After everyone arrived at Shufangzhai, Xiaoyanzi asked Xia Ziwei to greet the group while she went to the kitchen to help Yongqi cook.
Unexpectedly, this group of people wanted to go to the kitchen to watch the excitement. Yongrong looked at them with a grin and said, "Fifth Sister-in-law, I just wanted to see what Fifth Brother looks like when he cooks!"
Yongqi didn't mind, so he let them be. A group of people gathered in the kitchen, watching Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi cook, feeling both admiration and envy.
Half an hour later, after Yongqi finished preparing the meal, the four talented men and four beautiful women brought the food to the dining room. After setting out the bowls and chopsticks, everyone took their seats and prepared to eat.
(I almost forgot to mention that Jin Suo left with Liu Qing and Liu Hong, so Qianlong arranged two other palace maids for Ziwei, namely Tan'er and Rong'er. Tan'er was quiet and thoughtful, while Rong'er was active, lively, and cheerful, commonly known as a chatterbox.)
While eating, Yongqi looked at Xiaoyanzi curiously and asked, "Fifth Sister-in-law, what interesting things happened during your years outside the palace? Tell us about them."
"I want to hear a story. Let me think... what fun things are there?" Little Swallow thought carefully for a moment and finally chose a story that was somewhat interesting.
"I've got it! Last year when I was in Sichuan, I was shopping when someone encountered a pickpocket. I was about to help catch him when someone in front of me, instead of catching the pickpocket, accidentally pulled down his pants. At that moment, I burst out laughing..."
"The thief looked at the wallet in his hand and the pants in the other person's hand, then chose the wallet and ran away naked!"
Yongrong pressed on, "And then what happened? Was the thief caught?"
"Later..." Little Swallow didn't continue, "You guys eat first, I'll tell you after you're done, otherwise it will affect your appetite."
"Fifth Sister-in-law, now that you say that, I'm even more curious about what happened next?"
Seeing Yongqi and Yongrong looking at her pitifully, Xiaoyanzi said helplessly, "Are you sure you really want to know now?"
Seeing their expressions, Little Swallow had no choice but to tell them what happened next, "Later, the thief panicked and fell into a cesspool..."
"..." Everyone looked at the food in front of them and fell silent.
Damn it, I should have known better than to ask. How am I supposed to eat now?
With the spirit of not wasting food, everyone took a moment to finish their meal.
"Fifth Sister-in-law, what gift have you prepared for Fifth Brother this time?" In the blink of an eye, it was the seventh day of the second lunar month, Yongqi's birthday. Yongrong looked at Xiaoyanzi curiously, wanting to know what Xiaoyanzi would give Yongqi this time.
Little Swallow said with a smile, "The good stuff this time is not for you to see, so you just need to focus on eating."
The eleventh prince, Yongxing, shares the same birthday as Yongqi. Since his birth mother had already passed away, his birthday celebration was handled by the Empress, and everyone simply sent small gifts to express their gratitude.
Xiao Yanzi and the others celebrated for Yongqi at Yonghe Palace. After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill and left, Xiao Yanzi quietly took out the gift she had given to Yongqi. Yongqi stared in disbelief at the little garment in front of him and asked, "Did you make this?"
Little Swallow nodded. "Yes, we started preparing a long time ago. If you look closely, there are two more sentences on it."
"May we find one heart to share, and stay together until our hair turns white." Yongqi saw the two sentences inside the clothes and was deeply moved. "Little Swallow, I love it so much!"
"I want to put it on now, can you help me change?" Yongqi was so excited that he wanted to put the clothes on right then and there, but Xiaoyanzi was sober and naturally couldn't change Yongqi's clothes so naturally.
"Well... if you want to wear it, change it yourself..." Xiao Yanzi's face turned slightly red, and she looked down at the ground, not daring to look at Yongqi.
But Yongqi held her close, lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "You are my wife, it's only right that you help me change my clothes, please..."
Xiao Yanzi couldn't stand him talking in her ear, so she finally agreed to help Yongqi change his clothes.
Yongqi took Xiaoyanzi's hand and placed it on his belt. Xiaoyanzi's small hands trembled slightly as she untied the belt, and then she went to unbutton Yongqi's shirt...
Xiao Yi was worn underneath, so Xiao Yanzi had to take off all of Yongqi's clothes. Xiao Yanzi's face turned redder and redder, and she felt like her heart was about to jump out of her chest.
While helping Yongqi get dressed, her little hands inevitably touched Yongqi's exposed skin. She only knew that her heart was racing and she wanted to help Yongqi get dressed as soon as possible. Little did she know how intense Yongqi's gaze was towards her. If the timing hadn't been wrong, he would have really wanted to "eat" the beauty in front of him.
After finally getting dressed, Xiao Yanzi felt a sense of relief and asked casually, "How is it? Does it fit?"
Yongqi nodded. "The clothes you made are naturally the best." He picked up Xiaoyanzi and carried her to his bed. "If it weren't for the fact that it wasn't time yet, I really wanted to..."
Yongqi didn't finish his sentence, but his eyes said it all. Xiaoyanzi nestled shyly in Yongqi's arms, saying, "You're so frivolous."
Yongqi retorted, "How is it improper? Isn't it normal for me to want to do this kind of thing with my wife?"
"Keep dreaming, anything can happen in dreams!"
"No way! Next year, or at the latest the year after, I'll definitely get Father Emperor to hold a wedding for us! You'll be in for it then!"
Little Swallow wrapped her arms around Yongqi's neck, raised an eyebrow, and looked at him with a smile, "Really? How are you going to make me look bad?"
She had barely finished speaking when Yongqi picked her up, straddled her, and placed her face to face with him. "You..."
"Would you like to try it now?"
Xiao Yanzi swallowed hard and gently nudged Yongqi, saying, "There's no need for that."
"Alright, put me down, I want to go back." Little Swallow struggled to leave. It was already late enough, and if she stayed any longer, things would get out of hand.
However, Yongqi held her captive, refusing to let her leave. "Today is my birthday, can't you stay and keep me company? I remember you used to dream of staying here!"
"That was just youthful ignorance!" Little Swallow retorted. "Besides, I only thought it was a hassle to walk back and forth back then. I was after your bed, not..."
"You don't have anyone who wants to see me? Then why is your heart beating so fast?" Yongqi placed his right hand on Xiaoyanzi's heart, and happened to touch the little white rabbit on it. Xiaoyanzi was both embarrassed and angry, and tried to remove Yongqi's hand, but Yongqi held both of her hands.
"Don't do anything rash!" Xiao Yanzi panicked as Yongqi laid her down on the bed. Looking at Yongqi on top of her, surrounded by his scent, she cried out, "I know you're anxious, but we're not married yet, and we haven't even..."
Before she could finish speaking, her mouth was covered again and she was kissed for an unknown amount of time before Yongqi finally let her go. "I'll let you go for now, but on our wedding night, I'll make you pay me back with interest!" However, Yongqi's words of letting her go only meant not taking another step forward; it did not mean letting her return to Shufangzhai.
"Sleep here tonight. I've already spoken to Father Emperor."
Little Swallow laughed in exasperation, "So you had this planned all along!"
Yongqi held Xiaoyanzi in his arms, lay on the bed, and laughed, "So, you'll never escape my grasp."
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