Kangxi sneered inwardly—these were the ministers who always lamented poverty.
He was kind-hearted, opening the treasury to lend money to struggling ministers, yet these very men borrowed more than anyone.
Now, making them pay out money was like cutting flesh from their own bodies.
Yet, ironically, they were the least short of money.
He silently raised his cup and smiled, “I understand the sincerity of all my ministers. With you as the pillars of the court serving the nation, Jungar is nothing to fear. They will be swept away by the Great Qing’s iron cavalry sooner or later!”
Everyone immediately stood, knelt, raised their cups, and shouted, “Long live the Emperor!”
Fang He, holding her belly, slowly bowed and sat down, saying, “Everyone need not be anxious. I have made plenty of this. After the Lantern Festival, I will send them as festival gifts to each household.”
Having had their silver taken on New Year’s Day, some muttered quietly.
“After the Lantern Festival, who knows if we can still eat this? If it upsets our stomachs, we won’t be able to afford the Imperial Physician.”
Though whispered, the hall was not large, and many overheard.
Fang He heard it too, then seemingly innocently spoke the evening’s most important news.
“Eh, did I forget to mention? This is made from golden beans, dried and stored for a year without spoiling. The colder the storage, the longer it keeps. With the right ingredients and broth, I guarantee the flavor won’t change.”
Silence fell over the hall.
A few breaths later, Fuquan, Changning, Mingzhu, Tong Guogang… even Yinzhi who had followed the campaign, all stood up in astonishment.
The cabinet ministers responsible for disaster relief were a step slower but also stood, faces flushed with excitement.
One person was so abrupt that they spilled their wine all over themselves but paid no mind, all glaring fiercely at Kangxi.
“Your Majesty, is this for real?!
Potatoes with such high yields and easy preservation are far more practical than ordinary grain, whether for war supplies or disaster relief.”
“If true, once promoted, this golden bean will truly live up to its name, worth more than gold!”
Kangxi laughed heartily, “Would the Consort and I lie to you?”
Seeing several elder ministers almost faint with excitement, Kangxi didn’t mention that the golden sweet potato could also be preserved this way, and its yield was even higher than the golden bean.
He was the first to speak, “Let us not discuss it today. In a few days, I will take you to the manor to see it with your own eyes.”
“Then, you may draft proposals for discussion at court.”
Everyone wished they could rush to the manor now, but knowing the timing was wrong, they restrained their excitement and sat back down to continue eating and drinking.
Yet, no one’s thoughts remained on the food.
Their eyes on the golden bean dishes and desserts were as fixed as a wolf’s on a beautiful maiden, unable to look away.
When the banquet ended, Kangxi, worried about Fang He walking around at night with her big belly, kept her and the sleeping little Jiujiu in Qianqing Palace.
Before bed that night, Kangxi gently caressed Fang He’s belly, his expression unusually tender.
“The New Year’s Eve banquet and the golden grain are your achievements. I will not let you suffer losses.”
Fang He yawned, smiling politely, “I didn’t discover it myself, I was just craving it. In the future, find more delicious things for me to try.”
Kangxi chuckled and nibbled her nose, “Tell me, what else did the merchant say?”
Fang He: “……”
“He also said that if a person can’t sleep, they will go bald! Eating too much vinegar will also cause baldness! Sleep! The vinegar just won’t stop!”
Kangxi: “…..”
Watching Fang He turn over on her soft, plump pillow, back to him, Kangxi was both amused and helpless.
He lightly tapped the rounded belly supported by the pillow.
“I’m thinking that when we go south next year, I’ll have someone gather more information. If you hear anything else, I’ll have them fetch it.”
“If you’re not willing…”
‘Hmm?’
Fang He’s eyes lit up immediately—her tomatoes and tomato sauce still hadn’t appeared!
Like a little turtle trapped in a shell, she hugged the pillow and turned back, grabbing Kangxi’s hand and placing it on her belly, her eyes twinkling in the dim canopy.
“Search, then?”
“I haven’t heard anything else, but… the little treasure in my belly says he likes red, round fruits. You should have someone find some.”
Kangxi laughed softly, gently biting her lips.
“Didn’t he tell you not to say nonsense in front of his father?”
They exchanged a kiss that made breaths falter, their quiet rustling lasting a while before settling.
After Fang He fell into a deep sleep, Kangxi rose and carried her to a warmer chamber, calling the Imperial Physician to check her pulse.
Though no serious intervention was needed, the Book of Essential Obstetrics advised that pregnant women should avoid too much excitement to prevent premature labor.
It was only a little over six months.
If not for Fang He’s complaints, Kangxi wouldn’t dare take any chances.
Only after confirming her safety did Kangxi hold Fang He from behind and drift off to sleep.
***
After the Lantern Festival, many disaster victims from the northern and southern parts of the capital were settled near the Imperial Manor to start farming.
When Concubine Jing sent personnel to arrange accommodations, a few eunuchs nearly fought with servants from noble households.
Many wanted to plant the golden grain but lacked manpower to till the land.
With just a few meals provided, they could recruit a strong laborer, much better than buying labor, and also gain a good reputation for charity before the Emperor.
Upon learning this, Concubine Jing immediately had the eunuchs raise the daily wages on the spot.
The copper coins the disaster victims could earn each day jumped from three to thirty, after which all positions were quickly filled.
For the displaced, warm shelter, food, and pay were like manna from heaven.
Braving snow and cold was nothing compared to living in shacks, starving until weak.
They would rather be dead tired and full than starving.
The eunuchs began raising wages, and through the disaster sites, commoners learned these eunuchs were dispatched by Noble Consort Zhaoyuan.
For a time, many at home set up longevity tablets in Fang He’s honor.
Even those who reluctantly paid thirty copper coins to the nobles for labor silently remembered Noble Consort Zhaoyuan’s kindness.
Without her, these nobles would treat the victims like cattle, not caring if they ate.
January was bitterly cold, and land clearing was slow.
But by March, as more poor people joined for food and wages, not only the Imperial Manor but also the nobles’ estates, tens of square li of land were cultivated.
To promote the golden grain, empty words were insufficient.
The people feared officials as tigers and listened only when not involved with their fields.
Their grain was their life; if their lives were at stake, they would resist any new crop.
Even officials drafting regulations doubted such high yields.
So initially, the grain was only planted in the Imperial Manor, nearby wastelands, and suburban villages.
Once yields proved fruitful and word spread, the people would willingly plant it without much effort.
That year, Kangxi did not visit the Temple of Agriculture for the spring plowing rites.
Instead, he led the civil and military officials and princes to the first village near the capital to plant the golden grain.
This village, known as Laodie Village due to its many elderly, was skilled in farming and had no shortage of grain.
In previous dynasties, a successful imperial scholar and official came from here, so no one dared openly oppress the villagers, and life was fairly good.
Under the current dynasty, being Han Chinese, the villagers were often exploited by Manchu nobles, and life was difficult.
Hearing it was the Emperor’s order, the village chief gritted his teeth and agreed, preparing for a possible crop failure, hoping only to keep his land.
But no one expected the Emperor himself to come and farm.
On the day of the plowing ceremony, Kangxi wore a simple robe, tied his queue around his neck, and after kindly consulting the seasoned farmers, worked diligently for most of the day.
With the Emperor working hard, who among the officials dared to idle?
From morning till noon, the villagers couldn’t get a single task; all were done by the officials.
The villagers were shocked and moved, some even amused to see the officials suffering.
They never dreamed they would see the officials sweat over farm work.
Kangxi had long cared about people’s livelihoods, having researched how to increase rice yields at the hot springs palace manor.
The villagers felt happier watching Kangxi work even more skillfully than the officials, admiring and respecting him all the more.
When Kangxi left the village, crowds from surrounding settlements knelt along the countryside, shouting “Long live the Emperor!” in waves that could be heard for over two li.
Kangxi returned to the palace satisfied, and after washing, planned to capitalize on the people’s good impression and promote the golden grain in more villages near the capital.
He had already decided who would be responsible.
The Crown Prince’s maternal grandfather was eagerly waiting for another chance from the Emperor.
Kangxi’s lunch consisted of mashed golden beans steamed in the fields with salt sprinkled on top, shared with the commoners.
The large pot stew wasn’t tasty, so he ate little.
At this point, he ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare several snack plates, intending to settle matters before returning to Yanxi Palace to have lunch with Fang He.
“Send for Mingzhu, Zhang Yushu, and Chen Tingjing…”
Before he finished, Li Dequan rushed in anxiously.
“Your Majesty, the Noble Consort has gone into labor!”
Kangxi was stunned for a moment, then strode out quickly.
While hurrying to Yanxi Palace, he ordered, “Have Zhang Ziqin follow immediately and station guards at Yanxi Palace’s gates. No one may enter or leave without my order!”
Didn’t the Imperial Physician say there were still over ten days?
Why did labor start so soon?
A few hundred meters from Yanxi Palace, Qi Sanfu came running, panting.
“Your Majesty, Fuqin has also gone into labor!”
Fuqin had conceived around the same time as Fang He, even a few days later—this timing was certainly remarkable.
Kangxi’s gaze darkened slightly, but his pace did not slow as he ordered Liang Jiugong:
“Go to Changchun Palace and inform Consort Hui to stay by the prince’s side, and have Lu Wuning go as well.”
Liang Jiugong sighed silently, bowed, and ran toward Changchun Palace.
Previously, when Fang He criticized Consort Hui and her son, Emperor Kangxi ordered the Imperial Physician to examine Consort Hui’s daughter-in-law, Fuqin, who was diagnosed with a weak constitution, subtly reproaching Consort Hui and her son.
For a time, Consort Hui treated Fuqin coldly.
Knowing Fuqin’s health was poor, Yinzhi had even stopped Fuqin’s miscarriage-preventing tonic to ease their strained relationship.
When Kangxi received news of Fuqin’s pregnancy in northern Mongolia, he cursed Yinzhi for his ignorance.
If Fuqin gave birth to a princess, damaging her health, it would bring ridicule both inside and outside the palace.
But since she was already pregnant, Kangxi did not openly mention it to Fang He, only instructing her to have someone watch over Fuqin carefully.
Not only because Fuqin carried royal blood, but also because if a royal child miscarried while the army was on campaign, it would be inauspicious.
Fang He assigned the matter to Gu Wenxing, who handled affairs reliably, caring well for Fuqin through her full nine months.
Now that Fang He was about to give birth, Fuqin suddenly went into labor early as well, both premature by many days—obviously not normal.
Liang Jiugong understood clearly: Consort Hui and her son had been holding their breath too long.
Now that Suo’etu was suppressed, it was a good opportunity for the eldest prince to assert himself.
It was likely Consort Hui and the eldest prince were watching Yanxi Palace closely, hoping the eldest son would be born first to overshadow the Crown Prince and Noble Consort’s child.
The harem was about to stir again.