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

by Usui Takumii

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

13. 121 to 130

Chapter 121: The Fifth Princess Consort

An Qing had a good idea why Muren was waiting here. As far as she knew, the pasture degradation in the Yergenjueluo clan was much worse than in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner. He was probably here to discuss this issue.

Indeed, as she expected, Muren soon said, "Does Beile and Princess Consort have any time today? I would like Princess Consort to help us inspect another pasture."

When Yinqi saw Muren, his emotions became complicated. However, since it was about official business, he couldn't say much and left the decision to An Qing.

An Qing noticed that it was still early and they had no other plans for the day. If the pasture wasn't too far, it would be worth a visit.

Muren shook his head and replied, "That pasture isn't too far from here. It's about a fifteen-minute ride on horseback."

An Qing nodded lightly. "Alright, let's go take a look."

The group rode swiftly across the grassland and, led by Muren, soon arrived at another pasture of the Yergenjueluo clan.

After inspecting the pasture, An Qing understood why Muren insisted on bringing them here. This pasture was the most degraded among all they had inspected today, suffering not only from salinization but also alkalization. If it continued, it would become a saline-alkali land.

Soil salinization refers to the accumulation of soluble salts in the soil surface, while alkalization is a more severe condition encompassing both salinization and alkalinity.

In fact, saline-alkali soils were widespread within Great Qing territory, being one of the main low-yield soil types. According to data from the Ministry of Finance, saline-alkali lands were distributed widely, from the south to the north, from coastal areas to the northwest grasslands, and many regions in the northeast.

If these saline-alkali or saline lands could be improved, the overall grain production of Great Qing would significantly increase.

Of course, addressing salinization and alkalization was a complex and long-term process, even in modern times. Fortunately, there were methods available.

An Qing's primary purpose this time was to guide the agricultural officials under her second brother. Once they got the hang of it, the rest would be a matter of repetition and persistence, which they would handle.

In short, she was just a technical advisor, here to impart advanced methods of improvement.

"Prince Muren, I would like to use your pasture as an experimental field. Are you willing?" An Qing added, "Since it's an experiment, the results cannot be guaranteed. You need to be aware of this."

Although she was confident, she wanted to be thorough and cautious.

This pasture was complex and typical, making it ideal for demonstrating the methods. If they could manage this pasture, they would quickly learn.

Muren was eager to agree. The degraded area of this pasture was spreading, and early intervention meant quicker recovery or at least some control.

Muren waved his hand. "No problem. It can't get any worse. Do what you need to do."

After a moment of hesitation, he added, "Actually, I have a request."

An Qing thought he might have concerns and said, "Don't hesitate. Just tell me what you need."

Muren smiled and shook his head. "I don't have any concerns. I just want to ask if I can join you to learn during these days?"

An Qing agreed immediately. "Of course, you can also select some people from your clan to join us."

This project was similar to when her second brother taught farming techniques, aiming to spread the knowledge so that each clan could manage their own improvements.

After settling the details, they moved on to practical implementation.

Since Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner was close to Muren's pasture, An Qing and Yinqi stayed at home, traveling to the pasture every morning and returning in the evening.

An Qing had worked on this topic with her mentor in her previous life and had personally implemented the methods in saline-alkali lands. Therefore, she was well-versed in how to improve such lands.

Firstly, grazing bans were necessary to allow natural vegetation to recover. For less saline parts of the pasture, this method was sufficient.

For severely alkalized areas, An Qing led the team in implementing chemical measures, such as applying gypsum and weathered coal.

Gypsum has excellent effects on alkaline soils, replacing sodium carbonate with lime and neutral salts, reducing soil alkalinity. Weathered coal contains a significant amount of humic acid, which can improve soil alkalinity and reduce the harmful effects of salt and alkali.

These two materials, though not commonly used, were available.

Gypsum is commonly used for making tofu and medicine, while weathered coal, although unnamed, was not hard to find. Coal layers exposed to the surface or buried shallowly undergo significant changes due to weathering, becoming what is known as weathered coal in modern times.

These chemical measures were effective in treating saline-alkali lands. For primarily saline areas, An Qing used biological measures, planting salt-tolerant plants like star grass and lucerne.

Star grass is widely distributed and highly resistant to salt, alkali, drought, and cold, effectively improving saline soils.

Lucerne, also known as wild alfalfa, is highly drought-resistant, cold-resistant, and somewhat salt-tolerant.

Both star grass and wild alfalfa warm the soil, tolerate salt and alkali, and serve as green manure. After several years, the soil's alkalinity and salinity decrease, naturally improving the land.

It is said that during the Daoguang era, widespread planting of wild alfalfa transformed barren northern lands into fertile fields, feeding many starving people.

After a month of hard work, An Qing and her team had completed all the necessary steps.

Now, they needed to give the grassland time to recover and let the measures take effect.

On this day, An Qing led her second brother and the agricultural officials through a final review of the pasture, preparing them for future promotion.

Yinqi stood nearby, slightly out of place as everyone crowded around An Qing with questions. He stepped back a bit.

Muren approached him. "Shall we talk?"

Yinqi paused, understanding what Muren meant by "talk."

"Sure," he said, pointing to a nearby hill. "Let's go over there."

Muren nodded lightly.

The two of them walked to the grassy slope, but after arriving, neither spoke for a moment, standing there in silence.

Muren watched An Qing's busy figure not far away, a hint of relief flashing across his eyes.

That year, after leaving the Mulan Hunting Grounds, by chance, he learned from one of his subordinates that someone from the Fifth Beile's entourage had inquired about him at Mulan. At that time, Muren vaguely sensed that Yinqi seemed to have realized his feelings for An Qing.

He worried about this matter for a long time, fearing it might bring unnecessary trouble to An Qing. Later, after investigating further, he found out that Yinqi did not blame An Qing for this, which gave him some peace of mind.

Initially, he was unsure, but over these days, whenever Yinqi saw him approaching An Qing and reacted with caution, even Muren could understand the situation.

Thus, this unexpected conversation between them came to be.

After a while, Muren's lips curved into a slight smile as he said, "I'm getting married."

Over the years, he gradually let go. Recently, his mother introduced him to a girl from the grasslands, and they got along well. If all went smoothly, they would marry by the end of the year.

Yinqi was taken aback and suddenly turned to look at him, seemingly surprised.

Muren smiled gently and nodded at him.

Yinqi chuckled softly. The other party's openness made him feel petty for his recent suspicions.

Indeed, when they first met, he knew Muren was an upright young man. Although he still harbored feelings for An Qing back then, he managed to restrain himself and avoid causing her any trouble—a quality worthy of respect.

"Congratulations," Yinqi said sincerely.

Admittedly, he felt pressured when he learned Muren was still unmarried. After all, having such a rival would make anyone feel inadequate.

But now, seeing Muren move on, he genuinely felt relieved and happy for him.

Muren smiled and replied, "Thank you."

Their conversation began and ended rather unexpectedly. Though nothing was explicitly stated, their shared smile conveyed everything.

An Qing finally finished her work and, turning around, noticed Yinqi and Muren standing side by side on the grassy slope, feeling puzzled.

Strange, when did they become so close?

"Sis, leave the remaining tasks to us. You and Yinqi should head back early today. Mother mentioned this morning that Xiao Bao hasn't seen you both in days and misses you terribly," Robzang Lash said.

An Qing agreed, realizing they had indeed been away from home every day recently and hadn't seen the little one for a while. Not only did Xiao Bao miss them, but she and Yinqi missed him too.

Just as the siblings finished talking, Yinqi returned, and they left together, leading their horses.

As they exited the pasture, An Qing couldn't help but ask, "I saw you with Muren earlier. Was there something going on?"

Yinqi paused, holding the reins, "Nothing much, just a casual chat. Oh, by the way, he mentioned he's getting married by the end of the year."

An Qing was somewhat surprised, "Really? That's great, but a bit unfortunate we won't get to congratulate him personally."

They wouldn't return here after today, as they had more important matters to attend to. It was uncertain when they would see him again.

Muren was roughly the same age as she and her Third Elder Brother. Getting married at his age was considered quite late on the grasslands. Even her Third Elder Brother, who had stubbornly refused marriage before, got married two years ago.

Yinqi smiled and replied, "It's okay. I congratulated him on our behalf."

An Qing raised an eyebrow, thinking it was fine as long as the wishes were conveyed.

Given the slope ahead, they didn't rush to mount their horses but led them slowly.

Yinqi walked silently for a while, then suddenly turned to An Qing, "What do you think of Muren?"

An Qing exclaimed, "Ah," seemingly caught off guard by this abrupt question.

What did she think of Muren?

He was undoubtedly a good person. After all, being friends with her Third Elder Brother meant he must have a good character.

From her interactions with Muren, she found him to be a cheerful and bright individual, kind and courteous to everyone. Being around him was always comfortable.

However, An Qing wondered why Yinqi suddenly became curious about Muren.

She glanced at him, trying to discern something, but when she met his slightly evasive gaze, a realization struck her.

Could he have found out about her past engagement to Muren?!

Recalling Yinqi's recent behavior and his wariness towards Muren, she concluded that he likely knew.

However, she assumed he had only recently heard about it from someone in the clan.

"I think Muren is great," she said.

Yinqi's expression stiffened.

An Qing added with a smile, "He's a great friend."

Yinqi looked at her, meeting her teasing gaze, and realized she had figured it out. A faint blush crept up his ears.

Being caught showing jealousy wasn't exactly flattering.

But thinking about An Qing's response, Yinqi's lips curved slightly, "I also think he's great."

He paused, then added softly, "But I'm not bad either."

An Qing's eyes sparkled with amusement, and she nodded in agreement, "I think so too."

A gentle breeze blew, caressing their smiling faces.

Under the warm glow of the setting sun, they walked side by side across the grassy slope, then leaped onto their horses and galloped across the vast grasslands.

The two of them rode back to the jurisdiction of Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, where An Qing spotted Xiao Bao from afar. He was being held by her Third Elder Brother, galloping on horseback.

Xiao Bao clearly noticed them as well and waved excitedly, "Mother, Ama!"

After An Qing and Yinqi approached on horseback, she greeted her Third Elder Brother with a smile, "Third Elder Brother, have you finished at the Clear Water River?"

Yideri smiled and shook his head, "Almost done. Father sent word for me, saying you needed me for something and that I should hurry back. So, here I am, having rushed back as fast as I could."

Seeing his mother engrossed in conversation with Uncle, Xiao Bao became impatient and reached out to An Qing from atop the horse, "Mother, I want to ride with you!"

An Qing wouldn't refuse such a small request. She and Yideri seamlessly transferred Xiao Bao onto her lap while still on horseback.

It was Xiao Bao's first time riding with his mother, and he was thrilled. After circling the grasslands a few times, he finally went off contentedly to find his Ama.

Then, Yinqi took him for another ride around the grasslands.

An Qing dismounted directly and walked over to her Third Elder Brother, finally getting a chance to chat properly with him.

"Has Third Sister-in-law returned? I haven't had the chance to meet her yet," she said with a smile.

Yideri scratched his head with a grin, "She's back, talking with Mother in her tent."

An Qing raised an eyebrow, "Oh, Third Sister-in-law is so filial. Third Elder Brother, you're lucky indeed."

Though she hadn't met her Third Sister-in-law, she knew quite a bit about her Third Elder Brother and his wife from her mother's letters.

Apparently, her Third Elder Brother fell in love at first sight and persistently begged their mother to arrange the marriage.

Yideri, always shameless in front of his little sister, didn't mind her teasing and proudly praised his wife.

An Qing rolled her eyes, "Don't worry; I'm not a malicious younger sister-in-law. I won't make things difficult for your wife."

There was no need to go to such lengths to build goodwill for his wife.

Yideri wasn't bothered when his thoughts were exposed, chuckling and continuing to praise An Qing, "Of course, my little sister is the best sister in the world, bar none."

An Qing accepted the compliment without a second thought.

After some playful banter, they began discussing serious matters.

"Little Sister, Father said you had an important task for me. Is it related to setting up the agricultural experiment field in Fengtian Prefecture?" Yideri asked.

An Qing shook her head, "No, we're not going to Fengtian Prefecture next. We're heading to Heilongjiang."

For this trip out of the capital, Kangxi gave them three tasks: one, to manage the saline-alkali degraded land on the grasslands; two, to establish the Great Qing's first agricultural experiment field in Fengtian Prefecture; and three, to see if there's a way to increase the yield of military farms in Heilongjiang.

The importance of these tasks was ranked accordingly, which is why they headed straight for Mongolia after leaving the capital. However, An Qing was particularly interested in the third task.

The military farms in Heilongjiang are the famous Great Northern Wilderness of later generations. After the founding of New China, transforming the Great Northern Wilderness into the Great Northern Granary is something every agricultural student knows about.

Her goal this time was to turn the barren land of the "Great Northern Wilderness" into the Great Qing's granary, the "Great Northern Granary"!

122

Yideri couldn't help but be taken aback. "To Heilongjiang?"

That place is freezing and remote. What could they possibly do there? It would be so miserable.

This time, the Emperor assigned his little sister and brother-in-law a task. After he returned, his father had told him about it. Apart from managing the degraded land on the grasslands, wasn't the most important part building an agricultural experimental field in Fengtian Prefecture?

As for increasing the military garrison's crop yield in Heilongjiang, not only did Kangxi and the entire court not take it seriously, Yideri also thought it was unlikely to succeed. The conditions there were too harsh. It was difficult enough for people to survive, let alone crops.

In his opinion, sending someone skilled in farming from his little sister's team to guide them would suffice. If that didn't work, he could go himself.

In short, his little sister didn't need to personally suffer through it. It would be better for her to go to Fengtian Prefecture, where life would be more comfortable.

When Yideri shared his thoughts, An Qing glanced at him helplessly. "Third Elder Brother, I'm here with a mission."

She wasn't seeking comfort. Besides, the idea of transforming the ancient wilderness into a miracle filled her with excitement.

"Also, you have to come with me this time," she said.

In An Qing's view, developing the Great Northern Wilderness was a rare opportunity to establish a career.

Her eldest brother inherited their title in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, and her second brother had already secured the title of Prince of Town Pacification. Once the salt-alkali land improvement project succeeded, Kangxi would certainly reward him further, perhaps even elevating his title.

Therefore, only her Third Elder Brother remained without a title. For the past few years, he had been helping the Fourth Princess manage the land around Qingshui River. According to her father and eldest brother, the land around Qingshui River would eventually be under his management.

An Qing previously thought it was a good arrangement. Even without a title, it was still a decent job. The land around Qingshui River was fertile and lush, making both farming and grazing comfortable.

But now, given the opportunity, she wanted to secure a future for her Third Elder Brother. After all, once the initial arrangements were made in the Great Northern Wilderness, someone needed to oversee it, and he was the perfect candidate.

One day, if the Great Northern Wilderness truly became the Great Qing's granary, Kangxi would surely grant him the title of Prince of Town Pacification.

However, this was a long-term project. Significant results might take three to five years, or even ten or more. Therefore, she couldn't make the decision alone; she needed the consent of her family and her Third Elder Brother and his wife.

That evening, after dinner, An Qing gathered everyone together and directly shared her idea.

Deb was silent for a moment before looking at his eldest son, Abulatang. "Eldest Son, what do you think about this?"

Abulatang didn't rush to answer. Instead, he looked at An Qing. "Little Sister, do you really think crops can grow in Heilongjiang?"

His question echoed the doubts of everyone present.

They knew something about the military garrison fields there. Two-thirds of the year was covered in ice and snow, with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall being common. Could anything really grow there and turn it into the Great Qing's granary?

An Qing nodded slightly. "Elder Brother, do you remember when I dragged you and Third Elder Brother to see it when I was twelve? Do you remember what I said then?"

Yideri immediately responded, "You said the soil there is very fertile and perfect for farming."

An Qing smiled and nodded.

That area is one of the world's three major black soil belts, with extremely rich organic content. It has always been known as a place where "a handful of black soil can sprout oil flowers, and even chopsticks can sprout."

Moreover, it has abundant water resources. The Heilongjiang, Songhua, and Wusuli rivers converge in the plains, flowing eastward to the sea. The surface is crisscrossed with rivers, and the groundwater reserves are substantial. Additionally, atmospheric precipitation is plentiful, making it highly suitable for agriculture.

When An Qing saw the vast expanse of wasteland, she was itching to try her hand at farming. Unfortunately, it was a border defense area, and private ownership of military garrison fields was prohibited. Otherwise, she would have bought some land to farm herself.

"Of course, it has always been a barren land with harsh climate conditions, making it challenging to settle and farm. But I am confident."

Hearing this, everyone felt reassured. After all, An Qing had always broken the so-called 'impossibilities' in farming, and they had grown accustomed to it.

Deb had always supported his daughter's decisions, so he agreed with going to Heilongjiang. However, he wasn't keen on Yideri going.

"It doesn't necessarily have to be Third Elder Brother. Once you've settled things there, leaving a few reliable people from Beile Yinqi's side should be fine."

The others nodded in agreement.

They understood why An Qing wanted Yideri to go—it was to give him a chance to earn a title. However, their tribe had already benefited greatly from having An Qing as their daughter, and they felt it was unfair to take credit from her again.

After all, she was now married. How would Yinqi feel? Traditionally, husband and wife are one, and it would be natural for the credit to go to the husband rather than constantly relying on the daughter to support the family.

An Qing immediately understood her father's concern and showed a hint of helplessness.

She knew her father and eldest brother would have these reservations.

Yinqi gently patted her hand and spoke up, "Father, we're all family here, so I'll be honest. The situation in the Imperial City is complex, and any move affects us all. Even if we achieve great success in Heilongjiang, Father Emperor won't overlook the other brothers and bestow rewards on me."

It would be better for the rewards to go to family members rather than be overlooked.

Deb and his sons were taken aback. They hadn't expected Yinqi to be so straightforward. Clearly, he considered them family.

Indeed, Yinqi had shown no distance in recent days. Notably, he had started calling Deb "Ama" and Naren "Mother." During the banquet that night, this surprised Deb so much that he almost dropped his wine cup, insisting it was improper. But Yinqi insisted it was informal within the family, and they agreed.

Seeing their hesitation soften, Yinqi smiled and continued, "Besides, Father Emperor's main task for me is to build an agricultural experimental field in Fengtian Prefecture. My people are already arranged, and Third Elder Brother going will help An Qing."

An Qing nodded vigorously. "Exactly, exactly. I wouldn't trust anyone else."

Then, she turned to her Third Elder Brother's wife. "But we need to ask Third Sister-in-Law's opinion. After all, if Third Elder Brother decides to go, he won't be back for a while, and the conditions there are tough. If you decide to go, you'll have to stay there for a while."

Qimuge, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly felt unsure when An Qing asked her. "I—I'm fine with whatever Ama and Mother decide."

Although surprised, Qimuge wasn't foolish. She understood that An Qing asking her opinion was a sign of respect. She was deeply grateful.

She had often heard Yideri say that his little sister was the best sister in the world. Qimuge believed it, given An Qing's high reputation on the grasslands. But she was nervous, fearing that this cherished little sister might dislike her.

Last night, she tossed and turned until midnight, but today, all her worries vanished upon meeting An Qing.

Despite her remarkable abilities, An Qing was surprisingly kind. Qimuge was delighted at the prospect of joining her, even though the conditions in Heilongjiang were tough. As long as she and her husband didn't have to be separated, they could overcome anything.

An Qing smiled and replied, "Alright, then we'll listen to Father and Mother."

Even though Yinqi had spoken so straightforwardly, Deb still hesitated. However, Empress Naren decisively agreed, "Fine, let's do it An Qing's way. Yideri will go with you."

After saying this, she looked at her three sons and earnestly reminded them to remember the kindness An Qing had shown them.

The three sons readily agreed.

Yideri sighed silently, "Sis, I'm taking advantage of you again."

Hearing this, An Qing punched him lightly, "What do you mean by taking advantage? I'm the leader here. If this succeeds, it's my achievement. You can't take that away from me. Besides, I can't stay there long-term. I need someone I trust to manage things for me. Third Elder Brother, you're helping me out."

Yinqi also chimed in with a smile, "Third Elder Brother, we're family. Helping each other is what we do."

Yideri knew they were trying to reassure him. With a wave of his hand, he stopped being stubborn. After all, he was used to being protected by his little sister since childhood; one more time wouldn't matter.

Qiqihar City, the residence of the General of Heilongjiang.

General Boding frowned deeply as he read the report handed to him by the treasury official, "How is it that we're out of military rations again? I remember we received a shipment from Shengjing just three months ago."

The official replied dejectedly, "My Lord, last time Shengjing only sent us 200 stones of grain. With so many soldiers stationed here, lasting three months was already a stretch. Without the soldiers foraging for wild vegetables and hunting game during their shifts, we wouldn't have made it this far."

But now, with the harsh winter, finding any wild vegetables or game was impossible.

Boding was surprised, "Why did they only send such a small amount of grain?"

The official hurriedly explained, "At the time, there was a major famine in Shandong. The Emperor sent a lot of grain from Shengjing and Jilin to help. They couldn't spare much more and asked us to hold on until the autumn harvest."

When the topic turned to the year's harvest from the military farms, Boding's frown deepened even further.

Their conditions were too harsh; the land simply couldn't support crops. Despite years of trying various methods, they always ended up failing. Who could understand the frustration of planting 35 jin of seeds and only harvesting 26.5 jin of wheat?

This year was even worse due to severe frost damage, leaving almost no harvest at all.

Years of effort had only proven that their ancient wilderness could not produce a bountiful harvest. Boding felt defeated, thinking they should stop trying and avoid wasting seed.

The official, recalling something, cautiously suggested, "My Lord, didn't the Emperor send Beile Yinqi and his consort here? Perhaps there might be a change."

Though they were stationed far away, they had heard of the consort's reputation. Who would have thought that the Mongolian tribes, once dependent on annual aid, would have surplus grain to send to Shandong during its disaster?

If the Mongolian tribes could do it, perhaps they could too.

Boding, however, shook his head, feeling disheartened, "We're different from the Mongolian tribes. It's much colder here."

With two-thirds of the year covered in frost, even the most skilled farmers would struggle. Could the consort really work miracles?

The official understood. For those who had experienced countless failures, hope had long faded.

Boding collected his thoughts. Putting aside distant hopes, he needed to solve the immediate problem. The soldiers couldn't go without food.

"Take some silver and buy whatever grain you can from the city's residents. I'll write a memorial to the Emperor requesting more military rations."

The official responded, "Please hurry, my Lord. The city's residents are running out of grain too."

Boding nodded slightly, returned to his desk, and began writing the memorial. After a while, he summoned a messenger to urgently deliver it to the Imperial City.

An Qing stayed in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner for a few more days to spend time with her parents. When she estimated it was time to leave, she prepared to depart with Yinqi for Heilongjiang.

"Mama, Xiao Bao wants to come too. You and Ama can't leave me behind," the little boy said, his eyes welling up.

Seeing his pitiful expression, An Qing felt her heart soften.

Ever since telling him he had to stay on the grasslands and couldn't accompany them to Heilongjiang, the little boy had cried several times.

But there was no choice. The conditions there were too harsh. It was already snowing in late October, and they were genuinely worried about Xiao Bao's health.

"You be good, Mama and Ama have important business to attend to. It's inconvenient for you to come along. Stay on the grasslands with your grandparents. We'll come back to Shengjing and pick you up right away, okay?" An Qing gently coaxed.

Xiao Bao pouted, looking like he wanted to cry, "No, Mama, Xiao Bao is very well-behaved. I won't disturb you and Ama. Please take me with you."

An Qing, accustomed to his mischievous behavior, found it hard to resist when he acted this way. Her eyes welled up too.

She couldn't bear to part with him. Xiao Bao was four years old now, and except for occasional nights spent in the palace, they had never been apart for so long.

Despite her reluctance, her rational side prevailed. She dared not risk her son's health in such a harsh environment.

Just as she was torn, Yinqi entered. Seeing An Qing's red eyes, he immediately understood the situation and became serious.

"Hong Zhi, do you forget what I told you? Hm?"

The little boy, hearing his father use his formal name, immediately quieted down and stopped pestering his mother, "Okay, Mama, Xiao Bao will be good. You must remember to come back for me."

An Qing reassured him, "Don't worry, Mama misses you too and will definitely come back for you."

After settling Xiao Bao, they moved on to other arrangements.

An Qing planned to leave Mai Dong and Chunxiao to take care of Xiao Bao. Although her mother would look after him in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, she still wanted familiar faces around him. Yinqi also left a few guards.

"Doctor Xiao Qi, why don't you stay with Mai Dong?" An Qing suggested.

After much deliberation, Doctor Xiao Qi submitted a memorial to Kangxi, requesting to accompany them. Kangxi, intending to send a doctor anyway, approved.

The arrangement was settled. As for Mai Dong and his marriage, nothing changed, but the wedding date was postponed until An Qing and Yinqi were settled.

Doctor Qi Zhonglou bowed, "As your accompanying physician, I must stay with you and Beile. It is my duty."

Mai Dong added, "Master, please let him stay. It's freezing in Heilongjiang, and I'm worried about you and Beile."

An Qing didn't want to separate the couple, but seeing their insistence, she didn't argue further.

McDonald is right; it's reassuring to have someone who understands medicine in our large group.

After everything was arranged, they set off on a pleasant morning, leaving the grasslands behind and embarking on their journey to the Great Northern Wilderness.

Chapter 123: The Fifth Princess Consort

In late November, An Qing and her party entered the residence of the Heilongjiang General's Office in Qiqihar, amidst a heavy snowfall.

Traveling north from the grasslands, this was their third blougeous snowstorm, and the further north they went, the more they felt the desolation of this ancient wilderness. Vast, barren mountains and wild lands stretched as far as the eye could see, with only scattered small villages around each town, where people were few and far between.

As the carriage passed through the city gates, An Qing lifted the curtain to look outside. Many shops were closed due to the heavy snow, and there were only a few people on the streets, all looking pale and thin, wearing patched cotton clothes, their faces worn with fatigue.

These were the residents within the city, who had it relatively better. Those in the surrounding villages lived even harder lives.

An Qing sighed silently. The weather here was already harsh, and without sufficient food, many would struggle to survive. This was likely the fundamental reason for the sparse population.

Yet, the land here was fertile. She hoped things would improve someday.

Just as An Qing's thoughts wandered, she heard a child's cry nearby. Turning her head, she saw an elderly man sitting on the snowy ground near a shop, and a little boy lying on the ground not far away.

It seemed the elderly man had stumbled while carrying the child.

"Stop the carriage," An Qing said.

The driver immediately halted the carriage.

Yinqi, who had been reading letters inside, looked up in confusion when he heard An Qing's sudden request. "What is it?"

An Qing pointed outside. "Let's go down and check."

She also wanted to ask someone about the local situation.

Yinqi nodded slightly. "Alright."

He then instructed the guards to help the two people up. When An Qing and Yinqi stepped out of the carriage, the elderly man was comforting his grandson.

"Dog Egg, don't cry. Let Grandpa check if you're hurt. It's all my fault for not walking steadily."

The child, wiping his tears with his sleeve, replied haltingly, "Grandpa, Dog Egg doesn't hurt, but Dog Egg is hungry."

Hearing his grandson's words, Old Li's face showed a hint of guilt. "Child, we'll have to endure a bit longer. Tonight, Grandpa will give you half a steamed bun."

Their food supply was limited, so most families in the city ate only one meal a day, enduring hunger during the day and eating at night.

Adults could bear it, understanding the necessity, but children didn't understand such hardships. They woke up every morning hungry, which pained the adults.

An Qing wasn't like the sheltered rich kids in the Imperial City. She was familiar with the struggles of the poor, and from the conversation between the grandfather and grandson, she could gauge their situation.

"Old man, are you alright?"

Old Li, who had been focused on comforting his grandson, noticed An Qing and Yinqi. Seeing their attire, the carriage, and the guards, he guessed they were wealthy.

"Thank you, kind sirs. Without your help, I wouldn't have been able to stand up."

He placed his grandson on the ground and bowed to them.

An Qing helped him up. "No need to be so formal. Are you hurt anywhere? We have a doctor with us who can check you."

Old Li waved his hand. "Thank you for your concern, but we're tough. A fall like this is nothing serious."

Seeing his refusal, An Qing didn't insist. She looked at the little boy next to the old man. The child named Dog Egg was about Xiao Bao's age, his face red from the cold, with chapped skin from the harsh northern wind.

But he was too thin, with no baby fat left on his small face.

The boy stared with big, dark eyes and said, "Sister, you look like a fairy."

An Qing couldn't help but laugh. It was the first time someone called her a fairy, and it came from a child.

She squatted down to be at eye level with the boy and asked, "I heard your grandpa call you Dog Egg. So, that's your name?"

The boy nodded vigorously, proud. "Yes, Fairy Sister, my name is Dog Egg, given by my grandpa."

Old Li scratched his head, embarrassed. "Please forgive our rudeness. Here, people say that humble names bring good fortune."

An Qing didn't mind. "My son is about your age. You don't need to call me sister; it's a generation off. Call me Auntie."

Dog Egg said obediently, "Fairy Auntie."

An Qing smiled and pointed to a noodle shop nearby. "I heard you say you were hungry. Dog Egg, how about Auntie treats you to some noodles?"

Dog Egg's eyes lit up at the mention of noodles, but he hesitated and looked at his grandpa.

Old Li waved his hands. "We can't accept such kindness. We're strangers, how can we let you treat us to noodles?"

An Qing smiled. "Don't worry, Old Man. My son is about Dog Egg's age, and seeing him makes me feel close. Please don't refuse. My husband can afford a meal."

She turned to Yinqi and teased, "Isn't that right, Husband?"

Yinqi, hearing An Qing call him "husband" for the first time, smiled warmly. "Of course, my wife has spoken."

He then turned to Old Li. "Old Man, please do us the honor."

He signaled to the guards, who understood and helped Old Li and Dog Egg towards the noodle shop, reassuring them along the way.

Old Li, seeing no way to refuse, kept thanking them.

Deep down, he couldn't bear seeing his grandson's longing gaze.

Dog Egg, thrilled at the prospect of noodles, jumped up. "Thank you, Fairy Auntie!"

An Qing raised an eyebrow, looking at Yinqi with evident satisfaction. "He has better taste than Xiao Bao!"

At least Xiao Bao had never called her a fairy mother.

Seeing her like this, Yinqi couldn't help but laugh. "Are you that happy?"

An Qing replied matter-of-factly, "Of course! This is the first time someone has praised my beauty by calling me a fairy."

After saying that, she rather smugly brushed aside a strand of hair that the wind had blown across her forehead.

"Sigh, thinking back now, it's all because of Mother."

Yinqi couldn't follow her train of thought and asked, "What does this have to do with Mother?"

An Qing answered, "Of course it does. Who made Mother so beautiful? With such a beautiful grandmother, Xiao Bao's standards were spoiled from a young age. How could he notice his mother's beauty?"

"Sigh, no, no, I need to write to Mother tonight and complain. It's all because she's too beautiful, making me seem ordinary. Actually, I'm quite pretty too, right?"

Yinqi nodded lightly and replied earnestly, "You're the most beautiful, even more than Mother."

At least in his heart, that was true.

An Qing: "... There's no need to be so insincere."

It sounded like a sarcastic remark.

"What insincerity?" Yideri happened to walk over. Their carriage was behind, and seeing that the front carriage hadn't moved for a while, he came to check.

An Qing smugly recounted what had just happened, emphasizing how the other person had called her a fairy.

Yideri exclaimed, "Little Sister, when did you start caring about this?"

To stop the carriage on the street just because someone called her a fairy and invite them to eat, was this still the little sister he knew? When did she become so concerned about her appearance?

An Qing glanced at him irritably. "Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand. Go tell everyone to come down and eat some noodles. We've been traveling for so long; everyone must be hungry."

Yideri responded with an "Oh" and didn't ask any more questions. He turned around and called everyone into the shop for noodles.

As it happened, he was actually quite hungry.

An Qing and Yinqi followed closely into the noodle shop. The shop was small, with only a few scattered tables. They sat directly at Lao Li's table.

The shop only served simple yangchun noodles with a few side dishes. An Qing didn't order anything else, simply asking for everything to be brought out for them to try.

Seeing their attire, the shopkeeper nervously approached and said, "Honored guests, our shop is small, and the food might not suit your tastes."

An Qing waved her hand. "No problem, just bring it out."

Hearing this, the shopkeeper felt relieved and went to prepare the noodles. After all, these people clearly weren't locals, and they had ordered a substantial amount. If they refused to pay because of the taste, what would he do?

They were running a small business and couldn't afford to lose money.

Soon, the noodles were brought to An Qing's table. Seeing the plain bowls, she understood why the shopkeeper had been so cautious. The noodles were truly simple, without even a sprinkle of scallions.

But considering the harsh winter and limited supplies, it wasn't surprising that fresh scallions were hard to come by.

Lao Li, sitting with them, was already nervous. Seeing that they hadn't started eating, he and his grandson didn't dare touch their noodles either.

Yinqi quickly realized this and urged them to eat.

Once An Qing and Yinqi began eating, Lao Li encouraged his grandson to join in. As soon as the hot noodles entered their mouths, both their faces lit up with surprise. They hadn't eaten white flour noodles in ages.

An Qing and Yinqi exchanged a glance, silently sighing. But they didn't disturb them and continued eating their own noodles.

Midway through, An Qing asked the shopkeeper to bring another bowl for Lao Li and his grandson. Once everyone had finished eating, An Qing finally found a chance to chat with them and learn about the local situation.

"Honored guests may not know, but we can't get much yield from our crops here. The heavens don't provide us with enough. Take this year, for example. The crops suffered severe frost damage. The harvest was less than the seeds we planted. It's really leaving us no way to survive," Lao Li said, growing increasingly worried.

This winter was going to be tough. With little food left, they had to use the seeds reserved for planting. But if they didn't eat now, the whole family would starve before next year.

An Qing didn't know how to comfort him. Telling him things would get better probably wouldn't be believed.

Fortunately, Lao Li didn't linger in this mood for long, possibly out of consideration for them.

"Judging by your attire, you're from elsewhere, right? Why did you come here?" he asked.

An Qing smiled and replied, "Yes, we're from Mongolia. We came here to take care of some matters."

Hearing that they were from Mongolia, Lao Li's eyes lit up. "Mongolia is good. I heard that the herdsmen there grew sweet potatoes a few years ago and now don't go hungry in winter. It's truly enviable."

His eyes were filled with longing.

Not just Lao Li, but even the shopkeeper and the serving staff also looked envious.

Being able to avoid hunger was the greatest hope for most people in this era.

At the General's Mansion:

Boding received a message from the city gate guards that Beile and Fu Jin had entered the city. He hurried back from the camp outside the city to welcome them.

But upon returning, the people at the mansion said they hadn't seen Beile and Fu Jin.

"General, don't worry. They must have been delayed by something in the city. I've sent someone to investigate," a soldier said.

Boding nodded slightly, knowing there was nothing else to do.

About half an hour later, the soldier who had gone to investigate returned through the snow.

"Reporting to the General, Beile and Fu Jin are currently eating noodles at a noodle shop in the city."

Boding furrowed his brows slightly. Eat noodles?

He pondered for a moment and said, "Come, follow me to greet them."

Chapter 124: The Fifth Princess Consort

Outside, the wind and snow were raging, but An Qing and Yinqi had already been chatting with Old Man Li and others at the noodle shop for quite some time.

With the heavy snow outside, there weren't many customers in the shop. The owner and the waiters, finding them easy to talk to, joined their conversation as well.

During this process, they had already gathered a general understanding of the local situation.

Qimuge and Yideri were eating noodles at another table. Hearing about the situation, Qimuge whispered, "People always said life was hard for the herders on the grasslands, but I didn't expect it to be even harder here."

Yideri thought the same, but he trusted his younger sister. "Don't worry. With our little sister here, everything will get better."

Qimuge nodded in agreement. Although she hadn't spent much time with her sister-in-law, she had an inexplicable trust in her. Since An Qing had expressed confidence that day, it would surely work out.

When Boding arrived at the noodle shop in a hurry, he saw this scene. He had met the Fifth Beile during his previous trip back to the Imperial City, so he recognized him at once. As for the woman beside him, she must be the Fifth Princess Consort.

"Your subordinate pays respects to the Fifth Beile and the Fifth Princess Consort."

The sudden arrival of a group of soldiers startled everyone in the noodle shop. Before they could react, the soldiers bowed to An Qing and Yinqi.

How did they address them just now? Fifth Beile and Fifth Princess Consort?

That means they're royalty! Good heavens, they had just talked so much with them!

Everyone was terrified, especially Old Man Li, who fell off his chair in fright.

"Old man, be careful!"

Seeing this, Yinqi hurriedly reached out to help him. But Old Man Li kept backing away, pulling his grandson up to bow to them. Fortunately, Ma Xiang caught him in time.

Seeing how uncomfortable they were, An Qing and Yinqi decided not to stay longer at the noodle shop. After paying the bill, they left with General Boding for the government office.

Before leaving, An Qing asked Perilla to give a bag of pastries to Doggie. The child, who had been nervous, brightened up instantly upon seeing the treats and even swallowed his saliva unconsciously.

Children are children; they find joy in food and cry when hungry. Their happiness is that simple.

Upon arriving at the government office, Boding immediately arranged for them to rest.

"Fifth Beile, Princess Consort, you must be tired from your long journey. Your subordinate has prepared lodgings in the backyard of the office, though the conditions here cannot compare to those in the Imperial City. Please bear with us."

Yinqi waved his hand and replied, "No worries. When traveling, one doesn't need to be too particular. We'll adapt to local customs."

An Qing also nodded and said, "General, please have someone help us move our luggage. It's still early, and we're not tired. If you're not busy, gather the officials here so we can discuss business."

Boding was taken aback and looked at Yinqi instinctively.

Yinqi directly stated, "This mission is led by the Princess Consort. You should follow her instructions."

Hearing this, Boding understood. The news from the Imperial City was true; the Fifth Beile and Fifth Princess Consort were deeply devoted to each other. With these words from Yinqi, he knew how to proceed.

"Very well. Your subordinate will arrange it right away. Please wait a moment, Fifth Beile and Princess Consort."

An Qing smiled and said, "Thank you, General."

Boding quickly replied, "Princess Consort is too kind. It's my duty."

After saying this, he went to make arrangements. Soon, officials from various departments arrived.

The internal structure of the Heilongjiang General's Office included the Seal Office, the Departments of Military, Criminal, Engineering, and Civil Affairs, as well as the Treasury. Each department had a head and several clerks and deputy heads.

Only the heads of each department were present today.

Seeing everyone gathered, An Qing got straight to the point. "I assume everyone knows why the Fifth Beile and I are here. We've been sent by His Majesty to deal with the military farming issue. Now, let's hear about the current situation here."

Everyone looked at Boding. As the commander of Heilongjiang and the highest-ranking official here, they naturally awaited his guidance.

Boding nodded slightly and said, "Please cooperate with the Princess Consort."

Hearing this, everyone understood. The head of the Civil Affairs Department first reported the production figures of the military farms over the years, while others shared information about their respective areas.

Except for the Criminal Affairs official, who wondered why he was even there, since his department had little to do with the military farms.

Of course, he didn't dare ask why and simply listened.

An Qing listened attentively and asked specific questions. She even took out a map and discussed it with everyone.

Boding was surprised. He had assumed the Fifth Beile and Princess Consort were just making a formality visit, but the Princess Consort seemed determined to make changes.

Recalling the disappointment and exhaustion of the troops every time, he reaffirmed his earlier thoughts: no more pointless efforts. It only caused unnecessary hardship and disappointment.

An Qing noticed Boding's hesitation and asked, "General, do you have something to say?"

Boding, who was contemplating how to speak, decided not to delay. Bowing, he said, "Princess Consort, I'm a rough man, and my words may sound harsh. Please don't take offense."

An Qing waved her hand and replied, "Speak freely."

Boding pondered for a moment, trying to find the right words, but ultimately decided to be straightforward.

In my view, it's futile to attempt cultivating crops in this location. Let's cease the futile efforts.

The room fell silent.

An Qing was taken aback. What did he mean? She came here precisely for this reason.

Perhaps because she hadn't heard such skepticism in her field of expertise for a long time, An Qing was momentarily stunned. Yinqi, however, frowned and questioned, "General Boding, what do you mean?"

Boding, having spoken, didn't retract his words. "Fifth Beile, I know this might upset you and the Princess Consort, but the reality here is harsh. Two-thirds of the year are covered in frost, and this land has always been barren. Why keep trying when it's all in vain?"

An Qing finally understood and smiled. "I'm afraid I must disappoint you, General. I disagree with you. Even if two-thirds of the year are frosty and the land has always been barren, we can still achieve great things. We can overcome nature."

Boding felt that these words were absurd. He was a warrior, and his temper was naturally fiery. With such provocative remarks, he quickly became agitated and began to speak with sarcasm: "Lady Fu Jin really has quite the audacity, it's simply laughable—how can mere humans fight against heaven?"

Since ancient times, farming has always relied on the heavens. If one wants to challenge the heavens, they must first see if the crops in the fields will cooperate.

Yinqi's face darkened immediately upon hearing this. An Qing hurriedly shook her head at him. She understood why Boding reacted this way; it was likely due to the accumulated disappointment from investing too much effort into this barren land.

She stopped Yinqi but didn't notice Yideri standing up abruptly. "General Boding, my sister respects you, but please mind your tone."

Boding, however, still held his ground and replied, "Prince Yideri, am I wrong? Defying the heavens is something I've never seen in all my years."

Seeing no remorse, Yideri exploded with anger. Regardless of Boding being the general of the Heilongjiang garrison, Yideri couldn't care less.

Even if the other party could control him, he wouldn't let them get away with speaking ill of his sister.

"What a joke! There are countless things in this world you haven't seen. Don't think too highly of yourself. Did you know about sweet potato vine winter storage techniques before? Did you know how to prevent 'rice blast' and 'ghost wheat' and other crop diseases? Did you know how to achieve two harvests a year in the north? You didn't know any of these things, and neither did anyone else throughout history, but my sister accomplished them!"

"So, your ignorance only proves your lack of knowledge, General Boding. I advise you not to take pride in your ignorance—it just makes you look foolish."

After delivering this long speech, he couldn't help but sneer, almost writing 'contempt' across his face.

Boding was undoubtedly enraged and stood up abruptly, pointing at Yideri, ready to say something, but was quickly restrained by his subordinate.

What's going on here? Can't you see Beile Yinqi is holding back? If not for Lady Fu Jin stopping him, he would have already lost his temper.

They are the imperial family's descendants, and their actions are sanctioned by the Emperor. They have every right to be here. If this escalates, our general might suffer the consequences.

"General, please calm down. Prince Yideri is right. In terms of farming, no one in Great Qing can match Lady Fu Jin. If she says it's possible, there must be some reason behind it. We should follow her advice," a chief officer hurriedly interjected, hoping to soothe the situation.

Of course, he also took the opportunity to flatter An Qing, hoping she would calm down.

"Please forgive us, Beile and Lady Fu Jin. Our general is genuinely hurt by the poor harvests in the military farms this year. It's not personal; it's just that years of hard work have ended in failure, which would upset anyone."

An Qing nodded lightly, understanding the situation, and she wasn't angry.

While she couldn't defy the heavens, she could adapt to the conditions and plant suitable crops. There was always a way.

"General, I understand your feelings, but since we're here, we don't intend to leave empty-handed. So, how about a bet? If you fully cooperate with us, I promise to make this black soil lush and green, bringing joy of a bountiful harvest to the soldiers!"

Chapter 125: The Fifth Princess Consort

At the residence behind the General's Office.

Yideri still felt uneasy and said, "Little Sister, do you think Boding might give you trouble?"

Boding was the commanding general of all Heilongjiang and the highest-ranking official here. If he refused to cooperate, things would indeed become complicated.

An Qing had been directing Perilla and the others in packing up when she heard this. She waved her hand dismissively and said, "Third Elder Brother, you're overthinking it. General Boding isn't that kind of person; he just has a bit of a temper. It's normal for a military man."

Before coming here, they had investigated Boding's character and past thoroughly. If he were truly a petty person, she wouldn't have treated him so politely in the study earlier.

Yideri looked uncertainly at Yinqi, "Brother-in-Law, is it really like that?"

Yinqi nodded slightly and replied, "Although Boding is somewhat stubborn, his character is fine. Since he agreed, he won't play such petty tricks."

Moreover, Boding wasn't foolish. To cause trouble for a prince and his consort would be inviting disaster upon himself.

Yideri thought about it and felt relieved, but he was curious about what An Qing planned to do next.

After all, when she told Boding about the bet, she seemed very confident, suggesting she already had a plan in mind.

For An Qing, there was indeed a plan, but she needed to conduct a thorough on-site inspection first.

From the second day onward, she and Yinqi started to get busy. Over the years, although they hadn't pursued any grand ambitions, they had intentionally cultivated a group of farmers who could work for them, bringing most of them along this time.

They left early every morning and returned late at night, using Qiqihar as the center and spreading out to inspect all the military farms in the vicinity.

The Great Northern Wilderness had always been a desolate place, and An Qing, despite being mentally prepared, was still shocked by the reality.

In her previous life, she had seen pictures and videos of the development of the Great Northern Wilderness after the founding of the country, which were already quite challenging. But who could imagine that conditions two hundred years ago were even worse?

Here, thickets and swamps were everywhere, snowstorms raged, and wild beasts roamed freely. Few people lived here, and the problems of coldness, isolation, wilderness, and danger were overwhelming.

Every day, they walked on this black soil, braving the wind and snow, crossing ice, and moving between the military farms in the vast wilderness.

On the first day, due to inadequate preparation, their shoes got soaked when they returned. An Qing quickly instructed Perilla to make waterproof boots, which made subsequent days more bearable.

During the day, they scouted the area outside the city, and in the evenings, they held meetings to discuss various matters, keeping themselves extremely busy.

A month passed quickly. After thoroughly inspecting the local conditions, An Qing made a decision: she wanted to stay.

The situation here was more complex than she had imagined, and the difficulty of reclamation was much higher than in Mongolia. Even if she could make plans in advance, unexpected issues might arise, and her Third Elder Brother might not be able to handle them. At least for the first year, she needed to oversee everything herself.

"Next spring, you should take some people to Fengtian Prefecture to set up the agricultural experimental field. I want to stay here and personally oversee things. Can we split up and proceed separately?" An Qing asked.

Over these days, Yinqi had maintained correspondence with his maternal grandfather regarding the agricultural experimental field, and they had a good understanding of the situation there.

As for the procedures for setting up the agricultural experimental field, An Qing was confident in Yinqi. After all, he had managed the small experimental field in their residence and handled the affairs of Royal Manor for several years.

Speaking of it, this was actually An Qing being lazy. She really didn't want to deal with these trivial matters, so she handed them all over to Yinqi. Fortunately, Yinqi was quite adept at such things, and the two of them reached a tacit agreement.

Although Yinqi didn't want to be separated from An Qing, he also knew that official business came first. Although Fengtian Prefecture was some distance away, he could always travel between the two places.

"Alright, let's do it your way, but there's one thing: you must take good care of yourself and not neglect everything when you get busy."

An Qing readily agreed, "Don't worry, Perilla and Cui Liu will keep an eye on me."

After they settled their plan, the next step was to find Boding to discuss the land reclamation after spring. He was the general stationed in Heilongjiang and the highest-ranking official locally; many things couldn't be done without his involvement.

Things like needing manpower for reclamation, forging suitable farming tools, and building irrigation systems all required support from the local government. The people they brought were not enough.

"Are you planning to use the military farmland near Dongping in Qiqihar?" Boding asked.

An Qing nodded and replied, "We do want to use that piece of military farmland, but it's not enough. After the ground thaws in spring, we'll need the general to send some men to help us reclaim more land."

Currently, the military farmland near Dongping in Qiqihar wasn't very large. She needed to continue reclaiming land around the existing military farmland to form a certain scale and establish the first military farm in the Great Northern Wilderness.

She wasn't here to haphazardly clear land here and there. Since successful examples existed in later generations, following those would ensure the right direction overall.

Many things had to be done step by step; one couldn't rush. Farming especially was no exception; sometimes taking too big a step could be counterproductive.

So they would proceed steadily, clearing one farm at a time, and over the years, turn this wasteland into fields of abundant crops.

The reason An Qing chose the area near Dongping in Qiqihar to establish the first military farm was not only because of its geological conditions but also because it wasn't too far from Qiqihar City. The population around there was relatively dense, which would maximize resource utilization.

Boding was taken aback and asked, "You still want to continue reclaiming land? Can't the existing military farmland be used?"

In his view, reclaiming land was extremely labor-intensive. The current military farmland was cleared by him and his soldiers, and it could be used directly, which would be much easier than starting anew.

An Qing shook her head and replied, "Those military farmlands are too scattered. They can't form a scalable management system, and any problems with the crops can't be addressed promptly."

Conquering this black soil was no easy task, and various issues would inevitably arise. They needed to learn from practice to better continue their efforts.

Boding nodded slightly. Though he didn't fully understand, he didn't oppose it. "Fujin, besides the soldiers on daily patrol, I will mobilize all other available troops to assist you in reclaiming the land after spring."

Hearing this, An Qing was surprised. She had expected to have to argue more, but he seemed unusually cooperative today, less stubborn than before.

"Thank you, General."

Boding noticed the fleeting surprise on An Qing's face and felt a bit awkward.

These days, he had seen how the couple of the Fifth Beile left early and returned late every day. Regardless of anything else, just based on their attitude towards work, he genuinely admired them.

It was winter here, with temperatures dropping below minus several degrees. Despite their noble backgrounds, they endured such hardship, showing their determination.

Especially Fujin of the Fifth Beile, honestly, Boding hadn't taken her seriously before. He never doubted her achievements in farming, but he didn't think she would personally get involved. Perhaps she had some talent in farming, but expecting her to work the fields herself seemed unlikely. He thought she might just direct others.

But unexpectedly, she, a delicate woman, was truly hands-on. Boding suddenly felt that maybe she could really accomplish something.

If this could truly come to pass, it would be a great fortune for the soldiers and the local people.

"Madam Fu Jin, there's no need for formalities; these are all duties I should perform." Boding hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Though I am merely a military official, I understand the gravity of the situation. Please rest assured, Fifth Beile and Madam Fu Jin, that since I promised to assist fully last time, I will not go back on my word."

Nor will I engage in any underhanded sabotage.

An Qing and Yinqi exchanged a glance. Although they were unsure of the reason, they noticed a clear softening in his attitude, which they welcomed.

Especially An Qing, who had always detested complications. If everyone could reach an agreement, it would be the best outcome.

Yinqi spoke up, "General, you are too modest. We have never doubted your character."

Taking the opportunity, An Qing then outlined her plans and arrangements for the future. The land reclamation would have to wait until the ice melted next year, but there was still much to do immediately. The most urgent task was to develop improved farming tools.

With such backward productivity and without mechanized equipment, the only way to awaken this thousand-year-old black soil was through sheer human labor. Therefore, An Qing had made numerous improvements to existing tools, hoping to reduce the workload and accelerate the reclamation process.

Yinqi, with his years of experience at the Ministry of Works, had considerable insight into farming tools. After seeing An Qing's drawings, he immediately recognized their efficiency-enhancing features.

Thus, in the following days, he began working with the officials from the Engineering Department within the government office to craft these tools. An Qing, meanwhile, started making detailed plans for the land reclamation scheduled for the spring.

Time flew by amidst their busy schedules, and soon it was the end of the year. Due to the multitude of tasks at hand, they were unable to return to Mongolia as originally planned for the New Year.

This was their first New Year away from home, especially for Yinqi.

The New Year in the border town couldn't compare to the festivities in the Imperial City. By the eve of the New Year, the town had just begun to feel a bit festive. Some residents had put up couplets on their doors, others hung lanterns, and eating a meal of mixed noodle dumplings on New Year's Eve was considered celebrating.

The officials in the government office had already been given leave. With families to care for, An Qing and Yinqi did not wish to disturb them on this special day. Instead, the two joined Yideri and others for a relatively sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner at the residence behind the government office.

After the meal, everyone dispersed. An Qing and Yinqi returned to their room and took out the letters that had arrived from the Imperial City earlier that day, poring over them by candlelight.

Chapter 126: The Fifth Princess Consort

These letters were ordinary family letters, including those from the Empress Dowager, Concubine Yi, and Xiao Jiu's family, as well as from Guaerjia and Hongsheng, among others. Naturally, they also included letters from Kangxi.

An Qing had heard before that Kangxi expressed his paternal love to his sons through letters. For example, when he was on campaign in Dzungaria, even though the Crown Prince was overseeing the state affairs, Kangxi would send letter after letter to the Imperial City. Later, he became furious when the Crown Prince did not reply.

While there might have been some concern about the Crown Prince overseeing the state, it was said that at that time, the Third Prince was ill, and Kangxi personally wrote a letter expressing his care. This showed that writing letters was a way for him to communicate emotionally with his sons.

He not only did this with his sons but also with the palace concubines. During Kangxi's southern tour in the forty-second year of his reign, Concubine Yi did not go along. When An Qing visited the palace to pay her respects, she saw Concubine Yi reading a letter from Kangxi, with a small wooden box nearby containing all the letters he had written to her during his previous outings. Not only Concubine Yi, but it was said that Huideron and Empress Tongjia also received such letters.

Regarding Kangxi's habit of writing letters, An Qing had only heard about it before and didn't think much of it. But this time, she deeply felt its impact.

Ever since they left the Imperial City, Kangxi's paternal love seemed to have finally found an outlet, sending a letter to Yinqi every now and then.

"Here, read the letter from His Majesty carefully. Don't disappoint his loving fatherly heart." An Qing skillfully picked out Kangxi's letter from the pile and handed it to Yinqi with a teasing tone.

Yinqi's eyes flashed with a hint of helplessness, noticing the playful tone in her words.

His father's letters were indeed...

Initially, An Qing was curious about what Kangxi wrote to Yinqi and would peek at the letters. However, after reading a few times, she stopped looking because the letters were too sentimental, which she found hard to handle.

Perhaps due to different family dynamics, she was close to her parents but expressed their feelings more reservedly. Their letters usually contained daily chatter and occasional expressions of affection, but nothing as overt as "my beloved son," "constantly thinking of you," or "unable to eat or sleep." Such phrases came naturally to Kangxi, but An Qing found them quite uncomfortable.

However, Yongzheng probably inherited his father's penchant for such sentimental expressions. He took it to another level, as evidenced by his famous remarks to officials, calling Longkede the "nation's favorite uncle" and expressing deep affection for Nian Gengyao, referring to him as "My benefactor" and stating, "If I do not become an outstanding emperor, I do not deserve your kindness."

In short, these expressions were extremely sentimental, making one shudder.

"Can I see the letter Fourth Prince wrote to you?" An Qing asked curiously.

Yinqi looked at her, puzzled. "Why do you suddenly want to see Fourth Brother's letter?"

An Qing chuckled, not hiding her intentions. "I just want to see if Fourth Brother is like His Majesty."

Yinqi was taken aback and couldn't help but laugh. "You're overthinking it. Fourth Brother has always been reserved in expressing his emotions."

He wouldn't write such overtly emotional words; he'd rather die than write them.

An Qing sighed, thinking that Yinqi still didn't understand his Fourth Brother. He wasn't reserved at all; he was just constrained by Kangxi's criticism of being "unpredictable" in his youth. Once he ascended the throne, he would unleash his true nature. She hoped Yinqi wouldn't be too surprised then.

After all, someone who could say "I am this kind of man" couldn't be very reserved.

Despite not understanding why An Qing linked his Fourth Brother with His Majesty, Yinqi didn't stop her from reading the letter. He simply found the letter from his Fourth Brother and handed it to her.

An Qing eagerly read the two-page letter but couldn't help feeling disappointed.

It was indeed a plain letter, written in a conventional manner without any sentimentality, merely reminding Yinqi to take care of his health.

However, the Fourth Prince's letter also subtly mentioned the situation in the Imperial City, indicating that things were becoming increasingly tense.

Yinqi had left people in the Imperial City to inform them regularly about the situation. Besides the intensifying conflicts among the princes, the relationship between the Crown Prince and Kangxi was also deteriorating.

This was within An Qing's expectations. When Kangxi decided to execute Suoetu, it set the stage for this outcome.

Suoetu's death made the Crown Prince paranoid and insecure, no longer certain of his position as heir. Consequently, he began to fear failure and lived in constant fear of the unknown, leading to erratic behavior.

Kangxi, being a sensitive and suspicious emperor, grew concerned about the Crown Prince seeking revenge for Suoetu, planting the seed of suspicion that the Crown Prince might rebel.

This was why Kangxi reacted so intensely during the first deposition of the Crown Prince.

Given this environment, how could their relationship return to normal? Kangxi's plan to discipline the Crown Prince through Suoetu's death was bound to fail.

An Qing silently sighed, hoping they could stay away for a few more years, at least until the historical crises involving the depositions of the Crown Prince passed.

The murky waters of the Imperial City were best avoided.

Yinqi's mood was affected by the news from the Imperial City. An Qing patted his hand, signaling him not to worry. "We have plenty more letters to read. Let's continue."

Yinqi nodded slightly, and they continued reading the letters.

An Qing picked up another letter and opened it, exclaiming, "Why is there a letter from Xiao Bao here?"

Yinqi was also surprised. Xiao Bao should still be in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, so a letter from him shouldn't be included in the letters from the Imperial City.

They opened Xiao Bao's letter and understood what happened.

It turned out that when Xiao Bao wrote letters to Concubine Yi, the Empress Dowager, Honghui, and Hongsheng, he also wrote one to Kangxi. Kangxi replied and instructed the messenger to deliver the letter to Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner first, allowing Xiao Bao to send a reply.

As for what Xiao Bao wrote, it was actually a drawing.

Since he was young, An Qing had drawn Q-version comics to entertain him, and he learned to draw with charcoal. Over time, his drawings improved, though they were still abstract compared to hers.

The drawing in this letter was particularly abstract, and anyone else might not understand it.

"Xiao Bao is complaining that we don't miss him and didn't invite him for the New Year," An Qing said with a helpless expression.

Seeing the little figure crying on the ground in the drawing, she felt bad. They realized how harsh the conditions were here.

It was likely below forty degrees outside, and even adults needed to bundle up tightly to venture out. Bringing Xiao Bao here would be too difficult.

Let's wait until spring to bring him over.

Yinqi also held up the letter, saying, "He went to His Majesty to complain that we don't take care of him."

An Qing: "..."

This little rascal must have complained to Concubine Yi and the Empress Dowager as well.

Hmph! Tattletale!

However, she had one question: Could Kangxi really understand that drawing?

Yinqi replied, "Emperor Father asked Honghui and Hongsheng to translate it."

Ah, no wonder.

In the Imperial City, the three of them often played together. Xiao Bao's drawings were familiar to them, and they always managed to decipher most of it by guessing. After they left the Imperial City, Xiao Bao continued to write letters in this manner.

However, when they wrote back to Xiao Bao, they did so normally. Xiao Bao, that illiterate, always needed someone to read the letters for him.

When An Qing saw the letters from the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi, as she expected, that little brat had tattled. Both of them scolded her and Yinqi in their letters, and even Hongsheng's letter contained some veiled complaints.

Tsk! Compared to that little brat, they were indeed out of favor.

This New Year's Eve was spent reading and replying to letters. When they finished, fireworks lit up the sky in the front courtyard, marking the end of the old year and the beginning of the new one.

Yinqi looked at An Qing with gentle eyes and said, "Happy New Year."

An Qing smiled and replied, "Happy New Year!"

Another year passed, and the gears of history turned into the forty-fifth year of Kangxi's reign.

After the New Year, the black soil was still covered in snow until April. As soon as it thawed, An Qing got to work immediately.

The original military fields needed to be sown with spring wheat quickly. Heilongjiang has long, cold winters, making winter wheat unsuitable. However, once the spring temperatures rose, spring wheat grew rapidly, making it the ideal choice.

These wheat seeds were specially transported from her Royal Manor in the Imperial City. Over the years, she had been working on cultivating frost-resistant wheat seeds, achieving some success, which could now be used here.

While the spring wheat planting went smoothly on An Qing's farm, the surrounding villagers faced difficulties. Due to last year's frost damage, they had eaten the wheat seeds they had saved to survive the winter, leaving them with nothing to sow.

Boding, aware of the villagers' plight, was powerless. Frankly, if not for the wheat seeds An Qing sent, the military fields would have had none either. So he sought help from An Qing.

Without hesitation, An Qing handed over the seeds to Boding. The planting season was crucial, and missing it would spell disaster for the year.

Fortunately, they had brought enough seeds, and since there weren't many villagers, everyone could share. An Qing also sent a team of farmers to guide the locals on how to soak and sow the seeds and prevent frost damage.

Although Boding understood the villagers' hardships, he didn't want to take advantage of An Qing. Initially, he proposed returning the seeds with a 20% interest after the harvest. An Qing refused, insisting they return only what they borrowed. She wasn't interested in profiting from this.

Besides, the local villagers already lived in hardship. A single wheat crop yielded little, and taxes further reduced their earnings. She couldn't bear to add to their burden.

After sowing the spring wheat, An Qing led the soldiers to clear more land near the military fields. Her goal this year was to establish the first military farm, and the existing fields were insufficient.

As for the newly cleared land, it was too late to plant spring wheat. Therefore, An Qing planned to sow corn in May or June.

The frost period usually began in October, and corn could be harvested in September, fitting perfectly within the timeframe.

To clear more land before the corn planting season, they worked day and night. Boding kept his word and mobilized all available soldiers, but manpower was still short.

What surprised An Qing most was that the villagers, grateful for her generosity with the wheat seeds, came to help clear the designated area after sowing their own crops, significantly speeding up the process.

The pioneers of the Great Northern Wilderness once sang a song: "Rise at three-thirty, return under starry skies; eat frozen bread, snow as soup..."

Their situation was similar, though their diet was better. An Qing knew that clearing land was hard labor, so she had Yinqi send a request to Kangxi in the Imperial City for additional food supplies, including corn and sweet potatoes, ensuring everyone had enough to eat while working.

One day in early May, while leading the soldiers in clearing the land, An Qing saw a carriage approaching in the distance.

"Madam, is it Beile?" Cui Liu exclaimed excitedly.

An Qing looked up. Since the carriage was still far away, she couldn't see who was driving, but considering the timing, it was possible.

Yinqi had gone to Shengjing in February to set up an agricultural experiment station, as they had agreed. He had been away for over two months and had written recently that he was almost back, but first had to pick up Xiao Bao from Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner. Thinking about seeing her son again, An Qing felt a surge of excitement.

As she was lost in thought, the carriage's curtain lifted, and a small head popped out.

"Mother, I'm here!"

Chapter 127: The Fifth Lady

It really was Xiao Bao!

An Qing dropped the hoe in her hands and hurriedly ran towards the edge of the field. Perilla and Cui Liu followed closely behind, their faces filled with visible joy—they hadn't seen their young master for a long time.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Xiao Bao couldn't help but lift the curtain and rush towards An Qing below. Just as he was about to jump down, he was swiftly pulled back by Yinqi, who grabbed his collar from behind.

"Don't you know how heavy you are? Have you considered whether your mother can handle it if you jump like that? You're six years old now; why are you still so reckless?"

After being scolded by Ama, Xiao Bao pouted but knew his father was right—he had just been too excited to see his mother.

"Little Master, let me carry you down," Ma Xiang said from the side.

The little one responded with an "Oh" and obediently extended both hands. Ma Xiang then lifted him down.

An Qing was about to go forward and hug her son, but the little one, taking advantage of his small size and agility, suddenly latched onto her leg.

"Wah wah wah, Mother, you lied! You said you would come pick me up soon, but it's been so long. I've been waiting on the grasslands every day for you to come get me. Do you know how hard my days have been?!"

He cried loudly, although it seemed more like a lot of noise without much actual crying. Still, An Qing had never seen him cry so fiercely before and felt at a loss.

It seemed the child was genuinely upset.

Yinqi glanced at his son with a hint of annoyance and then looked at An Qing, saying, "Don't listen to his sob story. I heard from Duo Lan and Wuritu that he has been running around happily on the grasslands all day."

Xiao Bao glared angrily at his father for exposing him and tried to argue, "I was just pretending to be happy to avoid worrying Grandpa and Grandma."

An Qing raised an eyebrow. Oh, the little one had improved; he even used the term 'pretending to be happy.'

However, she believed him. After all, Xiao Bao was only six years old and had been separated from his parents for the first time for such a long period. Even if he was carefree, it must have been tough for him.

An Qing gently stroked his face and said apologetically, "This time, it was Mother's fault. I missed you every day we were apart."

Xiao Bao complained but didn't want to upset his mother further, so he generously said, "Mother, I'll forgive you this time, but not next time, okay?"

An Qing smiled and nodded, "Okay."

Seeing the quick reconciliation between mother and son, a hint of a smile appeared on Yinqi's face.

The boy had been angry with him the whole journey for not picking him up on time. He thought Xiao Bao might cause trouble when he saw An Qing, but he was easily appeased, making Yinqi worry unnecessarily.

But Yinqi didn't realize that Xiao Bao had already vented his anger during the journey, which is why he was so easy to please now.

"Mother, are you reclaiming land here? Let me help you," Xiao Bao said enthusiastically, stretching his neck.

An Qing readily agreed.

She had never restricted Xiao Bao. If he wanted to play in the fields, she wouldn't stop him. Initially, she hoped he would inherit her farming skills, ensuring someone to carry on her legacy. But later, she realized he simply enjoyed playing in the fields and wasn't particularly interested in farming. So, she let it go.

If he wasn't interested, that was fine. He could do whatever he liked, no pressure.

Many soldiers and civilians were busy reclaiming land in the fields. They noticed the commotion around An Qing, and those who recognized Yinqi guessed Xiao Bao's identity.

"That's the Fifth Beile and Lady's son, isn't he? He looks so good, like a little fairy."

"You're right. We've lived so long and never seen such a beautiful child. As expected of royal offspring, he looks blessed."

"..."

Children naturally attract each other. When Xiao Bao ran into the fields, he immediately headed towards a nearby little boy.

Many local villagers had brought their children to help reclaim the land. Some younger ones were carried on their parents' backs, while older ones helped out as they could.

An Qing didn't stop them. Although she felt bad about having children help, she understood that during these lean times, families had little food left. Working on the farm provided meals, allowing them to save some food for their children.

So, she instructed the officials preparing meals to make extra portions, ensuring everyone could eat their fill.

The villagers appreciated this kindness and worked harder in return.

The little boy Xiao Bao approached was Dog Egg, who had come with his family. His grandfather, Old Man Li, was also there.

"Hello, my name is Hong Zhi. What's yours?" Xiao Bao greeted warmly.

Dog Egg, surprised that someone would talk to him, stuttered, "Y-You're welcome. My name is Dog Egg."

Xiao Bao hesitated for a moment. Dog Egg?

Who names their child that?

He thought his mother naming him Xiao Bao was casual enough, but this was even more casual.

However, Xiao Bao was a well-behaved child and never mocked others based on their appearance or name. His mother said it was impolite.

"Are you Fairy Auntie's son?" Dog Egg asked, puzzled.

Xiao Bao scratched his head, confused, "Who's Fairy Auntie? I'm my mother's son."

Dog Egg pointed to An Qing nearby and said, "Fairy Auntie is the Lady."

Xiao Bao responded with an "Oh," "That's right, she's my mother."

He proudly tilted his chin. His mother was very beautiful.

More beautiful than anyone else's mother.

"When I came over, I saw them looking at me and talking. Do you know what they were saying?" Xiao Bao whispered.

Dog Dan didn't hide anything and replied honestly, "They all say you're a little fairy child."

"A little fairy child?" Xiao Bao was puzzled. "Why do they call me a little fairy child?"

Dog Dan scratched his head and answered, "It's probably because you're the son of Fairy Auntie, so they call you a little fairy child."

Xiao Bao thought about it and found it made sense; if his mother was a fairy, then he being a little fairy child wasn't wrong.

The two children chatted for a while and gradually became familiar with each other. Before long, they were playing with the other kids nearby as well.

An Qing watched from afar but didn't take it too seriously. Xiao Bao had always been a social butterfly, and she never worried about him wherever they went. Sometimes, she even wondered how she and Yinqi could have given birth to such a social butterfly.

"Is Eleventh Uncle also a social butterfly?" she asked.

Since the little one looked so much like his eleventh uncle, their personalities should be quite similar too.

Yinqi looked puzzled. "Social butterfly? What does that mean?"

An Qing thought for a moment and explained, "It describes someone who isn't timid when interacting with people and can talk easily with anyone."

Yinqi shook his head. "No, Eleventh Uncle has always been shy. Xiao Jiu used to tease him behind his back, saying he acted like a little girl."

An Qing was even more confused. If he wasn't like Little Eleventh, then who did he resemble?

Yinqi glanced hesitantly at the distance and said, "Don't you think his personality is somewhat like Third Elder Brother's?"

An Qing was taken aback and instinctively looked in Yideri's direction. She saw him chatting animatedly with a group of soldiers, who were walking towards them as they talked.

These soldiers were sent by Boding to relieve others, and her third brother must have met them on the way over.

Indeed, there was a resemblance.

Yideri was talking to someone when he suddenly looked up and saw An Qing and Yinqi. He was surprised for a moment, then said something to the person beside him and walked over.

"Brother-in-law, when did you get back?" he asked in surprise. "I just came from the government office. Why didn't I see you?"

Yinqi called out, "Third Elder Brother," and then replied, "We just arrived and haven't gone to the government office yet. We came straight here."

Yideri responded with an "Oh," thinking that made sense. "Where's Xiao Bao? Didn't you bring him?"

Yinqi pointed to a nearby area. "He's playing over there."

Yideri turned and indeed spotted his nephew among the children. Without hesitation, he rushed over to Xiao Bao.

"Xiao Bao!" he shouted from a distance.

Xiao Bao turned around, saw his third uncle, and ran excitedly to him. "Third Uncle!"

The big and small pair reunited successfully, and Yideri picked up the little one and placed him on his shoulders.

An Qing smiled and shook her head, then retracted her gaze and started discussing serious matters with Yinqi.

"Did you encounter any trouble in Fengtian Prefecture?"

This time, he stayed longer than planned, which suggested some issues had arisen.

Yinqi didn't hide anything and nodded slightly. "Yes, we encountered some trouble, but everything is now resolved."

Actually, it wasn't a major issue. The primary problem in establishing the agricultural experimental field was securing land. Fengtian Prefecture had many official fields, and after thorough investigation, he chose the most suitable location.

However, part of these official fields was occupied by local Manchu aristocratic families. Shengjing was the ancestral homeland of the Manchu people, and many members of the Eight Banners had their roots there. This situation was expected.

In the past, it might have been overlooked, but since the agricultural experimental field needed to be established, the government had to reclaim these fields. As the person in charge, Yinqi was tasked with this responsibility.

So, in recent days, he had been dealing with these Manchu aristocrats. As the saying goes, even a strong dragon finds it hard to suppress the local snake. Fortunately, his maternal grandfather was there, familiar with the local situation and respected in the community, making many things easier to resolve, albeit taking some time.

Fortunately, everything was resolved, and the project was now progressing smoothly. With his maternal grandfather and uncles overseeing it, he was able to go to Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner to pick up Xiao Bao and rush back.

Hearing that everything was resolved, An Qing didn't ask further, trusting Yinqi's capabilities.

"Did you greet my maternal grandfather, grandmother, and uncles on my behalf?"

After leaving the Forbidden City, they headed straight to Horqin and later to Heilongjiang, without visiting the elders in Shengjing, which was indeed impolite.

Yinqi patted her hand and said, "Don't worry. My maternal grandfather understands and won't blame you. Your official duties come first."

Then, he remembered something else. "Mother wrote a letter to my maternal grandfather recently, explaining the situation and saying many good things about you."

An Qing was surprised to hear that Concubine Yi had written a letter on her behalf.

Her beautiful mother-in-law was truly kind-hearted, not only not blaming her but also speaking well of her!

She couldn't help but feel deeply moved.

No, she had to write a long thank-you letter upon returning to the capital, expressing her boundless love.

Love should be expressed loudly!

So, half a month later, Concubine Yi in the Forbidden City suddenly received a letter from An Qing, wondering what had happened since it wasn't their usual correspondence day.

When she anxiously opened the letter and read the overly affectionate words, she was stunned.

Was this girl on something?!

Chapter 128: The Fifth Lady Fu Jin

Through the joint efforts of soldiers and civilians, they finally managed to catch up with the corn planting season, and An Qing's first military farm in Heilongjiang was established according to her plan.

In the following months, she personally led the farmers in guiding the soldiers and civilians on scientific field management, including frost prevention, weeding, pesticide spraying, and fertilizer production. With everyone's tireless efforts, by early July, it was time to harvest the spring wheat.

Although the black soil was fertile, due to the limitations of the era, there wasn't much of a leap in wheat yield. The average yield per mu was less than three hundred catties, only slightly better than other places, even under favorable weather conditions this year.

This harvest was within An Qing's expectations, so she wasn't surprised. However, for Boding and the local people, when they saw so much wheat piled up, they were stunned for a long time.

This was an unprecedented bumper harvest.

It was better than anywhere else, something unimaginable before.

Just as Boding had not yet recovered from the wheat yield, in September, the corn in the military farm also reached its harvesting season.

As one corn ear after another piled up like small mountains at the edge of the fields, the soldiers' faces showed honest smiles—the joy of reaping what they sowed and the hope of not going hungry during the harsh winter.

The annual military rations and salaries were fixed, and they didn't fear the hardships of guarding the border in cold regions. But they did fear the uncertainty of meals. After countless failures, they finally achieved this day through their hard work.

But the soldiers knew that this hope came from the Fifth Lady Fu Jin and Beile Yinqi, especially the Fifth Lady Fu Jin.

For the past half-year, she, a weak woman, had been working alongside them in the fields, enduring hardships and patiently guiding them in farming. This effort finally brought such a satisfying return.

Boding walked through the crowd to An Qing and Yinqi, "Lady Fu Jin, I formally apologize to you today in front of everyone. I spoke out of line that day; I am truly sorry."

After saying this, he bowed with his fist and kneeled on one knee.

An Qing was initially taken aback but quickly signaled Yinqi to help him up.

"General, there is no need for this. We just had different opinions and argued a bit. It's not a big deal, don't take it to heart."

He appreciated her magnanimity, but Boding wasn't ungrateful, "Lady Fu Jin has a broad mind. I am a simple man and won't say much more. If you need anything from me in the future, just ask."

An Qing smiled and waved her hand.

It wasn't that she was magnanimous; Boding hadn't caused her any trouble. She couldn't hold a grudge just because he disagreed with her at first and said some unpleasant things.

She wasn't that petty, nor did she have the time.

With the success of the first military farm in Heilongjiang, the next steps became easier. One after another, they were systematically established on this black soil.

One day, this historically barren land would grow into a land of plenty. The transformation from Great Northern Wilderness to Great Northern Granary would only require time.

Spring came and went, summer followed winter, seasons repeating themselves.

By the forty-seventh year of Kangxi's reign, it was once again the season of spring wheat harvest. Soldiers were busy in the fields of various military farms, clearly adapting to the life of garrison farming.

In the three years, An Qing led the establishment of military farms in seven cities under Heilongjiang's jurisdiction: Qiqihar, Aihui, Mulgen, Hulan, and Hulunbuir. They even built a labor reform farm near Ninguta.

From the second year onward, the Heilongjiang garrison no longer needed to import military rations from Shengjing and Jilin. The soldiers achieved self-sufficiency, and the granaries of each city were well-stocked.

Besides the continuous harvests of the military farms, the lives of the local people improved significantly.

As the saying goes, "With food in hand, there is no panic." Both the people and the soldiers presented a thriving spirit.

But for An Qing, this was far from enough. Self-sufficiency was just the first step. Greater miracles could be created on this black soil.

"Fu Jin, the suggestion you made, I have already written a memorial and sent it to the Imperial City. We await the Emperor's reply," Boding said.

An Qing nodded lightly. The suggestion referred to the proposal she made about allowing soldiers' families to join them.

Over the past few years, the main reason for establishing military farms around the cities was the shortage of laborers. The farms relied on the soldiers stationed nearby, so they couldn't be too far away.

However, this region was vast and rich, with many areas still undeveloped. But it was sparsely populated. In modern times, the development of the Great Northern Wilderness relied on national efforts, which was unrealistic now due to different circumstances. Therefore, they had to find more ways.

Soldiers came from all over and guarded the borders here for years. Some were unmarried, while others had families back home. If they could come here and receive land for farming, it would mean settling down locally.

Of course, this policy would be voluntary even if approved by the court. They couldn't force anyone to stay.

"A few days ago, I discussed with Beile Yinqi that severe droughts have hit parts of Henan, Anhui, and Shandong. Many people are struggling to survive. We have written to His Majesty to see if we can allow some refugees to come here," An Qing said.

Boding looked surprised, "Would they be willing to come?"

After all, conditions here were indeed harsh. Unless there was no other choice, refugees wouldn't choose such a cold place.

An Qing waved her hand, "It's voluntary. If they really can't survive elsewhere, this place would be an option for them."

Though the border was tough, having a place to settle and land to support their families would make the hardship worth it, as long as they could keep their families alive.

After discussing official matters, Boding hurriedly left for training at the suburban barracks.

An Qing was supported by Perilla and returned to the residence behind the government office.

In the past three years, she and Yinqi, along with Xiao Bao, had been traveling between Fengtian Prefecture and various places in Heilongjiang. The agricultural experimental field in Fengtian Prefecture was completed, with Buyantai managing it daily. Her Third Elder Brother stayed locally to oversee Heilongjiang.

"Mother, your son is back."

Xiao Bao—no, wait, it should be Hong Zhi. This boy is eight years old now. Since he started studying with his teacher, he refused to be called Xiao Bao anymore, saying it lacked dignity.

However, he studies diligently every day and indeed looks like a little adult now.

An Qing smiled and asked, "Are you hungry? Your Aunt Chunxiao made your favorite snacks."

Hong Zhi's eyes lit up instantly, but he hesitated and asked, "Is Father back? He told me to go see him first when I return to check my homework."

An Qing replied, "Your father hasn't returned yet. When he does, I'll send someone to call you."

Hong Zhi: "Thank you, Mother. I'll go take a look then."

With that, he ran off in the direction of the kitchen.

An Qing shook her head helplessly. No matter how old he got, he was still a little glutton.

Over the past few years, she and Yinqi had divided their responsibilities clearly. Yinqi took care of Hong Zhi's studies, while she handled his eating, playing, and entertainment. To An Qing, this arrangement was quite reasonable.

As soon as her son left, Yinqi returned. Upon entering, he immediately approached An Qing with concern, "Has the baby been bothering you today?"

Hearing this, An Qing instinctively placed her hand on her belly. "Not too bad; it's been much better these days."

She had confirmed her pregnancy about two months ago. At that time, they had just arrived from Fengtian Prefecture. Chunxiao had prepared her favorite steamed fish that day, and the moment she smelled it, she couldn't stop vomiting. After Mai Dong checked her pulse, they confirmed she was one month pregnant.

When An Qing and Yinqi heard the news, they were stunned, especially An Qing. Ever since giving birth to Xiao Bao, she hadn't shown any signs of pregnancy. She didn't pay much attention to it, assuming she had a difficult time conceiving. Who knew she would suddenly be pregnant with her second child?

This completely caught them off guard.

But what caught them even more off guard was yet to come. When she was pregnant with Xiao Bao, her entire pregnancy had been smooth, with no morning sickness or other discomforts. However, this pregnancy had really worn her out. She had been vomiting for over a month, and at its worst, she couldn't even get out of bed, seeing double.

Fortunately, things had improved slightly in the past half month. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to do anything. But now, her main focus was on taking care of the pregnancy, and most of the work was done by Yinqi, leaving her to give instructions.

Even the wheat harvest at the military farm was being managed by him every day.

"Did Doctor Xiao Qi come to check your pulse this afternoon?" Yinqi asked.

An Qing nodded. "Yes, everything is stable, and the fetus is doing well."

Upon hearing that the fetus was stable, Yinqi instantly felt relieved.

"My Lord, there's something you haven't told Beile yet," Perilla reminded softly.

Yinqi asked, puzzled, "What thing?"

An Qing also looked confused. Perilla sighed and pointed at her belly. Then, An Qing suddenly understood.

"Oh, right. Today, Doctor Xiao Qi said that this pregnancy might be twins."

Yinqi was stunned, stuttering, "Twins? Twins?"

An Qing nodded. "That's what he said, with a ninety percent certainty."

Although he said it with ninety percent certainty, given Doctor Xiao Qi's medical skills, it was almost certain.

"Why are you so surprised? My Third Elder Brother and I are twins, so it's not unusual for me to be carrying twins."

Her family had a history of twins—she and her Third Elder Brother, as well as her mother and aunt, were all twins. That's why her mother had worried about her having twins during her first pregnancy with Xiao Bao.

Yinqi shook his head. "It's not surprise, but rather worry. I've heard that carrying twins can be very exhausting."

An Qing thought to herself that it certainly was, but now that it was happening, what could they do? "No worries. I'll write to my mother. She has several experienced midwives who specialize in twin pregnancies, and I'll follow their advice."

Yinqi nodded repeatedly. "Right, right, we should ask Mother. She has experience and will definitely know more than us."

An Qing agreed. Although she usually preferred freedom and disliked being constrained, in matters like this, she was willing to follow advice, as she truly valued her life.

However, she wasn't too worried about the twins. Her mother, with her family's history of twins, had plenty of experience and preparation in this area. As far as she knew, relatives in her mother's family who had twins had all been safe.

Yinqi seemed to think of something and, after a moment, looked up at An Qing. "We need to send a letter to Imperial City about this."

An Qing paused, immediately understanding his meaning.

Indeed, they couldn't delay any longer. They couldn't keep her pregnancy a secret anymore. The issue of royal offspring was a significant matter, and hiding it would be unreasonable.

An Qing looked at her belly and sighed silently. This pregnancy had come at an inconvenient time. Why did it happen now?

It was July of Kangxi's thirty-seventh year, only two months before Kangxi's first removal of the Crown Prince. If they sent a letter to Imperial City, what if Kangxi ordered them to return?

They had avoided returning for years, but now this happened. It was frustrating.

Well, there was no other way. Even if Kangxi ordered them back, they couldn't leave immediately. There were many things to arrange here, which would naturally take a few months.

Kangxi would remove the Crown Prince in September. As long as they could avoid that period, when they returned to Imperial City, they would have avoided the strongest storm.

As for what happens afterward, it shouldn't affect them. After all, they had been away for so long that the affairs of Imperial City shouldn't involve them.

Besides, what if Kangxi didn't call them back? Then there would be no problem at all, An Qing thought hopefully.

"Alright, let's write the letter."

Chapter 129: The Fifth Princess Consort

Inside Ningshou Palace, Kangxi was having tea with the Empress Dowager, both of them wearing expressions of joy.

Undoubtedly, they had received a letter from Yinqi sent from Heilongjiang.

"These two children, they only wrote to us about the pregnancy after three months," the Empress Dowager said with a hint of reproach in her words, but her face betrayed her true feelings.

Kangxi was in a rare good mood and tried to smooth things over, "The Fifth Prince and his consort have always been reliable. They probably wanted to wait until the pregnancy was stable before sharing the news. Since they are far away, they didn't want us to worry."

The Empress Dowager understood this well and nodded with a smile, "The Emperor is right. Regardless, it's good news. In Yinqi's letter, he mentioned that An Qing might be carrying twins. It truly feels like our ancestors are watching over us. How long has it been since we've had such joyful news in the royal family?"

Kangxi nodded in agreement, thinking that indeed, he had been worried about the Fifth Prince's heirs for some time now, but now he could rest easy.

"It's not surprising. I heard that the mother of the Tiefu of Deb often gives birth to twins. An Qing and Yideri were twins themselves, weren't they?"

The Empress Dowager's interest was piqued at this, "Twins are wonderful. Speaking of which, the Fifth Prince doesn't have a daughter yet."

Kangxi clearly shared this sentiment, but not just because the Fifth Prince lacked a daughter. Dragons and phoenixes symbolize auspiciousness, a great omen for the royal family.

"Mother, I want to bring the Fifth Prince and his consort back to the Imperial City."

This was the main reason Kangxi came today. He wanted to discuss with the Empress Dowager the possibility of recalling An Qing and Yinqi.

In the past three years, the Fifth Prince and his consort had accomplished much outside the capital. The salinity control efforts in Mongolia had shown significant results, and An Qing's methods had been implemented across many northern regions. The agricultural experimental field in Fengtian Prefecture was also nearing completion, becoming the first such facility in Great Qing, dedicated to research on northern crops. According to An Qing's letters, it would become a breeding center for northern crops.

What surprised Kangxi the most was the productivity of the military farms in Heilongjiang. Zhang Tingyu's suggestion was initially met with skepticism, but An Qing had delivered a pleasant surprise.

The once-barren land now produced bountiful harvests, a sign of Great Qing's prosperity according to the officials.

When the Fifth Prince recently suggested relocating disaster-stricken refugees to Heilongjiang, Kangxi thought about it for a while and consulted with several ministers. It seemed worth a try.

Hearing that Kangxi wanted to bring An Qing and Yinqi back, the Empress Dowager was taken aback and asked, "Have they finished their tasks there?"

Kangxi waved his hand, "Their tasks are long-term projects. They've only achieved initial success."

The Empress Dowager asked, puzzled, "Then why, Emperor?"

"Mother, the border is harsh and cold. They only have one imperial physician with them, and An Qing is expecting twins. It's better to bring them back where we can ensure their safety," Kangxi said earnestly.

Emotionally, An Qing was part of the royal family, carrying their heir. Kangxi did not want anything to happen to her. As an emperor, he also needed her for the sake of Great Qing and its people.

"The Fifth Prince has capable subordinates who can manage things there. Everything is running smoothly, so their presence isn't necessary. Besides, Hong Zhi is eight years old and should have started his studies in the palace long ago. It's not ideal for him to stay outside and miss his education."

Hearing Kangxi mention Hong Zhi, the Empress Dowager did not object further. Previously, she had helped plead for Hong Zhi's education, and Kangxi had planned to bring him back last year.

However, seeing Kangxi's intention, the Empress Dowager was relieved that the Fifth Prince and An Qing's tasks would not be reassigned to others.

Although the Fifth Prince had no ambitions, it wouldn't be fair if someone else reaped the benefits of their hard work. It was good that they could return. She missed them dearly.

In Shengjing, Fengtian Prefecture.

Kangxi's letter asking them to return to the Imperial City arrived by late July. By late August, after settling matters in Heilongjiang, An Qing and Yinqi arrived here to handle the agricultural experimental field.

There wasn't much to do here, as they had already made arrangements due to frequent travel between the two places. With Yinqi's grandfather and uncle overseeing things, everything was under control.

One day, Yinqi rushed in, looking anxious.

"Father sent an urgent message from Mulan. He wants us to finish up here quickly and return to the Imperial City."

An Qing felt a chill, guessing the timing, "Has something happened?"

Yinqi nodded, his face showing a hint of sorrow, "Little Eighteen suddenly fell ill and passed away. The Crown Prince has been imprisoned for treason."

An Qing paused, then closed her eyes silently. Little Eighteen... he couldn't escape his fate.

In recent years, as adult princes began to show their ambitions, Kangxi sensed threats from his sons and grew closer to his younger ones. This time, during the autumn hunt in Mulan, he brought several young princes, including the youngest, Eighteenth Prince, who was only seven years old.

Little Eighteen and Little Fifteen were siblings born to Concubine Wang. An Qing had met Little Eighteen a few times due to Little Fifteen. The child inherited Concubine Wang's beauty and was very beloved by Kangxi.

An Qing knew the historical outcome for Little Eighteen. His untimely death triggered the first deposition of the Crown Prince. She had hoped to prevent this but found it impossible to intervene effectively.

Unlike Honghui, who was weak due to premature birth, Little Eighteen was healthy and rarely fell ill. She had written to Little Fifteen, who was also part of the entourage, asking him to take care of Little Eighteen and requesting a physician to accompany him.

But the tragedy still occurred.

Yinqi held her close, consoling her softly, "Don't be too sad. Think of the children you're carrying. Little Eighteen... perhaps it was his fate."

His voice carried a mix of sadness and resignation, a common occurrence in the palace where many children died young.

An Qing took a deep breath and softly replied, "Don't worry, I'm fine. Since Father wants us to return quickly, let's not delay."

Yinqi nodded, understanding An Qing's concern.

With the sudden imprisonment of the Crown Prince on charges of treason, the situation was unclear. Yinqi knew little about the details or what led to this. In such a sensitive period, he dared not send anyone to investigate.

Not knowing the cause made him more anxious. His father had taken his eldest brother, the Crown Prince, Third Elder Brother, and the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and youngest Eighteenth Princes on the tour.

Could it be that the Crown Prince had something to do with the death of Little Eighteenth?

But that's impossible. Little Eighteenth was just a child, and his mother was a Han Chinese concubine. Even though she had been favored by the Emperor in recent years, she posed no threat to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince shouldn't be that foolish.

Seeing Yinqi's furrowed brows, An Qing knew the general situation, but she couldn't say anything.

Although the Crown Prince's behavior had become increasingly erratic over the past two years, he wasn't foolish enough to target a harmless younger brother. He wasn't insane.

According to historical records, when the Eighteenth Prince fell seriously ill, Kangxi was very worried. However, since the Crown Prince had little affection for Little Eighteenth, he remained indifferent throughout the ordeal, which made Kangxi feel that he was cold and heartless, leading to a severe reprimand.

In recent years, the Crown Prince had been living like a frightened bird. Kangxi's actions threw him into a panic, and in a moment of madness, he even slashed Kangxi's tent to spy on him, leading Kangxi to suspect him of treason.

Of course, this situation likely involved some manipulation from the Elder Brother Prince's faction. After all, being in the same place with such an opportunity, he wouldn't sit idly by.

With such a major incident occurring in the Imperial City and Kangxi personally sending word for them to return, they couldn't afford any delay. They quickly settled their affairs and headed back to the Imperial City.

Half a month later, An Qing's carriage arrived in the Imperial City, while Kangxi and the others had returned from the frontier just two days prior.

The situation in the Imperial City was unstable. Upon returning to the Beile's residence, the two did not linger and immediately went to the palace.

Chapter 130: The Fifth Princess Consort

After entering the palace, Yinqi had to go to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to meet with Emperor Kangxi, while An Qing took Hong Zhi to Ningshou Palace to see the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi.

"Hong Zhi, take good care of your mother," Yinqi said, not without concern.

Hong Zhi was used to his Ama's nagging and promised like a little adult, "Ama, don't worry. I'll make sure to look after Mother and my unborn siblings."

Seeing the father-son interaction, An Qing felt helpless, "I really am fine. What could possibly happen in the palace? You should hurry and go meet His Majesty, don't delay any longer."

Yinqi knew he couldn't delay further and left reluctantly, looking back every few steps.

Watching his Ama leave, Hong Zhi sighed heavily, "Why does Ama always treat Mother like a child?"

An Qing thought to herself, "Who says he's wrong? I'm an adult now, and I can take care of myself. Yinqi is just being overly cautious."

Before she could say anything, Hong Zhi added, "But then again, it's not entirely Ama's fault. Mother, you're just too troublesome."

An Qing exclaimed, "Hey! What nonsense are you talking about? When have I ever been troublesome!"

Hong Zhi turned his head and began listing her misdeeds, "Who was it that insisted on eating ice yesterday? And who was running so fast a few days ago that they almost fell? And there's more..."

An Qing was speechless.

Well, this kid is getting less cute as he grows up, always pointing out my shortcomings.

When the mother and son arrived at Ningshou Palace, the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi had been waiting anxiously for quite some time, craning their necks to look outside.

Upon seeing them enter, both stood up eagerly, disregarding all formalities.

"Grandson Hong Zhi greets Uku Mama and Grandmother," Hong Zhi bowed respectfully.

An Qing was about to bow but was stopped by the Empress Dowager, "Enough, enough. There's no one else here, and you're already so far along. No need to go through the motions."

She was six months pregnant with twins, making her belly noticeably larger than usual, which was indeed quite intimidating.

Concubine Yi also smiled, "That's right. We're family; we don't need these formalities."

An Qing affectionately held their hands, jokingly saying, "Oh, Grandmother, Mother, you're going to spoil me."

Wu Lan, the attendant, chimed in with a smile, "The Fifth Princess Consort may not know, but during your absence in Shengjing, the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi talked about you constantly. Now that you're back, they want to pamper you even more."

They sat down, chatting and laughing. The Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi then asked about An Qing's health and the condition of her unborn children.

"Grandmother, Mother, don't worry. Doctor Xiao Qi checked my pulse before we entered the palace, and everything is fine," An Qing assured them.

The Empress Dowager nodded, "Good. Since it's twins, you must be extra careful. Are there enough people to serve you in the residence now that you're back in the Imperial City?"

An Qing understood the Empress Dowager's concern and replied with a smile, "Grandmother, don't worry. Before leaving Shengjing, my mother sent several experienced midwives skilled in caring for twins. They came back with us."

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi breathed a sigh of relief. It was no secret that the Queen of Deb's family had many twins, so having her people around was reassuring.

As everyone was caught up in the joy, Hong Zhi sighed quietly behind them, looking resentful, "Sigh... With new grandchildren, I guess the old ones aren't as precious anymore."

The Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi suddenly realized they had been neglecting him.

"You silly boy, there's no such thing as new or old. You're all our precious treasures," Concubine Yi hurried to reassure him.

The Empress Dowager also called him over, examining him closely and calling him "my dear" repeatedly, showing how much she adored him.

Children grow quickly, and when Hong Zhi left the Imperial City at five, he was now eight years old, taller and with slightly changed features. Fortunately, An Qing had Yinqi send portraits of him every few months, so they were not strangers.

Hong Zhi was also considerate. Since leaving the Imperial City, he would write letters to the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi regularly, first through drawings and later through written letters once he started school. They would also write back to him personally.

Despite the distance, their bond remained strong.

"Uku Mama, Grandmother, I missed you so much."

"My dear, Uku Mama missed you too."

"Grandmother missed you too..."

In Ningshou Palace, the family was enjoying each other's company, while in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Emperor Kangxi was unusually calm.

"Your subject greets His Majesty. May His Majesty live long and prosper," Yinqi knelt and bowed deeply.

Emperor Kangxi, seeing his son after three years, showed a hint of gentleness, "Rise, Fifth Prince. Was your journey back smooth?"

Yinqi responded, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Everything went smoothly."

Emperor Kangxi nodded, "Where are An Qing and Hong Zhi now?"

Yinqi replied, "Your Majesty, they entered the palace with me and should be at Ningshou Palace by now."

Emperor Kangxi nodded with satisfaction, "Good, good. My Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi have been missing them."

Though they hadn't seen each other in three years, due to the sensitive times, Yinqi didn't dare ask many questions. He only answered what Emperor Kangxi asked and occasionally inquired about his health, avoiding any mention of the Crown Prince.

However, Emperor Kangxi trusted Yinqi and brought up the matters from beyond the Great Wall, perhaps simply needing someone to talk to.

After leaving the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Yinqi stood silently at the door for a moment, lost in thought. Then, he sighed and headed towards Ningshou Palace.

When he arrived, he was greeted by the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi, who fussed over him.

Yinqi looked around the room and asked, "Where is Hong Zhi?"

An Qing smiled, "It's almost time for school to end. He went to the study hall to pick up Hongsheng."

Truly, as the saying goes, "Speak of the devil and he doth appear." No sooner had she finished speaking than Hong Zhi's voice rang out in the courtyard. Without a doubt, he had returned with someone.

"Mother, I've brought Elder Brother Prince back," Hong Zhi called out before he even entered.

Soon, Hong Zhi and Hongsheng walked in together. Upon seeing Ama and his birth mother, Hongsheng couldn't help but show some emotion.

"Hongsheng greets Ama and birth mother."

An Qing smiled and patted his shoulder, looking at the familiar yet somewhat distant young man before her. She couldn't help but marvel at how quickly time had passed.

Hongsheng was now twelve years old, tall and slender, with features that bore a resemblance to Yinqi.

Thinking back to when she first met the child, he was still too young to walk.

The family stayed at Ningshou Palace for quite some time, leaving only when it was nearly time for the palace gates to be locked. Upon returning to their residence, Guaerjia had already prepared dinner. After they had eaten, everyone retired to their respective quarters.

Hong Zhi, now older, could no longer live with An Qing as he used to. Guaerjia had long arranged for his quarters in the front yard, and after dinner, he led Hongsheng back there.

In the main courtyard, An Qing and Yinqi washed up and sat on the bed, discussing the current situation in the Imperial City.

Two days ago, Kangxi had announced to the heavens and the temple that he would depose the Crown Prince, and had executed Suoetu's two sons and others close to the Crown Prince, including Surtu. The Crown Prince was now confined to Xianan Palace, under the joint supervision of Elder Brother Prince and Fourth Prince.

The first deposition of the Crown Prince had become a fait accompli.

Today at Ningshou Palace, the Empress Dowager recounted the events that occurred during the imperial hunt. This year, Kangxi had taken the Empress Dowager along, so she was well-informed about the circumstances.

According to the Empress Dowager's account, the Crown Prince appeared alone outside Kangxi's tent, with no reinforcements or rebels nearby. It seemed inappropriate to label it as treason.

Based on all the evidence, the Crown Prince did not seem to have plotted treason; rather, it appeared he was disoriented or frightened after being severely reprimanded by his Emperor Father over the matter of the eighteenth prince.

The term 'treason' was reportedly uttered spontaneously by Kangxi when the Crown Prince was brought into the tent.

"Why do you think our Emperor Father reacted so strongly?" Yinqi asked.

This was also something Yinqi could not understand. How could his Emperor Father accuse him of such a grave crime without any supporting evidence? Was this part of a plan to depose the Crown Prince from the start?

But today, his Emperor Father's reaction did not seem to suggest that.

Seeing his confusion, An Qing hesitated but decided to share her thoughts.

Kangxi's extreme behavior towards the Crown Prince was clearly the result of years of accumulated tension. The mistrust between father and son had reached an irreconcilable point, and this incident simply triggered its eruption.

In her view, this was also related to Kangxi's stress response.

Many historians have analyzed Kangxi, noting that he was sent to the Royal Manor due to smallpox as a child, left without family, and later lost both parents while still young. As a young emperor, he faced the oppression of powerful ministers like Ao Bai, which instilled a deep sense of insecurity that became a lifelong shadow.

Whenever he sensed a threat, even without evidence, his instinctive reaction was to respond aggressively, as seen in his capture of Ao Bai and the suppression of the Three Feudatories.

Similarly, when he saw the Crown Prince cutting through his yellow tent, his immediate reaction was to assume the Crown Prince was seeking revenge for Suoetu. This is why he blurted out 'treason.'

It is clear that since Suoetu's execution, Kangxi harbored a seed of suspicion.

But An Qing knew that this was just the beginning of the repercussions of the first deposition of the Crown Prince.

"Did you find out anything about Thirteenth Brother today when you were in the palace?" An Qing asked.

Thirteenth Prince was also part of the entourage during the imperial hunt. When he was assigned to assist the Crown Prince, he was immediately placed under surveillance by Kangxi upon the Crown Prince's arrest.

Yinqi shook his head. "Today, I only saw our Emperor Father in the palace. Tomorrow, I'll find a chance to ask Fourth Brother."

An Qing nodded slightly. Indeed, Fourth Prince and Thirteenth Prince were close, so Fourth Prince would know the details.

"Don't worry about these things. Leave them to me. Your most important task now is to take care of yourself and follow the physician's advice. Avoid worrying too much," Yinqi reassured her.

An Qing smiled and agreed. "Don't worry, I understand."