Inside the Qianqing Palace, at noon, everyone sat together in the hall. Qianlong looked at the people on his left and right and said, "Unknowingly, another year has passed. Last year, Xiaoyanzi came back and brought Ziwei back with her. Since the two of them came back, the palace has been filled with laughter again. Xiaoyanzi, this cup is for you. I thank you for bringing Ziwei back to my side."
Xiao Yanzi retorted, "Your Majesty is too kind. Ziwei and I are like sisters. Helping her is also helping myself. If Your Majesty had not taken me in back then, I'm afraid I, Xiao Yanzi, would still be crying in some corner. I should be the one thanking you."
Emperor Qianlong smiled and looked at Xiao Yanzi, "By the way, there will be all sorts of activities outside the palace tonight. Xiao Yanzi, I know that you children yearn for life outside the palace, so I will make an exception and let you go out and play tonight."
After he finished speaking, he looked at the princes Yongzhang and Yongcheng and said, "Yongzhang, Yongcheng, if you want to go too, you can go with us. But I only have one thing to say: be careful and come back soon."
Little Swallow immediately stood up excitedly, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
Sitting next to Yongcheng, Yongrong asked timidly, "Father, may I go too?"
“Yongrong, you’re almost fourteen. Of course you can go out if you want, but you have to stay with your older brothers and don’t get separated from them.”
"Your Majesty, aren't you being too lenient with them?" The Empress Dowager still felt uneasy. How could it be proper for princes and princesses to go out and play outside the palace at night?
Emperor Qianlong explained, “Empress Dowager, they rarely have time to relax and they like to play around, so let them go. As long as the manpower is arranged properly, it will be fine.”
"But what if something goes wrong..." The Empress Dowager was still worried and unwilling to agree.
Qing'er reassured her, "Your Majesty, please don't worry. We're all growing up and can protect ourselves. Besides, we have so many people with us, nothing will happen."
"If you keep preventing us from going out, how will we grow up? If a prince doesn't even know what life is like for ordinary people, how can he be responsible for the people?"
"Your Majesty, I think what the Emperor and Qing'er said makes sense. If Yongxing and Yongqi want to go out, they can naturally go out."
The Empress Dowager frowned and looked at the Empress who had spoken. "Empress, you agree too? You're comfortable letting Yongqi go out?"
"Your Majesty, although I am worried, I must respect Yongqi's choice." The Empress said, looking at Yongqi sitting opposite her, "Yongqi, would you like to go out and play with them?"
Yongqi nodded, "Your subject is willing, and I beg Your Majesty to grant my request!"
Seeing that the Emperor and Empress had both nodded, the Empress Dowager naturally saw no point in objecting. "Alright, since you both agree, I have no objections either. However, once you're out there, be careful in everything you do."
Yongzhang, Yongcheng, and Yongqi stood up and said together, "Your Majesty, Father, and Mother, rest assured, your children will definitely protect them."
At dusk, after they had finished their dinner, they met at Shenwu Gate.
Little Swallow looked at everyone and said, "Before we go out, let's each count the number of people who went with us. After we summarize, we'll also summarize when we come back, so that everyone can go out safely and come back safely."
Xiao Yanzi, Yongqi, Xia Ziwei, Qing'er, Yongzhang, Yongcheng, and Benjamin didn't bring any of them. Yongrong, Yongxing, and Yongqi each brought a eunuch and a guard. After the count was completed, Xiao Yanzi said, "Alright, there are sixteen of us when we go out. Later, we'll go to the Scholar's Mansion first and take Erkang and the others with us. Okay, let's get in the carriage."
After they boarded the carriage, they stopped it at the Scholar's Residence. "Your subject Fu Lun greets all the princes and princesses."
“Lord Fu, there’s no need for such formalities.” Yongzhang reached out to help Fu Lun up. “We’re all out having fun today, and we’ve also invited Erkang, Ertai, and Xiao Jian.”
"Erkang and Ertai, remember to protect them well." Fu Lun naturally wouldn't stop them, but he repeatedly told his two sons to protect these princes and princesses. If anything happened to them, the consequences would be unbearable for them.
Little Swallow laughed and said, "Don't worry, Master Fu. With me, Little Swallow, around, how could anything happen to them? Alright, now that we've met up, shall we travel together as a group, or split up and go off to have some fun on our own?"
“I’m with Benjamin.” Voltaire stepped forward in front of Benjamin first. “We were in the same group before, and we still are now.”
Although Yongqi really wanted to go with Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi, he was a sensible and good younger brother, so he looked at Yongzhang and said, "Third brother, let's all go together and not disturb these people who are getting married."
The rest of the group, including Yongqi, Xiaoyanzi, Fuerkang, Xia Ziwei, Xiao Jian, and Qing'er, went off to play on their own.
Little Swallow laughed and said, "Alright, since everyone has made up their minds, let's go have some fun. We'll meet at the Scholar's Residence again at 9 PM, and once everyone's here, we'll go back to the palace together."
After everyone dispersed, they went their separate ways. Yongqi, holding Xiaoyanzi's hand, wandered aimlessly through the streets and happened to see a riddle-solving event. "Yongqi, shall we go take a look?"
"Okay." The two of them got itchy and went over to play for a bit, eventually winning both rabbit lanterns.
Little Swallow muttered, "I don't think rabbits are suitable for you; foxes are more suitable."
"How am I a fox?" Yongqi looked at Xiaoyanzi in confusion. "Am I that cunning?"
Little Swallow retorted, "Isn't that right? Tell me yourself, how many things have you kept from me these past few years? If I hadn't been so resourceful and found out everything, how much longer would you have kept it from me?"
Yongqi tried to argue, "...I just didn't want you to worry..."
Little Swallow glared at him, the unspoken message being, "Why don't you reconsider?"
"Madam, I was wrong..." Yongqi lowered his head, tugging at Xiaoyanzi's sleeve and pleading, "I was wrong, please forgive me, look at this wonderful day, please don't..."
Little Swallow glared at Yongqi, "Who's your wife? Don't call me that, I'm not married to you!"
Yongqi pouted and looked pitifully at Xiaoyanzi, "No, you are my wife, we just need the wedding ceremony..."
Seeing Yongqi's pleading expression, Xiaoyanzi's smile grew wider and wider. "You want me to spare you? Fine, come with me."
As a result, they arrived at a brothel in the capital. Yongqi looked at the brothel in front of him and trembled. "Madam, what are we doing here?"
Little Swallow's smile faded. "Be serious!"
Seeing that Xiao Yanzi's expression was quite serious, Yongqi didn't dare to play anymore. "Okay, so, Xiao Yanzi, what are we doing here?"
Little Swallow raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Let's go in and have some fun."
Upon hearing these four words, Yongqi was stunned. "What? No way! On such a beautiful day, going to a brothel isn't appropriate, is it? What if we get caught..."
Little Swallow stared at Yongqi with a beaming smile and asked, "Are you going or not?" Seeing Little Swallow's expression change again, Yongqi was startled and quickly nodded, "I'll go!"
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