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

by Usui Takumii

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

10. 91 to 100

Chapter 91: The Five Princesses

"Why did the Emperor summon Third Elder Brother?" An Qing asked in surprise.

Her Third Elder Brother should be busy with the autumn harvest alongside her Second Elder Brother in the Baring Department. Emperor Kangxi had previously exempted them from coming to pay their respects, emphasizing the importance of the harvest.

So why would he suddenly change his mind now?

Yinqi lightly shook his head and replied, "The Emperor didn't say what for, but it doesn't seem like anything serious."

At least from the Emperor's reaction, it didn't appear to be bad news.

An Qing felt relieved and then asked, "Will Second Elder Brother come too?"

Yinqi replied, "Only Third Elder Brother is coming. Second Elder Brother can't leave at the moment."

Last year, the Baring Department received some sweet potato vines from the estate in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner. An Qing's Second and Third Elder Brothers personally instructed on winter storage techniques and planting methods. As a result, the Baring Department has become one of the largest sweet potato growers among the Mongolian tribes, second only to Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner.

It was indeed the time for the sweet potato harvest, making it impossible for them to leave.

However, An Qing was still puzzled about why Emperor Kangxi would summon her Third Elder Brother at this time, especially since the autumn hunt in Mulan was nearing its end. If it wasn't urgent, there wouldn't be any reason to call him urgently.

The next day, when An Qing came to see her parents, she intended to ask them about it. To her surprise, they were equally confused.

"The Emperor wants to see Yideri?" Deb exclaimed in astonishment.

An Qing nodded slightly. "I heard it from Yinqi. He sent someone to the Baring Department two days ago. Didn't the Emperor mention it to you, Father?"

Deb shook his head and then frowned, thinking of something. "That troublemaker Yideri must have done something, right? Did he also bully someone or commit some other misdeed?"

Without waiting for an answer, he clenched his teeth and said, "If that's the case, I'll beat him up myself. It's better to clean our family name ourselves."

An Qing couldn't help but sigh, realizing the root of the problem from her father's use of 'also.'

Ever since Princess Galzang's crimes were exposed and he was imprisoned by Emperor Kangxi, the Mongolian tribes were shocked and began to reflect on themselves. They started investigating their own families to see if there were any unruly younger members who could be dealt with secretly, fearing that they might face Emperor Kangxi's wrath.

As a result, the unruly young men on the grasslands had been more restrained recently.

An Qing's father was no exception. He carefully screened his own children. Her elder brothers had always been upright and diligent, so there was nothing to find. All his attention was focused on her Third Elder Brother.

But in reality, her Third Elder Brother only caused minor mischief and never did anything truly harmful.

However, because her elder brothers were so well-behaved, her Third Elder Brother's small troubles seemed magnified, leading her father to consider him the most unstable factor in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner.

Hearing that Emperor Kangxi wanted to see her Third Elder Brother, her father immediately assumed he had caused trouble again.

"Father, you know Third Elder Brother. He wouldn't do such things," An Qing said, trying to defend Yideri.

"Besides, it's unfair to compare him to Galzang. If he knew, he wouldn't agree."

Deb instantly became upset. "What does that brat think? I'm his father; he can't defy me!"

An Qing frowned disapprovingly. "Father, when will you stop being so authoritarian? Third Elder Brother hasn't done anything wrong, yet you blame him. That's not fair."

Her father was a typical autocratic patriarch, and she had seen this behavior all her life. She always tried to reason with him, and this time was no different.

She began lecturing him, citing various examples to support her arguments. Finally, she concluded, "Father, exaggeration aside, your behavior is detrimental to family harmony!"

Seeing An Qing's determined look, Deb rubbed his nose and quickly defended himself. "Well, I just spoke without thinking. Actually, I'm not usually so authoritarian. Your mother can vouch for me."

He looked at his princess for support, hoping she would speak up for him.

Princess Naren saw his reaction and inwardly thought he deserved it. But she couldn't help but find it amusing.

Their prince was always decisive, but only their daughter could make him admit his mistakes. This was probably what the Han people called "one thing taming another."

An Qing remained puzzled about why Emperor Kangxi summoned her Third Elder Brother for several days. However, soon enough, her Third Elder Brother arrived at the Mulan hunting grounds.

Then, Emperor Kangxi summoned her father and Yinqi.

An Qing and her mother waited anxiously. When the three returned from Emperor Kangxi's tent, both Deb and Yideri looked somewhat bewildered.

Not exactly bewildered, but rather, they seemed dazed.

Princess Naren grew tense. "Why do you look like that? Did Yideri cause some major trouble?"

Yideri looked at her mother incredulously. "Mother, why don't you wish me well?"

Princess Naren glared at him. "Stop talking nonsense. Why did the Emperor summon you? If you keep us guessing, I'll beat you!"

Seeing his mother's anger, Yideri pouted but explained, "The Emperor summoned me urgently to assist Princess Fourth in the Qinghe region with the Khalkha herdsmen's farming efforts."

So, Emperor Kangxi agreed to Princess Fourth's request for the Qinghe region.

Yideri nodded. "Yes, after the Mulan autumn hunt, I'm supposed to take some skilled tribesmen from our department to assist Princess Fourth. We'll help them with farming and teach them agricultural techniques. Hopefully, we can catch up for the spring planting next year."

An Qing understood. Her Third Elder Brother had been working with her Second Elder Brother to teach farming techniques across the Mongolian tribes, gaining valuable experience. It made sense for him to lead the effort.

Previously, she had told Princess Fourth that her father could provide assistance if needed. So, An Qing didn't think much of it, assuming it was just to avoid suspicion.

Princess Naren breathed a sigh of relief. "That's not a big deal. Why do you look so strange?"

Yideri glanced at An Qing. "Little Sister, there's one more thing."

An Qing raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Yideri scratched his head and replied, "The Fourth Princess said that to show her gratitude, she would lend us some land in the Qingshe area for free so that we can cultivate it in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner."

An Qing exclaimed softly, "She didn't mention this before."

"How much land?" she asked.

Yideri replied, "Eight thousand acres."

An Qing instinctively looked at Yinqi.

They both knew the size of the Qingshe area, and eight thousand acres was no small amount.

It was clear that the Fourth Princess had been well-prepared and managed to convince Kangxi, indicating she had put considerable effort into it.

Yinqi immediately understood her concern and lightly shook his head. "I wasn't aware of this. Moyali didn't consult me about it either; I just found out now."

"Sister, that's not the main point. The main point is that the Fourth Princess said she would sign a one-hundred-year lease agreement with us in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner," Yideri added.

"What?" Queen Naren widened her eyes. "How long did you say?"

Yideri repeated, "One hundred years."

An Qing also widened her eyes. This wasn't a loan; it was practically a gift.

Yideri and Deb exchanged glances. Indeed, when they heard about this in the Emperor's tent, they were stunned for quite a while.

They weren't fools; the Fourth Princess was clearly offering them a significant advantage. The reason wasn't merely gratitude for helping with reclamation; it was all because of An Qing.

At that moment, An Qing realized that the surprise the Fourth Princess had mentioned earlier was this.

After leaving her mother's tent, she and Yinqi headed straight for the Fourth Princess's tent. When they arrived, the Fourth Princess and her husband Dorji had just returned, and they met each other at the entrance.

"Fifth Elder Brother, Fifth Sister-in-law," Dorji greeted them with a bow.

They returned the gesture. It wasn't the first time An Qing had seen Dorji, but she couldn't help being impressed by his towering figure—almost six feet tall and muscular, a true image of a man from the grasslands.

But he seemed genuinely caring towards the Fourth Princess. At the banquet, he had shown great tenderness towards her, revealing a softer side to his tough exterior.

The Fourth Princess stepped forward, linked arms with An Qing, and waved at Yinqi and Dorji. "Fifth Sister-in-law and I will go for a walk. You two go inside and have tea."

Yinqi, hearing this, immediately expressed his concern, "Don't wander too far, and don't tire yourselves out."

The Fourth Princess gave him a look that said, "You're being too fussy." "Fifth Elder Brother, I know what I'm doing. Don't worry; I'll take good care of Fifth Sister-in-law."

An Qing and the Fourth Princess didn't go far. They stopped on a small hill behind their tent. The Fourth Princess considerately found a flat patch of grass, took off her cloak, and laid it on the ground. They sat down side by side.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, did you receive my surprise?" the Fourth Princess asked with a smile.

An Qing looked at her helplessly, unsure what to say. "Fourth Sister, this surprise is too valuable for me to accept."

The Fourth Princess waved her hand. "It doesn't matter how valuable it is; as long as it helps solve your family's current problems."

An Qing paused, then quickly understood why the Fourth Princess had done this.

Before the Fourth Princess got married, she often stayed in her courtyard, listening to stories about the grasslands. An Qing had mentioned the agricultural planning issues in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, particularly the shortage of land for farming and grazing.

Compared to other Mongolian territories, Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner had less land, partly due to its previous lack of importance. With the recent agricultural expansion, the pastureland had shrunk, which was why they detoured through the Qingshe area during winter migration.

There was a large imperial pasture there used by various Mongolian tribes during their seasonal movements.

However, An Qing hadn't expected the Fourth Princess to remember this. The eight thousand acres indeed alleviated their current land shortage.

With the implementation of the banner system in Mongolia under Great Qing, the territories of each tribe were fixed, making it difficult to change.

This was why she had never considered asking Kangxi for more land for their tribe.

The Fourth Princess's action solved this concern.

Still, An Qing felt uneasy. "Fourth Sister, will this affect your plans?"

After all, the Fourth Princess had her own reasons for acquiring the Qingshe area, and reducing it by nearly a fifth could potentially impact her goals.

The Fourth Princess waved her hand dismissively. "Fifth Sister-in-law, don't worry. I have everything under control. It won't affect anything."

She still had forty thousand acres, which was more than enough.

Moreover, her primary goal was to demonstrate her capabilities to the Mongolian tribes in Northern Desert by acquiring the Qingshe area and stabilizing the local community through farming and grazing. Whether it was forty thousand or forty-eight thousand acres made little difference.

Seeing her confidence, An Qing felt reassured. "Does Dorji mind this?"

The Fourth Princess shrugged. "That's the dowry from Father. Why would he mind?"

An Qing shook her head, knowing that despite this, many things needed to be discussed between spouses to avoid misunderstandings.

The Fourth Princess quickly explained, "Fifth Sister-in-law, don't worry. I'm not foolish. I've talked to Dorji about this. I hinted that Father feels indebted to you and is compensating Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner through this method."

Dorji wasn't stupid; he knew about the situation in the Imperial City.

"Besides, if Father didn't have this intention, I wouldn't have been able to persuade him. So, Fifth Sister-in-law, don't feel burdened. This is what you deserve."

An Qing smiled, understanding that Kangxi's agreement was indeed a way to make amends.

Without the Fourth Princess's efforts, this wouldn't have happened.

Grateful, An Qing accepted, "Alright, then I'll thank you on behalf of my family, Fourth Sister."

The Fourth Princess waved her hand. "Fifth Sister-in-law, what are you talking about? Your family is my family. We're one and the same."

In fact, if anyone should be thanking someone, it should be her thanking An Qing.

When she first married into Khalkha, Deb immediately sent gifts, clearly showing the people of Northern Desert Mongolia that this Fourth Princess had powerful backing, and they shouldn't dare to slight her just because Imperial City was far away.

Later, when her Fifth Sister-in-law's second and Third Elder Brothers passed by on official business, they personally visited her. This further demonstrated to the people of Northern Desert Mongolia that she was treated with increasing respect.

The Fourth Princess understood all this and kept it in mind. But what she truly appreciated was the wisdom her Fifth Sister-in-law imparted to her back in the palace.

Before then, whether it was from her mother, aunts, or the other ladies of the harem, everyone told her in various ways that as a princess, her future and fortunes were tied to the affection of her Emperor Father. Often, she needed to learn to accept her fate.

But her Fifth Sister-in-law told her that she could strive upward like the princes in the palace, relying on her own strength to improve her life.

Thus, she became who she is now: someone full of hope for the future, someone who holds her life in her own hands.

In the final days at Mulan, everyone was once again surprised by a series of events.

First, Kangxi personally decreed that 48,000 acres of land around Qinghe be given to the Fourth Princess as part of her dowry. Then came news that the Fourth Princess had lent 8,000 acres of this land to Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner for a century, free of charge.

Undoubtedly, Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner became the envy of all Mongolian tribes again.

While people were somewhat surprised by Kangxi's gift to the Fourth Princess, they understood upon reflection. After all, she was marrying into Northern Desert, where wars still occurred occasionally; additional dowry was not unreasonable.

However, for Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, this was a windfall. Suddenly gaining 8,000 acres of territory would make anyone envious. Everyone wasn't foolish; they saw through the implications behind this gesture.

Thus, the Mongolian tribes began anew their admiration for Deb's excellent daughter.

An Qing also entered a period of anxiety about parting from her family. She started spending every day in her mother's tent, chatting with her mother, playing with Duo Lan, and dining with her father and Third Elder Brother.

But no matter how much she cherished these moments, the day of departure arrived. Early that morning, upon hearing that An Qing was leaving, Duo Lan began crying and insisting that her aunt come home with her.

An Qing, perhaps due to pregnancy hormones or being influenced by Duo Lan, also started crying uncontrollably until she couldn't breathe, which frightened Naren, who quickly had Duo Lan taken away.

"You're pregnant; you shouldn't have such strong emotional swings. Take a deep breath."

An Qing knew this was true and tried hard to calm down, eventually managing to suppress her feelings of grievance.

Though she didn't know why she felt so aggrieved. Even if she was sad, shouldn't it be because of the parting? In her previous life, she often heard that pregnancy hormones greatly affect emotions, and now she experienced it firsthand.

Without Duo Lan's interference, mother and daughter finally had a chance to talk before parting.

"Mother, take care after I return to the capital," said An Qing. "If anything happens, send me a message."

Naren helped soothe her with a damp towel. "Don't worry. We'll be fine here on the grasslands."

With such a capable daughter, other tribes naturally showed respect to Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner.

Moreover, during their time at Mulan, the other princesses treated her kindly, and the ladies of the Mongolian tribes noticed. Life would only get better.

"Because of those 8,000 acres, your father is praised everywhere he goes as a man blessed with children."

Her son-in-law was a prince, her daughter was favored by Kangxi, and she was close to the Fourth Princess. Her sons were also capable, helping other tribes with farming and teaching agricultural techniques.

An Qing was surprised. "Didn't Father get upset last year when he benefited from my position?"

Naren waved her hand. "Why would he be upset? He's very proud now. When others say sarcastic things, he calmly replies, 'What can I do? My children are too capable. I can't help it.' Nine out of ten people are left speechless."

An Qing imagined her father's smug face and chuckled.

Indeed, it was quite infuriating.

Naren patted her hand. "Don't worry about us anymore. Take care of yourself and the baby, and live well with your husband. That's all we want."

An Qing nodded with a smile. "Mother, don't worry. I will."

They chatted a bit more, then stepped out of the tent when the time came.

Yinqi was talking with Deb and Yideri outside. Seeing An Qing emerge, he hurried over.

Seeing her red eyes, Yinqi was taken aback. Had she been crying?

Last year, An Qing had been so calm during their parting that Yinqi hadn't expected her to cry this time, leaving him momentarily at a loss.

The main group was ready to depart. An Qing briefly spoke with her father and Third Elder Brother before boarding the carriage.

As the carriage moved slowly, she waved goodbye to her family until their voices faded from view. Only then did she sit back inside.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped, and Yinqi climbed aboard.

An Qing exclaimed, "Why aren't you riding a horse?"

According to Kangxi's requirements, princes should ride horses at the front.

Yinqi sat beside her. "I don't want to ride a horse. I took leave from Father Emperor and will accompany you in the carriage."

To better take care of her.

An Qing responded with an "Oh," not thinking much of it, assuming he simply didn't want to ride.

They talked for a while, but Yinqi seemed unusually talkative today. Soon, An Qing started feeling drowsy.

"Rest your head on my shoulder and sleep," Yinqi suggested.

An Qing didn't hesitate, leaning against his shoulder and soon fell asleep.

Yinqi sighed softly, watching her sleep. Someday, he would bring her back.

When Kangxi led the group back to the Forbidden City from the frontier, it was the first day of October.

An Qing was already five months pregnant and starting to show. According to Concubine Yi, she should rest well after the long journey.

But she couldn't rest now, for the corn in the experimental fields of Royal Manor had ripened.

Chapter 92: The Fifth Princess Consort

If it were merely about harvesting corn, An Qing wouldn't have needed to make the trip herself. However, this also involved evaluating the progress of her students from the agricultural school, so she felt compelled to go both emotionally and logically.

Initially, neither Empress Dowager Concubine Yi, Yinqi, nor Kangxi were entirely at ease with the idea, given that it concerned the imperial offspring. She was indeed quite far along in her pregnancy, and pregnant women in the palace typically rested quietly. It was unprecedented for someone like her to be so active from the start.

An Qing, however, saw no issue with it. Whether in her previous life or on the grasslands, as long as the pregnancy was stable, women continued their usual activities.

Moreover, she wasn't going there to do physical labor. Her every need would be taken care of, ensuring she wouldn't tire herself out.

Despite this, everyone still had reservations. In the end, Kangxi decided to send the imperial physician who had been overseeing her pregnancy to Royal Manor with her, and naturally, Yinqi would accompany them as well.

This trip would likely last several days. After harvesting the corn, they would begin planting spring wheat. There was no avoiding it; this was the busiest time of the year for farmers, but also the happiest.

The autumn wind blew, carrying the fragrance of ripe grains. After half a year of hard work, it was finally time for harvest.

Everyone stood at the edge of the field, looking at their experimental plots of corn, their faces beaming with joy. Their eyes sparkled with excitement, eagerly awaiting An Qing's command to rush into the fields.

In truth, according to An Qing's original plan, harvesting corn wasn't a technical task. They didn't need to do it themselves; the servants could handle it while they supervised the weighing.

However, upon hearing this, everyone vehemently objected, insisting on doing it themselves.

"That won't do. We've been working so hard for so long; we can't let others reap the rewards."

"Exactly. We've done everything ourselves up until now; we might as well finish the job."

"..."

Seeing their determination, An Qing couldn't help but chuckle. If they wanted to tire themselves out, it wasn't her fault.

She waved her hand, and everyone immediately sprang into action, enthusiastically rushing to their respective plots.

When they initially divided the plots, each person received only a small area, roughly one-tenth of an acre. Even if they did everything themselves, such a small area wouldn't exhaust them too much.

Well, let them do as they please.

Watching these usually pampered young men, dressed in worn clothes, moving through the corn stalks, contrasted sharply with their initial reluctance to till the land. It truly was remarkable how much they had changed in just three to four months.

As An Qing stood at the edge of the field, feeling rather sentimental, the Fifteenth Prince suddenly ran up to her. The little boy was considerate, knowing that his Fifth Sister-in-law was pregnant, he stopped a few meters away.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, do you want to come to my plot to pick corn?" He asked, blinking his big, sparkling eyes.

An Qing waved her hand, politely declining the Fifteenth Prince's offer. "No, Little Fifteen, you can pick it yourself. I'll just watch."

Corn stalks could be quite prickly, and she didn't want to suffer through it.

The Fifteenth Prince looked at An Qing's slightly swollen belly and suddenly slapped his forehead in realization. How could he forget that she was pregnant?

"Alright, Fifth Sister-in-law, rest well. When I've harvested my corn, I'll ask Mother to make corn cakes for your little nephew."

An Qing patted his bald head, teasing him. "Oh, what if it's a little niece? Won't Little Fifteen give her any cakes?"

The Fifteenth Prince shook his head vigorously. "No, Fifth Sister-in-law, that's not what I meant. Both little nephews and nieces will get cakes."

Seeing his flushed face from trying to explain, An Qing stopped teasing him and smiled. "Good, Fifth Sister-in-law thanks Uncle Fifteen on behalf of the little nephew/niece."

Hearing himself called "Uncle Fifteen," the Fifteenth Prince beamed even wider. "You're welcome. As an elder, it's my duty."

An Qing chuckled at the adorable contrast between his title and his age. The Fifteenth Prince scratched his head, blushing slightly, then ran off.

An Qing watched him enter the cornfield, amused. The Fifteenth Prince was too small to reach the corn, so a little eunuch helped him pick it. He didn't stay idle, though, taking the picked corn and tossing it into a basket nearby, determined to participate fully.

Yinqi was also busy in the field, supervising everyone. This final step involved weighing and calculating the yield, which was part of An Qing's evaluation criteria, so he needed to oversee it carefully.

"I'll take care of things here. You should go explore elsewhere," he said.

An Qing nodded lightly. There was nothing more to do here, and she wanted to wander around the manor.

Yinqi, still worried, instructed Perilla and the others. "Don't take your mistress too far. Keep an eye on the surroundings and take good care of her."

Perilla and the others responded promptly. "Beile, don't worry. We'll look after our mistress."

Since becoming pregnant, An Qing had grown accustomed to being cared for, so she didn't react much to Yinqi's words.

They left the experimental plots and first went to the vast farmland outside the manor. The Royal Manor was extensive, with many fields beyond the experimental plots. At this time, the corn and late rice were being harvested, and the fields were bustling with activity. Due to a shortage of hands, the overseer had hired local farmers to help, and children could be seen playing among the rows.

After a brief tour, they arrived at the orchard within the manor. The orchard already had various fruit trees, and An Qing had added more, expanding its size to fulfill her desire for fruit freedom.

October was the season for apples, pears, persimmons, and jujubes, all of which grew in her orchard, filling it with a sweet fragrance.

"Mistress, look at those jujube trees. The fruits this year are incredible," Cui Liu pointed out, amazed.

An Qing followed her gaze and was equally impressed. Indeed, the jujube trees were thriving.

The red, plump jujubes bent the branches, resembling strings of shiny rubies. With a breeze, the fat jujubes swayed happily on the branches, a delightful sight.

Last year, when they first took over the manor, these jujube trees bore only a few sparse fruits, explaining Cui Liu's surprise.

The overseer smiled and said, "Princess Consort, jujube trees are considered auspicious in folk traditions, symbolizing prosperity, happiness, and early blessings. Congratulations to you and Beile; this is a great omen."

The steward's surname was Wu, and he was a minor overseer of this orchard, as well as an original resident of the Royal Manor.

An Qing smiled. Although she didn't believe in such things, it was still pleasant to hear good words.

"It's due to your diligence; there will be a reward."

Steward Wu hurriedly bowed to express his gratitude. The reward itself was secondary; what mattered most was leaving an impression on the Lady and Beile Yinqi.

"Lady, I see that these fruit trees will soon be ripe for picking. How should we handle these fruits? Should we process them like the peaches?"

During the summer, there were so many peaches that they followed An Qing's instructions and made a lot of peach preserves. Should they also make preserves with these fruits, and if so, how?

An Qing waved her hand. "No need. I have plans for these fruits; they will be given away."

Previously, the orchard had mostly been planted with peach trees, so when the peaches ripened, there were far too many. That's why she decided to make peach preserves. But now, these fruits weren't too numerous, and giving them away would likely leave few remaining.

However, since they were to be given away, they needed to be packaged nicely. She could worry about that later; right now, she had more important matters to attend to.

"Steward Wu, please have someone bring a pole over. We'll knock down some jujubes first."

Seeing those plump, red jujubes, An Qing couldn't help but drool, wishing she could taste them immediately.

Of course, Cui Liu was just as eager. "Yes, yes! Bring the pole over. These jujubes look so sweet; I'm almost drooling."

An Qing couldn't bear to watch. As a pregnant woman, she understood cravings, but why was this girl so eager too? She was truly the biggest glutton.

Cui Liu ignored her mistress's disapproving gaze. She was used to being scolded, and it wasn't a big deal.

Besides, she noticed that her mistress was just as eager.

Steward Wu, following the Lady's orders, quickly brought the pole and personally helped knock down the jujubes.

"Lady, please step aside. Don't get hit by the falling jujubes."

An Qing nodded slightly, and Perilla guided her to the side. Steward Wu then began swinging the pole.

With each strike, the red jujubes fell like hailstones, creating a delightful autumn scene.

Cui Liu, the biggest glutton, rushed forward first, picked up several jujubes, wiped them on her handkerchief, and ate one directly.

The crisp sound made An Qing swallow hard.

"Mistress, try one. They're incredibly sweet." Cui Liu wiped another one and eagerly handed it to An Qing.

Ma Dong stepped forward to stop her, looking sternly at her. "Cui Liu, these jujubes haven't been washed. How can you give them to the mistress without washing them? What if she gets sick?"

An Qing silently withdrew her hand, adding, "Exactly. How careless of you, Cui Liu."

Cui Liu stared at her mistress, recalling the time in Horqin when she was told that eating unwashed wild fruits wouldn't harm her.

An Qing coughed lightly and looked away guiltily.

So what if she said it? Times had changed, and she couldn't say such things anymore.

As for why she was so unhelpful, well, she was jealous. She hadn't even tasted the jujubes yet.

Steward Wu knocked down a few more jujubes before having people collect them from the ground. Finally, An Qing contentedly carried a small basket of jujubes back to the courtyard.

When An Qing finally got to eat the coveted jujubes, Yinqi happened to return.

"Try these jujubes; they're incredibly sweet." An Qing held up a half-eaten jujube, enthusiastically recommending it. "Don't miss out; if they're not sweet, they're free!"

Her enthusiasm might have made one think she was selling jujubes.

A hint of amusement flashed in Yinqi's eyes. Ever since she became pregnant, her personality had become increasingly childlike, often making him laugh unexpectedly.

He looked at the half-eaten jujube in her hand, paused briefly, and then leaned down to bite into it.

An Qing, who was acting animatedly, suddenly felt a warm sensation on her fingertips and then realized her jujube was gone.

She stared at Yinqi in shock, accusingly saying, "You stole my jujube?!"

Yinqi shrugged, matter-of-factly replying, "Didn't you tell me to eat it?"

An Qing huffed. "I meant for you to take one from the fruit plate, not eat mine."

Yinqi responded with an "Oh," adding, "Then you should be clearer next time."

An Qing was momentarily speechless. So, it was her fault now?

But she couldn't think of a comeback and angrily grabbed another plumper, redder jujube from the fruit plate, biting into it fiercely.

This was the first time she lost an argument to Yinqi, and it was frustrating.

Ugh, she must be affected by pregnancy hormones, slowing her reactions. Indeed, pregnancy makes one forgetful.

"I'll complain to Mother and Grandmother when we return to the palace. You actually stole food from a pregnant woman," An Qing grumbled.

Yinqi found her reaction amusing and, after washing his hands, walked over, took a jujube from the fruit plate, and offered it to her. "Here, take this one. Will you stop complaining?"

An Qing turned her head away. "No, this one is different from the one I had."

Each jujube was unique, so there was no identical one in the world.

Yinqi raised an eyebrow. "Alright, then I'll give you the same one."

Before An Qing could protest, she saw him bite half of the jujube and then offer the remaining half to her.

"Now they're the same, both halves," Yinqi said with a smile. "But you're right; your half was sweeter."

An Qing looked at him speechlessly. "How childish can you be?"

Yinqi responded with an "Oh," wearing an expression that clearly said, "Didn't you start it first?"

An Qing: "…"

Losing another round, she became even more frustrated.

An Qing silently pulled the fruit platter in front of her and then seriously changed the subject. "Why did you come back now? Have they finished picking all the corn?"

Yinqi rarely saw An Qing at a loss, but he knew when to stop. He didn't want to push her too far and end up regretting it.

"They've finished picking all the corn. It's all laid out in the sun as you instructed."

An Qing nodded lightly.

Pulling the corn from the field was just the first step. Next came drying, threshing, and clearing the stalks. The stalks couldn't be discarded; they needed to be used for compost. The land was used for winter wheat in the summer and corn in the winter, so the soil fertility was low. They needed to apply plenty of fertilizer and do it correctly. They also had to prepare the land before planting winter wheat, which required deep plowing in the fall.

According to An Qing's requirements, all these tasks were to be done by them personally, with her providing guidance and instruction.

This was their second intensive training session at the agricultural school. Kangxi had granted them leave, but this time was different from the last. This time, everyone, including the princes, stayed at An Qing's estate.

Fortunately, the estate was large enough.

It wasn't that An Qing felt sorry for their travel; the workload was heavy and the timing urgent. Harvesting and planting overlapped, and farming didn't wait. Special circumstances called for special measures.

Thus, they worked for over twenty days straight until the winter wheat was planted. Only then did they finally catch their breath, feeling like they had shed a layer of skin.

During those days, besides the harvest and planting, An Qing also taught them various agricultural techniques, such as the proper depth for plowing different crops. She not only demonstrated these skills but also explained the reasoning behind them.

In short, these twenty days left them mentally and physically exhausted.

But after finishing, everyone felt a sense of relief. To help everyone relax, An Qing organized a barbecue before they left.

Although their agricultural school was different from others, they still considered themselves classmates. Especially during these recent days, they lived and ate together, strengthening their bonds.

However, some would be leaving the agricultural school after this, though not because they were graduating. An Qing jokingly called it an agricultural training program, but the first batch would need at least a year to graduate.

After all, every step of planting and harvesting had to be witnessed through the seasons. It couldn't be explained simply on paper. Knowing and doing were worlds apart.

Some were leaving because of the imperial examinations next spring.

The imperial examinations were held every three years, and next year, the 39th year of Kangxi's reign, was one of those times. Many of the sons of officials planned to take the exams, having joined An Qing's agricultural class to gain experience for their future careers.

As they ate and chatted, Yinqi and Zhang Tingyu sat side by side.

"Hengchen, how is your preparation for the spring examination going?" Yinqi asked casually.

Zhang Tingyu replied, "It's going well. With my father watching over me, I haven't dared to slack off these past few years."

Thinking of Zhang Ying, Yinqi nodded with a smile. Zhang Ying was known for being strict. When he served in the Southern Study, he also acted as a tutor in the Imperial Academy, famous for his strictness.

If he was that strict with them, he must be even stricter with his own son.

An Qing glanced at the two, wondering why she always felt they had a deep friendship despite knowing they rarely interacted privately.

It was strange, and she couldn't pinpoint where this feeling came from.

Just as An Qing was pondering, Zhang Tingyu suddenly bowed and requested, "I hope Lady Wujin can reserve a test plot for me."

An Qing was taken aback. Wasn't he busy with the spring examination? Why did he need a test plot?

"Do you want to come back?"

Zhang Tingyu nodded. "Yes."

An Qing frowned. "Can you manage both?"

If he lost the imperial examination due to farming, wouldn't Great Qing lose a capable official? She couldn't bear that responsibility.

Zhang Tingyu smiled. "My father always taught us that being too busy is just an excuse. If you want to do something, you can always find the time."

An Qing: "!"

Wow, she didn't expect Zhang Ying to be such a motivational parent. His words sounded like a textbook inspirational quote.

Of course, he could say that to someone like Zhang Tingyu, who was a top student. But for someone lazy like her, it probably wouldn't work.

Still, since Zhang Tingyu addressed her as a teacher, An Qing felt she should offer some advice.

"Reserving a test plot is fine, but I still want to remind you that the spring examination is imminent. You need to prioritize and make choices if necessary."

After spending these days together, An Qing could see that Zhang Tingyu joined the agricultural school not to become an agricultural official but to supplement his career. There was nothing wrong with that, as long as he used what he learned to help the people.

Hearing this, Zhang Tingyu paused, then quickly understood An Qing's concern. "Thank you, Lady Wujin, for your advice. I will keep it in mind."

An Qing waved her hand. It wasn't really advice; it was likely unnecessary. Given Zhang Tingyu's intelligence, he surely understood this already.

But even if it was unnecessary, she had said what needed to be said. After all, they had known each other, and he called himself her student. They had a quasi-teacher-student relationship.

After everyone had eaten their fill, An Qing cleared her throat and announced a major piece of news.

In three days, they would have a midterm assessment.

It would serve as a test of their learning over this period.

Chapter 93: The Fifth Princess Consort

What does a phase evaluation mean?

Everyone looked at An Qing in confusion. How were they supposed to be evaluated? Their corn had already been harvested and dried; all that was left was to weigh the kernels. What else could there be to evaluate?

Moreover, just two days ago, they had submitted an article summarizing their experience with corn cultivation. Wasn't that enough?

An Qing glanced calmly at everyone. Of course it wasn't enough. Over the past few months, she hadn't only taught them how to plant corn; she also covered various stages of rice field management, seed breeding, soil and fertilizer management, pest control, and more, all integrated into daily lessons.

Although she had only conducted two intensive training sessions so far, she hadn't been idle on other days. Every now and then, she would distribute agricultural materials she had summarized for everyone to study.

Not to mention during the summer when she stayed at Changchun Garden. Whenever there was a pest or disease outbreak in the experimental fields around the capital outskirts or her own estate, she would immediately take everyone there and teach them how to identify pests and diseases and make different types of natural pesticides.

She wasn't just taking them out to play; these were practical skills. Naturally, she needed to assess their progress.

An Qing explained, "This phase evaluation is like a midterm exam. As for what will be tested, it could be anything I've taught you."

Giving them three days to prepare meant they should go back and review. At least this wasn't a surprise test; she was being quite considerate.

Although everyone was still confused, they understood the word "exam" very well.

"Ah, why do we need to take exams for farming?"

A voice of complaint echoed through the crowd, resonating with everyone, who started murmuring in agreement.

Indeed, what was the point of exams for farming? They had never heard of such a thing before.

An Qing snorted. Why couldn't farming be examined? Who did they think they were looking down on!

Before, no one had systematically taught them how to farm, but now they did. Besides, her agricultural class was under the banner of scientific farming, which naturally differed from ordinary farming. They had witnessed the knowledge firsthand.

"I'll prepare the exam papers. In three days, come here to take the exam. And let me be clear: after grading, you'll need to take the papers home for your parents to sign," An Qing declared firmly.

So, everyone should put their best effort into this exam. After all, if they didn't do well, they'd have to face the embarrassment of bringing the papers home.

Signatures from parents?!

The children of officials and princes instantly wailed throughout the courtyard. If they didn't do well, it would be a disaster.

Zhang Tingyu sighed quietly. Well, they better study hard this time, or they'd face ridicule from their fathers.

"Fifth Princess Consort, my mother is over seventy and can't read. What should I do?" an official from the Agricultural Administration Department asked.

This official appeared to be around fifty, and several others of similar age looked at him expectantly. Some of them had lost their parents long ago.

An Qing thought for a moment and replied, "Then have your child sign it."

The officials exchanged glances. Having their children sign it would undermine their authority at home if they didn't do well. No, this wouldn't do. They had to study hard these next few days.

Seeing their pained expressions, An Qing suddenly felt mischievous. It would be fun to have their parents attend a parent-teacher meeting.

But then she reconsidered. That would likely end up exhausting her, so she decided against it. She didn't want to make things difficult for herself.

However, she couldn't resist scaring them a bit, "If you perform terribly, I might call your parents."

Everyone: "..."

For this phase evaluation, everyone except Little Shiwu, who had limited literacy, participated. An Qing personally prepared the exam papers, which followed a modern format with four types of questions: multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, true/false, and problem-solving. It was a 100-point exam.

The difficulty level was relatively high.

In the exam hall, upon receiving the papers, everyone looked puzzled. Although they had taken many exams before, they had never seen this format. Fortunately, it wasn't too difficult to understand, and they soon got started.

The exam duration was one and a half hours. After everyone submitted their papers, An Qing graded them immediately. She finished grading the same day and returned the papers to everyone to get signatures before collecting them again.

With this, the agricultural class's intensive training officially concluded. For the upcoming spring wheat planting, they had her previous cultivation manual and last year's designated experimental zones, providing some experience. Even without An Qing's direct involvement, the officials from the Agricultural Administration Department could manage it.

However, due to the special circumstances of their experimental fields, which were planted directly after summer corn, some unique issues might arise. They would address those as they came.

An Qing's agricultural school always emphasized students' autonomy. She gave them an experimental field to work on freely and didn't watch over them daily. Communication was usually done when necessary, and it was normal not to see each other for weeks.

This model was somewhat akin to a modern graduate advisor supervising students.

Since the intensive training was over, An Qing and Yinqi should leave Royal Manor and return to the palace.

Actually, she enjoyed staying at the manor, where she could roam freely and visit the experimental fields every day. But mainly, it was too inconvenient for Yinqi to commute to court every day. He even had to wake up earlier than ministers living outside the city walls.

On the night before leaving the manor, An Qing was busy organizing materials for the agricultural school. She first looked at the exam papers, but not at the grades. She knew everyone's scores since she graded them herself.

Instead, she focused on the parent signatures and comments.

The parent comments were a last-minute addition. When preparing the exam papers, she noticed a blank space on the back and added a section for comments.

But upon reviewing them, she was surprised. These ancient people could write so much! Some even filled more than half a page and attached additional sheets.

Their strong desire to express themselves was evident even through the paper. Out of respect and responsibility as a teacher, she read every single comment.

After reading them all, she felt that ancient people were truly verbose. Most comments centered on three points: gratitude towards her as a teacher, evaluations of their children's performance, and expectations for the future.

But she had to admit, their writing skills were impressive, with careful attention to language and style.

After finishing the papers from the officials and their children, she opened the ones from the princes and laughed.

Xiao Jiu and the others, I don't know who came up with the idea, but they didn't go to Kangxi or their respective mothers. Instead, they went to Elder Brother Prince and the other elder brothers.

Elder Brother Prince signed for Xiao Jiu, the Crown Prince signed for Xiao Shi, Third Prince signed for the Twelfth Prince, Fourth Prince signed for the Thirteenth Prince, Eighth Prince signed for the Fourteenth Prince. An Qing looked at the names in the parent signature section on the test papers and couldn't help but laugh.

She turned her head to look at Yinqi, "Did you know about this?"

Yinqi shook his head; he had just found out as well, "None of them came to me."

An Qing raised an eyebrow, immediately understanding their little scheme.

These little rascals must have been afraid that Yinqi would inform her, and she would reject it, so they skipped him entirely and went ahead without permission.

However, An Qing could roughly guess their thoughts—they were probably afraid Kangxi would see their scores.

The results of this exam were mostly as An Qing had expected. Apart from the officials from the Agricultural Administration Department and the Ministry of Finance, Zhang Tingyu and Princess Da's younger brother Zhuo Tai performed the best.

As for the remaining children of officials and the princes, although they showed enthusiasm in the experimental fields, most of them only had some curiosity and not much genuine interest in farming.

Even though she had anticipated this outcome, An Qing was still surprised that Xiao Jiu, Xiao Shi, and Xiao Shisi did not pass. When the scores came out, both she and Yinqi were amused by their failure.

No wonder they didn't dare take the papers to Lao Kang for his signature; they would surely get scolded.

But their plan was clearly flawed. After all, her boss is Lao Kang, and these test papers would eventually reach him. So, they couldn't escape forever.

Looking at the test papers in her hand, An Qing wondered if Kangxi would find the parents' comments too wordy.

Yinqi gave her an answer directly: "No, the memorials those ministers write to His Majesty are far more lengthy and complex."

An Qing raised an eyebrow, thinking that was good. After all, many of these people were current ministers. If they left a bad impression on Kangxi because of this, it would be her fault.

But then again, she thought they were wordy because she had a scientific mindset. From a literary perspective, their comments were actually quite sophisticated.

After reading the parents' comments, An Qing got busy. As a teacher, she needed to evaluate her students.

She evaluated each student based on several aspects: their usual performance, which showed their interest and attitude towards farming; the yield from the experimental fields; and the final exam scores. The latter two were concrete data that spoke for themselves.

This evaluation was meant to provide Kangxi with a reference for how to use these individuals in the future. She refrained from giving any subjective opinions to avoid any bias.

The next day, after returning to the palace, Yinqi, as An Qing's teaching assistant, promptly delivered the materials she had compiled last night to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Unfortunately, when Yinqi arrived at the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Kangxi was in a meeting with ministers.

"Prince Beile, His Majesty is currently in a meeting with Zhang Ying, Ming Zhu, and Suoetu. Shall I announce your arrival?" Liang Jiugong asked.

Ming Zhu and Suoetu were both inside?

Yinqi subconsciously frowned. One was aligned with Elder Brother Prince, and the other with the Crown Prince. Due to the intense factional disputes in recent years, both had lost favor with his father. It was rare for them to be summoned together.

But regardless of the reason, it must involve Elder Brother Prince and the Crown Prince, given their close associations.

So, he decided not to get involved.

"No need, it's not urgent," Yinqi said, handing over the documents to Liang Jiugong. "These are the test papers from the recent exam at the agricultural school. Please deliver them to His Majesty when you can."

After handing over the documents, he left.

He still needed to visit the office. Although his position in the Ministry of Works was a nominal one, he should check in since he had been away for a while.

An Qing also didn't idle upon returning to the prince's residence. She first had the fruits brought from the estate unloaded. The orchard's seasonal fruits were ripe, and she had specially arranged elegant fruit baskets, each containing a variety of fruits, making them perfect gifts.

She sent the fruit baskets to the other princess consorts residing in the prince's residence. Regardless of their relationships, it was important to maintain appearances.

The fruits were nothing special, just a gesture of goodwill.

An Qing personally took the fruit baskets to Ningshou Palace and Yikun Palace. Having been away from the palace for over half a month, she needed to pay her respects upon her return.

She first visited Ningshou Palace and chatted with the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager admired the fruit basket, praising, "You always have such clever ideas and creative ways."

An Qing replied cheerfully, "I'm glad you like it, Grandmother."

After leaving Ningshou Palace, she headed straight to Concubine Yi. As soon as she entered Yikun Palace, she saw Xizhu bustling around in the courtyard.

"Fifth Princess Consort, you're back. Her Highness mentioned you this morning," Xizhu said, about to report her arrival.

An Qing stopped her, "No need, I'll go in myself and surprise her."

Being a frequent visitor to Yikun Palace and having a good relationship with Concubine Yi, her words were respected. Xizhu smiled and agreed.

An Qing tiptoed into the room, seeing Concubine Yi sitting on a couch in the side chamber, flipping through something.

"Mother, look who's back."

Concubine Yi looked up, surprised to see An Qing, "You're back already?"

Yesterday, Xiao Jiu and the others had returned to the palace. Given her knowledge of An Qing, she thought she would stay at the estate longer. But here she was, back today.

An Qing walked in, smiling, and sat down beside the couch, "Yes, I missed you so much that I couldn't eat or sleep. I had no choice but to come back quickly."

Concubine Yi rolled her eyes, knowing An Qing's character well. Her sweet talk was always effective.

But being charmed by her was delightful.

An Qing curiously leaned over to see what Concubine Yi was looking at, "Mother, what are you reading?"

Earlier, she had seen Concubine Yi flipping through a book, not noticing her entrance.

Concubine Yi waved her hand, casually replying, "It's time for the annual selection. This is the album of candidates sent by the Imperial Household Department. His Majesty asked me to review it and choose a few suitable ones."

An Qing raised an eyebrow. Kangxi had asked Concubine Yi to choose two girls that she liked, which definitely wasn't for selecting a concubine for himself. The only possibility was that he wanted to choose someone for Yinqi.

However, thinking about it, it made sense. She was now pregnant, and there was no one in the courtyard who could capture Yinqi's heart. It was understandable that Kangxi would want to pick two more people for his son.

"Mother, have you chosen anyone yet? Is there anyone you like?" An Qing asked.

If selections were made, she could get to know them first. After all, they would be entering their courtyard, and as the direct head, she should conduct a background check.

Concubine Yi had a "don't mention it" look on her face. She had been looking through the albums all morning and was already getting a headache. Hearing An Qing's words, she immediately handed the albums to her, "Why don't you help me choose?"

Saying this, she passed the albums to An Qing.

An Qing was taken aback. She was supposed to choose?

Well, it made sense. As Yinqi's wife, choosing two concubines for him was reasonable.

Without much thought, An Qing eagerly flipped through the albums. After a while, she pointed to two girls she found most pleasing: "I like this one and this one."

Concubine Yi was drinking tea when she heard this and quickly leaned over to take a look. However, upon seeing the women in the album, she waved her hand, "Xiao Jiu said he doesn't like this type."

An Qing's first reaction was that Xiao Jiu had poor taste. These women were so beautiful; why wouldn't he like them?

But then she realized something and looked at Concubine Yi, "Isn't this selection for our master?"

What does Xiao Jiu's preference have to do with anything?

Concubine Yi exclaimed, "Ah," and now it was her turn to be confused. What did she mean by choosing for the fifth master? This was clearly for Xiao Jiu to choose his Princesses.

According to Great Qing tradition, before a prince's marriage, two attendants are selected for him. Xiao Jiu was already sixteen years old, and Kangxi had already chosen his wife. After this year's selection, the marriage would be granted.

So, she, as his mother, was supposed to help him choose two people to place in the courtyard.

The mother and daughter looked at each other, and Concubine Yi couldn't help but feel a bit helpless.

Moreover, if it were really for the fifth master, she wouldn't be discussing this openly with An Qing.

An Qing was also confused. In her mind, she always saw Xiao Jiu as a little kid. She didn't realize he was getting married.

"He's not that young anymore. He just turned sixteen in August, and it's time for him to get married," Concubine Yi said.

An Qing thought about it and agreed. In ancient times, sixteen-year-olds were considered adults and got married early. "Has anyone been chosen for Xiao Jiu's wife?"

She didn't care much about his concubines, but his wife would interact with her frequently, so she was more concerned about that.

Concubine Yi nodded slightly, "The Emperor has already chosen someone. A few days ago, he hinted that it would be the daughter of the Qi family, Dong Eshi, from the Manchu Bannermen."

An Qing responded with a blank expression, "Oh."

To be honest, although she had been in the Forbidden City for over two years, she didn't know much about the noble families in the Imperial City.

Seeing her like this, Concubine Yi knew she didn't have any impression and explained further.

Dong Eshi came from the Manchu Bannermen, and her father was a high-ranking military official in the capital. She was a cousin to the third master's wife, Dong Eshi.

An Qing blinked, a cousin to the third master's wife?

That's not good. She and the third master's wife didn't get along well, and she had often gossiped about her behind her back. Their relationship as sisters-in-law was precarious.

Concubine Yi noticed her concern and comforted her, "Don't worry. I had someone investigate, and although they are cousins, they aren't very close. They don't seem to have a particularly warm relationship."

An Qing thought that was good.

Seeing her relieved, Concubine Yi chuckled, "Look at you, being so ungraceful."

An Qing shrugged, "I'm just worried about not getting along with my future sister-in-law. You'll be caught in the middle, and after all, both sides are important."

Concubine Yi understood this too. Otherwise, with An Qing's usual indifferent nature, she wouldn't be concerned about these things.

"Mother, have you met my future sister-in-law?" An Qing asked curiously.

Concubine Yi nodded slightly, "I saw her once from afar during a palace banquet."

An Qing responded, "Oh," and then asked, "What is she like?"

Concubine Yi thought for a moment and replied, "Graceful and composed."

An Qing blinked. Graceful and composed. That's good, similar to the fourth master's wife.

She teased Concubine Yi, "Mother, you've always liked this type of daughter-in-law, haven't you? Now your wish has come true."

Concubine Yi glanced at her and immediately saw what she was up to.

Sure enough, An Qing started acting, "Wah, from now on, I won't be your only precious daughter-in-law. Even though you prefer someone like my sister-in-law, you can't be biased. You mustn't forget me, the old one, because of the new one."

After saying this, she pretended to wipe her eyes with a handkerchief.

Concubine Yi rolled her eyes, "You're going to be a mother soon, and you're not afraid your child will laugh at you."

After a bit of fun, they returned to the topic at hand.

However, since it was for Xiao Jiu, An Qing decided not to get involved. If it were for Yinqi, she could offer some opinions, but for Xiao Jiu, it was better not to interfere. She couldn't get past that mental barrier.

Concubine Yi also regained her composure and remembered that An Qing had misunderstood her intention to fill Yinqi's courtyard with women.

"Hmph~ I am not that kind of mother who constantly thinks about filling her son's courtyard with women."

An Qing silently glanced at the albums on the table. So, what was she doing then?

Concubine Yi: "..."

Is this what she wanted? It was the Emperor who made her choose!

Moreover, these are the rules. Does she have any other choice?!

An Qing had intended to tease the beautiful mother-in-law on purpose. Seeing that she was about to anger her, she quickly tried to smooth things over. But it was clearly too late. Despite saying all sorts of nice things, she was eventually "driven" out of Yikun Palace.

Wah~ So wronged.

Cui Liu looked at her mistress with a speechless expression. "Stop feeling wronged and think about how to make amends instead."

An Qing silently sighed. Fine, she wouldn't do it again in the future.

As for how to placate the beautiful mother-in-law, she really needed to think about it carefully when she got back.

After leaving Yikun Palace, the group headed back to the Prince's Residence. However, as the sedan chair passed by a small garden, An Qing suddenly heard some commotion.

She looked in the direction of the noise and saw two people grappling fiercely near a rock formation not far away.

When she finally recognized their faces, An Qing couldn't help but be shocked—it was Third Prince and Thirteenth Prince!

Chapter 94: The Fifth Princess Consort

In the Palace of Heavenly Purity, while Kangxi was taking a break from his discussions, Liang Jiugong entered with something Yinqi had given him.

"Your Majesty, just now the Fifth Beile came and handed me some examination papers from the agricultural school, asking me to pass them on to you," he reported truthfully.

Kangxi's interest was immediately piqued. He put down his teacup and took the papers.

The agricultural school is holding exams now?

He hadn't heard An Qing or Yinqi mention this before. But he was curious about how such an exam would be conducted. Could they possibly write essays on debates?

Ming Zhu and Suoetu, standing below, exchanged a glance, both clearly puzzled. They were clearly unaware of this matter.

Good, they thought simultaneously.

Both belonged to different factions—Ming Zhu to the Elder Brother Prince and Suoetu to the Crown Prince. Though they had been rivals for years, they sometimes showed remarkable coordination, especially in their attempts to win over the Fifth Beile and the Fifth Princess Consort.

As An Qing gained more prominence in agricultural matters over the past two years, both the Crown Prince and the Elder Brother Prince had tried hard to bring Yinqi and An Qing into their respective camps. However, the couple had shown no interest and consistently avoided any involvement.

It didn't matter if they couldn't win them over; what mattered was that the other side didn't succeed either. Ming Zhu and Suoetu's exchange confirmed this point.

Zhang Ying stood silently to the side, observing their actions. He couldn't help but marvel at the wisdom of the Fifth Beile's neutral stance in court politics.

Since he had no intention of competing for the throne, staying out of factional disputes and focusing on his duties was the best choice.

So far, neither the Elder Brother Prince's faction nor the Crown Prince's faction harbored any resentment towards him. No matter who ascended to the throne, it wouldn't pose a significant threat to him, allowing him to remain a carefree prince.

Zhang Ying himself shared a similar perspective. As a Han minister serving in the Great Qing, he had to be cautious. His only option was to remain loyal to the Emperor and avoid factional disputes, not seeking any special favors. This was the only way to survive the treacherous court.

The Fifth Beile, who did not seek the throne, also followed this path.

Regarding the agricultural school exams, Zhang Ying was well aware, as he had signed the parent's signature section on Zhang Tingyu's exam paper and written the parent's comments.

Zhang Ying glanced up at Kangxi, noticing the subtle surprise on his face. He understood why Kangxi was surprised; when he first saw the exam paper, he had reacted similarly. The Fifth Princess Consort's exam questions were indeed ingenious.

The questions seemed odd at first, but upon closer inspection, they revealed deeper meanings. For example, the multiple-choice questions included one correct answer among three incorrect ones, each representing common mistakes. This method could accurately assess simple learning outcomes and also evaluate more complex aspects like understanding, application, and analysis.

After reviewing the exam paper, Zhang Ying truly appreciated the depth of knowledge involved in farming.

Initially, many in the court doubted the Fifth Princess Consort's ability to teach agriculture, thinking she was merely good at farming. When she started having people work in the fields, many scoffed, believing she wouldn't achieve much.

But this single exam paper proved them wrong. The corn yield from the students' experimental plots was impressive, even the lowest yields surpassing national averages. Some officials from the Agricultural Administration Department achieved yields 30% higher than average using her methods.

Most notably, the corn was planted directly after winter wheat, yet the yield increased rather than decreased. If the next season's winter wheat wasn't affected, the Emperor might adopt the double-cropping method, which would significantly boost national grain production and strengthen the country.

Zhang Ying could foresee these benefits, and so could Kangxi, who saw even more potential. Among the materials Yinqi provided were detailed data on the experimental plots and a comprehensive guide to corn cultivation, similar to the previous wheat planting manual.

Kangxi grew increasingly impressed with An Qing's systematic approach. If she were a man, she would undoubtedly excel in government service.

However, his satisfaction turned to frustration when he reached the princes' exam papers. Several of his sons performed poorly, especially Xiao Jiu, Xiao Shi, and Xiao Shisi, who failed outright, bringing shame upon him.

Just as Kangxi grew increasingly annoyed, he found solace in An Qing's concluding remarks: "Everyone has their strengths; there's no need to force anyone. Tailoring teaching to individual talents is the right approach."

Fair enough, he thought.

If they weren't good at farming, they should focus on honing their skills in governance. Particularly Xiao Jiu and Xiao Shi, who were now adults, needed simpler tasks to gain experience.

Moreover, the parent's signature section revealed that the younger princes had sought their older brothers' help. Seeing the comments written by the Elder Brother Prince and the Crown Prince, Kangxi smiled, pleased by their apparent brotherly affection.

Surprisingly, Zhang Tingyu and Zhuo Tai, the son of Changning, performed well, especially Zhang Tingyu. Kangxi made a mental note to keep an eye on him, especially since he planned to take the imperial examinations next year.

After reviewing the papers, Kangxi considered sharing them with the ministers present, but decided against it. Farming and the imperial examinations were different, and he didn't want to lose face. He would find another opportunity to discipline those mischievous princes.

After finishing his tea, the discussion resumed.

Kangxi had summoned Ming Zhu and Suoetu not just to discuss the upcoming autumn examinations but also to remind them of their place.

Due to their factional activities, both had lost favor in recent years, yet they still wielded considerable influence, particularly Suoetu in the Crown Prince's faction.

Ming Zhu was equally influential, though more discreet. According to reports from the secret police, he maintained close ties with the Elder Brother Prince, often influencing important decisions.

The rivalry between the Elder Brother Prince and the Crown Prince had intensified recently, undoubtedly fueled by Ming Zhu and Suoetu. Without their meddling, the brothers wouldn't have reached this point.

As a distinguished emperor, Kangxi was proud and refused to admit his own mistakes. Instead, he blamed others, particularly Suoetu for corrupting the Crown Prince and Ming Zhu for leading the Elder Brother Prince astray. After all, his sons had been good children until others influenced them.

Kangxi's gaze towards the two men below him grew increasingly hostile, even flashing a hint of murderous intent.

But then, for some reason, the murderous intent in his eyes faded. He decided to give them another chance, considering their early contributions to his reign. If they did not mend their ways, however, he would not hesitate to act without regard for past favors.

Ming Zhu was known for his wisdom and had served the emperor for many years, constantly trying to discern the emperor's thoughts. Kangxi's glare had already sent chills down his spine and made him feel a cold dread.

Suoetu, on the other side, seemed oblivious, though it was unclear whether he truly did not notice or was merely pretending.

Zhang Ying, the only spectator present, observed the silent power struggle among the three and felt a chill himself, further solidifying his resolve to stay out of the succession conflict.

After sending the three away, Kangxi was left alone in the spacious East Warm Pavilion of the Palace of Heavenly Purity. He closed his eyes to rest briefly before tackling the pile of documents awaiting his attention.

About fifteen minutes later, Kangxi opened his eyes, but just as he was about to start working, a small eunuch rushed in.

"Your Majesty, Cheng Junwang and Thirteenth Prince have gotten into a fight."

Kangxi's brows furrowed deeply. Third and Thirteenth were fighting!

Why?

"Where are they now?" he asked sternly.

The eunuch replied, "Your Majesty, the two princes are outside the hall."

Kangxi raised his hand. "Bring them in immediately!"

Seeing the emperor's anger, the eunuch hurried out to relay the message. Soon, Thirteenth Prince and Third Prince entered the hall together.

Both had bruises on their faces and looked disheveled. Third Prince seemed somewhat guilty, while Thirteenth Prince appeared furious.

"Who started the fight?" Kangxi asked coldly.

He glared at Third Prince, thinking, how dare he fight with his younger brother who is ten years his junior! What a disgrace!

Third Prince, sensing his father's disapproving gaze, lowered his head in frustration.

Thirteenth Prince stepped forward and said, "Father, it was me."

Kangxi's frown deepened. Since the passing of Consort Min, he had paid more attention to this son, knowing him to be usually well-behaved and mild-tempered. There must be a reason behind this.

Regardless of the reason, as a younger brother, attacking an elder brother was unacceptable.

"What was the reason?" he asked, restraining his temper.

Thirteenth Prince's eyes welled up with tears, but he stubbornly held his head high and said, "Father, my mother's funeral rites have not yet been completed, but Third Brother shaved his head. Such disrespect to my mother is unbearable."

Hearing about the shaving, Kangxi turned sharply to Third Prince, noticing his clean-shaven head.

He grabbed a nearby inkstone and threw it at Third Prince. "You ungrateful wretch, how dare you shave your head during mourning! You..."

The Palace of Heavenly Purity echoed with Kangxi's angry shouts. Third Prince cowered, not daring to lift his head.

He knew he had caused a major problem and regretted not waiting a few more days. But he never expected that right after shaving his head, he would run into Thirteenth Prince, who immediately attacked him without warning.

At the same time, Third Prince harbored resentment towards Thirteenth Prince, feeling that he was being too relentless. Why bring this matter to Father?

Once Thirteenth Prince explained the reason, the fight became secondary.

Kangxi was clearly enraged by Third Prince's actions and immediately issued an edict to the Imperial Clan Court, condemning Third Prince for shaving his head before the hundred-day mourning period for Consort Min was over. The court was ordered to detain Third Prince and discuss severe punishment.

Soon, the decree stripping Third Prince of his title as Junwang and demoting him to Beile spread throughout the imperial court and harem.

Everyone was shocked.

At the Nalan residence, Ming Zhu had locked himself in his study since returning from the palace, forbidding anyone from disturbing him.

As evening approached, the study door finally opened. His attendant, who had been waiting outside, quickly approached him.

"Sir, a message has come from Zhi Junwang."

Ming Zhu's face remained calm, and after a brief hesitation, he asked, "What is it?"

The attendant replied, "Sir, good news. Zhi Junwang says that Cheng Junwang was stripped of his title and demoted to Beile for shaving his head during Consort Min's mourning period."

Ming Zhu's face lit up momentarily, but then darkened again.

After a moment of contemplation, he whispered, "Tomorrow, I will submit a resignation due to illness. Inform Zhi Junwang that I have suddenly fallen ill and am bedridden."

The attendant was taken aback, seemingly remembering something, and exclaimed incredulously, "Sir, are you...?"

Ming Zhu did not deny it, nodding slightly. "Yes, exactly as you think."

The attendant was clearly puzzled. "Sir, Zhi Junwang's position is looking very favorable now. Why are you doing this?"

Ming Zhu sighed. He knew that Third Prince's demotion made First Prince the only prince with a title, giving him a unique status. Additionally, as the eldest son, he had achieved significant military victories in Dzungaria, making him a formidable contender against the Crown Prince.

Indeed, the situation seemed favorable.

But he had to step back. Today, in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Ming Zhu felt Kangxi's murderous intent more clearly than ever. It was evident that he and Suoetu were now thorns in Kangxi's side. The emperor's almost overt warning could not be ignored.

If they did not rein in their actions, Kangxi would undoubtedly take harsh measures.

Ming Zhu had accompanied this young emperor through his rise, witnessing his decisiveness and ruthlessness. From capturing Ao Bai to suppressing the Three Feudatories and the three expeditions to Dzungaria, Kangxi's resolute nature was clear.

Over the years, whatever he decided, no one could stop him.

So, no matter how favorable the situation may be, he still needs to have the chance to fight for it.

Emperor Kangxi is now in his prime. Since he has already warned him, if he doesn't recognize the severity, he might not be as lucky next time.

Since she decided to feign illness, the act had to be thorough. That night, the Nalan family summoned a doctor to their residence.

After Yinqi returned from the government office, he heard about the incident involving Third Prince and Thirteenth Prince. But when he heard Ma Xiang's next words, he was stunned.

"What! You said Lady An Qing saw Third Brother and Thirteenth Brother fighting?"

Ma Xiang nodded. "Lady An Qing was returning from Concubine Yi's palace and happened to pass by."

Yinqi visibly tensed up. "Is Lady An Qing alright? Was she hurt? Has the imperial physician come? What did he say?"

Ma Xiang was momentarily stunned by this barrage of questions but quickly regained his composure. Seeing his master's worried face, he hurriedly replied, "Master, don't worry. Lady An Qing is fine; she wasn't hurt."

Upon hearing that An Qing was unharmed, Yinqi finally breathed a sigh of relief and then turned to walk towards the main courtyard.

When he arrived, An Qing was being supported by Perilla while taking a stroll in the courtyard. She was now six months pregnant, and her belly had grown larger. Perilla, concerned, always insisted on supporting her.

Although An Qing felt it was unnecessary, she couldn't argue with Perilla and let her do so.

"You're back. How about we have mutton hotpot for dinner?" An Qing asked with a smile.

Yinqi quickly approached her, scrutinizing her from head to toe. Only after confirming she was unharmed did he finally relax.

An Qing wasn't foolish. Seeing his reaction, she knew he had learned about her encounter with Third Prince and Thirteenth Prince fighting.

"Don't worry. I'm not stupid. Given my current condition, why would I go anywhere near a fight? I would definitely stay far away."

Moreover, Thirteenth Prince is a sensible child. When he saw her, he immediately stopped fighting, seemingly afraid of accidentally hurting her, even though she was quite far away at the time.

Of course, he might also have been worried about scaring her, as pregnant women can't handle sudden shocks.

An Qing hadn't had hotpot in a long time, so she ended up eating more than usual during dinner. It was dark outside, and even with lanterns, Yinqi didn't want her to go out. So they stayed inside, sitting around the table to digest their meal.

"Did you know about Third Brother losing his title and being demoted to Beile?" Yinqi asked.

An Qing nodded. After the two stopped fighting, Thirteenth Prince dragged Third Prince to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Despite being shorter than Third Prince, he managed to pull him away. That was when she learned why they were fighting.

An Qing was stunned. She never expected to witness such an event, especially since in history, Third Prince's shaving of his head during Consort Min's mourning period led to his demotion, which was not a minor incident.

Many historians analyzed that this was a turning point in Elder Brother Prince's bid for the throne and a pivotal moment for Thirteenth Prince gaining Emperor Kangxi's favor.

In short, it was a significant event in the struggle for succession among the nine princes.

"Third Brother was too unreasonable. He dared to shave his head before the mourning period was over. This is a grave disrespect, and it's no wonder Thirteenth Brother was so angry," Yinqi said.

Respect for the deceased is paramount. Anyone would find it unbearable. His Third Brother's fate was indeed justified.

"The mourning period for Consort Min is almost over. Why couldn't he just wait a few more days? Even if he forgot, what were the servants doing? Why didn't anyone remind him?"

Yinqi understood that not shaving for a hundred days could be uncomfortable, but he endured it himself. According to the rules, royal family members must wait until after the hundred-day mourning period to shave their heads, showing respect to Consort Min.

An Qing sneered slightly. Forgetting was merely Third Prince's excuse under Emperor Kangxi's fury. After all, shaving one's head in the palace isn't easy, and someone should have reminded him.

He simply underestimated the situation, thinking it wouldn't be a big deal if discovered, as long as it didn't reach Emperor Kangxi's ears.

But unfortunately, Thirteenth Prince caught him, and despite usually being mild-tempered, he refused to back down and brought the matter to the emperor.

An Qing thought that Third Prince might still be blaming Thirteenth Prince, along with Third Prince's wife and Imperial Concubine Rong. They might also hold grudges.

Thirteenth Prince would be fine; he is a prince and close to Fourth Prince, who can protect him.

No, she needed to ensure more attention was given to Princess Eight and Princess Ten tomorrow. Better safe than sorry.

Seeing Yinqi's slightly furrowed brow, An Qing knew he wasn't worried about Third Prince but rather about the future political landscape.

With Third Prince now demoted to Beile, Elder Brother Prince stands alone as the only prince with a princely title, making him a stronger contender against the Crown Prince.

An Qing, knowing the historical trajectory, anticipated this and remained relatively calm.

Today, she learned from Concubine Yi that not only was Xiao Jiu's marriage arranged, but Tenth Prince's marriage was also settled.

Ancient customs dictate getting married before establishing a career. As they get married one after another, Emperor Kangxi will gradually involve them in court affairs. With more princes growing up and gaining power, factions will form, making the political situation increasingly tense.

Fortunately, she and Yinqi seemed to be staying out of it, but they couldn't be complacent. Being part of the game means situations can change at any moment, and they must remain vigilant.

As for Xiao Jiu, his character seems to have improved for now. Whether he stays on the right path remains to be seen, step by step.

Chapter 95: The Fifth Princess Consort

The news of Ming Zhu's severe illness quickly spread throughout the imperial court and the harem. Empress Hui and Elder Brother Prince sent people to visit the Nalan residence for several consecutive days, but instead of improving, Ming Zhu's condition worsened.

It was said that Elder Brother Prince was so anxious that he even got a fever in the mansion, showing how truly worried he was.

However, it is understandable. Ming Zhu has always been a core figure and strategist for Elder Brother Prince. Over the years, Elder Brother Prince has relied on him for many matters. Now that he suddenly fell ill, if something were to happen to him, Elder Brother Prince would lose a powerful right-hand man.

An Qing did not have much of an impression of Ming Zhu. Although both Ming Zhu and Suoetu were famous ministers during Emperor Kangxi's reign, by the time she married into the family, they had already lost their prominence due to previous factional conflicts and were no longer favored by Emperor Kangxi. Their presence in the court had diminished, so there wasn't much news about them.

However, An Qing knew a bit about these two figures from history. After all, they played significant roles in the struggle for succession among the nine princes.

Historically, as a member of Elder Brother Prince's faction, Ming Zhu gradually disappeared from the political scene during the later stages of the succession struggle. It seems now that he was seriously ill.

An Qing didn't think much about it at first, assuming Ming Zhu was genuinely sick. But then she learned from Yinqi that Ming Zhu might be feigning illness.

"Feigning illness?" she asked in surprise. "Why?"

At this point, Elder Brother Prince's faction was flourishing. It made no sense for him to step back suddenly. Did he have some kind of foresight or knowledge of historical events?

Regardless of which, it seemed impossible. So why was he doing this? An Qing couldn't figure it out.

Yinqi didn't hide anything from her. "On the day we returned to the palace, Father Emperor summoned him and Suoetu to the Palace of Heavenly Purity and gave them a stern warning."

An Qing thought to herself that it made sense. Both of them were no longer in high positions in the court, so Emperor Kangxi's warning was clear.

"Did Suoetu claim to be sick too?" she asked.

Yinqi understood what she meant and shook his head. "No, Suoetu still maintains mysterious interactions with the Second Prince."

An Qing nodded thoughtfully, feeling a bit impressed. Ming Zhu was indeed smart. He knew this was Emperor Kangxi's last chance for them. If they seized it, they might still have a chance at survival.

From historical records, Suoetu failed to seize this opportunity and remained stubborn, leading to a tragic end for himself and his descendants.

But Ming Zhu clearly seized it, ensuring his own survival and the continued prosperity of his sons' careers. This was already a good outcome.

Suddenly, An Qing wondered how Yinqi knew about Emperor Kangxi's warning to the two men. After all, Emperor Kangxi wouldn't make such a meeting public.

"Did you plant spies around Father Emperor?!" she asked, thinking it was the only possibility.

But that would be disastrous. If discovered, it would ruin everything, regardless of their intentions.

Yinqi looked at An Qing helplessly. What was she thinking? He wouldn't be foolish enough to plant spies around his father.

Besides, Father Emperor's surroundings were like a fortress; it was impossible to infiltrate easily.

"Minister Zhang Ying was also present that day," he explained.

An Qing blinked, still confused. "So what?"

It couldn't be that Minister Zhang Ying told him directly; they didn't have any close ties.

Yinqi rarely saw her react so slowly. While he wasn't close to Zhang Ying, he was familiar with his son, Zhang Tingyu.

"I met Hengchen today, and he hinted at it."

Zhang Tingyu couldn't openly say it, but he mentioned that "Ming Zhu is indeed wise, always clever." The rest was Yinqi's own deduction.

"Just that?" An Qing asked in surprise.

How could he deduce that Emperor Kangxi warned Ming Zhu and Suoetu, and that Ming Zhu was feigning illness, from such a casual remark?

Yinqi smiled and nodded. That was enough.

He happened to be at the Palace of Heavenly Purity when Father Emperor summoned the three for a meeting. The next day, news of Ming Zhu's illness spread. He found it too coincidental. Today, hearing Zhang Tingyu's hint, everything became clear.

Moreover, Zhang Tingyu never spoke lightly or casually. Combining the two pieces of information, it wasn't hard to deduce.

Seeing Yinqi explain his deductions so calmly, An Qing couldn't help but marvel. These politicians were indeed sharp-minded, able to infer much from little. She, a science student with a straightforward mind, knew she could never learn to do that.

However, having Yinqi, who was so perceptive about court affairs, as a teammate gave her peace of mind.

Though they didn't plan to get involved, being aware of the situation was crucial for their own safety.

After returning to the palace from the estate, An Qing finally had time to relax and focus on her pregnancy.

But she couldn't stay idle for long. One day, while sorting through her seeds, she came across the strawberry seeds given to her by officials from the Agricultural Administration Department. They said a missionary had brought them over, and Emperor Kangxi, upon hearing they were fruits, dismissed them as useless and left them with the department.

An Qing had casually asked if they had any special seeds, and the next day, she received the strawberry seeds. She was delighted; strawberries were delicious. How could they be useless?

But then she remembered Emperor Kangxi's opinion and felt it made sense. Yinqi had told her that every year, the governor-general and governor of Fujian submitted requests to offer local fruits to Emperor Kangxi, such as mangoes from Taiwan, but most were rejected.

Initially, An Qing planned to plant the strawberry seeds in her estate next spring, but seeing them now, her craving for strawberries peaked uncontrollably.

With a decisive gesture, she decided to plant them immediately. Though she lacked the modern greenhouse conditions, the current warm room technology was advanced enough. There were empty rooms in the western warm pavilion that could be used.

So, An Qing immediately instructed Little Xizi to take some silver and find someone from the Imperial Household Department to build a few warm rooms. Thinking about eating fresh, sweet strawberries during the snowy winter, she couldn't help but salivate.

"Milady, Liu Jiashi and the others have come to pay their respects," Perilla reported from outside.

An Qing was taken aback. Why were they here?

Perilla realized her mistress had forgotten the date. "Milady, today is the fifteenth. According to your rules, they must pay their respects to you."

An Qing then remembered. It was the fifteenth, no wonder. According to her established rules, they should pay their respects on the first and fifteenth of each month.

Only, ever since taking over the Royal Manor last year, An Qing has had to leave the palace frequently. This year, she's been even busier—first with the southern tour, then moving to Changchun Garden, and soon after setting up the agricultural school. She returned to the palace due to Consort Min's passing. As a result, she often missed the first and fifteenth of each month.

She was away in the frontier for over two months, and upon returning, she went straight to the manor. Indeed, she hasn't seen many people this past year.

Tsk~ Look at how she handles her role as Fu Jin; it's certainly not very competent.

Well, the formalities must be observed, so let's go see them.

When An Qing arrived at the main hall, Liu Jiashi and the others were having tea. Upon seeing her enter, they hurriedly stood up to pay their respects.

"Please, sit down. It's been quite some time since we've met. There's no need to be so formal."

The others quickly responded affirmatively, thanked her, and sat down.

Sitting at the head of the table, An Qing silently observed the others, feeling a bit estranged.

To be honest, although she's been married for over two years, she rarely interacts with Yinqi's concubines. Liu Jiashi was confined to her quarters for a year, and later, An Qing was busy with the manor. Gatherings like this could be counted on one hand.

Even when they did meet, it was usually just exchanging pleasantries, which explains why she feels distant.

But An Qing believes she is a decent leader. At least in terms of food, clothing, and monthly allowances, she has never treated them poorly. In fact, she treats them better than most other princes' households. If this were in modern times, finding such a generous and hands-off leader would be a blessing.

Of course, An Qing understands that everyone has different aspirations.

Her gaze swept over the ladies, finally landing on Hongsheng beside Liu Jiashi, and she frowned instinctively.

Why is this child so thin? Although he was born weak, he seemed fine when he was under Yinqi's care last year. He was much healthier then.

Also, when did Hongsheng become so timid? Though he's shy, he used to be outgoing. Last year at Changchun Garden, he often visited her courtyard to play with Snowball.

Now, seeing her, he hides behind Liu Jiashi, too scared to speak or even make eye contact. His behavior is so timid. Is Liu Jiashi even capable of raising children?

No wonder Yinqi suddenly suggested bringing Hongsheng to the front yard to study a few days ago. At the time, An Qing didn't think much of it, assuming it was because he was old enough and needed a tutor.

Now, it seems Yinqi is also dissatisfied with Liu Jiashi.

It's frustrating to see a good child raised this way. An Qing doesn't have strong feelings towards Liu Jiashi but likes Hongsheng. Seeing him so timid breaks her heart.

Noticing An Qing's gaze, Liu Jiashi instinctively shielded Hongsheng behind her. "Fu Jin, please forgive him; he's still young and shy."

Hearing this, An Qing felt even angrier. She wanted to scold Liu Jiashi, but remembering the child was present, she held back.

No, she needs to talk to Yinqi about this later.

Though she usually avoids meddling, she can't ignore the fact that Hongsheng calls her his birth mother. She can't stand by and do nothing.

Having made up her mind, An Qing withdrew her gaze, picked up the nearby tea, and sipped it calmly.

While she observed the others, they were also observing her.

Seeing An Qing's rosy complexion, Liu Jiashi guessed the pregnancy was stable. Staring at her slightly swollen belly, she felt resentment.

Despite all the activities—setting up the agricultural school and traveling to the frontier—how could there be no mishap? It's unfair. When she was pregnant with Hongsheng, she couldn't do anything. Now, looking at An Qing, she felt increasingly resentful.

She had hoped all the commotion would cause a miscarriage, but now, her handkerchief in her sleeve was nearly torn to shreds.

Baijia Shi, watching An Qing's belly, felt a surge of jealousy, which turned into frustration as she looked at her own flat abdomen.

She wanted her own child, but with Fu Jin controlling everything, even speaking to Yinqi was difficult, let alone having a child.

Recalling Fu Jin's wedding, she had thought someone could balance Liu Jiashi. Now, she realized how foolish that was. At least Liu Jiashi occasionally visited her chambers.

Now, Baijia Shi clenched her teeth in frustration.

Guoerjiashi remained silent, occasionally joining the conversation when prompted by An Qing.

After chatting aimlessly for a while, An Qing feigned fatigue and dismissed them.

"Madam, why was Liu Jiashi staring at your belly? I hope she doesn't have ill intentions," Cui Liu muttered as soon as they left.

An Qing noticed too. She wasn't naive; though she couldn't guess Liu Jiashi's thoughts, she knew they weren't positive towards her pregnancy.

Perilla asked worriedly, "Madam, should we keep an eye on Liu Jiashi?"

An Qing pondered for a moment. While she didn't want to assume the worst, it was wise to be cautious.

Instinctively touching her belly, she recalled that initially, she hadn't felt much attachment to the child. But as it grew and started moving, she began to understand the phrase "a child is a mother's bond."

She vowed to protect her child.

"Keep an eye on her," An Qing said softly, "but focus more on our own courtyard."

Though her servants had been loyal, it's best to be vigilant. After all, wealth tempts the heart, and human nature is unpredictable.

Perilla understood and agreed.

After leaving the main hall, Liu Jiashi and the others returned to their respective quarters. The layout of the rear courtyard remained unchanged: Liu Jiashi and Hongsheng lived in the eastern wing, while Baijia Shi and Guoerjiashi resided in the western wing.

In the western wing.

Upon entering the courtyard, Baijia Shi couldn't help but say sarcastically, "They say the Eighth Fu Jin is jealous, but compared to ours, she's nothing. Our Fu Jin is far worse."

Guoerjiashi glanced at her but said nothing.

After venting, Baijia Shi continued, "Who else in the Imperial City keeps their husband to themselves while pregnant? Only here."

Guoerjiashi lowered her eyes, seemingly indifferent, "Fu Jin didn't forbid Beile from coming to the rear courtyard."

He simply chose not to come.

This point was not obvious to others, but as the princesses in the master's courtyard, they naturally saw it more clearly than outsiders. In fact, this had nothing to do with their Fulinjin.

Baijia Shi choked and her gaze towards Guanjia Shi turned hostile instantly. "Which side are you on? If Master doesn't come to the courtyard, you won't get anything either!"

"Moreover, it's not that Fulinjin didn't forbid Master from coming to the courtyard; she just pretends well. I only realized this recently. Don't be fooled by her indifferent demeanor. If she truly didn't care, why would she always drag Master around? Look at this past year—how many days has Master spent in the palace? Even if he wanted to come to the courtyard, when would he have the chance?"

From the southern tour at the beginning of the year, they were left behind in the palace. That was fine, but later, when Fulinjin was diagnosed as pregnant, she pretended to be magnanimous and took them all to Changchun Garden. However, she then turned around and dragged Master to the country estate. And don't even mention the trip to the frontier.

Who would let a pregnant woman run around like that? She is different from everyone else!

"Fulinjin would rather risk the child in her belly than let Master go. Her intentions are quite deep. I've noticed that she is the one with the most cunning." Baijia Shi said angrily.

When she scolded and ridiculed me before, she spoke nicely, even mocking me for not being favored by Master. If she really thought we were useless and not favored by Master, why would she resort to such underhanded tactics? Clearly, she fears that we might gain Master's favor.

The more Baijia Shi thought about it, the angrier she became. Without giving Guanjia Shi a chance to respond, she turned and went back to her room. Before leaving, she glared fiercely at Guanjia Shi, clearly resenting her for what she had said.

Guanjia Shi stood silently in the courtyard for a moment before turning and returning to her own room.

Once back in her room, her attendant Qing'er couldn't help but say, "My lady, why did you do that? You and Princess Baijia had just started to mend your relationship. Why ruin it by speaking up for Fulinjin?"

After all, they lived in the same courtyard, and Baijia Shi was known for causing trouble. After today, she would likely give her a hard time again.

Guanjia Shi smiled and replied, "I wasn't speaking up for Fulinjin; I was just telling the truth."

Qing'er found it increasingly difficult to understand her mistress. If she was close to Fulinjin, she didn't seem to be actively seeking favor. She wondered what her mistress was after.

"What's there to misunderstand? I just want to live a peaceful life," Guanjia Shi said with a smile.

Ever since the incident at Changchun Garden two years ago, when she needed money for her family, Fulinjin seemed to know about her sending money home. Since then, the gifts and holiday presents sent to her were no longer ornamental items that couldn't be sold but practical things that could be exchanged for money.

Though Fulinjin never said anything, Guanjia Shi felt grateful for this kindness. She had few opportunities to repay her, so defending her when misunderstood or slandered was the least she could do.

Qing'er nodded, understanding somewhat. She knew her mistress' difficulties and that she preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble. But...

"Princess, don't you think what Princess Baijia said made sense? Maybe Fulinjin isn't as favored as we think. If she truly didn't stop Master from coming to the courtyard, why would she make such a fuss?"

Guanjia Shi shook her head. "Qing'er, Fulinjin is not confined to the inner quarters. She has a broader vision and exceptional abilities. How could such a woman not attract attention?"

Therefore, it's perfectly normal for Master to like her.

As for what Baijia Shi said, it's just talk. She has known since childhood that if the men in the family want to go somewhere, no woman can stop them.

Over the past two years, Guanjia Shi observed that Fulinjin was not ordinary. From her words and actions, she could tell that Fulinjin was not an ordinary woman. This extraordinary quality extended beyond the inner quarters and into the imperial harem.

But gradually, she realized that Fulinjin was not just extraordinary; she was truly capable. With her farming skills, she caught the Emperor's attention, benefited countless people, and helped elevate her family's status.

Guanjia Shi genuinely admired her brother's letters describing Fulinjin's achievements and the gratitude of the common people.

How many women in the world could match her?

Only then did Guanjia Shi realize that Fulinjin was not an ordinary woman confined to the inner quarters. Such a woman would have her own pride and wouldn't resort to such tactics as Baijia Shi suggested.

Finally, the western wing quieted down, but the eastern wing remained unsettled.

Liu Jiashi returned from the main courtyard and immediately threw a tantrum, smashing all the tea sets on the table.

Her attendant Ruijuan, seeing this, quickly signaled someone to take Hongsheng away, fearing that Liu Jiashi might scare him.

However, before the person holding Hongsheng could move far, Liu Jiashi shouted directly.

"Bring Hongsheng to me!"

As servants, they dared not disobey their mistress and brought him over.

Liu Jiashi held Hongsheng in her arms. Clearly frightened by her actions, Hongsheng's eyes welled up with tears.

"Why are you crying? You're your father's eldest son. How can you be so weak? No wonder your father doesn't like you!" Liu Jiashi said harshly.

Hongsheng, now four years old, understood these words. But being a child, already scared, he burst into tears upon hearing that his father didn't like him.

Liu Jiashi, already annoyed, was further infuriated by his crying. "Crying, crying, all you know how to do is cry! Wait until Fulinjin's child is born; then you'll have plenty to cry about!"

Chapter 96: The Fifth Lady

Liu Jiashi's expression grew increasingly impatient. Seeing this, Ruijuan hurriedly stepped forward and carried Hongsheng over.

"Madam, our little A'ge is still very young. It's normal for children to cry. Please don't be angry."

As she tried to console Liu Jiashi, she gently patted the little A'ge in her arms, attempting to soothe him. Fortunately, she spent a lot of time with him, and he trusted her deeply. Soon, his crying subsided significantly.

Liu Jiashi, hearing Ruijuan's words, felt even more agitated. She waved her hand, signaling Ruijuan to take Hongsheng away. Her mind was in chaos, and she desperately needed some peace.

Of course, she also needed to think about what to do next.

Ruijuan was more than happy to comply. After bowing to Liu Jiashi, she carried the little A'ge out.

Hongsheng continued crying as he was carried back to his room. His sobs were intermittent, and it took Ruijuan a long time to finally calm him down.

With his dark eyes wide open, tears still clinging to his lashes, he looked at Ruijuan timidly and asked, "Mother, does she not like me anymore?"

Seeing Hongsheng's cautious demeanor, Ruijuan's heart ached. "Little A'ge, no, your Father and Mother both love you very much. Everyone loves you."

Hongsheng blinked, hiccupping from his crying, and said, "But Mother said Father doesn't like me, and the... Eldest Mother..."

When he mentioned 'Eldest Mother,' he suddenly closed his mouth, a hint of fear flashing across his face. He knew his mother didn't like him mentioning the Eldest Mother, and she would always get angry, so he couldn't say it.

Ruijuan noticed his reaction and felt a pang of sadness.

The little A'ge had grown up under her watchful eye since infancy. When Concubine Yi gave birth, her wet nurse, Nurse Zhao, was brought into the palace. Nurse Zhao primarily cared for Concubine Yi, while Ruijuan was assigned to look after the little A'ge.

Later, when Concubine Yi was confined due to a mistake, Nurse Zhao was sent out of the palace, and the little A'ge was taken to the front courtyard by Beile.

When he returned, it was clear that he had been well cared for. He was healthier and more lively.

At that time, Ruijuan realized that the Lady had no ill intentions towards the little A'ge, her eldest son. If she did, she would have had ample opportunities during the year to harm him, especially with Beile's trust and the support of the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Concubine Yi.

When the little A'ge first came back, his eyes sparkled whenever he talked about the Lady, his Eldest Mother. He shared many stories about the kittens, pastries, and servants in the Lady's courtyard, particularly mentioning Aunt Perilla.

But Ruijuan could sense that the little A'ge loved the Lady, his Eldest Mother, the most. Children can't hide their feelings; they know who genuinely cares for them.

However, Concubine Liu never understood this. Since the little A'ge returned to the eastern wing, she clung to him as if he were her only hope, projecting all her fears onto him.

She forbade him from mentioning the Lady and constantly told him that the Lady was not good and meant to harm him. At first, the little A'ge would weakly protest, but he was always scolded, and eventually, he stopped mentioning her altogether.

Moreover, due to Concubine Liu's unpredictable moods, the little A'ge often had nightmares and fell ill frequently, weakening his health.

Ruijuan once thought that without Nurse Zhao's influence, Concubine Liu might have changed her ways, especially for the sake of the little A'ge. But now, despite her repeated advice, Concubine Liu remained obstinate, viewing the Lady as an enemy.

Helpless, Ruijuan tried to stabilize the situation, but since the Lady became pregnant, Concubine Liu's behavior became even more erratic. Lashing out at the little A'ge, as seen today, had become a common occurrence.

Sometimes, Ruijuan truly believed that Beile should take the little A'ge to live in the front courtyard, where he would be safer than with Concubine Liu.

But now, Ruijuan was even more worried about what her mistress might do now that the Lady had returned.

Meanwhile, Liu Jiashi, after sending Hongsheng away, locked herself in her room, refusing any disturbance.

She paced anxiously, thinking about An Qing's slightly protruding belly. Her heart felt as if it were being burned. Since Nurse Zhao was expelled, she had no one to discuss her worries with.

Ruijuan, that girl, only knew how to advise her to endure, offering no real solutions. Thinking about enduring a lifetime in the inner quarters, only to gain nothing, made her resentful.

She did not enter the palace to submit to others forever.

After Nurse Zhao was beaten and expelled, she died soon after, which frightened Liu Jiashi for a while. However, the Lady's inability to conceive for so long fueled rumors that she could not bear children.

Liu Jiashi believed these rumors, feeling relieved that the Lady likely had fertility issues. She patiently acted repentant, and eventually, Beile returned Hongsheng to her care.

During that time, she genuinely wanted to raise Hongsheng, knowing that if the Lady could not bear children, Hongsheng would be Beile's only heir. Even if other concubines bore children later, Hongsheng would still be the eldest son, securing everything for her and her son.

But her joy was short-lived when news of the Lady's pregnancy spread. She felt as if the sky were falling. If the Lady bore a son, he would be the legitimate heir, leaving no place for Hongsheng.

So, she was now completely panicked, but with no one to consult, she could only fret alone.

In the evening, Yinqi returned from the government office and went to An Qing's main courtyard. After dinner and washing up, they retired to bed.

An Qing wore a simple silk robe, her pregnant belly clearly visible through the thin fabric.

"Has the child been bothering you today?" Yinqi helped her to the bed, lifting the canopy curtain and letting her sit down first.

An Qing shook her head. "No, he's been very well-behaved. I think this child will be calm and worry-free."

The physician had said that at this stage, the baby should be moving frequently, but hers moved only occasionally, remaining still most of the time.

It was so peaceful that she often forgot she was carrying a child.

Yinqi smiled and replied, "He knows how to take care of his mother."

He then gently stroked An Qing's belly. "Good boy, when you're born, Father will reward you."

As if in response, the child inside her belly suddenly moved, kicking Yinqi's hand through the skin.

An Qing widened her eyes, looking at Yinqi in surprise. "He couldn't have really understood, could he?"

Yinqi smiled. "It's possible. Looks like I'll have to keep my promise."

An Qing also smiled. "Indeed. If you trick him, he'll surely say his father is a liar one day."

Though it wasn't the first time they had interacted with their unborn child through fetal movements, they still found it incredible, especially An Qing.

Ugh, now she understood why everyone thinks their own child is the smartest. This parental bias isn't just for show.

With a smile on her face, An Qing gently touched her belly. Then, as if remembering something, she suddenly looked up at Yinqi. "Today, I saw Hongsheng."

She seemed to gather her thoughts before saying, "He seems to have changed a lot."

Yinqi was taken aback but immediately understood what she meant by "changed a lot" when he met her gaze.

Thinking of Hongsheng, his brows furrowed slightly. Due to various matters, he hadn't seen Hongsheng for months, and when he did see him this time, he was momentarily stunned. At that moment, he deeply regretted sending Hongsheng back to Liu Jiashi's care.

Driven by his childhood belief that children should grow up with their birth mothers, he had overlooked the fact that not all mothers were suitable, especially Liu Jiashi.

However, as a father, Yinqi felt guilty. He admitted that after An Qing confirmed her pregnancy, his entire focus had been on her and their unborn child, neglecting Hongsheng.

An Qing silently sighed. It wasn't her own child, so sometimes it was hard to speak up, fearing that others might misunderstand her intentions.

Of course, she knew Yinqi wasn't that kind of person, but she still needed to be cautious.

"You mentioned wanting to bring him to the front yard and find a tutor for him. How is that arranged?" An Qing asked.

Although she thought four was too young for schooling, it was common practice in those times, so she didn't comment further.

Moreover, given the current situation, moving Hongsheng to the front yard might be a good idea, as he had been well cared for there before.

Yinqi softly replied, "It's already arranged. Someone will come over in the next couple of days."

An Qing nodded. "Good, but don't tire the child too much. Hongsheng is still young; his health is most important."

Yinqi understood her concern. Hongsheng had always been frail, so extra attention was necessary.

Seeing An Qing's slightly worried expression, he reached out to smooth her frown. He knew she liked Hongsheng and must have been genuinely concerned today.

But Yinqi didn't want her to worry, which was why he hadn't shared much about the situation earlier.

"Don't worry. Focus on your pregnancy. I'll handle this. Trust me."

An Qing trusted him and nodded with a smile.

True to his word, the next day, after leaving the main courtyard, Yinqi instructed Ma Xiang to take care of the matter.

When Liu Jiashi saw Ma Xiang coming, she was initially delighted, thinking Beile had finally remembered her.

But when she heard Ma Xiang's purpose, she was struck dumb. Beile wanted to take Hongsheng away from her!

Why? She was Hongsheng's mother and hadn't done anything wrong. Why take the child away from her? Why?!

Ma Xiang watched Liu Jiashi's reaction, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. Why? Because she constantly spoke nonsense to the little prince, sowing discord between him and Beile and the Lady.

If Beile hadn't noticed before, he certainly would have after seeing Hongsheng this time. Someone must have been monitoring the eastern wing, given how Liu Jiashi had raised the child.

And the investigation revealed even more shocking behavior. Liu Jiashi was emotionally unstable around the little prince, far from a mother's proper conduct.

But Ma Xiang had received instructions from his master not to reveal everything, to avoid Liu Jiashi blaming the Lady and causing trouble.

"Lady, don't misunderstand. No one is taking Little Prince Hongsheng away from you. This shows Beile's care for our little prince. He has found a good tutor for him. Lady Liu, this shows Beile's high hopes for the little prince."

Without waiting for Liu Jiashi's objections, he ordered someone to hold her back and took the little prince away from the eastern wing.

Watching Hongsheng being carried away while crying, Liu Jiashi knew it was futile to resist. She collapsed to the ground, sobbing.

Ruijuan, watching the little prince being taken away, felt sad but knew it was the best choice for him. At least in the front yard, under Beile's watchful eye, he would be well cared for.

Seeing Liu Jiashi on the ground, Ruijuan hurried to help her up, consoling her. "My lady, Beile said he would find a tutor for our little prince. Think positively. This shows Beile values the little prince. You should be happy."

Liu Jiashi pushed her away angrily, glaring at her. "Do you think I'm stupid? If it were just for tutoring, why move him to the front yard? Living here wouldn't hinder anything."

The distance from her eastern wing to the front yard wasn't far. If it were only for tutoring, why go through such trouble?

Ruijuan, scolded, knelt down and apologized, "Forgive me, my lady. I dare not speak."

She couldn't refute Liu Jiashi's words. Clearly, Beile was displeased with her. The reason wasn't hard to guess, given the state of the little prince.

"It must be the Lady! She must have done something!" Liu Jiashi glared towards the main courtyard, clenching her teeth. "How could it be a coincidence? Yesterday, I brought Hongsheng to the main courtyard, and today Beile takes him away. She must have said something!"

The commotion in the eastern wing was heard clearly in the western wing.

Baijia Shi and Guoerjiashi stood in the courtyard, stunned by the sounds of Hongsheng's cries and Liu Jiashi's words.

They never expected Beile to take the little prince away from his birth mother again. They understood what this meant: Beile was dissatisfied with Liu Jiashi's care for Hongsheng.

Neither Baijia Shi nor Guoerjiashi could understand Liu Jiashi. Over the past year, living next door, they had witnessed how Liu Jiashi treated the child.

Liu Jiashi often said nonsensical things to the little prince and reprimanded him without restraint. Holding Beile's eldest son, she didn't focus on proper upbringing but engaged in useless activities. Now, she had lost everything.

Guoerjiashi, who had bonded with Hongsheng during their time at Changchun Garden, truly liked the child. She had tried to advise Liu Jiashi before, but Liu Jiashi dismissed her, even suspecting her motives and preventing her from seeing the little prince.

Over the past year, she had watched Hongsheng transform into his current state, and although it pained her to see this, she truly felt helpless.

At present, this outcome genuinely made Guerjia Shi happy for Hongsheng. He was still a child; growing up away from his mother might be regrettable, but if he were to continue being raised under Liu Jiashi's harsh treatment, the harm would be even greater.

Liu Jiashi was still cursing over there, and it was clear who her target was without even thinking about it.

Guerjia Shi frowned slightly.

She could also guess that this was most likely due to the Consort Fu's disapproval. However, Consort Fu had the responsibility of overseeing the children on behalf of the master, so her actions were justified. It was outrageous that Liu Jiashi dared to act so recklessly.

Baijia Shi's face flashed with a hint of schadenfreude upon hearing Liu Jiashi's commotion.

This situation was bound to bring some drama. Liu Jiashi, having lost her son, would certainly not let it go easily. The peaceful back courtyard of the Fifth Beile's residence was finally going to stir up trouble.

But then, as if remembering something, she glanced at Liu Jiashi's eastern wing and turned to look towards the main courtyard. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend," she thought. If possible, she wouldn't mind helping Liu Jiashi.

Standing beside Baijia Shi, Guerjia Shi turned around and caught a glimpse of her meaningful gaze, causing her heart to sink.

Back in her room, the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. Others might not understand, but she spent every day with Baijia Shi and knew her nature well.

Baijia Shi appeared lively and straightforward, but this was just a facade. She had a fatal flaw—she tended to get stuck in a rut.

Ever since she was punished by Consort Fu, Guerjia Shi noticed that she harbored resentment towards her. Seeing her demeanor just now, she couldn't shake off a bad feeling.

After much deliberation, Guerjia Shi called Qing'er over and asked, "You know the girl named Qianxing from the embroidery room, don't you?"

Qing'er nodded, "Yes, mistress. We served together for a while before I was assigned to serve you."

Guerjia Shi softly acknowledged with a "Mm" and whispered something in her ear.

Qing'er looked surprised, "Mistress, why are you doing this?"

"Just do as I say, don't worry about anything else," Guerjia Shi replied.

Qing'er hurriedly agreed and left to carry out the task.

In the main courtyard, An Qing took a walk around the greenhouse where the Imperial Household Department staff were busy working. She didn't stay long, merely checking the progress before leaving.

Once the greenhouse was built, she could plant her strawberries, which filled her with anticipation.

As soon as An Qing entered the house, she saw Cui Liu rushing in anxiously.

"Mistress, I just heard some news, but I'm not sure how accurate it is."

Thinking it was another piece of gossip, An Qing didn't pay much attention and casually asked, "What kind of gossip? Tell me about it."

Cui Liu shook her head, "Mistress, this isn't gossip. I just came from Qianxing, who said she chatted with one of the palace maids serving Guerjia Shi. That maid mentioned something strange."

An Qing responded with an "Oh," "What did she say?"

Cui Liu replied, "She said that Baijia Shi doesn't seem to like Consort Fu."

An Qing raised an eyebrow. A palace maid serving Guerjia Shi saying Baijia Shi disliked her?

"Cui Liu, Qianxing said she occasionally chats with Qing'er, but Qing'er isn't one to gossip behind her mistress's back, which is why she found it odd," Cui Liu explained.

According to Qianxing, she felt that Qing'er was deliberately mentioning it.

An Qing furrowed her brows, seemingly recalling something, her eyes flickering with surprise.

It was clear that Guerjia Shi intentionally had her palace maid say this, or perhaps she wanted to convey something through this method. After all, Cui Liu and Qianxing's friendship wasn't a secret in their courtyard.

Guerjia Shi must have known this too.

As the saying goes, "A barking dog doesn't bite." Since Yinqi had taken Hongsheng to the front courtyard, An Qing had been wary of Liu Jiashi. But honestly, she hadn't paid much attention to Baijia Shi.

Firstly, it wasn't directly related to her, and secondly, after the warning she gave Baijia Shi, she had been quite subdued, making An Qing lower her guard.

But now, it seemed she wasn't as easygoing as she appeared.

"Mistress, I don't understand why Guerjia Shi didn't come to tell you herself," Cui Liu asked, puzzled.

An Qing pondered for a moment, "She probably only suspects something but has no evidence."

Or perhaps she noticed something but couldn't articulate it clearly, so she tried to alert her indirectly.

Or maybe she had other considerations.

After two years of interaction, An Qing had developed a favorable impression of Guerjia Shi. Regardless of her motives, the warning she gave was appreciated.

Chapter 97: The Fifth Lady

In the blink of an eye, it had been nearly a month since Hongsheng was taken to the front courtyard by Yinqi. A tutor had been hired for his early education, but considering his health, only two hours of lessons were scheduled each day, and the coursework was not overly demanding.

An Qing had reviewed the tutor's curriculum, which included classic primers such as *The Three-Character Classic, *The Book of Surnames, and *The Thousand Character Classic*. She had listened in on one of the classes from outside and found that the tutor Yinqi had hired was indeed excellent. His teaching style emphasized learning through enjoyment, making it engaging for children.

Moreover, Hongsheng's temperament was naturally gentle, and he was currently quite timid. If the tutor had been too strict, it would not have been beneficial for his development at this stage. The current arrangement was ideal, showing that Yinqi, as a father, had put considerable thought into it.

During this period, An Qing did not let her guard down either. She had people keeping an eye on the back courtyard, but there had been no unusual activities from Liu Jiashi or Baijia Shi. However, she never underestimated anyone in the palace and remained vigilant.

After all, some risks were simply not worth taking; a moment of carelessness could lead to lifelong regret.

Despite her caution, An Qing did not live in constant fear, as doing so would only play into their hands. Therefore, she continued with her daily life and did not neglect her duties.

She was now seven months pregnant, and preparations needed to be made. However, An Qing did not need to worry much about it. The midwives and wet nurses were being arranged by Concubine Yi and the Empress Dowager, who oversaw everything, giving her peace of mind.

As for the baby's clothes, they were taken care of by the Eighth Princess, who had personally made some and supervised the palace maids in making others. Several large chests were already filled with clothes, and if An Qing had not intervened, the Eighth Princess would have continued making more.

Of course, An Qing was not idle either. She drew some blueprints based on modern cribs and had the Imperial Household Affairs Office build a rotating cradle bed. Observing that the child in her womb seemed to prefer quietness, she planned to hang various stuffed animal toys above the cradle for the baby's entertainment.

Apart from preparing for the baby, she also kept busy with the agricultural school. Since the government had established a system for wheat cultivation, she did not need to personally guide the farmers at the estate. Yinqi occasionally visited during the day and helped deliver relevant learning materials.

"Madam, can the strawberry seedlings be transplanted now?" Cui Liu asked excitedly, squatting in front of the flower pots in the western warm pavilion.

An Qing couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiasm.

Ever since An Qing described how delicious strawberries were, Cui Liu had been eagerly anticipating them, constantly watching the seedlings, hoping they would bear fruit soon.

This girl was even more impatient than a pregnant woman. An Qing even suspected that once the strawberries were ready, Cui Liu would eat more than she would.

"Just wait two more days," An Qing said with a smile.

The greenhouse had already been built, and the workers from the Imperial Household Affairs Office were efficient. Moreover, many palaces had greenhouses, so the technology was well-established, making the construction faster.

However, the largest greenhouse An Qing had seen was in Ningshou Palace, where the Empress Dowager cultivated flowers. A large area was specially designated for the greenhouse.

An Qing's greenhouse, though smaller due to limited space in the residence, was sufficient for growing strawberries. Her belly was now quite large, making it difficult to squat down easily. So, she had the flower pots moved to a nearby table for closer inspection.

When the greenhouse was first constructed, she planted the strawberry seeds in these pots for germination. After four weeks, the seedlings had grown three to four true leaves, indicating it was time for transplantation.

"Madam, what will the strawberries look like when they bear fruit? Are they really as delicious as you say?" Cui Liu asked.

An Qing nodded with a smile. "Of course, strawberries are sweet and fragrant. In my opinion, they are just as delicious as watermelon."

For someone who loves watermelon, this was high praise.

As for their appearance, strawberries had not yet been introduced to China, likely arriving in the early 20th century. Initially, An Qing thought the seeds had not been brought over, but it turned out they had been overlooked.

Although strawberries were not yet available, wild strawberries had existed in China for a long time. They were similar in appearance but smaller.

"Do you know what snake berries are?" An Qing asked. "Some places call them ground berries. Strawberries are larger than snake berries but otherwise quite similar."

Cui Liu shook her head. "What are snake berries?"

An Qing struggled to explain, as Cui Liu was unfamiliar with wild strawberries. Just then, Maidenhair happened to pass by and offered an explanation.

"Snake berries are a type of medicinal herb. According to medical texts, they are slightly toxic but have cooling properties and can detoxify and reduce swelling."

An Qing was surprised by this explanation but realized it provided a clear answer, better than being repeatedly questioned by Cui Liu.

Unexpectedly, Maidenhair looked worried. "Madam, are you sure these fruits will be safe to eat?"

She seemed uneasy, given that snake berries were slightly toxic, although the toxicity was not significant according to medical texts.

An Qing quickly reassured her. "They are safe to eat. Strawberries are different from snake berries. Besides, the missionaries said that in their countries, strawberries are commonly eaten as a fruit!"

An Qing was genuinely concerned that Maidenhair might forbid her from eating the strawberries, which would be frustrating after all the effort.

Cui Liu, however, waved her off confidently. "Maidenhair, don't worry. When the fruits ripen, I'll be the first to try them and make sure they're safe before Madam eats them."

An Qing was touched by Cui Liu's gesture but quickly realized her true motivation—she was simply eager to taste them herself.

Cui Liu noticed her master's gaze and smiled apologetically.

Oops, she had forgotten to act and revealed her true intentions.

An Qing understood that Cui Liu trusted her judgment and believed the strawberries were safe.

Just then, Little Xizi rushed in with a hurried expression.

"Fifth Lady, there's news," he whispered.

An Qing immediately understood that something was happening in the back courtyard. She nodded, signaling him to continue, and Little Xizi explained succinctly.

It turned out that Baijia Shi had visited Liu Jiashi earlier that morning. Although the details of their conversation were unknown, Liu Jiashi later sent a young eunuch to the Imperial Medical Bureau.

"Madam, the eunuch went empty-handed and returned without any medicine, but it seems suspicious," Little Xizi reported.

Although there was no concrete evidence, An Qing had previously instructed that any abnormalities should be reported immediately, and he did not dare to neglect this.

An Qing lightly hummed in acknowledgment. She did not think Little Xizi was overreacting, but she couldn't quite understand what Liu Jiashi was up to.

"Milady, I've already sent someone to the main hall of the Imperial Medical Bureau. I'll report back once I have more information," Little Xizi said.

Just as An Qing was about to say something, a small eunuch at the gate led someone from the Imperial Medical Bureau into the courtyard.

"Lady Fu, someone from the Imperial Medical Bureau has come to deliver the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine."

The group exchanged glances, immediately realizing something was amiss.

An Qing didn't say much. According to the schedule, it was indeed the day for the delivery of the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine, and the person delivering it was the same one who usually came. Everything seemed normal.

However, given Little Xizi's earlier report, it was hard not to think more deeply about it.

She gestured for Maid Mai Dong to take the medicine, and after the delivery person left, they returned to the room with the medicine.

Maid Mai Dong placed the medicine on the table and began examining it piece by piece.

"Milady, surely Liu Jiashi isn't that stupid, right? Would she really be so brazen as to poison your pregnancy-stabilizing medicine?" Perilla asked.

If anything went wrong, it would be easy to trace back to the culprit, but it seemed too obvious.

Cui Liu snorted coldly, indignant. "Liu Jiashi isn't very smart to begin with. Besides, desperate people do desperate things."

Ever since Beile took Little Prince Hongsheng to the front courtyard, they had encountered Liu Jiashi several times. The way she looked at their mistress clearly showed her resentment. No one knew what she might do.

An Qing remained silent throughout, watching Maid Mai Dong work. The truth would be revealed once she finished her examination.

After a while, Maid Mai Dong finally finished checking everything. She looked up at everyone and said, "There is no poison in these pregnancy-stabilizing medicines."

Seeing Maid Mai Dong's strange expression, An Qing knew the matter wasn't that simple. She waited for her to continue.

Indeed, Maid Mai Dong added, "But Milady, there is an issue with the medicine. It contains two additional ingredients not listed in the original prescription."

Cui Liu's eyes widened, her voice rising. "Then why did you say there's no poison!"

Maid Mai Dong turned to Cui Liu. "Those two ingredients are indeed non-toxic and can help improve digestion and appetite."

Cui Liu was stunned. Improved digestion and appetite sounded like good things, but could Liu Jiashi be that kind-hearted?

She instinctively dismissed the idea. No one would be kind to their mistress, especially not Liu Jiashi.

"Could it be that the imperial physician changed the prescription?" Perilla asked.

Maid Mai Dong pursed her lips and replied, "It's unlikely. Yesterday, Physician Xiao Qi checked Milady's pulse and didn't mention changing the prescription. Moreover, Milady hasn't shown any signs of loss of appetite, so there's no need to add those ingredients."

Physician Xiao Qi was the apprentice and nephew of the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau. Though young, his medical skills were exceptional, and he was well-known within the bureau. He had been taking care of An Qing's pregnancy all along.

Cui Liu found herself confused. One moment Maid Mai Dong said the ingredients were harmless, and the next she said they weren't necessary. So, was this good or bad?

"It's definitely bad," Maid Mai Dong said, turning to An Qing. "Milady, Physician Xiao Qi lent me many books and case studies on childbirth. They mentioned a method used by some wealthy families where concubines compete for favor. They add digestive aids to the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine..."

The purpose is to make the pregnant woman eat more, causing the child to grow too large, making childbirth dangerous. Difficult labor is almost inevitable.

If An Qing hadn't discovered this today and continued taking the medicine, she would have eaten excessively, leading to potential complications during childbirth that would be difficult to trace.

"I told you so. Liu Jiashi is not that kind-hearted. I never expected her to be so venomous, targeting both Milady and the little master. She truly deserves punishment!" Cui Liu cursed angrily.

An Qing subconsciously touched her swollen belly, seemingly unfazed by the situation.

She always knew that life in the palace was unstable, but she had been fortunate. Since arriving at the Forbidden City, everything had gone smoothly, and she had not encountered such sinister plots.

But not encountering them didn't mean she would let down her guard. Her mother had advised her to bring Maid Mai Dong precisely to guard against such underhanded tactics.

So, she never publicized Maid Mai Dong's medical skills. Even when she secretly diagnosed Consort Min, it was done discreetly, just in case. Today, it proved useful.

Fortunately, since her pregnancy, Maid Mai Dong had extensively studied books on childbirth, delving deep into the subject. Otherwise, they might have unknowingly suffered.

"Milady, the worst part of this method is yet to come," Maid Mai Dong said.

An Qing raised an eyebrow. "What's the worst part?"

Maid Mai Dong's expression turned serious. "Even if you survive, it will likely be impossible to conceive again, and you won't be able to compete for favor either."

"Why is that?" Cui Liu asked anxiously.

It made sense that conceiving would be difficult after a difficult birth, but why couldn't she compete for favor?

Maid Mai Dong explained, "Because of stretch marks."

What are stretch marks?

An Qing knew what they were—stretch marks, commonly known in modern times.

Since her pregnancy, Concubine Yi had personally shared many skincare recipes, and her mother had also provided some formulas to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. These were similar to modern pregnancy oils.

An Qing had personally experienced the effectiveness of these recipes. She had been diligent in applying them since showing, and so far, she hadn't developed any stretch marks.

Of course, it was possible she simply had a skin type that doesn't develop stretch marks, which is considered one of the most enviable traits alongside "never gaining weight" and "never getting acne."

Though she didn't care much about competing for favor, she valued her appearance. If there was a way to avoid stretch marks, she wouldn't take the risk. With current medical conditions, once stretch marks appeared, they were nearly impossible to remove; prevention was key.

"Lady Fu, what should we do now?" Little Xizi asked.

How should they investigate, where should they start, and what if the other party denies everything?

Maigeng also spoke up at the right moment, "Mistress, due to pregnant women often having poor appetites, these two herbs are frequently added to the medicine for stabilizing pregnancy."

An Qing understood their intentions. Given the current situation, even if they found something, it would be difficult to directly pin it on anyone, as there was too much room for argument.

But to let this go and wait for another opportunity was equally impossible. She could not risk her own life and that of her child.

She was no saint. If Liu Jiashi and Baijia Shi were truly behind this, they had crossed her line. Since they were targeting her life, she would not show mercy.

As for the room for argument, it would depend on whether she allowed them any when the time came.

An Qing never advocated using power and status to oppress others, but if it was for self-preservation, she did not mind being the one who wielded authority.

"Little Xizi, take some people and secure our courtyard. Find any reason, but in short, no one is allowed to enter or leave for now," An Qing instructed.

Little Xizi hurriedly agreed, though he did not know what the Furen intended, he followed orders.

An Qing looked at Maigeng, "Take my palace token and go to the front yard to get some men from Ma Xiang. Then investigate how these two herbs were added to the medicine at the Imperial Medical Institute. Also, find a way to control the eunuch from the Imperial Medical Institute that Liu Jiashi hired and bring him back for Ma Xiang to interrogate."

"Remember, you must act quickly to catch them off guard."

The two responded in unison and immediately set about their tasks without delay.

"Mistress, if this matter isn't resolved, will Beile and the others in the palace think you are deliberately targeting Concubine Liu Jiashi and Princess Baijia Shi?" Perilla asked with concern.

There were already rumors about the Fifth Furen's jealousy. If this incident spread, who knows what new rumors might arise.

Before An Qing could respond, Cui Liu immediately retorted, "Sister Perilla, I have to criticize you this time. Those baseless rumors are nothing compared to the safety of our mistress and her child. We cannot let these rumors tie our hands. I support the mistress's decision; this matter must be thoroughly investigated. As the Han people say... yes, 'Better to mistakenly punish a hundred than to let one guilty person go free!'"

After saying this, she even put on a fierce expression to make her point more convincing.

An Qing couldn't help but laugh, but Cui Liu's words resonated with her.

She did not care about those rumors in the palace. She valued substance over appearance, so she would not risk her and her child's safety for a false reputation.

To be more direct, she had many important things to do and didn't have the time or energy to constantly fight with Liu Jiashi.

Her principle was simple: if everyone could live in peace, all was well. But if someone made a move against her, she would not let it go.

As for whether Yinqi would misunderstand, based on her understanding of him, he wouldn't. If they lacked such trust, their partnership would be meaningless.

Even if Yinqi did misunderstand, she would still proceed because this had crossed her line.

In the western annex, Baijia Shi's room.

Baijia Shi's personal palace maid returned furtively from outside and quickly closed the door upon entering.

"How is it? Has Liu Jiashi taken action?" Baijia Shi asked eagerly upon seeing the maid enter.

The maid replied, "Princess, I followed the eunuch from Concubine Liu Jiashi's courtyard into the back entrance of the Imperial Medical Institute."

Baijia Shi's eyes lit up. She knew Liu Jiashi must have some useful connections in the palace.

After all, as a concubine, before the Furen arrived, she managed the Fifth Prince's household. Anyone with sense would know to cultivate useful allies.

But she didn't expect Liu Jiashi to actually have connections within the Imperial Medical Institute. It was worth the effort.

"Princess, are you sure we won't be implicated in this?" the maid asked nervously.

Baijia Shi waved her hand dismissively, "Don't worry. What does this have to do with us? I just went to chat with Liu Jiashi. Is it forbidden for concubines to visit each other in the Fifth Beile's household?"

She simply chatted with Liu Jiashi and mentioned some old stories from her family. She didn't expect Liu Jiashi to use this method to harm the Furen.

Even if it were traced back to her, it would be an unintentional mistake. The one who acted was Liu Jiashi, not her. No matter what, she couldn't be blamed.

Baijia Shi felt quite pleased with herself, believing her method of using others to do her dirty work was brilliant. Even if the Furen suspected her, denying it would suffice.

Seeing Liu Jiashi inactive for so long, she decided to push her along.

But Baijia Shi didn't realize how ironic her confidence was, as she didn't understand that in the face of power, all cleverness was useless.

If someone wanted you gone, there were a hundred ways to make you disappear. Such examples were common in the imperial harem, and there were plenty in the Prince's residence alone.

Indeed, just as Baijia Shi hadn't had time to celebrate, her door was suddenly kicked open. There stood Ma Xiang with his men.

"Baijia Shi, you are suspected of plotting to harm the royal offspring. By order of the Furen, please come with us."

Chapter 98: The Fifth Fulinjin

An Qing never expected things to progress so smoothly. After Mai Dong made a round in the Imperial Medical Institute, the matter was almost completely resolved.

First, she confirmed with Little Doctor Qi whether the prescription had been altered. Upon confirming that it hadn't, she went directly to Director Qi and demanded a thorough investigation. Director Qi knew how important this pregnancy of the Fifth Fulinjin was and did not dare to be careless. He immediately began an internal investigation within the Imperial Medical Institute.

It was also quite coincidental. Following An Qing's instructions, Mai Dong intended to secretly find the person Liu Jiashi had hired. However, before she could act, the person, out of guilt or perhaps due to not expecting An Qing's swift actions, revealed their mistake on the spot.

After that, everything became much simpler. With the person's testimony, Ma Xiang directly brought the little eunuch from Liu Jiashi's side for interrogation. After some severe questioning, he confessed everything.

Then, Ma Xiang led people to control Liu Jiashi and Baijia Shi. An Qing did not interfere further and did not even see them again.

Yinqi was informed by Ma Xiang's men and rushed back immediately. He first came to the main courtyard to ensure An Qing was unharmed before heading to the front courtyard to handle the matter.

The matter was not difficult to investigate. With solid evidence, Liu Jiashi could not argue. Baijia Shi, after a brief panic, quickly regained her composure and insisted on her innocence, claiming she had no intention to harm the Fulinjin.

But such petty tricks could not deceive Yinqi, who grew up in the imperial harem. He ordered the palace maids around Baijia Shi to be interrogated, and soon they confessed everything under torture.

With this, the matter was thoroughly resolved.

After taking everyone away, Ma Xiang asked in a low voice, "Master, what should we do with these two?"

Yinqi stared at his toes, sitting silently for a long time, as if finally making a difficult decision. "If the heart is corrupt, it cannot be kept."

Otherwise, it would surely lead to greater disaster.

Hearing this, Ma Xiang was momentarily stunned but quickly understood Yinqi's concerns. Having spent many years in the imperial harem, he had seen too many cases where hesitation led to irreversible consequences.

Considering An Qing's pregnancy, Yinqi did not involve her further in the matter. However, she was informed of the outcome.

In the end, the public result was that Baijia Shi, citing a sudden serious illness, was taken out of the palace in a carriage and sent to the royal estate to recuperate. Liu Jiashi was placed under house arrest again, this time with guards, more akin to imprisonment than confinement.

Upon hearing this outcome, Cui Liu and the others were clearly unhappy, feeling the punishment was too light. After all, Baijia Shi being sent to the royal estate did not preclude her from returning someday, and Liu Jiashi's confinement might be lifted at any time.

They had acted so maliciously, targeting their own mistress, yet received such a mild punishment. It seemed too lenient.

Little Xizi hesitated, wanting to say something, but seeing the Fulinjin's belly, he swallowed his words silently.

Having grown up in the palace, he knew more than others. Sometimes, the seemingly mild punishments were not necessarily good news.

An Qing also sensed something from Yinqi's words. She was not foolish and had heard of the methods used within the royal family, but she did not want to think about it further.

She could admit she was avoiding it.

In her past life, An Qing had deeply analyzed her personality. Deep down, she disliked conflict and did not enjoy fighting. But growing up in an orphanage, she sometimes had to fight back to avoid being bullied.

Being kind often led to being taken advantage of. She knew that fighting back was necessary when faced with malice, but that did not mean she enjoyed the trouble.

Perhaps this was why she loved farming so much.

An Qing chose not to see Liu Jiashi and Baijia Shi because she was tired of it all. What was the point of meeting them? They would only say the same things, which she could easily guess. Both sides in a dispute always believed they were right, so what was the point of pointless arguments?

Sometimes, she thought that if everyone could live peacefully, it would be great. But people have different aspirations, and some conflicts are inevitable.

Perhaps due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, An Qing felt a bit melancholic. Realizing this, she quickly adjusted her mindset.

Life is full of disappointments, and her current situation was already quite good. She would face challenges head-on, and life would continue as usual.

Perhaps due to her travels over the past year, she found the palace life incredibly dull. Of course, the discomfort of late pregnancy also contributed to this feeling.

Entering the final trimester, An Qing's feet started swelling, and she occasionally experienced leg cramps. As her belly grew larger, her movements became more cumbersome. She slept excessively during the day but often tossed and turned at night.

Only then did she truly understand how challenging pregnancy could be.

Days continued to pass slowly, and Imperial City welcomed another snowy season.

An Qing's annual project of watching snow in the Forbidden City had to be paused. Instead, she stayed indoors, warming herself by the stove, petting cats, and watching the snow through the window.

After naming the calico cat Snowball, An Qing finally named the kittens before they grew into adult cats. One was called Bongbong, and the other was called Tiaotiao.

These names were simple and straightforward, reflecting their lively personalities. An Qing felt they suited them well.

But Cui Liu was quite disdainful. "Master, your names are too casual. Look at other people's cats; they are named 'Wuyun Taxisnow' and 'Moyu Chuipearl,' which sound elegant. Your names lack grandeur."

An Qing was unfazed by the criticism. "I told you to name them, but you insisted I do it. Now that I've named them, you're unhappy. What can we do? I've done my part, so deal with it!"

At this moment, Chunxiao entered with a bowl of silver ear lily red bean porridge. "Master, we're not unhappy. Only Cui Liu is."

She placed the porridge in front of An Qing, gesturing for her to eat while it was still warm.

An Qing was indeed hungry. She noticed that hunger increased during late pregnancy, but she had to be mindful of not eating too much to avoid a large baby. Thus, she had to eat small meals frequently.

Cui Liu pouted, saying, "You don't know the hardships of raising cats. Come here, Bongbong and Tiaotiao. Let me take you for a walk."

An Qing couldn't help but laugh at her antics.

This girl was truly someone who complained but acted differently. Despite her complaints, she called the cats' names more fluently than anyone else.

Where did her phrase "not knowing the hardships of raising cats" come from? It was because these two kittens now lived in her and Perilla's room.

The reason was that these energetic kittens might accidentally hurt An Qing. Nurse Xu, sent by Concubine Yi, moved their original nest from the east warm pavilion to the west warm pavilion. Cui Liu volunteered to take care of them.

Nurse Xu was sent by Concubine Yi, personally chosen for An Qing. Since her pregnancy, she needed an experienced nursemaid, and both Concubine Yi and the Empress Dowager were not at ease. In the end, Concubine Yi selected one from the Imperial Household Department and sent her to An Qing.

An Qing did have a wet nurse, who should have accompanied her. But since she married from Horqin to the Imperial City, the wet nurse had a family and grandchildren, and An Qing did not want to separate her from them, so she left her behind.

However, since Nurse Xu arrived, An Qing realized the importance of having an experienced nursemaid. Although Mai Dong knew medicine, she was still young and inexperienced in many matters. After all, medical books could not cover everything.

In the following days, snow fell several times in the Imperial City. Before long, it was once again time for the Forbidden City to bustle with preparations for the New Year.

This year's New Year could be considered the most relaxed one for An Qing since she married into the Forbidden City. The Empress Dowager had directly issued an edict exempting her from all activities. So while others were frantically busy, she spent her time leisurely flipping through storybooks in her room.

Truly, being free of responsibilities felt light and easy.

After the New Year, it quickly became the first month of Kangxi's thirty-ninth year.

At this time, An Qing's belly had grown even larger, as she described it, like an inflated balloon.

"Madam, Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace has brought Little Prince Honghui," Perilla reported as she entered.

An Qing was currently lounging on a soft couch in the outer room when she heard this and couldn't help but be momentarily stunned. Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace had come?

"Please invite them in."

An Qing did not show much surprise at Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace's arrival. In recent months, since she couldn't go out, Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace would visit every now and then, often bringing along Honghui.

Apart from Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace, the Eighth Princess also occasionally brought the Tenth Princess to keep her company.

By the time Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace led Honghui inside, An Qing had already sat up from the soft couch. Seeing the two, she warmly waved at Honghui.

"Honghui, come over here to your Fifth Aunt."

Honghui looked up at his mother, and after receiving her permission, obediently approached, "Honghui greets Fifth Aunt."

The little boy, nearly three years old, had a chubby and adorable face.

An Qing pulled him closer and smiled, "Honghui is such a good boy."

She then looked up at Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace and gestured for her to sit down.

Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace noticed the cushions and blanket on the soft couch behind An Qing and guessed that she must have been resting just now. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she said, "Did we come at an inconvenient time? Did we disturb your rest?"

An Qing waved her hand, "No, I wasn't sleepy, just feeling lazy and wanted to lie down."

Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace nodded slightly, looking at her belly. Indeed, this stage was prone to laziness; she remembered feeling the same way when she was pregnant with Honghui.

"Calculating the days, you must be close to your due date, right?"

An Qing nodded, "The imperial physician said it should be around this time."

Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace smiled, "It's really coming soon. You must be very excited, right?"

Every expectant mother looks forward to meeting their child, especially as the due date approaches.

An Qing softly agreed, "I am quite excited, but perhaps not in the way you think."

"I just want to get this baby out so I can feel lighter."

Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace found her description amusing yet strangely fitting.

"Fifth Aunt, was my sister well-behaved today?" Honghui asked, looking at An Qing's belly in a soft voice.

Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace immediately corrected him, "Mother told you, little children shouldn't say such things. Your Fifth Aunt clearly has a brother in there."

Honghui responded with an "Oh," a hint of disappointment crossing his face.

But he really wanted a sister.

An Qing understood Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace's concern but didn't mind, "Fourth Sister-in-law, it's fine. A sister is good too. Whether it's a brother or a sister, Fifth Aunt doesn't mind."

As long as the child is healthy, it doesn't matter if it's a boy or a girl.

With that, she smiled and gently patted Honghui's little bald head, indicating it was alright.

Moreover, she believed that children's predictions were baseless. Based on her limited experience, children usually say what they want.

Princess Third's daughter Bayar had said she had a brother in her belly because Bayar wanted a brother.

And her elder brother's daughter Duo Lan, who wanted a sister, had pointed at her belly saying it was a sister, which made both An Qing and her mother laugh.

Honghui was no different.

Although An Qing said she didn't mind, Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace still felt a bit embarrassed, "I don't know why, but this child keeps wishing for a sister."

An Qing smiled without saying anything more about wishing for a sister.

She knew that Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace had injured herself during Honghui's birth, and the imperial physician had said she might not be able to conceive again. Mentioning it would truly hurt her feelings.

"Fifth Aunt, can Honghui see the strawberries you planted?" Honghui tilted his head and asked.

An Qing smiled, "Of course."

She then signaled Perilla to take him there, and Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace instructed the servants accompanying Honghui to go with them.

They were clearly used to this request, as he must have visited many times before.

Thinking about the strawberries in her greenhouse, An Qing couldn't help but feel happy. With her careful tending, the strawberries had already started to bear fruit, and the fruits looked promising. They would likely ripen in a few days.

After months of anticipation, the strawberries were finally going to be ready to eat.

After performing the proper greetings to An Qing and Princess Consort of the Fourth Palace, Honghui followed Perilla out.

Every time An Qing saw him, so small yet so well-mannered, she couldn't help but marvel, "Honghui is just like Fourth Brother."

He behaved with strict propriety, adhering to rules and regulations, just like his father, except for his young age, which prevented him from fully concealing his emotions. Even his appearance was similar.

The Fourth Princess Consort naturally understood the implications of An Qing's words. She helplessly shook her head; her husband was indeed a man who placed great importance on rules, and this extended to his strict expectations of Honghui.

Fortunately, Honghui did not resent it and aspired to emulate his father in everything, which made their relationship harmonious.

"Fourth Sister-in-Law, have you heard the news from the palace?" the Fourth Princess Consort asked.

An Qing was taken aback. What news had come from the palace recently? She hadn't heard Cui Liu mention any gossip.

"Fourth Sister, you can see that I've been confined to this courtyard all day. How could I possibly hear any news?"

The Fourth Princess Consort thought about it and realized it was true. Without further ado, she said, "I heard from others that His Majesty intends to let the princes who have already received titles leave the palace and establish their own households."

An Qing sat up straight, her eyes shining as she looked at the Fourth Princess Consort. "Really? Is this information reliable? Did Fourth Brother tell you?"

Being able to leave the palace and establish a household was a tremendous blessing.

She knew roughly that around the fortieth year of Kangxi's reign, Yinqi and the other princes would be allowed to leave the palace and establish their own households, but the exact timing was uncertain.

The Fourth Princess Consort was startled by her reaction and hurriedly supported her. "Be careful; don't fall."

A pregnant woman shouldn't make such sudden movements; it was too dangerous.

An Qing responded with an "Oh," obediently sitting back down, then stared eagerly at the Fourth Princess Consort, waiting for her reply.

The Fourth Princess Consort found this amusing. She always knew that her Fifth Sister-in-Law had a childish side, but now that she was about to become a mother, she expected her to be more mature. Instead, it seemed to have gotten worse.

"It wasn't your Fourth Brother; my mother told me today when she came into the palace. I also sent someone to inquire, and apparently, the news has spread throughout the palace."

She herself was unsure, which is why she came to ask An Qing, only to find that An Qing knew even less than she did.

Hearing this, An Qing felt a bit disappointed. It was just another rumor. In recent years, rumors about leaving the palace and establishing households circulated every now and then. If it was just a rumor from the palace, there was little to rely on.

However, if the news came from the Fourth Princess Consort's mother, it might mean something significant. After all, the Fourth Princess Consort's family still had many influential positions in the capital, and they might have picked up some information through official channels.

An Qing thought more about it and believed it was possible. She had planned to share the good news with Yinqi when he returned in the evening.

Unexpectedly, before she could speak, she was dazzled by Yinqi's joyful demeanor.

"Is there some good news?"

An Qing blinked, wondering if it was what she had guessed.

Yinqi smiled happily. "Did you figure it out?"

An Qing thought, how could she not notice with his grin stretching from ear to ear?

"Let me tell you some good news. Today, His Majesty finally issued an edict allowing us to leave the palace and establish our own households," Yinqi said.

Although An Qing had guessed, hearing that Kangxi had actually issued the edict still surprised her.

She had initially thought Yinqi had merely heard some rumors, but the news he brought was concrete.

So, they were really going to leave the palace. At that moment, An Qing's joy reached its peak.

After all, who wouldn't prefer a spacious villa over a cramped living space?

While her description of the palace as a "cramped living space" was somewhat exaggerated, the environment in the princes' quarters was indeed quite small. The confined life within the palace walls held no charm for her.

Apart from her attachment to her beautiful mother-in-law and the Empress Dowager, as a princess consort, she could visit the palace anytime she wished. With a simple request, she could enter without issue, eliminating any concerns.

Seeing An Qing's excitement, Yinqi quickly explained, "But the process of establishing our household won't happen immediately. We need to wait for the funds His Majesty grants for setting up the household, and then we'll have to renovate the mansion."

They would also need to furnish the mansion, which would take nearly a year.

An Qing understood this well.

Over the years, each prince's household had been assigned long ago. Apart from other considerations, Kangxi's financial constraints prevented him from granting each prince the substantial sum of 230,000 taels, delaying the edict for them to leave the palace.

A year was manageable; she could certainly wait. Her wish was to move out by the time her child turned one.

Both An Qing and Yinqi were clearly excited about leaving the palace. Yinqi immediately sent Ma Xiang to fetch the floor plan of the mansion granted by His Majesty and discussed with An Qing how to renovate it.

An Qing was very interested. After all, this mansion would be their permanent residence, so it needed proper planning.

The mansion granted to Yinqi was once the residence of a high-ranking official from the previous dynasty. Due to lack of maintenance over time, the Imperial Household Department would thoroughly renovate it.

This was a major project, but it had the advantage of allowing them to customize the mansion according to their preferences.

For An Qing, everything else was negotiable, but she insisted on having a large plot of land within the mansion for experimental farming. She wanted to start hybrid breeding research once they moved out.

The space in the palace was too limited, and the small plot in her courtyard was insufficient for her experiments. While the Royal Manor was spacious, it wasn't practical for daily visits. Establishing their own household would provide the freedom she needed.

Due to this news, An Qing was delighted for several days.

Every day, she enthusiastically studied the floor plan. Honestly, if it weren't for her current condition, she would have gone out to inspect the site herself.

However, leaving the palace was out of the question as her due date approached. The atmosphere in An Qing's courtyard grew increasingly tense.

Concubine Yi and the Empress Dowager had arranged for wet nurses and midwives to stay in the courtyard early. They also sent trusted servants from Yikun Palace and Ningshou Palace to assist.

The delivery room was prepared, and the Imperial Medical Bureau had been notified. Everything was ready for the upcoming birth.

That day, as usual, after having their evening meal, Yinqi accompanied An Qing for a stroll in the courtyard to aid digestion.

Everything was going well, and they were enthusiastically discussing matters related to the residence when, suddenly, An Qing felt a warm sensation between her legs.

She... seemed to be going into labor!

Chapter 99: The Fifth Lady

Yinqi had been supporting An Qing. As soon as she stopped, he noticed something was amiss.

"Is something wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

An Qing pursed her lips. She did not seem panicked as expected; instead, she spoke calmly, "I think I'm going into labor."

Going into labor?!

Upon hearing this, Yinqi was initially stunned, then visibly panicked. Even his arm supporting An Qing stiffened slightly.

An Qing found it somewhat amusing. It wasn't him giving birth, so why was he panicking? She, the one actually in labor, remained remarkably calm.

Tsk tsk~ This sense of composure truly comes from contrast. Now she felt like a rock in the face of a storm.

After a brief moment of panic, Yinqi quickly regained his composure and called over several waiting midwives nearby. Upon hearing that An Qing was in labor, everyone sprang into action.

Two midwives carefully took An Qing from Yinqi and carried her to the delivery room. With her due date approaching, the fire pits in the delivery room and the boilers in the tea room had been burning continuously for twelve hours a day, keeping the room warm. As soon as An Qing entered, she felt a wave of warmth.

An Qing was placed on the bed, surrounded by people. Perilla then brought in the midwife.

"Lady, please forgive my impertinence, but I need to examine your condition now."

An Qing understood what the midwife meant by examination and nodded lightly. At this point, any sense of modesty had to be set aside.

The experienced midwife worked efficiently. She first placed a pillow under An Qing and then washed her hands thoroughly with hot water before instructing someone to undress An Qing to check the baby's position.

"Lady, don't worry. The baby is positioned correctly," the midwife said. "You've only dilated a little more than one centimeter, so there's no rush. You can relax for a bit."

Since An Qing had just finished eating, she didn't need to eat anything else at the moment. The midwife instructed someone to prepare ginseng slices, just in case An Qing needed them during labor.

Of course, it would be best if they weren't needed.

Hearing that the baby was positioned correctly, An Qing felt a sense of relief, even if it was temporary. It was still a good start.

She felt the pain in her lower body and realized that she had only dilated a little more than one centimeter. No wonder it wasn't too painful yet.

An Qing never liked doing things blindly, especially when it came to childbirth, which directly affected her life. So, she had learned about childbirth from Mai Dong beforehand.

This "dilation" referred to the opening of the cervix, measured from one to ten centimeters. A dilation of ten centimeters meant the cervix was fully open, ready for the baby to be born.

In normal circumstances, a dilation of one centimeter indicated that it was still early and there was no need to panic. One should pay attention to the baby's movements. When the dilation reaches three centimeters, preparations can begin, but one still needs to wait. Once it reaches eight centimeters, it's time to push harder, as the baby will be coming soon. When the cervix is fully dilated at ten centimeters, the baby will be born shortly.

So, An Qing had no reason to be anxious yet. She even had the presence of mind to give some instructions to Perilla and Mai Dong. Cui Liu and Chunxiao couldn't squeeze in and could only watch from outside.

Inside the room, An Qing was calm, but outside, everyone was frantic.

The courtyard was brightly lit.

Yinqi paced back and forth in the main hall, anxiously looking toward the delivery room. "Why isn't there any news? What's happening inside?"

Ma Xiang knew his master was worried and tried to reassure him, "Master, the midwife just said that Lady is fine. Don't worry. Why don't you sit down and rest for a while?"

Yinqi waved his hand. He couldn't sit still, wishing he could go in and check himself.

As they spoke, two imperial physicians from the pharmacy arrived. "Your Highness, the Fifth Beile..."

Yinqi's tone was impatient. "Enough with the formalities. Go check on Lady immediately."

The two physicians hurriedly complied and were led to the outer room of the delivery area, ready to assist at any moment.

Cui Liu and Mai Dong rushed out upon hearing the physicians arrive. Seeing familiar faces, their faces lit up with joy.

"Physician Xiao Qi, how wonderful! It's you on duty tonight."

Physician Xiao Qi had been taking care of An Qing throughout her pregnancy. His presence provided additional reassurance, even though Mai Dong was also skilled. Having another physician present added an extra layer of security, especially since Physician Xiao Qi was even more skilled than Mai Dong, as confirmed by Mai Dong herself.

Physician Xiao Qi bowed to them. "His Majesty specifically instructed my uncle that the Fifth Lady's due date was approaching, so we have been taking turns on duty."

His uncle was Chief Physician Qi, and since Emperor Kangxi had personally instructed him, it was clear that he placed great importance on An Qing's pregnancy. The Imperial Medical Bureau staff dared not neglect their duties.

In Yikun Palace, Concubine Yi was about to retire for the night when Xizhu rushed in to report.

"My lady, the Fifth Beile sent word that the Fifth Lady has gone into labor."

Concubine Yi immediately got out of bed and ordered, "Quickly, help me get dressed. I need to go see her."

Giving birth was like walking through the gates of hell, and she needed to support An Qing.

When Concubine Yi hurried to the residence, she met Empress Dowager, who had also rushed over.

Seeing each other, Concubine Yi couldn't help but say, "Fifth Son is being unreasonable. Why did he disturb you? He's so thoughtless."

Empress Dowager was elderly, and Emperor Kangxi rarely disturbed her to avoid disrupting her rest.

Fifth Son would surely face a scolding once Emperor Kangxi found out.

Empress Dowager waved her hand and replied, "It wasn't Fifth Son. I left someone here from Ningshou Palace."

She knew no one would dare disturb her, so she had stationed someone from Ningshou Palace here because she was genuinely concerned about An Qing.

After a brief exchange, Concubine Yi supported Empress Dowager inside.

Yinqi, upon hearing they had arrived, hurried out to greet them. "Grandma, why are you here?"

He had sent someone to notify Yikun Palace, but despite his grandmother's instructions, he had hesitated to send a message to Ningshou Palace out of concern for her health.

Empress Dowager waved her hand and asked, "How is it going? What's the situation inside?"

Inside, the specific situation was unclear to Yinqi as well, so he could only have someone go in to call for help.

In the delivery room, An Qing had just dilated to two centimeters. But the pain in her lower abdomen came in waves, making her face pale. This was just at two centimeters; she couldn't imagine how much worse it would get later.

She heard that the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi had come, and was taken aback, even forgetting about the pain momentarily.

Given the circumstances, it seemed she wouldn't be giving birth anytime soon. Why had they come now?

Earlier, An Qing had heard the midwife say that for a first-time mother like her, it would take five or six hours to dilate from one to ten centimeters. It was currently late at night, so it would likely be morning before she gave birth.

Waiting outside for so long would be exhausting, especially for the Empress Dowager, who was elderly.

In the main hall, Doctor Xiao Qi and Maidenhair came out to report.

"Your Highnesses, the Empress Dowager, Concubine Yi, and Fifth Beile, Fifth Lady is doing well, the baby's position is normal, and she has dilated to two centimeters. The midwife is attending to her inside, and everything is fine for now," Doctor Xiao Qi reported.

Hearing that everything was fine, the three people in the room breathed a sigh of relief.

Maidenhair then stepped forward and bowed to the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi. "Your Highnesses, my mistress sends her regards. She says she is doing well, but it will still take some time before the birth. It's not worth troubling you to wait here. Perhaps you should return to rest and we can send word when she gives birth."

Yinqi also had this intention, but before he could speak, Concubine Yi interjected, "I don't need to leave; I can hold on."

Then she looked at the Empress Dowager and added, "Mother, you are elderly and shouldn't stay up. Please go back and rest; I'll stay here."

The Empress Dowager waved her hand. "No need for that. If I go back, I won't be able to sleep with worry. It's better to wait here."

Then she looked at Maidenhair and instructed, "Tell your mistress that I understand. If I can't hold on, I'll rest in one of your rooms. She should focus on giving birth without worrying about me."

After hearing Maidenhair's message, An Qing didn't insist further. The Empress Dowager might seem approachable, but she was firm in her decisions. With Yinqi and Concubine Yi outside, they would take care of her.

Besides, the pain was becoming unbearable.

People often said childbirth takes time and cannot be rushed. An Qing fully understood this after about two hours when she started experiencing intense contractions.

The midwife hurried to comfort her and began instructing her on managing her contractions.

An Qing's mind went numb from the pain, but she tried to bear it silently, knowing the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi were waiting outside.

But once she dilated to five centimeters, she couldn't hold back any longer and cried out in pain.

In the main hall, as time passed, Yinqi grew increasingly anxious. When he heard An Qing's scream from the delivery room, he panicked and rushed towards it.

Fortunately, Ma Xiang had been watching his master and quickly stopped him.

"Master, don't rush. No one has come out to report, which means everything is fine. If you barge in, it might cause panic."

Concubine Yi also responded and advised, "Childbirth is always like this. Ma Xiang is right. Even if you enter the delivery room, you won't be able to help and might cause more trouble."

Yinqi sat back down heavily. He understood this; he had seen similar scenes during Liu Jiashi's childbirth years ago. His earlier actions were instinctive.

Another scream came from the delivery room, and he couldn't sit still anymore. Though he didn't rush in, he paced anxiously around the main hall, occasionally peeking outside.

Concubine Yi felt a headache coming on from Yinqi's pacing and barely resisted scolding him.

Fine, out of sight, out of mind. She closed her eyes.

The Empress Dowager, seated above, observed Yinqi's reactions and seemed to ponder something. She was initially surprised but then slowly withdrew her gaze.

An Qing lost track of how long she had been in pain. She felt the child's stubbornness was concentrated in these final moments. No matter how hard she pushed, it seemed unwilling to come out.

Eventually, her mind went numb from the pain, and she followed the midwife's instructions mechanically. She labored through the entire night, and just as dawn broke, a loud cry echoed from the delivery room.

"Congratulations, Lady! Congratulations! You've given birth to a little prince."

A little prince, An Qing thought dizzily. Honghui must be disappointed; it's a brother, not a sister.

The midwife handed the wrapped child to An Qing's side, wanting her to see it.

But An Qing was too exhausted. She glanced briefly at the child before falling into a deep sleep.

Her last conscious thought was, is this really my child? How ugly.

An Qing felt like she had slept for an eternity. When she woke up, she was still disoriented. She instinctively touched her belly, a habit formed during pregnancy, but froze in surprise.

It was flat?

An Qing sat up abruptly but fell back halfway, the pain reminding her of what had happened.

Right, her child was born, so her belly was naturally flat.

"Master, you're awake. Are you feeling unwell anywhere?" Perilla noticed the movement immediately.

An Qing shook her head lightly. The sleep had been good, except for the lingering pain. Otherwise, she felt fine.

She moved slightly, feeling refreshed. The stickiness from before was gone, indicating someone had cleaned her up while she slept.

Perilla finally relaxed. Although Doctor Xiao Qi and Maidenhair had checked on her while she was asleep and confirmed she was fine, just tired from labor, Perilla still felt relieved seeing her mistress awake and well.

Just then, there was a commotion at the door. An Qing looked over and saw Concubine Yi entering.

"Mother, you're here," she said with a smile.

Concubine Yi approached, examining her thoroughly before breathing a sigh of relief.

"When did you wake up? Have you seen the child yet?"

An Qing shook her head. "Not yet. I just woke up, Mother. It seems our hearts are connected."

Concubine Yi gave her a reproachful look. "You really haven't changed, have you? After going through so much, you still have the energy to joke around."

Upon hearing that An Qing had just woken up, she hurriedly instructed someone to bring in the food that had been prepared early in the morning. Giving birth was an extremely physically demanding process, and she had only managed to drink a few sips of ginseng soup before passing out. After sleeping for so long, it was obvious she would be starving.

An Qing was indeed quite hungry and smiled as she replied, "Mother always knows how to take care of me."

Though Concubine Yi was used to her sweet words, she couldn't help but laugh and scold her gently, "You're just full of sweet talk."

An Qing chuckled. "I'm not exaggerating; it's because Mother is good to me."

After a moment, she seemed to remember something and said, "Mother, you wouldn't believe how scared I was at first, but when I heard you and Grandmother had arrived, my heart immediately felt at ease."

Concubine Yi smiled as she smoothed the stray hairs by An Qing's ear and casually remarked, "What were you scared about? Prince Fifth was outside too."

An Qing waved her hand dismissively. "Don't mention him. Mother, you didn't see him; he was even more nervous than I was."

Then, she vividly recounted Yinqi's reaction when he found out she was giving birth.

Concubine Yi, after listening, also found it rather embarrassing. "He really isn't very capable."

Hearing Concubine Yi's description, An Qing felt it wasn't that bad and quickly tried to salvage Yinqi's image.

It wasn't that he was incapable; he just wasn't as composed as she was. Hmph, who knew she had the potential for great things deep down.

Seeing An Qing's smug expression, Concubine Yi couldn't bear to look at her. This girl truly hadn't changed; she couldn't help but praise herself.

As mother and daughter chatted, the wet nurse heard that the Lady had woken up and promptly brought the little prince over from the adjacent room.

"Come and see, our little prince looks wonderful," Concubine Yi said with a smile as she took the child from the wet nurse.

Sitting on the bed, An Qing could only see the red floral blanket covering the baby, but upon hearing Concubine Yi's words, she was taken aback.

Wonderful?

She vaguely remembered taking a quick glance before falling asleep, and the baby seemed a bit... ugly.

Was it because she was too tired and her eyes were playing tricks on her?

An Qing thought it was possible; she had been quite dazed then. Besides, both she and Yinqi were good-looking; genetically speaking, the baby shouldn't be too far off.

But as she eagerly awaited, Concubine Yi finally brought the baby over and placed him beside her.

An Qing: "..."

This is called looking wonderful?

She suddenly doubted her beautiful mother-in-law's taste or perhaps it was just the grandmother's filter.

"What's wrong?" Concubine Yi asked, puzzled by her expression.

An Qing glanced at the baby, sighed deeply, and said, "Mother, he's a bit... ugly."

Concubine Yi was momentarily stunned. A bit ugly? What did she mean by a bit ugly?

An Qing silently looked at the baby beside her, leaving everything unspoken.

Concubine Yi followed her gaze and, seeing her grandson, suddenly understood.

She meant the baby was a bit ugly?!

Concubine Yi couldn't help laughing and crying at the same time. "You, you silly girl, they say children don't despise their mothers' ugliness, and mothers wouldn't..."

An Qing pursed her lips and weakly defended herself. "They say children don't despise their mothers' ugliness, but they never said mothers can't despise their children's ugliness."

Concubine Yi couldn't help holding her forehead, almost getting caught up in her logic. The point wasn't whether children despise their mothers' ugliness or mothers despise their children's ugliness; the point was that her precious grandson wasn't ugly!

"Mother, even though this is my own son, I can't bring myself to say he's handsome. Look at him, all red like a monkey." An Qing couldn't abandon her sense of aesthetics but added, "But don't worry, no matter what he looks like, I'll love him since I went through so much to give birth to him."

She then patted the floral blanket affectionately and said earnestly, "Son, thank goodness we're rich; otherwise, with your looks, you might not find a wife."

Concubine Yi was both amused and exasperated.

The wet nurse interjected, "Lady, newborns always look like this. Our little prince is actually doing quite well. He'll look better in a few days."

An Qing was surprised. "Really?"

Concubine Yi took a deep breath. "Of course, it's true. Prince Fifth looked worse when he was born. Look at him now—does he look ugly?!"

An Qing truthfully replied, "No."

To be honest, Yinqi was not only not ugly; he was quite handsome.

If that was the case, she looked down at her son and felt relieved.

However, An Qing hadn't known this. She had never seen a newborn before. When her sister-in-law gave birth to Wuritu, it was during the autumn harvest, and by the time she returned, Wuritu was nearly a month old.

When Duo Lan was born, she was already married and living in the Forbidden City, so she missed that too.

As it turned out, just as Concubine Yi and the wet nurse had said, newborns do change every day. In just a few days, the redness had faded, the swelling had gone down, and his fair skin began to show. His features became increasingly attractive.

By the time of the third-day washing ceremony, he had completely transformed and was no longer the ugly baby An Qing had described.

It was quite a magical thing.

An Qing was quite satisfied with her son's transformation. However, as expected, the baby's temperament matched her prediction—he was calm and quiet, only making sounds when he was hungry, wet, or needed changing. An Qing hadn't heard him cry once in these few days.

"Milady, shall I take the little master out? It's time for Nurse Liu to change his clothes and prepare him for the washing ceremony," Perilla said.

An Qing nodded lightly. Calculating the time, it was indeed time to get ready. Today was the day of the washing ceremony for the child, and she wondered how things were progressing outside.

On the third day after a newborn's birth, a bathing ceremony known as the 'washing of the third day,' or 'washing of the third morning,' is held.

This ceremony symbolizes the newborn's transition from the remnants of pregnancy into infancy. The custom dates back to the Tang and Song dynasties, and after the Great Qing entered the pass, it was also adopted in the imperial palace.

First, the Board of Astronomy selects an auspicious time based on the child's birth date and time. Three days after birth, the baby is bathed facing south.

Before the bathing begins, a nursemaid pours water boiled with locust leaves and mugwort into a basin. While the water is still hot, gifts of gold, silver, eggs, peanuts, red dates, and other items sent by family elders are added to the water. This step is called 'filling the basin.'

After filling the basin, a respected elderly woman washes the baby. As she washes, she stirs the water with one hand while reciting blessings. This step is known as 'stirring the basin.'

An Qing only learned yesterday that the Empress Dowager had volunteered to be the elder who would perform the 'stirring of the basin.' She was quite surprised, knowing that even the eldest son of the Crown Prince did not receive such treatment.

If anyone were to ask who the most respected woman in the world is, it would undoubtedly be the Empress Dowager. She is nearly sixty years old, which is considered a great age in ancient times. Having her perform the 'stirring of the basin' is the best blessing for the child.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. Yinqi was raised by the Empress Dowager, and she has always openly favored this grandson. Now, favoring her great-grandson so openly, others cannot really say anything.

After all, whether it is the Crown Prince or any other prince, everyone has grown accustomed to it.

However, sometimes, despite being accustomed to it, seeing it firsthand still causes a pang of envy.

For example, during this washing of the third day ceremony, every brother has a son, and every son has had a washing of the third day ceremony. But when have they ever seen such a scene?

Chapter 100: The Fifth Princess Consort

If there was one place bustling with activity today, it was undoubtedly the residence of the Fifth Beile within the Princes' Quarters. The Fifth Beile had recently welcomed a son, and today marked the child's third-day cleansing ceremony. It was said that Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager had personally arrived at the Princes' Quarters, and naturally, everyone else in the palace had come to join in the celebration.

To arrive before Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager, the Four Imperial Concubines had come early, as had the other princes and the Crown Prince. Yinqi was responsible for greeting his brothers, while Concubine Yi entertained the three other concubines inside the house.

As for the Crown Princess and the princess consorts, they were seated outside. Since An Qing was still in her confinement period after childbirth, she could not come out to greet them. In theory, they were all sisters-in-law, and even without someone to host them, the atmosphere should not have been cold. However, the reality was quite different.

The women sat in order, each sipping their tea. To an observer, it seemed that everyone had grown accustomed to this arrangement, except for the First Princess Consort, who appeared the most reserved.

The current First Princess Consort, Zhangjia Shi, was the new consort whom the First Elder Brother Prince had married last autumn. She was the daughter of General Zhang Hao, a high-ranking military official of the second rank.

On the day of the First Elder Brother Prince's wedding, An Qing, being pregnant at the time, did not attend the banquet. Although there was no explicit decree from the palace, many people avoided having pregnant women at weddings due to superstitions about bad luck.

While An Qing did not believe in such superstitions, she did not want to cause any trouble, as it would only invite unnecessary enmity.

Later, during the New Year, An Qing was granted special permission by the Empress Dowager to stay in her courtyard to rest during her pregnancy. Thus, by a twist of fate, she had not yet met the new First Princess Consort.

However, living in the same quarters, some rumors about the First Elder Brother Prince's household had reached her ears. It was said that after Zhangjia Shi entered the household, her relationship with the four daughters and one son left behind by the previous princess consort was not good.

The First Elder Brother Prince's son, being less than three years old, was still a small child and caused no trouble. However, the daughters left by the previous princess consort, ranging from eleven to seven years old, were already quite mature and deeply attached to their mother. They naturally harbored resentment towards the woman who had taken their mother's place.

Minor quarrels and sarcastic remarks were common, and Zhangjia Shi, as a stepmother, found herself in an awkward position. She could not easily punish the children upon entering the household, lest she be accused of mistreating the previous princess consort's children.

Thus, her only option was to endure.

Whenever An Qing heard these stories, she could only sigh at the difficulties faced by stepmothers. She also felt a sense of melancholy over how quickly the First Elder Brother Prince had remarried, less than a year after the death of the previous princess consort, Erenjueluo Shi.

Sitting beside the First Princess Consort, the Fourth Princess Consort noticed her unease and engaged her in light conversation, which helped ease her discomfort slightly.

The cleansing ceremony was held in the front courtyard. After Perilla and the wet nurse prepared the baby, they brought him in when the time was right.

Upon entering, all eyes in the room turned to them. Perilla immediately focused on Concubine Yi and gestured for the wet nurse to hand over the child.

Concubine Yi rose promptly to receive the child, followed closely by the other three concubines. Given the chilly weather, the child was swaddled tightly in blankets. Once inside, the blankets could be unwrapped.

"Come, let's move closer to the brazier for warmth," Concubine Yi said.

The wet nurse complied, moving closer to the brazier, with Perilla assisting in unwrapping the blankets.

The Four Imperial Concubines gathered around, and the Crown Princess and the other princess consorts joined them.

Everyone wanted to see the baby. The Fourth Princess Consort, having visited An Qing the previous day, had already seen the child and thus stood back, observing from a distance.

In truth, Concubine Yi was also eager to see the child. Since the birth, she had been busy preparing for the cleansing ceremony and had not had the chance to visit An Qing.

Anyone who has given birth knows that newborns change rapidly every day. She was genuinely curious about how the child looked now.

When Perilla lifted the blanket, a plump, fair-skinned baby came into view.

The baby was awake, looking around with wide, dark eyes. He did not cry but gazed curiously at everyone, his chubby face endearing and lively.

Everyone was momentarily stunned, surprised that he was awake and not crying. It was truly remarkable.

Seeing the child clearly, Concubine Yi's body stiffened, and she instinctively leaned on the nearby table to steady herself.

Empress De, standing next to Concubine Yi, noticed her reaction first. When she looked again at the child's face in the blanket, she too was stunned.

Then, Concubine Hui and Concubine Rong, seemingly in agreement, glanced between Concubine Yi and the child, their faces frozen in shock.

Except for Perilla and the wet nurse, everyone else was facing away from the Four Imperial Concubines and did not notice their unusual behavior.

"The little prince looks so healthy and plump. He must be blessed," the Third Princess Consort remarked.

Though she did not get along well with An Qing, she had always liked children, especially since she had been childless for many years. She would never take out her grievances on a child.

Especially this one, with his rosy cheeks and lively spirit, was very endearing.

Even the Crown Princess's eyes dimmed slightly. Indeed, the child was born fortunate.

Sometimes, she could not help but envy An Qing's good fortune. After more than two years of marriage without conceiving, she unexpectedly gave birth to a healthy son. Such luck was rare.

Especially in the palace.

And she clearly did not have such luck, having failed to bear a son for the Crown Prince after many years of marriage. This was a constant source of distress for her.

As everyone's thoughts wandered, the baby's gaze met Concubine Yi's. Unlike with others, he did not look away quickly. The two stared at each other for a moment before the baby suddenly smiled at her.

Those watching found it incredible, but Concubine Yi felt her eyes welling up. Empress De gently patted her arm, offering silent comfort.

Concubine Hui and Concubine Rong also gave her reassuring looks.

Even the Crown Princess and the others, though slow to react, noticed something amiss. They exchanged glances, confused.

Just then, a eunuch announced, "His Majesty the Emperor and the Empress Dowager have arrived!"

Everyone quickly turned to greet them, but before they could move, Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager were already walking in.

"Greetings to His Majesty, Father, Mother, and Grandmother."

Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager waved their hands, signaling them to rise.

He scanned the room, his gaze landing on the wet nurse holding the child. "Bring the child over for us to see."

The wet nurse did not hesitate, carefully carrying the baby forward.

Upon seeing the child, Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager, like the Four Imperial Concubines, were momentarily stunned.

Especially the Empress Dowager, she had seen the child when it was just born, but at that time, the baby hadn't yet lost its swelling, so it was hard to tell what it looked like. But now, it was clearly visible.

She looked at the child and then turned to Concubine Yi, whispering softly, "This child looks very much like her grandmother."

When the Empress Dowager said this, everyone subconsciously looked at Concubine Yi and the child. Indeed, their eyebrows and eyes were quite similar.

Kangxi slightly raised his hand, signaling for the wet nurse to hand him the child.

Perilla watched with trepidation. At first, she thought Kangxi wouldn't know how to hold a baby, but surprisingly, he held the child with great skill.

The others didn't share this concern. Having been in the palace for many years, they knew that the Crown Prince had been raised by Kangxi himself, so holding a baby wasn't difficult for him.

The atmosphere became somewhat strange. The Crown Princess and others also felt puzzled. They sensed there must be something they didn't know. If it was only because the child looked like Concubine Yi, Kangxi's reaction wouldn't have been like this.

After all, it wasn't uncommon for a child to resemble their grandmother.

Sure enough, after a while, Kangxi softly said, "If we're talking about resemblance, this child looked very much like Little Eleven when he was just born."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Princess and others finally understood what was going on. No wonder Concubine Yi reacted that way earlier; the issue lay here.

The auspicious time for the washing ceremony approached quickly, and everyone moved to the main hall. Kangxi and the Empress Dowager sat at the head of the hall, followed by the Four Concubines and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.

As soon as the palace attendants announced the auspicious time, an official wet nurse led the palace attendants through the washing ceremony. During the basin-filling ritual, the official wet nurse poured all the gifts given by the elders into the basin.

However, just as they were about to proceed to the next step, Kangxi suddenly spoke up, "Wait!"

Everyone looked over, confused. They saw Kangxi get up and walk to the basin, untying a dragon-patterned jade pendant from his waist and dropping it into the basin.

"Alright, continue."

The Crown Prince and the other princes couldn't help but be stunned. Why?

Hadn't the Emperor already contributed an item for the basin? It was the jade ring finger in the basin, which they had all seen outside. Why add another one now?

Moreover, it was a personal dragon-patterned jade pendant. This couldn't help but make them think deeply.

Compared to the princes, those who were in the room earlier guessed something. The Crown Princess whispered something in the Crown Prince's ear, and the others did the same.

After listening, the Crown Prince and Elder Brother Prince immediately understood the deeper meaning behind Kangxi's action.

Eleventh Prince died young, and this dragon-patterned jade pendant was Kangxi's personal possession. By adding it to the basin, he wanted to bestow more blessings upon this child who resembled his eleventh brother.

The washing ceremony continued. Soon, the wet nurse brought the little prince over, and the Empress Dowager got up to perform the "stirring the basin" ritual. Finally, she took the white scallion from the official wet nurse and lightly tapped the little prince three times, reciting the blessing: "One tap for wisdom, two taps for cleverness, three taps to ward off evil spirits..."

The washing ceremony was lively, but the excitement outside had nothing to do with An Qing, who was confined to bed. She sat on the bed, bored, occasionally looking out the window.

Sigh... confinement is truly unbearable. She couldn't go out and could only stay inside, which was mainly because it was so boring.

"My lady, I went to check the warm room earlier, and many strawberries are ripe. Can I pick some to eat?" Cui Liu looked at An Qing eagerly, like a big cat craving food.

An Qing gave her a playful glare. "Go ahead, pick plenty, choose the red ones. Your mistress wants to eat too."

The strawberries in her warm room were planted a bit late, so she estimated they would ripen in large numbers by February. Now, it seemed they were almost ready. She had checked them the day before giving birth, and they were indeed edible.

A few days ago, some had already ripened, but since she was still pregnant, Mai Dong and the imperial physician had stopped her from eating them. In the end, Cui Liu got to enjoy them instead.

In a way, this girl indirectly fulfilled her promise to taste-test for her.

"My lady, can you eat them?" Cui Liu asked weakly.

An Qing barely resisted rolling her eyes. Of course, she could eat them. The strawberries were harmless; the missionary had personally verified them, and she had tasted them herself without any issues.

"I've already given birth, so the imperial physician and Mai Dong won't say anything. Go ahead and pick them, it's fine."

Postpartum women can eat fruit in moderation, as the imperial physician had mentioned.

Cui Liu thought about it and agreed. The imperial physician had indeed said that, and she had no doubt about the safety of the strawberries, having tasted them herself.

While Cui Liu went to pick strawberries, Perilla and the wet nurse returned with the little prince.

Unexpectedly, the little one cried loudly as soon as they entered. An Qing guessed he was hungry, so she handed him to the wet nurse to feed him.

An Qing had already taken lactation medicine. According to royal rules, she wasn't allowed to breastfeed, but she was actually glad. The selection process for royal wet nurses was strict, and with Concubine Yi and the Empress Dowager overseeing, she had no worries about them feeding Xiao Bao.

But truthfully, she didn't want to endure the pain of breastfeeding. In her past life, she often saw mothers online complaining about the difficulties of breastfeeding, such as blocked milk ducts and mastitis. It sounded painful.

Moreover, she doubted she could follow dietary restrictions better than the wet nurses. After all, she really craved food.

After the wet nurse left, Perilla suddenly came close to An Qing and said, "My lady, I have something to report."

An Qing was taken aback. "What is it?"

Could something have happened during the washing ceremony in the front yard?

Perilla didn't hide anything and recounted everything that happened in the front yard, including how Kangxi added an extra dragon-patterned jade pendant during the basin-filling ritual.

An Qing couldn't help but exclaim, "You mean Xiao Bao looked very much like Eleventh Prince when he was young?"

Xiao Bao was the nickname she had given her child, which was convenient to use.

Perilla nodded vigorously. "Yes."

An Qing blinked. She had noticed that Xiao Bao's features resembled Concubine Yi, but she never thought about Eleventh Prince.

She had never met Little Eleven, only seen a portrait of him as a teenager. She didn't know what he looked like as a child.

An Qing nodded thoughtfully. "Do you know how similar they are?"

Perilla shook her head. "I don't know, but seeing the reactions of the Emperor and Concubine Yi, they must look very similar."

Otherwise, they wouldn't have reacted that way back then, and Concubine Hui and Concubine De were the same.

When Yinqi finished his work in the front yard and came over, it was almost evening.

An Qing was playing with her son on the bed. The little guy had just woken up and had a feeding, so he was full of energy now.

She held a small toy and waved it around above his head. The little guy's eyes followed it back and forth, his expression serious, which made him look quite amusing.

When Yinqi entered, he saw this scene and couldn't help but smile.

"Are you done with everything in the front yard?" An Qing asked casually.

Yinqi nodded lightly and sat down on the edge of the bed, replying, "Everything is done."

Hearing the noise nearby, the little guy turned his head and, upon seeing Yinqi, suddenly smiled at him.

An Qing said, "Hey, this ungrateful little one. I've been entertaining him for ages, and he didn't even give me a smile. But as soon as he sees you, he grins."

Thinking about it made her angry. This little brat seemed to really like Yinqi, his father, always looking happy when he saw him and enjoying being held by him.

An Qing felt very jealous. Why should he be like this? She had gone through so much to give birth to him.

The little guy must have sensed his mother's resentment because he turned his head and gave her a big smile.

An Qing was instantly delighted, thinking the little one had some survival instincts after all.

However, looking at her son's smile, she suddenly laughed, "Oh, he's toothless."

Hearing her words, Yinqi couldn't help but hold his forehead and say, "Don't say things like that in front of the child; he'll learn bad habits."

An Qing laughed uncontrollably, "What do you mean by 'bad habits'? It's a pun, understand?"

She pointed at her son's mouth and added, "Toothless, no teeth."

Yinqi paused, finally understanding that "toothless" was not "shameless." He was somewhat amused and exasperated.

They played with their son on the bed for a while. Newborns sleep a lot, and the little guy quickly became drowsy. An Qing gently patted his belly, and he fell asleep soon after.

This amazed her. Was this child here to repay her kindness? Hungry, he eats; sleepy, he sleeps. He never causes trouble—just like an angel baby.

An Qing suddenly remembered something important. She looked at her son in the cradle and then at Yinqi, "I heard that Xiao Bao looks like Eleventh Brother?"

Yinqi knew she was referring to what happened during the washing ceremony, so he didn't hide anything and told her everything he knew.

Actually, when Eleventh Brother was born, Yinqi had just started school and was young, so he didn't have many memories of how Eleventh Brother looked back then. Therefore, he hadn't thought about it in recent days.

But after today's washing ceremony, he found a portrait of Eleventh Brother from his childhood. After seeing it, he understood why everyone was so surprised.

"How similar?" An Qing asked curiously.

Yinqi pondered for a moment and replied, "About seventy to eighty percent."

If it's seventy to eighty percent, that's indeed quite similar.

An Qing thought for a moment and asked, "Is Mother okay?"

Sigh~ With Xiao Bao looking so much like his Eleventh Uncle, it's no wonder my beautiful mother-in-law would be touched.

She lightly tapped the little guy's forehead and whispered, "Little brat, you made your grandmother sad, didn't you?"

Yinqi shook his head with a smile, "No, Mother was just initially surprised, but she seemed fine afterward."

Having a child who looks so much like Eleventh Brother is a comfort to his mother.

An Qing thought about it and agreed, but she also felt a sense of awe. Genetics truly is mysterious. She never imagined giving birth to a son who looks like Eleventh Brother. How could it be such a generational leap?

However, looking down at the familiar little face, she realized his mouth and nose were quite similar to Yinqi's.

An Qing recalled carefully. Eleventh Brother's mouth was fine, but his nose was indeed similar to Yinqi's, both with high, straight bridges. This trait came from Kangxi.

Moreover, both Eleventh Brother and Xiao Bao had eyes that resembled Concubine Yi. If viewed from this perspective, it made sense.

As for where he resembled her, An Qing searched the little guy's face but couldn't find any clear resemblance.

Well, it feels like I gave birth to him for nothing.

"He has fair skin like you," Yinqi said.

So, it's not entirely for nothing.

An Qing thought it was okay; at least there was some genetic inheritance.

Just as she found some comfort, Cui Liu suddenly walked in with a plate of strawberries.

"Master, I've washed the strawberries for you."

An Qing: "..."

She had forgotten that Cui Liu had gone to pick strawberries earlier and hadn't returned. She wondered what she had forgotten throughout the day, and it turned out to be this.

She looked at Yinqi and then at Cui Liu, whose eyes were clearly avoiding hers, and suddenly understood something.

No, this little brat must have done it on purpose!

She had been picking strawberries all day.

And she deliberately brought them in when Yinqi was here, clearly not wanting her to eat them.

Cui Liu inwardly sighed. It wasn't her fault. When she went to the greenhouse to pick strawberries, she ran into Mai Dong, who warned her not to bring strawberries to their master anymore.

After all, Maid Wheat Winter did say that the mistress had just given birth and was still weak. If anything were to happen from eating it, there would be serious trouble.

Fortunately, the mistress didn't think about it all day today. Seeing Beile come in, she quickly brought the strawberries inside, thinking that Beile would certainly stop the mistress from eating them.

However, to the surprise of both the mistress and the maid, Yinqi didn't stop her. Instead, he took the plate from Cui Liu and handed it to An Qing.

An Qing looked bewildered and asked uncertainly, "For me to eat?"

Yinqi nodded lightly, "The imperial physician said to eat only a little."

When An Qing first started growing strawberries in the greenhouse, he consulted several missionaries who all said that in their countries, strawberries were just a type of fruit.

After some of the strawberries in the greenhouse ripened, he had the imperial physician test them, and he ate some himself. Now, he could confirm that they were safe.

An Qing hurriedly nodded and picked up a strawberry, popping it into her mouth. The taste was perfectly balanced between sweet and sour, with a rich fruity aroma—indeed, it was something she had grown herself.

Well, eating a little is better than not eating at all.

Otherwise, after all her hard work, if she couldn't even taste one, she would really be miserable.

To express her gratitude to Yinqi, An Qing picked the biggest and reddest strawberry from the plate and offered it to his lips, smiling ingratiatingly, "You should try it too; it's very sweet."

Yinqi naturally didn't refuse, biting into the strawberry as his lips inadvertently touched her fingertips.

He smiled slightly, saying meaningfully, "Yes, it is very sweet."

Unexpectedly, An Qing felt a tickle on her fingers and rubbed them unconsciously, completely dismissing it: "Of course, I'm not bragging, but I have a natural talent for farming. Whatever I plant always grows better than others'."

After boasting, she continued talking about how to distribute the strawberries from the greenhouse. Good things should be shared, after all.

"The strawberries are ripe now, and they can't be stored for long. Send more to the Empress Dowager and Mother, and don't forget Father. Also..."

Yinqi: "..."

He finally understood what it felt like to wink at a blind person.