The Virtuous Concubine

Upon hearing this, Emperor Kangxi nodded slightly, with a hint of relief in his eyes. He gently stroked Malu's shoulder and said softly: "I hope so too. My descendants should naturally inherit my will and contribute to the prosperity of the Qing Dynasty."

After talking for a while, Kangxi felt hungry again. How could Malu not notice it? She kept saying that she was hungry and the child was hungry too, and asked Bai Xia and Bai Fu to go directly to the imperial kitchen to bring some dishes. But that was not all. She also asked Dachun to bring the fourth prince over to eat with her.

Malu's proposal was thoughtful and natural, so Kangxi had no reason not to agree. While the eunuch was testing the poison, Kangxi looked at the dishes on the table. The dishes were of course extremely sumptuous, half of which were his daily dishes as an emperor, and the other half were either simple or novel, probably dishes that this little woman had thought up.

In the middle are several main dishes. One is "Gold and Jade", which is a delicacy made with abalone, sea cucumber, scallop and other seafood as the main ingredients, symbolizing wealth and good fortune. Another is "Dragon Soaring Across the Sea", which uses the best East China Sea lobsters with carefully prepared sauces and is also beautifully presented.

However, most of these dishes were what Kangxi had been eating for more than a decade, so Kangxi didn't even look at them. Seeing Malu holding a bowl of jade white jade soup and drinking it slowly, he smiled and said, "You are being too simple."

Malu swallowed the soup in his mouth, put down the bowl, wiped his mouth, and then answered Kangxi slowly: "This spinach is the first crop of vegetables grown behind the Yonghe Palace. Only the heart is taken. Where in the world can you find a palace master who can grow such vegetables for you? I think it is too extravagant. It only grows a soup like this in a quarter."

Kangxi was also surprised when he heard this: "You really did it yourself?"

Ma Lu nodded as a matter of course: "Why would I go through so much trouble to ask the emperor to give me a piece of land if I don't do it myself? Every meal should be appreciated as it is not easy to come by; every piece of cloth should be remembered as it is not easy to produce. When Xiao Si'er grows up, he will have to work in the fields for me, he can't be lazy and ignorant! I just don't know when I can eat the vegetables he grows for me."

Kangxi was deeply moved by these words. He looked at Malu with a different look. He smiled and responded, "Every meal should be appreciated as it is not easy to come by; every piece of cloth should be cherished as it is not easy to make... Well said, well said! With a wife like this, what more can a husband ask for! I am also looking forward to the day when I can taste the vegetables grown by Xiao Si'er herself."

Ma Lu smiled contentedly when she heard this: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. I am just doing my duty as a concubine and a mother." This sentence was posted on the wall of her university cafeteria. She saw it every day while eating. It was almost engraved in her genes. She didn't expect that a casual remark today would move Kangxi so much. Could this be the unique charm of simple socialist values?

Kangxi held Malu's hand with great emotion and said affectionately: "It is my blessing to have a concubine like you. Only you deserve the title of virtue! I was not wrong about you."

The Fourth Prince on the side waved his small spoon and kept saying, "De! De! De!", which made everyone laugh. Kangxi looked over and saw that the Fourth Prince had actually started eating by himself? However, he had never seen this thing on any prince's table.

Kangxi frowned when he saw this. He asked Malu in dissatisfaction: "Yinzhen eats by himself? Where is the wet nurse? Where are the palace servants? What do they eat?" In the Qing Dynasty palace, some princes were breastfed until they were three years old, because the Manchus believed that breast milk was very nutritious. At the same time, they would not let the princes walk, and they would be held in their arms wherever they went, not to mention eating and dressing by themselves.

Seeing that the emperor was a little angry, Malu thought that men really like to be instructive. She only raised one child and thought her experience was absolutely correct! However, she still maintained a peaceful smile and explained, "Your Majesty, this is specially prepared for Xiao Si'er. Although he is young, he is very strong. The three or five ordinary palace maids and wet nurses can't stop him or feed him. I think that letting him learn to eat by himself can not only exercise his hands-on ability, but also cultivate his independence. It is not a good thing to rely too much on servants."

Kangxi was silent for a moment after listening to Malu's explanation. He looked at the clumsy but hardworking Fourth Prince and felt a little emotional. He subconsciously wanted to refute Malu's unique way of education, but the Fourth Prince was indeed healthier and more lively than the other princes.

"Okay," Kangxi finally spoke, with a hint of helplessness and compromise in his tone, "Although I don't completely agree, I have also seen the results. But you must not lose the rules and decency. You can ask the imperial physician more before doing anything."

Ma Lu was delighted when she heard this. She knew that the emperor had tacitly approved of her parenting style and given her the power. She replied respectfully, "I understand. I will take good care of Xiao Si'er and will not let him suffer any grievances."

Kangxi nodded, and his eyes fell on the Fourth Prince again. He felt that he liked this son even more. What a chubby boy! The Fourth Prince seemed to have sensed something, and took another bite of the egg custard with a spoon to show Kangxi. His expression was both serious and cute, which made Kangxi smile slightly.

Seeing that Yinzhen could eat independently and didn't need to worry about anything, Kangxi stopped caring about him and started eating. However, Kangxi ate more of Malu's dishes, while Malu took the opportunity to eat those luxurious dishes that were impossible to have in her own portion. After eating, both of them were very satisfied with the meal.

The final result was that both of them ate too much and had to walk around outside the Yonghe Palace to digest the food. On the contrary, Yinzhen seemed to be very restrained. He only finished the egg custard and vegetable cheese in his bowl, put down the spoon, and let the wet nurse carry him back to sleep.

Kangxi and Malu walked side by side, strolling in the flower path. The moonlight was like water, the flowers were fragrant, and the vegetables in the fields of Yonghe Palace were growing well. Malu even pointed out the vegetables one by one to Kangxi. Kangxi really felt that at this moment, the years were peaceful and good. However, he had to leave today because he had turned over Concubine Tong's sign.

Malu was not angry after hearing this, she just straightened Kangxi's collar. The gentle action seemed to soothe all the sorrows in the world. Kangxi looked at Malu's focused look and said nothing, but his heart was like a spring breeze blowing over the lake, rippling layers of water. When Liang Jiugong made some noises beside him, reminding him that time was running out, he suppressed the surging emotions in his heart and said to Malu: "I'm leaving, I'll come to see you and the child another day when I have time."

Malu raised her head, her eyes showing deep attachment, and she forced a fragile smile: "Your Majesty, please rest assured. I will take good care of Xiao Si'er and will wait for Your Majesty every day."

Kangxi felt that he couldn't stay any longer, so he turned around and left. Malu stood there quietly, watching Kangxi's figure gradually disappear into the night, feeling a little desolate in her heart. It was the same every time, waiting for him to be summoned or come over, then racking her brains to please him, and then watching him leave.

Malu shook his head to get rid of this inexplicable feeling, and let Bai Xia help him back to the main hall of Yonghe Palace to lie down. He stayed awake all night.