Chapter 162 Smallpox

With everything prepared, Kangxi, accompanied by Baocheng and several children, left the Forbidden City in a small entourage and headed towards the Imperial Estate.

Along the way, the children couldn't hide their excitement, chattering non-stop. It was especially the little chatterbox, Yinzhen, who wanted to share the street scenes with his elder brother, the trees with his elder brother, and even the flowers with his elder brother.

This fueled the competitive spirit of the others, and the noise in the carriage never stopped for the rest of the journey. Even Yin Zhi, who spoke slowly, started gesturing wildly.

Bao Cheng sat upright between his brothers, nodding in agreement with a gentle demeanor and occasionally offering positive responses. Meanwhile, Kangxi felt utterly hopeless, realizing for the first time how noisy these little ones were.

Once again, Kangxi was accidentally hit by Yinzhi's outstretched hand, and his face darkened. If it weren't for maintaining his image as a kind father in front of Baocheng, he would have definitely hung Yinzhi up and beaten!

That's outrageous! Doesn't he, as an emperor, have any dignity?

Finally arriving at the imperial estate, Kangxi strode confidently ahead, leading Baocheng with a smile in his eyes, and softly explained to Baocheng: "Agriculture and sericulture are the foundation of the nation; the stability of the country and the well-being of its people depend on them..."

Bao Cheng listened attentively, nodding frequently, his gaze sweeping across the rows of fields, where the emerald green rice seedlings trembled slightly in the morning breeze, as if bowing to them.

Yinzhi couldn't contain himself any longer and ran to the edge of the field, startling a few resting birds, which prompted Kangxi to gently scold him; Changquan squatted to the side, his eyes fixed on the farmer's hoe, looking at the dark soil being turned up with curiosity and fascination.

Yinzhi and Yinzhen were unusually harmonious, holding hands and then carefully clutching a corner of Baocheng's clothes, following behind him step by step, clinging to him timidly.

Bao Cheng sensed the movement behind him, turned around, patted the two on the head, and gently comforted them. He then took their hands and led them to an old farmer, politely asking, "Uncle, how long after planting these rice seedlings will it be time to harvest them?"

The old farmer was taken aback by Bao Cheng's imposing presence, as if he had seen a disciple of Guanyin Bodhisattva. He hurriedly replied, "Young master, the rice planted in spring has been carefully tended, and it will be ready for harvest in autumn."

"Did you hear that?" Bao Cheng asked gently, looking at the two little ones beside him.

"Spring plowing and autumn harvest." Yin Zhi looked at his elder brother, the Crown Prince, with sparkling eyes. This was the first time he had ever understood this phrase so concretely.

"Yes, spring planting and autumn harvest, it sounds simple, but it embodies all the hard work of farmers."

Bao Cheng patted Yin Zhi's head approvingly. Yin Zhi smiled and replied earnestly, "I will study hard and research more grains."

"Then I'll wait for Yinzhi to research and develop more food."

Before even starting school, the bewildered Yinzhen, not to be outdone, jumped up and exclaimed, "Yinzhen can do it too! Yinzhen will study it too!"

"Haha, good," Bao Cheng laughed and touched Yinzhen's little face. "Yinzhen will also study it."

Emperor Kangxi watched from the side, feeling both jealous and gratified. As expected of the child he had raised, he was concerned about farming, and his younger brother was well-educated!

He then beckoned the children over, took the seeds from the old farmer, and distributed them to everyone: "Come on, plant some yourself and feel the warmth of the soil."

Bao Cheng was the first to roll up his sleeves and, without hesitation, imitated the old farmer, using his fingertips to dig a small hole in the soil, carefully placing the seed in, then gently covering it with soil and patting it down.

Sunlight shone on his youthful face, giving it a warm glow. His reverence and sincerity towards the land moved others to tears.

Initially somewhat disdainful, Yinzhi and the others immediately followed his example, setting aside their so-called princely status and, with a focus on the land and the people's livelihood, began to diligently sow the seeds.

Kangxi watched with satisfaction and soon joined the planting team. The father and sons worked hard and worked up a good sweat before stopping to rest at the estate.

After washing up and changing into a plain-colored robe, Bao Cheng dismissed the others and strolled leisurely around the estate alone.

They said they weren't allowed to follow, but the servants who were supposed to attend to them couldn't very well not follow. They just couldn't disobey the Crown Prince's wishes, so they watched from a distance.

Before he knew it, he had arrived at the cowshed, and a smell of hay and cow dung wafted towards him.

The steward was frowning when he saw Bao Cheng arrive. Although he didn't know his exact identity, he knew he was the young master of the household, so he quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, young master. This cow is sick, so it's best if you don't go near it."

Bao Cheng frowned slightly, as if reluctant to ask, "What illness do you have?"

The steward was a little embarrassed. "I just have a few blisters on my body... Young master, please don't worry about it."

Such an illness might offend the ears of the important person, so the person in charge didn't say much.

Yinreng nodded, seemingly unconcerned, and was about to leave when the cow in the cowshed let out a long, mournful cry, its voice filled with helplessness and pain, as if pleading for help.

Bao Cheng paused, then ignored the steward's attempts to stop him and went inside. The servants who saw this from afar widened their eyes; some rushed over, while others hurried back to report.

"Young master, the cowshed is filthy..."

"It's alright."

Bao Cheng slowly approached, and the moment she saw him, the cow's big eyes filled with tears. She stared at him longingly, occasionally letting out a soft "moo" sound.

Bao Cheng gently reached out his hand, hesitated for a moment, and when he touched the cow's burning forehead, his movements became even gentler, as if to comfort her: "Don't be afraid, it will be alright."

A gentle breeze blew, and sunlight quietly streamed down, casting a warm glow around him and making him radiate an aura of compassion.

When Kangxi arrived with his entourage, what greeted their eyes was a scene full of divinity and Buddha-like qualities: the sick cow, its front hooves bent, knelt before Bao Cheng, the man and the cow seemingly reaching some kind of silent understanding, Bao Cheng's eyes filled with pity, completely unaware of the commotion behind him.

Emperor Kangxi's sensitive nerves were touched, and he froze on the spot, unable to move a step. He couldn't help but call out, "Baocheng!"

Bao Cheng turned around, his compassionate aura still lingering, his smile carrying a Buddhist quality that made Kangxi uneasy. "Father."

Ignoring the stares of others, Kangxi's eyes reddened slightly: "Baocheng, come back."

Kangxi breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Baocheng remove his hand from the ox's forehead, but then he saw Baocheng standing there motionless for a long time, and his panic intensified. He said in a trembling voice, "Baocheng... come back quickly..."

Bao Cheng pursed his lips and shook his head apologetically, a faint golden Buddhist light emanating from his body, and said softly, "Father, I'm sorry, I should go now."

"No! Guarantee success! Guarantee success!"

Emperor Kangxi cried out in despair, and Liang Jiugong, who was guarding him, rushed over: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, you've finally woken up!"

"Baocheng! Where's Baocheng?"

Seeing the Emperor's dazed state, Liang Jiugong couldn't help but feel a lump in his throat and said, choking back tears, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is a lucky man and will be alright. Your Majesty, please take care of yourself."

Kangxi slowly came to his senses. His Baocheng was still there; he hadn't been taken away. But he had fallen ill after leaving the cowshed that day, apparently with smallpox.

How could it be smallpox? How could his son Bao Cheng have smallpox?

Kangxi staggered to his feet and got out of bed. "I need to go and check on Bao Cheng, my Bao Cheng..."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you've just woken up..."

Liang Jiugong tried to persuade him, after all, the Emperor had been guarding the Crown Prince for three days, and the Crown Prince had fainted from fright and had just woken up. However, Kangxi did not listen at all and waved him away to guard Baocheng.

In the past, neither Buddhism nor smallpox could take away his son!