22. Chapter 22
"It's not easy to do things"
Preparations before traveling are much more troublesome than farming.
Kangxi originally just wanted to give Qi You a light punishment and call it a day. Qi You was young and had difficulty walking, so Kangxi was reluctant to let him work in the fields.
In the western suburbs of the capital, such as the nearly completed Changchun Garden, the adjacent Qingyi Garden, and the Old Summer Palace, all areas were suitable for farming. This area was also close to the Forbidden City, and Kangxi planned to punish Qi You by having him undergo a physical examination for a day or two, then return to the palace to continue his studies.
Qi You took it seriously. He ran to Kangxi and presented his offer again: "Khan Ama, besides the western suburbs, what other farms are there? Can I see what crops are grown there?"
Kangxi pondered for a moment, then ordered Liang Jiugong to fetch the Zhuangzi he had left behind. He said, "Since you're so interested, come and choose one yourself. But first of all, don't cry when you get tired."
Qi Youxian smiled brightly at Kangxi, flipping through the information about the imperial farm and saying confidently, "It's so painful and tiring, I have to cry. After crying, I'll sleep and forget everything."
Kangxi chuckled and nodded at him: "You are the one who likes to play tricks. Tell me why you really want to go farming?"
Qi You didn't elaborate on the principles, but simply said, "If we don't farm, what will we eat? I'm very curious about how food comes from, how it germinates, grows, is fertilized, pest-killed, and harvested."
Kangxi's expression froze, and his eyes gradually showed an indescribable tenderness and pride. He touched Qi You's head and asked, "Then how will you handle your studies when you go to Zhuangzi?"
Qi You had thought it through long ago and answered in an orderly manner: "Khan Ama, have the teacher assign me homework every two weeks and send it to the farm. After I finish it, I will come back to pick it up in two weeks. If I fall behind in my homework, I will return to the palace immediately, okay? Khan Ama, don't worry, I will read and write every day and will not delay my homework."
Kangxi was shocked and asked in surprise, "According to what you said, you plan to live in the manor for a long time?"
Qi You smiled with his eyes curved and nodded, "Well, spring planting and autumn harvest, throughout the year, different crops and vegetables are grown in the fields. I need to stay here for at least a year to learn even the basics. Khan Ama, I found it, can I go here?"
Kangxi looked at Qi You with a complicated expression. He took the booklet Qi You handed over and looked at it, frowning slightly. "Shunyi County... This place is really far away. But why did you choose this place?"
"Because they actually grow rice and wheat here." Qi You explained carefully, "I like to eat rice, and I also like to eat steamed buns and cakes. These two are enough for me. Khan Ama, this place is not far away. There is also a temporary palace here."
Whenever Kangxi went on a hunting tour outside the Great Wall, he would stay in Shunyi County. For convenience, he built a temporary palace to stay in.
He considered it for a moment and said, "Well, you can live in the temporary palace then. There are servants there to serve you, and I'll send you a few guards to protect you. You won't suffer any harm if you go there."
"Thank you, Khan Ama, for your concern. Khan Ama is the best." Qi You first boasted to Kangxi, then quickly shook his head. "Khan Ama, I'll settle down in the temporary palace first. When there's a place to stay at the manor, I'll move there. The temporary palace is quite a distance from the imperial manor. I'm going there to farm. If I live in the temporary palace, it'll be like I'm on a trip."
Kangxi was stunned for a moment, and a strange sense of pride rose in his heart. But he pretended to be angry and said, "Okay, okay, as a father, I can never be more stubborn than my son. I will do whatever you say."
Qi You smiled and continued to make a request: "Khan Ama, can I go to the Ministry of Revenue to borrow the Shunyi County Annals? I want to know what the weather here was like in the past and how the crops were harvested."
Kangxi hadn't expected Qi You to think of such things. His pride almost burst out, and he said repeatedly, "Okay, okay. Liang Jiugong, tell the Ministry of Revenue to cooperate with the Seventh Elder and give him whatever he wants. Wait, go call Kerkun and I will talk to him in person."
Qi You chuckled, and then, thinking for a moment, he leaned forward and pleaded eagerly, "Khan Ama, I'm too young to bother you. I'll go to the Ministry of Revenue myself. Khan Ama, can I go to the Ministry of Works as well?"
Kangxi was stunned for a moment, then raised his hand as if to strike him: "You really are climbing up the ladder. What are you going to do at the Ministry of Works?"
Qi You replied as a matter of course: "The Ministry of Works is responsible for building water conservancy projects and irrigating crops."
Kangxi couldn't help but burst into laughter, saying, "Well, well, since you've thought so thoroughly, I'll give you some more lessons. I'll have Nan Huairen choose a Westerner to accompany you, and you can't fall behind in your Latin."
Qi You was overjoyed and slid off the kang to bow respectfully and thank him. "Khan Ama is so kind. I have thought about it but just didn't have the nerve to say it. Khan Ama, I will take my leave first. I have to go see Ukuma Ma, Ma Ma, and Enie to say goodbye to them."
"Your filial piety is commendable." Kangxi praised him with a smile, waved his hand, and teased him, "Go ahead, but accept less gifts. It will be inconvenient to carry them on the road."
Qi You smiled cunningly, "Khan Ama, I also want to visit the homes of my uncles, the prince, my eldest brother, and all the other relatives and elders."
Kangxi was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, and said to him in a threatening tone, "Don't go, or I'll give you a beating."
Qi You shrank his neck and immediately agreed. He retreated to the door and turned to go to the Cining Palace.
The Grand Empress Dowager and the Queen Mother were naturally worried about Qi You going to the Imperial Farm. When they heard that Kangxi had agreed, they mentioned it briefly and then stopped talking, turning to prepare Qi You's luggage.
Of course, Qi You would not bring so many things with him. Apart from some underwear and medicine, he only asked for food that could be stored, such as cheese and dried meat.
He was very sweet-mouthed and started to make promises without blinking: "I will bring back all the crops I grow and distribute them to Ukuma Mama, Mama, Khan Ama..."
Qi You counted on his fingers and mentioned a bunch of people, then sighed with a mature air: "I am very happy to go to Shunyi, but also a little unhappy. I will definitely miss Wukuma Mama and you. Fortunately, I have cheese and other things. When I eat them regularly, it's like seeing you. I like eating cheese jerky the most."
These words made the Empress Dowager very pleased, and she wanted him to take away all the Mongolian food in the Cining Palace.
A mother worries about her son even when he is thousands of miles away. When Qi You saw Dai Jiashi, her eyelids were swollen. She forced a smile and asked him to sit beside her. As soon as she opened her mouth, tears rolled down her face: "My son, you have suffered so much..."
Qi You's biggest heartache was when Dai Jia cried. He never blamed her for overthinking things, or for not thinking far enough ahead. He also never thought that Dai Jia hadn't been educated, was short-sighted, or that they couldn't get along. He never treated her perfunctorily or impatiently because of the generation gap.
On the contrary, whenever Qi You came to pay his respects, he would always tell her in detail some interesting things in school, what he had learned, and how he was doing outside.
One is to comfort Dai Jia's heart, and the other is that he hopes Dai Jia can see the world outside the small side hall of Chengqian Palace through his mouth.
His legs were injured and he might not be able to walk far. Dai Jia's legs were fine, but she still couldn't leave the high palace walls.
He wanted to take this poor mother with him, no matter how far or where they went, he would try and work hard.
Qi You held Dai Jia's hand and explained in detail his plans and thoughts for the trip to Shunyi. He consoled her, saying, "Enie, don't cry. I'm really fine. Khan Ama has prepared everything for me. I'll write to you often after I leave. Besides, Shunyi isn't far from the capital; I can go back and forth in a day. There's a palace there, and there are guards. I'm not going there to suffer, but to learn. Enie, this is all good for me, so don't worry. Besides, when have I ever lied to you?"
Dai Jia wiped her tears and said reluctantly, "You usually have your own ideas and opinions. I know you have considered everything. But when I think about you going to such a far place, I can't bear to let you go. Alas, it's all my fault. I can't help you, and instead I need you to comfort me."
Qi You smiled and said, "You are my mother. Even if I am sixty or a hundred years old, in my mother's eyes, I will always be a child and will worry about me all my life."
Dai Jia burst into laughter and said, "Okay, I won't cry anymore. I can't help you, but I can't let you down."
Qi You smiled and said, "How could I be a burden to you, Enie? Please help me keep an eye on my luggage. I can't pack it myself. Please prepare a few more sets of sweatshirts and socks for me, Enie."
When Dai Jia heard this, she stood up anxiously and hurried to prepare the things that Qi You would take with him. Qi You was relieved to see that Dai Jia was busy and could not care about being sad.
Qi You went to the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works and received instructions from Emperor Kangxi. The Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Works were waiting in person. According to Qi You's request, he was given the county annals of Shunyi County and local water conservancy information.
After Qi You received it, he read it on the spot in the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works and returned it. He had an excellent memory and basically made no mistakes after reading it only once.
The Minister of Revenue Korkun wanted to show him the local tax revenue, but he politely refused.
Just farm the land. Qi You didn't want to get involved in government affairs too early.
Qi You knew very well that his ideas were idealistic and the reality might be a hundred times more difficult than expected.
Qi You just pretended not to understand what Kangxi didn't ask or mention.
Not to mention the group of servants in the palace. Kangxi only went there once a year, so they became the actual masters of the palace.
Dachun, the head of Huangzhuang, is a Baoyi Zuoling under the Zhenghuang Banner. He has been in charge of this farm for nearly ten years. His entire family lives on the farm. He can be regarded as a local tyrant who has been entrenched for a long time.
There were also the reactions of the local county magistrate of Shunyi County and other officials and gentry to the arrival of this prince who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
Qi You set out early in the morning with carts and small carts, escorted by guards, and finally arrived in Shunyi in the evening.
When he arrived outside the Shunyi Palace, Qi You saw a group of people standing there from afar.
He felt something in his heart and sighed secretly. It had indeed come.
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