"So, what do you say?" Little Swallow pinned Yongqi to the ground. "Who's stronger, you or me?"

"Why don't you try and see?"

The people around dispersed when they heard the commotion inside; it wasn't something they could hear!

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Days passed by, and later the Third Prince Yongzhang fell seriously ill.

"Third Brother, how are you feeling?" Yongqi sat anxiously by Yongzhang's bedside.

Yongzhang shook his head helplessly, "Not good at all. On the contrary, I heard that Annam is going to fight our Great Qing..."

Yongqi frowned and asked, "Who relayed this news to you?"

Seeing that Yongqi was angry, Yongzhang advised, "Your actions are so significant, it's hard not to know. It's just a pity that I can't be with you to share Father Emperor's burdens..."

"Third Brother, you should focus on getting better. We brothers can handle these things."

Fifth brother, I really envy you.

Upon hearing Yongzhang's words, Yongqi did not speak immediately but remained silent.

Yongzhang continued, "Fifth brother, from childhood to adulthood, you have always been the most outstanding one. I have been jealous of you, and I have hated you..."

"But later, you brought Xiao Yanzi back to the palace. After that, you smiled more and more, and your actions became bolder and bolder. But Father Emperor showed no dissatisfaction with your behavior. At that time, I knew that Father Emperor had made his decision..."

“I envy you for being appreciated, loved, and valued by Father Emperor, even though I know it is what you deserve.”

"I envy you having a wife like Xiao Yanzi by your side. Everything she does is for you and for the Qing Dynasty. It's not just me; all of us brothers envy you and your marriage, which allows you to make your own decisions..."

“My mother used to say that being a member of the royal family, or even an emperor, is not an easy thing. As an ordinary person, you might be able to marry a woman who loves you back. But for a member of the royal family, feelings are the most useless thing, and also the most precious thing…”

"Fifth brother, I've watched you and Xiao Yanzi get to where you are today, and I'm truly happy for you, but I'm also worried about you."

"I hope you remember your original aspiration. Even if you eventually ascend the throne and become emperor, do not forget who you were originally and why you became emperor."

"If you betray Xiao Yanzi, I will never forgive you..."

Yongqi looked up at Yongzhang in disbelief, "Third Brother, you..."

Yongzhang sighed, “She’s so lovely, so smart, so brave and strong, who wouldn’t like her? But I know that you are the only one in her heart and eyes, so I support you and wish you well. I also hope that you will both be well while I’m away.”

"Fifth brother, please call Father and the others in..."

After the brothers finished their conversation, Yongzhang left his time to Qianlong and the others.

"Father, I'm too weak to stay with my fifth brother and continue to share your burdens..."

"Father, I did something wrong before. I thought you would never look at me again, but I didn't expect you would still care about me. It's just that..."

"Yongzhang, don't say that..."

"Father, I have two requests for you."

Emperor Qianlong nodded. "Yongzhang, you speak."

"The first thing I need to ask is for Father Emperor to send more people to look after Fourth Sister and Yongrong. Mother is gone, and I'm leaving soon too. I'm worried about them..."

Emperor Qianlong nodded repeatedly, "Don't worry, they are both my children, and I will make sure they are well protected."

"The second thing is that the love story of Fifth Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law is so beautiful. Please, Father Emperor, protect them and do not let outsiders have the opportunity to destroy their relationship!"

Emperor Qianlong was also surprised that Yongzhang's second task was to protect Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi's love.

"I promise you, I will not allow anyone to destroy them!"

"Third Brother, Third Brother..." Yongrong, who had been traveling, finally returned. "Third Brother, look at me..."

"Sixth brother, you are a year older than fourth sister. You'll have to take good care of her from now on."

"Third brother is really tired and needs to go find Mother before you all..."

"Third Brother, Third Brother, wake up! Please wake up and look at me!" Fourth Princess knelt before Yongzhang's bedside, crying her heart out, but Yongzhang could no longer hear her...

After Yongzhang's death, Emperor Qianlong posthumously conferred upon him the title of Prince of the Second Rank.

Little Swallow was a little sad, "Third Brother is the same age as my brother, how come Third Brother is so..."

Yongqi sighed, "Father's children, some died right after birth, some died not long after birth, and some, like my third brother, died young..."

"Perhaps this is the fate of royalty. The Holy Ancestor Emperor had so many children, but how many of them survived?"

"However, Little Swallow, with you by my side, I will definitely try to live a few more years. I want to be your protector forever, and I want to watch Mianhua and Mianyao grow up and see them get married..."

Little Swallow nodded. "Promise me you'll behave well from now on and won't cause any more trouble!"

She dared not imagine what she would become if Yongqi were no longer in her world.

Although she will be sad when Yongqi changes his mind, she will turn around and leave gracefully. Apart from not loving him anymore, she will support him to continue being emperor, unless he can't even be a good emperor!

If Yongqi is gone, no one will protect her anymore! No one will be there to say to her, "Don't be afraid, I'm here, everything will be alright!"

She dared not think any further and could only hold Yongqi tightly in front of her.

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Because of Yongzhang's passing, Xia Ziwei's birthday on the second day of the eighth lunar month was not celebrated in a grand manner; instead, everyone simply held a small private gathering.

Yongqi sighed, "Third Brother is gone, and Father Emperor has been in a bad mood. It seems that the surprise we prepared will have to be put on hold for now."

"Then we can do it next year." Little Swallow didn't think it was a big problem. "We'll all be fine, so next year we'll definitely be able to give Father Emperor an unforgettable birthday!"

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Yongzhang's Memories:

The day I first met Xiao Yanzi was when Yongqi brought her to the Imperial Study.

That day, we were all stunned when we heard Xiao Yanzi call Yongqi by his name.

Xiao Yanzi was a late learner, but with Yongqi tutoring her, she didn't fall behind in class.

I don't even know when I started liking Little Swallow.

Perhaps it was when she saw Xiao Yanzi hear others talking about her and bravely slap the person three times;

Perhaps it was that day, because my writing didn't meet my father's expectations, that I was scolded by him. When I went back to my mother to complain, instead of comforting me, she joined my father in scolding me. I hid in a corner of the palace, sulking...

Little Swallow came over to me and said, “The Emperor is the Emperor, but he is also a father. He is strict with you because he wants the best for you, Third Prince. You can be angry when the Emperor scolds you, but you can’t misunderstand his good intentions.”

“You still have a father who can teach you and scold you, but I don’t even know who my father is or where he is.”

"If my father could scold me like the Emperor scolded you, I'd be overjoyed..."

"Third Prince, your father and mother are still alive and well in this world. You should cherish them."

"Because there are many people in this world like me who lost their parents at a young age. It's so hard for people like us to live in this world..."

Seeing that her eyes and heart were full of Yongqi, I felt both envious and jealous.

My mother sensed what was on my mind and asked me why I didn't try harder.

I said to my mother, "How can I, an outsider, destroy the relationship between Xiao Yanzi and Fifth Brother? Besides, they are both so good to me, and they always share good things with me. How can I do something that would betray them and hurt them?"

I won't say anything. Fifth Brother is still Fifth Brother, and Little Swallow is still Little Swallow. We can still be close family.

But if we tell them, we can't be the same as before.

Little Swallow, since I can't be with you, then I'll spend the rest of my life protecting your love with Fifth Brother.

Unfortunately, fate will not give me this chance again. Fifth brother, promise me that you will love her well, take good care of her, and not let her down!