Chapter 74: Concubine
The days spent in the garden passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye it was already April. Since the day when Concubine Yi came to visit, no one had visited Qingxi Study.
Concubine Yi would occasionally send a few plates of snacks to Yuying. As Concubine Yi sent more and more snacks, Yuying would return them once or twice. The two of them kept on sending snacks back and forth, and they had a little face-to-face relationship with each other.
At least at the next palace banquet, Yuying can go and talk to Concubine Yi.
Yuying has been busy growing vegetables in Qingxi Book House recently.
Yes, grow sweet potatoes, potatoes, corn and tomatoes.
She just happened to remember that the cultivation of these staple foods seemed to have been promoted during the Qianlong period, and the population of the Qing Dynasty even doubled during the Qianlong period.
So Yuying specifically asked Kangxi to find these things for her, intending to try growing them herself. If she could grow them successfully, she would give them to Kangxi. After all, it would help to reduce the number of people who would starve to death.
As for the tomatoes?
This was not something Yuying asked Kangxi to find.
Discovering tomatoes was a pleasant surprise for Yuying, because they were grown in the garden, but no one had ever eaten them, they were just grown there as ornamental plants.
Yuying exclaimed that it was a waste of natural resources, and that scrambled eggs with tomatoes were so delicious! So she quickly asked someone to plant a few more in the courtyard of Qingxi Book House, along with the other plants.
Today, Yuying came to check the growth of these crops.
The sweet potatoes have only been planted for a few days, so nothing can be seen yet. But the other crops have been planted for almost a month and have entered the growth period, with rapid growth every day.
Yuying carefully instructed the eunuch to fertilize, water and weed on time. Seeing the crops growing lushly, Yuying was already imagining the day when she could eat roasted sweet potatoes and corn this winter.
When Kangxi arrived with an obvious smile on his face, Yuying was still grinning foolishly.
Seeing Yuying standing in front of her land again, Kangxi's smile deepened.
When Yuying asked for these things, Kangxi had already learned the yield of these crops from Yuying's thoughts.
Kangxi asked people to find seeds, most of which were planted in the imperial farm, and a small portion was given to Yuying.
"Aying!" Kangxi's voice could not hide his excitement.
Yuying came back to her senses and looked at Kangxi, "Your Majesty is so happy today?"
"Aying, do you still remember the matter of seedling cultivation that you mentioned to me that day?" Kangxi did not answer, but turned to ask Yuying.
"Remember, what's wrong?"
"Today is the day for planting those rice seedlings. Ah Ying, would you like to go with me to see it?"
Of course Yuying agreed! She also wanted to see if it would work.
As if sensing Yuying's lack of confidence, Kangxi said, "I've checked, the rice seedlings are growing very well, don't worry, Yuying."
Hearing what Kangxi said, Yuying felt a little relieved.
The rice fields were right next to Changchun Garden. After a while, Kangxi brought Yuying to the rice fields.
There were bunches of rice seedlings everywhere in the fields, and they were indeed growing very well, strong and green, just as Kangxi had said.
Farmers have already started planting in the fields.
Looking at this busy scene, perhaps there will be a good harvest in autumn.
The farmers thought so too. At that time, the people blindly worshipped the emperor. Looking at this unusual sowing method and the strong seedlings, they seemed to have seen the heavy ears of corn in autumn.
Thinking of this, Yuying couldn't help but ask: "Your Majesty, by the time the harvest comes, will we have returned to the Forbidden City?"
Kangxi calculated the date and it was indeed the time.
Yuying was visibly disappointed, and Kangxi could not help but comfort her: "If you want to see a good harvest, I will let you live in the garden longer next year."
Yuying still refused to give up, "Your Majesty, can you go back when the time comes? Leave me here?"
Kangxi naturally disagreed, "What nonsense is Ah Ying talking about? Ah Ying naturally wants to be with me. Moreover, when I return to the palace this time, I want to make Ah Ying a concubine."
"Ah?" Yuying exclaimed.
Yuying turned to look at Kangxi, "Your Majesty, what did you say?"
Kangxi looked back and said, "I said I plan to make Ah Ying a concubine."
Yuying hesitated, she didn't know whether Kangxi was joking or serious. After all, they were standing on the edge of the field, and they were just discussing returning to the palace, but suddenly they talked about the appointment of concubines. Kangxi was too casual!
So, Yuying said, "Is what the emperor said true? But what's the reason? If you make her a concubine without a reason, will the harem agree? Will the Empress Dowager agree?"
Yuying looked at Kangxi in embarrassment, hoping that he could give her an accurate answer. After all, she didn't want to get into trouble because of her promotion.
"What Ah Ying has done is for the country and the people. Isn't it worth being a concubine? Or does Ah Ying feel wronged and blame me for bringing this up so late?"
Hearing Kangxi say this, Yuying quickly shook her head. How could Kangxi misinterpret someone's meaning? She was clearly afraid of trouble, but Kangxi said that she was dissatisfied with her low position?
In all conscience, who would dare to complain that the rank of a concubine is too low? Concubine An has been in the palace for so many years and she is only a concubine. How could Kangxi just promise her this?
What's more, she really didn't do anything, so she couldn't help feeling guilty about getting the position of concubine.
But seeing that Kangxi seemed serious, Yuying put away her wild thoughts, "If I am given the title of concubine, will I not be able to live in Changchun Palace?"
"Aying, do you want Changchun Palace to be your palace?" Kangxi looked at Yuying, as if as long as Yuying agreed, he could vacate Changchun Palace for Yuying to move in.
"No, no, no, I'm just asking." Yuying quickly denied.
Kangxi nodded.
There are only two palaces in the palace with vacant seats, Jingren Palace and Yongshou Palace. Jingren Palace was where Kangxi lived when he was young. Since the death of Empress Xiaokangzhang, Jingyang Palace has not been inhabited for a long time, but was used as a library by Kangxi. Occasionally, Kangxi would go there to take a look, also to commemorate Empress Xiaokangzhang.
Therefore, after much thought, it seems that only Yongshou Palace is the most suitable place for Ah Ying to live in. Thinking of this, Kangxi couldn't help but ask: "What do you think of Yongshou Palace, Ah Ying?"
Yuying followed Kangxi's thoughts and recalled Yongshou Palace.
I heard that the Yongshou Palace was built very magnificently in the past, after all, it was where Emperor Shunzhi's concubine Dong E lived. But after Emperor Kangxi ascended the throne, the Yongshou Palace was almost abandoned, and only a few concubines with no names lived there.
Thinking of Dong Efei, Yuying couldn't help but think of the Empress Dowager again, so she hesitated and tried to remind Kangxi, "Yongshou Palace, is it suitable for me to live there?"
Kangxi seemed to have thought of this as well, and said, "Don't be afraid, Ah Ying. I have my own plans, and I will definitely not make things difficult for you."
After the conversation, the two turned their attention back to the rice fields. Unconsciously, the rice planting had come to an end. In the whole rice field, the rice seedlings were arranged in an orderly manner, making people look forward to a good harvest.
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