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

by Usui Takumii

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

12. 111 to 120

Chapter 111: The Fifth Princess Consort

Spring rains bring warmth.

Since the beginning of spring, Imperial City had experienced several rains, and the weather was gradually becoming warmer.

The drizzle continued, like an endless painting.

An Qing, in a rare moment of leisure, had tables and chairs set up on the veranda, prepared tea, and enjoyed watching the rain and listening to the wind.

In the misty rain, the red walls and green tiles of the palace seemed more graceful than usual.

An Qing had Xiao Bao changed out of his heavy winter clothes into lighter attire. The little one could now walk and run, and since he could walk steadily, he never stopped moving around the courtyard.

Despite his short legs, he moved quickly, and sometimes even the wet nurse couldn't keep up with him.

"Xiao Bao, it's raining outside. You can't go out, or I'll spank your bottom!" An Qing warned her mischievous son, who was trying to step out onto the veranda.

The little boy, hearing his mother's words, quickly withdrew his foot and smiled ingratiatingly. "Mother, Xiao Bao is good. I didn't go out."

Mother's spankings hurt, so he wouldn't dare ask for trouble.

An Qing snorted. "You little rascal, don't try to be cute. Try going out and see what happens!"

Seeing that he couldn't get his way with his mother, the little boy immediately turned to Perilla, begging her to take him to the west warm pavilion to find Snowball.

Seeing her troublesome son off to bother Snowball again, she couldn't help but sigh. Why couldn't this child ever rest?

Sometimes An Qing wondered why he had become so lively when he was initially such a calm baby. Could it be true what her beautiful mother-in-law said, that children resemble those who raise them?

Shaking her head, An Qing dismissed the thought. It had nothing to do with her; she was mostly composed.

Tsk, clearly someone lacked self-awareness. Who would playfully press their one-year-old into the snow?

As the rain gradually stopped, the sky remained overcast, and everyone in the courtyard resumed their activities.

An Qing stretched lazily, stood up, and just as she was about to return to her room for a nap, she saw the Fourth Princess Consort leading Honghui over to visit.

"Fourth Sister-in-Law, why are you here?" An Qing asked in surprise.

The rain had just stopped, and the servants were likely still clearing the puddles. Usually, people would wait a bit before venturing out to avoid getting splashed.

The Fourth Princess Consort smiled and explained, "It's all because of Honghui. He insisted on coming to play with Hong Zhi. As soon as the rain stopped, he couldn't wait to come over."

"Honghui greets Auntie," Honghui bowed politely.

An Qing affectionately patted his little bald head. "Honghui is such a good boy. I'll call your cousin over to play with you."

Before she could call anyone, Xiao Bao heard the commotion and ran out from the west warm pavilion. The two little ones immediately embraced each other and went off to play with building blocks hand in hand.

An Qing invited the Fourth Princess Consort inside, and they chatted while sipping tea.

"I notice Honghui seems much healthier."

Hearing this, the Fourth Princess Consort's face softened. "Thanks to your methods, Honghui hasn't fallen ill during the changing seasons. Even the imperial physicians say he will be like any normal child soon."

An Qing was delighted to hear this. Indeed, they hadn't heard much about Honghui being sick in recent months. "That's great."

Honghui was a likable child, and she hoped he would continue to thrive.

"Oh, by the way, Fourth Sister-in-Law, are you moving next month too?"

After the New Year, the residence of the princes became bustling. Thanks to the efforts of the Imperial Household Department, the residences of the princes were finally ready, and the next step was to move out of the palace.

The Fourth Princess Consort's eyes sparkled as she replied, "Yes, at the end of next month. The Board of Astronomy has selected some auspicious dates. Eldest Brother and Third Brother will move first, followed by us."

An Qing nodded. It was clear how eager everyone was to move out. Three moves in a month showed they couldn't wait another day.

But it made sense. Living outside the palace offered more space and freedom.

"Fourth Sister-in-Law, have you set a date for moving out?" the Fourth Princess Consort asked.

An Qing waved her hand and laughed. "The Board of Astronomy hasn't calculated the auspicious dates for the following month yet. We'll definitely choose the nearest date."

After they move, Seventh Prince and Eighth Prince will follow, so they can't delay.

The Fourth Princess Consort smiled knowingly. Everyone was indeed eager to leave the palace. Every day sooner was better.

"But there is one downside. Visiting each other won't be as easy once we're out of the palace."

An Qing thought it was true. In the residence of the princes, Fourth Prince lived next door, and visiting was just a matter of stepping out. But outside the palace, things would be different.

Fourth Prince's residence was in Lion Alley, while theirs was in Liquor Alley, separated by two streets.

Though not far, it wasn't comparable to living in the prince's residence. To visit, one would need a carriage.

Coincidentally, Eighth Prince's residence was next to Fourth Prince's, and Xiao Jiu's residence was nearby too.

However, Xiao Jiu had only recently gotten married and missed the first wave of moves. Even the funds for their new residence were only allocated recently by Kangxi, so they might move out next year.

They discussed the details of moving out further, and An Qing took the opportunity to inquire about the intricacies and customs involved.

"Everything else is manageable, but the steward of the kitchen must be chosen carefully."

Moving out of the palace meant taking people with them, and the role of the kitchen steward was crucial. Everything else was fine, as they had trusted people around them, except for the kitchen steward, which needed special attention.

After all, in the prince's residence, they received meals from the Imperial Kitchen.

And the main kitchen oversees the entire household's meals, involving many aspects. If this steward is unreliable, it will cause unnecessary troubles after the division.

An Qing understood the implied meaning of the Fourth Princess Consort: dividing the palace and establishing a new household would naturally involve taking a group of people with them. According to the procedures, these arrangements should be handled by the Imperial Household Department.

Therefore, since the decree for the division was issued last year, those in the palace with ambitions have already started maneuvering, especially within the Imperial Tea and Kitchen Office. Many were seeking better opportunities.

Previously, their Fifth Beile's residence could be considered a hot spot; many from the palace were trying various means to find ways to join them outside the palace. Even if they couldn't become the head steward, positions as second-in-command were highly sought after.

Thus, throughout last year, whether it was Perilla or Little Xizi, many tried to use their connections. An Qing did not oppose this method and let them select suitable candidates. After all, they needed to take some people with them, and having them screen the candidates was better than receiving random assignments from the Imperial Household Department.

Initially, she thought everything was settled, but unexpectedly, since the incident where Yinqi was accidentally injured in the Palace of Heavenly Purity before the New Year, Emperor Kangxi seemed to have lost favor with him, evident from his public reprimands several times in the court.

Gradually, rumors spread in the palace that the Fifth Beile had fallen out of favor with the Emperor and might never regain his trust. Consequently, their once-hot residence turned into a cold bench, and those who previously tried to attach themselves suddenly disappeared.

"Hmph! What a bunch of sycophants. They weren't calling me 'sister' left and right before. Now, they avoid me like the plague," Cui Liu said indignantly.

Perilla and Little Xizi also shared her anger.

An Qing, however, wasn't too concerned. She and Yinqi had no grand ambitions, and screening out those with lofty aspirations was actually beneficial.

"Has there been any unusual behavior from Li Shun recently?" she asked Chunxiao.

Li Shun was the second-in-command master chef in the Imperial Tea and Kitchen Office and someone An Qing had identified as the future head steward for their new household. For the past two years, he had been responsible for the meals in her courtyard.

When the decree for the division was first issued, Li Shun had submitted his application through Chunxiao, which she accepted.

Chunxiao replied, "My lady, rest assured. Chef Li is fine. Yesterday, he mentioned that once we determine the date for leaving the palace, he will bring his apprentices to the new residence to prepare everything for you and Beile."

An Qing nodded slightly. That was good. With the kitchen situation stable, other matters could be sorted out after moving out.

As for Lao Kang's intentions, she didn't bother guessing. After all, he had many sons, so being capricious was normal. He could favor whomever he pleased; it didn't matter to her.

Inside the Imperial Tea and Kitchen Office.

It was mealtime, and over a dozen stoves were bustling with activity. Li Shun had just finished preparing the meal for the Fifth Princess Consort's courtyard and instructed a young apprentice to deliver it.

The master chef from the neighboring stove, Wang Xing, approached with a sarcastic tone, "Congratulations, Master Li. You've got the position of head steward in the Fifth Beile's kitchen secured now."

When the Fifth Beile's residence was still a hot spot, many coveted the position of head steward, including Wang Xing. However, since Chunxiao favored Li Shun, he had to seek other opportunities.

He had now connected with the Eighth Princess Consort. Although he couldn't become the head steward in the Eighth Beile's residence, the position of second-in-command was secure.

Li Shun glanced at him and forced a smile, "Thank you for your kind words, Master Wang. If this works out, I'll definitely buy you a drink."

Wang Xing, unable to see the joke he wanted, snorted, "Forget the drinks. Keep that money for unexpected needs. After all, a cold stove can't produce warm fire."

With that, he left the kitchen without looking back.

Li Shun spat in disgust. Short-sighted fool. No matter what, the Fifth Beile was still a prince, and it wasn't up to a mere servant to criticize him.

Let's wait and see. The Fifth Beile's residence won't stay cold. Regardless of the Fifth Beile, just look at the Fifth Princess Consort. She has great abilities and currently manages the agricultural school for the Emperor. It's only a matter of time before they rise again.

Moreover, his initial interest in the Fifth Beile's residence wasn't about its status but because the Fifth Princess Consort was known for treating her servants well.

Having spent most of his life in the palace, he was already half-buried in the earth. Frankly, he didn't seek great fortune; he just wanted a place to serve diligently.

The Fifth Beile's residence was perfect. From his observations, the Fifth Beile and Princess Consort were reliable people, and serving such masters was reassuring.

Throughout April, An Qing and Yinqi attended various opening banquets. Starting with the Elder Brother Prince at the beginning of the month, then the Third Prince mid-month, and finally the Fourth Prince at the end, it felt like they were leaving the palace every few days.

Each time they returned from a banquet, they would make their carriage detour to their new residence, eager to move in immediately.

However, their moving day was approaching. The Astronomical Bureau had determined that only one auspicious day was available in May, and according to seniority, it fell on Yinqi.

As for the Seventh and Eighth Princes, they had no choice but to continue waiting.

Time passed steadily, and soon it was the day for the Fifth Beile to leave the palace.

Chapter 112: The Fifth Princess Consort's Move

On the twentieth day of May, the day of Xiaoman (Grain Buds), which was also deemed an auspicious day for moving by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

On this early morning, everyone from the Fifth Beile's Mansion walked out of the palace from the residence of the princes. Carriages were already waiting at the palace gates to take them to the Fifth Beile's Mansion in Shaojiu Alley.

This alley housed only their princely residence, making it quiet and serene. An Qing led everyone to stand at the entrance of the mansion, looking at the main gate with five bays, flanked by two large stone lions. The more she looked, the more majestic and grand it seemed.

It feels wonderful, finally moving out.

An Qing had always thought of herself as someone who cherished the past, but the moment she left the palace, her only feeling was relief. Passing through the palace walls, away from that small, square world, she felt a sense of freedom like a bird soaring in the sky.

She exchanged a glance with Yinqi and then waved her hand, leading everyone into the mansion.

The layout of the mansion was meticulously revised by An Qing and Yinqi themselves. They had visited several times before, so they knew every detail of the place. Therefore, they didn't rush to tour around but instead started organizing their respective areas.

Yinqi led Hongsheng to the front courtyard. In the prince's residence, conditions were limited, and Hongsheng did not have his own courtyard. But now, he could have one of his own.

In fact, even Xiao Bao's courtyard was prepared, but the little one was still too young to be separated. When he grows up a bit more, he will move to the front courtyard according to tradition.

An Qing led everyone to the rear quarters. She did not ask Liu Jiashi to serve her but let her go to her own courtyard.

Now, only An Qing and Liu Jiashi remained in Yinqi's rear quarters. Liu Jiashi passed away a month ago, and the event did not cause much of a stir. Yinqi handled all the funeral arrangements without involving An Qing. Ma Xiang oversaw the proceedings with the help of the Imperial Household Department.

It was said to be a simple ceremony, with a temporary altar set up in the eastern annex hall for a day, where Hongsheng paid his respects. Then, the deceased was quickly buried.

An Qing led Perilla and the others to her new residence, the main courtyard called Qiyun Pavilion.

Yinqi had suggested naming it himself, and An Qing suspected he was mocking her naming skills, but she was happy to let him do it.

Moving day started very early, and Xiao Bao slept through most of it. As soon as they entered the mansion, An Qing arranged for him to be taken to bed.

She was tired too, but unlike the little one, she had many tasks awaiting her on this first day in the new home.

With the new house came a fresh start. After a busy morning, the sky suddenly turned dark and windy, followed by heavy rain.

"This is supposed to be an auspicious day for moving, how come it's raining?" Cui Liu muttered while sorting things and watching the downpour outside.

What a good day, who would be happy moving in such weather?

But An Qing was clearly an exception, "I'm quite happy, today is Xiaoman, naturally a good day."

Among the twenty-four solar terms, Xiaoman was her favorite.

Like Xiazhì (Summer Solstice) and Dōngzhì (Winter Solstice), which mark the division of seasons, Xiǎoshǔ (Slight Heat) and Dàshǔ (Great Heat) represent climate and weather, and Jīngzhé (Awakening of Insects) represents phenology and natural phenomena.

Xiaoman, however, represents agricultural production.

Moreover, rain during Xiaoman is a good omen. Farmers often judge the year's rainfall based on whether it rains on Xiaoman. If it does, it likely means a year of abundant rain and a bountiful harvest.

In An Qing's view, this belief has some merit. Rain during Xiaoman ensures wheat heads grow uniformly and grains become plump, promising a good harvest.

In a more secluded courtyard in the rear quarters, Guojia was busy with her personal palace maid Qing'er, sorting things out.

"Good thing you had me bring everything inside earlier, or it would have been troublesome now," Qing'er remarked, recalling how she wanted to hang clothes out to air but was stopped by her mistress, who predicted the rain.

Guojia smiled and replied, "I heard the Princess Consort mention it on our way here."

Qing'er thought it made sense; after all, the Princess Consort was skilled in farming and thus adept at predicting the weather.

Thinking of the Princess Consort, Qing'er hesitated before speaking, "Mistress, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

Guojia smiled and responded, "No worries, just speak your mind."

Qing'er paused, considering her words, "Mistress, the Princess Consort doesn't seem to hold grudges, why choose such a remote courtyard?"

Last year, when the courtyards were being built, An Qing specifically showed Guojia the mansion layout and let her choose her own courtyard and style.

After all, they would live here for the rest of their lives, so it was important to have a courtyard to their liking.

But Guojia chose the most remote and distant courtyard, saying she preferred peace and quiet. An Qing tried to persuade her and gave her time to reconsider, but she did not change her mind.

Qing'er understood her mistress well, knowing she did this to avoid causing trouble. However, the Princess Consort did not seem to be someone who would be intolerant, so why bother?

Guojia shook her head and smiled, "It has nothing to do with the Princess Consort, it's my own choice."

The Princess Consort was kind and generous, but Guojia believed she should maintain her own stance.

Though she no longer posed any threat to the Princess Consort, she was still a Princess of the Beile. She did not want to be a burden.

For Guojia, An Qing had done her a great favor, and she could repay her only in this manner for now.

Since moving into the Beile's Mansion, An Qing spent considerable effort organizing everything. Once everything settled, she and Yinqi discussed and decided to host an opening banquet on the fifth day of June.

They planned to keep it low-key, with a small family dinner.

That morning, An Qing and Yinqi had just finished breakfast when someone reported that the Ninth Prince and his consort had arrived.

"Why are you here so early?" she asked, surprised, looking at the Ninth Prince and his consort.

The Ninth Prince replied, "Is it early? It's fine."

An Qing couldn't help rolling her eyes. It was barely past dawn, around seven in the morning by modern standards. The banquet was scheduled for noon, and guests usually arrived after ten.

So, arriving at seven was not considered early?!

The Ninth Princess's wife said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Fifth Sister-in-law. We might have come a bit early. Did we disturb you?"

She knew it was somewhat impolite, but she couldn't resist her husband's insistence and had been dragged along.

An Qing waved her hand; it wasn't a disturbance, just a surprise.

Before she could say anything, however, the Ninth Prince dismissed the concern, "What disturbance? You're making it sound too formal. Fifth Elder Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law aren't strangers."

An Qing smiled in agreement, "Ninth Brother is right. Family doesn't need formality. Your coming early means you can help me and Fifth Elder Brother entertain the guests later."

The Ninth Princess's wife felt a bit embarrassed at first, but An Qing's words comforted her greatly.

"By the way, Fifth Sister-in-law, since you've moved out and now manage the household expenses, you must be short on funds. How about I give you the money from selling the apples?" the Ninth Prince suggested.

"No need, keep it with you," An Qing waved her hand. "Didn't we agree to invest together? Are you not planning to make Fifth Elder Brother and me rich anymore?"

Hearing this, the Ninth Prince immediately protested, "Fifth Sister-in-law, how could you think that of me? It's fine if Fifth Elder Brother thinks so, but you were my mentor. If it weren't for you finding me and helping me sell those apples, I wouldn't have saved my first pot of gold. I could never forget you."

More importantly, through this business, he realized he truly enjoyed commerce and his path forward became clearer.

An Qing raised an eyebrow, thinking it was about time he showed some gratitude.

However, when it came to the Ninth Prince selling the lucky-character apples during the New Year, An Qing could only admit, she was impressed!

After this experience, she had to concede that some people were born businessmen, like the Ninth Prince.

An Qing had initially predicted the price of the apples. With all the added bonuses, they were positioned as high-end products. Selling individually, one apple priced at one tael of silver seemed reasonable.

After all, over three thousand apples were neither too many nor too few, and in Imperial City, there were enough wealthy people to buy them.

But who would have thought that over three thousand apples would eventually fetch more than 300,000 taels of silver, or 100 taels per apple!

One hundred taels was a significant amount. For example, a noble lady in Kangxi's harem received 100 taels monthly, and one tael could buy 150 pounds of the finest rice.

So, spending 100 taels on an apple was madness!

When An Qing first heard this, she wondered if he had used his princely status to force sales. But after detailed inquiries, she understood the whole process.

Initially, An Qing assumed the Ninth Prince would only operate within Imperial City, but he expanded the market to cover half of Great Qing.

The Empress Dowager's birthday banquet was in early November, two and a half months before the New Year, which provided ample time for operations.

As for the specific process, An Qing was stunned by its complexity.

From identifying the target audience, creating hype, using scarcity marketing, and distribution channels, he executed everything flawlessly, proving he was a natural businessman.

After fully entrusting the business to the Ninth Prince, he immediately identified the wealthiest segment of Great Qing as the target audience.

Next, he hired storytellers to create elaborate tales about the lucky-character apples, emphasizing their auspiciousness and suitability as gifts for the Empress Dowager's banquet.

He then secured partnerships with royal merchants across regions and used local storytellers to spread these stories, building momentum.

Through these steps, he managed to sell the apples at a premium, attracting wealthy locals and officials.

An Qing didn't delve into the details but knew it was complex. Any misstep could have ruined the plan.

In the end, after deducting costs, they netted 200,000 taels, split evenly between them, each receiving 100,000 taels.

To ensure everything was legal, An Qing had Yinqi investigate, confirming the Ninth Prince's methods were legitimate and transparent.

Of course, his princely status provided certain conveniences, such as transportation and access to royal merchant lists, but these were understandable.

"Xiao Jiu, have you thought about what to do next? The apple business was a one-time success," An Qing reminded him.

The Ninth Prince understood this and had been pondering it. He had some ideas but needed more time to refine them.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, don't worry. When I figure it out, I'll definitely ask for your advice."

An Qing thought, asking her for advice was unnecessary; she couldn't match his business acumen.

But she didn't refuse. She could at least ensure he stayed on the right path.

After the ninth hour, guests began arriving, and An Qing and Yinqi got busy.

This was the first time their new residence was shown to the public. Rumors had circulated in Imperial City about the uniqueness of the Fifth Beile's residence, so everyone toured the place upon arrival.

Chapter 113: The Fifth Princess Consort

After Yinqi led the group of brothers on a brief tour of the residence, everyone couldn't help but wonder. There was nothing particularly special about this place; it was not much different from their own mansions.

In fact, the Fifth Prince's mansion seemed somewhat simpler, lacking a theater and the elegant pavilions and gardens reminiscent of Jiangnan. It had no extravagant buildings or decorations, falling far short of the residences of the Elder Brother Prince and Third Prince. It even paled in comparison to the Fourth Prince's mansion, which they previously considered too plain.

So, where did those rumors in the Imperial City come from?

The Tenth Prince, known for his straightforwardness, voiced everyone's doubts: "Fifth Elder Brother, isn't your mansion a bit too simple? I heard from Ninth Brother that you spent all twenty-three thousand taels. Where did all that money go?"

Could it be that the servants in the Ministry of Finance embezzled the funds?

Of course, the Tenth Prince didn't say this aloud; he wasn't that foolish. After all, the current person in charge of the Ministry of Finance was one of the Crown Prince's men. Speaking such words would be tantamount to slapping the Crown Prince in the face publicly.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince's expression grew serious.

He wasn't stupid and knew that the establishment of new residences for the princes was a significant matter. Since his people were responsible for the Ministry of Finance, they wouldn't dare to meddle with the funds. Otherwise, if discovered, his father, the Emperor, would surely misunderstand him as being intolerant of his brothers.

Especially the Fifth Prince, who had the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi backing him. In other words, even if the Crown Prince wanted to interfere, he wouldn't choose the Fifth Prince as a target.

Could it be that someone under his command acted without his knowledge?

The Crown Prince's thoughts raced, and he prepared himself for the worst.

Unexpectedly, Yinqi smiled and said, "Tenth Brother, don't worry. The money was indeed spent where it should have been."

Everyone was taken aback by his mysterious demeanor, their curiosity piqued.

Without further ado, Yinqi led them through the back rooms. Behind these rooms lay a vast and surprising space.

As the door opened, a rustic and pastoral atmosphere greeted them, as if they had instantly stepped into a countryside landscape.

The sign above the entrance read six large characters—Green Fragrance Farm.

Putting aside the name Green Fragrance, the word "farm" was self-explanatory. However, everyone was still surprised to find a farm within a mansion.

They didn't need to guess; they knew it must have been An Qing's idea. And indeed, it was her idea.

However, An Qing's farm was more like a small agricultural experimental field. Unlike the one at the Royal Manor, which focused on agricultural research, this one also had an element of recreational enjoyment, resembling a leisure farm—a vacation farm.

The entire area was divided into six sections: experimental zone, general cultivation zone, vegetable garden, nursery, orchard, and mulberry garden. This essentially transformed half of the mansion behind the back rooms, explaining why so much money was spent.

The Elder Brother Prince glanced at Yinqi and hesitated, "Fifth Brother, aren't you spoiling your Princess Consort a bit too much?"

A mansion is only so big, yet he had given half of it to An Qing for her experiments. This seemed unreasonable.

Apart from the Fourth Prince, the Crown Prince and Third Prince also disapproved, clearly showing their dissatisfaction.

However, the Ninth Prince and Tenth Prince weren't concerned about spoiling the Fifth Princess Consort. They simply thought that if one wanted to grow crops, buying more land outside the city would be more practical. After all, this was the inner city, where every inch of land was valuable. It seemed wasteful to use it for farming.

As for the Fourth Prince, he felt there might be a deeper meaning behind An Qing's actions.

Indeed, the Fourth Prince had seen through An Qing. Her farm was modeled after modern agricultural experimental fields, with certain intentions, but mainly because she enjoyed it.

Going to the Royal Manor took over an hour each way, and she couldn't make daily trips. With Yinqi's duties requiring him to attend court, living permanently outside the city wasn't practical. Thus, having a farm within the mansion was more convenient.

If one thinks about it, building theaters in their mansions could also be seen as wasteful since one could just go to the theater outside. So, one's own residence should be arranged as one pleases, without worrying about cost-effectiveness.

Yinqi didn't argue, merely smiling, "I apologize for any embarrassment, but there's no question of spoiling. My mansion has few people, and the space would otherwise be unused."

Everyone understood the underlying message.

In recent months, outsiders might not know why Kangxi suddenly favored Yinqi less, but the princes, including the Crown Prince, were aware of the incident in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. Yinqi refused to take another concubine, leading to a dispute with their father, the Emperor. It was said that even the Empress Dowager was involved. In the end, their father tacitly agreed, but Yinqi lost the Emperor's favor.

They truly wondered if it was worth it.

The Elder Brother Prince was dismissive. A woman, no matter how capable, was not worth losing the Emperor's favor. Any man with ambition would know how to choose.

Moreover, having multiple wives and concubines was a common practice. Yinqi was being shortsighted; he would regret it someday.

The Crown Prince and Third Prince shared similar views. Even the Eighth Prince, known for his loving relationship with his princess consort, disapproved of Yinqi's actions.

The Eighth Prince believed Yinqi was too inflexible. He could have accepted the women sent by the Emperor and decided whom to favor later. After all, he could afford to support them.

However, Yinqi's loss of favor was beneficial to them. Although Yinqi never sought power, his actions with An Qing had significant impacts. The increasing grain production in the Ministry of Finance and An Qing's agricultural school had already produced several capable individuals, earning the Emperor's favor. Their future potential was uncertain.

After all, people's hearts are fickle. Not seeking power today doesn't mean they won't seek it tomorrow.

But now, Yinqi's actions eliminated this threat. No matter how confused the Emperor might be, he wouldn't risk the Great Qing's stability.

Yinqi sensed that this was intentional on the Emperor's part, a warning to prevent others from following suit.

The Empress Dowager had privately assured him not to worry, and Yinqi didn't mind. Even when publicly reprimanded by the Emperor, he remained unperturbed.

However, while he didn't care, others did. Recently, the Emperor cited the Eighth Prince's lack of heirs and sent two princesses to his household. The Eighth Prince spent a month with them, and somehow, the Eighth Princess Consort didn't protest.

In summary, everyone has their own path.

Meanwhile, after the Crown Princess and the princess consorts arrived, An Qing led them around the mansion. They finished their tour slightly earlier than Yinqi's group and were heading back.

Their residence inauguration banquet was kept low-key, inviting only the princes and their princess consorts, excluding royal relatives and family members from both sides.

The banquet for female guests was held in An Qing's Cloud Rest Pavilion. As they entered the courtyard, they passed by a children's playground castle that An Qing had specially built for Xiao Bao. She drew the blueprints based on her memories and had the craftsmen from the Ministry of Finance construct it, complete with slides, climbing frames, ball pits, and colorful hand-painted animals and plants.

Xiao Bao, Hongsheng, and Honghui were playing inside, and their reactions showed that the castle was a hit among children. While Xiao Bao was naturally lively, the fact that the usually shy Honghui and Hongsheng were enjoying themselves demonstrated its appeal to children.

"Knowing that Fifth Sister-in-law has such a place, I would have brought the children from the mansion to play. They would have been very happy." The Eldest Princess Consort said with a smile.

The Crown Princess and others also chimed in their agreement, and An Qing welcomed everyone to visit anytime with a smile.

But she knew these were just pleasantries. Regardless of their relationships, among those present, only she, the Fourth Princess Consort, and the Seventh Princess Consort had children at their knees. The others did not have any children yet, and even if they were as generous as they claimed, they wouldn't bring the children of their concubines over to play.

An Qing led everyone back to the courtyard. As the hostess, it was natural for her to warmly entertain her guests.

But for some reason, the Eighth Princess Consort seemed particularly quiet today. She hadn't spoken much since arriving and now sat there lost in thought.

Noticing her odd behavior, An Qing, out of courtesy, approached and asked, "Eighth Sister-in-law, I see you haven't been talking much. Is something bothering you?"

The Eighth Princess Consort had been deep in thought and was taken aback by An Qing's words. She then managed a forced smile and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Fifth Sister-in-law. I'm fine."

An Qing could tell something wasn't right, but given their distant relationship and the other party's clear reluctance to talk, she didn't press further.

"You're welcome to stay as long as you like, Eighth Sister-in-law. If there's anything lacking in our hospitality, please forgive us."

The Eighth Princess Consort smiled and responded, "Fifth Sister-in-law is too kind."

After exchanging pleasantries, An Qing left, but before doing so, she couldn't help but look back curiously.

It wasn't her fault for being suspicious; the Eighth Princess Consort's behavior today was indeed unusual. Given her usual flamboyant demeanor, whenever the sisters-in-law gathered, she always appeared cheerful and content. This time, however, was different, and even the Crown Princess and others had glanced over frequently.

There must be something strange going on when someone acts out of character. An Qing had to be cautious, but then again, she and the Eighth Princess Consort had no deep connection or enmity. There was no reason for her to cause trouble on this day.

Could it be her period?

Hmm, it's possible. After all, it's common for women to feel down during their periods.

Feeling she had figured out the truth, An Qing didn't pay much more attention to the Eighth Princess Consort, knowing the Ninth Princess Consort would keep an eye on things.

The Eighth Princess Consort watched An Qing leave, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes.

She lowered her lashes and stared quietly at her feet, her mind replaying the farm she had seen earlier, feeling increasingly uneasy.

Ever since she married into the imperial family, people inside and outside the palace had said that the Eighth Prince treated her well, showing deep affection.

It was often said that the Aisin Gioro clan produced many romantic souls. Emperor Taizong and Hailan Zhu, the late emperor and Dong Efei—many whispered that the Eighth Prince was the romantic soul of his generation.

The Eighth Princess Consort used to believe this and felt proud of it. But today, she suddenly realized that compared to the Eighth Prince, the Fifth Prince might be the true romantic.

Regarding the Fifth Prince losing the Emperor's favor, the Eighth Princess Consort knew some of the details. When the Emperor suddenly sent two Princesses to their residence, the Eighth Prince confided in her.

When she heard that the Fifth Prince had angered the Emperor by refusing to add more people to his harem, her first reaction was shock, followed by uncontrollable envy.

The Eighth Prince said the Emperor was warning him, but the Eighth Princess Consort had no choice. Despite her frustration, she had to endure for the sake of the Eighth Prince, watching him visit the courtyards of those "little vixens" every day.

Even when the Emperor used Cao Yin to send people to their residence in Jiangnan, the Eighth Princess Consort could convince herself it was because of An Qing's success with the ghost wheat, not related to the Fifth Prince.

But this time, she had to admit that a man could refuse the Emperor's favor for the sake of his beloved woman, even at the cost of power and future prospects.

But what good did it do? For a woman, what grand plans or imperial favor could compare to the love of her partner? If given a choice, she wished the Eighth Prince would have refused, but he didn't.

The banquet went smoothly, and although the number of guests was small, everyone enjoyed themselves.

As the guests prepared to leave, An Qing and Yinqi came out to bid them farewell. Unexpectedly, they ran into Liang Jiugong at the entrance.

"Fifth Beile, Fifth Princess Consort, His Majesty and the Empress Dowager have sent me to bestow some gifts upon you."

Everyone was stunned. The Crown Prince and the Elder Brother Prince exchanged glances, both seeing envy in each other's eyes.

What kind of luck did the Fifth Prince have? Even after losing the Emperor's favor, he still received special gifts during his mansion-opening banquet, delivered personally by Liang Jiugong, the Emperor's trusted eunuch. This was clearly a message to the court and the palace: the Emperor could ignore his son, but others should not.

This was a show of support for the Fifth Prince.

Of course, they weren't foolish. Liang Jiugong mentioned that it was by the order of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, indicating that the Empress Dowager was likely behind this gesture.

That's why the Crown Prince and others envied him. With the Empress Dowager's support, the Fifth Prince could always count on someone to stand up for him, unlike them.

After sending off the guests and Liang Jiugong, Yinqi and An Qing looked at the lavish gifts on the table, exchanging puzzled glances.

"What does the Emperor mean? Does he favor you or not?" An Qing asked, bewildered.

She couldn't understand the complexities and thus couldn't guess Kangxi's intentions.

Yinqi remained composed but understood more deeply.

It seemed his previous guesses were correct. Half of the Emperor's displeasure stemmed from anger over the incident, which had now subsided after several months. The other half was to deter his brothers, which is why the Empress Dowager was involved in the gift-giving, reminding them that his special treatment was due to her favor.

"Favor or not, I am still the Emperor's son, and he won't truly harm me. We should focus on living our own lives," Yinqi said with a smile.

An Qing raised an eyebrow, agreeing inwardly.

Amidst the world's chaos, peace is hard to find.

Regardless of the turmoil outside, they would close their doors and live their lives in their secluded mansion.

Chapter 114: The Fifth Lady

May of the forty-second year of Kangxi's reign.

In the evening, Yinqi returned from the government office and headed straight for the main courtyard, Qiyun Pavilion.

"Where is your Lady?" Yinqi searched the house but couldn't find An Qing, just as Perilla returned from outside.

Perilla hurriedly replied, "My Lord Beile, the mistress took Little Master and Little Prince Hongsheng to the farm to pick cherries."

Yinqi nodded lightly and turned towards the farm in the rear quarters.

In the orchard area of the farm, it was cherry season. An Qing led Xiao Bao and Hongsheng under the cherry trees, watching Little Xizi climb a ladder to pick cherries.

The cherry trees were tall; all the low-hanging fruit had already been picked. Only those at the top required climbing or standing on a ladder, making cherries notoriously difficult to harvest despite their deliciousness.

"Little Xizi, pick that big red one over there! I want that one!" Xiao Bao stood under the tree, looking up and shouting.

Little Xizi responded from the ladder, "Yes, Little Prince Hong Zhi, this servant will pick it for you."

Seeing the little boy standing too close to the ladder, potentially causing trouble, An Qing called out, "Xiao Bao, come here to Mama."

Hearing his mother's words, the little boy pouted instinctively and unhappily ran over. "Mama, why do you still call me Xiao Bao? Didn't we agree you should call me Hong Zhi now?"

An Qing rolled her eyes slightly, exasperated. This three-year-old boy now cared about his dignity. A few days ago, he came back from the palace disliking the name she gave him, refusing to let her use it anymore.

Later, after inquiring with Concubine Yi, she learned that he had encountered Elder Brother Prince's son, Hong Yu, in the palace, who mocked the name Xiao Bao for not being manly enough.

"Alright, Mama will try to remember and avoid calling you Xiao Bao," An Qing said with a smile. "But you must understand that Mama has been calling you that for so long; it's hard to change immediately. How about this: at home, I'll still call you Xiao Bao, but outside, I'll call you Hong Zhi. What do you think?"

The little boy tilted his head, considering the proposal. He decided it was acceptable since no one would tease him at home.

"Okay, but Mama, please remember to call me Hong Zhi when we go out," Xiao Bao said solemnly. Then he turned to Hongsheng, "Brother, you need to remember too."

Hongsheng's face showed a hint of guilt. "I'm sorry, Xiao Bao. It was my fault before."

A few days ago, Xiao Bao went to the study hall to pick him up, and he called him Xiao Bao, which was overheard by Hong Yu, leading to teasing.

Hongsheng felt increasingly guilty. He should have known that only his mother called him Xiao Bao at home. Outside, everyone—his father, grandmother, and nanny—called him Hong Zhi.

Xiao Bao waved his hand dismissively. "It's okay, Brother. We didn't have an agreement before, so it wasn't your fault."

Just then, Little Xizi finished picking cherries and climbed down the ladder. Xiao Bao immediately grabbed Hongsheng's hand and ran over.

When Yinqi arrived, he saw this scene. Seeing the brothers getting along well brought him great comfort.

He knew there wouldn't be many children in his household, but he hoped they would always share a deep bond, unlike the current situation among his own siblings, filled with rivalry and strife.

An Qing sensed someone behind her and turned to see Yinqi nearby, surprised. "Why did you come home so early today?"

In recent days, he had been returning late every night.

Yinqi walked up to her and smiled. "There wasn't much work at the office today, so I came home early."

An Qing nodded lightly. Just as she was about to say something, Xiao Bao rushed over like a gust of wind and hugged Yinqi's leg.

"Father, you're finally back! Xiao Bao hasn't seen you for days!" the little boy complained pitifully.

Yinqi lifted him into his arms. Manchurian tradition dictated carrying grandchildren rather than sons, but Yinqi had always carried Xiao Bao since he was a baby.

"Father has been busy lately, but it will get better soon," he explained to the little boy.

Hongsheng approached, feeling somewhat awkward upon seeing Yinqi. "Son greets Father."

Yinqi raised his hand, signaling him to rise. "How is your study going at the academy?"

Hongsheng, now seven years old, had started attending the academy at the beginning of the year.

"Thank you for your concern, Father. Everything is fine," Hongsheng replied.

Yinqi nodded. "I haven't checked your studies in a while. Let's go to the study later."

Upon hearing his father wanted to check his homework, Hongsheng became nervous, frantically recalling what he had learned recently.

Watching from the side, An Qing couldn't help but inwardly criticize. Ever since Hongsheng started attending the academy, eight out of ten times they met, Yinqi would check his homework. Even she would feel anxious if she were in Hongsheng's shoes.

However, she didn't want to undermine Yinqi's authority in front of the children, so she changed the subject. "Let's go back and eat some cherries. They're freshly picked and very fresh."

Xiao Bao, the food lover, immediately exclaimed, "Mama, I want to eat lots and lots of cherries today!"

Then he added, "Brother should eat lots and lots too!"

An Qing rolled her eyes at him. "Don't drag your brother into this. It's almost time for dinner, so you'd better eat properly, or else I'll spank you!"

The little boy pouted and turned to his father, hoping he would take his side.

Yinqi cleared his throat. "Your mother is right."

Xiao Bao: "..."

"Hmph! I knew Father wouldn't help me!"

As twilight fell, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the nearby wheat fields, giving the wheat stalks a gilded edge.

Walking together, Hongsheng caught sight of his younger brother being carried by their father. A hint of envy flashed in his eyes.

But in the next moment, his hand was suddenly taken by his mother.

Hongsheng looked up, and An Qing smiled at him without saying a word.

At that moment, Hongsheng felt a warmth in his heart, and the hand held by his mother gradually relaxed, making his steps lighter.

After dinner, Yinqi led Hongsheng back to the front courtyard to check on his studies, while An Qing bundled Xiao Bao off to the bath. The weather was getting hotter, and this little rascal had been running around all day. If she didn't give him a bath, he would really start to stink.

After she finally got the little one cleaned up and managed to lull him to sleep, Yinqi returned.

"I'll carry him back," Yinqi said.

An Qing nodded. "Alright, this little rascal has gotten so heavy now; I can hardly lift him anymore."

Not just her, even the nannies and palace maids found it difficult to carry him. But this little guy insisted on sleeping in their room, always being carried over to the next room after he fell asleep.

Yinqi carried him out, and An Qing took the opportunity to freshen up. When she came out of the bath, she saw him sitting at the table, lost in thought.

Seeing him like this, she knew something must have happened. Thinking about it, he had been distracted all evening.

She counted the days and had a vague suspicion. "Did something happen at court?"

Yinqi snapped back to reality and, after a moment, nodded slightly. "As you predicted, Father today issued an edict to detain Suoetu."

An Qing sighed silently. Indeed, it was this matter.

According to the timeline, history recorded that Suoetu was detained at this time.

As for Yinqi's statement, "As you predicted," it goes back to more than a month ago, no, precisely to the Southern Tour at the beginning of the year.

This year, Kangxi embarked on his fourth Southern Tour. An Qing knew it wouldn't be smooth sailing, so she never tried to join. As it turned out, it wasn't.

Kangxi left for the south on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month. However, when they reached the Grand Canal in Dezhou, the Crown Prince suddenly fell very ill. Kangxi stayed in the city to wait for his recovery. The Crown Prince was sick for over half a month. When he recovered, Kangxi, worried about his health, decided to cancel the tour and return to the Imperial City in March.

On the surface, everything seemed normal, but Yinqi heard something from the Fourth Prince who accompanied the tour.

When the Crown Prince was critically ill in Dezhou, Suoetu secretly brought a doctor to treat him. After the Crown Prince's condition improved, Suoetu secretly returned to the Imperial City.

When An Qing heard this, she knew it was bad news. On the surface, there was nothing wrong, but if the Fourth Prince knew about it, it meant it wasn't well-hidden. Kangxi must have known too.

Suoetu going without being summoned was already inappropriate, let alone secretly bringing a doctor. Was he implying that Kangxi, the father, didn't care enough about the Crown Prince's illness? Or worse, did he suspect Kangxi wanted to take the Crown Prince's life?

More importantly, whether it was the Crown Prince's intention or Suoetu's concern, the fact that the Crown Prince neither reported it to Kangxi nor immediately sent Suoetu away showed that he trusted his uncle more than his father.

That crossed Kangxi's line. No matter what, the Crown Prince was raised by Kangxi, and his affection for him ran deeper than for his other sons. This outcome was unacceptable.

The reason Kangxi didn't act immediately was to maintain the royal dignity. Any hint of scandal during the Southern Tour could lead to rumors among the people. Kangxi valued his reputation as a benevolent father and didn't want to bear such a stigma.

But Suoetu couldn't escape. Once Kangxi returned to the Imperial City, he wouldn't let him go.

An Qing asked, "What charge?"

Yinqi hesitated, a hint of ambiguity crossing his face. "Treason."

They exchanged a glance, both understanding that Suoetu was doomed. With this charge of treason, Kangxi clearly intended to end Suoetu's life.

Anyone familiar with the current political situation knew that Suoetu wouldn't risk treason unless he was insane. Not only had he retired from politics, but also, given the current dynamics, with the Crown Prince still firmly in place despite the rising influence of the Elder Brother Prince and the Eighth Prince, there was no need for Suoetu to take such a risk.

Although An Qing had known about Suoetu's fate, she had hoped for a different outcome. Suoetu's death would mark a significant turning point in the relationship between the Crown Prince and Kangxi.

Undoubtedly, Kangxi's intention was to use Suoetu's death to discipline the Crown Prince, hoping to bring him back to his side and mend their relationship. But this was a futile hope. Seeing his father execute his uncle, the Crown Prince would naturally fear him, leading to greater tension.

However, for the other princes, Kangxi's change in attitude toward the Crown Prince presented an opportunity. Thus, the struggle for succession intensified.

The Imperial City would become a place of intrigue.

"If there's a chance, would you consider leaving the Imperial City?" An Qing asked tentatively.

The situation would only worsen. It was currently the forty-second year of Kangxi's reign, and the Crown Prince's removal was still five years away.

Aside from the constant vigilance required to avoid being drawn into the succession struggles, Yinqi's temperament made watching his brothers fight each other a torment.

Thus, leaving the Imperial City might be a way to protect themselves.

Hearing this, Yinqi looked bewildered. Leaving the Imperial City?

It was something he had never considered before, so he couldn't give An Qing an answer right away.

An Qing simply asked, not expecting an immediate response. She merely wanted to plant a seed in his mind.

She knew it would be a difficult decision for Yinqi, as all his family was here.

Moreover, how to leave? Where to go? Would Kangxi allow it?

These were questions that needed careful planning.

Chapter 115: The Fifth Princess

After Suoetu was imprisoned, the Crown Prince almost daily went to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to plead for mercy, but each time he was coldly turned away by Kangxi.

This day, the Crown Prince once again faced rejection and returned to the Yuqing Palace. After pondering at his desk for a long while, he finally wrote a letter and handed it to a trusted aide, instructing him to deliver it outside the palace.

Since his Father Emperor refused to see him, he had no choice but to find another way out. His uncle had supported him for so many years and was his greatest reliance in the political arena; he could not let him fall.

However, the Crown Prince did not realize that this very action would hasten Suoetu's death.

In the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Kangxi's face darkened ominously after hearing the report from the leader of the Imperial Guard.

"Are you certain the letter was delivered to the Hesheri residence?"

The leader bowed respectfully and replied, "Your Majesty, it is absolutely true. I personally witnessed the letter being handed to Minister Xinyu, who then summoned Minister Fabao. They met in the study for an entire hour before sending several letters to other ministers."

Xinyu and Fabao were Suoetu's brothers and key figures in his faction. The Crown Prince's message to them made his intentions clear.

"Very well, what a fine son I have raised!" A glint of murderous intent flashed in Kangxi's eyes as he sneered, "Suoetu, how dare you corrupt my son? Does he remember only you and forget his Father Emperor?!"

The leader stood there with his head bowed, not daring to breathe loudly.

Having served Kangxi for many years, he knew all too well the consequences of the emperor's wrath. As the Crown Prince grew increasingly uncontrollable over the years, Kangxi's desire to punish Suoetu intensified, reaching its peak now.

The Crown Prince was personally groomed by Kangxi since childhood. The more he valued the Crown Prince, the stronger his control became, and he would not tolerate any deviation from the path he had set. Thus, the responsibility for corrupting the Crown Prince fell solely on Suoetu.

That day, two imperial edicts were issued from the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

The first ordered the arrest and imprisonment of Xinyu, Fabao, and other members of Suoetu's faction, stating clearly that any rebellion would result in immediate execution of their families.

The second edict was sent to the Board of Imperial Clan Affairs, ordering the Third Prince and Fourth Prince to inspect the prison at night and interrogate Suoetu rigorously.

Not long after, Kangxi directly issued an edict to execute Suoetu in his place of confinement, thus stripping the Crown Prince of his greatest political support.

When news of Suoetu's death reached the Crown Prince, he was in the study of the Yuqing Palace discussing important matters with his advisors. He immediately collapsed into a chair.

Seeing this, his personal eunuch quickly dismissed everyone and returned to the study, looking at his master with concern.

"Master, are you alright?"

The Crown Prince felt a chill run down his spine, his voice trembling, "Leave me alone. Close the door. I need some time alone."

Though worried, the eunuch dared not disobey and left the room.

As the door closed, the room dimmed. The Crown Prince sat there, mouth slightly agape, his gaze unfocused, filled with fear.

His Father Emperor had killed someone close to him without hesitation. Uncle was not just another servant; he was from the powerful Hesheri clan of Manchuria and a high-ranking official. How could his Father Emperor do this?

Did this mean that even his position as Crown Prince could be revoked at any moment?

For the first time in his twenty-nine years, the Crown Prince realized that everything he had was due to his Father Emperor. Everything he took for granted suddenly seemed precarious. His position as Crown Prince could be ended with a single word from his Father Emperor.

Could his Father Emperor one day treat him like Uncle and order his execution?

At this thought, the Crown Prince shivered despite the summer heat.

Everything unfolded as An Qing had predicted. Kangxi intended to discipline the Crown Prince and bring him back on track, but he never expected that his actions would terrify the Crown Prince. The once arrogant prince became fearful and insecure.

Within months, with Suoetu's death, the Crown Prince's faction suffered a major blow. Kangxi's dissatisfaction with the Crown Prince led many ministers to shift their allegiance to the Elder Brother Prince and Eighth Prince, making them prominent figures in the court.

But this was not Kangxi's intention. At least for now, he still considered the Crown Prince his successor. Both the Elder Brother Prince and Eighth Prince existed to balance the Crown Prince's power. With the scales tipping, the Crown Prince was clearly at a disadvantage.

Thus, Kangxi made another decision: to strengthen the Crown Prince by assigning the Thirteenth Prince to assist him.

The method was simple: an arranged marriage.

Kangxi betrothed Suoetu's granddaughter, Lady Zhaojia, to the Thirteenth Prince, effectively handing over the remnants of Suoetu's faction to him.

When An Qing heard this news, she was teaching at the Royal Manor during the summer corn harvest season. Standing at the edge of the vast fields, she sighed deeply.

Though she had anticipated this, when it actually happened, even she felt a deep sense of helplessness.

Over the years, her interactions with these people had made it impossible for her to view them merely as historical figures. Her emotions were inevitably affected.

Since Consort Min's passing, the Thirteenth Prince had received more attention from Kangxi. Whenever he went out, he would take the Thirteenth Prince along. The Thirteenth Prince himself was a talented young man, skilled in both literature and martial arts, excelling in archery and calligraphy.

At seventeen, he had already been sent by Kangxi to perform ceremonies in Shengjing and Mount Tai. Whether out of guilt for Consort Min or genuine affection, it was clear that Kangxi favored him greatly.

Yet, this special arrangement to have the Thirteenth Prince assist the Crown Prince would ultimately lead to their downfall.

After the Crown Prince's first demotion, the Thirteenth Prince was implicated and fell out of favor with Kangxi. For the next decade, he endured a bleak winter until the ascension of Yongzheng brought him a new spring.

The cruelty of the imperial family was something only those involved truly understood.

Due to the Thirteenth Prince's favor with Kangxi, even the Eighth Princess and Tenth Princess enjoyed higher status in the palace. Even without An Qing's intervention, no one dared to mistreat them.

After their mother's death, the young Thirteenth Prince took on the role of a father figure, striving to impress Kangxi, partly for the sake of his sisters.

Knowing the course of history, An Qing could not interfere with the Thirteenth Prince's choices. She could only let him follow his own path.

Her only consolation was that after the Fourth Prince ascended the throne, the Thirteenth Prince would see a brighter future.

Endure the hardship, and better days will come. But if given a choice, who would willingly suffer? It was all beyond their control.

At the Ministry of Finance.

Yinqi came to handle some affairs and, upon finishing, coincidentally ran into the Fourth Prince as they were leaving. Both heading home, they decided to travel together.

Just as the two of them arrived at the carriage, they saw the Thirteenth Prince waiting there from a distance.

"Thirteen, come here," the Fourth Prince called out to him.

The Thirteenth Prince walked over and greeted them, "Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother."

Yinqi nodded slightly and asked, "What are you doing here? Are you also here for business at the Ministry of Finance?"

The Thirteenth Prince shook his head and instinctively looked at the Fourth Prince, "No, I came to wait for Fourth Brother."

The Fourth Prince looked at his younger brother, seemingly guessing why he had come, and lightly patted his shoulder, "Let's get in the carriage first. Come have dinner at my place tonight."

Then, he turned to Yinqi, "Fifth Brother, why don't you join us? We brothers haven't eaten together in a long time."

Yinqi hesitated. Seeing how the Thirteenth Prince seemed to have something on his mind, he thought it might be inappropriate to join them.

"Fourth Brother, maybe another time."

The Thirteenth Prince noticed his Fifth Brother's concern and waved his hand, "Fifth Brother, it's fine. You should come too; there's nothing inconvenient about it."

Over the years, the Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother had always been very supportive of him. And Fifth Sister-in-law, after their mother passed away, she took care of Eighth Sister and Tenth Sister in the palace, preventing them from suffering much injustice.

Therefore, in the Thirteenth Prince's heart, these were the people he truly felt close to, especially the Fourth Brother. But now that his father had pushed him towards the Crown Prince, the Second Brother, the Thirteenth Prince felt he was letting down his Fourth Brother.

Because of this, he had been unsure how to face the Fourth Brother recently. Today, he came to explain himself, not wanting to become distant from the Fourth Brother who had been kind to him since childhood, which was the last thing he wanted.

Seeing this, Yinqi couldn't refuse any longer and got into the carriage with them.

Over the years, among his brothers, he had only been close to the Fourth Brother and the Thirteenth Brother. Since neither of them had taken sides in the court, being close to them hadn't been an issue.

But now that the Thirteenth Brother had been pushed by their father into the Crown Prince's camp, he would have to be more cautious in the future.

The Thirteenth Prince had planned everything out before coming, but now that he saw them, he suddenly didn't know what to say, "Fourth Brother, I..."

The Fourth Prince understood his younger brother well. Even though he hadn't said anything, he guessed what he wanted to say, "Thirteen, you don't need to feel burdened. The Second Brother is the Crown Prince, and it's our duty to support him. Father's arrangements are always right."

He then patted his shoulder again, "Don't worry. No matter what happens, we'll always be brothers."

However, they still needed to be more careful in public, not as close as before. After all, they had to consider the Crown Prince's feelings. If someone close to the Crown Prince treated the Fourth Brother better than the Crown Prince, how would the Crown Prince feel, and how would their father feel?

The Thirteenth Prince understood this logic. Indeed, they could not refuse their father's arrangements.

The atmosphere inside the carriage became heavy.

Yinqi sat quietly, realizing for the first time how sometimes they had no choice in matters.

Like the Thirteenth Brother, their father had personally pushed him towards the Crown Prince without even asking for his opinion.

Or rather, even if he had asked, would the Thirteenth Brother have had the right to refuse?

Yinqi couldn't help but think of himself. His father had not yet forced him into this mess, but ever since Suoetu's death, the Crown Prince no longer allowed him to remain neutral. He had hinted several times, along with his eldest brother and eighth brother, trying to pull him over to their side.

Due to the Mongolian forces behind him and An Qing's achievements with the agricultural school and farming over the past few years, they had become a coveted asset. It was no longer easy to stay out of it.

Perhaps, as An Qing had said, leaving the Imperial City might be the best choice when they had no other options.

After dinner, An Qing put Xiao Bao to sleep and went to bathe. When she came out, she ran into Yinqi, who had just returned.

"You've been drinking?"

An Qing moved closer and smelled the strong alcohol on him.

Yinqi softly replied, "I drank a bit with Fourth Brother and Thirteenth Brother."

An Qing knew he had been with the Fourth Prince and Thirteenth Prince tonight; Ma Xiang had reported it before dinner, "Then go wash up quickly. Do you want Mai Dong to make you some sobering soup?"

Yinqi shook his head, "No need, I didn't drink much."

He then headed towards the bath, knowing An Qing didn't like strong smells when sleeping.

Seeing that he was indeed fine and not drunk, An Qing nodded slightly.

Unexpectedly, after taking a few steps, Yinqi suddenly turned around, "When you mentioned leaving the Imperial City, does that opportunity have anything to do with our backyard farm?"

116

In the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Kangxi was discussing the severe famine in Shandong with his officials, and the princes were also present.

Last year, during the summer and autumn months, widespread flooding devastated Shandong, causing crops to drown and leaving many areas with no harvest at all.

Throughout history, famines have often been accompanied by cannibalism, and the term "two-legged sheep" has been used to refer to people during times of disaster.

Without delving into distant history, since Kangxi ascended the throne, there have been famines every few years. The most severe one in recent memory occurred in the thirty-first year of Kangxi's reign, affecting Hongtong, Linfen, Xiangling, Fuping, Zhouzhi, Jingyang, and other parts of Shaanxi.

The famine in the thirty-first year of Kangxi's reign left countless dead from starvation and people struggling to survive. Many officials still vividly remember those scenes, including Kangxi himself.

However, this time, the scale and severity of the disaster in Shandong far exceeded that of the thirty-first year. The court immediately mobilized resources, allowing Shandong to open its granaries for relief and dispatching fifty thousand shi of grain via three routes to aid the starving population.

Everyone thought that Shandong would not escape this disaster, as the relief grain could only sustain the people for a short while. However, due to the promotion of winter wheat and summer corn in recent years, which allowed for two harvests per year, the people had enough surplus grain to survive the famine last year, miraculously managing self-rescue.

This was the first time Kangxi and the entire court truly understood the importance of An Qing's promotion of winter wheat and summer corn, which saved countless lives in critical moments.

Unfortunately, disasters do not come singly. Before the people could celebrate, Shandong experienced continuous rain and flooding again this spring and summer, leading to another major flood. Ninety-four prefectures and counties in Shandong were once again affected.

With consecutive years of such severe natural disasters, the people's ability to withstand risks was already weak, and surviving one disaster was already a challenge.

Thus, a large-scale famine erupted in Shandong again this year. As a populous province, Shandong's people were in dire straits, relying solely on government relief.

Although the treasury had been replenished in recent years, dealing with such a massive disaster was still extremely challenging. Moreover, it was currently the lean season, with crops not yet ripe and local reserves severely depleted after a year of consumption.

After failing to secure additional grain, Kangxi was faced with the imminent prospect of widespread starvation in Shandong. At this critical moment, Mongolia offered assistance, stating they had grain to help with the relief efforts.

When the news reached the court, everyone, including Kangxi, was astonished. After all, Mongolian tribes had previously relied on the government for relief every year.

While it was known that Mongolian farming had improved in recent years, no one expected them to play such a significant role now.

"Your Majesty, the first batch of relief grain led by Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner has arrived at the disaster area. Although mostly sweet potatoes, these grains are lifesavers for the victims," reported Ma Qi, Minister of Finance.

During this disaster, the first to offer assistance was An Qing's father, whose tribe had the largest and most mature farming area. In recent years, sweet potato cultivation had become widespread among the tribe.

Additionally, the eight thousand acres of land leased by the Fourth Princess in the Qingshui River area had also yielded abundant harvests, ensuring sufficient surplus grain.

Following Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner's lead, the First Princess, Second Princess, Third Princess, and Fourth Princess also submitted their offers to provide relief grain.

Other Mongolian tribes soon followed suit, having benefited from Kangxi's encouragement of farming in recent years. While they did not have as much surplus as Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, they still had enough to contribute to the relief effort.

Upon hearing that the disaster situation was under control, Kangxi breathed a sigh of relief. He never expected that the relief grain would come from Mongolian tribes, and he grew increasingly satisfied with the leadership of Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner and Deb.

However, both Kangxi and the officials knew that Mongolia's ability to provide aid at this critical moment was ultimately due to An Qing's efforts.

She had introduced sweet potato storage techniques, enabling Mongolian tribes to cultivate high-yield crops. Additionally, her contributions to increasing agricultural yields across the empire had significantly increased the availability of relief grain.

If people had not fully realized the extent of An Qing's achievements before, they now clearly understood how she had impacted millions of lives and strengthened the foundation of the Great Qing Empire.

After work, Yinqi returned home and immediately informed An Qing about the disaster situation in Shandong. He knew she had been closely following the developments.

Hearing that the first batch of relief grain from Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner had arrived, An Qing genuinely smiled.

It's good that the grain has arrived; the people won't go hungry anymore.

Seeing her happiness, Yinqi couldn't help but smile too. "Are you that happy?"

An Qing nodded vigorously. "Of course! It feels like I've done something incredible."

Anyone familiar with Qing dynasty famine history knows that from the forty-second to the forty-third year of Kangxi's reign, Shandong suffered the worst famine in the country, with drought and floods leading to widespread starvation, known as the "Great Famine of Shandong."

"People resorted to cannibalism, and many died from starvation."

When An Qing read these lines in historical records, she saw images of people starving. By October, farmers were already out of food, and few survived such a great disaster.

People fear natural disasters the most. While human-made disasters can be avoided, natural disasters leave us helpless. The only thing we can do is prepare for post-disaster relief.

In recent years, An Qing had been quietly planning. Though unsure of her capabilities, she wanted to find a way to help the disaster-stricken people.

Thus, she promoted the cultivation of winter wheat and summer corn, which allowed for two harvests per year. Shandong, being a major wheat-producing province, benefited greatly from this method.

She also promoted sweet potato cultivation in Mongolian tribes, improving their living conditions and providing aid during disasters. Mongolia generally enjoyed favorable weather, unlike Shandong's frequent disasters.

Her previous efforts played a crucial role this time. As an agronomist, she felt immensely proud and fulfilled.

Yinqi watched her in the candlelight, feeling proud of An Qing.

She was more than remarkable. Her efforts over the years had tangible results. She had achieved what she once said in Jiangning Prefecture—ensuring more people could eat and survive. She had saved countless lives during the famine in Shandong.

What an incredible feat.

After celebrating, An Qing remembered something important. "By the way, when are you going to invite Father Emperor to our residence? Have you written the memorial?"

Yinqi replied, "I plan to speak to him in a few days. Now that the disaster in Shandong is under control, he should be in a better mood."

An Qing nodded. "I mentioned it to Empress Dowager and Mother today. They support our decision, and Empress Dowager said if you need her to speak to Father Emperor, just let her know."

She then added, "Based on the timing, my brother's memorial should have reached Father Emperor by now."

Yinqi lightly responded with a soft "Hmm," "Then let's wait for now. If there are no unexpected developments, the Emperor will definitely summon you first."

An Qing felt the same way but was still somewhat uncertain. "Do you think the Emperor will agree?"

Yinqi pondered for a moment before replying, "After experiencing the great famine in Shandong, I believe the Emperor must have realized the importance of the Mongolian tribes and the northeastern regions. He is very likely to agree."

Hearing his words, An Qing felt considerably reassured.

Currently, Imperial City was in a period of turmoil. She and Yinqi had already reached a consensus: they would temporarily leave the capital. However, the biggest issue was whether Kangxi would agree.

According to An Qing's plan, she wanted to set up a large agricultural experimental field in Fengtian Province in the northeast. The region was vast and rich, with plenty of uncultivated land, making it an excellent choice.

For the current Great Qing, establishing agricultural education and setting up agricultural experimental fields were essential for improving agricultural conditions. In recent years, the agricultural school had been running smoothly, and An Qing had consciously trained several officials from the Agricultural Administration Department, compiling some basic agricultural textbooks. With these preparations, teaching could continue without much difficulty.

After all, the agricultural school was initially designed as a quick training program for scientific farming, not involving research. The basic knowledge was readily available and not particularly challenging.

As for setting up the agricultural experimental field, she planned to introduce various crops from different regions to improve their varieties during cultivation. After repeated trials, these improved varieties would be promoted to ordinary farmers, which was a crucial step in advancing agriculture.

Her small farm behind her residence was a miniature version of this agricultural experimental field. Inviting Kangxi to visit the farm was also intended to persuade him more effectively.

Of course, to better convince Kangxi, she increased the stakes by having her second brother submit a memorandum detailing the proportion of saline-alkali land in the Mongolian tribes. This would allow her to address these issues if she went there.

However, Kangxi had become noticeably more suspicious and sensitive in recent years, and he always feared Yinqi's deep connections with the Mongolian tribes. Therefore, whether they could achieve their goal remained uncertain.

A round of negotiations was inevitable.

Chapter 117: The Fifth Princess Consort

The disaster relief efforts in Shandong have made Emperor Kangxi and the entire court acutely aware of the importance of land reclamation and improving land utilization rates, especially in northern regions.

The southern regions have always been renowned as the granaries of the empire, with relatively fertile soil, abundant water sources, and favorable climate conditions for farming. However, despite having more arable land, the southern regions also have a high population density, making per capita grain production barely enough to sustain the populace. Even minor disasters can be overwhelming, let alone a major one like the one in Shandong.

Emperor Kangxi scrutinized the latest statistics on population growth and farmland submitted by the Ministry of Finance, his brows furrowed deeply. The conflict between population growth and available land had become increasingly severe, and if left unchecked, it would pose a significant threat to the empire.

He put down the memorial and looked at the ministers below him, asking, "What are your thoughts on this?"

The ministers exchanged glances, clearly at a loss for solutions.

Emperor Kangxi turned to Zhang Tingyu and directly addressed him, "Zhang Tingyu, you've spent several years at the Agricultural Administration Department. What do you think?"

Zhang Tingyu responded respectfully, "Your Majesty, I am ashamed that my knowledge is limited. I only have some humble suggestions, but I'm not sure if they are feasible."

Emperor Kangxi waved his hand, saying, "No matter, share your thoughts."

Zhang Tingyu organized his words and began, "Since the southern lands are already well-developed, we must focus on improving land utilization rates. However, the southern regions differ from the north due to their warm climate and longer growing seasons, which have led to the development of mature multiple cropping systems. This is something the Ministry of Finance and the Agricultural Administration Department are well aware of."

Many ministers nodded in agreement, recognizing that those who had served in the south were familiar with these issues.

In the south, double-cropping rice was common even in previous dynasties, and in some areas like Guangdong and Fujian, triple-cropping systems involving wheat, rice, and rapeseed were established, significantly increasing the cropping index.

This is why the southern regions have always been prosperous.

A minister beside him asked, puzzled, "If the southern lands are already highly utilized, where is there room for improvement? How can we further enhance land utilization?"

Others nodded in agreement, drawing Emperor Kangxi's attention.

Zhang Tingyu calmly explained, "We are referring to traditional agricultural areas in the south. However, there are still many mountainous, semi-mountainous, or hilly regions with poor soil that can be utilized. The Fifth Princess Consort once mentioned the concept of 'southernizing coarse grains' in class."

"Crops like corn and sweet potatoes require less demanding soil and yield high, which could temporarily alleviate food shortages."

Everyone pondered this, especially those who had experienced the disaster in Shandong. They realized that planting these crops in the less fertile southern regions could be a viable solution.

Seeing the ministers understood, Zhang Tingyu continued, "Regarding the northern lands, the yields from military farms in Heilongjiang are not impressive. We should focus on improving these areas."

Emperor Kangxi glanced at Zhang Tingyu, intrigued.

Heilongjiang's cold black soil is naturally fertile, but the region primarily relies on official farms cultivated by Eight Banner soldiers. Due to early frosts and inadequate farming techniques, the yields are insufficient, requiring grain supplies from Shengjing and Jilin.

However, if the vast lands could be fully utilized, self-sufficiency would be achievable, reducing the need for external grain supplies.

The main issue is the harsh climate and lack of effective solutions to frost damage, hindering crop yields.

Emperor Kangxi pondered for a moment and asked, "Do you have any suggestions?"

Zhang Tingyu shook his head, "Your Majesty, I apologize, but there are no precedents for this. My knowledge of farming is limited, and I lack the expertise to tackle such complex issues."

The person best suited for this task was clear to everyone—the Fifth Princess Consort!

Only she could pioneer such agricultural advancements.

Emperor Kangxi thought about Yinqi's memorial from yesterday, feeling uncertain.

After the council meeting, Emperor Kangxi retained Li Guangdi, Zhang Ying, and Ma Qi to discuss matters.

He directly presented a memorial from Mongolia, allowing them to read it.

The memorial was from An Qing's second brother, Sebten Dorji, who had been teaching agriculture across Mongolia. He requested permission to address the ecological degradation caused by improper land reclamation, particularly salinization.

With the growing population, improving degraded lands has become crucial. Salinization affects not only southern Mongolia but also northern and western Mongolia, as well as parts of Henan, the Yellow River basin, and northeastern regions.

If a solution could be found, it would greatly benefit the Great Qing.

However, Sebten Dorji noted that they needed assistance from agricultural experts.

Emperor Kangxi then handed over another memorial from Yinqi, proposing the establishment of an agricultural experimental field in Fengtianfu, accompanied by a detailed plan.

The plan was clear and comprehensive.

"Having read both memorials, what are your thoughts?" Emperor Kangxi asked.

Li Guangdi, Zhang Ying, and Ma Qi exchanged glances, hesitant to speak first.

They recognized that the Fifth Prince was planning to leave the capital, but were unsure of Emperor Kangxi's stance.

Emperor Kangxi waited patiently, watching them.

Li Guangdi stepped forward after a moment, bowing respectfully, "Your Majesty, I believe this proposal is feasible. The Fifth Prince and Fifth Princess Consort care deeply for the people, which is a blessing for the Great Qing and its citizens."

Emperor Kangxi was surprised; he expected Zhang Ying or Ma Qi to speak first, not the usually cautious Li Guangdi.

Moreover, Li Guangdi had only recently returned to the capital and had little interaction with the Fifth Prince. Why was he supporting him now?

Li Guangdi explained, "I dare not deceive Your Majesty. In my years managing the Yellow River, I have seen countless people suffer from natural disasters, struggling to survive..."

His words made everyone understand the implications.

Regardless of the specific tasks—salinity management, military farms, or the experimental field—if they succeed, it would be a tremendous boon for the Great Qing and its people.

This recent famine in Shandong is a perfect example.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Ying and Ma Qi also expressed their opinions candidly.

Initially, they were hesitant to openly support An Qing's agricultural school because their sons were students there, fearing it might create a conflict of interest. However, with Li Guangdi setting the tone, they felt more at ease to voice their support from different perspectives.

After everyone left, Kangxi sat on his dragon throne in deep thought for a long time before instructing someone to summon Beile Yinqi.

By the time Yinqi returned from the palace, it was already dark.

An Qing had just arranged dinner when he came in. She couldn't help but ask, "Why so late today? Was there an emergency at the office?"

Yinqi looked at her silently without speaking.

An Qing's expression tightened. "Did something happen?"

Seeing her misunderstanding, Yinqi quickly replied, "No, don't worry. Father Emperor summoned me earlier, and he agreed to let us build an agricultural experimental field in Fengtian."

Hearing this, An Qing was stunned. She exclaimed, "It's... settled?"

Wasn't she prepared for a serious confrontation with Kangxi? How could he have agreed so easily?

Besides, he hadn't even visited their farm yet!

"Why?" An Qing still looked incredulous.

Yinqi pondered for a moment and said, "I'm not entirely sure, but I know that Father Emperor summoned Li Guangdi, Zhang Ying, and Ma Qi before calling me."

Although he wasn't certain what they discussed, Yinqi guessed that their intervention likely influenced Father Emperor's decision, as he had previously been hesitant about the proposal.

An Qing was taken aback. Li Guangdi, Zhang Ying, and Ma Qi held high positions in the government and were known for staying out of factional disputes. They were among the officials Kangxi trusted most.

But why would they help her and Yinqi? As a prince, wouldn't Yinqi's involvement make them wary of appearing to side with him?

Yinqi glanced at An Qing and had a vague idea of the reason.

Over the years, due to An Qing's achievements in agriculture, many officials had developed a favorable impression of her. This was especially evident during the recent famine in Shandong.

Moreover, people had come to realize that her efforts were driven by genuine concern for the people rather than personal gain. Her selflessness earned her respect not only from officials but also among the princes.

Even his usually reserved fourth brother had mentioned several times that An Qing was a rare woman of great talent and virtue.

Yinqi believed that Li Guangdi and the others supported them for these reasons.

Indeed, Yinqi was partly right. Both Li Guangdi and the others stepped forward not for any ulterior motives but because they shared a common goal of alleviating the suffering of the people.

From a certain perspective, Kangxi shared this sentiment as well. As an emperor, his suspicions made him hesitant to send the fifth Beile away, but he also recognized the benefits for the people and the empire.

Thus, he consulted Li Guangdi and others before making his decision.

Regardless, An Qing was relieved and happy that Kangxi allowed them to leave the Imperial City. She was glad she didn't need to engage in a political battle with him, as she was far more comfortable with scientific research than political maneuvering.

Hehe~ In a way, she considered this a victory without a fight, An Qing thought cheekily.

With Kangxi's approval, preparations began for their departure.

Yinqi focused on handing over his official duties and arranging matters for his subordinates. For An Qing, the primary concern was the agricultural school.

In recent years, she had consciously trained several Agricultural Administration Department officials to take over teaching responsibilities. Since last year, she had gradually stepped back, and those officials were now fully capable of handling the classes independently. This aspect was relatively easy to manage.

Next was the household affairs. With her and Yinqi leaving, someone needed to oversee the Fifth Beile's residence. Yinqi would leave some of his trusted men behind, while An Qing intended to entrust the household management to Guaerjia.

After all, she and Guaerjia were the only legitimate mistresses in the household. Over the past two years, An Qing noticed that Guaerjia had the capability to handle household affairs. When An Qing was too busy with the agricultural school, Guaerjia had managed some household tasks competently and efficiently.

However, An Qing still wanted to seek Guaerjia's opinion.

She called Guaerjia over and explained their upcoming departure and her intention to leave the household management to her.

"If you prefer to join us, that's fine too. There's no pressure; it's entirely up to you."

Since they did not plan to return for a while, it was reasonable for Guaerjia, as Yinqi's Princess, to accompany them.

Guaerjia, however, showed no hesitation. She shook her head and replied, "Mistress, I will stay and look after our residence for you and Master."

Seeing no reluctance in her, An Qing nodded gently. "Very well. If you change your mind before we leave, feel free to let me know."

Guaerjia did not argue and nodded in agreement, though she knew she would not change her mind.

This was a chance to repay her mistress, and she intended to do her best.

Moreover, she had long understood Beile's intentions and accepted her role. She had planned to remain invisible in the household, but now that her mistress and Beile were leaving, someone needed to watch over the residence. She would take on that responsibility.

After settling this matter, An Qing brought up another topic. "I want to bring Buyantai with us, but considering his age, if your family has other plans, he can continue working at the agricultural school. Discuss this with Buyantai and your mother."

Over the years, Buyantai had been learning from An Qing and showed great talent in agriculture. He was diligent and had thoroughly studied agricultural texts under her guidance.

An Qing intended to take him along to groom him as a formal disciple.

Of course, this depended on his and his family's wishes, as he was the only male heir in Guaerjia's family and nearing marriageable age. It would be understandable if they wanted him to stay in the Imperial City.

Hearing that An Qing wanted to take her brother, Guaerjia's eyes flashed with joy. She knew this was a significant opportunity and appreciated her mistress's consideration.

But in her heart, Guerjia had secretly made a decision. This time, she was determined to persuade her mother and brother.

That afternoon, she obtained a waist token from An Qing to leave the residence and returned to her maternal home.

To her surprise, as soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Buyantai kneeling before her mother, pleading for something, with her grandfather and uncle present.

"What's going on?" she asked, somewhat bewildered.

Everyone turned their heads at her words. "Elder Sister/Moon, why did you suddenly come back?"

Seeing this scene, Guerjia didn't mention her purpose right away. "Nothing much. I just came to help the Empress Dowager with something and happened to pass by, so I thought I'd drop in."

After saying that, she looked at Buyantai, who was kneeling, with a questioning gaze.

Before Buyantai could say anything, Guerjia's mother, Suochuoluo, spoke first. "He wants to leave the capital with the Fifth Empress Dowager and is asking for my permission. He even brought your grandfather and uncle here to persuade me."

She then glared at Buyantai, clearly disapproving of his actions. "You're doing well at the agricultural school and are already a minor official. Why do you need to cause more trouble?"

But Buyantai shook his head. "Mother, you know how I got this position, don't you? It was because the Fifth Empress Dowager wanted me to study at the agricultural school but also considered our family's situation, so she arranged for me to have a paid position."

Suochuoluo knew this, but in her view, the agricultural school was a government institution under the Agricultural Administration Department. Being a minor official there was already a good position. Why stir up more trouble?

Buyantai continued, "Mother, the Fifth Empress Dowager is going to manage poor-quality land and establish an agricultural experimental field. These are significant matters that benefit the country and its people. I want to go with her and see if I can contribute."

When An Qing arranged matters at the agricultural school, she had mentioned her upcoming plans. At that time, Buyantai wanted to speak up, but he knew his mother wouldn't agree, so he decided to seek the help of his grandfather and uncle.

Once he convinced his mother, he planned to ask the Empress Dowager for permission. He didn't ask for much; even helping out would be enough.

After all, learning from the Empress Dowager would be far more valuable than studying at the agricultural school.

Guerjia's grandfather and uncle supported Buyantai's decision and joined in the persuasion, especially her uncle, who worked outside and had a broader perspective.

"Little Sister, let Buyantai go. The Fifth Empress Dowager is remarkable. You must have heard about the recent famine in Shandong. Without her, countless lives would have been lost."

Hearing his uncle mention this, Buyantai nodded vigorously in agreement.

Indeed, the news had spread throughout the agricultural school, and he knew more about it than his uncle did. The impact was significant.

As the Fifth Empress Dowager had said in class, as agriculturalists, they carry a natural mission: to ensure more people have food and save lives during disasters.

At first, he didn't fully understand these ideas, thinking they were too grand. They were just farmers, not government officials. But after this incident, Buyantai felt a sense of purpose. He wanted to do something for the people, no matter how small.

After hearing Buyantai's words, everyone in the courtyard fell silent.

Guerjia's grandfather patted his grandson's shoulder proudly and then looked at his daughter. "Let the child go."

Suochuoluo was moved but hesitated. "But what about Buyantai's marriage? I was planning to arrange a match for him soon."

This trip out of the capital might take a long time, and he was already of age. His marriage shouldn't be delayed.

Buyantai quickly responded, "Mother, I'm still young. There's no rush for marriage."

Then, as if remembering something, he added softly, "Besides, a man should establish himself before getting married. Otherwise, how can he provide a good life for his wife?"

Suochuoluo sighed silently, knowing her son was thinking of his incompetent father. "Fine, you're grown now. Do as you wish."

Seeing his mother relent, Buyantai jumped up happily.

Suochuoluo scolded him, "Don't get too excited. The Fifth Empress Dowager might not even want you. If she rejects you, you'll come back and let me arrange a match!"

Guerjia stood up quietly and said, "Mother, this is also why I came today. The Empress Dowager wants me to ask if you're willing to let Buyantai accompany her out of the capital."

Suochuoluo was speechless.

Chapter 118: The Fifth Princess Consort

The entire Guanjia family was delighted about An Qing's plan to take Buyantai out of the capital. Even Suochuoluo, who had previously been stubborn, couldn't help but smile.

However, as she smiled, her peripheral vision caught sight of her daughter, and a trace of worry flashed across her eyes.

Taking advantage of everyone's distraction, Suochuoluo pulled Guanjia into the room for a private conversation.

"Ruyue, did the Fifth Beile and the Fifth Princess Consort mention taking you along when they leave the capital?" Suochuoluo asked.

Guanjia wasn't foolish; she immediately understood her mother's implication. "The Princess Consort mentioned it, but I declined."

Suochuoluo was taken aback. "You declined? Why would you do that? Don't you know they'll be gone for a long time?"

Guanjia smiled, not beating around the bush. "Mother, I understand everything. But you must have heard some rumors too. The Beile only has eyes for the Princess Consort. My presence in his household is merely decorative. Whether I go or stay makes no difference."

Suochuoluo had indeed heard rumors about the Fifth Beile's exclusive affection for the Fifth Princess Consort, especially since he hadn't taken any new concubines in recent years. These rumors had spread widely outside the palace.

But she had never dared to ask her daughter, hoping that with only the Princess Consort and Ruyue in the household, even if Ruyue wasn't favored, she would still receive some attention over time, eventually bearing children and securing her position.

Hearing her daughter say she was merely decorative, Suochuoluo was at a loss. "The Fifth Beile is a prince. How could the Emperor and Concubine Yi be pleased with this?"

The imperial family always valued offspring, so there might still be a chance for change.

Guanjia shook her head. "Mother, think about it. Since the Princess Consort entered our household, no new women have been brought in. Without the Emperor and Concubine Yi's tacit approval, do you really think this could happen?"

Without going into details, the example of the Eighth Beile was clear enough. Despite the Eighth Princess Consort's reputation for jealousy, the Emperor still granted him concubines.

She didn't know the specifics, but she was certain that their situation had been acknowledged by the Emperor, Concubine Yi, and the Empress Dowager.

Thus, it was a settled matter, and Guanjia wanted her mother to accept reality sooner rather than later.

"What can we do then? You're still young, and this... this..." Suochuoluo looked panicked.

Guanjia gently patted her mother's hand. "Mother, I think things are fine as they are. As a concubine of the imperial family, apart from lacking favor, I am well-provided for. The Princess Consort is kind, and my life these past few years has been comfortable."

Despite this, Suochuoluo still felt uneasy. "But you don't have any children. This isn't a sustainable situation."

Guanjia was unperturbed. "Look around. Not just princes, but many noble families have women who are childless and unfavored. They still live well. At least I'm a concubine of the imperial family..."

She tried to reassure her mother, but Suochuoluo remained sorrowful. "It's all our fault."

She knew her daughter's character well. The Fifth Princess Consort had done them a favor, which might explain why her daughter didn't compete for favor.

Guanjia couldn't help but laugh. "Mother, you think too highly of me. I simply know my place."

She explained that since the Princess Consort entered the household, the Beile hadn't visited other quarters. She also briefly mentioned Liu Jiashi and Baijia Shi's failed attempts to gain favor, omitting the more sensitive details.

Suochuoluo was stunned by these revelations.

So, the Fifth Beile truly had eyes only for the Princess Consort.

"If I were a man, meeting someone like the Princess Consort, I wouldn't see anyone else either," Guanjia said.

Suochuoluo recalled her encounters with An Qing and her daughter's descriptions. She had to admit that An Qing was indeed an extraordinary woman. "It's fate. Well, well."

As long as her daughter was safe and content, that was what mattered most.

Guanjia smiled. "Mother, while the Princess Consort is away, she entrusted the management of the household to me."

Suochuoluo's face lit up with surprise. "Really?"

Guanjia nodded with a smile.

Suochuoluo finally smiled genuinely. Having something to do was better than being confined in the back quarters.

"The Princess Consort is a good person."

Guanjia understood her mother's sentiment. Yes, the Princess Consort was a rare good person, clear-minded and principled, seeking only peace of mind.

While Suochuoluo worried about her daughter, in the main courtyard of the Fifth Beile's residence, An Qing was concerned about Perilla and the other maids.

Since moving out of the palace, she had been pondering their future. Initially, she wanted them to find their own happiness, releasing them from servitude and providing a generous dowry.

But she soon realized that their social circle was too limited. None of them seemed interested in marriage, likely due to their restricted interactions.

In the past two years, she had been busy with agricultural schools in Royal Manor and various projects in the household, rarely socializing except with the Fourth and Ninth Princess Consorts, and occasional visits to the Eighth Princess and the Empress Dowager.

Thus, Perilla and the others' social circles were naturally narrow, centered entirely around her.

Perilla spoke first. "Mistress, I don't want to marry. I want to stay by your side and take care of you and Little Master."

Marriage meant leaving her mistress, which she didn't want.

Chunxiao quickly agreed. "I feel the same. What's so great about marriage compared to serving you?"

"Exactly, Mistress. You used to say that not marrying isn't a big deal. Why are you pushing us now?" Cui Liu complained, puzzled. "Is it because... mothers become like this after having children?"

An Qing couldn't help but sigh. She knew the girls were set in their ways and wouldn't be easily persuaded. She decided to revisit the topic later.

"For now, keep your eyes open. Don't miss opportunities like Mai Dong."

Turning to Mai Dong, she said, "Mai Dong, you'll stay behind. We won't be able to attend your wedding with Dr. Xiao Qi, but don't worry. I'll make sure everything is arranged properly."

Dr. Xiao Qi, full name Qi Chonglou, was the nephew of the Chief Physician Qi and had been responsible for An Qing's medical care during her pregnancy with Xiao Bao. During that time, Mai Dong often sought advice from him, leading to a growing affection between them.

An Qing was quite surprised when she first heard about this. After all, she never imagined that Mai Dong, the little stick-in-the-mud, would be the first among them to find her true love. She had always thought it would be Cui Liu, who is more outgoing.

However, from her observations, Doctor Xiao Qi seems to have a good character. He is clean-cut and comes from a respectable family. More importantly, he still does not have any concubines. For this reason alone, An Qing holds him in high regard.

Their wedding is set for the end of this year. With An Qing leaving, she might not make it back in time, but she will arrange everything beforehand. As the wedding approaches, Guoerjiashi will take over the preparations, and the ceremony can proceed from the Beile's residence.

On their wedding day, she plans to invite Princess Consort Nine or Princess Consort Four to send Mai Dong off. Mai Dong is one of her closest attendants, so she deserves a proper send-off. This way, no one in her new home will dare to look down on her.

An Qing thought everything was well-arranged, but unexpectedly, Mai Dong put down what she was doing and approached her with a serious expression. "Mistress, I want to go with you this time."

An Qing didn't think much of it, assuming Mai Dong was just reluctant to part ways. Smiling, she said, "Don't be silly. There are only a few months until the end of the year. Why would you come with me? You'd just have to rush back, which would be exhausting."

Mai Dong pursed her lips and replied, "I won't rush back; I'll stay by your side. You need someone skilled in medicine while traveling. How can we manage without me?"

When the princess bought her and sent her to serve the mistress, it was precisely because of her medical skills. She couldn't let her personal feelings jeopardize the mistress's safety.

An Qing patted her shoulder and joked, "Are you the only doctor in the world? Besides, your mistress is perfectly healthy. Don't worry."

Mai Dong persisted, "Mistress, you're an adult, so you're fine. But Little Master is still so young. If he gets sick during the journey, where will we find a doctor so quickly? I can't bear the thought."

An Qing: "…"

Alright, she admitted that since Xiao Bao was born, Perilla and the others' hearts have shifted entirely towards him. *sigh* She's no longer their most important mistress.

Because they now have a more important little master!

"What about Doctor Xiao Qi? Don't be unreasonable, girl. I'll ensure Guoerjiashi arranges everything properly." An Qing continued, "As for Xiao Bao, don't worry. There are plenty of people to take care of him. Nothing will happen."

However, Mai Dong's words did remind her that they should have a doctor in their travel party. It wasn't a big deal; she could ask Yinqi tomorrow if anyone in his entourage has medical skills.

If not, they could hire a skilled doctor to accompany them. Once they settle down, they could send the doctor back.

Mai Dong shook her head, "No need, Mistress. You don't have to worry about me anymore. I've already spoken to him."

An Qing was taken aback. What did she say? To whom?

Doctor Xiao Qi!

She suddenly had a bad feeling. "What did you tell him?"

Mai Dong lowered her eyes and whispered, "I told him to find someone else to marry."

An Qing: "!"

Isn't this breaking up?!

This girl…

Cui Liu and the others were equally shocked, clearly hearing this for the first time.

"How dare you! You didn't even consult us before making such a decision. You really… you…" An Qing was clearly angry, her words becoming incoherent.

Perilla reacted first and came over to pat An Qing's back. "Mistress, please don't be angry. Let's hear what Mai Dong has to say."

An Qing retorted, "What does she have to say? This is ridiculous. Marriages aren't games. Send someone to Doctor Xiao Qi's house and bring him here. I need to talk to both of them!"

An Qing knew Mai Dong's personality well. She must have heard about their departure and panicked. But there were solutions, why should she sacrifice her happiness?

Mai Dong hurriedly said, "Mistress, you don't need to call him. We've already…"

An Qing glared at her and interrupted, "Who's the mistress here, you or me?"

Mai Dong silently closed her mouth.

She knew her mistress usually had a good temper, but when truly angry, she could be terrifying. Sometimes, just a simple glance could chill one to the bone.

Just then, Little Xizi rushed in from outside. "Princess Consort, Doctor Xiao Qi is here to see you."

"Why is Doctor Xiao Qi here now? Shouldn't he be serving in the palace?" Cui Liu was surprised. "He… he wouldn't be here to…"

Realizing what she said, she covered her mouth instinctively.

But her words echoed everyone's thoughts. They had exchanged betrothal gifts and marriage documents. If something happened, there would indeed be a process for breaking the engagement.

Mai Dong kept her head down, seemingly agreeing with Cui Liu.

An Qing took a deep breath. Regardless, she needed to see him first. "Let him in."

Soon, Little Xizi led a tall, thin man into the room. Perhaps due to his years of studying medicine, he exuded a gentle scholar's demeanor.

Qi Zhonglou's gaze immediately fell on Mai Dong beside An Qing, but she kept her head down, giving no response.

An Qing observed his reaction as soon as he entered. Seeing his gaze toward Mai Dong, her heart suddenly calmed.

She had a feeling he wasn't here to break the engagement.

That's good. As long as it's not about breaking the engagement, there's still room for negotiation.

After bowing to An Qing, Qi Zhonglou got straight to the point. "Today, I came to request that the Princess Consort not cancel my engagement with Mai Dong. I have already…"

Mai Dong interrupted, "This has nothing to do with the Princess Consort. It's me…"

An Qing raised her hand to stop her. "Let Doctor Xiao Qi finish speaking."

Qi Zhonglou bowed again and continued, "I have already discussed this with my family. My uncle will petition the Emperor, and I will accompany the Princess Consort and Beile Yinqi out of the capital."

He looked at Mai Dong tenderly. "All the issues you mentioned have been resolved."

So, do we really need to separate?

Maigdong's eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and she abruptly turned around, saying, "You don't have to do this..."

An Qing watched the two of them quietly, feeling as if she had been fed a mouthful of dog food.

However, her impression of Qi Zhonglou improved considerably. Regardless of other things, his feelings for Maigdong were genuine, and he was also responsible, evident from his efforts to persuade his family before coming to declare his intentions.

But in matters of the heart, the most feared thing is this intense sense of sacrifice.

He was willing to give up everything in the Imperial City and his future at the Imperial Medical Institute; this sacrifice was too heavy, putting pressure on Maigdong as well.

"Do you think you can be certain that you won't regret following us out of the capital?" An Qing asked.

Qi Zhonglou lightly shook his head and said, "There's nothing to regret. I must confess, Your Ladyship, this is also my wish. Since childhood, I've wanted to travel around the country and not just stay in the Imperial City. It's just that there was no suitable reason before, and my family did not agree. If Your Ladyship and Beile agree this time, I would be immensely grateful."

An Qing met Qi Zhonglou's clear gaze and felt reassured that he was sincere. However, she did not give an immediate response but instead threw the question back to them.

"I cannot give you an answer yet. The matter between the two of you should be resolved by yourselves. Come back to me once you reach a conclusion."

With that, she waved her hand, signaling for Maigdong and Qi Zhonglou to go out and discuss it first.

Maigdong initially felt awkward but was pushed out by Cui Liu and Chunxiao. Seeing this, Qi Zhonglou hurriedly bowed to An Qing and followed after them.

An Qing watched their disappearing figures from afar and helplessly shook her head.

She couldn't rely solely on Qi Zhonglou's words and needed to send someone to inquire further from Master Qi. She would make a decision only after everything was clear.

The principle was to ensure that there would be no hidden dangers in Maigdong's married life.

Chapter 119: Princess Consort Wu

Their departure from the capital was set for one month later.

As the date drew near, An Qing had almost finished arranging her affairs. These days, she had been taking Xiao Bao to the palace almost every day without fail. Although Concubine Yi and the Empress Dowager supported their decision, it was clear that they were also quite reluctant to see them go.

On this particular day, An Qing was busy with some trivial matters in the morning. She had planned to take a break at noon before bringing Xiao Bao into the palace again. However, just as she got up from her rest, Ma Xiang hurried over.

"Princess Consort, Master asked me to inform you that the Emperor will be bringing the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi to our residence this afternoon."

"The Emperor and the others are coming over?" An Qing was taken aback and asked, "Did he say why?"

Why would Kangxi suddenly decide to visit their residence, bringing along the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi? There had been no signs of this beforehand; it was indeed strange.

Ma Xiang replied, "It seems that Master had previously invited the Emperor to come and see your farm, and the Emperor suddenly remembered it today during lunch."

An Qing: "..."

Was Lao Kang's memory really that slow?!

When Yinqi had initially invited Kangxi to visit the farm, it was to convince him to agree to build an agricultural experimental field in Fengtian Prefecture. At the time, everything had gone smoothly, so An Qing had forgotten about it. She never expected that Kangxi would remember now.

But thinking about it, since they had moved out, Concubine Yi and the Empress Dowager had not yet visited their residence.

"Mother, when are we going to the palace to see Grandma and Uku Mama?" Xiao Bao ran in from outside, clearly having gotten used to visiting the palace daily recently.

An Qing waved her hand and said, "We won't be going to the palace today. Grandma and Uku Mama will be coming to our residence later."

Hearing this, the little boy jumped up happily, "Really? That's great! I'll show them my castle."

An Qing shook her head helplessly. Every time someone came to their house, he insisted on showing them his children's play castle, clearly indicating how much he disliked it.

In the afternoon, when Kangxi arrived with everyone, An Qing had already gathered the household staff at the entrance to greet them.

The group included the Empress Dowager, Concubine Yi, and Xiao Jiu and his wife. It seemed that Kangxi intended to have a family gathering before they left the capital.

Since the reason for Kangxi's visit was to see the farm in the backyard, they headed straight there upon entering. After touring the various sections, Kangxi appeared quite satisfied.

Although he had previously reviewed the detailed plans Yinqi had submitted, seeing it in person made a difference.

"Emperor Father, besides the ordinary cultivation area, vegetable area, fruit and vegetable area, nursery area, and mulberry garden you see here, the new agricultural experimental field in Fengtian Prefecture will also include forest and pasture areas, making a total of eight sections. This is based on the local conditions," Yinqi explained.

Kangxi nodded slightly and said, "Regarding agriculture, We trust you and An Qing. Go ahead and do what you need to do. If you require any support, send a report back."

Yinqi rarely saw his Emperor Father being so kind and understanding, and for a moment, he was caught off guard.

Kangxi gently patted his shoulder, like a common father giving instructions, "Building such a large farm in Fengtian Prefecture will inevitably conflict with the interests of some local gentry and wealthy families. Be tactful when handling these issues. We have already issued an edict to San Guanbao, who will fully support you."

San Guanbao was Concubine Yi's father and the head of the Shengjing Imperial Household Department. Fengtian Prefecture was located within Shengjing.

Logically, San Guanbao was Yinqi's maternal grandfather, and even without the Emperor's edict, he would certainly protect his grandson. However, with the official decree, he could openly support him!

Yinqi felt a warm sense of gratitude, "Thank you, Emperor Father, for worrying about your son. I will work hard to establish the first agricultural experimental field for Great Qing."

Ninth Prince watched his Emperor Father and Fifth Elder Brother, feeling a bit emotional. In recent years, as the struggle between the Crown Prince and Elder Brother Prince intensified, he had rarely seen his Emperor Father act this way.

People often say that there is no father-son relationship in the imperial family. He understood this before but never felt it so deeply. The lack of true familial bonds was truly disheartening.

However, today he realized that perhaps if one stayed out of the power struggles, there could still be a father-son bond in the imperial family. Like his Fifth Elder Brother, who never competed or formed factions, this might be one of the reasons Emperor Father allowed him to leave the capital.

If it were someone else, like Elder Brother or Eighth Brother, they likely wouldn't be able to achieve this.

Of course, they would not easily leave the capital either, as doing so would render all their previous efforts meaningless and distance them from the throne.

Compared to the rare moments of warmth among the men, the women's interactions were more routine. An Qing and Ninth Princess Consort accompanied the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi, chatting and strolling around happily.

The Empress Dowager admired An Qing's farm more and more, praising it continuously.

"If Empress Grandmother likes it, you can stay here anytime. I've reserved courtyards for both you and Mother, which are cleaned regularly," An Qing said with a smile.

When building the residence, An Qing and Yinqi had discussed and reserved separate courtyards for the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi, designed according to their preferences.

Xiao Bao chimed in enthusiastically, "That's right, Uku Mama. Mother had many flowers planted in your courtyard. I've seen them, and they're beautiful."

The Empress Dowager looked pleased but said to An Qing, "Didn't I tell you not to reserve a courtyard for me? I can't stay here, so it's a waste of resources."

Old Fifth's residence wasn't very large, and the farm took up most of the space. Though she hadn't seen the front yard, she knew the courtyards were limited. Why waste one?

Concubine Yi added, "Exactly. I told them the same thing, but they agreed to it only to do otherwise behind our backs."

Though they spoke this way, the smiles on their faces betrayed their true feelings. Especially Concubine Yi, who felt proud because of Old Fifth's gesture, which gave her a sense of dignity among the other concubines.

After all, none of the other concubines received such treatment in their sons' residences.

"Uku Mama, Grandma, it's not like that. Mother said we're a family, so naturally, there should be courtyards for you. Even if you can't stay here, it's important to have them," Xiao Bao said, sounding like a little adult.

The Empress Dowager was delighted, "Oh, look at our Hong Zhi, he knows so much. How impressive!"

Xiao Bao scratched his head, a bit embarrassed, "Uku Mama, I don't really understand it myself. I heard Mother say it."

The adults found his honesty amusing, and Xiao Bao joined in their laughter, though he didn't know why they were laughing.

An Qing looked at her silly son, unable to hide her amusement. But reflecting on the courtyards for the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi, she genuinely considered them family.

She knew that the Empress Dowager's courtyard would likely remain unused. Kangxi advocated ruling through filial piety, and as long as he lived, he couldn't let the Empress Dowager live outside the palace due to filial obligations. However, Concubine Yi was different; she still had a chance.

Historically, before his death, Kangxi issued an edict allowing concubines with living children to move to their sons' residences after his passing, rather than remaining alone in the palace.

Regardless of other factors, this edict showed that Kangxi had carefully considered the future of his concubines, perhaps as a final gesture to those who had once shared his life.

And this decree was also set by Kangxi, breaking the then-current palace regulations, so it is normal that Concubine Yi and the others were unaware of it.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager genuinely liked their residence, An Qing smiled and said, "Grandma, you can come for short stays in the future. Staying here for three to five days occasionally would be perfectly fine."

Even if others found out, they wouldn't say anything. After all, Yinqi grew up under the Empress Dowager's care. It would be natural for her to miss her grandson and come for short visits after they leave.

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager was indeed tempted. She truly liked Fifth Elder Brother's residence, especially the farm. Wandering around every day, enjoying the countryside and experiencing the joy of farming sounded delightful.

Ninth Princess Consort silently observed this and made a mental note. Yes, since they were family, they should also reserve a courtyard for Grandma and Mother in their own residence. Fifth Sister-in-law had thought of everything.

Fortunately, they wouldn't move out of the palace until next year, and their residence outside was still under construction. When she returned today, she would discuss this with her husband.

An Qing estimated that it was about time and waved Xiao Bao over, saying, "Go tell your Grandpa and Father that we're going to rest at the pavilion ahead."

The little one, eager to show off, immediately ran over happily.

They soon arrived at the pavilion ahead. An Qing had already prepared tea, snacks, and fresh fruits from the garden. They had been walking for quite some time and were indeed tired.

Kangxi kept Xiao Bao by his side, showing that he really liked his grandson. And Xiao Bao, being good at pleasing people, quickly had Kangxi, the Empress Dowager, and Concubine Yi laughing heartily.

Unable to resist, An Qing whispered to Yinqi, "Look at your son; his mouth is as sweet as honey. I wonder who he takes after."

Yinqi silently glanced at her, implying something obvious.

An Qing: "..."

Alright, she couldn't blame Yinqi for this, but this kid was truly surpassing his parents in this regard.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, let's chat." Ninth Prince winked at An Qing, gesturing for her to talk privately.

An Qing turned to look at Yinqi.

Yinqi nodded slightly and whispered, "Go ahead. I'll take care of things here."

Both guessed what Ninth Prince wanted to discuss. Without hesitation, An Qing stood up and walked out of the pavilion with Ninth Prince. "What's up? Have you found another profitable business?"

Ninth Prince waved his hand. "Fifth Sister-in-law, finding a profitable business isn't easy."

An Qing raised an eyebrow and asked, "Then why did you call me out?"

Ninth Prince replied, "Nothing much. Since you and Fifth Elder Brother are leaving soon, I just wanted to update you on our business."

Hearing this, An Qing said, "No need. You handle the business as you see fit. You're better at it than I am."

But Ninth Prince insisted, "That won't do. You're a major shareholder in our business. You should know about certain things. Even brothers should keep accounts clear."

Seeing his persistence, An Qing reluctantly listened to him.

However, since she wasn't interested in business matters, she started to drift off.

Watching Ninth Prince talk animatedly, An Qing couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. Over the past few years, their partnership had grown significantly, and their business now spanned the entire country. It was undeniable that Xiao Jiu had a talent for business.

Three years ago, after making their first fortune with the printed apples, Ninth Prince had been constantly thinking about new ventures. He tried opening restaurants and shops, which were successful but didn't satisfy his ambitions.

One day, he approached An Qing and Yinqi, claiming he had found a very lucrative opportunity. At first, An Qing didn't take it seriously, but when Ninth Prince explained, she was stunned.

His idea was to engage in smuggling activities similar to the infamous triangular trade of the Great Qing!

"No way! Selling silk in the north is fine, but the Great Qing strictly prohibits private trading of ginseng and deer antlers from the northeast. If Father finds out, he won't spare you!" An Qing sternly objected.

These products were managed by the Imperial Household Department. Smuggling them would mean interfering with his father's finances, which was a terrible idea.

Just as An Qing thought she would have to give him a long lecture, Ninth Prince looked at her as if she were naive.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, don't worry. We agreed only to do legitimate business."

An Qing was puzzled and asked, "Then what are you doing?"

Ninth Prince calmly replied, "Isn't it simple? I'll collaborate with Father. I've investigated the profits from these products handled by the Imperial Household Department. There's a lot of room for profit. If I can make Father more money, isn't that a good thing?"

He then explained the detailed operations of their business. In summary, selling silk, ginseng, and deer antlers was just a small part of their business, with other ventures involved.

An Qing was confused but realized that if this worked, it would be highly profitable.

Historically, Ninth Prince had made substantial profits through his illegal triangular trade. If it could be legalized, it would be a viable venture.

After getting An Qing's approval, Ninth Prince began working tirelessly. Somehow, he convinced Kangxi, and the business became a reality.

Their business flourished, establishing trade routes across the country. Over the years, Ninth Prince's people helped An Qing find superior seeds in various regions, which was an unexpected benefit.

During the recent disaster in Shandong, Ninth Prince, representing their business, donated a significant amount of money and grain and coordinated with merchants to provide relief efforts, contributing greatly.

An Qing heard from Yinqi that Kangxi now viewed Ninth Prince differently. It was clear that his business career would only improve from here.

Her personal wealth would also grow, given her shares in Ninth Prince's business.

An Qing felt the thrill of a successful investment, feeling secure for the rest of her life.

Days passed slowly, and finally, the day of their departure arrived.

Early that morning, she and Yinqi led Xiao Bao into the palace to bid farewell to the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi. Upon returning home, they prepared to leave by carriage.

Unexpectedly, as they reached the gate, they saw a group of people there to see them off.

Fourth Prince and Fourth Princess Consort brought Honghui, while Ninth Prince and his wife, Tenth Prince and his wife, Zhang Tingyu, Zhuo Tai, and the students An Qing taught at the Agricultural Academy were all present.

An Qing and Yinqi exchanged glances, both surprised. They had held a farewell dinner a few days earlier, hoping to gather everyone before leaving. They hadn't expected anyone to come today.

"Fourth Brother, Fourth Sister-in-law, you..." An Qing looked at everyone, unsure of what to say.

Lady Sifujin patted her shoulder and smiled, "We all decided to come and see you off. We don't know when we'll meet again."

An Qing was never one for sentimentality; she quickly composed herself and bid everyone farewell one by one.

While the adults were busy talking, the children weren't idle either.

Xiao Bao held Honghui's hand in one and Hongsheng's in the other, saying, "Big Brother Honghui, Big Brother Hongsheng, I'll write to you. You both take care in the Imperial City, okay?"

When An Qing arrived, she saw this scene, with the three of them looking reluctant to part.

"Wu Shennu, take care of yourself while you're away," said Honghui, looking at An Qing.

An Qing gently stroked his head, her eyes softening, "Thank you, Honghui. Wu Shennu will take care of herself."

It had already been some time since the historical date when Honghui passed away; he had made it through that critical period.

After saying this, she turned to Hongsheng and gave him some quiet instructions.

On this trip out of the Imperial City, Hongsheng wasn't going with them. He was now eight years old and couldn't afford to miss his lessons in the Imperial Academy. Even Xiao Bao, who would be of age for the academy in a few years, would have to return then. This was also Kangxi's requirement for the Aisin Gioro descendants.

"Dearest Mother, don't worry. Your son will take care of himself, and you must take care of yourself and little brother too," said Hongsheng, showing his maturity.

An Qing nodded slightly. Due to Xiao Bao, the relationship between the two brothers had improved, and Hongsheng had grown up mostly under her care over the past two years. Her feelings towards him were naturally different from before.

"Your father and I won't be in the Imperial City, but remember, you are the eldest son of our Fifth Beile's Mansion. No matter what happens, don't let yourself be wronged. Go to the palace and find your grandmother and Mother Uku; they will stand up for you. Do you understand?" she instructed.

An Qing wasn't worried about the mansion; Yinqi had left many people in charge of the front yard, and Lady Guajia managed the back yard, ensuring no one would dare wrong a child like him. However, outside, especially in the Imperial Academy, conflicts among the princes and imperial relatives could arise, and someone needed to support him then.

A warm feeling stirred in Hongsheng's heart, knowing his mother was concerned about him being bullied. "Yes, son will do so."

As the saying goes, "Even if you send someone a thousand miles, there must still be a parting." An Qing sat in the carriage, waving goodbye to the group at the gate through the window as their figures gradually disappeared from view.

The carriage moved further and further away, leaving the streets and passing through the city gates, heading straight north.

Chapter 120: The Fifth Lady

The wind blew over the grasslands, revealing herds of cattle and sheep.

An Qing and her group set out from the Imperial City, heading straight for Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner. After several stops along the way, they finally arrived at their destination after half a month.

Seeing the familiar scenery before her, An Qing's mood instantly brightened.

"Mother, is this your hometown? It's so beautiful." Xiao Bao, with his big round eyes, leaned against the carriage window, gazing outside in wonder. He felt like his eyes couldn't take it all in.

An Qing couldn't help but laugh at her son's naive expression. "Of course, I've told you many times that Mother's hometown is beautiful."

This was actually the little one's first visit to the grasslands. Since he was born, various delays had kept them from coming. The Mulan hunt usually happened every other year, and this year there wasn't one. In previous years, she and Yinqi had been unable to join the entourage due to various reasons, so the little one never got the chance to come.

The carriage traveled a bit further, and An Qing saw the figures of her parents in the distance.

"Ama, Mother!"

As soon as the carriage stopped, she couldn't wait to lift the curtain and jump out, startling Yinqi, who quickly rushed to support her.

"Take it easy, don't fall," he reminded her.

Xiao Bao also poked his head out of the carriage, looking disapproving. "Mother, you always say I'm too fidgety and not dignified, but look at yourself."

An Qing didn't have time to argue with the two of them; she just acknowledged their words and ran towards her parents.

It had been four years since she last saw them, back when she was pregnant with Xiao Bao.

Xiao Bao shook his head, acting old beyond his years. "Ama, did Mother forget about us?"

They had agreed on the way that once they met her parents, Mother would introduce them. But now, seeing her mother's excitement, it seemed she had forgotten about them.

Yinqi's eyes showed a hint of guilt. "It's Ama's fault."

When they parted ways at Mulan, he promised to bring her back as soon as possible, but it took four years. It was no wonder she was so excited to see her family again.

Xiao Bao, unaware of the circumstances, sighed silently. His Ama really spoiled his Mother too much.

As Yinqi led Xiao Bao over, An Qing was still hugging her parents tightly.

Xiao Bao, seeing his unreliable mother, tugged at her sleeve to remind her. "Mother, you forgot to introduce me to Xiao Bao."

At his voice, An Qing hadn't reacted yet, but Deb and Princess Naren looked down at him, their faces full of affection.

"Oh, this must be Hong Zhi," said Princess Naren, releasing her daughter's hand and squatting down to meet Xiao Bao's eye level.

Deb also squatted down, looking at his unseen grandson.

Xiao Bao, unafraid, confidently introduced himself. "Grandfather, Grandmother, hello. I am Mother's son, Hong Zhi. My nickname is Xiao Bao. You're family, so Mother said you can call me by my nickname. So, you can call me Xiao Bao."

Princess Naren melted at his cuteness, holding his hand and calling him 'good grandson.'

Deb, usually stern-faced, also smiled warmly.

Thanks to growing up around Concubine Yi and the Empress Dowager, Xiao Bao knew exactly how to make elders happy. With just a few words, he had both of them smiling broadly.

An Qing, seeing her son steal all the attention, looked at Yinqi with a pout.

Wah~ she was no longer her Ama and Mother's most beloved treasure.

Yinqi smiled and held her hand, silently comforting her, as if saying she still had him.

Wuritu, seeing an opening beside his aunt, quickly brought his sister Duo Lan over. They both called out together, "Aunt, Uncle!"

An Qing turned around and was surprised to see Wuritu, who was taller than her, and Duo Lan, who had grown to her waist height. How fast these children had grown!

But then again, children grow quickly, especially in four years.

Seeing her niece and nephew, she forgot about Xiao Bao stealing the attention and started examining them closely.

Duo Lan, the little girl, was getting more and more charming. At seven years old, she looked more and more like her eldest sister-in-law, with the unique spirit of a Mongolian girl from the grasslands.

As for Wuritu, the fifteen-year-old boy was tall and strong, no longer the little boy who used to follow her around. However...

"Wuritu, what happened to your face? It's so dark!"

He wasn't that dark before, but now he was almost as dark as his Third Elder Brother.

Duo Lan chimed in, "Aunt, you don't know. This summer, brother has been running wild on the grasslands. Ama and Mother couldn't stop him. And he never takes me with him, saying I'm a bother."

An Qing laughed and patted the little girl's head. Clearly, the last part about 'not taking her' was the real complaint.

"Wuritu, you should be careful. Don't get as dark as your little uncle," she teased.

Wuritu waved his hand dismissively. "Aunt, little uncle said that we Mongolian men are different from those in the Forbidden City. Being a bit darker doesn't matter; we can still find wives."

Duo Lan seized the opportunity to tease him. "Brother, you're shameless, thinking about finding a wife."

An Qing and Yinqi also playfully looked at him. The little rascal, despite his young age, was already thinking about finding a wife.

Wuritu realized his mistake and scratched his head, giving them a bashful smile. "I didn't think about it; little uncle said it. I was just repeating it."

Duo Lan, however, wasn't letting him off the hook. "No matter, you said it, so you thought about it. Tomorrow, I'll tell Mother to find you a wife."

Wuritu couldn't let that slide and immediately chased after the little girl, creating quite a commotion.

An Qing's older brother and second brother returned late that night.

Her elder brother is now handling the affairs of Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, and he's busy all day long. Her second brother has completed his assignment of teaching farming techniques to the Mongolian tribes, and because of his outstanding results, Kangxi awarded all the officials who took on this task some time ago. Her second brother was even granted the title of Duke of the State by Kangxi.

Now her second brother has taken on the task of improving the poor land in the Mongolian tribes. If he performs exceptionally well in the future, it wouldn't be a problem for his title to be raised further.

As for her Third Elder Brother, he is still around the Qingshui River area. It's almost harvest time, and he's there with some of the tribe members waiting to harvest the crops; he won't be back anytime soon.

However, after this autumn harvest, An Qing plans to take her Third Elder Brother away, as she has important tasks for him to do.

The family had finally reunited, so naturally, they wanted to celebrate. Moreover, it was Yinqi's first visit as a distinguished son-in-law, so Deb held a grand banquet that night in the tribe, inviting all their relatives.

An Qing stayed with her mother, her elder sisters-in-law, watching Yinqi being surrounded by the tribe members, drinking. She couldn't help but sigh silently.

Although Yinqi could hold his liquor quite well, he couldn't withstand so many people surrounding him. As a son-in-law, he couldn't refuse the relatives, and thus, he kept getting poured more and more drinks.

Mongolians were known for their drinking prowess, and this wasn't going to end well. Just as An Qing was thinking about how to help him out, Turen Princess suddenly made a move.

She directly instructed the maid beside her, "Go tell Altan and the others not to force Beile Fifth to drink. He has important matters tomorrow. If they delay his business, I'll whip them!"

Altan was An Qing's second uncle's son, also her cousin, two years younger than her. He was famous in the tribe for his drinking ability and was the most enthusiastic one among those forcing Yinqi to drink.

The maid didn't dare to delay and hurriedly ran over to convey Turen Princess's words. Altan and the others indeed calmed down.

"No wonder they say mothers-in-law love their sons-in-law. Little Sister hasn't said anything yet, but Mother, you're already worried," An Qing's second sister-in-law teased with a smile.

Turen Princess glanced at her and said, "A few days ago, Second Brother was just granted the title of Duke of the State. When you went back to your maternal home, your cousins didn't spare him much either, and I heard your mother even whipped them."

An Qing's elder sister-in-law also chimed in with a smile, "Exactly, Second Sister-in-Law, you shouldn't be like that. Why can only your mother worry about her son-in-law? Our mother can too. That's what they say: every mother worries about her own son-in-law."

Everyone couldn't help but laugh at this.

Back in a familiar place, An Qing finally relaxed completely, drinking a lot of fruit wine with her mother. She initially thought the fruit wine had little alcohol content, but she ended up feeling a bit dizzy.

Yinqi finally managed to break free and walked over. Seeing her cheeks flushed, he was stunned, "Are you drunk?"

An Qing waved her hand and replied, "Not drunk, just a bit dizzy. Don't worry, I'll be fine if I rest for a while."

Seeing that she spoke coherently, Yinqi felt relieved.

He thought for a moment and pointed to a nearby grassy slope, "Let's go blow some wind over there and look at the stars."

An Qing was delighted. She hadn't seen the stars on the grassland in a long time and missed it.

But then she looked at Xiao Bao, who was running around with Duo Lan, "Should we bring Xiao Bao over?"

The stars on the grassland were so beautiful, and the little guy hadn't had a chance to appreciate them properly yet.

Yinqi glanced at his son and his gaze deepened, "No need. He's having fun right now. Let him enjoy himself."

An Qing agreed. The boy wouldn't want to stop playing until he was fully satisfied. If they called him over, he might not be happy, and it would ruin her stargazing mood.

With a mutual understanding, they left their son behind and went to see the stars together.

The night on the grassland was as beautiful as ever.

Instead of going to the grassy slope near the banquet, An Qing led Yinqi to her favorite spot for stargazing, which was a bit farther from the camp. Being away from the noisy crowd allowed them to focus entirely on the stars.

Yinqi spread out the cloak he brought, and An Qing lay down contentedly on it. He followed suit and lay down beside her.

They quietly watched the stars without saying a word.

After a while, An Qing suddenly pointed to the stars and began telling him some legends about the stars on the grassland. Gradually, she moved on to recounting some childhood stories.

Perhaps due to returning to a familiar place, many memories resurfaced, some of which she had almost forgotten. But now, they all came back.

Yinqi listened attentively, occasionally responding, but mostly just listening, gradually building a picture of her past through her descriptions.

One spoke while the other listened, and they didn't know how long they had been there when An Qing suddenly felt dizzy. The alcohol must have kicked in. She tried to stay awake but eventually succumbed and leaned against Yinqi's shoulder, falling asleep.

Moonlight gently shone down, adding a hazy beauty to the night on the grassland.

Yinqi slowly turned his head and kissed her forehead, looking at the sleeping figure on his shoulder with tenderness in his eyes.

The banquet had long ended, and only a few bonfires remained burning on the grassland, scattered here and there, blending with the stars above.

Yinqi noticed the late hour and didn't want An Qing to catch a chill outside. He carefully got up, picked her up, and headed back to the camp.

Perilla saw Beile carrying their mistress and quickly opened the tent flap.

Yinqi whispered instructions to prepare some hot water and towels, then carried An Qing into the tent. However, as he approached the bed, he saw Xiao Bao sitting there angrily, glaring at him.

"Ama, where did you and E'na go? Why didn't you take me with you!"

Yinqi looked at him disapprovingly, "Keep your voice down. Don't disturb your E'na's rest."

The little one seemed to notice his Ama holding his E'na and quickly covered his mouth, moving aside obediently.

Yinqi placed her on the bed and helped remove her shoes and outer garments.

Just then, Perilla entered with the water, "Beile, let me handle it."

Yinqi nodded lightly, gave her some instructions, and led Xiao Bao out.

The little one had been holding it in for a while and immediately complained, "Ama, I heard Aunt Perilla say you went to see the stars. How could you leave me behind?"

Yinqi glanced at him, "When did we leave you behind? You were the one who was playing crazily. I haven't even scolded you yet. How did you watch over your E'na? You didn't even notice she was drunk."

Xiao Bao exclaimed, pointing inside, "E'na wasn't sleeping, she was drunk?"

Yinqi lightly affirmed.

Xiao Bao felt a bit short of confidence for a moment; his grandmother had indeed instructed him to watch over his mother that night. He hadn't performed his duty well, so he couldn't really grumble about being excluded from their stargazing.

"Alright, it's getting late. Go to your tent and sleep," Yinqi said.

Xiao Bao pursed his lips. "Ama, can I sleep with you guys tonight?"

Without hesitation, Yinqi replied, "No, you toss and turn in your sleep and might end up pressing down on your mother. Go sleep by yourself."

Xiao Bao responded with a soft "Oh," feeling quite dejected as he called over the nanny beside him and obediently went to the neighboring tent to sleep.

There was no alternative; his grandmother was adamant on this matter. If it had been his mother, he might have been able to wheedle his way around by acting cute and stubborn.

Unfortunately, his mother was drunk at the moment, and the little boy's departing figure carried a hint of melancholy.

The next morning, when An Qing woke up, her head still felt a bit dizzy. Thankfully, Yinqi had woken her up last night to drink a bowl of sobering soup, which helped alleviate her discomfort.

After breakfast, An Qing felt much better, thankfully not delaying any important matters.

She had already discussed with her Second Elder Brother the previous night that they would join the officials who had been teaching agricultural techniques to the Mongolian tribes to visit some nearby salt-affected pastures today.

An Qing and Yinqi were considered reinforcements sent by the court to help address issues like grassland degradation.

When they arrived, Sibuteng Duolji had already gathered everyone.

An Qing wasn't very familiar with these people. Back at Mulan, Kangxi had only summoned her Second Elder Brother, Third Elder Brother, and Lord Huang Mao due to the winter vine cultivation technique. At the time, she had met Lord Huang Mao a few times.

Hmm... But now, she could barely recognize him; how did he get so tan!

"Lady Wu, it's good to see you again," Huang Mao greeted with a smile.

An Qing paused. "Good to see you too, Lord Huang."

Tsk~ The former Grand Secretary had turned into a tanned old man, showing the power of the prairie sun.

Tsk tsk~ Thinking about it, she used to run wild on the prairie every day and remained fair-skinned. She must be naturally beautiful.

After indulging in her vanity for a moment, An Qing got down to work. They first rode to the salt-affected pastures within Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner and then visited several nearby tribes.

Their Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner had always been diligent in pasture maintenance. Thanks to her efforts over the years, the salt-affected areas were not extensive and had been effectively controlled, preventing further spread.

However, other tribes were not as fortunate. In response to the Qing court's call, they had cultivated many pastures, but lacking experience, they ended up over-cultivating and over-exploiting, leading to grassland degradation and salinization.

Fortunately, the situation was not yet severe, and timely management could restore the greenery of the prairie.

Their final inspection was of the Yirgenjueluo tribe's pasture. Coincidentally, they encountered a familiar face there.

"What a coincidence, Prince Muren," An Qing smiled.

Since the Mulan Autumn Hunt in Kangxi's thirty-seventh year, they hadn't seen each other. It was unexpected to meet here today.

Muren greeted everyone and replied with a smile, "Not a coincidence, I heard you were coming and waited specifically for you."