Chapter 182 Embracing the Countryside (Extra Chapter) Cheng Qianyue…
Cheng Qianyue glanced at the sky outside, put down her needlework, and called out loudly to the field, "Master, stop working, it's noon, time for lunch." Yinreng, leaning on his shovel, stood up and answered. A short while later, he walked towards her.
This is the first year since Yinreng's retirement, and the fourth year since he established Hongyan as Crown Prince. In these past few years, Yinreng has been constantly training Hongyan, and three years ago he established Hongyan as Crown Prince. Afterwards, he kept Hongyan by his side to handle state affairs. Perhaps feeling that Hongyan was capable of handling things independently, he decisively relinquished all political responsibilities at the beginning of this year and moved to Changchun Garden. Moreover, judging from Yinreng's words, he no longer intends to return to the Forbidden City; he will spend his remaining years peacefully in Changchun Garden.
Cheng Qianyue was initially quite worried, thinking that the position of Crown Prince was not easy to hold, and that she would have to mediate between Yinreng and Hongyan. After all, power is a very addictive thing, and she was a little skeptical that Yinreng would be willing to give up his power and become a hands-off ruler. But seeing that Yinreng seemed genuinely willing to let go, because every time Hongyan came to discuss important matters with him, Yinreng would first ask Hongyan's opinion, and then let Hongyan draft the decree and send it to him for stamping.
So, does Yinreng really want to become the retired emperor? Cheng Qianyue wondered secretly.
Later, she realized something. Because Yinreng had suffered hardships, he didn't want Hongyan to suffer the same pain. There's a saying that goes, "Only those who have been rained on can offer an umbrella to others." Yinreng was now offering an umbrella to Hongyan.
Cheng Qianyue couldn't help but sigh in her heart: Yinreng is different from Kangxi.
In the first few days of spring, Yinreng seemed rather idle. He tried reading with his reading glasses, but only for a short while, complaining that the sunlight shining on the paper was too bright. He also tried playing chess with his ministers, but after a few games, he lost interest. No one dared to beat him, and besides, chess took too long—a whole morning could pass at a time. Every time he stood up, he would clutch his back, complaining of stiff bones.
"I'm really getting old," Yinreng sighed in a deep voice. "My health isn't what it used to be."
People often say that seventy or eighty is old, so you're considered old only after you've passed seventy. Cheng Qianyue retorted, "Look at what you're saying, where am I old? I think you just don't like to move around. People need to move around a little, otherwise they'll just be like unused things in a warehouse, getting worse the longer they're left."
Yinreng nodded and said, "What you said makes sense."
After Cheng Qianyue finished speaking, she watched him ponder things. A few days later, he led her to the imperial fields west of Changchun Garden, saying he wanted to cultivate the land. The imperial fields of Changchun Garden were established by Emperor Kangxi himself, and rice was grown there every year. Yinreng then suggested reclaiming another plot of land next to the rice paddies to grow vegetables.
Cheng Qianyue naturally agreed wholeheartedly, so these days she could see him taking a hoe and shovel to the fields to turn the soil every day. As for Cheng Qianyue, she was responsible for strolling around, occasionally going over to ask Yinreng if he was thirsty or wanted to drink water, and then doing needlework in the shed set up at the edge of the field.
Yinreng came over and sat down to rest for a while. "It's quite hot to move around a little and sweat a bit."
Cheng Qianyue picked up a handkerchief to wipe his sweat. "That's right, the sun is shining brightly today. But it's still chilly, you'll need to put on another layer in the afternoon."
Yinreng grunted and said, "Don't even think about slacking off. I'm the only one working in the fields."
Cheng Qianyue smiled and begged for forgiveness: "You said it yourself, I was just being lazy." She didn't want to get out of bed; it was too tiring.
Yinreng shook his head and said, "You said I needed to move around, but don't you often sit there with your head down when you do needlework? Come with me to the fields this afternoon."
Well, since he had said that, Cheng Qianyue couldn't refuse. So in the afternoon, Cheng Qianyue joined him in digging the ground. However, whether it was because of her incorrect grip on the hoe or because of her years of being pampered, blisters appeared on her hands after just one afternoon, though she didn't notice it at the time.
That evening, Yinreng sighed deeply as he used a silver needle to pop the blisters on her hands, then applied medicine and bandaged them. He said with particular regret, "I should have known better than to let you come down to the ground with me. You're not like me. I've practiced martial arts for many years, and my hands are covered in calluses."
Cheng Qianyue didn't feel any pain and replied with a smile, "It's clear that you're used to being pampered."
After that, Yinreng stopped asking her to work in the fields, but instead summoned the princes outside to help him till the soil. Indeed, humans are creatures full of emotions; the love between husband and wife, between children and siblings, are different kinds of love.
After the gentlemen arrived, the village became more crowded. Every day, Cheng Qianyue watched a group of old men in robes bending over and digging holes in the ground. Logically, this scene should have been quite idyllic, but the more she looked at it, the stranger it seemed. What was the problem? Well, it was the clothes they were wearing.
Looking at them all dressed in fine silks and satins, how could a farmer possibly be dressed so well!
Later, Cheng Qianyue simply called over the wives of the various households. While the men went to work in the fields, the wives would sit together and chat, sewing tight-sleeved gowns. Cheng Qianyue specially chose pure cotton, dark-colored fabric, which was particularly resistant to dirt, and made them specifically for them to wear while working in the fields.
Seven or eight days passed, and the new field was finally cleared and ready for planting. Yinreng personally selected several kinds of vegetable seeds and sowed them in. Of course, this wasn't the end of it; this small half-acre of land became his favorite, and he would come over from time to time to check on it, watering and fertilizing it. By early summer, these tender green vegetables were ready to be served on the dinner table.
"Is it delicious?" Yinreng asked with great interest.
Cheng Qianyue knew that the small green vegetables he planted had been harvested, so the first thing she picked up with her chopsticks when the meal was served was this, and she praised it, saying, "Delicious, it has a sweet taste when you chew it."
Yinreng smiled with great satisfaction and continued, "We'll share some with the third and fourth princes tomorrow; they also contributed."
Cheng Qianyue responded with an "okay" and said "good".
In spring and summer, Yinreng had an outlet for his energy because of farming. But in autumn and winter, he was idle again because the weather was cold and his half-acre plot of land, lacking a shed, was unsuitable for growing vegetables. Seeing that he was bored and restless, Cheng Qianyue called over her grandchildren. Among them was Hongxi's family. Hongxi had a child not long after the mourning period ended. The one summoned was Hongxi's eldest son, Yongchen, who was only five years old this year. In addition, Hongxi also had a second son and an eldest daughter, but because the other two were still young, they were not called in.
Cheng Qianyue thought that the younger children needed to study, so she decided to have Yinreng become a teacher. It would be quite uncomfortable for someone who was already very learned to have nothing to do.
Yinreng initially thought this was a bit of a hassle, because the children's classes were held at Wuyizhai, but that place was in the northwest corner of Changchun Garden. Whether the children came to Qingxi Study or Yinreng went to Wuyizhai, the distance was too far and inconvenient.
"Oh, that's easy." Cheng Qianyue suggested cleaning up Lanzaozhai and Baoguangzhai, south of Qingxi Study, so the children could have classes there. "That would solve everything."
Yinreng thought it made sense, so he became a teacher. He even prepared lessons, wandering around the room with the Three Character Classic in his hand, muttering to himself, and soon he was engrossed in writing lesson plans.
Cheng Qianyue thought to herself that he was really serious, so after he finished his work and rested, she winked and jokingly called him "teacher".
Yinreng looked at her laughing inexplicably and showed a puzzled expression.
Cheng Qianyue: Ahem, the title "teacher" has another meaning, but she only fantasizes about it in her mind.
It started snowing heavily early that day, and by noon a thin layer had accumulated in the courtyard. At this moment, Yinreng came in from outside, smiling and saying, "I smelled the fragrance as soon as I came back."
Indeed. There were chestnuts on the stove beside Cheng Qianyue, smelling sweet and fragrant. She said, "Master is back." She glanced at the clock on the high platform and said, "Master is back very early."
Yinreng came over to warm himself by the fire. "It's snowing. I think the snow scene is quite nice. I'll have the children write an essay in Manchu, Han, and Mongolian. After assigning their homework, I'll let them go enjoy the snow."
Cheng Qianyue nodded, peeled a chestnut and brought it to his mouth: "It was stir-fried with sugar. I was afraid it would get cold, so I kept it warm on the stove. Please try it, Master."
Yinreng ate one and then stopped, saying softly, "It's quite sweet." He looked out the window and smiled, saying, "I came back to watch the snow with you."
Oh, that's what I meant.
Cheng Qianyue stood up and said, "Alright then." She then asked someone to set up a table outside. After everything was ready, she and Yinreng went to the side hall.
Yinreng said, "Thinking back to those days, it was a snowy day like this too."
Cheng Qianyue remembered too, and winked at him twice: "Wait for me, sir, I'll roast an orange for you."
Yinreng smiled, watching the snowflakes fall gently, and couldn't help but sigh at how quickly time passed. Just then, a burst of laughter came from outside the wall. He glanced to the side and said, "Go see what's going on."
Jing Shun agreed and hurriedly went out with an umbrella. After a while, he came back and reported, "It's the young prince and the princesses having a snowball fight outside."
Yinreng chuckled softly and exchanged a glance with Cheng Qianyue. Cheng Qianyue said to Jingshun, "Tell the princes and princesses that it's cold, and they're not allowed to take off their cloaks even during a snowball fight." Jingshun nodded and went out again.
After a while, it was time for lunch, and Cheng Qianyue and Yinreng went into the inner room. Yinreng sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) and suddenly reached out to touch Cheng Qianyue's hair. Under Cheng Qianyue's puzzled gaze, he said, "I think I just noticed that you have grown a few gray hairs."
Cheng Qianyue narrowed her eyes: "What, does Master think I'm too old?"
Yinreng was speechless for a moment, then sighed. He thought to himself that he was much older than her, if anyone was older, it was him. "You're talking nonsense again."
Cheng Qianyue deliberately misunderstood his meaning, because people always get old, but they are always afraid of getting old, so she didn't like Yinreng mentioning the word "old".
Yinreng opened his arms and said, "Come here and let me hug you, so you won't get jealous for no reason again."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Qianyue giggled and snuggled into his arms.
Holding such a heavy person in his arms made Yinreng feel at ease. He stroked her hair and said, "I think this is quite good."
They both have gray hair, which means they've grown old together.
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