Chapter 108: Fifth Princess Consort

Chapter 108: Fifth Princess Consort

When Ninth Prince heard this, his eyes lit up. "What kind of business?"

His Fifth Sister-in-law's business must be profitable!

If Ninth Prince had not known much about An Qing before, after spending so much time at the agricultural school, he was genuinely impressed.

Although she always seemed cheerful and carefree, like other noblewomen, those who had interacted with her knew that her insights were truly remarkable. She often pointed out problems directly and effectively.

Even someone like Zhang Tingyu, whom his father praised repeatedly, said he learned a lot from his Fifth Sister-in-law.

This was probably what the scholars meant by "great wisdom appears as simplicity." And it was precisely because of this that he could talk to his Fifth Sister-in-law about his concerns without any reservations.

Of course, the most important thing was that following his Fifth Sister-in-law would bring no worries. Ninth Prince had realized that in the palace, his Fifth Sister-in-law had far more support than they did.

An Qing didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point. "The apples with words on them that I gave to Empress Dowager during the birthday banquet, I still have quite a few."

When preparing the birthday gift for the Empress Dowager, she and Yinqi had marked every apple tree in the orchard, but the words were different. The Empress Dowager's gift was unique.

Upon hearing about the inscribed apples, Ninth Prince suddenly understood. "No wonder you and Fifth Elder Brother were so secretive during the banquet. It was all for this!"

After the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, everyone was extremely curious about how the words appeared on the apples. Even his brothers were intrigued, but no matter how much they pressed Fifth Elder Brother, he remained tight-lipped. Now he knew why.

An Qing smiled but didn't say anything.

She hadn't revealed it then precisely to maintain an air of mystery, which was necessary.

However, the inscribed apples had gained some fame at the Empress Dowager's banquet. Now, all the nobles and officials in Imperial City were interested in these apples. If they were launched now, there would definitely be no shortage of buyers.

Ninth Prince also thought about this. Not only would there be no shortage of buyers, but these inscribed apples were the highlight of the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. Just for that reason alone, many people would be eager to get their hands on them.

He began to plan. "We should set the price high and sell them to the nobles, officials, and wealthy merchants. They have plenty of money, and we won't have trouble selling them."

An Qing glanced at him. This kid has a good business sense; his market positioning is clear.

"By the way, Fifth Sister-in-law, how many apples do you have left? Are the words the same as the ones for the Empress Dowager's gift?" Ninth Prince asked.

An Qing held up three fingers. "There are about 3,000 apples left. The Empress Dowager's gift was unique. The ones we're selling will have the same word on all of them."

"What word?" Ninth Prince asked.

An Qing replied, "'Fu.'"

At the time, she was lazy and simply stamped all the apples with 'Fu,' just like New Year couplets where sometimes one 'Fu' encompasses everything.

With the New Year approaching, if they launched these apples, it would be perfect for bringing good luck.

Of course, besides the 'Fu' gimmick, her apples tasted great due to her grafting efforts. Compared to current fruits, they were much better. Her Xiao Bao loved these apples.

"'Fu' is great," Ninth Prince rubbed his hands excitedly. "With the New Year coming soon, eating 'Fu' apples will surely bring good fortune. What a good omen."

Then, he added regretfully, "It's just a shame there are only 3,000 apples. Why didn't you and Fifth Elder Brother make more?"

An Qing rolled her eyes. She had only done it on a whim when preparing the Empress Dowager's gift. There weren't many apple trees in the orchard, so what could she and Yinqi do?

"Never mind, rarity makes things valuable. If we handle the sale properly, we'll still make a good profit." Ninth Prince looked at An Qing, thinking of something.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, since the inscribed apples were your and Fifth Elder Brother's gift to the Empress Dowager, will she mind if we sell them?"

If the Empress Dowager became displeased with his Fifth Sister-in-law and Fifth Elder Brother over this, it would be a real loss.

Seeing that he wasn't blinded by money and cared about her and Fifth Elder Brother, An Qing felt relieved.

"Don't worry, I've already talked to the Empress Dowager about it, and she doesn't mind."

Hearing this, Ninth Prince relaxed.

Indeed, given how the Empress Dowager favored Fifth Elder Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law, she wouldn't really be angry with them.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, one last question." Ninth Prince hesitated, afraid of annoying An Qing. "I'm not doubting you, but can these apples last until the New Year? We don't want them to spoil."

An Qing was losing patience. "Of course, I have a way to preserve them. You don't need to worry about the supply. I'll ensure the quality is good. You handle the sales and pricing. When we sell them, we'll split the profits fifty-fifty. Are you up for it?"

Ninth Prince slammed the table, confidently saying, "Absolutely! This business looks very promising. Only a fool would turn it down."

"But we need to agree that you won't use your status as a prince to force sales. We need to do legitimate business," An Qing warned.

She was wary of his past antics, including creating a Qing version of the triangular trade. She feared he might take unconventional routes.

Ninth Prince looked indignant. "Do you think I'm stupid? Do we need to force sales? Ridiculous! I promise you, we'll have more demand than supply!"

He knew his Fifth Sister-in-law was looking out for him. Otherwise, why would she share such a profitable business?

"I really want to earn money, but I also want to see if I'm suited for this path," Ninth Prince said seriously.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, thank you."

An Qing waved her hand. "Don't thank me, thank Fifth Elder Brother. He wrote all the words on the apples."

She only came up with the idea; Yinqi did all the work. She hadn't put much effort into it.

Ninth Prince suddenly visualized Fifth Elder Brother following Fifth Sister-in-law around at the agricultural school, claiming to be her assistant.

He hesitated, then asked, "Fifth Sister-in-law, can I ask you a personal question?"

An Qing glanced at him and said, "Depends on how personal it is."

Ninth Prince pursed his lips and stammered, "Don't you really think my Fifth Elder Brother... isn't as good as that?"

Even though he was his own brother, to be honest, his Fifth Sister-in-law was indeed very excellent. In comparison, his Fifth Elder Brother paled in comparison. It wasn't that he was bad, just rather mediocre.

Just like him, he couldn't match up to Eighth Brother above him, nor could he surpass his Thirteenth Brother below him. How could it be any different for his Fifth Elder Brother?

An Qing wasn't foolish; she immediately understood from his hesitant words what he truly wanted to ask.

To be honest, she didn't find Yinqi mediocre at all. In many things, he even saw through them more clearly than her, who had the advantage of historical foresight. The reason he didn't act like other princes was because he was deliberately hiding his true abilities.

Of course, this was also because he knew exactly what he wanted.

"I think your Fifth Elder Brother is just fine."

"What's good about him?"

"Everything is good."

"..."

*

After dinner, An Qing washed Xiao Bao and then carried him to bed, entering their nightly bedtime routine with the child.

Of course, this time was mainly reserved for Yinqi. After all, she had plenty of time during the day, but Yinqi, as his father, only had this time in the evening to spend with him.

The father and son played with building blocks on the bed. These blocks were something An Qing had designed out of boredom during her pregnancy, and they unexpectedly became one of Xiao Bao's favorite toys.

Children go to bed early, and before long, Xiao Bao started yawning. An Qing put him to bed, gently patting his back while singing his favorite lullaby, and soon he fell asleep.

Yinqi tiptoed over and carried him to the next room, handing him over to the wet nurse for care.

"How is he? Did he wake up?" An Qing asked.

Yinqi, while taking off his outer robe, replied, "No, he's sleeping soundly."

An Qing nodded lightly, relieved.

Ever since the incident at the country estate, the little one insisted on sleeping with them every few days. But now that he was getting older, they decided to have him sleep in his own room.

So far, the little one seemed to be adapting well.

"By the way, today at Mother's palace, I met Xiao Jiu. We talked, and I plan to give him the remaining apples from our estate to sell," An Qing said.

Yinqi was taken aback. An Qing had mentioned selling the apples from the estate before, but he hadn't expected her to collaborate with Xiao Jiu.

"Why did you choose Xiao Jiu?" he asked.

An Qing didn't hide anything from him and explained Xiao Jiu's situation, "Last year at the estate, Xiao Jiu talked to me once. I think he's quite interested in business, so I thought I'd give him a chance to try it out."

She paused and added, "It's better than getting involved in the succession struggle."

Yinqi suddenly understood something. No wonder she suddenly wanted to sell the apples. Previously, whether it was the habit or the strawberries, she had never shown any interest in business.

Perhaps those apples were always intended for Xiao Jiu.

Indeed, Yinqi was right. When An Qing had those apples stamped, she had this intention in mind.

As for business, she had never considered it, neither in her previous life nor in this one. She simply wasn't cut out for it. Everyone has their strengths, and she preferred sticking to farming.

Yinqi also understood what she meant by "better than getting involved in the succession struggle."

Since being taken under the Emperor's wing to learn state affairs, Xiao Jiu had half-stepped into the imperial court. Recently, he had been getting closer to his Eighth Brother. This wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the fact that Eighth Brother was now very active in the court. Since receiving his title, he had become the youngest Beile among all the princes and was gradually making a name for himself in the government. The Emperor had entrusted him with several important tasks, which he handled excellently.

In recent years, everyone who worked with Eighth Brother, whether civil officials or military nobles from Manchuria, praised him highly. He was known for his virtue among the officials.

Recently, Eighth Brother's mother, Noble Consort Wei, was officially promoted to Consort Liang due to her son's achievements.

In contrast, both Elder Brother Prince and the Crown Prince had become increasingly irritable in the court, often scolded by the Emperor.

What worried Yinqi the most was that Eighth Brother had started to build alliances with ministers. The Manchu nobles who were already dissatisfied with the Crown Prince were beginning to gather around Eighth Brother.

So, naturally, he didn't want Xiao Jiu to get involved with Eighth Brother. It wasn't a good thing.

Finding something for him to do would be better. Although business isn't a respectable pursuit for a prince, it's certainly better than getting entangled in the succession struggle.

An Qing shared the same sentiment. Giving him something to do would help divert his attention from the succession struggle.

Ninth Prince's wedding was set for late December. As his elder sister-in-law, An Qing couldn't be idle on that day. When she got married, Concubine Yi had sent Fourth Princess to accompany her after the ceremony.

Now, since Fourth Princess wasn't in the palace, An Qing took over that role.

This was An Qing's first "meeting" with Ninth Prince's wife. Of course, she couldn't see her face due to the red veil, but it was their first interaction.

After a brief conversation, An Qing got a sense of her new sister-in-law's character. She was quiet but very disciplined, evident from her proper posture.

However, she didn't seem difficult to get along with. When An Qing gave birth to Xiao Bao, Dong Eshi had sent handmade shoes and socks for the baby, showing great care. Even Fourth Princess praised her embroidery skills.

Later, Dong Eshi sent clothes for the baby a few times, and An Qing reciprocated with gifts from her parents in Mongolia and fruits from the estate. They interacted well.

Her initial worry about discord between sisters-in-law seemed unfounded for now. As long as everyone treated each other sincerely, their relationship would only improve.

A harmonious family brings prosperity, and An Qing was quite happy about this.

On the second day of Xiao Jiu's wedding, he would bring his new wife to Yikun Palace to pay respects. As his sister-in-law, An Qing would be present.

She woke up early, dressed carefully, and brought the festively dressed Xiao Bao and Hongsheng to Yikun Palace.

Concubine Yi and Lady Guo had already tidied up early and were sitting in the main hall sipping tea.

The moment the mother and son stepped through the door, they both yawned simultaneously, clearly still half-asleep.

Seeing the two of them, Concubine Yi found it both amusing and exasperating. They truly resembled each other in every way.

Of course, this resemblance wasn't about looks but behavior.

For instance, sleeping was something An Qing excelled at. She always needed at least eight hours of sleep or she would be lethargic all day. Xiao Bao was no different; he also loved to sleep.

Therefore, when Yinqi returned from court, it was common to see the mother and son lying side by side, catching up on their sleep. Even their sleeping postures were eerily similar.

An Qing brought Hongsheng and Xiao Bao to pay their respects to Concubine Yi and Lady Guo.

"Mother, why did you get up so early? You didn't stay awake all night worrying again, did you?" she said with a smile.

Concubine Yi gave her a look, knowing full well that An Qing was poking fun at her for not being able to sleep the night before her marriage to the Fifth Prince.

It was all Mo Yali's fault for being so unreliable and loose-lipped. Ever since she became friends with An Qing, she couldn't keep anything to herself.

Seeing her mother-in-law's disapproving glance, An Qing quickly changed tactics, using Xiao Bao as a shield and placing him in Concubine Yi's arms. Then she turned and pushed Hongsheng toward her as well.

"Come, didn't you miss your grandmother? Go and spend some time with her."

Ever since Xiao Bao was born, Hongsheng had been visiting Yikun Palace more frequently and getting closer to Concubine Yi. However, due to his personality, he still felt somewhat restrained during these visits.

Xiao Bao played along enthusiastically, "Miss Grandmother, kiss!"

With that, he planted a kiss on Concubine Yi's cheek.

The little one was now eleven months old and speaking more fluently. He could stand and walk a few steps holding onto a chair, though he still wobbled.

Concubine Yi, who hadn't been angry to begin with, broke into a wide smile, "Our Hong Zhi is such a good boy, hmph~ better than your mother."

Xiao Bao repeated, "Mother, good!"

Concubine Yi tapped his nose, "No, your mother isn't good."

The little one parroted back, "Mother, not good!"

Concubine Yi laughed, "Right, not good, not as good as our Xiao Bao."

Xiao Bao, hearing his name, clapped his tiny hands proudly, "Bao, good!"

Lady Guo watched the interaction between the grandmother and grandson and couldn't help but laugh along.

An Qing glanced at her silly son and shook her head helplessly.

Concubine Yi didn't neglect Hongsheng either and turned to talk to him for a while.

An Qing sat down and hadn't even finished her tea when Ninth Prince arrived with his wife Dong Eshi to pay their respects.

Finally, An Qing met her ninth sister-in-law, who was quite pretty, with a delicate charm and graceful manners, clearly a well-bred noblewoman.

After the new bride paid her respects and served tea, Concubine Yi, as the mother-in-law, presented Dong Eshi with a phoenix hairpin adorned with jade and pearls, similar to what she had given An Qing, but with a slightly different design.

As a close sister-in-law, An Qing also presented her gift, an early-prepared jade bracelet. Lady Guo, as the aunt, gave her a jade hairpin.

After receiving the gifts, Dong Eshi also presented presents for Hongsheng and Xiao Bao. The gifts showed how thoughtful Dong Eshi was; although different, they were equally valuable, showing no favoritism despite Hongsheng being a concubine-born son.

"Quick, thank your Aunt Ninth," An Qing smiled.

Hongsheng bowed politely, "Hongsheng thanks Aunt Ninth."

Xiao Bao, the silly boy, was too engrossed with his gift to hear his mother's words.

An Qing couldn't resist pinching his cheek.

Xiao Bao looked up innocently with his big, blinking eyes, "Mother?"

An Qing pointed at Dong Eshi, reminding him, "You little money-grubber, you forgot what Mother taught you. When you receive a gift, you should thank Aunt."

The little one seemed to remember and immediately turned to Dong Eshi, "Thank you, Aunt. Bao likes it!"

He held up the small gold lock in his hands, grinning widely, revealing all his baby teeth.

Dong Eshi, seeing Xiao Bao's adorable face, grew fond of her nephew and spent a long time playing with him next to Concubine Yi. Lady Guo, noticing her affection for children, teased her about having many in the future.

Unsurprisingly, Dong Eshi blushed deeply.

Taking advantage of the moment, Ninth Prince began discussing the apple sales during the New Year with An Qing.

An Qing, who had no interest in business, dismissed the topic, "Xiao Jiu, you don't need to discuss this with me. Since I entrusted it to you, take full responsibility. I trust you."

Seeing An Qing's trust, Ninth Prince expressed his gratitude and promised not to disappoint her.

As the New Year approached, the palace bustled with activity.

One day, Kangxi summoned Yinqi, who hurried to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

"Your Majesty, what do you need from me?" Yinqi asked.

Kangxi had just finished reviewing several memorials and casually tossed one aside upon Yinqi's arrival, "Nothing major, just wanted to ask how the construction of your residence is progressing."

Hearing his father mention the residence, Yinqi replied without much thought, "It's almost complete. It should be finished before the New Year."

Not only was his residence nearing completion, but those of his elder brothers—his First, Third, and Fourth Brothers—were also nearly done. After the New Year, they would choose auspicious times to move out of the palace.

Speaking of this mansion, over the past year, he and An Qing have visited it frequently, nearly wearing out the estate map, but the results so far look good; at least everything is proceeding according to their plans.

Kangxi nodded, but then suddenly changed the subject, asking, "How is Liu Jiashi in your courtyard these days?"

Yinqi was taken aback. Kangxi had known about Liu Jiashi and Baijia Shi conspiring to harm An Qing, and he had tacitly approved of the punishment for both of them. After all, those who plotted against the imperial offspring and had ill intentions could not be spared.

But to save face for Hongsheng, he also endorsed Yinqi's approach.

"A few days ago, the imperial physician went to check on her and said she probably won't last much longer," he replied truthfully.

Kangxi lightly acknowledged with a "Hmm," pondered for a moment, and then said, "Once Liu Jiashi passes away, you will only have one Princess left in your courtyard. It's still too empty."