her.

After hearing An Qing's explanation, Yinqi agreed that the approach was practical and aligned with his father's expectations: quickly training a batch of capable agricultural experts to be dispatched throughout the Great Qing to promote her "scientific" farming methods.

"I think His Majesty will have no issues with it," Yinqi said. "When do you want to start?"

An Qing thought for a moment and replied, "As soon as possible. The wheat harvest on my estate is ongoing, and once it's finished, we can begin the first class."

Yinqi nodded lightly. "Alright, I'll handle it."

An Qing patted his shoulder and said, "I trust you as an assistant teacher."

Yinqi was puzzled. "What's an assistant teacher?"

An Qing explained, "It's someone who assists me in teaching."

Yinqi nodded seriously, agreeing with this description.

He was happy to be her helper, assisting her in whatever she wanted to do.

With An Qing's efficiency, Emperor Kangxi was even more prompt. As expected, he was very satisfied with her teaching plan and approved it immediately.

Soon after, the list of students for her agricultural school was finalized.

Upon seeing the list, An Qing was stunned. While she understood the inclusion of officials from the Agricultural Administration Department and the Ministry of Finance, led by Zhang Tingyu, she couldn't fathom why Emperor Kangxi had added his own sons.

Ninth Prince, Tenth Prince, Twelfth Prince, Thirteenth Prince, Fourteenth Prince, and Fifteenth Prince. If she remembered correctly, the Fifteenth Prince was only six years old, barely old enough to attend the Imperial Academy.

It seemed he had sent all his sons still attending the Imperial Academy.

An Qing couldn't help but rub her forehead. Was she here to teach farming or babysit for Lao Kang?

Yinqi was equally helpless. "His Majesty said they would only occasionally attend lectures. You don't need to worry about them too much. Just consider it a way for them to learn about the hardships of the common people."

An Qing smiled bitterly. What else could she say but accept it?

Fortunately, Yinqi was there. Since they were his brothers, he could manage them.

Everything was ready, and once the wheat harvest was complete, they could begin. An Qing planned to plant summer corn after the winter wheat harvest to try a double-cropping system.

Currently, in the northern regions of the Great Qing, unlike in the future where winter wheat and summer corn were planted consecutively, most farmland operated on a single-crop system, planting only one crop per year.

For example, after harvesting winter wheat in May or June, the land would remain idle until autumn when winter wheat would be planted again.

But this reduced land utilization significantly. To improve land use and alleviate food shortages, An Qing decided to attempt a double-cropping system of winter wheat followed by summer corn.

Of course, this would involve many challenges, but since she had some time, she could figure out how to explain it to her students.

After returning from the southern tour, An Qing resumed her secluded life, though necessary outings were still required. For instance, now, she was heading to Ningshou Palace to greet the Empress Dowager.

Coincidentally, the main hall was already filled with people when she arrived.

An Qing glanced around and saw Concubines Hui, Yi, De, and Rong, along with the Princess Consorts of the Crown Prince, Third Prince, Fourth Prince, Seventh Prince, and Eighth Prince, all present.

Wow, what day is it that everyone has gathered here?

However, unlike An Qing's idea of "lively," the hall was silent, with no one speaking.

She greeted Concubines Hui, Yi, De, and Rong and then sat beside Concubine Yi. Since no one was talking, she decided to stay quiet and wait.

However, while An Qing wanted to be honest, others might not be pleased.

"Oh, Fifth Princess Consort is quite late," Concubine Hui suddenly said aloud.

An Qing couldn't help but be taken aback. Before she could think of a response, Concubine Yi spoke up first, "Well, what can you do? The Fifth Princess Consort is so capable. She's busy handling matters for the Emperor; she can't be as idle as the rest of us."

Her words reminded everyone of Emperor Kangxi assigning An Qing to establish an agricultural school, and their thoughts varied accordingly.

An Qing stood silently, moved. *Sob sob sob, it's true that whenever there's a beautiful mother-in-law around, I feel incredibly secure.*

The Crown Princess gave An Qing a quiet glance before turning away.

Ever since her failure at farming in Changchun Garden last year, she gradually understood that some things were beyond her control. In terms of farming, she could never compare to An Qing.

She had heard that during this southern tour, An Qing helped the Emperor solve the ghost wheat and rice pest problems. Now, she was setting up an agricultural school. The Crown Princess knew the gap between her and An Qing would only grow wider.

Accepting this fact made many things clearer. She realized that competing with An Qing would bring her no benefit in the current situation.

The Crown Princess always knew how to weigh the pros and cons and was flexible when needed. Fortunately, her previous intentions hadn't been openly revealed, so the situation wasn't irreparable.

Concubine Hui, feeling stifled by Concubine Yi, frowned inwardly. She knew that Concubine Yi and her daughter-in-law weren't people she could easily offend, especially An Qing.

Not because of whose princess consort she was or her illustrious family background, but because of her abilities—her once despised farming skills!

This understanding wasn't limited to Concubine Hui and the Crown Princess; everyone in the imperial court and harem knew that An Qing was no longer just the Fifth Princess Consort.

As everyone's thoughts wandered, a loud cough echoed through the hall. An Qing looked over and saw the Eighth Princess Consort.

The Eighth Princess Consort looked much more haggard than during the southern tour. Her face flushed red from coughing, and a palace maid hurriedly handed her a cup of tea. After drinking half of it, she finally calmed down.

Although An Qing hadn't left the palace recently, Cui Liu kept her informed about all the gossip.

Since returning from the southern tour, the Eighth Prince's courtyard had been quite lively. It was rumored that the Eighth Princess Consort forbade the Eighth Prince from favoring the two women sent by Cao Yin from Jiangning Prefecture and also prevented him from visiting other concubines. As a result, Imperial Concubine Wei, the Eighth Prince's birth mother, summoned the Eighth Princess Consort for a talk. No one knew what they discussed, but soon after, Imperial Concubine Wei fell ill.

That day, the Eighth Prince and the Eighth Princess Consort had a rare argument, and their relationship soured. He now stayed in the front courtyard.

Seeing the Eighth Princess Consort's appearance, Concubine Hui instinctively frowned. Although she wasn't the Eighth Prince's birth mother, she had raised him during his childhood, making her feel like a half-mother-in-law to the Eighth Princess Consort.

"Eighth Princess Consort, I heard you and the Eighth Prince had another quarrel. As your elders, we must say that the Eighth Prince isn't getting any younger, and he still has no children. You should be more virtuous."

Hearing Concubine Hui's words, the Eighth Princess Consort's face visibly stiffened, but she straightened her back and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Concubine Hui. My marriage to the prince is still new, so there's no rush. Besides, several of my sisters-in-law have been married longer than me and aren't in a hurry either."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent.

The Third Princess Consort's face darkened first. She was about to say something but was silenced by a glare from Imperial Concubine Rong. The Seventh Princess Consort's face also turned grim.

Among the princess consorts present, including the Crown Princess, only the Fourth Princess Consort and the Crown Princess had children—a son and a daughter, respectively. The Third Princess Consort, Seventh Princess Consort, and An Qing were childless.

An Qing was slow to react. When the Eighth Princess Consort mentioned her, she didn't realize it was about her until everyone glanced at her. Then, she belatedly understood.

Oh, right, she didn't have any children either.

But what did this have to do with Concubine Hui's comment? If she understood correctly, Concubine Hui meant for her to be more virtuous and not prevent the Eighth Prince from having children with others.

Tsk~ What a clever way to shift the topic.

Concubine Hui clearly realized this and her tone worsened, "Don't pretend to be naive. As a prince's consort, how can you keep the prince confined to your own courtyard? Ask anyone in the Forbidden City, who does that!"

The Eighth Princess Consort retorted defiantly, "Who says no one does?"

Then, she pointedly glanced at An Qing.

Everyone understood the implication. After all, there were no secrets in the palace. Rumors had spread that since the Fifth Beile and Fifth Princess Consort married, the Fifth Beile hadn't visited any other concubines. Even during the southern tour, the two attendants sent by Cao Yin on Emperor Kangxi's orders were refused.

People whispered that the Fifth Princess Consort was jealous and prevented the Fifth Beile from favoring other women, and the Fifth Beile, fearing her family's influence, silently accepted it.

An Qing was bewildered. Why were they looking at her?

She turned to Concubine Yi with a face that clearly said, "Mother, I really didn't do anything. Don't listen to their slander."

Concubine Yi couldn't help but smile at her expression. She knew the real reason lay with the Fifth Beile, not An Qing.

Just as she was about to speak, Empress Dowager arrived, ending the conversation.

After greeting the Empress Dowager and chatting for a while, everyone dispersed.

When An Qing returned to the princes' quarters, Cui Liu, who had been holding back her anger, couldn't contain herself anymore.

"What does the Eighth Princess Consort mean? Did our mistress offend her? First, she mocked our mistress for being childless, then implied she was jealous. Is she just bored? Our mistress even took care of her during the southern tour, giving her seasickness medicine and snacks. We should have thrown them in the river!"

Perilla and Mai Dong understood the situation and gathered around to ask what happened.

Cui Liu didn't hide anything and quickly recounted the incident at Ningshou Palace. Everyone's faces darkened.

An Qing knew Perilla and the others worried about her lack of children and feared they would be concerned. Just as she was about to reassure them, Mai Dong suddenly turned serious and looked at her.

"Mistress, please sit down. I need to take your pulse!"

Chapter 80: The Fifth Princess Consort

When Mai Dong said this, everyone was taken aback.

An Qing clearly hadn't reacted either. Her first thought was that Mai Dong must have been pushed to the brink and was considering some unconventional remedies for conception.

"Mai Dong, listen to me. Your mistress values her life, so please don't use any of those strange concoctions on me."

To her, having children wasn't really that important—certainly not as important as her own life.

Mai Dong was momentarily stunned, then couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. As a doctor, did she not understand these things?

Perilla seemed to think of something and looked at Mai Dong in surprise.

Mai Dong nodded at Perilla first, then looked at An Qing with a helpless expression. "Mistress, didn't you notice that your menstrual cycle is ten days late?"

An Qing exclaimed, "Really? Is it?"

She hadn't paid much attention to it. Mai Dong usually took care of all her health matters, and since returning from the southern tour, she had been quite busy and hadn't had the time or energy to focus on such things.

Mai Dong nodded emphatically. "Yes!"

Perilla and the others trusted Mai Dong completely. She was always reliable, and if she didn't have a solid basis, she wouldn't say anything. Moreover, she had always been in charge of the mistress's health, so no one knew her condition better than Mai Dong.

Cui Liu, who was always the most impatient among them, urged anxiously, "Mistress, please sit down. Let Mai Dong take your pulse."

The other three also looked expectantly, as if there really was a child growing inside her.

An Qing sighed. "You'd better not get your hopes up too high. I've had my period delayed before."

So, judging by this alone, she felt it was too hasty.

Mai Dong and Perilla said in unison, "But never this long."

An Qing fell silent, then obediently sat down and extended her arm. Alright, in this matter, she really didn't have much say compared to them.

Seeing this, everyone quickly pushed Mai Dong to sit down on the other side.

Then, Mai Dong solemnly placed her hand on An Qing's wrist. Everyone in the room held their breath, even An Qing felt a bit nervous.

Just as everyone was about to suffocate from holding their breath, Mai Dong's face suddenly lit up with joy.

"Mistress, it's a pregnancy pulse!"

Her voice filled the room, followed by jubilant cheers.

But An Qing, the person involved, was still dazed. She murmured, "Mai Dong, did you make a mistake?"

Hearing this, Mai Dong immediately protested, "Mistress, my medical skills aren't that bad!"

A pregnancy pulse is one of the simplest pulses to diagnose. She could identify it shortly after learning pulse diagnosis, so there was no way she could be wrong now.

An Qing hurriedly waved her hand. "No, Mai Dong, don't misunderstand. I'm not doubting your medical skills; I just haven't fully processed it yet."

Mai Dong huffed proudly but then said, "Mistress, why don't we call in a royal physician? You haven't had your monthly check-up yet."

Perilla also chimed in, "Yes, yes. We were supposed to do it right after the southern tour, but you were too busy. It's best to have a royal physician check you now, otherwise, it would be improper."

An Qing understood their concern and didn't object. Soon, Little Xizi brought over Master Qi from the Imperial Medical Academy. She looked at Little Xizi in surprise, wondering why they had called the head of the Imperial Medical Academy when it wasn't a big deal.

But Little Xizi didn't see it that way. For his princess consort to be pregnant was a monumental event, so naturally, the best royal physician should be called.

Master Qi was dragged over urgently by Little Xizi. On the way, he asked what was happening, but Little Xizi only told him to hurry. The last time something like this happened was when the Fifth Princess Consort 'accidentally' ate a tomato. Could it be happening again?

"Princess Consort, did you eat something again?" Master Qi asked, panting.

An Qing was momentarily confused and replied instinctively, "No, I haven't eaten anything."

She then turned to look at Little Xizi, wondering what exactly he had told Master Qi.

Little Xizi shook his head hastily, indicating he hadn't said anything.

Master Qi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. It was good that she hadn't eaten anything strange. Last time, when she ate the tomato, it really scared him, as luck wouldn't always be on their side.

"Then, Princess Consort, where are you feeling unwell?"

"I'm not feeling unwell anywhere," An Qing shook her head and honestly replied, "I might be pregnant."

A look of surprise flashed across Master Qi's face. Pregnant?!

In the past two years, he had come several times to check on the Fifth Princess Consort's health. For some reason, despite her body being perfectly fine, she had not conceived. This matter had even prompted Emperor Kangxi to inquire multiple times. He didn't expect there to be news now.

Seeing the anxious and hopeful expressions of everyone in the room, Master Qi quickly composed himself and began to carefully examine An Qing's pulse.

After a while, he stood up and bowed. "Congratulations, Fifth Princess Consort. You are indeed pregnant."

With these words, Perilla and the others finally put their minds at ease, and the rest of the people in the courtyard rejoiced.

Seeing their happiness, An Qing couldn't help but smile, knowing they were all genuinely happy for her.

After the royal physician left, Cui Liu rushed to An Qing's side, looking curiously at her belly. "Mistress, why aren't you feeling nauseous?"

She had seen pregnant women who suffered from severe morning sickness during the early stages, but why didn't the mistress show any symptoms?

An Qing had no idea. She truly felt nothing. If it weren't for Mai Dong, she wouldn't have known about her pregnancy until much later.

However, as she looked down at her belly, she couldn't help but feel amazed. She was really going to have her own child.

When Yinqi returned, An Qing was sitting on a soft couch, gazing out the window in a daze.

"Perilla said you have good news to tell me?" He came in and sat directly across from An Qing, asking.

When he entered the courtyard just now, he saw all the servants beaming with joy, as if something wonderful had happened. Unable to resist, he called over Perilla to ask what was going on, but she mysteriously shook her head, saying that this good news should come from An Qing herself. The others nodded in agreement.

He wasn't particularly curious at first, but after their antics, Yinqi became increasingly intrigued. As soon as he entered the room, he hurriedly asked.

An Qing responded with an "Ah," then realized what the good news referred to. She smiled and pointed to her belly, saying, "Oh, nothing much, just that I'm pregnant."

Hearing this, Yinqi's expression froze, and in the next second, he suddenly stood up, looking at her and her belly in disbelief. "Y-You said what?"

Seeing his reaction, An Qing couldn't help but laugh. "What else could it be? We're having a baby."

Yinqi finally confirmed he hadn't misheard. Instinctively, he wanted to hug An Qing, but his rationality quickly returned. Afraid his excitement might hurt her, he began pacing instead.

An Qing was also a bit stunned. It wasn't like this was his first time being a father; why was he reacting so strongly?

"Alright, stop pacing, you're making me dizzy," she said helplessly.

Unexpectedly, this triggered some sensitive nerve in Yinqi. He walked over to her anxiously. "You're dizzy? How serious is it? Where else do you feel unwell?"

Without giving An Qing a chance to respond, he shouted out, "Ma Xiang, Fu Jin is feeling unwell, quickly get a physician."

Outside, there was a flurry of activity, followed by a rush of people into the room.

The first one in was Maidong. "My lady, where do you feel unwell? Let me check your pulse. Don't worry, I'm here."

An Qing sighed, "Maidong, calm down. I'm fine, no discomfort anywhere."

She glared at Yinqi before turning to the others. "Don't worry, Beile misunderstood."

Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief but then started giggling.

They never thought the usually composed Beile could cause such a fuss.

Yinqi realized he had overreacted, a hint of embarrassment crossing his face. He cleared his throat and said, "Fu Jin's pregnancy is a great joy. Everyone in the main residence will receive ten taels of silver. Remember to serve Fu Jin well."

Everyone looked at An Qing, then back at Yinqi. They had already received a reward of ten taels from Fu Jin earlier.

Wouldn't that mean they were getting double?

An Qing waved her hand and smiled. "This is from Beile, take it. It doesn't conflict."

She knew how hard it was to serve in the palace, so she always rewarded them generously. This time was no different.

Everyone knelt to thank him, then left the room, leaving space for their master and Beile.

Once everyone was gone, Yinqi calmed down and started asking about An Qing's condition.

"Has the physician seen you?" he asked.

An Qing replied, "Relax, the physician has checked me. Everything is fine."

Yinqi nodded and continued, "How severe is your morning sickness?"

An Qing shook her head. "I haven't had any morning sickness yet."

She understood why Yinqi was concerned; most people discover pregnancy through morning sickness. But she was an exception, thanks to Maidong.

She explained how she discovered her pregnancy and added, "Physician Qi and Maidong both agree that the child is about one and a half months old."

Yinqi nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly looked surprised. "So this child must have been conceived... during that night in Jiangning Prefecture..."

An Qing paused, understanding his implication. She remembered the night when her careless words led to their passionate encounter under the moonlight.

Indeed, that was the only intimate moment they had during that period.

Yinqi, recalling that night, teased, "Looks like I wasn't trying hard enough before."

He meant to tease her, but An Qing wasn't easily flustered. She said seriously, "I knew it! We've been married for so long without a child, it can't be my fault. My health is excellent. Turns out the problem was with you."

She gave him a look that said, "See, it's all your fault."

Yinqi: "..."

Wait, what did she mean by the problem being with him?

He couldn't refute it since he had said it himself.

Yinqi sighed, admitting defeat. He knew he couldn't win an argument with her.

News of Fu Jin's pregnancy spread throughout the palace quickly. An Qing sent messengers to Yikun Palace and Ningshou Palace. Concubine Yi and the Empress Dowager immediately sent gifts and supplements.

Xizhu, the chief palace maid from Yikun Palace, and Wu Lan, the attendant from Ningshou Palace, arrived, showing their importance to An Qing.

Soon, Palace of Heavenly Purity also sent gifts and rewards. Seeing the table full of items, An Qing felt like she had struck gold.

When the Eighth Lady heard about An Qing's pregnancy, she was stunned for a long time. When she recovered, her face burned with embarrassment.

She had just used An Qing as a shield, and now she could imagine the ridicule she would face in Ningshou Palace.

Her palace maid glanced at her cautiously, not daring to mention that the incident in Ningshou Palace had spread, and many were laughing at their lady behind her back.

But the Eighth Lady was too lost in her own thoughts to notice her maid's hesitation. She felt a bitter smile cross her face.

She knew she shouldn't have used An Qing as a scapegoat, even though she was upset with Concubine Hui. But in the heat of the moment, she had spoken without thinking.

The Eighth Lady wasn't stupid; she knew it was wrong to offend someone for no reason. She regretted it upon returning, but didn't expect the situation to turn around so quickly.

Now, this situation is all her own doing, and she has no one to blame but herself.

Of course, the Eighth Princess Consort knew why she acted so irrationally. It was simply because of her unwillingness to accept the situation, which led her to lash out at others in such an innocent way.

Back in Jiangning Prefecture, Eighth Prince said that Cao Yin had sent those two women with the Emperor's approval, and he couldn't refuse them. But clearly, he could have refused them.

So, how could she possibly be content? That's why she caused all these troubles after returning to the Imperial City.

Ever since it was confirmed that An Qing was pregnant, she was treated like a rare animal, under constant surveillance from all angles, not just by Perilla and the others, but also by Yinqi. Everyone was on high alert.

Maigdong strictly controlled her diet, ensuring that she wouldn't touch anything cold, like iced bowls or chilled fruits.

However, as the days grew hotter, life in the palace became increasingly unbearable for An Qing.

Fortunately, once June passed, Kangxi announced that they would go to Changchun Garden to escape the heat. An Qing wholeheartedly agreed; summer was indeed more comfortable there.

An Qing stayed in the same courtyard as last year. Having been there before and stayed for so long, coming back felt like second nature.

However, on the first day here, the happiest one wasn't her, but Snowball.

This little one wandered around the courtyard as if inspecting its territory, leading its family members around and occasionally meowing at its mate, introducing the new home.

Naturally, it didn't forget to pester Little Xizi for fish, living a carefree life.

Fortunately, the Royal Manor that Kangxi bestowed upon her wasn't far away. The wheat had already been harvested, and the land had been left fallow for a few days, making it perfect for planting summer corn.

This also meant that her agricultural training classes would resume, and her first lesson involved getting everyone to work the fields.

Concubine Yi heard about this and strongly disagreed, "You're pregnant, don't tire yourself out. I'll talk to the Emperor about postponing the agricultural school. What's the point of making a pregnant woman work so hard?"

An Qing quickly intervened, "Mother, please don't. I'm really fine. You see, I haven't had any morning sickness or other reactions since becoming pregnant. It's as if nothing has changed."

In fact, when she first confirmed her pregnancy, Kangxi told her to focus on resting and assured her that the agricultural school could wait. However, An Qing insisted on proceeding according to plan.

An Qing wasn't reckless. This pregnancy seemed particularly easy, and both Maigdong and the imperial physicians agreed that her condition was stable, with no discomfort.

Apart from occasional fatigue, everything else was fine. Perhaps it was due to different constitutions, but her current health was largely thanks to Maigdong's care over the years.

When she first started menstruating, she often suffered from severe abdominal pain, but Maigdong helped her manage it.

Since she was in good health, An Qing didn't want to delay the farming. Planting crops had a long cycle, and missing a season meant waiting until next year. She wanted to get things done as soon as possible.

After returning from the southern tour, Kangxi announced a policy to halve the head tax for newborns. An Qing was surprised, as she was familiar with the agricultural policies during Kangxi's reign and knew that such a policy did not exist historically.

The only related policy was implemented in the fifty-first year of Kangxi's reign, where the government fixed the number of people for tax collection based on the population in the fiftieth year, effectively abolishing the head tax for newborns.

Yinqi later explained that Kangxi learned about the infanticide they witnessed in the outskirts of Su Zhou and understood the root cause of the practice in Jiangnan.

He initially intended to abolish the head tax for newborns entirely, but due to recent wars and natural disasters affecting crop yields, the treasury was severely depleted. Thus, he chose to halve the tax instead.

An Qing understood Kangxi's difficulties as the emperor and admired his concern for the people, but she knew it wasn't enough.

She couldn't do much about other issues, but she could promote scientific farming to help farmers avoid unnecessary losses and increase crop yields.

She wanted the people to have more food.

Concubine Yi sighed silently, knowing An Qing's intentions well. She never hid anything from her.

As the Empress Dowager put it, An Qing couldn't be judged by the standards of palace women. Her actions were for the benefit of the country and the people, and as family, they should support her.

"Alright, as long as you know your limits. But remember, don't push yourself too hard. Your health comes first," Concubine Yi said.

An Qing quickly responded, "Mother, don't worry. I value my life very much and won't overexert myself. Besides, I have Grandfather and Maigdong looking after me. Everything will be fine, and I promise to give you a healthy grandchild."

Concubine Yi laughed, "You said it yourself. If you don't give me a healthy little prince, watch out."

An Qing seized the opportunity, "Mother, are you saying you wouldn't like a healthy little princess?"

She made a face, implying that Concubine Yi preferred boys over girls.

Concubine Yi rolled her eyes, "Don't misinterpret me. You know that's not what I mean."

Everyone in the palace hopes for a son. In the royal family, having a daughter means she might be sent to Mongolia.

An Qing understood this well. Given that Concubine Yi never pressured her about having children, she knew Concubine Yi didn't care about the gender.

"Mother, I know what you're worried about, but I'm not afraid. I married into the family from Mongolia, so even if I have a daughter, she'll have relatives there. Plus, Fourth Sister is there too. With that, she'll be unstoppable on the grasslands, bullying others."

So, there's nothing to fear. They have support in the Imperial City and relatives on the grasslands.

Concubine Yi nodded but still gave her a look, "But won't you be sad when your daughter leaves you?"

An Qing waved her hand, "Why be sad? Children have their own destinies. Without children, I enjoy my own happiness."

Concubine Yi chuckled, "You're tough now, but you'll cry harder than anyone."

A mother always worries about her child. An Qing hasn't experienced it yet, but she will understand.

An Qing disagreed, "Mother, you'll see. When I have the baby, I'll leave it to you and the Empress Dowager to take care of. I'll enjoy my freedom."

Concubine Yi didn't believe her, "We'll see if you can let go."

An Qing raised an eyebrow, indicating they'd see in the future.

Years later, when the princes had moved out and established their own households, Concubine Yi and the Empress Dowager found themselves pondering deeply as they watched the child An Qing kept sending to the palace.

Who exactly is this child for?