The arrival of Emperor Qianlong and the Empress Dowager made everyone very nervous.

With two towering mountains watching from above, their hearts were in their throats, fearing they might be scolded by them at any moment!

Fortunately, the Empress Dowager and Emperor Qianlong were really just background figures.

They just sat there quietly watching, without interfering with their class.

An hour passed quickly, and Ji Xiaolan said, "Alright, that's all for today's lesson. Everyone, you may all leave now."

However, although Ji Xiaolan said he could step down, neither Emperor Qianlong nor the Empress Dowager had made a statement, so the people below dared not take any action.

Emperor Qianlong stood up and slowly said, "Since Xiaolan said get out of class can end, then you may all leave."

When Qianlong said that get out of class could end, the students dared to slowly walk out, leaving only Yongqi, Xiaoyanzi, and Qing'er behind.

"Qing'er, come here." The Empress Dowager stood up and gestured for Qing'er to come to her side. "It seems that sending you here for classes was the right decision!"

She had been worried that Qing'er would be immersed in sadness because of her parents' death, but she didn't expect that with Xiao Yanzi and the others by her side, Qing'er seemed to have become much happier!

Qing'er walked to the Empress Dowager's side and said with a smile, "Empress Dowager, it is Qing'er who should thank you. If you hadn't agreed, Qing'er wouldn't be so happy!"

"Yongqi, Xiaoyanzi, you two come with me to Cining Palace." Emperor Qianlong suddenly spoke, clearly intending to freeload a meal at Cining Palace!

Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi naturally had no problem with it. When the Empress Dowager heard this, she smiled and said, "Alright, since the Emperor has said so, then you two can come along!"

The group followed the Empress Dowager out of the study. As they walked, the Empress Dowager said to Granny Gui, "Granny Gui, go to the Imperial Kitchen now and order the food. Remember to have them bring up the lotus flower pastry that the Emperor likes."

"Yes, I'll go right away!" Granny Gui accepted the order and left.

Then Yongqi looked at Xiao Guizi who was following behind and said, "Xiao Guizi, go back and tell your mother that we are going to Cining Palace to have a meal with the Empress Dowager."

After hearing Yongqi's instructions, Xiao Guizi was about to run towards Yonghe Palace when the Empress Dowager stopped him, saying, "No need to go, Consort Yu is with me!"

When the group arrived at Cining Palace, they found that many concubines were already waiting there. "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager!"

Emperor Qianlong waved his hand and said, "You may all rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Yongqi then stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Greetings to the Empress Dowager! Greetings to all the ladies!"

Little Swallow quickly followed up, saying, "May Your Majesty the Empress be blessed! May Consort Yu be blessed! May all the ladies be blessed!"

"Qing'er greets the Empress and Your Highnesses!"

They had barely arrived at the Cining Palace when their food was brought inside!

The Empress Dowager looked at everyone and said, "Please go and sit in the dining room!"

The group walked towards the restaurant and found their seats.

After everyone was seated, the Empress Dowager spoke, "I called you all here today for two reasons. First, today is the fourth birthday since Yongcong passed away. I know the Emperor is still grieving, so I hope the rest of you will take good care of yourselves and the children, and not let them leave this world at such a young age. Do you understand?"

"Yes!" Consort Shu, who was already pregnant at the moment, was of utmost importance, so she didn't come. However, the Empress Dowager had sent someone to tell her about this matter!

After everyone nodded, the Empress Dowager brought up the second matter, "When Xiao Yanzi entered the palace, Qing'er was about to go to the Imperial Study with her prince. I was thinking, could all the princesses go to the classes together in the future?"

The Empress was the first to object, saying, "Your Majesty, I feel this is inappropriate. Although the princesses and princes are family, the princes also have companions..."

"Those study companions have absolutely nothing to do with the princess!"

"Wouldn't it be a bit... a little... if Gege went to class with them?"

Before the Empress could finish speaking, everyone present already understood the meaning behind her words!

If the princesses and princes attend classes together, even if nothing happens to them, people will spread rumors and make things out of nothing, which will be detrimental to everyone!

Yongqi said, “Your Majesty, you are mistaken. I think that not only should princesses be able to attend classes with princes, but men and women should also be able to attend classes together in the common people’s homes. Even in the imperial court, female officials can be involved! Only in this way can our Great Qing become even stronger!”

"Your Majesty, I remember you really admired heroines like Hua Mulan and Mu Guiying. Why don't you take a look at our own heroines? Aren't they wonderful?"

Emperor Qianlong nodded and smiled, "Yongqi is right! Your Majesty, Empress, I think there's some truth to what Yongqi said!"

Yongqi continued, "As for the matters of etiquette that the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager are worried about, they will not be a problem as long as they are properly arranged!"

Emperor Qianlong was very pleased with what Yongqi said. "Yongqi, it seems you've gained a lot from your two months of traveling incognito outside the palace!"

Yongqi sighed, "Father, Xingchen and Shizhu, the two maids beside Xiaoyanzi, are a case in point. If women were allowed to enter the court, they probably wouldn't be here!"

Seeing that Yongqi had spoken up, and that he was talking about something she was interested in, Xiaoyanzi naturally couldn't hold back any longer. "Yongqi is right, Qing'er, let's study hard and become heroines in the future, okay?"

"Great!" The younger ones were so happy that the Empress Dowager was naturally somewhat persuaded. "Your Majesty, if you really think this will be better for our Great Qing, then you should get started on it!"

"On behalf of all women of the Qing Dynasty, Qing'er thanks the Empress Dowager for granting our request! Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting our request!"

Little Swallow followed up with flattery, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress Dowager!"

Emperor Qianlong, who had been somewhat downcast because of Yongcong, was now much better. "Yongqi," he said, "if you weren't still so young, I would really like to take you with me on an incognito tour. Perhaps you could bring me an even bigger surprise!"

"Father, please don't have too high expectations of me. I'm afraid that once I leave the palace, I'll have so much fun that I won't want to go home!"

"Hahaha, you truly are my son!" Qianlong was increasingly pleased as he listened. He himself was just as happy as anyone else who didn't want to go home after playing outside!

"Let's wait a few more years, until you're a bit older, then I'll take you all out to play!" After saying that, Qianlong added, "At that time, we'll see the beautiful landscape of the Qing Dynasty, and we'll also punish the wicked and eliminate those parasites of the country!"

Yongqi replied, "Yes!"

At this moment, all the dishes were served, and the Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Alright, we can talk about other things later. Let's eat now!"

"Go back and rest after you finish eating. Yongqi and the other two have to go to class this afternoon!"

"Your Majesty, your favorite lotus-shaped pastry..." The Empress Dowager instructed Granny Gui to place the lotus-shaped pastry, which was Qianlong's favorite food, in front of him. Qianlong quickly expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Little Swallow, I've removed all the bones from this, here you go..." Everyone watched as Yongqi meticulously removed the fish bones before handing the fish meat to Little Swallow, their expressions varying...