Chapter 155: Princess Consort Wu Fu 155

Chapter 155: Princess Consort Wu Fu 155

Since Yongzheng had decided to grant An Qing a title, he didn't care at all whether it violated the ancestral rules. The only thing he cared about was how to achieve this goal.

"Let Me write a letter to Li Wei and have him handle this."

If the people of Haining could send a petition signed by ten thousand citizens, then other places could do the same. With so many regions like Suzhou, Zhejiang, and Anhui, as well as Heilongjiang and Shengjing, where An Qing had made significant achievements, similar actions could be taken.

Thirteenth Prince nodded lightly; this was indeed a good approach.

Given Fifth Sister-in-law's reputation among the common folk over the years, and now with her contribution of such high-yielding seeds, when public opinion supported her, the officials in the court would likely have little to say, at most arguing about "violating the ancestral rules."

In the face of absolute merit, there was nothing to fear.

Whether it was Li Wei or Boding in Heilongjiang, they genuinely recognized An Qing's abilities. With the Emperor's secret orders, they handled matters efficiently.

As for the people in these areas, they needed just a slight nudge, and they would respond enthusiastically.

Before long, officials from these regions submitted memorials along with petitions signed by their local citizens, all following Yongzheng's plan.

The unexpected turn of events was that after the first petition was made public, people from other regions heard about it and couldn't sit still. They all rushed to submit their own petitions, unwilling to fall behind.

In no time, countless petitions flooded into the Imperial City, turning the court from mere discussion to outright support. One day during an early morning court session, Yongzheng publicly announced his decision to follow public opinion and confer the title of Princess Consort Huo She on An Qing.

"What do you think, My Lords?"

Upon hearing this, the court fell silent.

Even the most rigid ministers of the Censorate did not dare to oppose with arguments about "violating the ancestral rules."

It was something unimaginable before—granting a woman the title of princess. Not only in Great Qing but throughout history, no dynasty had ever seen a female prince.

Yet, they could not find any words to oppose it because this was the will of the people, and they knew that compared to An Qing's contributions to Great Qing and its people, it was insignificant.

Counting back over the decades, from the initial "Green Wind Disease" in rice to preventing frost damage in wheat, winter storage techniques, ghost wheat, promoting two crops a year in the north, managing saline-alkali land, and developing the wilderness of Heilongjiang.

Moreover, the popularization of various scientific farming techniques and the cultivation of agricultural talent—these seemingly minor yet significant and long-term contributions, not to mention presenting two high-yielding varieties.

Such outstanding contributions deserved to be recorded in history and remembered forever.

To be honest, these achievements alone would have been enough to earn a man a title and honors, but because An Qing was a woman, the matter was suppressed with the excuse of "violating the ancestral rules." How unreasonable!

To be fair, since Yongzheng ascended the throne, many old ministers felt that the new emperor was too impulsive compared to the previous one. But regarding this matter, they found no fault and genuinely believed that Yongzheng was doing the right thing, surpassing even Kangxi.

Zhang Tingyu stepped forward from the officials and said directly, "Your subject has no objections. Your Majesty is wise. Given Princess Consort Heng's accomplishments, she deserves the title of Princess Consort Huo She."

The others exchanged glances and echoed, "Your Majesty is wise. We have no objections!"

The progress of granting An Qing the title of princess consort went exceptionally smoothly, far beyond Yongzheng and Thirteenth Prince's initial expectations. Thus, the matter was settled.

For An Qing herself, she was initially stunned when she first heard the news. At that moment, she was having tea and chatting with Concubine Yi in the courtyard. Also present were Dai Jiashi, Hongsheng's consort, and Yergerjueluo, Hong Zhi's consort, along with several grandchildren.

"Mother, have you heard? The people of Haining submitted a petition to Uncle Emperor, requesting a title for you!" Yalic rushed in, followed by Zhang Ruoai.

An Qing's hand paused as she was peeling grapes, looking at her in surprise. "What did you say?"

Not just a title?

A petition signed by ten thousand citizens!

Yalic explained excitedly, "It's about Haining, where you went last year to control the locust plague. They are grateful for your help in overcoming the plague, so the locals spontaneously signed a petition and sent it to the Imperial City."

Zhang Ruoai added, "I heard from Father that it's not just Haining. In recent days, many other places have also sent petitions, and more are reportedly on the way."

An Qing was still in disbelief, mainly because the event happened so suddenly and unexpectedly.

Seeing her stunned, Concubine Yi teased, "What's wrong? Are you so happy you're speechless?"

An Qing came back to her senses. "No, I'm just surprised."

Petitions signed by ten thousand citizens were not unheard of in history, but she never imagined it would happen to her.

Concubine Yi looked at An Qing affectionately and shook her head. She had known for a long time that this child was pure-hearted, always acting according to her conscience without seeking recognition. But seeing her reaction now, it seemed she hadn't even considered it.

She patted An Qing's shoulder and smiled. "What's there to be surprised about? People appreciate those who help them. You've done so much for the people, they naturally remember your kindness."

People are not insensible; they feel gratitude.

Although An Qing was already shocked by the petition, when Yinqi returned in the evening and told her about Yongzheng's intention to grant her the title of princess consort, she was completely stunned.

"Princess Consort!"

She thought that even if Yongzheng agreed, it would be a lesser title for women, like princess or county princess, which she certainly didn't fit. There were titles like Lady of the Imperial Edict and Lady of the State.

But she never expected Yongzheng to go against convention and grant her the title of Princess Consort Huo She!

Yinqi nodded and smiled. "I learned about it today. It turns out that Eldest Brother and Thirteenth Brother have been secretly arranging this for some time. Now that the timing seems right, they made it public."

But he was genuinely happy for An Qing because she deserved it.

An Qing realized it was Yongzheng's intention. She wondered why someone would bring up this matter.

Yinqi explained, "It wasn't entirely Eldest Brother's idea. The people of Haining first submitted the petition. Eldest Brother had been pondering how to reward you and thought this method was good, so he and Thirteenth Brother acted on it. But things turned out much smoother than they expected."

Ultimately, it was due to An Qing's high reputation among the people, and her efforts over the years materialized at this moment.

She deserved it.

Though An Qing's intentions were not to gain recognition from the people, she still felt a warm sense of appreciation deep down.

The imperial decree regarding An Qing's promotion came down swiftly. She was elevated to the rank of princess, with the title "An," signifying stability and peace, acknowledging her contributions that brought tranquility to the Great Qing and a stable life for its people.

However, An Qing's promotion ceremony was rather unique, different from previous ennoblements. After discussions with officials, Yongzheng decided unanimously that the ceremony would take place at the Altar of Agriculture.

In addition, Yongzheng granted special permission for An Qing's family to come to the Imperial City to congratulate her and attend the ceremony. Mongolian nobles and officials from various regions were required to send congratulatory messages. Married princesses who wished to return to the capital for the event were also allowed to do so, providing them an opportunity to visit their families.

This level of honor was unprecedented, making it a singular privilege within the entire Great Qing.

An Qing was truly overwhelmed by the favor. She had heard that when Yongzheng wanted to show kindness, he did so wholeheartedly. She never imagined she would experience it firsthand one day.

Before long, An Qing's parents and brothers finally arrived in the Imperial City. It was rare for the entire family to gather like this, even her married sister, Duo Lan, came with her husband and children.

Her eldest brother had inherited her father's title and became the new Prince of Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner. Her second brother, due to his significant achievements in combating salinity in the northern regions, was promoted from Prince of the State to Prince of the Banner during the late Kangxi era.

As for her Third Elder Brother, for his contributions to farming in Heilongjiang, he was made Prince of the State during the late Kangxi era. After Yongzheng ascended the throne, he was further promoted to Prince of the Banner for supplying military provisions from the farms in Heilongjiang.

Now, An Qing herself had been made a princess, giving all four siblings noble titles, which greatly pleased her father.

"Of course, what your father is most proud of is having you as a daughter. You should have seen how he bragged to his old friends," Naren, the princess consort, commented.

Caught off guard by his wife's remark, Deb blushed slightly.

An Qing held onto her father's arm, saying, "Of course, I'm his best daughter. My brothers can't compare."

Deb immediately agreed, "They can't compare; even together, they're still far behind."

The family burst into laughter, enjoying the warm atmosphere.

A few days later, the princesses began arriving in the capital. It was rare for them to return home, so they took advantage of this opportunity to visit.

The Fourth Princess, Eighth Princess, and Tenth Princess, in particular, were close friends of An Qing. Yongzheng's decree was specifically aimed at bringing them back.

"Congratulations, Fifth Sister-in-law," the Fourth Princess, Eighth Princess, and Tenth Princess said after meeting with Yongzheng and the Empress at the palace.

An Qing hadn't seen them in years and was overjoyed to meet them again.

The Fourth Princess now had four sons and a daughter, all grown up. Her daughter was married and couldn't make it, but her four sons were present and had already been taken away by Hong Zhi and Honghui.

The Tenth Princess had a son and a daughter after marriage. Her son was thirteen, and her daughter was six, both healthy and well.

The Eighth Princess, after a difficult childbirth resulting in twin daughters, had suffered some health issues and had not conceived since. However, she seemed to be doing well.

The twin daughters were nearly identical, making it hard for anyone except those closest to them to tell them apart.

The Eighth Princess gently pushed her daughters toward An Qing, "Thank your Fifth Aunt for everything she did. Without her, we might not be here today."

An Qing quickly intervened, "Eight Sister, don't scare the girls."

It was her first time meeting the Eighth Princess's daughters, having missed them over the years.

The two girls, well-trained by their mother, bowed deeply to An Qing.

After catching up for a while, the Eighth Princess and Tenth Princess realized it was time to leave. They still needed to visit Thirteenth Prince's residence, where Thirteenth Prince and his consort were waiting.

After they left, An Qing took the Fourth Princess to Concubine Yi's quarters, accompanied by the Ninth Princess Consort. The Fourth Princess and Concubine Yi hadn't seen each other in a long time and were delighted to reunite.

"Aunt, when we met with the Emperor earlier, he mentioned that when the Eighth Brother brings Mother out of the palace, he wants Xiao Jiu to bring my mother to his residence for her care," the Fourth Princess said.

Concubine Yi looked surprised, "Really?"

The Fourth Princess smiled, "Absolutely true, the Emperor said it himself."

Concubine Yi exclaimed, "That's wonderful! I've been worried about my sister since leaving the palace. The Shoukang Palace is so crowded, it's not suitable for living. Now that she can come out, it's perfect."

The Fourth Princess nodded, agreeing that the loneliness of the palace was more concerning than the crowded conditions. Living with the Ninth Brother would be ideal, as her mother had always doted on him.

Thinking of this, the Fourth Princess bowed to the Ninth Princess Consort, "Please take care of my mother."

The Ninth Princess Consort quickly dodged, saying, "Fourth Sister, what are you doing? We're family, and taking care of Aunt is our duty."

Concubine Yi gave the Fourth Princess a disapproving look, and the Fourth Princess hurriedly tried to appease her.

An Qing smiled, "It's good that Aunt can leave the palace. Whether she stays with the Ninth Brother or us, it doesn't matter."

Having the Ninth Prince bring her out was just a formality. Where she actually lived didn't matter much to Yongzheng, who wouldn't nitpick such details.

The Fourth Princess understood, "I must thank Fifth Brother and Ninth Brother. If not for them mentioning it to the Emperor, my mother wouldn't have been able to leave the palace."

An Qing waved her hand, "The Emperor considered your contributions, too."

Indeed, the Fourth Princess had established herself well in Northern Desert Mongolia, becoming a powerful princess with significant influence. Yongzheng had already elevated her from "Princess of the Second Rank" to "Grand Princess." This move was partly to acknowledge her importance and to strengthen ties.

Soon after the arrival of the Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner group and the princesses, the ceremony for An Qing's promotion to Princess of the First Rank took place at the Altar of Agriculture.

The Altar of Agriculture was where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties performed rituals honoring agriculture and plowing. Located west of the city, it was a crucial site for agricultural ceremonies.

Choosing this location for An Qing's promotion highlighted the recognition of her achievements.

On the day of the ceremony, An Qing wore the newly-made princess attire and appeared at the grand event. Following the instructions of the Ministry of Rites officials, she ascended the high altar step by step.

Yongzheng and the Empress attended, along with officials and the princesses, and many citizens gathered outside to witness the event.

However, during the ceremony, Yongzheng announced another surprise: An Qing was granted the honor of being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

There was an uproar at the scene.

The Imperial Ancestral Temple is the ancestral temple of ancient Chinese emperors. Anyone who is enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple during the Qing dynasty must have made significant contributions to the state and its people. After their death, their spirit tablets are placed in the hall next to the emperor's temple for veneration.

An Qing stood there in shock, as she had not heard anything about this before. Looking at Yinqi and the others' reactions below, it did not seem like they knew either. What was Yongzheng trying to do with this surprise move?

But the emperor's word is law. Since Yongzheng had already publicly announced the imperial decree, the matter was settled.

After their initial shock, the crowd slowly came to their senses. Perhaps once a norm is broken, it becomes easier to accept. At this moment, they strangely felt that being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple was nothing unusual. If even An Qing did not qualify, then who else would?

The auspicious time chosen by the Board of Astronomy arrived quickly. The officials from the Ministry of Rites began detailing An Qing's contributions over the years. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, An Qing completed the enshrinement ceremony step by step.

This elaborate and lengthy procedure left An Qing almost numb. Thankfully, someone was leading her, or she might have forgotten something.

Next, the deputy envoy presented the seal of a prince. An Qing respectfully accepted the seal and handed it to the attendant of the prince's residence, then performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows.

Just when everyone thought the ceremony was about to conclude, the deputy envoy suddenly brought out the golden scroll for the princess consort.

An Qing couldn't help but be stunned. She was familiar with this; she had received one when Yinqi was made a prince.

However, she didn't have a princess consort. Why bring this out? For whom?

Not only An Qing had this question; everyone present was puzzled.

At that moment, Yinqi suddenly stepped out from the crowd and walked directly to the front. In full view of everyone, he reached out to the deputy envoy.

The deputy envoy cleared his throat and said, "Please receive the golden scroll of the prince's consort!"

Yinqi calmly took the golden scroll of the prince's consort from the deputy envoy and began performing the required kowtows.

The scene was somewhat absurd yet oddly harmonious.

Everyone: "..."

Well...

It makes sense if you think about it.

Yalic, standing beside Concubine Yi, couldn't help but rub her forehead. This was clearly arranged by her Ama beforehand. Tsk~ Her Ama was truly something.

An Qing finally regained her composure, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes.

She understood Yinqi's intention. He was showing through his actions that they were a united couple.

As a pure-blooded ancient, he could disregard societal prejudices and always stand by her side, no matter what. How fortunate she was.

With the announcement of "the ceremony is complete" by the official, Yinqi finished his kowtows and walked to An Qing's side, taking her hand and standing beside her, looking towards the crowd.

Feeling the warmth in her palm, An Qing looked at the familiar faces around her and the endless rice fields in the distance.

How wonderful.

Who would have thought that in this world where she once felt out of place, she had already spent a long half-life?

Looking back, there were many things beyond her control, but also many unexpected gains. Life seemed to be like this—there are gains and losses, but regardless of how they turn out, we must strive to live each day well.

Just as she had always believed, no matter where she was, she would make every effort to live well.

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