Chapter 68: The Five Princesses

Chapter 68: The Five Princesses

With this exclamation, the crowd of nearby civilians erupted into chaos.

Kangxi and his entourage, unsure of what had happened, turned to look. They saw the civilians bend down to confirm something, then, as if encountering something ominous, they all panicked and retreated backward.

Some even stumbled but didn't bother getting up, instead crawling away in fear.

Kangxi's brows furrowed deeply. Though he didn't know what had occurred, the scene was unsettling. He pointed at a guard and said, "Go and see what’s happening."

The guard hurriedly complied and moved toward the chaotic crowd. Not long after, he rushed back, his face clearly troubled.

"Your Majesty, some civilians discovered ghost wheat in the fields."

What? Ghost wheat?!

Everyone's hearts sank, and the scene grew more chaotic.

Even Kangxi felt a chill. While he anticipated something bad, he never expected it to be ghost wheat.

The common folk have always believed in ghosts and spirits, and this 'ghost wheat' has been something they dread.

Why did it have to be ghost wheat, and why now, during his agricultural inspection? Such an ill omen could be exploited by those with malicious intent, leading to unimaginable consequences.

Something is not right. If the civilians could discover it so easily, there should have been signs before. Plus, the local officials seemed to be deliberately diverting them elsewhere...

Kangxi immediately grasped the situation and looked at the local officials, including the governor of Tianjin Prefecture. Seeing their evasive eyes and pale faces, he understood everything.

Clearly, they knew about it beforehand but chose to hide it, hoping to deceive him. This had led to the current predicament.

Fuming, Kangxi knew this wasn't the time for retribution. The priority was to resolve the issue with the ghost wheat.

He gave a nod to the minister in charge of the guards, who immediately understood and led the guards and local officials to maintain order and control the crowd.

Kangxi and his ministers hurried to a nearby official residence to discuss a solution.

Upon entering, his face darkened as he looked at the local officials and said sternly, "I will give you one last chance. If you do not report truthfully, you will bear the consequences!"

The officials immediately knelt and begged for forgiveness.

Seeing the situation, the governor of Tianjin Prefecture knew he couldn't evade it any longer. Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he recounted the entire incident.

After discovering the ghost wheat, they decided to conceal it for their own careers. Their plan was to divert Kangxi and his entourage elsewhere, which they thought would work since they had prepared everything themselves.

However, they never anticipated the presence of outsiders or that Kangxi would allow them into the field with the ghost wheat.

After hearing this, Kangxi sneered, "So it seems it's my fault, then?"

"My lord, we dare not!" everyone responded in unison.

Kangxi berated them, "It seems there is nothing you dare not do! You have committed such a grave offense, what else can you not do?"

He wanted to execute the governor and others on the spot. Had they reported the discovery of ghost wheat immediately, things wouldn't have escalated to this point.

"Your Majesty, please forgive us; we deserve death!"

They deserved death, and Kangxi wouldn't spare them, but he knew this wasn't the time for anger. Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm himself.

At that moment, the minister in charge of the guards arrived, "Your Majesty."

Kangxi gestured for him to rise, "What is the situation outside?"

The minister replied, "Most of the civilians have been temporarily pacified, but some who hadn't entered heard about the ghost wheat and fled. By the time I arrived, they were already gone."

Hearing this, everyone's faces turned grim. It was clear that the news couldn't be contained.

Kangxi's expression was grim, and the ministers held their breath.

Zhang Ying and Ma Qi exchanged glances, both seeing the gravity of the situation.

Others might not understand, but these close ministers knew that Kangxi's southern tour had another important purpose—winning over the Han scholars of Jiangnan.

Jiangnan was a prosperous region, and its governance directly affected the revenue of the Great Qing. Additionally, it was crucial for the stability of the Qing dynasty.

In recent years, remnants of the Southern Ming had been active in Jiangnan, trying to rally local forces. Although they hadn't caused serious issues, they remained a destabilizing factor.

Thus, Kangxi intended to win over the local Han scholars to eliminate their anti-Qing sentiments. Without their support, the remnants of the Southern Ming would be powerless.

Including agricultural inspections in his tour was part of this strategy. An Qing's method for treating 'green wind disease' had made a significant impact in Jiangnan, and the experimental wheat plots had also shown promising results.

Agriculture being the foundation of the nation, Kangxi wanted to demonstrate to the Han scholars that the Great Qing was the rightful ruler.

However, the appearance of ghost wheat had ruined his plans. The news would spread quickly, undermining his efforts.

"How much do you know about this ghost wheat?" Kangxi asked the Agricultural Administration Department officials accompanying him.

They exchanged glances and spoke frankly, sharing all they knew.

In fact, they knew little about ghost wheat. They only knew that it appeared unexpectedly at various stages of wheat growth. During the seedling stage, the wheat would turn yellow and wilt without warning. Mature wheat plants would show severely curled leaves and swollen, twisted stems. At harvest, the grains would take on strange, insect-like shapes.

This phenomenon was unpredictable and inexplicable, making it highly mysterious.

Worse still, fields where ghost wheat appeared would continue to exhibit these symptoms even after lying fallow for two to three years.

For this reason, the common folk considered it an ominous sign, believing it to be the work of ghosts and spirits.

"Your Majesty, please forgive us. We have searched through ancient and modern agricultural texts, but found no solution. The only method is to uproot all the wheat in that field and leave it fallow for many years before attempting to plant again."

If the ghost wheat does not reappear, it would prove that the spirits have left. If it still appears, we can only continue to wait.

Kangxi had previously known only that the ghost wheat was an ominous presence, unaware of the sinister background behind it. No wonder those villagers earlier were so fearful of it.

He looked at Zhang Ying and other high-ranking officials and asked, "What do you think about this?"

Kangxi was not asking for their opinions on the ghost wheat itself, but rather how to resolve the current situation.

The appearance of the ghost wheat at the site where he was promoting agriculture could lead to disastrous consequences even without any malicious intent spreading rumors. Anyone hearing about it would likely make unfavorable associations.

Everyone felt a sense of urgency. This incident had occurred too suddenly, and they had just realized the gravity of the situation; they had no good solutions yet.

After exchanging glances for a while, Zhang Ying paused, then stepped forward and replied, "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, the only way now is to solve the issue with the 'ghost wheat.'"

Everyone: "..."

That's obvious, but who can actually solve it? This problem has remained unsolved for thousands of years. Who could possibly come up with a solution now?

At this moment, everyone thought of one person: the Fifth Princess Consort!

Though they knew the chances were slim, she was their only hope. After all, the Qingfeng disease, another millennium-old problem, had been solved by her!

Kangxi also thought of An Qing. He took a deep breath and looked at Liang Jiugong, "Where is Prince Beile now?"

Liang Jiugong hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, all the princes are waiting outside."

Kangxi nodded slightly, "Go find him and bring the Fifth Princess Consort here quickly."

Liang Jiugong did not dare delay and immediately went out to inform Yinqi.

Yinqi understood the urgency and without hesitation, rode his horse toward the city gates. However, when he rushed back to the office, he was told that An Qing, the Empress Dowager, and Concubine Yi had gone shopping.

With no choice, he began searching the streets.

When Yinqi found An Qing, she was at a sugar figurine stall, having the vendor make a figurine based on her face. Turning to see Yinqi, she was taken aback.

"Why are you here?"

Wasn't he supposed to be accompanying Kangxi on the agricultural inspection? How could it be over so soon?

Yinqi's expression was serious, "An Qing, Father Emperor wants to see you."

An Qing was stunned. She wasn't foolish; Kangxi's urgent summons and Yinqi's demeanor meant something serious must have happened.

"What happened?" she asked.

Yinqi said, "It's a long story. I'll explain on the way. Right now, you need to come with me."

An Qing understood the urgency and immediately turned to instruct Perilla and Maidong to inform the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi about Kangxi's summons, so they wouldn't worry.

She then followed Yinqi directly.

The Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi were sitting by the window on the second floor of a nearby restaurant and saw An Qing and Yinqi leaving from afar.

When Perilla and Maidong hurried back to the restaurant, Concubine Yi immediately asked, "What happened? Why did the Fifth Prince suddenly come?"

And why did he take An Qing away?

Perilla quickly recounted the situation. After listening, Concubine Yi was stunned, "Why did the Emperor summon An Qing?"

The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment and replied, "It must be related to today's agricultural inspection."

They exchanged glances, both guessing that something must have happened outside the city. For the Fifth Prince to rush over so urgently, without even greeting them, the matter must be significant.

The Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi lost interest in shopping and returned to the office, hoping to get some news there.

Meanwhile, An Qing, to save time, didn't take a carriage but rode a horse alongside Yinqi, galloping along the road outside the city.

On the way, Yinqi briefly explained the situation.

When An Qing heard about the ghost wheat, she was momentarily stunned.

Something was off. She knew the fields Kangxi visited were the experimental plots using her wheat cultivation method. If they followed her notes precisely, the ghost wheat shouldn't appear.

Seeing her reaction to "ghost wheat," Yinqi wondered if she didn't know what it was.

If that were true, Father Emperor would be disappointed.

"Do you know what the ghost wheat is?" he asked.

An Qing nodded, not thinking much of it, and replied, "Yes, I've encountered it before."

The ghost wheat, or wheat nematode disease, was something she learned about in class. Initially, she thought it referred to black smut of wheat due to its name, but later she understood the origin of the term.

Indeed, before the ancient people found the real cause, the name was quite fitting.

Wheat nematode disease, also called "grain nematode disease," is commonly known as 'wandering seeds,' 'radish seeds,' 'chili seeds,' or 'mallow seeds.' It is caused by wheat nematodes.

Seeing her reaction, Yinqi guessed she might have a solution, but given the urgency, he did not press further. His Father Emperor was indeed in dire need.

The two rode their horses all the way to the official residence outside the city. When An Qing entered, everyone in the room looked at her with hopeful eyes.

"Your humble daughter-in-law greets His Majesty, may His Majesty live long and prosper..."

Kangxi immediately raised his hand to stop her from bowing. "No need for formalities, An Qing. Did Yinqi explain the situation to you on the way here?"

An Qing nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. He has told me about the ghost wheat."

Kangxi lightly acknowledged with a "Hmm." "Then you understand why I summoned you. However, there's no need to rush. I can give you some time to find a solution."

Just like the Qingfeng disease last time, it could be tackled gradually, perhaps finding a method eventually.

Although everyone thought this way, they also knew deep down that ghost wheat was different. If it truly was caused by spirits, no amount of trying would help.

An Qing paused, then waved her hand. "No need, Your Majesty. I know about the ghost wheat. We encountered it before when planting wheat in Horqin."

Kangxi was taken aback, about to ask if she had a solution, but An Qing spoke first.

"Your Majesty, your humble daughter-in-law has a question. Could we bring the villagers from the area where the ghost wheat appeared? I have something to ask them."

Her words left everyone stunned. What could the villagers possibly know?

Though Kangxi was puzzled, he did not ask further and sent someone to fetch the villagers.

Soon, the villagers from the affected area were brought in.

Without beating around the bush, An Qing asked directly, "Have you seen any cases of ghost wheat in your fields in previous years?"

The villager, overwhelmed by the presence of the Emperor and the officials, was terrified. Hearing An Qing's question, he panicked. "No, Your Majesty. There has never been any ghost wheat in my fields. I dare not lie."

An Qing nodded, understanding that such matters were significant to the ancients. If it had happened before, it would not have been hidden.

Seeing the villager's panic, she reassured him, "Uncle, don't worry. I just want to ask some questions. I'm not accusing you of hiding anything."

Once the villager calmed down, An Qing continued, "Last year, before sowing, did you follow the instructions to soak the wheat seeds?"

Hearing this, the villager stiffened, his face filled with fear. But knowing he could not hide the truth, he knelt and confessed everything.

Indeed, he had not followed the instructions to treat the seeds with 1% lime water, fearing it might ruin the crop. He had lied to the inspectors, claiming he had done so.

An Qing confirmed her suspicions. The wheat nematodes spread through contaminated seeds, fertilizers, or soil. If the seeds had been treated properly, this should not have happened.

After the villager was taken away, everyone looked at An Qing in surprise. Though she had only asked two questions, they sensed she knew more.

Kangxi was momentarily speechless.

Thinking they were frightened, An Qing reassured them, "Your Majesty, don't worry. The ghost wheat is not as mysterious as people say; it's just a type of wheat pest."

Everyone was stunned. Ghost wheat was a pest?

Could it be true?

"But no pests were found in the ghost wheat fields," an official from the Agricultural Administration Department pointed out, looking at the 'ghost wheat' seedlings brought over by Kangxi. There were no signs of insect damage.

How could it be a pest?

An Qing walked over to the ghost wheat, picked one, and turned to Yinqi. "May I borrow your dagger?"

Yinqi handed her the dagger without hesitation.

An Qing used the dagger to carefully cut open the root of the wheat plant, revealing a small worm wriggling inside.

Relieved that there were adult worms, she explained, "This is wheat cyst nematode disease, an internal parasitic nematode. The entire infestation occurs within the roots, which is why there are no visible signs above ground."

Moreover, these nematodes are highly resistant and adaptable. Even after special treatment, the cysts in the soil can survive for decades in dry conditions and up to a few years in moist soil.

Thus, untreated land will continue to be infected, leading to recurring cases of ghost wheat.

"An Qing, since you understand ghost wheat so well, do you have a method to ensure its eradication?" Kangxi asked hopefully.

An Qing understood the gravity of the situation, having heard from Yinqi about its severity. She replied honestly, "Your Majesty, I've tried many methods, but none guarantee absolute success. The best method is to treat the seeds with a soaking solution."

Even in modern times, prevention is key for wheat nematode disease. The soaking method she suggested, developed through extensive trials, can prevent black scab and wheat nematode disease with an efficacy rate of 98-100%.

That's why she was initially puzzled by the appearance of ghost wheat in the field.

Of course, there are treatments, but no method guarantees complete eradication.

Kangxi understood her implication and nodded. "Then use the most effective method you've tested."

An Qing agreed and asked for pen, ink, and paper, listing everything she needed.

Knowing the urgency of the situation, she chose a mixed herbal pesticide instead of a single-plant solution. She wrote down the required proportions of plants like Euphorbia, Sambucus, Sophora leaves, and Paulownia leaves, to be mixed and applied as a root drench.

Everyone was taken aback when they saw the paper, but then they quickly understood and looked at An Qing in surprise.

This... it really is just like she said before, treating sick crops. If someone didn't know better, they might think this prescription was for treating humans.

Of course, although everyone was surprised, they had great faith in An Qing's abilities. Kangxi didn't even look at the paper and immediately instructed someone to prepare the items on the list.

However, these items might not be found quickly, and even if the wheat is treated with the medicine, the effects won't be immediate. Therefore, the most urgent task is to give an explanation to the people outside.

The people are clearly terrified by this 'ghost wheat.' If not handled properly, it could cause panic, spreading rapidly and becoming uncontrollable.

Fortunately, there is An Qing's method of cutting open the wheat stalks. Now, we can go out and demonstrate to the people that it's not ghost wheat but a pest infestation.

"Your Majesty, let me go. These insects are very small before they mature and are almost invisible to the naked eye," An Qing said.

So, we need to pick carefully. If we randomly pull up a wheat plant and don't choose well, we won't be able to explain it, let alone dispel the rumors publicly.

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood what An Qing meant.

Kangxi also nodded slightly and instructed the leading guard minister beside him, "Make sure to protect Fifth Furen well."