Time flies, and it has been the thirtieth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign.
The ages of the main characters and their descendants
It's the third day of the Lunar New Year, and the palace is holding its annual camel-jumping competition.
The competition was held in the arena of the Imperial Palace, with Emperor Qianlong and his concubines sitting in the audience.
The approximate distribution of participants in the camel jumping competition
The arena was lined with guards, their flags fluttering in the wind.
Emperor Qianlong sat in the center, with Yongqi on his left and the Empress Dowager on his right.
Xia Ziwei and the other princes and princesses sat to Yongqi's left, while Qing'er accompanied the Empress Dowager. To the Empress Dowager's right were, in order, the Empress, Consort Yu, Consort Ling, Consort Shu, and other concubines.
Before the competition began, beautiful women danced to entertain the audience, which delighted Emperor Qianlong. He remarked, "This annual camel-jumping competition, although it is a Mongolian custom, is one of my favorite things to watch. It is truly unique."
The Empress Dowager laughed and said, "I enjoy watching it too. I doubt anyone dislikes it, right?"
However, Emperor Qianlong suddenly realized that Xiao Yanzi, who loved watching the excitement, was not there. "Strange, why can't I see Xiao Yanzi?"
"Yongqi, is she planning some kind of surprise for me again?"
Yongqi smiled and said, "Father will find out soon enough."
"It seems there really is a surprise in store. I'll be waiting for it."
The martial arts competition began, and the person in charge of the competition was Fu Erkang.
He rode his steed into the arena, followed by many Mongolian warriors dressed in Mongolian attire, who also ran into the arena on horseback.
Upon arriving before Emperor Qianlong, Fu'erkang dismounted, knelt on the ground, and shouted, "Your subject Fu'erkang, leading twenty Mongol warriors, pays respects to Father Emperor, Empress Dowager, Mother Empress, and all the empresses."
The Mongol warriors behind them also prostrated themselves on the ground, shouting, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress Dowager! Long live the Empress Dowager!"
Emperor Qianlong laughed and waved his hand, "Good, all you Mongolian warriors, no need for formalities. Today, in this camel-jumping competition, I hope you can show your Mongolian skills. Whoever wins first place will be richly rewarded!"
The Mongol warriors cried out in unison, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"
Fu Erkang stood up, walked up the steps, and came to the small stage under the flag. "The competition begins."
He took out a list and announced loudly, "The first warrior, Tenrdan, is about to enter the arena."
The man named Teng Erdan stepped forward, bowed to Emperor Qianlong, and then stood in front of the three camels.
Teng Erdan leaped over the three camels in one go, mounting and dismounting them twice with remarkable agility.
Emperor Qianlong couldn't help but shout, "Good!"
The audience erupted in continuous applause.
After Teng Erdan finished his performance, Fu Erkang called out again: "The second warrior, Musag, is coming up."
This time, Musag's challenge is to jump over four camels in one go.
Musag skipped over the bar again without landing, which Qianlong watched with great interest.
The others were full of admiration. After all, camels are alive and can't just stand still and wait for you to jump over them. But these two people managed to get over successfully and even did a handstand on the hump. They were truly amazing.
"Warrior Tanucci enters the game."
So far, none of the Warriors players have faltered.
"Gege Ziyanxiao enters the stage."
When the last warrior appears, he must jump over twenty camels.
Little Table: "This warrior is so small, it's incredibly difficult for him to jump over twenty camels..."
Little Stool: "Don't you guys think that Warriors guy looks familiar?"
Little bug: "Really?"
Little Mosquito: "Good heavens, this warrior's name seems a bit strange..."
Not only did they find it strange, but Emperor Qianlong also found it strange, "This person is so short, there's no way he could jump over it..."
However, he soon witnessed the little man's skill.
Little Table: "My God, you can actually dance on that? This person's kung fu is amazing!"
Little Insect: "These camels look quite docile, don't they?"
Little Mosquito: "You idiot, it must be our master. Only our master has this ability."
Little Stool: "I think you're right, it must be our master!"
When Emperor Qianlong saw Gege Ziyanxiao dancing, doing handstands, and even wielding a sword on those twenty camels, he was truly amazed.
After the competition, Gege Ziyanxiao used the momentum to fly onto the audience seats, and everyone then realized that it was actually Xiaoyanzi.
Emperor Qianlong laughed loudly, "It really is you! Not bad, not bad, another surprise!"
"But what's your name again?"
“Gege Ziyanxiao, Father Emperor, you can just read it backwards,” Xia Ziwei explained from the side.
“Gege Ziyanxiao, Little Swallow Princess, what a lovely Little Swallow Princess!” Emperor Qianlong finally understood and immediately awarded first place to Little Swallow. “I hereby declare that Gege Ziyanxiao has won first place. I hereby bestow upon you a lucky lock.”
Emperor Qianlong personally placed the auspicious lock around Xiao Yanzi's neck, and Xiao Yanzi happily exclaimed, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
After the performance, the group went to stroll through the Imperial Garden.
Emperor Qianlong walked at the front, sighing, "Time really flies. In the blink of an eye, Mianhua, Mianyao, Yuchen, and Dong'er are all six years old and of school age."
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Who says otherwise? I often thought my Qing'er was still young, but in the blink of an eye, my Qing'er is already a mother of two children."
Consort Yu then added, "Yes, who would have thought that Yongqi is only 24 years old and already a father of three?"
Yongqi sighed, "Mother, if you put it that way, I feel like I'm getting old..."
Emperor Qianlong glanced at him and said, "You're getting old. What am I then?"
“A god who protects the people,” Little Swallow added. “In recent years, Father Emperor has arrested many corrupt officials, and the people’s lives are getting better and better.”
“That’s right, and Grandfather will live ten thousand years, and Father and Mother will live a thousand years. You will never grow old, and Yao’er will always be with you!” Mianyao, led by Mingyue, walked over, took Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi’s hands, and looked up at them.
Hearing Mianyao's words, Qianlong laughed heartily again, "You little girl, you're right! No wonder you're Xiaoyanzi's daughter, your little mouth is always full of sweet words..."
Mianyao sighed, "Well, after all, my mother has a bad temper, so she can only rely on sweet words to make my father like her..."
Xiao Yanzi was stunned when she heard Mianyao's words. "What are you saying, little girl?"
Mianyao immediately hid behind the Empress Dowager, "I didn't say anything wrong..."
Everyone else couldn't help but laugh; Mianyao was truly a filial daughter!
Seeing that Mianyao was hiding behind the Empress Dowager, Xiaoyanzi had no choice but to pout and look at Yongqi beside her, "Husband, look at her, she's your good daughter!"
When Yongqi saw Xiaoyanzi acting coquettishly towards him, he gently pinched her chubby little mouth and said, "Okay, I'll get revenge for you, okay?"
Little Swallow nodded repeatedly, leaning against Yongqi's chest, "My husband, you are so good to me."
Then, Yongqi's stern voice was heard, "Yao'er, come here."
With just four simple words, Mianyao obediently walked past the Empress Dowager. "Father, Yao'er knows she was wrong and won't say that again."
"Is your mother good-tempered?"
Mianyao glanced at Xiaoyanzi and muttered, "Mother has a good temper. It was Yao'er who did something wrong and made Mother angry..."
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