Winter finally enveloped the entire city of Beijing. Snow began to fall heavily all night. Everywhere was freezing cold, and people huddled indoors, afraid to venture out. The north wind outside felt like blades whistling against their faces.
Lanqin indeed started preparing breakfast for Kangxi every morning, and each meal was different, with no two meals being the same. Kangxi had only meant it as a joke, but he didn't expect Lanqin to actually make it so well.
On this day, Lanqin served Emperor Kangxi mutton stew with bread, a recipe given by a maid from Shaanxi at Jiuzhou Qingyan. Lanqin had naturally eaten mutton stew with bread in later generations, and with the maid's description, Lanqin's version of mutton stew with bread was born, and it was still very delicious.
"Girl, has the exercise plan you told me about been finalized? I'm waiting for it," Kangxi asked after finishing a bowl of mutton stew.
"Father, your daughter-in-law has already made the plan, but because of the bad weather, I haven't brought it to you for a while. It's right here with me, please take a look!" Lanqin actually took out a "Father's Exercise Plan" from her sleeve and presented it to Kangxi.
Kangxi took the book and began to read it aloud: "At the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), jog slowly along Fuhai Lake for an hour; at the hour of Wei (1-3 PM), do a set of stretching exercises for a quarter of an hour; at the hour of Wu (11-3 PM), stroll through the Western-style buildings or the Great Maze for more than half an hour."
Lanqin designed this exercise plan for Emperor Kangxi based on the exercise intensity required for the elderly; it could be considered a fitness program. However, Emperor Kangxi was an ancient person who had never engaged in modern exercise, so naturally he didn't know that Lanqin's seemingly strange things could actually improve his health.
"Is that all?" Kangxi felt that there was hardly any exercise involved. He used to practice archery or horseback riding, which required much more physical activity than this strange exercise watch.
“That’s right. Father, your daughter-in-law is also planning to make you a set of ‘sports clothes’ specifically for exercising. Your current clothes are not comfortable or convenient for exercising. Father, don’t think these things are unimportant. In fact, as long as you keep doing them, they will be very good for your health. Your father used to practice archery, which is a very strenuous exercise. Doing it for a long time is not good for your health, and you can’t do it every day. The plan that your daughter-in-law has made is an exercise that can be maintained in the long term,” Lanqin said.
"What kind of exercise is stretching?" Kangxi asked. He could understand running, but he didn't quite understand this "stretching exercise".
“It’s very simple, Father Emperor, just do as I do,” Lanqin said.
After saying that, Lanqin walked up to Kangxi and stood about three feet away from her. Then she began to do the yoga she had learned from a gym instructor in her later life.
These movements look extremely simple, but they all require holding the position for several seconds, or even more than a minute, which turns them into aerobic exercises that consume a lot of energy.
Liang Jiugong and several eunuchs watched Lanqin's movements, some of which were quite unseemly, and couldn't help but smirk. Lanqin, however, performed them with utmost seriousness.
After she finished demonstrating the movements, Kangxi did not laugh at her, but said, "Your movements look somewhat similar to the Five Animal Frolics!"
Upon hearing the words "Five Animal Frolics," Lanqin's eyes widened immediately. She knew, of course, that what she was doing was not the Five Animal Frolics, but rather yoga from later generations. However, the Five Animal Frolics was created by Hua Tuo and was a set of movements very beneficial for strengthening the body.
"Does Father Emperor know about the Five Animal Frolics?" Lanqin asked.
"The Five Animal Frolics are now only fragments. I just watched you perform the movements, and some of them are similar to those in the fragments," Kangxi said.
Lanqin was also surprised, thinking to herself: So, did Indian yoga also plagiarize our ancestors' things?
"Father, all exercises that strengthen the body have something in common. If you do the exercises I just mentioned half an hour after your meal, I guarantee you'll have good digestion, no constipation, and be in good spirits and with a good temperament," Lanqin said with a smile.
Several eunuchs almost burst out laughing again, but Liang Jiugong glared at them and shut them up.
"Very well, then I'll wait for the special clothes you'll make for me to wear during exercise," Kangxi said.
"Yes, I'll go back and make it right away, so Father Emperor can put it on and start exercising as soon as possible." Seeing that Kangxi was giving her face, Lanqin became more enthusiastic. At first, she was somewhat just going through the motions, but now she genuinely wanted to help Kangxi improve his health. An elderly man like him should definitely exercise. Besides, Kangxi's neck and spine are not in good condition from years of working at his desk; he should move around more.
"My dear girl, Hongli has made great progress recently. I am very pleased. You have given me a fine grandson!" Kangxi said.
"That's all thanks to Father Emperor's teachings. Before Father Emperor came, Hongli couldn't even recite the Three Character Classic," Lanqin quickly flattered.
As expected, Kangxi laughed and let Lanqin go back.
To quickly build momentum, Lanqin immediately summoned the embroiderers in the mansion and asked them to make "sports clothes" for Kangxi according to her description. In reality, these were the "Tai Chi uniforms" of later generations. Lanqin couldn't possibly make real sports clothes for Kangxi, so she had to borrow the Tai Chi uniforms.
It is said that Hongli went to Kangxi's place every day and returned in the evening, which had become his fixed routine. Unless Kangxi specifically instructed him not to go, he was not required to go. However, such occasions were rare, as Kangxi basically spent every day teaching Hongli.
Lanqin was very grateful to Kangxi for becoming Hongli's free early childhood educator. She was happy to see her son grow smarter day by day. The grandmother and grandson got along so well that Lanqin even started to feel a little jealous. Hongli also liked Kangxi very much; their relationship was perhaps even more harmonious than that between father and son.
Even the Fourth Prince rarely intervened. Although he would take time every night to teach Hongli, it still seemed to be no match for the blood-is-thicker-water intimacy between Kangxi and Hongli.
Lanqin finished making Kangxi's workout clothes and delivered them, instructing him on how to wear them and how to exercise. Kangxi actually began to follow the exercise plan Lanqin had given him. Every morning, he would change into his workout clothes and jog along Fuhai Lake for more than half an hour. After lunch, he would rest for a while and then begin doing the yoga exercises Lanqin had taught him, and he found that he really felt much better. The poor appetite, constipation, and bloating that had previously troubled him gradually disappeared.
Even Liang Jiugong had to admit that Lanqin had truly solved a major problem for Kangxi. In the past, Kangxi would drink Chinese medicine to alleviate these symptoms, which was good for his health, but not as good as exercise.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
