Chapter 35: The Fifth Princess Consort

Chapter 35: The Fifth Princess Consort

The effect of laboring all afternoon was quite noticeable. Yinqi, who had barely had an appetite these days, actually ate an extra bowl of rice that night!

Ma Xiang, delighted, almost jumped for joy on the spot, secretly applauding his own wisdom.

Perhaps influenced by the Empress Dowager, Yinqi had always been very mindful of his health since childhood. After meals, he usually wouldn't sit down immediately but would stand for a while.

On a day like today, when he felt a bit full, he knew he needed to walk around the room for a bit.

An Qing was being served by Perilla and others in the adjacent bathhouse. Although it wasn't hot anymore, after a busy afternoon of farm work, a bath was necessary for comfort.

Yinqi walked alone in the room, and suddenly his gaze fell on the huanghuali plank table by the windowsill. An Qing usually placed things she needed for the next day there, and the bag of wheat seeds was also there.

After sowing all the seeds in the field that day, a few handfuls remained. An Qing said she would scatter them in the small flower bed tomorrow.

Yinqi hesitated for a moment before walking over.

As soon as An Qing entered, she saw him standing with his hands behind his back, bending down and sniffing something near the table.

"What are you doing?" she asked, puzzled.

Yinqi turned around at her voice and pointed to the bag of wheat seeds, asking, "Is there a smell coming from these wheat seeds?"

It was slightly pungent but didn't seem spoiled. He had noticed the smell earlier but got distracted and only remembered now.

An Qing responded, "Oh, you noticed."

"That's the smell of lime water. These seeds were soaked in it and then dried. It's normal for them to have a smell."

This clearly touched upon Yinqi's blind spot. What was soaking seeds for? And what did it have to do with lime water?

An Qing didn't keep him guessing and explained, "Before sowing wheat, the seeds need to be treated. Sun-drying and soaking are two methods. The soaking uses lime water, which is why you can smell it."

Sun-drying and soaking seeds serve to sterilize them, remove poor-quality seeds, increase germination rates, and promote robust seedlings.

In modern times, chemical agents are often used for soaking, such as soaking in a 0.25% calcium chloride solution for 24 hours or in a 0.2% to 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution for 12 hours.

But here, An Qing used a 1% lime water solution for soaking, which effectively prevents common wheat diseases like fusarium wilt and leaf blight.

Yinqi raised an eyebrow and asked, "Lime water, made from quicklime and water?"

He knew about quicklime, commonly used in construction, but never thought it could be used in farming.

An Qing nodded, "Yes, but the ratio of lime to water must be controlled—1 part lime to 100 parts water. Otherwise, it will burn the seeds."

Yinqi nodded thoughtfully. He had always assumed An Qing's interest in farming was casual, but after recent experiences, he realized it might not be so simple.

"Did you learn this from the farmers in your tribe?" he asked.

An Qing looked into Yinqi's eyes, hesitated for a few seconds, and shook her head.

She had previously used this excuse when asked by others, but this time it wouldn't work. In this era, farmers would sun-dry and soak seeds but wouldn't add anything during soaking due to difficulty controlling the ratio.

Without additives, the effectiveness in preventing pests and diseases was significantly reduced, which is why many crops still suffered despite careful cultivation.

It was simply a lack of pesticide enhancement.

"No, using lime water for soaking was something I discovered through trial and error. I tried other methods too, some worked, some didn't," An Qing paused and continued, "I'm sure you've heard about my father leading our tribe in farming and reclamation."

Yinqi nodded, "Father and my brothers mentioned it."

The semi-agricultural model in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner has indeed done well, surpassing other Mongolian tribes in farming and reclamation. His father praised it highly.

An Qing softly acknowledged, "But our people in Horqin have been nomadic for generations and aren't skilled in farming. We faced many problems, like natural disasters, which are beyond human control. Sometimes crops would wither overnight or suffer from sudden pest infestations, resulting in little or no harvest after months of hard work."

She sighed.

Yinqi, thinking she was upset, patted her shoulder silently.

An Qing smiled and shook her head, indicating she was fine: "So, I started experimenting. If humans can be cured when sick, why not crops? I read many medical books and set up experimental fields in different farms to try various methods. Think of experimental fields as similar to Father's Fengze Garden. Over time, I found some solutions, including lime water soaking and other plant-based pesticides."

Yinqi nodded subconsciously, realizing that if humans can be cured, crops can be too.

But... what were plant-based pesticides?

An Qing explained, "They are pesticides made from herbal medicines, formulated to treat crop diseases. You can call them herbal pesticides."

After arriving here, she discovered the limitations of lacking chemical pesticides but had studied plant-based pesticides in her previous life. The *Compendium of Materia Medica* lists at least 1,890 herbs, many of which can prevent and control pests and diseases.

The key feature of plant-based pesticides is their origin from plants. They use roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds processed in specific ratios to kill pests and bacteria while also providing some fertilization, like wood ash.

Yinqi was stunned, never imagining farming could be approached this way.

While she compared it to his father's Fengze Garden, he realized there were significant differences. He had never seen the farmers in Fengze Garden study these methods.

"What you're doing is very similar to how imperial physicians treat illnesses," he remarked.

An Qing smiled, "You can think of it that way. I'm a doctor for crops."

Their goals differ; doctors aim to heal people, while treating crops aims to improve yields.

Yinqi nodded, then suddenly said, "Since your soaking method works, why don't I report it to Father tomorrow and have the Ministry of Finance promote it? More farmers could benefit."

An Qing quickly stopped him, "Wait, please."

Yinqi looked at her, confused.

An Qing shrugged, explaining, "We need proof first."

Yinqi was taken aback, seeming to understand her intentions. "You want to present the harvest from your land to Emperor Father when it's ready?"

Just like planting watermelons last time.

An Qing nodded slightly, not denying it. "Also, growing crops isn't determined by a single step. To ensure good growth, besides selecting and cultivating seeds, we need to manage soil, fertilizers, pests, and diseases effectively."

Therefore, instead of trying to prove the effectiveness of a particular step, it's better to let the results speak for themselves. When the time comes, presenting everything together will be simpler and more credible.

But she didn't close the door entirely. "However, whether this season's wheat will achieve an ideal yield is still uncertain. If it does, I hope the farmers can benefit. But if it doesn't, how could I make Emperor Father falsely hopeful?"

Yinqi looked at her quietly, feeling as if he was meeting An Qing for the first time.

If the auspicious peony incident was an accident, then planting watermelons last time and now the wheat in the field were enough to show that An Qing's seemingly casual actions had deeper meanings.

Before, he thought she did these things simply because she liked them. Now, he realized he had underestimated her. Even though he didn't fully understand what she said, he knew each task would be difficult and laborious. Why would someone of her status bother with such things?

It could only mean she had a sense of righteousness.

"In the future, do whatever you want. If you need my help, just say so." Yinqi said solemnly. "When Emperor Father allows us to leave the Forbidden City and establish our own household, you can do whatever you want in our residence. You can cultivate as much land as you wish, and I won't stop you."

Hearing this, An Qing was stunned, momentarily at a loss for words.

She admitted that today's conversation had its own ulterior motives. She wanted to win his support, knowing that having him on her side would make things easier for her.

But she never expected Yinqi to say such things, which touched her heart.

Sometimes, An Qing felt very fortunate. In her previous life, despite being an orphan, her teachers and senior classmates treated her well, helping her in both life and studies.

In this life, she had loving and trusting family members, and a background free from financial worries. Even though she was suddenly betrothed and married into the unfamiliar Forbidden City, she met kind people like Yinqi, Concubine Yi, and the Empress Dowager.

Indeed, she seemed surrounded by kindness, and she wanted to repay it with her own acts of kindness.

Since deciding to plant wheat, An Qing had bigger plans. If possible, she hoped to use her efforts to help the farmers of this era.

Of course, this was all under the condition of ensuring safety, which was why she planted watermelons before, confirming Kangxi's attitude.

An Qing looked at Yinqi sincerely. "Thank you."

Yinqi was taken aback. Compared to her usual sweet talk, her serious demeanor made him feel uneasy.

"That... I think farming is quite interesting. No wonder you like it."

An Qing noticed his discomfort and smiled, going along with him. "Right? So, what do you find interesting about it?"

Yinqi thought for a moment. "Maybe it's because farming doesn't require much thinking, making it relaxing."

An Qing shook her head with a smile. Farming wasn't easy at all.

That was because they didn't have to worry about their livelihoods. They could experiment freely, but farmers couldn't. Their crops were their entire livelihood, and they couldn't relax until the seeds sprouted.

Yinqi didn't notice An Qing's change in mood. He was curious about her experiences at the Horqin estate.

An Qing was happy to share those memories, as they were precious to her.

Thus, they sat on either side of the couch, chatting away.

An Qing spoke with a light and lively tone, recalling those joyful times.

Yinqi became engrossed, feeling as if he was experiencing those moments with her.

The candlelight flickered inside, while the night wind rustled the tree branches outside.

Yinqi glanced up and saw her gentle smile in the candlelight, causing his heart to skip a beat...

After sowing the wheat, it took about six or seven days for the seedlings to emerge.

*

An Qing visited almost daily, feeling uplifted by the sight of the tender green shoots breaking through the soil. This was the power of life.

One day, when the outside world seemed calmer, she decided to go out for a walk.

She hadn't visited Concubine Yi in Yikun Palace for some time, so she decided to drop by, enjoying the company of her beautiful mother-in-law.

However, she didn't know that Yikun Palace was filled with gloom.

Concubine Yi looked worriedly at Lady Guo, who was crying, and Princess Fourth, who was slumped over.

"Sister, don't worry too much. Moyali is a princess of the Great Qing, and her marriage to Khalkha in Northern Desert is significant. They wouldn't dare mistreat her," she consoled.

Lady Guo, however, couldn't be consoled. "I know you mean well, but how can I not worry? Since Moyali was born, I knew she would marry into Mongolia. If she were to marry into Southern Desert Mongolia like Horqin, I wouldn't be so worried. But why must it be Northern Desert Mongolia?"

Concubine Yi sighed silently. Who could disagree?

Moyali's older sisters had all married into Horqin. How could it be that Moyali was betrothed to the newly-submissive Northern Desert Mongolia Khalkha?

Currently, Mongolia was divided into three parts: Southern Desert, Northern Desert, and Western Desert. Their attitudes towards the Great Qing varied significantly.

Southern Desert Mongolia had submitted to the Great Qing before the Qing entered the capital, and the tribes remained loyal. The Qing court had strong control over them, including the Horqin tribes.

Western Desert Mongolia, represented by Galdan's Dzungaria, was hostile to the Great Qing. Although Galdan was dead and Dzungaria had surrendered, the region remained unstable.

Northern Desert Mongolia, situated between Western and Southern Deserts, had been neutral for years. It only submitted to the Great Qing in the 27th year of Kangxi's reign due to attacks from Western Desert Mongolia.

To win over Northern Desert Mongolia, Kangxi arranged Princess Fourth Moyali's marriage to Khalkha in Northern Desert.

Moyali was the first Great Qing princess to marry into Northern Desert Mongolia.

However, given the recent submission of Northern Desert Mongolia, there was a significant risk. If they rebelled, Princess Fourth, as a Great Qing princess, would likely suffer first.

This was also Lady Guo's greatest concern. Ever since the Emperor granted the marriage, she had been so worried that she couldn't eat or sleep properly, and she was almost emaciated.

"Mother, you and Aunt don't need to worry about me. This is fate, and I accept it." Mo Yali's voice carried a stubborn choke.

After she spoke, seeing that Lady Guo's eyes were red again, she added, "However, to be honest, my luck isn't too bad. At least I'm not marrying into Dzungaria in the Western Desert."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Yi and Lady Guo exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of relief in each other's eyes.

There truly is no comparison without contrast. Compared to Southern Desert, Northern Desert can never measure up. But if compared to Western Desert Mongolia, Northern Desert Mongolia becomes a better option.

Now that Galdan is dead and the Dzungarian Khanate has surrendered to Great Qing, sending a princess there for marriage isn't impossible.

But Dzungaria in Western Desert Mongolia is a tough nut to crack. They have always been prone to breaking their word. Even though they've surrendered now, they might turn around and renege on their promise, making it a land of wolves and tigers.

Nowadays, every concubine with a princess in the palace is constantly on edge, all fearing that their daughter might be sent there.

Seeing their expressions, Mo Yali knew her words had hit the mark, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

These days, she had really been scared by her mother's crying. The wedding day was approaching, and she wanted to spend more time with her mother and aunt, not wanting them to worry about her.

But Lady Guo clearly wasn't swayed. She quickly regained her composure and said, "Don't try to change the subject. I asked you why you haven't been visiting your fifth sister-in-law recently, and you still haven't answered me."

Mo Yali tightly pursed her lips and replied, "Didn't I say before? I've been busy embroidering my dowry and can't find the time."

Lady Guo pointed at her, angry, "Don't try to fool me. I know your dowry is almost finished. And if you're so busy, why do you keep running over to the Eighth Princess's courtyard?"

Seeing that she couldn't get away with it, Mo Yali decided to lay her cards on the table. "Mother, why do you always want me to visit Fifth Sister-in-Law? Do you really think I haven't noticed your ulterior motives!"

That day, when she came to her mother's palace to pay respects, she heard her mother talking to a palace maid outside, saying that the reason she wanted her to befriend Fifth Sister-in-Law was so that Fifth Sister-in-Law would speak to her family back in Horqin to take care of her.

After learning this, Mo Yali went back and cried alone.

She really liked An Qing, her fifth sister-in-law. Ever since her fifth sister-in-law married in, she often visited her courtyard to chat, enjoy delicious pastries, drink fragrant milk tea, and even catch pests in the watermelon patch together. She genuinely enjoyed staying in her sister-in-law's courtyard.

Her fifth sister-in-law treated her wonderfully. Whenever there was something good to eat or play with, she would always send some over.

Take those watermelons, for example. As soon as they ripened, she sent a few over. After the watermelons became famous in Imperial City, her sister-in-law even sent more, saying she could share them with her friends or give them away.

Her fifth sister-in-law treated her so well, and she had always been sincere. But if she approached her sister-in-law with ulterior motives, she would look down on herself and feel guilty towards her sister-in-law.

So, she preferred not to visit her sister-in-law rather than let their friendship become impure!

Concubine Yi looked at Lady Guo and then at the stubborn Fourth Princess, unable to help but sigh inwardly.

She understood why her sister insisted on bringing Mo Yali here today. Seeing that Mo Yali wouldn't budge, she thought of asking her to speak to An Qing.

But Concubine Yi couldn't blame Lady Guo, her sister. They had grown up together, and she had watched Mo Yali grow up. After all, she had tacitly agreed to Lady Guo's plan from the beginning.

Now, however, Concubine Yi didn't know how to approach An Qing. The problem was that they hadn't been upfront from the start, which led to this awkward situation.

If they had explained everything from the beginning, it wouldn't have been an issue. Knowing An Qing, she likely would have agreed, as it was just a matter of looking after someone, not a difficult request.

But they took that misstep, leading to this current predicament. Looking back, Concubine Yi felt foolish.

"You, you stubborn girl! It's just asking your fifth sister-in-law to greet the family. Why won't you open your mouth?" Lady Guo pointed at her daughter, scolding angrily.

Mo Yali's eyes immediately welled up with tears, insisting, "I won't go. My fifth sister-in-law treats me so well. How could I do this? That would make me a villain."

With that, she seemed to make a decision. "Mother and Aunt, you mustn't go either. Otherwise, even if I marry and something happens, I'd rather die than seek help from Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner. You'll be wasting your breath!"

Hearing this, Lady Guo was stunned, pointing at Mo Yali, speechless.

Concubine Yi also looked at her in surprise. This child...

Amidst this eerie atmosphere, An Qing entered. She looked at the three of them, puzzled, not daring to breathe loudly.

What's going on here? Did they have a fight?