Chapter 85: Princess Consort of the Fifth House

Chapter 85: Princess Consort of the Fifth House

The Fourth Princess excitedly rushed towards An Qing. Perilla, seeing her approach, feared she might accidentally hurt her mistress and was about to step forward to stop her, but unexpectedly, the Fourth Princess suddenly braked just a few steps away.

"Oh, right! Fifth Sister-in-law, you're carrying my little nephew now. I need to be more careful; I can't hurt my precious little nephew," the Fourth Princess said, patting her chest in relief.

Seeing her like this, An Qing couldn't help but smile. She quickly got up and took the Fourth Princess's hand. It had been two years since they last met, and she missed her dearly.

"When did you arrive? Have you seen your mother?"

The Fourth Princess nodded with a smile and replied, "I've been here for a while. I just came from my mother's place. I was supposed to arrive a day later, but when I heard you were almost at Mulan, I couldn't wait any longer and rushed over."

An Qing thought it made sense. Yesterday, Yinqi mentioned that according to their journey, it would take them two more days to arrive. They must have hurried to get here sooner.

"It's a shame I couldn't see Aunt this time," the Fourth Princess lamented.

She had grown up under Concubine Yi's care and always felt close to her. This time, she had hoped to meet her, but Concubine Yi wasn't on the list for this tour.

An Qing understood the Fourth Princess's disappointment. After all, it was difficult to meet given the distance between them.

But there was nothing to be done about it. Whether it was last year's autumn hunt at Mulan or this year's southern tour, Concubine Yi had already participated. Given Emperor Kangxi's usual fairness, it was normal not to include her this time.

Of course, Concubine Yi had anticipated this and had told An Qing not to expect anything. At the time, An Qing still held out hope, thinking maybe things would be different, but it seemed Concubine Yi knew Emperor Kangxi better than anyone.

"How is Eighth Sister? Is she doing well?" the Fourth Princess asked.

An Qing nodded slightly. Although Eighth Princess had received grace before the Fourth Princess's marriage, she was still in mourning. Thus, the sisters missed each other again this year.

"Eighth Sister is stronger than we imagined. After her mother passed away, she was initially distraught, but she soon regained her composure and is now taking care of Tenth Sister," An Qing explained.

Hearing this, the Fourth Princess breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. Knowing Eighth Sister, she would pull herself together for Tenth Sister's sake."

Especially because it was her mother's last wish.

An Qing patted her hand reassuringly. "Don't worry. As long as I'm in the palace, no one will bully them."

The Fourth Princess trusted her. She had heard from her mother that after the death of Concubine Zhang, some servants tried to mistreat the sisters, but Fifth Sister-in-law had sent people to watch over them. When the issue arose, she personally punished the servants, deterring others from mistreating them.

"By the way, Fifth Sister-in-law, I heard from my mother that the Emperor is arranging a marriage for Eighth Sister?" the Fourth Princess asked, surprised.

It was understandable for her to react so strongly. Eighth Sister was only twelve and not yet of marriageable age. Logically, the Emperor shouldn't be in such a hurry.

An Qing nodded. "We thought the Emperor would grant the marriage decree after the funeral, but he delayed it, possibly due to the mourning period for Concubine Min. However, it's not a secret in the palace, so Lady Guo knowing is normal."

She didn't hide the details from the Fourth Princess. "Fifth Elder Brother told me it's the second son of Prince Duolun Duling of the Wunetuote tribe, named Cangjin. He has a good reputation. Though he's the second son, his elder brother is a concubine-born, so he's likely to inherit the title."

After learning about Eighth Princess's marriage, An Qing sent a letter to Horqin, asking her father to investigate Cangjin. The results were positive; he had a good character and no bad habits, making him a rare good match on the grasslands.

Moreover, her father detailed the situation in the Wunetuote tribe. Cangjin's father was the Zha Sa Khan Prince of their tribe, and his grandmother was a princess who married into the Manchu-Mongol alliance during the Shunzhi era, the fourth daughter of Prince Ying Ajige. Her mother was the daughter of Prince Bingtu Kongguo'er of the Khorchin Left Wing Banner.

Through these connections, they were distantly related to Cangjin's family. While it was a distant relationship, it would be helpful if Eighth Princess married into the family.

Mentioning Eighth Princess's marriage made the Fourth Princess feel a bit down.

An Qing noticed and changed the subject. "How did you know I was pregnant?"

Since the Fourth Princess was a Mongolian princess by marriage, her letters had to pass through Emperor Kangxi, so communication wasn't frequent. She confirmed her pregnancy only recently, so the Fourth Princess shouldn't have known.

But then she remembered the Fourth Princess had come from Lady Guo, so she must have learned it from her.

Unexpectedly, the Fourth Princess became excited. "Oh, Fifth Sister-in-law, you wouldn't believe it. Fifth Elder Brother stopped me outside and very seriously told me about your pregnancy, warning me not to be reckless."

An Qing was taken aback. She hadn't expected this, but considering Yinqi's overprotective behavior since her pregnancy, it made sense.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, you should have seen how nervous Fifth Elder Brother was. Anyone would think I was incredibly reckless," the Fourth Princess said, pouting.

An Qing glanced at her, smiling slightly. "Aren't you?"

Her sudden rush earlier had startled An Qing too.

The Fourth Princess touched her nose, realizing her own behavior. "Okay, I admit I wasn't very steady. But that's not the point. I wanted to tell you how nervous Fifth Elder Brother was. You'd think it was his first time being a father."

The Fourth Princess wasn't naive, especially after marriage. She understood the special bond between Fifth Elder Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law. During Liu Jiashi's pregnancy, she had observed Fifth Elder Brother's behavior. While he cared for Liu Jiashi, it was different from his current state.

Seeing Fifth Elder Brother's concern, it was clear it was for Fifth Sister-in-law, not just the child.

But as women, the Fourth Princess knew the unfairness faced by women. Growing up with her aunt and mother, she understood that women must remain clear-headed and not let themselves be consumed by love.

So, she shifted the topic and started discussing the timing of An Qing's delivery and what precautions to take during pregnancy. As someone who had been through it, she had valuable advice.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, you're so lucky. No morning sickness at all. You don't know how terrible it was for me. I was so sick, I thought I wouldn't make it," the Fourth Princess said enviously.

Last year, she missed the autumn hunt at Mulan due to severe morning sickness.

An Qing looked at her still-flat belly and smiled. "This pregnancy has been quite easy. Even the imperial physicians say they haven't seen such a smooth pregnancy in years."

Most pregnant women experience some symptoms, but An Qing only felt a bit sleepy. Since confirming her pregnancy, everything had been stable, even during the journey to the frontier.

Concubine Yi often joked that the child in her womb must be here to repay a debt.

"How is your daughter? Did you bring her this time?" An Qing asked.

The Fourth Princess gave birth to a daughter in March this year, while they were still on their southern tour. Upon receiving the news that both mother and child were safe, she was overjoyed.

The Fourth Princess waved her hand and replied, "I would have loved to bring her along for you to see, but my mother-in-law said the child is too young and couldn't withstand the journey. So we didn't bring her this time."

An Qing nodded; she had anticipated this. The child was only about six months old, and the journey would indeed be arduous. It was understandable that such a small child couldn't endure it.

"How is your daughter? Is she easy to take care of? Is she well-behaved?"

At these words, the Fourth Princess immediately looked exasperated. "Don't even mention it. That little girl is quite mischievous and keeps everyone busy. Her crying can scare off wolves with its volume, and it takes three or four wet nurses to look after her."

When talking about her daughter, the Fourth Princess's face lit up with a smile, radiating the warmth of a new mother.

An Qing couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. She used to think of the Fourth Princess as a young girl, but now she had transformed into a mother, even having given birth before An Qing herself. Life truly was unpredictable.

From her words, however, it was clear that the Fourth Princess was doing well, and that was enough.

But mentioning the Fourth Princess's daughter reminded An Qing of something else. The Eighth Princess had asked her to bring some things over.

How forgetful she was; no wonder people say pregnancy makes one forgetful for three years.

An Qing quickly instructed Perilla to fetch the items from the Eighth Princess. It was a sizable bundle containing clothes made by the Eighth Princess for the Fourth Princess's daughter.

The sizes seemed suitable for children two or three years old, likely because the Eighth Princess wanted them to last longer. Even if they couldn't wear them now, they would eventually fit.

The Fourth Princess touched the clothes, deeply moved. "The Eighth Sister is truly skilled. These clothes feel so comfortable; I can tell the child will love wearing them. I don't know how she managed to make them without any visible stitches."

An Qing thought to herself, yes, the Eighth Princess had also made clothes for her own child when she was pregnant.

Seeing the clothes made by the Eighth Princess for her daughter, the Fourth Princess couldn't help but miss her sister.

An Qing patted her arm and consoled her, "There will always be opportunities to meet again."

"Yes, the Eighth Sister's marriage is being arranged, so there will be many chances to see each other. If not soon, then when you return, I'll write a long letter for you to give to the Eighth Sister, conveying all my thoughts and feelings," the Fourth Princess said, her typical straightforward nature shining through.

This was what An Qing liked most about her. Life is short; why waste it on internal turmoil? Thinking positively makes life more enjoyable.

The sisters-in-law chatted about various trivial matters from the palace, including gossip and secrets. An Qing shared stories from the palace, while the Fourth Princess talked about events from Northern Desert Mongolia.

They chatted enthusiastically, proving that gossip exists everywhere.

After a long while, once the last piece of gossip was shared, the Fourth Princess suddenly looked at An Qing seriously.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, do you know where I currently reside?" she asked.

An Qing nodded. She knew that the Fourth Princess was not in Northern Desert Khalkha but was residing in the Qingshui River administrative area south of Guihua City. This wasn't a secret in the palace.

However, the origin of this predicament was rooted in the marriage of the Fourth Princess. When she departed from Beijing, accompanied by a retinue of hundreds, her intended destination was the Kuren Prince's residence in Mongolia, where she was to wed her intended consort, Dorji. Yet, the incessant provocations by Galdan in the borderlands kept the northern frontier in a state of unrest. En route, they encountered skirmishes, and for the sake of safety, Emperor Kangxi granted them permission to alter their course and take up temporary residence in the area south of Guihua City, by the Qingshui River.

Qingshui River is less than 200 miles from Guihua City, far from Northern Desert but close to the Qing army's garrison in Shanxi, making it very secure.

Unexpectedly, the Fourth Princess has lived there for two years. An Qing had heard Yinqi mention that Kangxi was considering building the Fourth Princess's palace in Guihua City.

With Dzungaria as an unstable factor, Northern Desert was indeed uncertain.

In this light, Kangxi could be considered a good father, at least towards the Fourth Princess, the first princess to marry into Northern Desert Mongolia, showing considerable care.

The Fourth Princess continued, "Fifth Sister-in-law, do you know the situation in the Qingshui River area?"

An Qing knew some details about the Qingshui River area in Southern Desert, but she wasn't sure what specific information the Fourth Princess sought. She honestly replied, "I've been there once."

During a winter migration of their tribe, she accompanied her Third Elder Brother and passed through the area.

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Princess sat up straight, intrigued. "What do you think? Could I lead the herdsmen to cultivate the land there?"

An Qing was taken aback. Cultivating the land around Qingshui River?

She had been there and knew the land well. Compared to other parts of the grassland, the water and grass weren't particularly lush, but the soil was fertile, making it suitable for cultivation.

Not all grasslands are suitable for farming. Many areas in Mongolia have sandy soil, protected by grass. Once cultivated, the topsoil can be quickly blown away, leading to desertification within a few years.

However, the Qingshui River area was ideal for farming, with about five thousand acres of land, a significant amount.

She remembered joking with her Third Elder Brother during their passage that it was a shame such a good place was unused. If given to Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, even a small part, she could help the tribe grow more food.

An Qing suddenly looked at the Fourth Princess, recalling something.

If she remembered correctly, in the twenty-seventh year of Kangxi's reign, Northern Desert Mongolia faced attacks from Western Desert Mongolia. The Fourth Princess's consort, Dorji, fled south with his clan after being attacked by Galdan. Kangxi allowed them to graze their livestock in the Qingshui River area of Southern Desert.

Even after reclaiming Northern Desert, due to sporadic conflicts, some of Dorji's clan members still resided in Qingshui River. Kangxi tacitly approved their grazing there, despite its location in Southern Desert, likely because it was close to Northern Desert, explaining why he allowed the Fourth Princess to live there.

An Qing understood the Fourth Princess's intention: "Do you mean to ask the Emperor for the land around Qingshui River?"

Allowing grazing might be easier, as it could be revoked anytime, but farming requires significant investment.

So, clarifying land ownership was essential.

The Fourth Princess nodded. "To be honest, Fifth Sister-in-law, that's exactly what I'm thinking."

Due to the temporary grazing arrangement, the income of the herders was unstable, and the clan suffered. Over the past two years, the Fourth Princess had seen this and occasionally sent her dowry to help the herders.

But she knew this wasn't sustainable. Before coming, she had been considering this issue. If she could obtain the Qingshui River area from her father, she could lead the herders to farm, like in Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner, ensuring they wouldn't go hungry.

"What reason will you give?" An Qing asked.

This inexplicable allocation of such a vast area to Khalkha would be hard to justify not only to the other Mongolian tribes in Northern Desert but also to the Mongolian tribes in Southern Desert.

It's not about scarcity but about fairness. Such an obviously biased action would require a reasonable explanation. Kangxi is not foolish; he certainly wouldn't agree to it.

To put it this way, he would rather leave the area around Clearwater River unoccupied than affect the unity among the Mongolian tribes. After all, which Mongolian tribe doesn't need more land right now?

Princess Fourth tentatively asked, "What about my dowry?"

An Qing's eyes lit up involuntarily.

She couldn't help but admire Princess Fourth for coming up with such an impeccable excuse.

The dowry given by Kangxi for his daughter isn't from the Khalkha tribe, so the other Mongolian tribes really can't find any fault with it.

As for whether other princesses might have objections, well, Princess Fourth is the first Great Qing princess to marry into Northern Desert, where there could be warfare at any moment. Would you be willing to go?

Therefore, just based on this point, even if Kangxi gives Princess Fourth more dowry as compensation, anyone would understand.

Of course, what An Qing admires most about Princess Fourth is her courage to ask for it. Other princesses usually take whatever Kangxi gives them when they marry, but she dares to make requests.

Do not underestimate the significance of "making a request." After all, Kangxi is not an ordinary father; he is a mighty emperor. Even favored princes rarely dare to ask him for anything, let alone princesses.

Since Kangxi is not an ordinary father, that means Princess Fourth cannot rely solely on the fact that her father loves her when asking him for something.

As for how to convince Kangxi to give her such a large area as part of her dowry, it must involve negotiating from the political logic of Manchu-Mongolian relations.

Of course, she cannot straightforwardly bring up the dowry issue. How to frame it is crucial.

However, it's clear that Princess Fourth came prepared and has thought things through thoroughly. To avoid suspicion, An Qing didn't ask further.

"How confident are you?" she asked with concern.

Princess Fourth replied with a smile, "Before coming here, I was only fifty percent sure, but after hearing your analysis, Fifth Sister-in-law, since that area is suitable for farming, I'm now seventy percent confident."

Before coming, she had already prepared her arguments to persuade her father. However, one critical point in her argument was whether the area around Clearwater River was suitable for farming.

This was her biggest concern. During her two years of marriage in the frontier, she hadn't been idle. Besides integrating into Northern Desert Mongolia, she had also been learning about the situation of various Mongolian tribes.

According to her knowledge, when her father encouraged the Mongolian tribes to farm, many tribes in Southern Desert responded positively. However, due to incorrect farming methods or poor location choices, many areas turned into sandy deserts within two years, making it impossible to grow crops and even destroying once lush pastures.

So, she worried that if the area around Clearwater River wasn't suitable for farming, it would be a disaster. She believed her father would share this concern.

But now that her Fifth Sister-in-law said the area was suitable for farming, it must be true. After all, no one in Great Qing is better at farming than her Fifth Sister-in-law.

Although she had been married far away for two years, she hadn't missed any of her Fifth Sister-in-law's impressive achievements that shocked the court.

An Qing still believes in Princess Fourth's endeavor. If she succeeds, it will be beneficial for her in Northern Desert Mongolia.

Then, she could truly provide a peaceful life for a significant portion of the tribal herdsmen as their mistress.

This would also be good for Kangxi. The greater Princess Fourth's influence and authority in the local area, the stronger Great Qing's control over Northern Desert Mongolia would be.

"If you can really get the area around Clearwater River from your father, don't hesitate to come to me for anything related to farming. If you need someone to guide the farming, you can borrow people from my father," An Qing said.

Their Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner has extensive experience in farming. Many tribal members were trained by her personally, so this should not be difficult for them.

Princess Fourth was delighted and hugged An Qing tightly.

Wah, her Fifth Sister-in-law is too kind to her.

If this works out, she will definitely surprise her Fifth Sister-in-law in return.