Xiao Yanzi knew that everyone was worried about her and meant well, so she accepted Xiao Jian's token. However, she didn't really want to use it. She still wanted to make a name for herself on her own!
Xiao Jian smiled helplessly and said, "You, you must remember this: if you ever encounter danger, you must use this token!"
Little Swallow nodded quickly, "Okay, okay, don't worry, I'll definitely give you back a lively and energetic Little Swallow!"
About two months later, it will be Xiao Yanzi's birthday, and she will soon be leaving the palace.
On this day, Emperor Qianlong, accompanied by the Empress, Consort Ling, and Consort Shu, came to Yonghe Palace to celebrate for Xiao Yanzi. The Empress Dowager and Qing'er were also present. After everyone paid their respects, they took their seats one after another.
"Little Swallow, today is your birthday, and you will be leaving the palace again tomorrow. I have brought you a batch of weapons. Go and take a look, take whichever you like, and leave the rest in the palace for you to use when you come back."
A batch of weapons belonged to Xiao Yanzi, but she was leaving the palace and couldn't take so many with her. So she picked one or two items to take with her and left the rest in the palace, to be taken away when she needed them next time she came back!
Little Swallow quickly stood up and thanked the Emperor: "Little Swallow thanks the Emperor for the reward!"
Everyone saw that Xiao Luzi had already led his men to put all the weapons in the courtyard. Xiao Yanzi and Yongqi went out to look at the weapons. They walked around for a while, and finally Xiao Yanzi chose a slightly sharp sword. "Yongqi, look, it seems that there are names on that sword..."
"Really? Let me see..."
Yongqi took the sword and noticed that there was indeed a name on the scabbard. Upon closer inspection, Yongqi was stunned and exclaimed in surprise, "The Longquan Sword! It was actually forged by Ou Yezi and Master Gan Jiang!"
Little Swallow looked closely at the three characters "Longquan Sword," hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I think I've seen this in a book before. It seems to be one of the ten most famous swords in China!"
Emperor Qianlong, who was standing behind her, looked at Xiao Yanzi with some curiosity and asked, "Xiao Yanzi, you even know about the ten famous swords of China?"
Little Swallow nodded. "Yes, I've always liked practicing martial arts, so I often look for books on the subject. Taking this sword out is fine, but won't I get ganged up on by those martial arts fanatics?"
Emperor Qianlong laughed heartily and said, "Little Swallow, you can put this sword away first and give it to Xingchen Shizhu and the others for safekeeping. You are still too young to handle the Longquan sword!"
"That seems to be true. I'll go pick another one then."
After looking left and right again, Xiao Yanzi chose a short dagger. She would add some substance to it and then use it to incapacitate the person in close combat!
Seeing that Xiao Yanzi had finished choosing, Emperor Qianlong said, "Since Xiao Yanzi has made her choice, let's put the rest of the items in the storeroom of Yonghe Palace for now. We can retrieve them if needed when Xiao Yanzi returns!"
He had barely finished speaking when someone went to put the weapons in the warehouse.
Then Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Guizi each brought over something. Everyone was puzzled, and Qianlong asked, "What are you two carrying?"
Xiao Shunzi bowed his head and replied, "Your Majesty, these are two weapons that the Fifth Prince made for Princess Feiyan: a sword and a whip."
Yongqi took out the sword first. "Little Swallow, I lost to you in the competition at the hunting grounds last time. I said I would make a weapon for you by hand. This sword is what I made for you. I named it the 'Thinking Swallow Sword.' If you don't like it, you can change the name..."
Xiao Yanzi happily accepted the sword Yongqi had made for her and said with a smile, "No need, let's just call it the Si Yan Sword!"
Then he introduced another weapon, a whip. "I've taught you about swords and whips before. I helped make this whip, but due to time constraints, I wasn't there the whole time. However, I've tested it, and the whip is definitely fine. You can carry this whip with you and tie it to your waist..."
When it's his younger sister's birthday, Xiao Jian, as her older brother, naturally can't be absent. And when it comes to someone who's very familiar with whips, Xiao Jian is the only one who can do it!
"I originally wanted to make you a whip, but I didn't expect Fifth Prince to beat me to it. However, I was also involved in the making of this whip, so I can personally demonstrate to you how to use it."
Xiao Jian brandished his whip while chanting incantations, "Straight as a sword, curved as a bow, coiled as a snake, leaping as a dragon, swung like rain, danced like the wind, fast as lightning, slow as the sky..."
Watching Xiao Jian brandish his whip on the field, Xiao Yanzi was really getting excited. "Brother, give me the whip!"
Xiao Jian handed the whip to Xiao Yanzi, letting her dance to her heart's content in the courtyard. Qianlong laughed heartily and said, "This Xiao Yanzi is truly a woman who is not inferior to men! It seems that our Qing Dynasty is really going to produce a Mu Guiying!"
Hearing this, Qing'er was indignant and quickly said, "Your Majesty, what about me? Little Swallow is a heroine, so I can't be left out!"
As Qing'er spoke, she took out a short sword that Xiao Jian had prepared for her, "Little Swallow, let's have a spar!"
"OK!"
Qing'er lunged at Xiao Yanzi first, but Xiao Yanzi dodged. Xiao Yanzi tried to use her whip to restrain Qing'er's short sword, but Qing'er reacted very quickly, and Xiao Yanzi's whip missed. The two exchanged blows, and even those with martial arts skills wanted to join in and have a go. "Qing'er, you're too kind!"
In the end, Xiao Yanzi had a slight advantage and managed to bind Qing'er's short sword. "Brother, this whip is so strong, even the sword can't cut through it?"
Xiao Jian nodded and smiled, "As long as it's not a particularly sharp sword, an ordinary sword can't do anything to it. Also, just make sure it doesn't fall into the fire. If it does, then it'll be a disaster!"
This whip is only suitable for Xiao Yanzi to use for the next two or three years. He plans to make another one when she gets a little older, but Yongqi might get there before him again. In that case, he will have to think of another way, or he will have to find a way to make the whip more powerful!
Emperor Qianlong spoke up, "Alright, now that we've examined the weapons, shouldn't we go get something to eat?"
Yongqi and the others then returned to the dining room of Yonghe Palace. "Little Swallow, Yongqi specifically mentioned to me that today, as the birthday girl, you will be eating bread made by Priest Lang Shining. In their country, you blow out candles and make a wish!"
Little Swallow was so moved that tears almost streamed down her face. "Your Majesty, you went to the trouble of going to the trouble of Priest Lang for my birthday. I am so touched!"
Emperor Qianlong smiled slightly and said, "If you want to thank someone, thank Yongqi. If it weren't for Yongqi, I wouldn't have thought that I could ask Instructor Lang for help."
"Yongqi, thank you so much!" Little Swallow looked at Yongqi with tears in her eyes. "You've been so good to me!"
"Silly Swallow, if I'm not good to you, who will I be good to?"
"Alright, stop crying. It's your birthday, you should be smiling! If you want to repay me, then come back safely! Don't make me worry!" Yongqi said as he gently wiped away Xiaoyanzi's tears, making everyone envious.
"I will definitely come back safely, and I will never leave you alone!"
"Little Swallow, you can blow out the candles and make a wish now!" Seeing that they had stopped crying, Qing'er quickly told Little Swallow to make a wish, otherwise they might have cried for who knows how long...
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