The Empress Dowager's birthday arrived as scheduled, and the palace was naturally bustling with activity. Everyone gathered at Cining Palace to present their birthday gifts. Only after the other elders had finished presenting their gifts did it come to Yongqi and the other younger generation.
"Your Majesty, these purses were embroidered by Yongqi, Xiaoyanzi, Xiaojian, and me..." As the person closest to the Empress Dowager, Qing'er naturally handed over these purses on her behalf.
The Empress Dowager looked at the purses in her hand, her smile impossible to hide. "Qing'er, Yongqi, you've both been so thoughtful!"
Yongqi stepped forward and said, "If we can make the Empress Dowager happy, then it means that our hard work has not been in vain, and that makes it all worthwhile!"
Emperor Qianlong sighed, "Your Majesty, it seems that Yongqi is becoming more and more skilled. First he was cooking, and now he is embroidering. Yongqi, how many more things do you know that I don't know about?"
What Qianlong said naturally piqued the curiosity of the Empress Dowager and the others as well. Yongqi smiled slightly and said, "We can't let Father Emperor and Empress Dowager know all at once. We have to let you find out slowly!"
The day after the Empress Dowager's birthday, they went to the Fu family again to celebrate Fu Ertai's birthday.
Fu Erkang laughed, "Ertai, you've got quite the connections! For your birthday, the Fifth Prince, Qing'er, and even Princess Feiyan all came in person..."
Fu Ertai looked at him speechlessly, "Brother, you're making it sound like Fifth Prince and Qing'er didn't come to your birthday party..."
"Fifth Prince has arrived! Princess Qing has arrived! Princess Feiyan has arrived!"
The Fu family members went out one after another to pay their respects to the three of them. Yongqi quickly helped Fu Lun up, saying, "Uncle Fu, we are all family, so there's no need for such formalities."
"Fifth Prince, please..." Fu Lun and the others led Yongqi and the others into the hall and let them take their seats. "Today is Ertai's birthday, and we are so grateful that you have made this special trip..."
Yongqi quickly said, "Uncle Fu, there's no need for formalities. We're all family here, so there's no need to stand on ceremony!"
The group first took out their gifts, showed them to Voltaire, and then sent them to the storeroom. "In that case, let's go to the restaurant first; dinner will be served soon."
"Okay, let's go quickly, I'm starving." Everyone rushed to the restaurant, eating and chatting at the same time. "Ertai, it's a good thing it's your birthday today, otherwise Father Emperor would have given us a day off. We're only able to leave the palace today thanks to you!"
Fu'ertai couldn't help but laugh and said, "Fifth Prince, if you put it that way, I'd think that the main reason you left the palace was to go out and have fun, and that celebrating my birthday was just a side thing!"
After a moment of silence, Yongqi spoke up, "Just kidding, let's go out and play together after we finish eating!"
After lunch, they took a carriage and went out to play. When they returned home, Fu Erkang and Fu Ertai were fine, but Yongqi and the others were in trouble again, returning just in time. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager and Emperor Qianlong understood their feelings, so they did not pursue the matter and let Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi return to Yonghe Palace.
"Mother, we're back."
Seeing Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi's beaming faces, Consort Yu knew they must have had a blast outside the palace. "Judging from your expressions, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager must not have given you any trouble..."
Little Swallow nodded, "Yes, they didn't say anything and just let us come back."
"It's good that you're back. Go wash up quickly. You've been playing all day and you must be tired. Remember to get some rest."
"Mother, don't worry, I'm not a three-year-old anymore, I can take care of myself. But you should get some rest!" With that, Yongqi gestured for Xiaoyanzi to come with him and escort Consort Yu back to her room.
After escorting Consort Yu back to her room, they went to wash up. Xiao Yanzi had exhausted herself from the day's activities, so after washing up, she couldn't stay awake any longer and fell asleep on the bed.
Yongqi was surprised to see that Xiaoyanzi's room light was off earlier than usual. "She's asleep so early. She must be exhausted..."
He dismissed his initial intention to go and see, and after returning to his room, he continued to refine Xiao Yanzi's plans for going out, hoping to minimize the troubles Xiao Yanzi would face when she ventured into the world.
Once again, Yongqi was busy until midnight before finally turning off the lights and going to sleep.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yanzi next door woke up after a short rest. As soon as she woke up, Yongqi fell asleep. Xiao Yanzi saw that the light next door was off and wanted to go over to check on him, but she didn't dare to go. She was afraid that Yongqi would think she was an assassin, afraid that he would think she was shameless, and even more afraid that if someone saw them and it got out, she and Yongqi would be finished...
Left with no other choice, Little Swallow lay back down on the bed and closed her eyes to continue sleeping...
December has arrived in the blink of an eye, and the year is almost over. "Yongqi, time really flies. It feels like I've only known you for a short time, but now the year is almost over. Looking back, it turns out I've known you for more than half a year in this life..."
Yongqi sighed, "Yes, every time I look back, I feel that time has passed too quickly. Before I know it, it's gone again, and the day you leave is getting closer and closer."
Little Swallow continued, "Winter is over, and spring is coming. Today is the beginning of spring, so why don't we go out of the palace for a walk? Otherwise, we'll have fewer and fewer chances to go out of the palace together."
"Alright, then it'll just be the two of us this time, we won't bring anyone else!" After Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi made their decision, they greeted Qianlong and, after receiving his permission, immediately had Xiaoshunzi, Xiaoguizi, and Xingchen see them off.
This time, they went straight to Biboting.
The carriage stopped outside Bibo Pavilion once again. Yongqi got out first, then helped Xiaoyanzi down. The two slowly walked inside. "Young master and young lady have arrived..."
"Grandma Sun, could you please go and get some pastries for Little Swallow?"
"Okay, I'll go right away." Grandma Sun happily walked to the back and brought out a lot of pastries for Little Swallow.
When Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi sat down in the pavilion, Granny Sun had already had two plates of pastries brought out. "Knowing that you like them, I made extra. Please try some..."
"Thank you, Grandma." After expressing her gratitude, Xiao Yanzi began to eat the pastries seriously. Then Yongqi had someone bring out the drinks as well. The two of them ate and drank tea while looking at the scenery outside, and their mood relaxed a lot.
After Xiao Yanzi had finished eating, she looked curiously at the house behind her and asked, "Last time we came, we didn't have a chance to go inside and take a look. How about we go take a look this time?"
“Okay!” Since Xiao Yanzi wanted to go see, Yongqi naturally had no objection. He took her hand and walked inside. “Xiao Yanzi, come on, I’ll show you your room!”
"Huh? I have a room here too?" Little Swallow was a little dumbfounded. "Is your room next door too?"
"...You'll find out when you get there!" Yongqi didn't say it directly, but it piqued Xiaoyanzi's curiosity. She couldn't wait to see what it was like inside.
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