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

by Usui Takumii

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

9. 81 to 90

Chapter 81: The Fifth Princess Consort

The first class of An Qing's agricultural school officially began. Early that morning, a group of people gathered at the experimental fields of her Royal Manor.

The Royal Manor had been in An Qing's possession for over half a year and was already well-organized. The various experimental plots were clearly demarcated, and management was orderly.

It was just past dawn, around five o'clock in the morning, but since summer brought early daylight, An Qing decided to start early. First, farming seasons wait for no one, and secondly, it was cooler to work in the early hours.

Initially, she expected some tardiness due to the early hour, but to her surprise, everyone arrived on time when she got there.

Even the six-year-old fifteenth prince stood neatly at the field edge.

Well... she seemed to have underestimated the ancient people's ability to rise early. But then again, most people here were either officials going to court or scholars, both of whom were accustomed to waking up early.

Alright, now An Qing understood why Yinqi had given her that look last night when she expressed her concerns. She had indeed worried unnecessarily.

She had a basic understanding of the people attending today, roughly divided into three groups. The first group consisted of officials from the Agricultural Administration Department and the Ministry of Finance, ranging in age. They were the main participants in this agricultural training and would be the first batch of professionals dispatched by Kangxi to promote agriculture across the country.

The second group comprised the children of high-ranking officials, led by Zhang Tingyu. Most of these officials came from Manchu noble families. An Qing knew little about the officials except for Zhang Ying, Zhang Tingyu's father, and Ma Qi, the Minister of Finance who had sent his second son, Fucha Fuching.

Interestingly, An Qing only recently learned that Ma Qi's surname was not Ma but Fucha, a member of the Bordered Yellow Banner clan. Historically, Empress Xiaoxian Chun, the first empress of Emperor Qianlong, was his niece.

The third group was the princes, whom she simply regarded as children she was babysitting for Kangxi.

Standing at the front, An Qing looked at the crowd of several dozen people below her. She didn't bother trying to distinguish them; she wasn't conducting a census. Regardless of their motives, they all had to work—tilling the land.

"Princess Consort, may I ask what you plan to plant after tilling?" asked an official from the Agricultural Administration Department, puzzled.

An Qing didn't hide anything and explained her intention to plant another crop of summer corn in the wheat field. As expected, the officials from the Agricultural Administration Department showed evident surprise.

She smiled and said, "Don't be too formal. Feel free to ask any questions. This is a mutual exchange."

After a moment of hesitation, a fifty-something official stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Princess Consort, this is prime farmland. If you plant corn, won't you be unable to plant wheat in the fall?"

He also wanted to add that the land had just produced a wheat crop, and planting corn immediately afterward might result in poor yields. Moreover, corn was not a primary grain crop in Great Qing, and using prime land for it could reduce wheat production.

Thus, experimenting with corn on this land wouldn't provide useful data for promoting it among the common folk. So, what was the point?

Unexpectedly, An Qing shook her head and said, "I will still plant wheat in the fall. It won't interfere."

While others might not understand, those familiar with agriculture immediately grasped her intention: she was attempting to achieve two crops per year.

A wave of astonishment swept across the faces of the officials.

An Qing knew their concerns. Great Qing's agricultural structure was traditional, with rice and wheat accounting for about seventy percent of agricultural production. The remaining thirty percent consisted of cotton and other grains.

Although corn had been introduced, it was not yet widely cultivated in Great Qing. Historically, its widespread adoption occurred during the mid-Qianlong era.

However, the current agricultural structure was struggling to meet population growth, necessitating change. This was something An Qing had considered during her southern tour.

She had been working on developing high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice, dedicating specific plots at the Royal Manor to such experiments. However, she knew that scientific breakthroughs take time.

Moreover, without any shortcuts, achieving the high yields seen in later times was nearly impossible. This was not just an agricultural issue but involved chemistry and technology.

But there were ways to alleviate food shortages, such as altering the agricultural structure. Coarse grains like corn and sweet potatoes could save lives, especially in impoverished mountainous regions where corn could become a staple.

Of course, breaking a millennia-old agricultural structure was challenging. There was no immediate need for drastic changes, but if left unchecked, the consequences could be dire.

An Qing, unfamiliar with political intricacies, chose the simplest method: promoting corn through two-crop cycles.

Seeing tangible results would be more convincing than words.

"Princess Consort, forgive me for being blunt, but your method may not work," said the official from the Agricultural Administration Department. "According to my knowledge, many farmers near the capital outskirts tried two crops in three years or four crops in three years, but the results were unsatisfactory."

Due to An Qing's status, he spoke diplomatically, but the results were worse than unsatisfactory, causing numerous problems.

An Qing did not rush to defend herself but asked, "May I ask, sir, what do you think caused the unsatisfactory results?"

The official listed the issues, which aligned with An Qing's expectations: insufficient soil fertility and pest and disease problems associated with crop rotation. She knew these issues but believed they were solvable.

She smiled and replied, "Sir, you are right. But knowing the problems, why should we stick to old methods instead of finding solutions?"

"If the soil lacks fertility, we must improve it. If pests and diseases arise, we must address them. These experimental plots are meant to discover the right path through trial and error. Farming requires continuous learning and adaptation. Without precedent, we must pave the way!"

"As the gentleman mentioned, the people are trying, so we must try harder. Our failures don't mean hunger, but theirs do."

Hearing this, everyone was stunned, and Zhang Tingyu looked at An Qing in surprise.

Her words made the officials from the Agricultural Administration Department and the Ministry of Finance feel ashamed. Indeed, their failures wouldn't lead to hunger, but the people's would. Thus, they should take the lead.

Worst case, they would learn from failure and set a precedent.

After delivering her inspiring speech, An Qing felt satisfied. Her words were not mere rhetoric but conveyed a genuine message: farming must evolve and break boundaries.

She hoped for more capable agricultural officials in this era.

But she also added, "Of course, I understand your purpose here. Rest assured, the corn experiment is just part of our curriculum. We will cover rice and wheat as well. If there are no objections, let's get to work."

With a gesture, she signaled for tools to be distributed to everyone present.

When planting summer corn, it doesn't require the deep plowing that winter wheat does in autumn.

The air temperature in summer is relatively high, and so is the soil temperature. Additionally, rainfall is generally more abundant during this season. Therefore, the layers of soil are not as distinct. If the soil is deeply plowed, it can lead to a depletion of its fertility, which in turn affects the growth and development of the corn.

However, some necessary plowing is still required for preparing the land, which benefits the next crop. For example, after harvesting wheat, the leftover stalks can be turned into the soil, making them easier to decompose and thus enhancing soil fertility. This also helps reduce the occurrence of pests, diseases, and weeds to a certain extent.

There is an art to this plowing, and An Qing personally demonstrated and explained it to everyone. She then assigned each person a specific area and urged them to get to work quickly.

After a moment of hesitation, they looked at their farming tools and then at the fields beneath their feet. Resigned, they began working, with each person accompanied by a dedicated helper.

Some of these helpers were originally from the Royal Manor, while others were individuals An Qing had intentionally trained in farming when she was at the Horqin estate. Later, her parents included them in her dowry, along with their contracts. They had been settled on her dowry estate in the capital outskirts until last year, when Kangxi granted her the Royal Manor. Then, she brought all of them over.

These people now served as excellent assistants during An Qing's teaching sessions, allowing her to focus on other tasks.

For the officials from the Agricultural Administration Department and the Ministry of Finance, learning to plow wasn't too difficult since they often dealt with land. However, for the sons of officials and the princes, who had never done such work before, it was a different story.

Growing up in luxury, they had never experienced such hardship. After a short while, they found it hard to keep going.

They had initially thought that the agricultural school would simply involve understanding the basics without having to do the actual work themselves. After all, there were servants for that. Moreover, why were there so many rules about plowing? If it weren't for An Qing's status and Beile Yinqi watching closely, they might have already given up.

Glancing at each other, they silently communicated through their expressions. Eventually, Ninth Prince stepped forward.

After all, An Qing and Yinqi were his own sister-in-law and brother, so he could appeal to them for leniency.

Ninth Prince approached An Qing with a smile, trying to flatter her: "Fifth Sister-in-law, teaching us some agricultural knowledge would be enough. There's no need for us to actually plow the land ourselves."

An Qing glanced at him, annoyed: "Knowledge gained from books is shallow; true understanding comes from practice. Do you understand?"

She understood their thoughts but couldn't help laughing. Learning to farm without actually doing it? Even if they wanted to just get a degree, they still needed her approval.

Farming involves many details, and understanding versus not understanding often hinges on small differences. If it were that simple, a written document would suffice for the common people. The purpose of her agricultural training program was not to produce armchair experts.

Without mincing words, An Qing raised her voice and said sternly: "This is my rule. If you want to learn, you must follow my rules. If you don't want to learn, you can leave now. I won't stop you."

Hearing this, everyone's thoughts shifted. Regardless of their reasons for being here, they couldn't afford to be sent back on the first day.

Entering Fifth Princess's agricultural school wasn't easy. For the sons of officials, their families had gone to great lengths to get them admitted. Some, like Zhang Ying and Ma Qi, wanted them to learn practical skills for future careers. Others simply wanted them to gain prestige and recognition before Kangxi, hoping for future opportunities.

Regardless of their reasons, being sent back on the first day would be disastrous.

For the princes, it was even clearer. They knew why Kangxi had sent them here and didn't dare cause trouble.

Ninth Prince quickly returned to the field, bowing his head and working diligently. His Fifth Sister-in-law had said she would check later, and he didn't want to face his father's scolding or his mother's willow branches.

He glanced at his Fifth Elder Brother, who had given him a terrifying look earlier. He regretted stepping forward.

Satisfied with the effect of her intimidation, An Qing maintained her stern demeanor, determined to uphold the principle that strict teachers produce better students.

She suddenly understood what her mentor had once said: "If I were to joke around in class, would you listen to me?"

Exactly. Class isn't a marketplace where you haggle. Sometimes, dealing with lazy students requires firmness.

Yinqi, unaware of An Qing's thoughts, saw her seriousness and worried about her health. Pregnant women shouldn't get upset.

But he knew he shouldn't interfere during her classes, so he waited until the session ended and then whispered: "Don't be angry. Let's go rest under that big tree. I'll have Ma Xiang watch over things here."

An Qing nodded slightly, relieved to take a break.

Yinqi led her to a nearby tree, where Cui Liu promptly brought a stool for her to sit on.

As soon as she sat down, An Qing turned to Yinqi eagerly: "How was it? Did I look like a teacher with authority?"

Yinqi, surprised, nodded instinctively.

Indeed, An Qing's performance had surprised him, quite different from her usual demeanor.

Seeing his reaction, An Qing laughed. "So, I did a pretty good job pretending, huh?"

Yinqi: "..."

So, she hadn't been angry at all?

Well, she did a convincing job; he almost believed it himself.

As they spoke, Fifteenth Prince ran over.

In no time, he reached An Qing, tilting his head and asking in a soft voice: "Fifth Sister-in-law, why don't I have any farming tools?"

An Qing was instantly charmed by the little boy, forgetting all about maintaining her teacher's authority.

Fifteenth Prince was the son of Noble Consort Wang, and his features were clearly inherited from his mother. He looked adorable.

Smiling, she replied: "Little Fifteen, you're still young. Just watch and learn for now; you don't need to plow yourself."

He was only six years old. Even if she were a heartless employer, she wouldn't hire child labor this young.

Unexpectedly, Fifteenth Prince shook his head, insisting: "No, Fifth Sister-in-law, I can do it. Please give me a small set of tools."

An Qing was taken aback. "Little Fifteen, are you sure? Plowing is very tiring."

Fifteenth Prince nodded vigorously, his bright eyes shining. "Fifth Sister-in-law, I'm sure. Mother said I should learn well from you and acquire real skills."

Hearing this, An Qing burst out laughing.

Usually, she was the one flattering others, but now she experienced the joy of being flattered. It felt good.

Wanting tools wasn't a big deal, so she waved her hand and instructed Cui Liu to fetch a smaller set of tools for Fifteenth Prince.

This was something she had specially arranged, ostensibly for the Fifteenth Prince. But when she saw this little boy in person today, she couldn't bring herself to be strict with him. Who knew he would come looking for her on his own?

An Qing patted the Fifteenth Prince's little bald head and instructed, "I'll have someone teach you how to plow the land, but you're still young. Don't try to compete with your older brothers. Learn as much as you can, but don't overwork yourself, understood?"

The Fifteenth Prince nodded obediently, thanked her, and then was taken to the fields by the people An Qing had arranged.

Yinqi watched from the side as An Qing interacted with Little Fifteen, his eyes filled with tenderness.

He seemed to see what their future children might be like, with her teaching them patiently and gently.

An Qing's agricultural training program wasn't like a regular school with fixed days off; it was more of an intensive, phased training. This was the first phase, scheduled for fifteen days.

She had divided the plowing area for each person today, which would temporarily serve as their experimental plots.

During these fifteen days, besides practical corn planting, she would also take them to the rice paddies for hands-on learning, such as field management, pest and disease identification, and so on.

In addition, she would assign homework at the end of each day, based on the day's or the next day's lessons.

For example, after plowing today, they would need to fertilize their experimental plots next. Fertilizing is a crucial step in improving soil fertility. Today's homework was to go back and read agricultural books to find various methods of fertilizer production and application.

To prevent wasted effort, An Qing provided a specific range of agricultural books for them to consult. For Little Fifteenth, however, this part of the assignment was waived because he was too young and could barely read.

Initially, Little Fifteenth felt quite disappointed about this arrangement, but An Qing reassured him that she would teach him again when he grew up if he still wanted to learn, which cheered him up.

To avoid the daily commute, An Qing and Yinqi decided to stay in the garden of the Royal Manor. The others came early in the morning and left in the evening, gradually adapting to this routine over a few days.

The officials' sons and princes struggled with plowing on the first day, but when An Qing told them that the land they were plowing would become their individual experimental plots, they all became very serious about it.

The officials from the Agricultural Administration Department and the Ministry of Finance were truly impressed with An Qing after these few days. For instance, regarding fertilizer production, she had them personally read agricultural books and then took them to a fertilizer area in the Royal Manor the next day to make compost according to the methods they found.

But the most impressive part was when she gave each of them a thin booklet containing her years of experience and detailed methods of composting and fertilizer production, including which types of fertilizer were suitable for different stages of crop growth.

Only then did they realize how far behind they were compared to Lady Fifth in terms of farming knowledge.

That evening, after a day of work in the fields, everyone was getting ready to leave by carriage.

An Qing waved to the Fifteenth Prince. "Little Fifteen, come here."

The Fifteenth Prince skipped over. "Fifth Sister-in-law, what's up?"

An Qing smiled. "Nothing much, I just wanted to ask if you find it tiring to travel back and forth by carriage every day."

The Fifteenth Prince, being honest, replied, "It's okay, but sometimes the carriage moves too fast and my bottom hurts a bit."

As he said this, he instinctively touched his bottom, which made An Qing laugh.

All the princes now lived in Changchun Garden, and it took half an hour to get to the Royal Manor. They had to come early in the morning, so it was bound to be tiring.

Feeling sorry for making such a young child commute daily, An Qing discussed with Yinqi and thought about letting Little Fifteenth stay at the Royal Manor to get more rest.

"Little Fifteenth, talk to your mother and see if she's willing to let you stay at Fifth Sister-in-law's manor. That way, you won't have to travel back and forth every day."

The Fifteenth Prince's eyes lit up at this.

He liked Fifth Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law, and he loved the manor, where many fruit trees bore delicious fruits, and there were plenty of vegetables and poultry!

"Okay, thank you, Fifth Sister-in-law. I'll talk to Mother when I get home."

An Qing pinched his chubby cheeks and sent him off to the carriage beside them.

However, when she turned around, she saw a row of people standing behind her: the Ninth Prince, Tenth Prince, Twelfth Prince, Thirteenth Prince, and Fourteenth Prince.

When did they get here?

Chapter 82: Fifth Princess Consort

"Fifth Sister-in-law, you're being unfair! You only think about Little Fifteen!" Ninth Prince said indignantly.

He didn't want to commute every day either; he wanted to sleep more. Besides, living at Fifth Sister-in-law's Royal Manor meant getting to eat all sorts of delicious and novel foods every day, which he was eagerly looking forward to.

Tenth Prince followed behind Ninth Prince, staring at An Qing with pleading eyes. Though he didn't say anything, his intentions were clear.

And then there were Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth...

An Qing: "?"

Seriously, weren't they all grown-ups? How could they compare themselves to Little Fifteen, who was just six years old?

"Go find your Fifth Elder Brother. He's the head of the household, so it's his decision." An Qing immediately passed the responsibility to Yinqi.

It made perfect sense for each brother to be responsible for their own sibling.

Upon hearing this, the group quickly turned around to look for their Fifth Elder Brother, hoping to settle the matter today so they could move in tomorrow.

Yinqi had been talking with Zhang Tingyu and Fuqing earlier, which delayed him. When he finally went to look for An Qing, Ma Xiang informed him that she had gone out to find Fifteenth Prince.

Yinqi knew why An Qing was looking for Little Fifteen. They had discussed having Little Fifteen stay at the manor yesterday, and he was supposed to talk to Little Fifteen about it today. She must have seen that he hadn't gotten around to it and decided to do it herself.

Just as Yinqi stepped out of the manor, he saw An Qing standing there, surrounded by Xiao Jiu and the others, who were talking to her.

He walked straight toward her, but halfway there, he saw Xiao Jiu and the others suddenly rush over to him, causing him to pause.

"Fifth Elder Brother, I don't want to commute every day either. Let me stay at the manor," Ninth Prince said, grabbing his arm.

Tenth Prince followed closely behind, "Fifth Elder Brother, I want to stay too."

"Me too, Fifth Elder Brother," Twelfth Prince said with a simple smile.

Thirteenth Prince scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed, "If it's not too much trouble, Fifth Elder Brother, I'd like to stay too."

Fourteenth Prince, seeing his brothers speak up, felt anxious. During the southern tour, he had offended Fifth Sister-in-law and wondered if he would be excluded.

"Fifth Elder Brother, Father Emperor said we should be kind to each other..."

So, please don't leave him out.

Yinqi understood the situation. They must have learned about Little Fifteen staying at the manor. He glanced at An Qing and said, "This is Fifth Sister-in-law's manor. What does she say?"

The group replied in unison, "Fifth Sister-in-law said you're the head of the household, so it's your decision!"

Yinqi, the head of the household: "..."

Honestly, he didn't want them to stay at the manor. Apart from anything else, their rowdy nature might disturb An Qing's rest.

But they were all his younger brothers, and since they had already allowed Little Fifteen to stay, refusing them would be difficult. Moreover, Fourteenth Prince mentioned that their Father Emperor had said they should be kind to each other. If he refused, it would make him and An Qing look bad.

Fine, he would just have to manage them better.

"If you want to stay at the manor, you need to ask Father Emperor yourselves. Only if he agrees can you stay."

Hearing this, the group exclaimed, "Why doesn't Little Fifteen need to?"

They had heard Fifth Sister-in-law only tell Little Fifteen to ask his mother, not Father Emperor.

Yinqi glared at them, "How old is Little Fifteen? Do you really want to compare yourselves to him?"

He had already spoken to Father Emperor about letting Little Fifteen stay. Otherwise, he and An Qing wouldn't have dared to decide on their own, given that Little Fifteen was also a prince.

The group reluctantly nodded. Fine, they couldn't compare themselves to Little Fifteen.

But they still had to go to Father Emperor. Thinking about it, they hesitated, but then realized that since there were many of them, going together shouldn't be a big deal. After all, the law doesn't punish the masses.

After making up their minds, they agreed and quickly climbed into the carriage, leaving in a hurry.

An Qing walked over and asked, "Do you think Father Emperor will agree?"

Yinqi smiled and shook his head, "I hope not. Those few are teenagers, full of energy. Living here would be a headache every day."

An Qing saw his concern and teased, "Let's make it clear, this was your decision. If they really move in, you'll be responsible for managing them."

Yinqi looked at her helplessly, "You sure know how to take it easy."

An Qing raised an eyebrow, "Thanks for the compliment."

Yinqi chuckled, "How did you hear that as a compliment?"

An Qing confidently replied, "Have you heard the saying? Those who don't know how to take it easy are fools. So, praising my ability to take it easy is indirectly praising my intelligence."

Yinqi laughed at her logic and shook his head. He thought that if she were in the imperial court, even the most eloquent officials wouldn't stand a chance against her.

With everyone gone, the two chatted for a while before heading back into the manor.

"Let's hurry. Chunxiao said she's making spicy and sour noodles tonight. I need to eat some," An Qing said cheerfully, feeling she could eat a whole cow.

Yinqi responded, "Don't eat too much. You can't handle too much spice, or you'll get heat rash again."

An Qing dismissed his concern, "No worries. I'll use less spice, and if needed, I'll drink more cooling tea."

She was genuinely hungry. Although she didn't have morning sickness, the summer heat made her eat less during the day. Now that it was cooler in the evening, her appetite was better, and she wanted to eat more.

Yinqi understood this well and had been trying to find ways to make her eat more these days. "Didn't you say you wanted melon this afternoon? Why don't we pick some now?"

"Oh, right!" An Qing had almost forgotten about it. Now that he reminded her, she wanted to eat them even more. "Let's go pick some melons from that garden on our way. I've been craving them all afternoon..."

The two walked side by side through the fields, the sunset casting a red glow across the sky.

On a summer evening, a cool breeze blew, bringing a refreshing chill.

In Changchun Garden, at Noble Consort Wang's residence.

She had been waiting outside the courtyard for the Fifteenth Prince to return for dinner. But today, he was later than usual, and Noble Consort Wang couldn't help but worry.

"My lady, don't worry. The Fifteenth Prince must have been delayed by something," a palace maid reassured her.

Noble Consort Wang knew this, but she still couldn't help feeling anxious. After all, Little Fifteen was only six years old, and every day he had to travel back and forth. Although there were servants looking after him, she still couldn't fully ease her mind.

Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long before they saw the Fifteenth Prince bounding towards them happily. "Mother, I'm back."

Noble Consort Wang hurried forward a few steps and took his hand. As they walked into the courtyard, she asked, "How was your day? Are you tired or hot?"

The Fifteenth Prince shook his head and replied, "Mother, don't worry. I'm fine. Fifth Sister-in-law takes special care of me because I'm young. When it gets too hot, she calls me over from the field to rest under the trees with her. She even prepares lots of delicious fruit juices."

Hearing this, Noble Consort Wang's face lit up with a smile. "Did you learn how to farm well from Fifth Sister-in-law?"

The Fifteenth Prince nodded earnestly. "Of course! I've been learning every day. Fifth Sister-in-law says I'm very smart. She thinks I'm still too young now, but when I grow a bit older, I'll be even better at it."

Mother and son chatted as they entered the house. The serving palace maid quickly brought a basin of water and a towel to help them wash their hands.

After wiping his hands, the Fifteenth Prince turned to Noble Consort Wang and said eagerly, "Mother, Fifth Sister-in-law said that if you're okay with it, I can stay at her manor so I don't have to travel back and forth every day."

Noble Consort Wang's face brightened with joy. "Fifth Sister-in-law really said that?"

"Yes, Mother, she said it herself," the Fifteenth Prince replied. "So, Mother, can I stay at the manor?"

Noble Consort Wang nodded. She was delighted. She had always felt sorry for Little Fifteen having to travel back and forth every day, but since it was the Emperor's arrangement, she had no choice. She hadn't expected An Qing to think of this. Since she had sent Little Fifteen to ask, Beile Wu must have reported it to the Emperor. Thinking of this, Noble Consort Wang felt even more grateful to both of them.

The Fifteenth Prince was thrilled at the thought of staying at Fifth Sister-in-law's manor tomorrow and ate more than usual during dinner.

After finishing their meal, it was getting late, so the Fifteenth Prince left Noble Consort Wang's residence.

In Changchun Garden, all the unmarried princes lived in the Tao Yuan Study in the West Garden. The Fifteenth Prince was no exception.

"Shall we prepare for bed?" the palace maid asked.

Since the Emperor had not chosen Noble Consort Wang tonight, she should normally be preparing to rest.

But Noble Consort Wang shook her head. "While it's still early, I need to visit Empress Tong."

Noble Consort Wang was only a Noble Consort, and according to palace rules, only higher-ranking consorts could raise children. She lived in Chengqian Palace, where her child was officially registered under Empress Tong.

Fortunately, Empress Tong was kind and did not restrict the child from being close to her. After moving to Changchun Garden, she allowed Little Fifteen to come for dinner every day.

But Noble Consort Wang understood the rules and knew she needed to report to Empress Tong about Little Fifteen staying at An Qing's manor.

"Why do you need to go see Empress Tong, my lady? She said you could handle things here in Changchun Garden," the palace maid asked.

Noble Consort Wang shook her head. "Empress Tong is lenient, but we must follow the rules."

She was aware of her position. Although she had been favored by Kangxi, she was cautious due to being a Han consort. She wasn't greedy; she only wished for her child to grow up safely.

Of course, she was grateful to those who had been kind to her and her son, like Empress Tong and Lady Wu.

At the Zhang residence, Zhang Tingyu had just stepped out of the carriage when someone from his father's side stopped him.

"Young Master, the master wants you to visit his study. He said he has something to discuss with you."

Zhang Tingyu was taken aback. "My father wants to see me? Do you know what it's about?"

The servant shook his head. "Young Master, I don't know. The master only said to bring you to him without giving any details."

Zhang Tingyu was puzzled. His father rarely had someone intercept him at the gate. Could something be wrong?

Thinking this, he hurried to his father's study.

"Father, you wanted to see me?" Zhang Tingyu asked as he entered.

Zhang Ying, who had been reading, looked up. "Oh, you're back. It's nothing serious. I just wanted to ask how you've been doing at Lady Wu's place these past few days."

Zhang Tingyu was surprised. "Is that all?"

Zhang Ying, seeing his son's reaction, couldn't help but feel angry. This boy had been at Lady Wu's manor for several days, returning to his own courtyard each night without reporting anything.

That's why he had someone intercept him!

And what did he mean by "is that all"?

It seemed that now that he wasn't begging to learn farming from Lady Wu, he had forgotten all about it.

"Yes, that's all," Zhang Ying said irritably. "I went through a lot of trouble to get you to Lady Wu's to learn farming. Can't I ask how it's going?"

Seeing his father's angry expression, Zhang Tingyu sheepishly rubbed his nose and explained, "That's not what I meant. Of course, you can ask. I just thought something urgent had happened since you had someone intercept me at the gate."

Zhang Ying huffed. "If you don't want me to send someone to intercept you, then come to me yourself."

Zhang Tingyu realized the source of his father's anger and quickly explained, "Father, you misunderstand. I wanted to come, but I've been very busy. Lady Wu keeps us occupied all day in the experimental fields, and she assigns a lot of homework at night. I haven't had time to come."

Seeing his sincerity, Zhang Ying didn't press the issue further. "I heard Lady Wu is trying to plant corn after harvesting wheat?"

In recent days, news had spread about Lady Wu attempting a two-crop rotation of winter wheat and summer corn in dry land. However, since Kangxi had not made an official announcement, they had limited information, mostly gathered from those attending Lady Wu's classes. But the details were scattered and incomplete.

Because Zhang Tingyu was also on the list for this agricultural class, many people had been asking Zhang Ying for information over the past few days. However, how could he know anything? Since the Fifth Sister-in-law started her classes, he hadn't even seen Zhang Tingyu's shadow.

That's why he had someone wait at the main gate to catch him.

Zhang Tingyu didn't beat around the bush and explained everything from start to finish, not hiding a single detail, including An Qing's conversation with the Agricultural Administration Department officials on the first day.

After listening, Zhang Ying fell into deep thought. After a while, he asked, "Do you think this has a chance of working?"

Zhang Tingyu paused, then lightly nodded. "Based on these past few days, I believe the Fifth Sister-in-law isn't the type to act without purpose."

On the contrary, for some reason, he felt that An Qing seemed confident about this matter, even though she hadn't openly expressed it. It just gave him that impression.

Perhaps it was because she appeared so adept at farming.

With that, Zhang Tingyu suddenly remembered something and hurriedly took out a booklet he had with him. "Father, take a look. This is the composting and fertilization booklet the Fifth Sister-in-law gave us, saying it contains her years of experience."

Whenever he thought about the composting they did yesterday, he couldn't help but remember how everyone except a few officials from the Agricultural Administration Department, including himself, had ended up vomiting. Yet, the Fifth Sister-in-law, who was pregnant, showed no reaction at all, indicating she must have done this many times before, which was quite admirable.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ying quickly took the booklet and began reading. The more he read, the more serious his expression became.

Though he wasn't an expert in farming, he knew the importance of fertilizer for crops. The booklet covered various methods of composting and fertilization in great detail.

Especially noteworthy was her mention of applying specific types of fertilizer at different stages of crop growth, a concept no one had ever discussed before.

"Father, what do you think? Isn't it impressive?" Zhang Tingyu asked.

Zhang Ying looked up at him and nodded slightly.

Both understood what "impressive" meant—it wasn't just about An Qing's farming skills but also her willingness to share her knowledge.

"If what you said earlier is true, the main challenge with the winter wheat and summer corn rotation lies in soil fertility and crop rotation-related pests and diseases. Now it seems there might be a real chance."

The issue of soil fertility appears to be well on its way to being solved, and pest control is the Fifth Sister-in-law's forte. This makes the whole thing seem much more feasible.

If the northern drylands can successfully implement this two-crop rotation system, the national treasury will be enriched, and the common people will have more surplus grain. This would indeed be a significant achievement.

Zhang Ying patted his son's shoulder and said earnestly, "Follow the Fifth Sister-in-law closely in learning farming. If you truly have a talent for it, whether or not you pass the imperial exams doesn't matter; I won't force you."

Previously, he believed that passing the imperial exams and entering politics were most important, but now he realized that benefiting the people through farming was equally significant, if not more so.

Zhang Tingyu waved his hands and said, "No way, Father, you're overestimating me. I don't have much talent for farming."

Over the past few days, he had come to realize that he was completely clueless about farming. He used to think that since he often visited the Agricultural Administration Department, he wouldn't be entirely ignorant about farming.

But after learning from the Fifth Sister-in-law, he realized how naive his thoughts were. He was clearly a complete novice.

Farming involves a lot of knowledge, such as how to plow the land properly, how deep to plow, and other intricacies. He wondered how the Fifth Sister-in-law knew all this or how many times she must have tried to figure it out.

Given her patience, Zhang Tingyu knew he couldn't match her.

He then added, "Besides, I have political aspirations. You can't just dismiss officialdom now that your career is flourishing. I still want to pursue the imperial exams, so please don't hinder my political path."

Recently, Zhang Ying had been promoted to the position of Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall and Minister of Rites by Kangxi, making Zhang Tingyu's statement about his father's flourishing career accurate.

Zhang Ying, who was feeling enlightened, suddenly became angry upon hearing this. How dare his son say such nonsense! He pointed at his son and shouted, "Get out of here!"

Zhang Tingyu shrank back and scurried out of his father's study.

While Zhang Ying was fuming over his son's remarks, Kangxi, after meeting with several of his sons, was unusually cheerful at the Qingxi Study.

When Ninth Prince and the others returned to Changchun Garden, they immediately came to see Kangxi, expressing their desire to stay at Fifth Sister-in-law's Royal Manor during their farming lessons.

Whatever they said, Kangxi agreed right away.

After they left, Kangxi shook his head and said to Liang Jiugong, "Look at them. They usually bicker, but today they're united."

Liang Jiugong smiled and replied, "They are family. Some minor conflicts are normal, but blood is thicker than water. Your Majesty needn't worry."

Hearing this, Kangxi's eyes flashed with a deep expression, and his face softened.

Liang Jiugong, seeing this, breathed a sigh of relief. His words were aimed at comforting the Emperor, not just talking about the princes.

Earlier in the court, Elder Brother Prince and the Crown Prince had another heated argument, showing signs of irreconcilable differences.

Over the years, Kangxi had intentionally allowed Elder Brother Prince and the Crown Prince to compete to balance power in the court. However, he probably didn't expect it to reach this point.

Liang Jiugong sensed Kangxi's concerns. He feared that after his reign, the Crown Prince might mistreat Elder Brother Prince.

Indeed, Liang Jiugong, having served Kangxi for years, understood his thoughts well.

Kangxi had always believed he could control the situation and maintain everything. He had excelled in traditional imperial strategies since his ascension. But seeing Elder Brother Prince and the Crown Prince arguing fiercely in court today, he felt a moment of doubt.

Maybe he was overthinking it. After all, they are brothers, blood is thicker than water...

Kangxi sighed and put aside these thoughts, picking up a memorial to read.

Since An Qing's agricultural classes began at the Royal Manor, Yinqi had been submitting detailed reports daily, including summaries of her lessons.

Today's report included a detailed booklet on composting and fertilization, expanding on the insights shared with Zhang Tingyu and the students, summarizing effective composting methods found in agricultural books.

After reading it, Kangxi nodded in satisfaction.

He was aware of An Qing's plan to attempt the winter wheat and summer corn rotation system. Her detailed proposal before the classes began had impressed him greatly. If successful, the implications would be immense.

Thinking about the description of An Qing's manor from Xiao Jiu and the others, Kangxi became intrigued. The Royal Manor had been given to An Qing for half a year, and it sounded like her experimental fields were progressing well.

In a few days, he should find an opportunity to visit and observe the agricultural classes firsthand.

Speaking of which, this is the Great Qing's first agricultural school.

Chapter 83: The Fifth Princess Consort

An Qing and Yinqi hadn't expected Kangxi to agree so easily. The next day, all the princes were sent over in one go.

The two had no choice but to accept them all. For safety, Yinqi went to ask Kangxi for some guards.

As for the servants, they didn't need to worry about that. Since the princes were sent over as a package deal, their personal attendants naturally came along too. Overall, An Qing only needed to provide accommodation and daily meals.

Accommodation wasn't an issue; her estate was large enough to accommodate everyone comfortably. As for the food, it would be a bit tough on Chunxiao.

After all, apart from Little Fifteen, the rest were at that age where growing boys eat like there's no tomorrow. The most frustrating part was that they all seemed to be fixated on Chunxiao's cooking. An Qing had no choice but to bring in a few more kitchen helpers from the estate to assist Chunxiao, making her job a bit easier.

Life on the estate was quite relaxed and carefree, at least for An Qing. For the members of the Agricultural Class, however, each day was exhausting.

To put it mildly, they barely had a moment's rest since they arrived. Everything in the fields required their personal attention. Besides overseeing their individual corn plots, each of them was also assigned a small experimental plot for rice cultivation. They had to learn how to manage the rice paddies properly.

This was the critical stage when rice plants enter the tillering phase, which is crucial for growth. Therefore, the timing of fertilization, water management, and pest control were all very important.

It must be said that An Qing's curriculum was indeed demanding. For the officials from the Agricultural Administration Department and the Ministry of Finance, this was fine since they were sent by Kangxi with the expectation of learning thoroughly. They were dedicated to their studies. However, for the sons of officials and the princes, there was no such pressure.

Surprisingly, though, they were all studying diligently. Each day, they patiently tended to their experimental plots, and their greatest joy was comparing whose crops were growing better.

This was likely due to a sense of ownership. By assigning individual plots, An Qing not only facilitated practical learning but also tapped into their competitive spirit. After all, nobody wants to lose.

Time flew by quickly, and before they knew it, the fifteen-day first phase of the agricultural class was coming to an end. But on the last day, Kangxi suddenly arrived at the estate with a group of ministers without any prior notice, catching everyone off guard.

When they arrived, An Qing was relaxing under a tree at the edge of the field. Perilla and the others were incredibly thoughtful, bringing chairs, fruits, snacks, and tea.

Every time she sat there eating fruit while watching everyone work in the fields, she felt like a heartless landlady.

This time was no different. After silently repenting and finishing a juicy peach, she turned her head and saw Kangxi and the others.

An Qing was stunned for a few seconds before hurriedly getting up to greet them.

"May I pay my respects to His Majesty."

Ah, why did Lao Kang come now? Even if he wanted to inspect the work, he should have given some advance notice. Now, she looked like she was slacking off instead of working hard.

Great, now Kangxi might think she wasn't taking her teaching seriously.

Woe is me, how unjust!

Kangxi waved his hand, signaling An Qing to rise. He glanced behind her at the table with fruits and snacks and smiled. "You've prepared quite well."

An Qing felt embarrassed, as if caught slacking off during work hours by her boss.

Especially with a group of ministers in official robes, Elder Brother Prince, and the older princes following behind Kangxi, she suddenly felt her reputation was ruined.

"I apologize for your amusement, Your Majesty. I've been feeling particularly hungry lately," she explained earnestly.

Of course, it's because of the pregnancy. An Qing is indirectly defending herself; she's not being lazy, but rather, her child is hungry.

Kangxi hadn't intended to blame her. Hearing her explanation, he nodded with a smile, "You should take good care of yourself. You've been working hard these days."

An Qing quickly and eagerly responded that it wasn't hard work, it was all part of her duty.

Just then, the Twelfth Prince rushed over from the fields, looking flustered. Seeing Kangxi and the others, he visibly paused before hurriedly greeting Kangxi. Under Kangxi's questioning, he explained his reason for coming over.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, why aren't my rice seedlings growing as well as Ninth Brother's?"

Everything had been fine until recently. In just a few days, his rice plants had started lagging behind everyone else's, even though they were following Fifth Sister-in-law's instructions. He couldn't figure out what went wrong, so he came to ask An Qing.

An Qing, who had been observing daily, knew exactly where the problem lay in the Twelfth Prince's experimental plot. However, instead of pointing it out directly, she asked, "How did you apply fertilizer the other day?"

The Twelfth Prince recounted the process of applying fertilizer, still looking puzzled at An Qing, clearly unaware of his mistake.

An Qing smiled and gently shook her head. Seeing that he didn't realize the issue, she decided to be direct: "I remember emphasizing that in June, the temperature fluctuates significantly and there are many rainy days, making it a period of low temperatures and reduced sunlight. Therefore, you should apply fertilizer in small amounts frequently. Did you do that?"

The Twelfth Prince was taken aback, suddenly realizing his mistake. He had found it too troublesome and had skipped a few steps, combining applications of fertilizer instead of applying them frequently as instructed by his Fifth Sister-in-law.

He thought it wouldn't matter, but now he understood why she always said farming required no shortcuts.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, is there any way to fix this?" the Twelfth Prince asked.

An Qing shook her head and replied earnestly, "Timing is crucial in farming. Once missed, it's missed. All you can do is learn from this experience."

The Twelfth Prince sighed and nodded, dejected.

Watching the entire exchange, Kangxi and the others were surprised. They realized that not following An Qing's instructions could lead to such noticeable differences.

They also heard terms like "big fertilizer," "temperature fluctuations," and "low temperatures and reduced sunlight," which left them confused, but the Twelfth Prince clearly understood. It was evident that these were concepts taught by the Fifth Princess Consort.

For the first time, they truly grasped that farming is indeed a science, one that isn't easily understood.

After showcasing her expertise, An Qing felt more confident. Look, despite occasional breaks, she had been teaching diligently.

At this moment, Yinqi finally arrived from the rice fields and echoed An Qing's thoughts, "Father, why are you here?"

Kangxi waved his hand and replied, "Nothing major. I just brought them to observe your agricultural school."

Since they were here to observe, An Qing took on the responsibility of introducing them to the various experimental plots around the estate, giving a brief overview of each.

Finally, she called over the students from the fields, intending for Kangxi to conduct spot checks. However, when the students arrived and addressed him as "Father," An Qing realized that most of the officials present were their parents.

Suddenly, it felt like an unexpected parent-teacher meeting.

The situation quickly spiraled out of An Qing's control. The Ninth Prince and others, after greeting Kangxi respectfully, eagerly led him to their experimental plots.

With nothing pressing, Kangxi agreed, and the Ninth Prince, acting swiftly, led Kangxi to his own plot.

The others, seeing that they couldn't outshine their Ninth Prince, couldn't help but show a hint of disappointment on their faces. But they quickly redirected their attention to the Elder Brother Prince and the Crown Prince, simply wanting to show off a bit.

"Big Brother, why don't you come take a look at my field? The corn I planted has sprouted, and Fifth Sister-in-law praised me for doing a good job."

"Crown Prince, Second Brother, follow me to my rice field. My rice is growing wonderfully."

"Third Brother, you..."

"Fourth Brother..."

Fifteenth Prince, being young and slow, was left standing there alone, staring at his Seventh Brother.

"Seventh Brother, even though I didn't grow it as well as the other brothers, if you want to see it..."

Seventh Prince had no reason to refuse. He took Fifteenth Prince's hand and followed along.

Then, Kangxi, the Elder Brother Prince, the Crown Prince, and others were each led by the Ninth Prince and his brothers to their experimental fields. The second-generation officials also eagerly showed off their achievements to their fathers.

Officials from the Agricultural Administration Department and the Ministry of Finance led the remaining bureaucrats to their own experimental fields, leaving only An Qing and Yinqi standing there, looking at each other.

An Qing silently sighed, still feeling frustrated about her image crumbling earlier.

She had always tried to portray herself as a diligent and hardworking model in front of Kangxi, but today, her image had unexpectedly crumbled so suddenly.

Seeing her sigh, Yinqi thought something serious had happened and hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?"

An Qing didn't hide anything and told him everything that had happened when they arrived.

After listening, Yinqi didn't think it was a big deal and reassured her that she had done well and that the Emperor wouldn't blame her.

"I've been writing reports on your teaching progress, and the Emperor reads them every day. Don't worry."

An Qing thought about it and agreed.

Hehe, it was all thanks to Yinqi, a reliable and hardworking teaching assistant.

The last class of the first phase of the agricultural training ended this way, and An Qing announced that the course was over.

From now on, they didn't need to come to the farm every day. Those who needed to attend court would do so, and those who needed to go to school would do the same. They could still visit their assigned experimental fields whenever they had time.

The Ninth Prince and the others had to return to the study hall and moved away from the farm. As a result, An Qing, now free from teaching duties, stayed on the farm with Yinqi, enjoying the freedom it offered.

However, as the weather got hotter, the farm wasn't as cool as Changchun Garden, which was why Kangxi chose to build a summer retreat there.

An Qing, who was always sensitive to heat, especially after becoming pregnant, soon moved back to Changchun Garden.

Back at Changchun Garden, An Qing finally had some leisure time. Her favorite pastime became fishing again. After last summer's practice, her fishing skills had improved somewhat, although she was still not very skilled, at least she didn't catch nothing anymore.

Snowball still disdained her fishing skills and always waited by Little Xizi, refusing to come no matter how much she called, which made An Qing often scold it for being ungrateful.

However, Snowball might be ungrateful to its master, but it was very loving to its mate. Just now, it got a small fish from San Xi and, unwilling to eat it itself, happily carried it to its calico mate.

"Oh, Master, look, Snowball is indeed a good husband, knowing how to care for his wife," Perilla remarked.

An Qing was still upset that the little one ignored her earlier and huffed, saying, "That's its only virtue. Otherwise, with its looks, how could it find such a beautiful wife like Mei Mei?"

Mei Mei was the name An Qing gave to the calico cat.

She was terrible at naming things. Ever since Snowball brought its family back, she had been trying to name them, but until now, she had only managed to give the calico cat a simple name. The two little calico kittens were still unnamed.

Perilla disagreed, "Master, you're being unfair. Snowball isn't ugly; it's actually quite handsome."

White Persian cats were always popular in the palace, while the calico cat that An Qing considered beautiful was seen as ordinary by most people.

An Qing glanced at Cui Liu, thinking that beauty was in the eye of the beholder. In the eyes of cats, she wasn't sure if white Persians were the ugliest, but calicos were definitely considered beautiful.

However, seeing the two cats cuddling nearby, she thought, "Well, love is blind. If they're happy together, I can't interfere."

"Master, you've been sitting for a while. Let's walk around. Mai Dong said sitting too long isn't good for pregnant women," Perilla suggested.

An Qing hadn't caught any fish and found it boring, so she decided to stop and handed the fishing rod to a nearby eunuch, then went for a walk with Perilla in the courtyard.

Just as they entered the courtyard, they saw Cui Liu walking in with a small bundle.

"Master, this is from Thirteenth Prince. He says these are some clothes Princess Eight made for the baby in your belly. He wants you to choose the styles."

Since Concubine Zhang was ill and couldn't move, Princess Eight stayed in the palace. However, because Kangxi brought all the princes to Changchun Garden, Thirteenth Prince had to come along. Fortunately, Kangxi allowed him to visit his mother occasionally, giving Princess Eight a chance to send things through him.

An Qing shook her head helplessly, "This girl doesn't listen. She's busy taking care of her mother; where does she find the time for embroidery?"

She knew Princess Eight must have stayed up late to make the clothes.

After hearing about An Qing's pregnancy, Princess Eight had insisted on making clothes for the baby. Despite An Qing's repeated advice to focus on her own health, Princess Eight had gone ahead and made them anyway.

No, she had to write a letter scolding her next time Thirteenth Prince returned to the palace.

"Master, look, Princess Eight made these clothes beautifully," Cui Liu exclaimed, opening the bundle and admiring the clothes inside.

She knew Princess Eight was skilled at embroidery, but she didn't expect the clothes to be so meticulously crafted. The stitches, embroidery, and fabric were all done with great care.

Perilla examined them and said, "Master, Princess Eight truly put her heart into this. You should accept them. She probably wanted to repay your kindness."

An Qing understood Princess Eight's intentions. The girl always felt grateful for the care she received and wanted to repay it somehow.

Well, she would talk to her next time they met.

An Qing asked Cui Liu to put the clothes back in the room and continued her walk in the courtyard. Since confirming her pregnancy, she had been following Mai Dong and the doctor's instructions without any compromise.

It's really helpless, you know. Medical conditions in ancient times weren't as advanced. Giving birth is like walking through the gates of hell; there's no room for carelessness. One must follow the doctor's orders, especially since she values her life dearly.

After walking a few rounds in the courtyard, An Qing felt it was enough and was about to return to the house when she saw Cui Liu standing at the corridor, looking hesitant as if something had happened.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" she asked.

Cui Liu pursed her lips. "Nothing..."

An Qing gave her a look. "Don't try to hide anything from me, girl. I know you too well. If there's something, just say it. Don't forget the rules I set."

The rule was that they were not allowed to keep any good or bad news from her under the pretense of protecting her.

Cui Liu was indeed struggling with this. "My lady, when I came back, I saw His Highness go to Lady Liu's quarters."

An Qing didn't think much of it. "What's so hard to say about that? He can go wherever he wants. He's probably visiting Hongsheng."

Since Lady Liu was released from confinement last year, she had been relatively well-behaved for the past six months, staying within her courtyard without causing any trouble.

Before the last southern tour, Yinqi discussed with An Qing the idea of sending Hongsheng back to Lady Liu's care. An Qing had no objections. As a side consort, Lady Liu was entitled to raise her child according to the rules.

Besides, she had no desire to separate mother and son.

Cui Liu still couldn't help but express her frustration. "My lady, you're too kind-hearted. Why did you have to bring them all here?"

Before coming to Changchun Garden, Lady Liu claimed it was too hot in the palace and that Young Master Hongsheng was weak and couldn't endure it, so she requested to come along. Surprisingly, their lady agreed without hesitation.

Not only did she bring Lady Liu, but also two other Princesses, Guaerjia and Baijia Shi. While Guaerjia was understandable, since their lady became pregnant, Lady Liu and Baijia Shi had become increasingly active in trying to attract His Highness's attention.

Especially Lady Liu, ever since returning from the southern tour, she had frequently used Young Master Hongsheng as an excuse to draw His Highness over. Although he always returned after seeing the young master and never stayed overnight, who could predict what might happen in the future?

"You're inviting wolves into your home," she muttered.

An Qing shook her head helplessly. Inviting wolves into her home? They were Yinqi's concubines, and it was natural for them to have aspirations.

Moreover, regardless of how they vied for his favor, as long as they didn't interfere with her, she was fine with it.

As for bringing Lady Liu and the others to Changchun Garden, one reason was that Lady Liu's argument made sense. It was more comfortable here, and regardless of whether Hongsheng was weak, if the conditions allowed, she had no reason to leave him suffering in the palace. Since Hongsheng was coming, Lady Liu, as his mother, naturally had to come along to take care of him.

Secondly, bluntly put, she was currently pregnant and unable to fulfill her marital duties. With no one else to serve Yinqi, she had to bring them along.

After all, she didn't want to be like the Eighth Consort, who was already gaining a reputation for jealousy in the palace.

Of course, An Qing understood the thoughts of Cui Liu and the others.

In the two years since her marriage to Yinqi, he had treated her well, so well that even Cui Liu and the others harbored unrealistic expectations. But An Qing remained clear-headed, maintaining her boundaries and initial intentions.

Her current life was already good enough, and she didn't want to create unnecessary troubles.

An Qing waved her hand. "Enough, it's not a big deal. If I don't mind, neither should you."

With that, she headed towards the house. She had woken up early this morning and was feeling sleepy now. She needed to catch up on some sleep.

Ever since she became pregnant, she had been sleeping more and more.

Just as An Qing entered the house and hadn't even reached the bed yet, Little Xizi rushed in, out of breath.

"My lady, Concubine Zhang..."

A sudden sense of unease filled An Qing's heart, and she hurriedly asked, "What happened to Concubine Zhang?"

"Concubine Zhang has passed away!"

Chapter 84: Fifth Princess Consort

Concubine Zhang has passed away. This day has finally come.

Although An Qing had long been prepared, she still couldn't help feeling sad. Her interactions with Concubine Zhang were limited, yet even so, she felt this way. How could the Eighth Princess bear it?

No, she had to return to the palace. An Qing got up and headed for the door, but just as she reached the courtyard, she saw Yinqi enter, looking anxious.

Seeing An Qing, he quickly supported her, "I know everything. Don't worry, I'll take you back to the palace."

An Qing nodded lightly. Before Yinqi arrived, he had already sent Ma Xiang to prepare the carriage. Without delay, the two of them walked out together.

Before getting into the carriage, An Qing suddenly paused, "Let's go see Little Thirteenth Prince first; we can't let him go back alone."

Yinqi was taken aback but immediately understood.

Yes, in such a situation, Little Thirteenth shouldn't be left alone; someone needs to look after him.

When they arrived at Taoyuan Shuwu in the Fourth Prince's residence, they saw Fourth Prince and Thirteenth Prince hurriedly coming out of the courtyard. Upon meeting, everyone understood each other's intentions and turned to walk outside without further ado.

Soon, they reached the garden entrance, where Ma Xiang had already prepared the carriage, and Su Peisheng, who served Fourth Prince, stood nearby with two horses.

An Qing turned to Fourth Prince and Thirteenth Prince, "Thirteenth can't ride a horse; he should ride in the carriage with me."

In the aftermath of losing a loved one, one is often disoriented, and riding a horse hastily could lead to accidents. She recalled how a senior from her past life almost had a car accident when his father died unexpectedly.

Yinqi and Fourth Prince clearly thought the same. Fourth Prince nodded, "Fifth Sister-in-law is right. Thirteenth, get in the carriage."

But Thirteenth Prince was anxious, wanting to rush back to the palace. He couldn't understand why his mother, who was fine that morning, was now gone.

"Fourth Brother, I'm fine, I can..."

Yinqi didn't give him a chance to argue, pushing him towards the carriage, "No more talk. You're getting in the carriage. Hurry up, so we can leave sooner and get back faster."

Thirteenth Prince couldn't argue with his older brothers and ended up sitting in the carriage with An Qing, while Yinqi and Fourth Prince rode horses alongside.

Inside the carriage, An Qing watched Thirteenth Prince's dazed expression and sighed inwardly. This child was only thirteen and had to endure such grief. It was heartbreaking.

She could do little but asked Ma Xiang to drive faster.

Returning to the palace sooner meant seeing his mother sooner, which was likely all he wanted, An Qing thought.

Unexpectedly, Thirteenth Prince seemed to regain his composure and said, "The carriage doesn't need to be too fast; it should be steady."

An Qing was puzzled by his request.

He was so eager to return earlier, so why did he change his mind now?

Thirteenth Prince's eyes showed a hint of sadness as he said, "Fifth Sister-in-law, my mother is gone. Even if we hurry back, we won't see her again. So, there's no need to rush. Your health is more important."

An Qing felt a pang of sorrow.

Concubine Zhang truly raised a considerate child. In such a moment, he still remembered her condition and cared for her.

An Qing wanted to say she was fine, but Thirteenth Prince interrupted, "Fifth Sister-in-law, please, let's go slower. Otherwise, Mother would blame me."

His mother had repeatedly told them that Fifth Elder Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law were rare good people in the palace, and they should be grateful. He wouldn't forget that.

An Qing recalled Concubine Zhang's gentle face and felt her eyes welling up. She turned away so Thirteenth Prince wouldn't see her tears, not wanting to add to his sorrow.

They remained silent throughout the journey. Eventually, the carriage entered the palace and stopped at the gate.

When they arrived at Concubine Zhang's quarters, they heard that the Eighth Princess had fainted and was resting in an annex.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, could you please check on Eighth Sister?" Thirteenth Prince requested.

An Qing naturally agreed. Even if he hadn't asked, she would have gone to see the Eighth Princess, whom she worried about.

Led by a palace maid, she soon reached the annex and saw the unconscious Eighth Princess and the sleeping or fainted Tenth Princess beside her.

"What happened to Tenth Princess?" An Qing asked the serving palace maid.

The maid replied, "Fifth Princess Consort, Tenth Princess is young and cried herself to sleep."

An Qing nodded slightly, turning to the Eighth Princess, "Has the imperial physician seen her?"

The maid nodded, "The imperial physician came and said she fainted from excessive sorrow. We should comfort her when she wakes up and avoid extreme emotions."

An Qing murmured an acknowledgment. After the maid left, she had Mai Dong check the Eighth Princess's pulse. Satisfied that there was no immediate danger, she felt relieved.

The Eighth Princess woke up, confused, and saw An Qing. Why was her Fifth Sister-in-law here?

An Qing noticed her stirring and asked, "Eight Sister, how are you? Are you feeling any discomfort?"

The Eighth Princess's initial confusion gave way to the memory of her mother's passing.

She realized her mother was gone, and she had witnessed her last breath.

Overwhelmed, she looked at An Qing and whispered, "Fifth Sister-in-law, I'm a child without a mother."

Tears streamed down her face.

An Qing moved closer, gently embracing her, "Cry if you need to. I'm here."

Though the imperial physician advised against extreme emotions, she believed that crying was a natural release.

The Eighth Princess, who had been holding back, finally broke down and sobbed in An Qing's arms.

An Qing could only pat her back, silently comforting her.

Not long after, the princess next to her, the Tenth Princess, was awakened by the commotion. Seeing her Eighth Sister crying so hard, she couldn't help but start crying too.

Just as An Qing was at a loss, the Eighth Princess suddenly stopped crying, wiped away her tears, and turned to comfort the Tenth Princess. The Tenth Princess, clearly exhausted, soon fell back asleep.

An Qing watched the Eighth Princess with a silent sigh. She herself was deeply saddened yet still managed to suppress her grief to console her younger sister. It was unclear how she managed to do it.

The Eighth Princess turned around and saw the concern in Fifth Sister-in-law's eyes. With an apologetic expression, she said, "Fifth Sister-in-law, I'm sorry for worrying you."

An Qing gently shook her head. "Eighth Sister, there's no need to be so formal with me."

After saying this, she glanced at the Tenth Princess and added, "Should we have someone carry the Tenth Sister to the next room to rest?"

Otherwise, one child would have to take care of another, which wasn't ideal.

The Eighth Princess shook her head and said, "I promised Mother that I would take care of the Tenth Sister."

A hint of helplessness flashed through An Qing's mind. Concubine Zhang had left behind three young children; she must have been extremely worried.

After all, in the palace, children without their mother's protection were always pitiful.

After returning to the palace, An Qing didn't plan to go back to Changchun Garden. That day, she stayed with the Eighth Princess for a long time until nightfall before leaving for the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Since most people were at Changchun Garden, the Palace of Heavenly Purity was unusually quiet compared to usual.

In her haste to return, she only brought Perilla and Maidong with her. Fortunately, her main courtyard was not short of servants, so her sudden return did not cause any inconvenience.

Compared to An Qing, Yinqi returned much later. He had been assisting the Thirteenth Prince with Concubine Zhang's funeral arrangements, respecting the deceased.

When he returned, An Qing had already finished washing up and was about to rest.

"You should sleep first. I'll be quiet and won't disturb you," Yinqi said.

But An Qing shook her head. "It's fine; I wasn't really sleepy anyway. Even if I lie down now, I wouldn't be able to sleep."

She then asked, "Has His Majesty returned?"

Yinqi nodded. "He has. I just came from the Palace of Heavenly Purity. His Majesty has posthumously honored Concubine Zhang as Empress Min."

An Qing knew that Concubine Zhang was posthumously honored as Empress Min, so she wasn't surprised.

However, what Yinqi said next far exceeded her expectations: Kangxi intended to exceptionally bury her near the imperial mausoleum.

According to tradition, concubines like Concubine Zhang were supposed to be buried in the concubine cemetery, as only empresses could enter the mausoleum.

An Qing was stunned for a moment. She knew that during Yongzheng's reign, Concubine Zhang was elevated to Empress Dowager Jingmin due to the Thirteenth Prince and was moved to be buried with Kangxi, becoming the first imperial concubine in Qing history to be interred in the imperial mausoleum.

But she hadn't expected this earlier twist.

Although An Qing was no longer a pure materialist after her transmigration, she still found Kangxi's posthumous honors somewhat meaningless. What good were these titles when the person was gone?

They were merely empty names.

As An Qing mentally criticized Kangxi for these useless gestures, Yinqi dropped a bombshell.

"Has His Majesty decided on the Eighth Sister's marriage?"

An Qing sat up straight. "What?!"

It seemed unreasonable to decide a daughter's marriage right after her mother's death. What was Kangxi thinking?

Moreover, if she remembered correctly, the Eighth Princess was only twelve years old. Was it necessary to rush?

Seeing her misunderstanding, Yinqi quickly explained, "This was Concubine Zhang's last wish."

An Qing exclaimed, "Ah," clearly still processing the information.

Yinqi didn't hide anything and told her everything he knew.

After returning from the southern tour, Kangxi visited the critically ill Concubine Zhang. She pleaded with him to arrange marriages for the Eighth and Tenth Princesses, wanting to see them settled before she died. Otherwise, she would never rest in peace.

Kangxi initially refused, knowing that Great Qing's princesses had a duty to marry Mongolians. Thus, their marriages were matters of state, not just personal affairs.

Concubine Zhang persisted until her death, even leaving a letter for Kangxi. Though its contents were unknown, Kangxi eventually relented.

"Who is the Eighth Sister's betrothed?" An Qing asked.

Yinqi replied, "The second son of Duolun, the Prince of the Wonnit tribe, Changan."

An Qing instinctively breathed a sigh of relief. The Wonnit tribe belonged to Southern Mongolia, and its leader bore the Borjigit surname. Although they were not direct descendants of the Yuan dynasty, they had always been loyal to Great Qing.

At least the Eighth Princess would be marrying into Southern Mongolia, where she would likely fare better than if she were sent to Northern Desert like the Fourth Princess.

"But the edict hasn't been issued yet. His Majesty has given his consent, but it will probably happen after the funeral," Yinqi said.

An Qing nodded, understanding: "What about the Tenth Princess?"

Didn't Concubine Zhang want both daughters' marriages arranged?

Yinqi shook his head. "His Majesty said the Tenth Sister is still too young, so there's no rush. But it seems her marriage will also be within Southern Mongolia. This was Concubine Zhang's only request for the Eighth and Tenth Sisters' marriages."

Concubine Zhang's sole request was that her daughters marry into Southern Mongolia?

An Qing paused, suddenly connecting some dots. She recalled that Concubine Zhang had fallen out of favor for years, reportedly due to poor health after giving birth to the Tenth Princess, spending most days bedridden.

But last year, Concubine Zhang's health improved, and she encountered Kangxi in a garden. Since then, she regained some favor, though her health remained inconsistent. However, Kangxi's treatment of her was warmer, and he often visited her.

This improved the status of the Thirteenth Prince and the Eighth Princess in the palace, and An Qing had rejoiced for the Eighth Princess then.

Later, while chatting with Concubine Yi, An Qing learned that the garden where Concubine Zhang regained favor was the very place where she had first met Kangxi. It was said that the garden was filled with roses, Concubine Zhang's favorite flowers.

Though Concubine Yi did not explicitly say it, An Qing understood that Concubine Zhang's return to favor was not by chance but rather a deliberate and carefully planned move.

There was nothing wrong with this. At the time, An Qing thought Concubine Zhang merely wanted to regain favor, as only with the Emperor's affection could one have an easier life in the palace, which would also benefit her children.

But now, it seemed that Concubine Zhang's efforts to regain favor had a deeper purpose.

There was another matter. Previously, when An Qing had taken something to Concubine Zhang, Maid Mai Dong had examined her. Mai Dong mentioned that Concubine Zhang seemed to have taken some potent medicine, the kind that temporarily improves one's health but leaves lasting damage afterward.

Thus, An Qing boldly speculated that Concubine Zhang was using the last moments of her life to play a strategic game, leveraging her past relationship with Kangxi to secure marriages for her two daughters.

Even so, she remained measured, understanding that Mongolian alliances were political matters not easily changed. Therefore, she sought a relatively stable marriage for her daughters in Southern Mongolia.

Perhaps, in her heart, the little bit of affection she had with Kangxi could only go so far.

After Concubine Zhang's passing, the palace followed its customs to prepare for her funeral. The three siblings were stubborn, insisting on kneeling in the mourning hall for three days.

During this period, An Qing visited several times, but each time she was sent away at the door by Princess Eighth and Prince Thirteenth.

An Qing knew they were concerned about her health and feared that her pregnancy might be affected.

After the funeral, the palace returned to its usual calm, and Concubine Zhang's death did not cause much of a ripple in the vast Forbidden City.

Of course, except for her children.

Princess Eighth seemed to grow up overnight, taking on the responsibility of caring for Princess Tenth. Princess Tenth moved to Zhaoxiang Palace, right next to Princess Eighth, providing companionship for each other.

According to Yinqi, Prince Thirteenth had become more diligent in his studies and more composed, though he spoke less.

Worried about Princess Eighth, An Qing did not return to Changchun Garden. Though she could do little, she could at least keep her company.

Fortunately, it was already late July, and soon Kangxi would lead everyone back to the palace for the annual Mulan Autumn Hunt.

Due to An Qing's pregnancy, Yinqi had been hesitant about attending the hunt this year, but An Qing did not want to miss it. After all, she could only see her family once a year, and missing this year would mean waiting until next year.

Moreover, she had passed the critical first trimester, and the fetus was stable. There was no need to worry, as the carriages traveled slowly, and adding extra cushions would ensure safety.

Of course, these decisions were not made by An Qing alone. Yinqi consulted Chief Physician Qi, who confirmed that it would be safe.

Thus, An Qing and Yinqi appeared on the list for the Mulan Autumn Hunt.

On a sunny, clear day, Kangxi led everyone out of the Forbidden City toward the outer regions.

When An Qing smelled the wind of the northern grasslands again, she felt a deep sense of nostalgia, reminiscing about the taste of home.

However, before she could indulge in her memories, Mai Dong mercilessly pulled down the carriage curtain.

"Milady, can't you give us a break? The wind here is fierce; don't you fear catching a chill?" Mai Dong muttered expressionlessly.

An Qing silently shrank her neck.

One had to bow to authority, especially since they were almost at Mulan. She feared this girl would complain to her mother, who would surely nag her endlessly.

Speaking of nagging, An Qing sighed again. She feared not just her mother's nagging but also Yinqi's. Throughout the journey, he had nagged her quite a bit, thanks to Mai Dong's complaints.

Sigh, who were they loyal to? One might think Yinqi was their master.

Kangxi traveled quickly this time, with minimal stops along the way. When they arrived at Mulan, An Qing's parents had not yet come.

Unexpectedly, she saw Princess Fourth first.

Before coming to Mulan, Kangxi had summoned his married daughters: Princess First, Princess Second, Princess Third, and Princess Fourth. Thus, he brought Imperial Concubine Rong, the mother of Princess Second, Lady Bu, the mother of Princess Third, and Lady Guo, the mother of Princess Fourth.

Princess First was special. She was not Kangxi's biological daughter but adopted from his fifth brother, Prince Changning. The adoption served two purposes: to unite the imperial clan and to counteract rumors of a curse in the early years of Kangxi's reign, when several of his children had died young.

Remarkably, after adopting Princess First, Kangxi's eldest son and Crown Prince survived and grew up. Thus, Princess First was immensely favored by both Kangxi and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.

When Princess First married, despite being a concubine-born princess, she enjoyed the status of a full princess, a treatment none of Kangxi's biological daughters had received.

She married a Mongolian nobleman named Bandi from the Horqin tribe. Before her marriage, An Qing had heard from her father and elder brother that he was a good man, and the couple was deeply in love, renowned for their devotion.

In An Qing's eyes, Princess First was a true ancient lucky charm, achieving success without effort. How enviable!

As Princess Fourth lifted the curtain and entered An Qing's tent, she finished her thoughts about Princess First's good fortune. Looking up, she saw a familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar figure.

Undoubtedly, it was Princess Fourth's face, but her demeanor had changed.

Previously, Princess Fourth had the straightforwardness of Concubine Yi, but within the constraints of palace rules. Now, she exuded the freedom of a daughter of the grasslands, lifting the tent curtain with ease and confidence, free from the palace's strictures.

Indeed, she seemed more like a daughter of the grasslands than An Qing herself.

"Wah, Fifth Sister-in-law, I've missed you so much!"

Chapter 85: Princess Consort of the Fifth House

The Fourth Princess excitedly rushed towards An Qing. Perilla, seeing her approach, feared she might accidentally hurt her mistress and was about to step forward to stop her, but unexpectedly, the Fourth Princess suddenly braked just a few steps away.

"Oh, right! Fifth Sister-in-law, you're carrying my little nephew now. I need to be more careful; I can't hurt my precious little nephew," the Fourth Princess said, patting her chest in relief.

Seeing her like this, An Qing couldn't help but smile. She quickly got up and took the Fourth Princess's hand. It had been two years since they last met, and she missed her dearly.

"When did you arrive? Have you seen your mother?"

The Fourth Princess nodded with a smile and replied, "I've been here for a while. I just came from my mother's place. I was supposed to arrive a day later, but when I heard you were almost at Mulan, I couldn't wait any longer and rushed over."

An Qing thought it made sense. Yesterday, Yinqi mentioned that according to their journey, it would take them two more days to arrive. They must have hurried to get here sooner.

"It's a shame I couldn't see Aunt this time," the Fourth Princess lamented.

She had grown up under Concubine Yi's care and always felt close to her. This time, she had hoped to meet her, but Concubine Yi wasn't on the list for this tour.

An Qing understood the Fourth Princess's disappointment. After all, it was difficult to meet given the distance between them.

But there was nothing to be done about it. Whether it was last year's autumn hunt at Mulan or this year's southern tour, Concubine Yi had already participated. Given Emperor Kangxi's usual fairness, it was normal not to include her this time.

Of course, Concubine Yi had anticipated this and had told An Qing not to expect anything. At the time, An Qing still held out hope, thinking maybe things would be different, but it seemed Concubine Yi knew Emperor Kangxi better than anyone.

"How is Eighth Sister? Is she doing well?" the Fourth Princess asked.

An Qing nodded slightly. Although Eighth Princess had received grace before the Fourth Princess's marriage, she was still in mourning. Thus, the sisters missed each other again this year.

"Eighth Sister is stronger than we imagined. After her mother passed away, she was initially distraught, but she soon regained her composure and is now taking care of Tenth Sister," An Qing explained.

Hearing this, the Fourth Princess breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. Knowing Eighth Sister, she would pull herself together for Tenth Sister's sake."

Especially because it was her mother's last wish.

An Qing patted her hand reassuringly. "Don't worry. As long as I'm in the palace, no one will bully them."

The Fourth Princess trusted her. She had heard from her mother that after the death of Concubine Zhang, some servants tried to mistreat the sisters, but Fifth Sister-in-law had sent people to watch over them. When the issue arose, she personally punished the servants, deterring others from mistreating them.

"By the way, Fifth Sister-in-law, I heard from my mother that the Emperor is arranging a marriage for Eighth Sister?" the Fourth Princess asked, surprised.

It was understandable for her to react so strongly. Eighth Sister was only twelve and not yet of marriageable age. Logically, the Emperor shouldn't be in such a hurry.

An Qing nodded. "We thought the Emperor would grant the marriage decree after the funeral, but he delayed it, possibly due to the mourning period for Concubine Min. However, it's not a secret in the palace, so Lady Guo knowing is normal."

She didn't hide the details from the Fourth Princess. "Fifth Elder Brother told me it's the second son of Prince Duolun Duling of the Wunetuote tribe, named Cangjin. He has a good reputation. Though he's the second son, his elder brother is a concubine-born, so he's likely to inherit the title."

After learning about Eighth Princess's marriage, An Qing sent a letter to Horqin, asking her father to investigate Cangjin. The results were positive; he had a good character and no bad habits, making him a rare good match on the grasslands.

Moreover, her father detailed the situation in the Wunetuote tribe. Cangjin's father was the Zha Sa Khan Prince of their tribe, and his grandmother was a princess who married into the Manchu-Mongol alliance during the Shunzhi era, the fourth daughter of Prince Ying Ajige. Her mother was the daughter of Prince Bingtu Kongguo'er of the Khorchin Left Wing Banner.

Through these connections, they were distantly related to Cangjin's family. While it was a distant relationship, it would be helpful if Eighth Princess married into the family.

Mentioning Eighth Princess's marriage made the Fourth Princess feel a bit down.

An Qing noticed and changed the subject. "How did you know I was pregnant?"

Since the Fourth Princess was a Mongolian princess by marriage, her letters had to pass through Emperor Kangxi, so communication wasn't frequent. She confirmed her pregnancy only recently, so the Fourth Princess shouldn't have known.

But then she remembered the Fourth Princess had come from Lady Guo, so she must have learned it from her.

Unexpectedly, the Fourth Princess became excited. "Oh, Fifth Sister-in-law, you wouldn't believe it. Fifth Elder Brother stopped me outside and very seriously told me about your pregnancy, warning me not to be reckless."

An Qing was taken aback. She hadn't expected this, but considering Yinqi's overprotective behavior since her pregnancy, it made sense.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, you should have seen how nervous Fifth Elder Brother was. Anyone would think I was incredibly reckless," the Fourth Princess said, pouting.

An Qing glanced at her, smiling slightly. "Aren't you?"

Her sudden rush earlier had startled An Qing too.

The Fourth Princess touched her nose, realizing her own behavior. "Okay, I admit I wasn't very steady. But that's not the point. I wanted to tell you how nervous Fifth Elder Brother was. You'd think it was his first time being a father."

The Fourth Princess wasn't naive, especially after marriage. She understood the special bond between Fifth Elder Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law. During Liu Jiashi's pregnancy, she had observed Fifth Elder Brother's behavior. While he cared for Liu Jiashi, it was different from his current state.

Seeing Fifth Elder Brother's concern, it was clear it was for Fifth Sister-in-law, not just the child.

But as women, the Fourth Princess knew the unfairness faced by women. Growing up with her aunt and mother, she understood that women must remain clear-headed and not let themselves be consumed by love.

So, she shifted the topic and started discussing the timing of An Qing's delivery and what precautions to take during pregnancy. As someone who had been through it, she had valuable advice.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, you're so lucky. No morning sickness at all. You don't know how terrible it was for me. I was so sick, I thought I wouldn't make it," the Fourth Princess said enviously.

Last year, she missed the autumn hunt at Mulan due to severe morning sickness.

An Qing looked at her still-flat belly and smiled. "This pregnancy has been quite easy. Even the imperial physicians say they haven't seen such a smooth pregnancy in years."

Most pregnant women experience some symptoms, but An Qing only felt a bit sleepy. Since confirming her pregnancy, everything had been stable, even during the journey to the frontier.

Concubine Yi often joked that the child in her womb must be here to repay a debt.

"How is your daughter? Did you bring her this time?" An Qing asked.

The Fourth Princess gave birth to a daughter in March this year, while they were still on their southern tour. Upon receiving the news that both mother and child were safe, she was overjoyed.

The Fourth Princess waved her hand and replied, "I would have loved to bring her along for you to see, but my mother-in-law said the child is too young and couldn't withstand the journey. So we didn't bring her this time."

An Qing nodded; she had anticipated this. The child was only about six months old, and the journey would indeed be arduous. It was understandable that such a small child couldn't endure it.

"How is your daughter? Is she easy to take care of? Is she well-behaved?"

At these words, the Fourth Princess immediately looked exasperated. "Don't even mention it. That little girl is quite mischievous and keeps everyone busy. Her crying can scare off wolves with its volume, and it takes three or four wet nurses to look after her."

When talking about her daughter, the Fourth Princess's face lit up with a smile, radiating the warmth of a new mother.

An Qing couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. She used to think of the Fourth Princess as a young girl, but now she had transformed into a mother, even having given birth before An Qing herself. Life truly was unpredictable.

From her words, however, it was clear that the Fourth Princess was doing well, and that was enough.

But mentioning the Fourth Princess's daughter reminded An Qing of something else. The Eighth Princess had asked her to bring some things over.

How forgetful she was; no wonder people say pregnancy makes one forgetful for three years.

An Qing quickly instructed Perilla to fetch the items from the Eighth Princess. It was a sizable bundle containing clothes made by the Eighth Princess for the Fourth Princess's daughter.

The sizes seemed suitable for children two or three years old, likely because the Eighth Princess wanted them to last longer. Even if they couldn't wear them now, they would eventually fit.

The Fourth Princess touched the clothes, deeply moved. "The Eighth Sister is truly skilled. These clothes feel so comfortable; I can tell the child will love wearing them. I don't know how she managed to make them without any visible stitches."

An Qing thought to herself, yes, the Eighth Princess had also made clothes for her own child when she was pregnant.

Seeing the clothes made by the Eighth Princess for her daughter, the Fourth Princess couldn't help but miss her sister.

An Qing patted her arm and consoled her, "There will always be opportunities to meet again."

"Yes, the Eighth Sister's marriage is being arranged, so there will be many chances to see each other. If not soon, then when you return, I'll write a long letter for you to give to the Eighth Sister, conveying all my thoughts and feelings," the Fourth Princess said, her typical straightforward nature shining through.

This was what An Qing liked most about her. Life is short; why waste it on internal turmoil? Thinking positively makes life more enjoyable.

The sisters-in-law chatted about various trivial matters from the palace, including gossip and secrets. An Qing shared stories from the palace, while the Fourth Princess talked about events from Northern Desert Mongolia.

They chatted enthusiastically, proving that gossip exists everywhere.

After a long while, once the last piece of gossip was shared, the Fourth Princess suddenly looked at An Qing seriously.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, do you know where I currently reside?" she asked.

An Qing nodded. She knew that the Fourth Princess was not in Northern Desert Khalkha but was residing in the Qingshui River administrative area south of Guihua City. This wasn't a secret in the palace.

However, the origin of this predicament was rooted in the marriage of the Fourth Princess. When she departed from Beijing, accompanied by a retinue of hundreds, her intended destination was the Kuren Prince's residence in Mongolia, where she was to wed her intended consort, Dorji. Yet, the incessant provocations by Galdan in the borderlands kept the northern frontier in a state of unrest. En route, they encountered skirmishes, and for the sake of safety, Emperor Kangxi granted them permission to alter their course and take up temporary residence in the area south of Guihua City, by the Qingshui River.

Qingshui River is less than 200 miles from Guihua City, far from Northern Desert but close to the Qing army's garrison in Shanxi, making it very secure.

Unexpectedly, the Fourth Princess has lived there for two years. An Qing had heard Yinqi mention that Kangxi was considering building the Fourth Princess's palace in Guihua City.

With Dzungaria as an unstable factor, Northern Desert was indeed uncertain.

In this light, Kangxi could be considered a good father, at least towards the Fourth Princess, the first princess to marry into Northern Desert Mongolia, showing considerable care.

The Fourth Princess continued, "Fifth Sister-in-law, do you know the situation in the Qingshui River area?"

An Qing knew some details about the Qingshui River area in Southern Desert, but she wasn't sure what specific information the Fourth Princess sought. She honestly replied, "I've been there once."

During a winter migration of their tribe, she accompanied her Third Elder Brother and passed through the area.

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Princess sat up straight, intrigued. "What do you think? Could I lead the herdsmen to cultivate the land there?"

An Qing was taken aback. Cultivating the land around Qingshui River?

She had been there and knew the land well. Compared to other parts of the grassland, the water and grass weren't particularly lush, but the soil was fertile, making it suitable for cultivation.

Not all grasslands are suitable for farming. Many areas in Mongolia have sandy soil, protected by grass. Once cultivated, the topsoil can be quickly blown away, leading to desertification within a few years.

However, the Qingshui River area was ideal for farming, with about five thousand acres of land, a significant amount.

She remembered joking with her Third Elder Brother during their passage that it was a shame such a good place was unused. If given to Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, even a small part, she could help the tribe grow more food.

An Qing suddenly looked at the Fourth Princess, recalling something.

If she remembered correctly, in the twenty-seventh year of Kangxi's reign, Northern Desert Mongolia faced attacks from Western Desert Mongolia. The Fourth Princess's consort, Dorji, fled south with his clan after being attacked by Galdan. Kangxi allowed them to graze their livestock in the Qingshui River area of Southern Desert.

Even after reclaiming Northern Desert, due to sporadic conflicts, some of Dorji's clan members still resided in Qingshui River. Kangxi tacitly approved their grazing there, despite its location in Southern Desert, likely because it was close to Northern Desert, explaining why he allowed the Fourth Princess to live there.

An Qing understood the Fourth Princess's intention: "Do you mean to ask the Emperor for the land around Qingshui River?"

Allowing grazing might be easier, as it could be revoked anytime, but farming requires significant investment.

So, clarifying land ownership was essential.

The Fourth Princess nodded. "To be honest, Fifth Sister-in-law, that's exactly what I'm thinking."

Due to the temporary grazing arrangement, the income of the herders was unstable, and the clan suffered. Over the past two years, the Fourth Princess had seen this and occasionally sent her dowry to help the herders.

But she knew this wasn't sustainable. Before coming, she had been considering this issue. If she could obtain the Qingshui River area from her father, she could lead the herders to farm, like in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, ensuring they wouldn't go hungry.

"What reason will you give?" An Qing asked.

This inexplicable allocation of such a vast area to Khalkha would be hard to justify not only to the other Mongolian tribes in Northern Desert but also to the Mongolian tribes in Southern Desert.

It's not about scarcity but about fairness. Such an obviously biased action would require a reasonable explanation. Kangxi is not foolish; he certainly wouldn't agree to it.

To put it this way, he would rather leave the area around Clearwater River unoccupied than affect the unity among the Mongolian tribes. After all, which Mongolian tribe doesn't need more land right now?

Princess Fourth tentatively asked, "What about my dowry?"

An Qing's eyes lit up involuntarily.

She couldn't help but admire Princess Fourth for coming up with such an impeccable excuse.

The dowry given by Kangxi for his daughter isn't from the Khalkha tribe, so the other Mongolian tribes really can't find any fault with it.

As for whether other princesses might have objections, well, Princess Fourth is the first Great Qing princess to marry into Northern Desert, where there could be warfare at any moment. Would you be willing to go?

Therefore, just based on this point, even if Kangxi gives Princess Fourth more dowry as compensation, anyone would understand.

Of course, what An Qing admires most about Princess Fourth is her courage to ask for it. Other princesses usually take whatever Kangxi gives them when they marry, but she dares to make requests.

Do not underestimate the significance of "making a request." After all, Kangxi is not an ordinary father; he is a mighty emperor. Even favored princes rarely dare to ask him for anything, let alone princesses.

Since Kangxi is not an ordinary father, that means Princess Fourth cannot rely solely on the fact that her father loves her when asking him for something.

As for how to convince Kangxi to give her such a large area as part of her dowry, it must involve negotiating from the political logic of Manchu-Mongolian relations.

Of course, she cannot straightforwardly bring up the dowry issue. How to frame it is crucial.

However, it's clear that Princess Fourth came prepared and has thought things through thoroughly. To avoid suspicion, An Qing didn't ask further.

"How confident are you?" she asked with concern.

Princess Fourth replied with a smile, "Before coming here, I was only fifty percent sure, but after hearing your analysis, Fifth Sister-in-law, since that area is suitable for farming, I'm now seventy percent confident."

Before coming, she had already prepared her arguments to persuade her father. However, one critical point in her argument was whether the area around Clearwater River was suitable for farming.

This was her biggest concern. During her two years of marriage in the frontier, she hadn't been idle. Besides integrating into Northern Desert Mongolia, she had also been learning about the situation of various Mongolian tribes.

According to her knowledge, when her father encouraged the Mongolian tribes to farm, many tribes in Southern Desert responded positively. However, due to incorrect farming methods or poor location choices, many areas turned into sandy deserts within two years, making it impossible to grow crops and even destroying once lush pastures.

So, she worried that if the area around Clearwater River wasn't suitable for farming, it would be a disaster. She believed her father would share this concern.

But now that her Fifth Sister-in-law said the area was suitable for farming, it must be true. After all, no one in Great Qing is better at farming than her Fifth Sister-in-law.

Although she had been married far away for two years, she hadn't missed any of her Fifth Sister-in-law's impressive achievements that shocked the court.

An Qing still believes in Princess Fourth's endeavor. If she succeeds, it will be beneficial for her in Northern Desert Mongolia.

Then, she could truly provide a peaceful life for a significant portion of the tribal herdsmen as their mistress.

This would also be good for Kangxi. The greater Princess Fourth's influence and authority in the local area, the stronger Great Qing's control over Northern Desert Mongolia would be.

"If you can really get the area around Clearwater River from your father, don't hesitate to come to me for anything related to farming. If you need someone to guide the farming, you can borrow people from my father," An Qing said.

Their Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner has extensive experience in farming. Many tribal members were trained by her personally, so this should not be difficult for them.

Princess Fourth was delighted and hugged An Qing tightly.

Wah, her Fifth Sister-in-law is too kind to her.

If this works out, she will definitely surprise her Fifth Sister-in-law in return.

Chapter 86: Princess Wu Fulin

Inside the large yellow tent, Emperor Kangxi was handling the memorials that had just arrived from the Imperial City today.

"Your Majesty, Fourth Princess requests an audience," Liang Jiugong hurried in from outside and whispered.

Emperor Kangxi responded with an "Oh," his expression showing a hint of surprise. Moyali wants to see him?

Of course, he knew that the Fourth Princess had already arrived at the Mulan Hunting Grounds, but he did not expect her to request an audience at this time.

Liang Jiugong understood where Kangxi's surprise came from.

Unlike the princes, princesses rarely seek an audience with Emperor Kangxi during the day when he is handling state affairs. This is an unspoken rule in the palace, where matters of the court and the harem are clearly separated, and princesses' affairs belong to the realm of the inner quarters.

Just like now, the First Princess, Second Princess, and Third Princess have also arrived on the grasslands, but unless summoned by Emperor Kangxi, they would only visit their respective mothers.

Therefore, when Liang Jiugong saw the Fourth Princess outside the tent earlier, he was quite surprised. After confirming several times, the Fourth Princess still insisted on requesting an audience, so he came in to report.

Emperor Kangxi seemed to hesitate for a moment, then put down the memorial in his hand and said, "Go and bring her in."

Liang Jiugong responded affirmatively and quickly turned to signal a nearby eunuch to go outside and announce it.

Soon, the Fourth Princess entered the large tent and bowed respectfully, saying, "Daughter greets Father Emperor."

Emperor Kangxi raised his hand, signaling her to rise. Seeing that she looked well, he felt relieved.

After all, she is his first daughter to marry far away in the Northern Desert of Mongolia, and he worried about her wellbeing.

"Have you seen your mother?" Emperor Kangxi's eyes softened as he initiated casual conversation.

The Fourth Princess smiled happily and nodded, saying, "Daughter has seen my mother. I also visited Fifth Sister-in-law just now. Mother told me that Fifth Sister-in-law is pregnant, which makes me happy for Fifth Elder Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law."

Since her marriage, the Fourth Princess is no longer the naive girl she once was in the palace. In the past two years in the Northern Desert of Mongolia, she has witnessed many political struggles among the tribes and increasingly understands the concerns and suspicions of her Father Emperor as a ruler.

Especially after the incident of her wedding escort, when her Father Emperor chose her seventh and tenth brothers instead of her closer Fifth Elder Brother and ninth brother, she realized the implications. To avoid suspicion, she never wrote to Fifth Elder Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law directly, but included messages for Fifth Sister-in-law in letters to her eighth sister.

However, sometimes one cannot always avoid suspicion; the balance must be precise.

For example, now, she visited Fifth Sister-in-law openly and informed her Father Emperor, which showed her honesty.

After all, nothing can be hidden from her Father Emperor, whether in the palace or at the Mulan Hunting Grounds.

Hearing this, Emperor Kangxi showed no reaction but agreed that An Qing's pregnancy was indeed a cause for joy.

After some casual chat, the Fourth Princess got straight to the point, "Daughter has come here to report an important matter to Father Emperor."

An important matter to report?

Emperor Kangxi had some guesses but showed no sign of it, "What is it?"

The Fourth Princess was here to discuss the land around the Clear Water River, but she knew she could not bring it up directly. Instead, she began by recounting the situation she had observed in the Northern Desert over the past two years.

She spoke mostly about her in-laws, the strongest tribe in the Northern Desert, the Tushe Tu Khan Tribe, and other tribes. The details were minor, but often these small things revealed significant issues.

Many of the internal relationships and dynamics were unknown even to Emperor Kangxi.

Seeing his daughter, who spoke confidently and handled matters adeptly, Emperor Kangxi felt increasingly satisfied.

Undeniably, compared to other princesses, he had high expectations for Moyali when he arranged her marriage to the Northern Desert.

Apart from strengthening ties with the Northern Desert Mongols through marriage, Emperor Kangxi had a personal motive: he wanted someone loyal to him in the Northern Desert.

At that time, Great Qing's understanding and control over the Northern Desert Mongols were far less than over the Southern Mongols.

This approach was similar to how he placed Cao Yin and Li Xu in Jiangnan. Having his own people on the ground allowed better understanding and oversight.

However, unlike Jiangnan, the Northern Desert Mongols, having submitted to Great Qing, had local military administrations, but the officials sent there could not deeply understand the tribal situations due to their autonomous management.

But the Fourth Princess was different. Her marriage made it easier for her to integrate into the tribes.

Initially, Emperor Kangxi was unsure if the Fourth Princess could handle such a task. Previous princesses and noble ladies married to the Southern Mongols never fully integrated, let alone the more challenging Northern Desert Mongols.

But now, he underestimated his daughter.

"Father Emperor, I always remember your instructions before my marriage. You said that my mission was to 'pacify and stabilize the frontier,' and I have never forgotten it," the Fourth Princess said.

"Pacify and stabilize the frontier" means to maintain stability in the Northern Desert region and symbolically represent the emperor's authority.

Emperor Kangxi's eyes flashed with appreciation.

Seeing the right moment, the Fourth Princess continued, "I have now integrated into the Northern Desert nobility and gained initial recognition from my husband and his family. However, to continue making progress, I need some assistance."

Emperor Kangxi's face showed understanding. She had spoken at length, indeed with a request.

He did not resent her initiative but rather admired her courage and strategy, knowing that without such skills, she could not accomplish such a significant task.

"What kind of assistance do you need? Tell me."

Emperor Kangxi deliberately exerted some imperial pressure, testing her.

The Fourth Princess felt a surge of tension but showed no fear, firmly stating, "Daughter requests permission from Father Emperor to allow the Khalkha herdsmen to cultivate and farm the land around the Clear Water River."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Kangxi immediately understood her intention.

By achieving tangible results, she aimed to win the hearts of the Northern Desert people.

As a ruler, Emperor Kangxi knew the importance of winning hearts. With their support, her influence and reputation would grow.

Moreover, her actions would also help Great Qing win the hearts of the Northern Desert people, since she is a princess of Great Qing and the Clear Water River area belongs to Great Qing.

What surprised Kangxi the most was that Princess An Qing had managed to resolve the dilemma she faced due to her identity between Great Qing and her husband's family.

Anyone could see that when she married the princess, it was with the intention of monitoring Northern Desert. Thus, she naturally found herself in an adversarial position with her husband's family. However, she was clever enough to turn her awkward status into a bridge, connecting Great Qing with her husband's Tusheet Khan Department.

Prince Dolji, the consort of Princess An Qing, belonged to the Tusheet Khan Department, which, although the strongest tribe in Northern Desert, still faced threats from other tribes. Establishing a deeper bond with Great Qing would only strengthen their position in Northern Desert.

As for how to deepen this bond, having Princess An Qing lead the Mongolian herdsmen in the area around Clearwater River to cultivate and farm was a good method. This would bring tangible benefits to their tribe, thereby increasing their reliance on Great Qing.

In fact, this was one of Kangxi's concerns before.

It is well known that after marriage and childbirth, a woman's ties with her husband's family grow stronger, while her ties with her natal family gradually weaken over time. Eventually, she might even prioritize her husband's family over her own.

He feared that Princess An Qing might do the same, but now his worry was alleviated.

Seeing her father's reaction, Princess An Qing felt increasingly grateful for the words her Fifth Sister-in-law had shared with her back then.

Indeed, if the marriage between Manchu and Mongol was beneficial to both sides, one must understand the needs of both parties and find ways to deepen this mutual benefit.

She had been trying to find a balance for the past two years, and now she had finally succeeded.

"Seems like you came prepared, I assume you've thought through the reasons," Kangxi said with a smile.

Hearing this, Princess An Qing scratched her head, somewhat embarrassed. "Daughter dare not deceive Father. I have thought of something, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate."

Kangxi responded with an "Oh." "Then tell me, and I'll help you deliberate."

Without hesitation, Princess An Qing explained her idea and the reasoning behind it without any concealment.

Of course, she added, "Daughter thinks that since the dowry was given by Father, should anything happen in the future, reclaiming the dowry would be justified."

More than justified, it was entirely reasonable.

Kangxi understood this point, but hearing her words warmed his heart, making him feel that his daughter truly stood with him and Great Qing.

Of course, Princess An Qing saying this did not mean her relationship with her consort was poor; on the contrary, her relationship with Dolji was excellent. However, she knew that if Northern Desert ever broke ties with Great Qing, she would have no other choice.

Not only were her parents and siblings in Great Qing, whom she could not abandon, but even if she did, her identity as a Great Qing princess would ensure she had no place in Northern Desert.

Therefore, she was committed to strengthening the bond between Great Qing and Northern Desert Mongolia, ensuring a better life for herself and her children.

Kangxi then raised the second issue: whether the area around Clearwater River was suitable for cultivation.

Princess An Qing calmly replied, "Father, last year, the officials you sent to teach farming techniques to the Mongolian tribes passed by nearby. Daughter asked them to check, and they confirmed that the area around Clearwater River is suitable for cultivation."

Kangxi raised an eyebrow. "Who did you ask to check?"

Princess An Qing answered straightforwardly, "Fifth Sister-in-law's Second Brother and Third Brother. Their work on cultivation in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner has been exemplary, so Daughter believed they would have experience."

This was not a fabrication; she had indeed asked her Fifth Sister-in-law's Second Brother and Third Brother to check last year. She sought An Qing's opinion because she subconsciously trusted her Fifth Sister-in-law's judgment.

Hearing this, Kangxi's concerns were fully alleviated.

Last year, Robzang Lash had indeed mentioned this in his report, but he hadn't given it much thought, assuming it was just Moyali's casual attempt at farming. He never imagined it was part of a larger plan.

"Moyali, do you know how much land the area around Clearwater River covers?"

Princess An Qing replied without hesitation, "Father, according to Daughter's understanding, the area around Clearwater River covers 48,375 acres of farmland."

Kangxi smiled and waved his hand. "Alright, write a formal request for cultivation and submit it."

Princess An Qing initially paused, then quickly understood Kangxi's intent—he was agreeing but required the proper procedure.

"Thank you, Father," she said joyfully.

But then, she seemed to remember something and looked at Kangxi earnestly. "Father, there is one more matter I'd like your advice on."

Kangxi gestured for her to speak.

Princess An Qing hesitated slightly, then said, "Daughter wants to invite people from Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner to help with cultivation, as they have experience. This would expedite results. As compensation, Daughter plans to allocate some of the land to Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner for cultivation."

Kangxi wasn't surprised; he understood Princess An Qing's intentions.

Only by achieving early success could her reputation and influence grow locally, furthering their goals.

"How much land and for how long?"

Princess An Qing replied, "Father, what about 8,000 acres for a century?"

Kangxi's expression changed, and he looked at her intently. "Are you being too generous?"

Eight thousand acres was nearly a fifth of the land around Clearwater River, and a century-long lease was practically a gift.

Princess An Qing calmly explained, "Father, Daughter isn't being generous. Over the years, improper cultivation has destroyed countless lands in the Mongolian tribes. If we experiment without guidance, we might not see results soon, and the damage could be worse."

"Of course, Daughter also has selfish motives. In the past two years, Father has seen that despite sending experts to guide the Mongolian tribes, none have surpassed Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner in cultivation. Though Daughter hasn't farmed, she knows it's not easy. If their land is nearby, they will be more invested in the project."

She paused, then added meaningfully, "Father, there's a local saying in Mongolia: 'To make a horse run, you must feed it grass.' So, Daughter believes this is a win-win situation."

With these words, Princess An Qing waited silently for her father's decision.

Kangxi pondered for a moment, then waved his hand. "Let Me think about this. Write your request first."

Princess An Qing gratefully acknowledged and left without further ado.

Some things need only be hinted at; over-explaining can be counterproductive, especially with someone as suspicious as her father.

After Princess An Qing left, Kangxi sat there, deep in thought for a long time.

He suddenly laughed. This daughter of his was truly remarkable.

What did that phrase "killing two birds with one stone" mean? First, it referred to the reward for assisting the Fourth Princess in reclaiming land in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner. Second, it also meant something from Kangxi's perspective.

As An Qing's contributions grew larger, Kangxi indeed found it increasingly difficult to decide how to reward her. The Fifth Prince's position could not be easily touched, nor could the situation in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner.

After all, balance needed to be maintained among the Mongolian tribes.

But with the Fourth Princess's method, there was now a legitimate reason, and others had no grounds to object. Yet, as a party involved, they knew exactly where this favor came from—truly a win-win situation.

As for whether Moyali had any ulterior motives, Kangxi was not foolish; he could see that she did. After all, the girl had grown up beside Concubine Yi, who was her aunt, making her relationship with the Fifth Prince different.

Moreover, before her marriage, she had always had a good relationship with An Qing as her sister-in-law. Therefore, having such motives was normal, regardless of which aspect she considered.

To put it bluntly, if she could completely detach herself, Kangxi would instead be wary of her. After all, someone who could so easily sever past ties based on current circumstances might be unpredictable in the future.

This was the paradox of being an emperor: hoping you do not form factions but also not allowing you to be too heartless.

"Do you think what Moyali said is right?" Kangxi suddenly looked at Liang Jiugong and asked.

Liang Jiugong was taken aback and hurriedly bowed, replying, "Your Majesty, you are putting me in a difficult position. I don't understand these matters."

Kangxi smiled lightly, knowing that Liang Jiugong was feigning ignorance. After all, someone who had been by his side for so many years could not possibly fail to understand these things.

"Alright, let me rephrase the question. What do you think of the Fifth Princess Consort?"

Liang Jiugong inwardly groaned. Why was His Majesty making things difficult for him today?

However, he knew he could no longer dodge the question, "Although I don't know much, I can say that the Fifth Princess Consort is not a petty person."

Kangxi nodded thoughtfully. Indeed, An Qing was not a petty child. During the southern tour, she had accomplished much, from dealing with ghost wheat and rice pests to winning over scholars like Mr. Li in Jiangnan.

Not to mention, after returning to the Imperial City, she had set up agricultural schools without seeking any rewards.

Indeed, An Qing always knew her limits.

But Moyali's words were also true: to make a horse run, you must feed it well. This was also Kangxi's way of using people.

Since the princesses had arrived at Mulan, Kangxi, as their father, decided to show his appreciation. Thus, a family banquet was held that evening.

A family banquet meant only close relatives were invited. Besides the four princesses and their husbands, the rest were also royal family members.

For this trip to the frontier, Kangxi left the Crown Prince in the Imperial City to oversee the state affairs, along with Elder Brother Prince and Fourth Prince to assist him.

The princes he brought along were Yinqi, Third Prince, Seventh Prince, and Eighth Prince. Compared to previous trips, this time he brought fewer people.

Among the concubines, besides the mothers of the three princesses, he also brought Lady Guo and a minor consort.

Naturally, the Empress Dowager was included in the entourage.

At the family banquet, An Qing and the Fourth Princess arrived early. After paying respects to the Empress Dowager and Imperial Concubine Rong, they found a quiet spot to sit down.

Soon, the Fourth Princess was called away by Lady Guo, seemingly to introduce her to someone.

The Fourth Princess wanted An Qing to join them, but An Qing disliked awkward conversations and chose to stay back, enjoying some peace.

Sitting there, An Qing began to observe the crowd. There were few familiar faces among the women present.

Among the princesses, apart from the Fourth Princess, she had never met the other three, though she could guess their identities.

For example, the one talking to the Concubine of Prince Gong was likely the Elder Princess. An Qing felt that the Elder Princess had a face of fortune, perhaps due to her being a lucky charm of sorts in ancient times.

The woman smiling brightly beside Imperial Concubine Rong was undoubtedly the Second Princess, who was said to be Kangxi's favorite daughter. She had been greatly favored by Kangxi before her marriage, making her unique among the princesses.

Her husband was the second son of Ejeer, the Jasaq Doroi Prince of the Borjigit tribe in Mongolia. Ejeer's grandmother, Princess Shuhui, was the daughter of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, making the Second Princess and Ejeer both great-grandchildren of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, thus a marriage of kinship.

The woman beside Concubine Bugu Megia was presumably the Third Princess. She seemed very reserved, almost to the point of being unnoticed.

This family banquet was specifically for the princesses, and they were the main guests. While the other three interacted with various people, the Third Princess remained silent, speaking only to her mother.

An Qing had heard about the Third Princess before. Born just three days after Kangxi's first empress, Empress Hesheri, died during childbirth, she was overlooked from birth. Her mother, Concubine Bugu, was not favored, leading to her being neglected in the palace. Her current personality was likely influenced by this.

After observing for a while, An Qing found it uninteresting and started eating some pastries.

Ever since she became pregnant, she got hungry quickly and ate more than usual. At four months, she already felt she had gained weight.

Sigh, worrying about losing weight would have to wait until after giving birth.

An Qing ate a few pastries to fill her stomach and then stopped.

Unexpectedly, when she looked up, she saw a line of people standing in front of her: the Elder Princess, the Second Princess, the Third Princess, and the Fourth Princess.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, the sisters all wanted to meet you."

Chapter 87: Fifth Princess Consort

An Qing was momentarily stunned before hurriedly getting up to greet the others. "I offer my greetings to my three elder sisters."

Apart from the Fourth Princess, the other three princesses were older than Yinqi, so she naturally had to address them as sisters.

The First Princess quickly stepped forward to help An Qing up, smiling warmly. "Fifth Sister-in-law, there's no need for such formality. We've been eager to meet you for a long time, but we've never had the chance. I hope you don't mind our sudden visit."

Hearing this, An Qing smiled apologetically at them. "Elder Sister, what are you saying? I should be the one feeling ashamed. It was I who should have come to pay my respects to all of you. But seeing that you were all busy earlier, I thought I would wait until you were free and let the Fourth Sister introduce me then. I didn't expect to trouble you all."

The Second Princess waved her hand and responded with a smile. "Fifth Sister-in-law, don't say that. We're all family, so there's no need to be so formal."

The Fourth Princess also chimed in to smooth things over. "Exactly! Elder Sister, Second Sister, Third Sister, Fifth Sister-in-law, let's not just stand here talking. Come, come, let's sit down and chat."

Following the Fourth Princess's words, everyone sat down, and after some pleasantries, the atmosphere became quite harmonious.

An Qing gained an initial understanding of the personalities of these three princesses. The First Princess was gentle and handled herself with grace, speaking in a way that made people feel comfortable, likely due to being adopted into the palace at a young age. As an adoptive daughter entering the palace under those circumstances, she must have learned to be more polished.

The Second Princess had a lively and cheerful personality, acting spontaneously yet always maintaining propriety. No wonder she was Kangxi's favorite daughter; such a demeanor is indeed endearing.

As for the Third Princess, she was much more reserved, barely speaking during their conversation, mostly listening to others.

But sitting quietly, her eyes were soft and clear, indicating a kind heart.

Honestly, An Qing felt quite fond of the Third Princess. She believed that whether someone was introverted or extroverted, it was simply a matter of personality, without any inherent good or bad. What mattered most was character.

And kindness was a particularly admirable trait.

Meanwhile, the three princesses also formed an initial impression of their Fifth Sister-in-law. It was undeniable that this Fifth Sister-in-law was very different from what they had expected.

An Qing's reputation on the grasslands was significant. Known for her farming skills, she had repeatedly distinguished herself since marrying into the Forbidden City, bringing attention to their Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner. Her father's title had been elevated, and her two brothers had received important positions from their Father Emperor, ensuring a bright future.

The Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner had become a rising star among the Mongolian tribes, and a common phrase now circulated: "If only our daughters could be like Princess An Qing of Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner."

Moreover, upon arriving at Mulan today, they heard about Fifth Sister-in-law's accomplishments in the Imperial City from their respective mothers, confirming her remarkable abilities.

They had initially thought that talented people might be somewhat arrogant, but An Qing was humble and courteous, showing no signs of arrogance. No wonder Father Emperor and Grand Empress liked her so much.

"My father said that Zhuota is now learning farming from Fifth Sister-in-law. That boy is quite mischievous, so I'm grateful for your efforts," the First Princess said with a smile.

The First Princess's father was Prince Gong Changning, whom Kangxi did not make her change her address to after adopting her, considering his brother's feelings.

Zhuota was Prince Gong Changning's fifth son, around the same age as the Ninth Prince, and one of the second-generation officials in An Qing's agricultural school. Because he often hung out with Xiao Jiu, An Qing knew him fairly well.

An Qing smiled and replied, "Elder Sister, you're too kind. It's my duty, but Zhuota has been doing quite well."

This wasn't just polite talk; Zhuota was indeed making good progress. Although he couldn't compare to the Agricultural Administration Department officials, he ranked highly among the second-generation officials and princes, and he was very diligent and eager to learn.

Previously, at the Royal Manor, he often came with Xiao Jiu to seek her advice, leaving a good impression on An Qing.

She realized that teaching brought joy not just from students with natural talent but also from those who worked hard despite not being the most gifted.

The First Princess had heard from her father that An Qing took great care of Zhuota, teaching him everything she knew about farming without holding back. Their family was deeply grateful for her kindness.

Moreover, it was rumored that their Father Emperor also had high hopes for Zhuota, having privately told her father that he would give Zhuota an important position once he completed his studies.

Thus, the First Princess had a favorable impression of An Qing from the start, which only grew stronger after spending time with her.

As they chatted and laughed, their relationship became increasingly familiar.

At that moment, a little girl dressed in Mongolian attire, around five or six years old, ran over from nearby and straight into the Third Princess's arms.

"Mother, where did you go? I couldn't find you, Ba Ya'er was so worried," the little girl said softly, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.

The Third Princess gently patted her head, comforting her, then looked apologetically at everyone. "Please forgive us. She's rather timid. Before coming over, I left her with my mother, but she managed to find her way here."

Everyone smiled and waved their hands, dismissing it as a minor issue, merely a sign of a child's clinginess.

The Third Princess gently pulled her daughter out of her embrace and spoke to her in a gentle tone. "Go and greet your elders."

Though the little girl seemed shy, she was obedient. She greeted the First Princess and the others one by one, recognizing them easily since she had met them before.

But when it came to An Qing, she hesitated, unsure how to address her, and looked to her mother for help.

"This is your Fifth Aunt," the Third Princess introduced with a smile.

The little girl nodded and walked up to An Qing, bowing properly. "Ba Ya'er greets Fifth Aunt."

An Qing looked at the well-behaved little girl and smiled kindly. "Your name is Ba Ya'er, a beautiful name indeed."

Hearing the praise from her pretty Fifth Aunt, the little girl's eyes curved into crescents. "Thank you, Aunt. My mother named me."

Ba Ya'er meant 'rich treasure' in Mongolian, indicating the Third Princess's deep affection for her daughter.

An Qing touched her head and casually removed a bracelet from her wrist, offering it to the little girl. "Today was a bit rushed, so Fifth Aunt didn't prepare anything. This bracelet will serve as a gift for meeting Ba Ya'er."

The Third Princess hurriedly declined. "Fifth Sister-in-law, you shouldn't. A child like her doesn't need such an expensive gift."

The jade bracelet was white with a hint of green, a top-quality piece.

"Fifth Sister, what you're saying isn't right. Little Ba Ya'er will grow up and can wear it later," An Qing said, avoiding the Third Princess's hand and smiling as she placed the bracelet on the little girl's slender wrist.

"Good girl, keep it, it's from Fifth Aunt."

The Fourth Princess chimed in, "Third Sister, don't be so formal with Fifth Sister-in-law. She has plenty of nice things. After all, she's so popular, and Father Emperor has given her many gifts."

The First Princess and Second Princess also joined in, having already given their own gifts to Ba Ya'er earlier, so there was no awkwardness.

As for the Fourth Princess's comment about Father Emperor giving her many gifts, none of them felt jealous. They weren't foolish; Father Emperor rewarded people for a reason.

Moreover, they had all heard about the thorny problems An Qing had solved for their Emperor Father, and the great contributions she had made. Thus, bestowing more rewards was naturally justified.

With Bayar's arrival, their conversation naturally shifted to children. All of them were mothers, so they had plenty of parenting advice to share, except for An Qing, who still had her baby in her belly.

However, she was the one learning from them, listening attentively, as these were experiences from those who had been through it all.

But just as An Qing was engrossed in the conversation, she suddenly felt something soft touch her hand. Looking down, she saw it was Bayar's little hand.

The little girl looked at her quietly, her eyes bright and a slight smile on her lips, making her irresistibly endearing.

An Qing gently squeezed her hand, and soon the two of them, big and small, started playing a silent game, poking each other.

Bayar seemed to really like this Fifth Aunt, and instinctively moved closer to her.

Princess Four, noticing this, couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, Bayar seems to really like Fifth Sister-in-law. Look, she's not even shy anymore."

Everyone turned to look and couldn't help but laugh. Indeed, the little girl had moved from sitting next to her mother to An Qing's side.

Princess Three smiled at her daughter and softly reminded, "Fifth Aunt has a little baby in her belly, so be careful not to bump into her tummy, okay?"

The little girl nodded obediently, then stared at An Qing's belly and said, "Okay, Mother, I won't touch the little brother."

Everyone laughed at this, with Princess One adding, "They say children have a special intuition. Looks like Fifth Sister-in-law is going to give birth to a little prince for our royal family."

The others chimed in agreement.

Although An Qing thought either a little prince or princess would be fine, she knew everyone meant well, so she went along with their words.

"Let's hope for Bayar's good fortune. If Fifth Aunt really gives birth to a little brother, we'll have to thank our little Bayar properly."

After the family banquet, starting from the next day, people from other tribes on the grasslands began arriving, including An Qing's family.

This time, only An Qing's father and mother, and her eldest brother's daughter Duo Lan, came. Her eldest brother and sister-in-law, and Wuritu, didn't come because they had to stay in the tribe for the autumn harvest.

Last year, thanks to the winter storage techniques, their tribe planted a lot of sweet potatoes, which were now ready for harvesting. Her eldest brother needed to supervise this process closely.

Besides harvesting the sweet potatoes, it was crucial to preserve the sweet potato vines for the coming year. Many neighboring tribes had already reserved sweet potato vines from them for planting next year.

"Didn't Wuritu make a fuss?" An Qing asked her mother.

That boy, who loved to run around, wouldn't want to miss such a lively event as the Mulan Autumn Hunt.

Naren, with an expression of resignation, replied, "Of course he did, but your eldest brother gave him a couple of beatings, and he's been quiet ever since. That naughty boy never learns until he gets a taste of his own medicine."

An Qing raised an eyebrow, imagining Wuritu's angry yet helpless face, and couldn't help but smile.

She understood, though. As the eldest grandson, Wuritu carried significant responsibilities. Now that he was ten years old, it was no wonder her eldest brother was being stricter with him.

"Why didn't my second sister-in-law come? She shouldn't have anything pressing at home right now," An Qing asked.

Naren waved her hand and explained, "I forgot to mention in my letter that last year I sent your second sister-in-law away with your second brother. He's always away from home, and it's not good for them to be separated."

An Qing approved of her mother's decision. Her second brother was now heavily involved in teaching farming techniques across Mongolia, a task that would keep him busy for years. Such assignments usually allowed family members to accompany them, but many chose to send a concubine instead.

An Qing gave her mother a thumbs up. "Mother, you're the best mother-in-law in the world."

She wasn't just flattering her; in this era, her mother was indeed a very open-minded mother-in-law. Both her eldest and second brothers' wives were chosen by themselves, and neither had any concubines or maidservants, yet her mother never interfered.

Naren glanced at her and said, "Didn't you say before that your mother-in-law was the best in the world? Why the change now?"

An Qing chuckled and linked arms with her mother. "Both of you are the best, equally first."

Naren smiled and tapped her forehead. "You, you're almost going to be a mother yourself, yet you're still acting like a child. You need to be more mature."

An Qing shrugged. "So what? Having a child doesn't change the fact that I'm still your child, and that will never change."

Naren couldn't argue with that. Indeed, she would always be her child.

"You're over three months pregnant now. How are you feeling? Is everything confirmed?" Naren asked, looking at her belly.

An Qing immediately understood her mother's concern. "Don't worry, Mother. It's confirmed. Both the imperial physician and Mai Dong agree that there's only one baby in here."

After confirming her pregnancy, her mother had written to ask if it was twins. At the time, it was too early to tell, but now, after three months, it could be determined through pulse diagnosis.

An Qing knew why her mother was concerned. She and Third Elder Brother were twins, and her mother and Second Uncle were also twins. Their family had a history of twins.

Hearing this, Naren breathed a sigh of relief. "One is enough. This is your first pregnancy, and twins would be too much for your body."

An Qing agreed inwardly. She had worried about it too, as someone who cherished her life, she didn't want to risk her health while giving birth.

"You always wrote that you had no pregnancy symptoms. Are you sure everything is fine?" Naren asked.

An Qing reassured her, "Mother, I'm really fine. This baby is incredibly well-behaved. Ask Perilla and the others; since I got pregnant, I've only been a bit sleepier, nothing else."

Seeing her so confident, Naren finally believed her, having worried that she might be hiding any discomfort.

"Mother, when you were pregnant with me and Third Elder Brother, was it like this?" An Qing asked curiously.

Naren waved her hand. "Don't remind me. When I was pregnant with you, I vomited for months, almost thinking I wouldn't survive."

An Qing was surprised; her mother had never mentioned this before.

"It must have been Third Elder Brother causing trouble. I'm so well-behaved, I wouldn't do something like that," she quickly deflected.

Naren nodded. "Exactly. I always suspected it was him. You were so well-behaved when you were born, while that boy cried so much sometimes I wanted to throw him away."

An Qing nodded vigorously in agreement, but in her heart, she thought, "Back then, I had the soul of an adult; of course, I was well-behaved."

Mother and daughter chatted back and forth, as if they had endless words to share.

Princess Naren was very concerned about her pregnancy and asked many questions. After confirming that everything was fine, she still reminded An Qing, "Now that you are pregnant, you must be careful with everything. Avoid cold foods, and once your belly starts showing, make sure to walk around more. Don't indulge in every whim."

She knew her daughter well. Though she seemed obedient, she was actually quite impulsive, especially when it came to food. That's why she had sent Maid Wheatwinter to take care of her.

Hearing this, An Qing felt instantly wronged. "Mother, you're misunderstanding me. Since I got pregnant, I've been very well-behaved. Just ask Wheatwinter; whatever she tells me to do, I do, and I never do anything she forbids!"

With that, she immediately called out to bring Wheatwinter inside, determined to clear her name.

Wheatwinter, suddenly summoned, was initially confused but after hearing An Qing's words, she looked earnestly at Princess Naren and said, "Your Highness, my lady is indeed following all the medical advice. Whether it's from me or the imperial physicians, she complies without hesitation."

Then, she provided specific examples, such as how An Qing hadn't used any ice bowls during the summer and how she had been exercising regularly without slacking off.

Wheatwinter was always honest, so Princess Naren trusted her words and finally felt completely reassured.

Just then, a servant girl carrying a little girl entered. "Your Highness, Princess Duo Lan has woken up and insists on seeing you, so I brought her here."

Princess Naren gestured for the servant to hand over the child.

The little girl, who seemed to have just stopped crying, rubbed her eyes and called out softly, "Grandma."

Seeing her like this, An Qing knew she must have been restless during the journey. Otherwise, she wouldn't have fallen asleep right away upon arrival. That's why her mother hadn't brought the little girl with her earlier.

"Mother, Duo Lan is still so young. Why did you bring her along this time? It must be hard on her. How could my sister-in-law bear to let her come?" An Qing asked.

Princess Naren replied, "It was your sister-in-law who said that the girl is almost three and hasn't met her aunt yet, so she insisted we bring her for you to see."

An Qing smiled. "My sister-in-law is thoughtful. She must have remembered that I wanted to meet Duo Lan last year."

Princess Naren nodded slightly, understanding now why Tana had been so insistent on bringing Duo Lan.

"Auntie, are you the best auntie in the world?" Duo Lan, nestled in her grandmother's arms, tilted her head and looked at An Qing.

An Qing chuckled, surprised by her niece's smooth speech at just three years old.

And this little one sure knows how to sweet-talk.

Princess Naren explained, "Every time you send something over, she gets so excited. She often shows off those rare trinkets from the Imperial City, saying they're from her best auntie. She's so proud of it."

An Qing couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, I am your best auntie. Are you happy to see me?"

Duo Lan nodded vigorously. "Happy! Duo Lan is happy!"

Then, she blinked her big, sparkling eyes and looked at An Qing. "Auntie, you're so pretty. Duo Lan likes pretty Auntie."

An Qing: "..."

Oh, these kids know how to flatter.

Well, she admitted she was shallow and loved such straightforward compliments from children.

But it turned out that Duo Lan wasn't just flattering An Qing; she genuinely liked her beautiful auntie. From that moment on, she wanted to stick close to An Qing all day long.

An Qing was delighted to have such a cute niece around, especially since she couldn't ride horses due to her pregnancy, making her days at Mulan less enjoyable. She spent most of her time wandering aimlessly.

Since Princess Naren was busy socializing among the various tribal families and had little time for Duo Lan, the aunt and niece became each other's companions.

One day, An Qing was again strolling on the grassland with Duo Lan. However, they didn't go far before they saw Bayar squatting nearby, looking rather unhappy.

For some reason, the little girl was accompanied only by a servant girl, with no sign of the third princess.

Chapter 88: The Fifth Lady

"Bayar, what are you doing here?" An Qing walked over, holding Duo Lan's hand.

Bayar had been focused on weeding when she suddenly heard a voice behind her. She turned around nervously, and upon seeing An Qing, her defensive expression relaxed instantly.

She put down the dead grass in her hands and gracefully stood up to bow. "Greetings, Fifth Aunt."

An Qing reached out to help her up, smiling. "Our Bayar is such a good girl."

For such a young girl to remember her manners so well showed that Third Princess must have taught her diligently.

Duo Lan looked at the older girl in front of her, then turned to An Qing. "Auntie, who is this sister?"

An Qing smiled and gently patted the two little buns on her niece's head. "Duo Lan, this is Sister Bayar. Be nice and greet her."

Duo Lan, always outgoing and unafraid, immediately introduced herself to Bayar. "Hello, Sister. I'm Duo Lan, my auntie's niece."

After saying this, she proudly lifted her chin, as if being her aunt's niece was something to be very proud of.

Seeing her like this, An Qing couldn't help but laugh. Her mother was right; Duo Lan was indeed a mischievous little girl.

Bayar also liked the two little buns on Duo Lan's head. She smiled shyly and said, "Hello, little sister."

Duo Lan was a chatterbox and quickly became friends with Bayar. Soon, they were holding hands and playing on the grass.

An Qing chuckled and shook her head, then turned to instruct Perilla and the maidservants attending Duo Lan to follow closely.

Now that she had a moment to rest, she turned to the servant girl accompanying Bayar and asked casually, "Why are you the only one with the little princess?"

Logically, a princess from a noble family should have at least two attendants. Seeing only one with Bayar made An Qing curious.

The servant girl seemed taken aback, quickly lowering her head. "Fifth Lady, the little princess came out in a hurry, and the other attendant went back to fetch her clothes."

An Qing nodded lightly, recognizing the servant as the one who had been serving Third Princess closely since yesterday, a palace maid who accompanied her during her marriage. She didn't think much of it.

Pregnancy did make her more tired than usual, and she already felt a bit fatigued.

Fortunately, Perilla had prepared well, bringing along a small stool. An Qing sat down to rest while watching the two girls play nearby.

However, they didn't play for long before they returned, holding hands.

An Qing was a bit surprised. They hadn't played for very long. Could they already be tired?

That didn't seem likely, given how much energy Duo Lan usually had.

"Why did you come back? Are you tired or thirsty?" she asked.

Duo Lan shook her head and replied first, "Auntie, we're not tired or thirsty."

Then she turned to Bayar. "It's because Sister misses her mommy."

An Qing didn't think much of it. She could see that Bayar was very attached to Third Princess. "Bayar misses her mommy, huh? Do you know where your mommy is? I'll take you to her."

Bayar hesitated for a moment and nodded slightly. "Mommy is in the tent. She and Daddy are arguing, and Daddy pushed Mommy. Mommy cried."

The little girl spoke with a mix of confusion and worry.

An Qing paused, her brows furrowing. Third Princess and her husband were arguing!

And according to Bayar, there was even physical contact involved?

Still, An Qing didn't rush to judgment. She wasn't doubting Bayar's honesty.

In her previous life, though she hadn't had children, she often read online that children, while not intentionally lying, sometimes mixed unrelated information, leading adults to misunderstand.

She turned to the servant girl and asked seriously, "Is what the little princess said true?"

The servant girl panicked at An Qing's words. "Fifth Lady, the princess and her husband only argued a bit, nothing..."

Before she could finish, Bayar suddenly pointed behind them. "Fifth Aunt, Mommy is coming!"

They all turned to look and saw Third Princess approaching with a servant girl.

An Qing quickly stood up and led Duo Lan and Bayar to meet her. When Third Princess drew near, An Qing observed her carefully but found no signs of distress.

Third Princess was surprised to see An Qing and Bayar together.

An Qing explained, "What a coincidence! I was taking my niece out to play and ran into Bayar. They got along quite well."

Third Princess smiled at Duo Lan, who was holding Bayar's hand. "Thank you, Fifth Sister-in-Law, for looking after Bayar."

An Qing waved her hand. "No need to thank me, Third Sister."

Bayar clung to her mother, hesitating to speak. "Mommy, Daddy..."

But before she could finish, Third Princess interrupted her. "Are you tired from playing? Mommy will take you back to rest."

She then looked at An Qing and said hurriedly, "Sorry, Fifth Sister-in-Law, we need to go back now. We can talk another time."

An Qing noticed the panic in Third Princess's eyes and sensed an attempt to cover something up.

She cautiously asked, "Third Sister, is everything alright?"

Third Princess hesitated, then shook her head. "Thank you for your concern, Fifth Sister-in-Law, but everything is fine. I'll take Bayar back now."

An Qing understood that she shouldn't pry further and nodded. She watched as Third Princess and Bayar left.

After all, it was their marital issue, and she shouldn't interfere.

As for what Bayar said about "her father pushing her mother," An Qing didn't take it too seriously, assuming it was just an accident during a marital dispute.

After all, who would dare to hit a princess? That consort must be out of his mind.

An Qing didn't think much of it at the time, but after she returned, something felt off.

Wait, she remembered reading in some obscure historical account that Kangxi had a princess who married into Mongolia and was supposedly kicked to death by her consort.

So, someone really did have the nerve!

Could this person be the Third Princess?

An Qing instinctively shook her head, repeatedly reminding herself that obscure historical accounts were often unreliable. Many such accounts were absurd and clearly unbelievable.

But a voice inside her also whispered that sometimes these accounts might be true, as some royal secrets were not recorded in official histories due to their sensitive nature.

Though An Qing wasn't one to meddle, she could never tolerate domestic violence.

If she encountered such a situation, even with a stranger, she wouldn't stand idly by, let alone if it involved the Third Princess.

However, An Qing knew little about the Third Princess's consort and couldn't make any judgments right away.

The third princess's spouse was named Galzang, who was the second son of Du Ling, the Prince of the Karas tribe, belonging to the Ulamgheri clan. However, as the Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner had no familial connections with the Karas tribe and seldom had dealings with them, An Qing had no recollection of Galzang.

But this matter lingered in her mind. So when Yinqi came back that evening, An Qing couldn't help but ask him about the Third Princess's consort.

Though Yinqi was puzzled by An Qing's sudden interest in Galzang, he didn't hide anything: "I don't know much about my Third Brother-in-law, but..."

He hesitated.

Seeing his hesitation, An Qing knew there was more to it and pressed, "But what?"

Yinqi shook his head and replied, "Nothing much, I just don't like him."

An Qing couldn't help but exclaim, "Really?" She rarely heard Yinqi express dislike so openly. He was usually mild-mannered, so anyone he disliked must have a good reason.

"Can you be more specific?" she asked curiously. "Did Galzang do something to upset you?"

In recent days, Yinqi and the other princes accompanying Kangxi had been around several consorts as well.

Could it be that Galzang looked down on Yinqi, the prince?

This wasn't baseless speculation. Since last year's ennoblement, the princes had started to build their own factions, including among the Mongolian tribes.

Of course, this was mutual. While the princes chose their supporters, they were also being evaluated and ranked privately.

Last year, at the Mulan hunting grounds, An Qing heard her Third Elder Brother mention that Yinqi's reputation among the ennobled princes wasn't very high. At the time, she didn't care much; they avoided drawing attention anyway.

But this didn't mean others could look down on them.

Seeing her protective stance, Yinqi chuckled, "Don't worry, he didn't upset me. I'm not that easy to bully."

Relieved, An Qing asked, "Then why don't you like him?"

There must be a reason for his dislike.

Yinqi didn't beat around the bush and replied, "I just find him temperamental and prone to losing control."

Temperamental and uncontrollable?

An Qing's heart sank. This made her suspect Galzang even more as a potential abuser.

Unaware of her thoughts, Yinqi recounted an incident from earlier that day to support his claim.

Today, they accompanied their father on a hunt. Afterward, he, his eighth brother, and Galzang happened to meet and walked back together. Passing by a wrestling arena, they stopped to watch a match.

Initially, everything seemed fine, but suddenly, Galzang wanted to join the match. This wasn't unusual, as Mongolians loved wrestling, so they let him participate.

Galzang performed well and won his first match, earning cheers from the crowd. However, he lost the next match to a young Mongolian.

Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but Galzang became enraged and threatened to use his consort status to have the winner arrested. If not for Yinqi and his brothers intervening, something serious might have happened.

Hearing this, An Qing frowned. Losing gracefully is one thing, but losing one's temper is another.

Someone with poor skills and worse character, who is also temperamental, truly has all the negative traits.

If the obscure historical account is true, Galzang could indeed be the abusive consort who kicked the princess to death!

"If Galzang really upset me, what would you do?" Yinqi asked with a smile.

He genuinely enjoyed seeing An Qing's protective side, proving that he was among those she cared about.

Without hesitation, An Qing replied, "What else? Find a chance to fight back. We can't let him bully us."

If they couldn't even stand up to someone like Galzang, what was the point of their efforts?

An Qing had confidence. As long as they didn't challenge Lao Kang's throne, given her recent accomplishments, Lao Kang would likely overlook any trouble they caused.

"Don't worry, Father needs me to work hard for him. Even if we cause trouble, he'll still favor us."

Yinqi found this amusing yet touching. The idea of working hard for Lao Kang was exaggerated, but he appreciated her loyalty.

Realizing her exaggeration, An Qing clarified, "Sorry, it was just a figure of speech. I didn't mean it literally. Don't take it personally."

Yinqi smiled and shook his head. "No need to apologize. I understand and don't mind."

An Qing smiled but didn't say anything more.

Yinqi seemed to remember something and suddenly laughed.

"What's wrong?" An Qing asked, puzzled.

Why is he laughing like that?

"Nothing, just thought of something funny," Yinqi replied. "Do you know what Elder Brother Prince and the others said about me when we were drinking?"

An Qing shook her head. "What did they say about you?"

Yinqi cleared his throat and said, "They all said I have a good life. When I was young, Empress Dowager protected me, and after marriage, I can still hide behind my own princess and enjoy myself."

An Qing was taken aback by this.

Are Elder Brother Prince and the others doing this on purpose? Asking such questions—what's the difference between saying Yinqi relies on his wife and directly calling him a freeloader!

The key point is that they're openly trying to sow discord between her and Yinqi. What have they got against her? Did she burn down their family graves?

"Aren't you angry?" An Qing asked cautiously.

Although she trusted Yinqi's character, she knew how severe male chauvinism could be under feudal systems. If he really cared...

Seeing her reaction, Yinqi pulled her closer into his arms. "They're just envious and jealous. Why should I be angry?"

An Qing immediately agreed. "Exactly! They're just like those who say grapes are sour because they can't eat them. It's just that they don't have as good a life as you do, being able to marry such an amazing princess like me."

Phew~ Good thing Yinqi isn't a chauvinist, or it would have been quite tricky.

Yinqi nodded with a smile. "I feel the same way."

Being able to marry her as his princess truly is his good fortune.

Regarding Princess Galzang, An Qing took it seriously, especially after talking with Yinqi. Her impression of Galzang became even worse.

But to be cautious, she decided to confirm things first, so she didn't mention it to Yinqi yet.

The next day, when Princess came to visit, An Qing started probing her about Princess Galzang.

However, Princess knew nothing about it. She had married into Northern Desert Mongolia and wasn't very familiar with Southern Desert. In the past two years, she had focused mainly on her new home.

Besides, the princesses rarely communicated with each other, only occasionally exchanging letters that mostly contained formal greetings, rarely discussing personal matters.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, what exactly happened to Third Sister? Stop beating around the bush," Princess urged.

An Qing pursed her lips. "Actually, I'm not entirely sure. I just have some suspicions, which may not be true."

Princess nodded lightly and stared at her, signaling her to continue.

An Qing took a deep breath and no longer hid anything. She recounted what Bayar had said and shared her speculations.

"What?" Princess stood up abruptly, looking incredulous. "Has Galzang gone mad? How dare he lay a hand on a princess!"

Where does he put the dignity of our royal family? Does he think there's no one in our Aisin Gioro clan?

Seeing Princess ready to tear Galzang apart, An Qing quickly stopped her. "Don't rush. These are just my speculations. We need to confirm them first."

Princess understood the logic but couldn't help feeling angry. "Fifth Sister-in-law, how do we confirm it?"

This was also a headache for An Qing. Last night, she thought about it for a long time. If Galzang really dared to harm Princess, the entire Karasahr Mongolian tribe would keep it secret. No one would dare speak out, knowing it could bring disaster to the whole tribe.

The only breakthrough would be Princess herself.

"How about we go visit Princess?" An Qing suggested.

Princess immediately understood her sister-in-law's intention. "Good idea. I have some things I want to ask Third Sister."

Meanwhile, at Princess's camp, she had just put Bayar to sleep and stepped outside with her maid.

Princess looked exhausted. Bayar hadn't slept well last night and woke up early. Finally, she managed to get him back to sleep, giving her a moment of relief.

"Princess, your husband is too audacious. He dared to lay a hand on you here in Mulan. Doesn't he fear the Emperor's wrath?" the maid said indignantly.

Princess waved her hand, not wanting to discuss it further.

Yesterday, she and Galzang had a dispute in the tent, and he pushed her. She didn't think much of it, as it wasn't the first time. Her mother always told her to endure everything, and she had grown accustomed to it. But yesterday, Bayar saw it, causing her nightmares all night.

"Princess, why didn't you seek help from Fifth Princess yesterday? She seems kind-hearted and treats our little princess well. Maybe she could..." the maid couldn't help suggesting.

Princess shook her head, looking desolate. "It's useless. The Manchu-Mongol alliance is a big deal. Even if it escalates, the Emperor might scold or punish him, but he won't kill him. What will we do when we return?"

Their Great Qing princesses are born with the mission to pacify Mongolia. Even her beloved elder sister, who was once doted upon by the Emperor, was sent to marry in Mongolia.

Of course, as his favorite daughter, the Emperor had planned for her sister, at least marrying her to her childhood sweetheart in Horqin.

But she couldn't. She was never favored in the palace, neither was her mother, and she had no siblings to support her. As Galzang said, even if she complained, no one would stand up for her.

That's her fate, born into the royal family and unfavored.

Hearing this, the maid lowered her head dejectedly. "Princess, maybe you shouldn't interfere with your husband anymore. Let him do as he pleases, and you won't argue."

Then perhaps he wouldn't lay a hand on her again.

A hint of desolation flashed in the Third Princess's eyes. She had long given up on him and didn't want to bother with him anymore.

Sometimes, when she looked back, she found it all rather ironic. When they first got married, she and Galzang had a period of warmth. At that time, she thought her luck wasn't bad, having married a satisfactory husband.

She even believed it was heaven compensating her for her unhappy early life. But gradually, for some unknown reason, Galzang changed. The warmth disappeared, and he became increasingly impatient with her, frequently staying overnight with his concubines, and bringing more and more of them into their home.

At first, the Third Princess couldn't understand why, despite her compliance with Galzang, he would treat her this way. Eventually, she realized he was simply a lecherous man.

She acknowledged her blindness and gradually accepted this reality, no longer demanding anything. It was just like being in the palace—she could endure it, which wasn't difficult for her.

But who knew that Galzang would become even more outrageous? He was no longer satisfied with taking concubines normally; instead, he relied on his status as the consort of the Third Princess of Great Qing to forcibly take other men's wives and daughters.

Seeing those innocent women and families torn apart, she could no longer turn a blind eye.

He could marry as many as he wanted, but he shouldn't forcibly take other people's wives and daughters, doing such despicable acts under the name of the Third Princess's consort, which made her feel utterly disgusted.

She was a princess of Great Qing. Though she had little power, she couldn't tolerate someone tarnishing the royal family's reputation using her title.

Thus, she began to have frequent arguments with Galzang.

Galzang had always been temperamental, and it was common for him to lash out at her in anger. She just didn't expect him to be so bold, not even restraining himself in Mulan.

However, just as the two were secretly grieving, the tent's curtain was suddenly violently pulled aside from outside, and Galzang walked in with clear ill intent.

Chapter 89: The Fifth Princess Consort

Seeing Galzang enter, both the Third Princess and the maid instantly tensed up like frightened birds.

What could he possibly want now?

"Did you bring that lowly slave Monke in here?" Galzang strode over to the Third Princess, his eyes filled with anger as he demanded an answer.

The Third Princess was taken aback. Who was Monke? When had she ever met him?

Wait, she remembered. If she wasn't mistaken, Monke was a blacksmith from Karasahr. A year ago, his wife was forcibly taken by Galzang, and the woman, being strong-willed, committed suicide by slamming herself against a pillar. Monke had attempted to assassinate Galzang several times afterward but then disappeared without a trace.

She had heard that Galzang had searched throughout the Karasahr tribe but couldn't find Monke. At the time, she had breathed a sigh of relief for him; otherwise, given Galzang's methods, he would have been dead if caught.

But how did Monke manage to sneak into this Mulan Hunting Ground?

Seeing Galzang's demeanor, a fleeting sense of satisfaction passed through her, but she didn't dare provoke him. She could handle it herself, but Bayar was still sleeping inside. If she were scared again, she might have nightmares tonight.

"The people around me are all under your control, aren't they? Don't you know who I bring in and who I don't?" she said, trying to maintain her composure.

Galzang frowned deeply, staring at the Third Princess for a while.

He could see that she was putting on a brave face, and a sneer escaped his lips. Indeed, his wife had always been weak. A little scare was enough to break her spirit. There was no way she would dare do anything.

Seeing her like a frightened bird, Galzang turned away in disgust. When they first married, he had been quite interested in this fair-skinned beauty. As a princess, she had been obedient to him, making him feel quite proud.

But over time, the novelty wore off, leaving only annoyance. Her rigid adherence to etiquette was tiresome. Compared to the stiff and reserved women from the Imperial City, he preferred the bold and free-spirited women of the grasslands.

As for why Galzang suddenly came to question the Third Princess, it all started yesterday at the wrestling grounds.

He had just won a match when Monke suddenly appeared and caught him off guard, even defeating him. If not for the presence and intervention of the Fifth Beile and Eighth Beile, he would have captured Monke. But instead, Monke slipped away right under his nose.

Later, he had ordered a search throughout the hunting ground, but Monke seemed to have vanished. This made Galzang increasingly uneasy.

He wasn't foolish. Monke's appearance here was suspicious. With his background, he had no right to be here, which meant someone must have brought him in. Why else would he show himself?

Clearly, this was aimed at him.

So, he had to capture Monke. He could rule Karasahr with an iron fist, but in this Mulan Hunting Ground, under Kangxi's watchful eye, he dared not act recklessly.

If his past deeds were exposed, he would be in serious trouble.

Thus, his first suspect was the Third Princess. But now, he realized she lacked the capability. Her people were under his control, and she didn't have the courage.

Still, for safety, Galzang warned her.

"I advise you to stay put and stop harboring any foolish thoughts. During our campaign against Dzungaria a few years ago, our Karasahr tribe achieved great victories. Even if the Emperor learns of our marital discord, he will not punish me due to our contributions. Otherwise, it would demoralize the Mongolian tribes."

With that, he kicked over a nearby table, sending teapots and cups crashing to the ground.

"Remember, you are merely a gift from Great Qing to our Karasahr tribe. Don't think too highly of yourself. The imperial family is ruthless, and no one will stand up for you!"

When An Qing and the Fourth Princess arrived, they heard the loud crash and Galzang's final words.

Before they could react, they ran into Galzang coming out of the tent.

The Fourth Princess instinctively shielded An Qing. Her Fifth Sister-in-law was pregnant and couldn't withstand a collision with such a brute.

Perilla and the others quickly moved to protect their mistress, while An Qing drew the visibly frightened Duo Lan closer to her side.

Seeing An Qing and the Fourth Princess, a flash of panic crossed Galzang's face, but then he regained his composure.

He nodded briefly at them and left without further ado.

In Galzang's mind, the women of the Great Qing palace were like the Third Princess—without much backbone. Even if they saw him, it wouldn't cause any trouble. Besides, he hadn't touched the Fourth Princess, so he had nothing to fear even if it reached the Emperor.

After Galzang left, An Qing and the others silently breathed a sigh of relief. Confronting him head-on would be unwise.

The Fourth Princess was more concerned about Galzang's audacity. Seeing him act so arrogantly even after being caught, it was clear he treated her sister poorly.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, shall we go in?" asked the Fourth Princess.

An Qing nodded slightly. Since they had encountered him, they should check on things inside.

However, she glanced at Duo Lan and instructed someone to take her back. They had intended to bring her to play with Bayar, but the situation wasn't suitable now.

After sending Duo Lan away, An Qing and the Fourth Princess entered the tent without delay.

Inside, the Third Princess was sitting on the bed, comforting the crying Bayar.

Galzang's commotion had awakened the little girl from her sleep. As soon as he left, the Third Princess rushed in and found Bayar sitting on the bed, covering her mouth, trying not to cry. Seeing her daughter's distress, she broke down but held back her tears to comfort Bayar, who finally let out her sobs.

Upon seeing An Qing and the Fourth Princess, the Third Princess froze, a look of embarrassment crossing her face.

She wasn't foolish. Their timing and expressions clearly indicated they had witnessed what happened.

But she had no choice but to focus on consoling her crying daughter. An Qing and the Fourth Princess waited patiently without rushing her.

Once Bayar cried herself to sleep, the Third Princess placed her back on the bed and led An Qing and the Fourth Princess outside.

The three sat in silence, none of them speaking.

Finally, the Fourth Princess broke the silence, "Third Sister, tell us the truth. Did Galzang lay a hand on you?"

The Third Princess hesitated, her expression conflicted. She opened her mouth several times but ultimately remained silent.

At that moment, the maid beside her suddenly knelt down and pleaded, "Princess, since Fifth Sister-in-law and Fourth Princess have already found out, please don't hide it anymore."

Tears streamed down the Third Princess's face as she waved her hand, signaling for the maid to speak on her behalf.

Seeing that the princess had given permission, the maid no longer held back and recounted everything in detail, including the reason for Galzang's outrageous behavior today at the Third Princess's residence.

Hearing this, An Qing was somewhat surprised. She hadn't expected that the incident Yinqi mentioned yesterday at the wrestling grounds had such a background.

Galzang was indeed audacious, daring to bully and dominate others so openly. It was truly incomprehensible.

"Third Sister, do you have any plans? Are you going to keep enduring this?"

After hearing the story, the Fourth Princess was almost seething with anger. She never imagined that her Third Sister's consort could be so shameless.

A look of sorrow flashed across the Third Princess's face. "Fourth Sister, what else can I do if I can't bear it?"

The Fourth Princess immediately retorted, "What else can you do? Of course, you should tell Father Emperor! How dare he bully you like this and use our royal family's name to commit such atrocities? Father Emperor will not let him off!"

"And then what?" asked the Third Princess. "Do you think Father Emperor will kill him?"

The Fourth Princess immediately replied, "Why not..."

But halfway through her sentence, she choked up, unsure herself.

Even considering the face of the Karachin tribe, they wouldn't easily execute Galzang, but punishment would certainly be unavoidable.

The Third Princess helplessly smiled, "What good is a mere punishment? After Father Emperor returns to Imperial City, we'll be far away. What can I do then?"

Moreover, if Galzang were really killed, how would she and Bayar, an orphaned mother and child, survive in the Karachin tribe?

"Fourth Sister, our situations are different. My mother is not favored in the palace, and I don't have any brothers to support me. As for Father Emperor, he has too many children; what am I to him?" the Third Princess said softly.

She might even end up burdening her already unfavored mother in the palace. So, why bother?

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Princess was at a loss for words and could only sigh silently.

Although her mother wasn't favored either and didn't have any brothers, her aunt was favored, and she had two close brothers, Fifth Elder Brother and Ninth Brother. Compared to her Third Sister, she did indeed have some support.

Moreover, she had Fifth Sister-in-law and her family from Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner.

Before her marriage to Khalkha, the Fourth Princess might not have fully understood this, but after marrying into Khalkha, she deeply realized the significance of these connections. The Mongolians in Northern Desert dared not underestimate her because of these ties.

An Qing, who had been silent all along, observed the Third Princess's reactions and felt a sense of admiration. She never thought that Galzang was actually skilled at psychological manipulation.

When she heard Galzang's words outside the tent earlier, she sensed something was off. Through the maid's account and the Third Princess's responses to the Fourth Princess, it became clear that Galzang knew the Third Princess was not favored in the palace and used this to control her by belittling and suppressing her.

He wasn't unintelligent; he understood the significance of the princess title better than anyone, which is why he dared to commit such acts under the guise of being a consort.

"Fourth Sister, what do you think about this?" The Fourth Princess seemed trapped in the same mindset, blaming her lack of favor for her predicament.

Of course, they both understood the helplessness of the Manchu-Mongol alliance.

An Qing pondered for a moment before looking at the Third Princess. "Third Sister, there is no other way. You must personally report this to Father Emperor."

The Third Princess was taken aback. She had to report it to Father Emperor?

No, this, this...

She had barely seen Father Emperor growing up and always felt nervous around him, struggling to even speak coherently. How could she possibly report this?

Moreover, it was to accuse Galzang. Frankly, she doubted that she mattered more to Father Emperor than Galzang, given his importance to the Karachin tribe.

Forget it, fate is predetermined. She would accept her lot.

Though Galzang would physically assault her, it was mostly pushing and shoving, causing minor injuries when she fell. He likely had some restraint.

Seeing the Third Princess's demeanor, An Qing felt frustrated. This was not restraint; it was a calculated test to see how far he could push her before escalating further.

However, she knew that changing someone's character was difficult. The Third Princess had likely grown accustomed to enduring mistreatment in the palace, making her tolerance higher than most.

"Third Sister, if I'm not mistaken, Galzang was born with great strength, right?" An Qing asked.

The Third Princess was momentarily stunned but answered honestly, "Yes, he is stronger than most people."

He had relied on this strength to achieve significant accomplishments on the Dzungaria battlefield.

An Qing looked at her calmly and continued, "Has Third Sister ever considered the consequences if Galzang were to kick Bayar? Have you thought about the potential outcome?"

She pointed meaningfully at the table that Galzang had kicked apart.

The Third Princess's face turned pale. "No, no, Bayar is his daughter, and he has never..."

An Qing understood what she meant. "Third Sister, are you sure he values Bayar as his daughter?"

The Third Princess remained silent, but her expression spoke volumes.

Indeed, Galzang didn't care about Bayar, otherwise, he wouldn't have lost his temper in front of her, often scaring her to tears.

"Also, Third Sister, have you noticed that Galzang's physical assaults have gradually become more severe?" An Qing asked again.

The Third Princess's expression stiffened. Seeing her reaction, the answer was clear.

An Qing continued, "So, who can guarantee what will happen in the future? Even if nothing worse happens, can you bear to let Bayar live in constant fear?"

As An Qing and the Fourth Princess left the Third Princess's tent, the Fourth Princess still wore a bewildered expression.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, are we really going to leave Third Sister like this?" she couldn't help but ask.

Her third elder sister has always been timid and fearful. If she were to personally speak to His Majesty about this, it would be quite difficult.

Moreover, her concerns are not entirely without reason.

An Qing turned to look at the Fourth Princess and said earnestly, "The key to this matter lies with the Third Princess. If she cannot stand up for herself, no matter how angry they are that she doesn't fight back, it won't make any difference."

Regardless, she is Kangxi's daughter, and he will not ignore this. However, how he handles it and to what extent depends largely on the Third Princess herself.

To put it more plainly, Kangxi's love for his children comes with conditions. According to An Qing's observations, this great emperor has never liked weak and incompetent children. If his children show promise, he is naturally willing to lavish more affection on them, just like with the Fourth Princess.

But if the Third Princess cannot stand up for herself, even if Kangxi learns of this, he might blame her for being weak.

As for the Third Princess's concerns, there are ways to resolve them, but the prerequisite is that the Third Princess must take the first step. Otherwise, everything is in vain.

After all, this marriage between the Third Princess and her husband is part of the Manchu-Mongol alliance, involving many parties. No one can act without Kangxi's approval.

It remains to be seen whether the Third Princess has the courage. One can only hope that she will become strong for the sake of her motherhood.

The Fourth Princess also understands this, "Alright, this matter ultimately depends on the Third Elder Sister herself."

"However, I'll go find someone to investigate the internal situation of the Karachin tribe. Regardless, Galzang's bullying behavior violates the law, and he shouldn't get away with it so easily."

An Qing looked at the Fourth Princess appreciatively; this girl was indeed smart, grasping the crux of the issue immediately.

Putting aside the Manchu-Mongol alliance, Galzang has indeed broken the law. Seizing on this point, he cannot escape easily. The Third Princess failed to see this, which is why she was manipulated.

Moreover, there is that Monke, who managed to enter the Mulan hunting grounds. Clearly, someone helped him, and undoubtedly, their target is Galzang.

Most likely, these people are from the Karachin tribe, or perhaps those who have direct conflicts of interest with Galzang.

After parting ways with the Fourth Princess, An Qing had barely returned to her tent when her mother, Naren, rushed over anxiously.

"Are you alright? Did you get hurt anywhere?" Naren pulled An Qing and gave her a thorough inspection.

An Qing was taken aback, "Mother, I'm fine. What happened?"

Seeing that she was truly unharmed, Naren let out a sigh of relief, "You silly girl, I heard from Duo Lan's attendant that you always rush into trouble. Don't you know your current condition?"

This pregnancy was hard-won, and any mishap could be disastrous.

An Qing quickly understood what had happened. When she went to the Third Princess's tent earlier, Duo Lan's attendant had accompanied her, "Mother, it's a misunderstanding. It was just a coincidence. Who would have thought such a thing would happen?"

Naren knew this was true but still couldn't help worrying.

Seeing her mother's worried face, An Qing realized how anxious she must have been and decided to tell her about today's events to distract her.

After listening, Naren frowned, "That Galzang is truly despicable."

An Qing agreed, "Mother, do you know anything about the Karachin tribe?"

Naren replied, "Coincidentally, I do know something."

An Qing's interest was piqued.

Seeing her daughter's curiosity, Naren didn't beat around the bush and began explaining the situation within the Karachin tribe, specifically about Galzang's family.

Galzang's father is the Jasaq Prince Duleng of the Right Wing of the Karachin tribe, a position equivalent to An Qing's father before he received his title. Both are Jasaq Princes of their respective tribes.

Since Galzang is the second son, he has an older brother named Bayan, and a younger brother named Sailing. It is said that the three brothers fiercely compete for their father's Jasaq Prince title, often vying for power within the tribe.

However, given Galzang's status as the Third Princess's consort, everyone understands that the next Jasaq Prince of their tribe will most likely be him.

After all, the decision on who inherits the title ultimately rests with Kangxi, and by marrying the Third Princess to Galzang, Kangxi has shown his stance.

Given this, why do the three brothers still compete so fiercely? This is due to Galzang's arrogant behavior, which has offended many people and shown disrespect to his siblings.

An Qing thought to herself that this made sense. It seemed clear now that the person who brought Monke in must be one of his brothers.

Their goal is undoubtedly to expose Galzang's crimes before Kangxi.

An Qing and her mother continued chatting for a while. After receiving numerous instructions, she finally sent her mother away.

Unexpectedly, just as she returned to her tent, the curtain was suddenly thrown open, and Yinqi rushed in anxiously.

"Are you alright? Did Galzang hurt you?"

Having experienced her mother's concern, An Qing immediately understood and quickly reassured him, "I'm really fine, not a scratch on me."

She then spun around with her hands outstretched, allowing him to inspect her thoroughly.

Yinqi visibly relaxed once he was convinced she was unharmed, "Good, as long as you're alright."

An Qing couldn't help but ask, "How did you find out about this?"

Yinqi replied honestly, "I ran into Moyali on my way back. She told me."

An Qing: "?"

It was understandable that Duo Lan's attendant might not know the full details since she left halfway through. But the Fourth Princess had been with her the entire time and should have known she was unharmed!

So, how did the message get twisted to make Yinqi think Galzang had injured her?

It was absurd. How could the Fourth Princess mess up delivering such a simple message? An Qing rolled her eyes in exasperation.

If the Fourth Princess knew that Fifth Sister-in-law had given her such an evaluation, she would certainly cry foul.

Indeed, she had conveyed the information accurately, without any issues. Who knew how Fifth Elder Brother's mind filtered it, leading to such a conclusion!

Chapter 90: The Fifth Princess Consort

In An Qing's view, the matter with the Third Princess was not too complicated. From Galzang's series of actions, it was clear that dealing with such a scoundrel required no tolerance or concession; it would only embolden him further. The only solution was to crush him completely and prevent any future mischief.

The principle that kindness invites exploitation is timeless.

However, An Qing understood that everyone had different backgrounds and experiences. What seemed like an easy decision for her might be a source of great struggle and pain for others before they could finally make up their minds.

The Third Princess clearly fell into the latter category.

An Qing believed that the Third Princess was not entirely weak. After all, when she saw Galzang forcibly taking someone's wife and daughter, she, who usually endured in silence, had the courage to argue with Galzang. This showed she had a rebellious side.

But it also demonstrated her inherent kindness.

Yinqi was equally furious upon learning about this and immediately wanted to confront Galzang. Fortunately, An Qing managed to hold him back.

"This matter cannot be handled impulsively. We need to plan carefully."

Most importantly, before the Third Princess made her decision, they should avoid alerting Galzang prematurely.

Yinqi's veins bulged on his neck from anger. Although he wasn't particularly close to the Third Princess, he couldn't tolerate Galzang's mistreatment of her.

"Leave this to me. I'll have people investigate discreetly. Don't worry about it." He added hesitantly, then suddenly remembered something. "By the way, don't visit the Third Princess for now."

An Qing nodded lightly, understanding Yinqi's concern. He feared she might get hurt by Galzang.

While she didn't think it likely, given that Galzang wasn't stupid, it was better to be safe than sorry. Accidental injuries were still injuries, and there was no need to take unnecessary risks.

In the following days, An Qing refrained from getting directly involved. Yinqi and the Fourth Princess took charge, but they kept her informed of developments.

Apart from them, within a few days, the Third Prince, Seventh Prince, Eighth Prince, as well as the First Princess and Second Princess, also joined in.

Their roles were clearly defined. They used their respective networks to gather information on the internal affairs of the Karachin tribe and Galzang's crimes over the years. Led by Yinqi, the princes devised various ways to provoke Galzang, both to distract him and to vent some of the Third Princess's anger.

Meanwhile, the First Princess, Second Princess, and Fourth Princess focused on persuading the Third Princess. They knew that the key to resolving this lay with her.

If she couldn't stand up for herself, all their efforts would be in vain.

What puzzled An Qing most was how these people had become so close to the Third Princess.

The princes, for instance, had little interaction with her when they were in the palace. Why were they suddenly rallying around her?

Even among the princesses, their relationships weren't particularly close. As the Fourth Princess put it, despite being married off to the frontier, they rarely communicated, indicating merely a superficial acquaintance.

So what was the reason?

Seeing An Qing's confusion, Yinqi explained, "We're not just doing this for the Third Sister; we have our own interests at heart."

An Qing exclaimed, "Ah," wondering what those interests could be.

Then she realized the implications. As a princess representing Great Qing in Mongolia, if the Third Princess was mistreated by her consort, it would reflect poorly on other princesses as well. If Galzang wasn't punished severely, it would send a signal to Mongolian tribes that Great Qing's princesses could be disrespected.

The principle of mutual benefit and mutual harm applied here. Alone in the frontier, without the respect due to their princess status, their situation would be dire.

For the princes, while they didn't need to marry into Mongolian tribes, they had daughters who might face similar situations. Additionally, Galzang's actions were a direct affront to the imperial family, showing disrespect to the Aisin Gioro clan. Any man with honor wouldn't let this go unpunished.

An Qing sighed, realizing her political acumen was lacking. Such a simple truth had escaped her.

However, as Yinqi pointed out, the royal family could be ruthless when their interests clashed, but united when their interests aligned. In this case, when all the princes and princesses in Mulan united against Galzang, he quickly found himself overwhelmed.

As for the Third Princess, although An Qing didn't accompany the other princesses, she received updates through the Fourth Princess. It was said that the Third Princess was beginning to waver. Following An Qing's strategy, they continued to focus on Bayar.

An Qing had noticed that the Third Princess had little affection for Galzang, which relieved her. The worst scenario would be dealing with someone blinded by love. Thankfully, the Third Princess wasn't.

Her hesitation stemmed from a lack of security and an underestimation of her own situation. With the support of her siblings, she would find it easier to take action.

With the involvement of the princes and princesses, An Qing didn't worry much about the matter. People who had survived the intrigues of the imperial harem could easily handle someone like Galzang.

However, she never expected that after the Third Princess made her decision, the First Princess, Second Princess, Third Princess, and Fourth Princess would come to her tent, seeking her advice.

An Qing was bewildered. These powerful women were coming to her, a mere novice, for advice?

They must really think highly of her.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, don't be modest. We all know you have a strategic mind and great wisdom," the First Princess said.

The Second Princess, Third Princess, and Fourth Princess nodded in agreement.

An Qing blinked, still confused. Were they talking about her?

Well, having a strategic mind was acceptable, but great wisdom was too much praise. She considered herself more clever than wise.

Since they had come to her, An Qing couldn't refuse. She steeled herself and responded.

"Sister, you flatter me too much. I can't claim great wisdom, but another pair of hands is always helpful. I won't refuse, but please don't laugh at me if I can't come up with anything."

The princesses smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries before getting down to business, explaining their current dilemma.

They had gathered sufficient evidence of Galzang's crimes, with both witnesses and physical proof. When the Third Princess presented this to Kangxi, he would be unable to escape punishment.

But now the problem they faced was, what should the Third Princess do next?

Would their Emperor Father agree to her divorce and return to the capital with her daughter? After all, there had never been a divorced princess in Great Qing before.

"Third Sister, do you want to divorce and return to the capital?" An Qing asked.

A hint of hesitation flashed across the Third Princess's face. If she returned to the capital, where would she live? Most likely, she would have to bring Bayar and stay in the palace.

However, life within those palace walls wouldn't necessarily be better. She grew up in the palace and knew it better than anyone else. How could she bear to let Bayar suffer the same fate as her?

"I won't hide it from Fifth Sister-in-law; I want to stay in Karasun," the Third Princess said.

Her princess residence was here, and the servants and guards were all part of her dowry. If Galzang was punished, it would mean she could take charge of the princess residence.

Undoubtedly, this was much better than returning to the palace.

The problem was, if she divorced Galzang, she would have no reason to stay here and would have to return to the capital.

An Qing pondered for a moment and asked, "Then don't divorce."

"Not divorce?" everyone exclaimed in unison.

After all, everything they had planned these days was aimed at getting a divorce. If they didn't divorce, how could the Third Princess remain in Karasun after exposing her husband's crimes?

In fact, they weren't entirely sure about the possibility of a divorce before, given that it was a Manchu-Mongol marriage. But as more evidence of Galzang's crimes emerged, they became more confident.

An Qing was aware of this too. Yinqi had told her that over the years, Galzang had abused his position as a consort of Great Qing, bullying the people and seizing their property, besides forcing women into marriage.

He truly had acted with reckless abandon.

"Third Sister, does Galzang have any other children in his household?" An Qing asked.

She meant sons, not daughters.

The Third Princess nodded and replied, "Besides Bayar, he has another son, born to a concubine he forcibly took. The concubine died giving birth, so I've had someone look after the child out of pity. He's now two years old."

An Qing nodded slightly. That made things easier.

Ancient customs dictated that a married woman followed her husband. Even if Galzang himself was guilty, if the Third Princess insisted on raising his children after his conviction, it wouldn't be impossible.

After all, exposing his crimes was for the sake of the tribe and upholding the law, which could be seen as a necessary action. If she then chose to stay and raise his children, it would demonstrate her loyalty and righteousness.

If they established the Third Princess as a loyal and righteous figure, she would have no trouble remaining in Karasun.

Moreover, once Galzang fell, his banner would naturally pass to his brother or another relative. According to An Qing's knowledge, both of them were already married, making it impossible for Kangxi to send another princess or consort.

Therefore, it would be better for the Third Princess to continue her duty of fostering Mongolian ties, which would please both Kangxi and the Karasun tribe.

The other princesses weren't foolish and quickly understood An Qing's plan.

A hint of surprise flashed across the Third Princess's eyes. If this outcome could be achieved, it would be ideal.

"When the time comes, all of you sisters, including Fourth Sister, will be in Mongolia. With mutual support, no one will dare to look down on you. Isn't that right?" An Qing smiled.

Hearing this, the First and Second Princesses exchanged glances, both showing signs of shock.

This Fifth Sister-in-law was truly extraordinary.

Over the past two years, the First and Second Princesses had heard about the Fourth Princess's achievements in Northern Desert. At the time, they were quite surprised.

Even they took years to find their footing in Mongolia, but the Fourth Sister seemed to know from the start.

They suspected she had a mentor who was well-versed in Manchu-Mongol relations and the situation in the Mongolian tribes. Undoubtedly, that person could only be An Qing.

Especially in recent days, while they were trying to persuade the Third Sister, the Fourth Sister often said surprising yet insightful things, leaving them deeply impressed.

The First Princess already had a good impression of An Qing, which only improved further. After all, who doesn't admire a capable and intelligent person?

The Second Princess, however, sighed inwardly when looking at An Qing.

Initially, she didn't have a good impression of this Fourth Sister-in-law, mainly because her Third Sister-in-law had spoken poorly of An Qing. Since she and her Third Brother were siblings, she naturally trusted her Third Sister-in-law more.

But through their interactions in Mulan, the Second Princess gradually realized her Third Sister-in-law was unreliable, whereas An Qing, the Fifth Sister-in-law, was impeccable in every way, with a wisdom far beyond ordinary women.

Now, whenever her Third Sister-in-law spoke ill of the Fifth Sister-in-law, the Second Princess felt increasingly impatient.

It was indeed the Fifth Brother's good fortune to have such a wise and reasonable wife.

An Qing was unaware of the Third Sister-in-law's bad-mouthing, but even if she knew, she couldn't do anything about it—she couldn't go confront her.

Tsk, it wasn't worth it.

With a plan in place for the Third Princess, everyone's mood improved.

The Fourth Princess eagerly tugged at An Qing's arm and said to the others, "See, I told you Fifth Sister-in-law is amazing and would find a solution. Big Sister, I was right, wasn't I?"

With a look of 'My Fifth Sister-in-law is the best,' she made the others laugh.

An Qing rolled her eyes, wishing she could find a hole to hide in.

She realized the Fourth Princess was her biggest fan, which explained why the others sought her help. It was all thanks to this girl's boasting.

The First Princess didn't mention their plans for the Third Princess, and An Qing didn't ask further.

She had intended to ask Yinqi about their plans when he returned that evening, but she never expected that they would act during the banquet that night, where Kangxi hosted the Mongolian tribes.

At the time, An Qing was eating roasted lamb leg slices prepared by Mai Dong when she saw the Third Princess suddenly stand up from her seat, walk to the center of the open field, and kneel before Kangxi.

"Your Majesty, I have an important matter to report!"

Kangxi seemed to be taken aback for a moment. He lightly raised his hand to signal her to rise and said, "No need for formalities. Princess Duanjing, if you have something to report, please speak."

Princess Duanjing was the title given to the Third Princess when she married. Thus, "Duanjing" became her name in Kangxi's presence.

The Third Princess first thanked him, then stood up and looked at Galzang beside her.

A clear look of panic flashed across Galzang's face. Ever since the Third Princess had risen, he had felt that something terrible was about to happen.

But he couldn't help but reassure himself: No way. His wife has always been timid and has no support in the Imperial City. She wouldn't dare to complain.

The Third Princess met Galzang's slightly threatening gaze, her heart tightened, and she reflexively wanted to step back. But she managed to steady herself.

She tried to remind herself: Don't panic. There's no turning back now. She had to see this through; otherwise, she would betray everyone who had planned for her.

Taking a deep breath, she pointed directly at Galzang and shouted loudly, "Today, I will uphold justice by exposing my husband Galzang's crimes!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present gasped, and Kangxi frowned immediately.

An Qing was also stunned and instinctively turned to look at Yinqi.

Seeing this situation, hadn't they informed Kangxi beforehand?

No, weren't they being too rash? They should have let Kangxi know in advance. Putting him in this position clearly meant forcing his hand.

Acting so recklessly without any plan, were they really serious?

Yinqi, seeing An Qing's shocked expression, understood her concern and leaned over to whisper in her ear, "Don't worry, Father already knows about this."

An Qing was completely dumbfounded and looked directly at Kangxi. How could he look like he knew nothing about it?

Wow, Lao Kang is quite the actor.

But knowing that they had already communicated with Lao Kang, An Qing could relax and watch the drama unfold.

Galzang's shocked expression froze on his face, as if he never expected the Third Princess, whom he had always controlled, to dare do such a thing.

"You..."

Before he could utter his curse, Kangxi interrupted him by throwing a wine cup from above.

"Rascal! How dare you disrespect a princess? I think you don't want your head anymore!"

With these words, Galzang's father, Prince Zhashi Chenghui of the Right Wing of the Karachin Banner, hurriedly rose to plead for his son. The others from the Karachin tribe also knelt down.

The rest of the proceedings were straightforward. In front of everyone, the Third Princess detailed Galzang's various crimes of bullying men and women over the years, even bringing Monke as a witness. She concluded with the charge of disrespecting a royal princess.

As An Qing had predicted, although Galzang had committed murder, Kangxi, considering the relationship with the Karachin tribe, only ordered him to be imprisoned for life.

Under feudal rule, the idea that princes and commoners are equal before the law is nonsense. Class privilege was the norm in this era, so An Qing had anticipated this outcome.

Well, being locked up in prison and losing freedom means he can no longer abuse his power. It's his just punishment.

After dealing with Galzang, the banquet ended abruptly. The subsequent arrangements would be handled privately between Kangxi and the Karachin tribe.

If everything went as planned, the Third Princess would continue to stay in the Karachin tribe and take on the responsibility of pacifying Mongolia.

But An Qing was worried that Galzang might be released after a few days, given that he was imprisoned locally.

"No," Yinqi replied, "Saileng won't allow it."

Saileng, Galzang's younger brother, was the one the Third Princess chose to collaborate with.

After exposing Galzang, if the Third Princess wanted to remain in the Karachin tribe, she needed to build a good relationship with the next leader. Saileng played a significant role in this incident.

An Qing didn't ask how they chose Saileng over Galzang's older brother. However, she was curious about how the Third Princess spoke to Kangxi and his reaction.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, let me tell you, Third Sister was amazing. Father even praised her," the Fourth Princess said.

The Third Princess modestly waved her hand, "No, I just did what you all told me to do."

The Fourth Princess countered, "Third Sister, don't be humble. Not only did you follow our advice and list Galzang's crimes, but you also reported his dissatisfaction with Great Qing to Father. That was the icing on the cake."

An Qing was surprised, "He actually expressed dissatisfaction with Great Qing?"

The Third Princess nodded, "A few years ago, when Father built the imperial villa and requisitioned land from the Karachin tribe, Galzang privately expressed dissatisfaction, saying that Father and Great Qing were taking their tribal land."

An Qing raised an eyebrow, thinking that explained it.

All land under heaven belongs to the emperor. Since Mongolia had submitted to Great Qing, it was part of Great Qing. What tribal land? In Kangxi's eyes, this was all Great Qing's territory.

Galzang's words indicated disloyalty.

Of course, the Third Princess also mentioned how Galzang had mistreated her, but she portrayed herself as enduring humiliation while secretly gathering evidence, as An Qing had suggested.

The Third Princess sincerely said, "Fifth Sister-in-law, thank you."

She finally understood why An Qing insisted she speak to Father herself. When Father heard her story, though angry, he was clearly pleased with her actions.

The Third Princess wasn't foolish. She realized that if she had remained weak and let others bring the matter to Father, he would have seen her as incompetent.

That wouldn't have led to this favorable outcome.

After this incident, the Karachin tribe would not dare to underestimate her. She could manage her affairs in the princess's residence, and Bayar wouldn't have to live in fear anymore. It was truly wonderful.

An Qing smiled and waved her hand. In her view, she hadn't contributed much; it was mostly the work of her siblings.

Regardless of everyone's motives, the matter had a satisfactory conclusion.

It has been several days since the matter was resolved, and the Third Princess finally has a smile on her face again, no longer looking as worried as before.

The same goes for Bayar; she can now happily play with Duo Lan.

The two little girls run freely across the grassland, chasing each other. Behind them, the Third Princess and the maids follow, constantly shouting for them to slow down.

An Qing and the Fourth Princess sit under a tree not far away, each on a small stool, enjoying the moment.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, in a few days, I have a surprise for you," the Fourth Princess said.

An Qing didn't pay much attention and casually asked, "What surprise?"

The Fourth Princess shook her head, looking very mysterious. "I'll tell you later; it's not time yet."

An Qing couldn't help but let out a 'hey.'

What is it? Being so secretive, making one curious.

No matter how she asked, the Fourth Princess remained tight-lipped. An Qing glared at her, huffing. If she won't say, then she'll just ask Yinqi when she gets back; he might know.

Unexpectedly, before An Qing could even ask Yinqi, she learned another piece of news from him.

Kangxi had actually summoned her Third Elder Brother.