On the day Yongqi wanted to leave the palace to see Liu Qing and Liu Hong, he went to the Imperial Study early in the morning with Xiao Yanzi to wait for class. After finally getting through get out of class, he grabbed Xiao Yanzi and ran towards Qianlong. Qing'er and the Fu brothers knew that Yongqi was up to something again, and they chased after him without hesitation.

When Emperor Qianlong saw the children gathering around again, he knew something was definitely up!

He put his hands behind his back, looked down at Yongqi and the others, and asked, "Yongqi, tell me, what's going on this time?"

Yongqi looked up at Qianlong and said, "Father, I'd like to leave the palace after my afternoon classes. I have important business to attend to!"

"Oh? Tell me about it."

"Father, I told you before that Xiao Yanzi would be leaving the palace in a year, so I prepared two capable assistants for her to protect her safety after she leaves the palace. Today, I'm taking Xiao Yanzi to see the training results and to let her get to know some people!"

Fu Erkang understood and stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, Ertai and I both know about this matter. It was the Fifth Prince who asked us to have people train those two capable assistants. I think the Fifth Prince is right. If we want those two to protect Xiao Yanzi, we need to let them meet each other before making a decision. If they are not suitable, we can replace them in time!"

Emperor Qianlong nodded, indicating that what they said made sense. Then he looked at Qing'er, who was standing next to Xiao Yanzi, and asked, "What about Qing'er? Are you going to join in the fun too?"

Qing'er quickly nodded and replied, "Your Majesty, ever since I started attending classes with Xiao Yanzi and the others, I've really enjoyed being with everyone. Please let me go along too; I'd like to meet those two capable assistants."

Emperor Qianlong laughed and said, "Since you all want to go, then you can all go. But as I always say, safety comes first!"

Yongqi quickly kowtowed and said, "Thank you, Father Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Emperor Qianlong pretended to be serious and said, "Don't rush to thank me. If you children do worse in the next assessment than before, you won't be able to leave so easily!"

"Father, rest assured, I will absolutely not neglect my studies, nor will I let them neglect them!"

"That would be best. I will return to the Qianqing Palace now, and you may all return as well!"

"Yes! Your subject respectfully sees off Father Emperor!" After everyone watched Qianlong depart, Qing'er smiled and said, "It's great, I can leave the palace again with you all!"

Fu Ertai sighed, "Although my home is outside the palace and I go in and out of the palace every day, it's still more interesting to go out with the Fifth Prince!"

“Ertai is right, and we don’t usually have that much time to go out…”

Hearing Fu Erkang's words, Yongqi muttered to himself, "If you don't have that much time to go out, then where did you find the four secret bases?"

Yongqi laughed and said, "Alright, let's cut to the chase and go eat and change our clothes first, then we'll go to the archery range to continue training."

"Alright, then Ertai and I will go to Consort Ling's place. My mother has something for me to tell her!"

"In that case, how about we go to Yanxi Palace for a meal?" Yongqi's words surprised everyone. Why would he go to Yanxi Palace for a free meal instead of going back to his own Yonghe Palace?

Yongqi explained, "After all, Consort Ling helped us, so we still have to go and see her!"

In their past life, Consort Ling also helped them wholeheartedly. Even though she didn't know the truth about the real and fake princesses, she was willing to protect Xiao Yanzi and believed that Xiao Yanzi had no ill intentions. Therefore, he was also willing to get close to Consort Ling. Besides, what's wrong with letting Xiao Yanzi have another mother to love her?

"Alright, let's all go then." The group walked together towards Consort Ling's Yanxi Palace. Lamei, Dongxue, and the others were surprised to see Yongqi and the others arrive at Yanxi Palace, and quickly went to report to Consort Ling. When Consort Ling learned that they had come to Yanxi Palace, she quickly came out of the palace. "Fifth Prince, Qing'er, why are you all here?"

"Erkang was ordered to come in. Xiaoyanzi and I wanted to see you..."

“Qing’er has been following them around these past few days. Since they were coming, Qing’er naturally came along to see them as well.”

"I see. Then everyone, let's go to the restaurant. We're about to have our meal. Wax Plum and Winter Snow, please bring more bowls and chopsticks!"

"Yes!" Lamei and Dongxue went to add more bowls and chopsticks. After everyone was seated in the dining room, Consort Ling looked at Fu Erkang and asked, "Erkang, what message does your mother want you to deliver?"

Although everyone in the hall was one of their own, Fu Erkang still whispered a few words in Consort Ling's ear. After listening, Consort Ling glanced at Xiao Yanzi without changing her expression, and then smiled and said, "Go back and tell your mother that I have remembered what she said!"

"Everyone, please eat. Little Swallow, I remember you really liked eating these buns before."

The steamed buns that Consort Ling mentioned were the ones Yongqi bought for Xiao Yanzi on the day she met him. After she entered the palace, she still wanted to eat those steamed buns, so Yongqi simply paid the vendor to come to the palace and make steamed buns for Xiao Yanzi.

"I never expected Your Highness to notice!" Xiao Yanzi exclaimed in disbelief that Consort Ling would remember her fondness for steamed buns. "Thank you so much!"

Consort Ling smiled and said, "Although I know you like to eat, I still don't know why you like to eat this bun. Is there any story behind it?"

Little Swallow glanced at everyone present, a little shy, and smiled, "Actually, it's nothing much. It's just that the day I met Yongqi, he bought me those steamed buns. At that moment, I felt that those steamed buns were the most delicious thing I had ever eaten in my life. So I often crave them afterward, like reliving the feeling of Yongqi suddenly rushing out to help me out that day..."

When she was at her wit's end and in her most distressed moment, Yongqi suddenly appeared and, like a hero, took her home. He didn't make her do any hard labor; he simply allowed her to study in the classroom like other men and to ride horses and shoot arrows like men. She felt that meeting Yongqi was already an incredible stroke of luck.

But in the days that followed, Yongqi showed her through his actions that there would be many more lucky days like this in the future!

However, there were always rumors circulating in the palace, and Consort Yu would occasionally worry. She could see it, and she understood it. If she wanted to stay by Yongqi's side for a long time, if she wanted to gain respect from others, and if she wanted to control her own destiny, she had to become stronger. Only when she became stronger would those rumors that slandered her and mocked Yongqi gradually dissipate...

Although this path will be very difficult, and she may even encounter various misunderstandings, she is willing to work hard. She does it not only so that she can walk side by side with Yongqi, but also so that people with the same background as her in the Qing Dynasty and even the world can live a good life and not have to become despicable thieves like she did!

Hearing Xiao Yanzi's words, everyone felt a mixture of envy and emotion. Consort Ling said, "Fifth Prince, Xiao Yanzi, no matter how others see you, I support you and have high hopes for you. I hope you can bring us a miracle!"

As she spoke, Consort Ling had someone pour her a cup of wine, saying, "This cup is for you all!"

Qing'er and the Fu brothers also raised their glasses to Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi, "We toast you with tea instead of wine! We wish you well and hope that your wishes will come true!"