"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Princess Qing, daughter of Prince Yu, is intelligent, witty, gentle, and quiet. General Xiao Feng, chivalrous and righteous, is magnanimous and deeply loved by me and the Empress Dowager. Therefore, I hereby decree that he be Princess Qing's husband, and an auspicious day shall be chosen for their wedding. This is the imperial decree!" — April 12th, the 23rd year of Qianlong's reign
"General Xiao, please accept the imperial decree."
Xiao Jian knelt before Xiao Luzi, extending both hands to receive the imperial edict. "This humble general accepts the edict. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. Long live the Emperor!"
"General Xiao, please rise." Xiao Luzi helped Xiao Jian up. "This servant congratulates the General on the fulfillment of his dream; may the lovers finally be united!"
After handing the imperial edict to his attendant, Xiao Jian cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Eunuch Lu!"
"General, the Imperial Observatory has calculated that the auspicious day is June 18th. During this period, the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department will assist you with your wedding..." After giving Xiao Jian some instructions, Xiao Luzi returned to the palace to report.
Upon learning of the arranged marriage between Xiao Jian and Qing'er, Yongqi and Xiao Yanzi rushed to the Qianqing Palace.
"The Fifth Prince has arrived, and Princess Feiyan has arrived!" The eunuch's voice came from the doorway, and Qianlong looked at the two of them as if he had expected it.
Emperor Qianlong looked at Xiao Yanzi with a sigh, "You arrived so quickly. It seems that Xiao Yanzi has come to her senses, and that's why she's starting to get anxious..."
"Don't worry, I had the Imperial Observatory calculate it as well, and it will be exactly on the seventh day of the seventh month. Your name has already been entered into the Imperial Register, and now it's just a matter of going through the wedding process."
"As for this imperial edict, Little Swallow, do you want it issued at Yonghe Palace or Shufangzhai, or as usual at the Xiao residence?"
Xiao Yanzi spent much more time in Yonghe Palace and Shufangzhai than in Xiao Jian's Xiao Mansion, so staying in these two places in the palace was naturally more convenient than staying outside the palace.
"Father, why don't we stay at Yonghe Palace? After all, Xiao Yanzi has been staying there longer, and my mother is there too..."
"Then it's up to you. As for the wedding procedures, that's a matter for the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Rites."
"Oh, right, Yongqi, don't forget, you still need to find a suitable time to greet Xiaoyanzi's parents." Although the two elders have long since passed away, he still needs to inform them that he is going to marry their precious daughter.
After Qianlong finished discussing the wedding arrangements, Xiaoyanzi and Yongqi went to Yonghe Palace, where they went through the process of receiving the imperial edict. "I, Xiaoluzi, congratulate you both. You've finally made it through! Princess, from now on, you'll have many wonderful days ahead!"
"Then thank you for your kind words, Eunuch Lu." After expressing their gratitude, Xiao Yanzi, Yongqi, Consort Yu, and the others watched Xiao Luzi leave.
"That's wonderful! You can finally move into Yonghe Palace legitimately!" Consort Yu excitedly grasped Xiao Yanzi's hands. "Xiao Yanzi, from now on you can openly and rightfully call me Mother!"
Previously, the change of address to call her "Mother" was only done in private and not in front of outsiders. Now that the imperial decree has been issued and the wedding is coming, she can naturally call her that openly.
"However, we need to hold Qing'er and Xiao Jian's wedding first, and then you two. With such a tight schedule, is there enough time to prepare?"
Yongqi comforted her, "Mother, you don't need to worry about this. Your son has already made preparations!"
Now everything is ready, except for the final push.
"That's good!" Hearing Yongqi's words, Consort Yu finally felt relieved. She looked at Xiaoyanzi and said, "Seeing you and Yongqi get to this point, I'm truly happy for you both!"
Upon hearing the news, Consort Shu and Consort Ling both rushed to Yonghe Palace.
Consort Ling, heavily pregnant, was helped into Yonghe Palace by Consort Shu.
"Consort Ling, Consort Shu, what brings you here?" Xiao Yanzi was quite surprised to see the two of them arrive.
"She's pregnant, how did she end up here? If you want to see us, have Lamei and Dongxue come and let them know, so Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi can come and see you..." Consort Yu looked at Consort Ling with concern, and together with Consort Shu, helped her walk towards the main hall.
"Knowing that Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi's wedding is approaching, I really can't sit still!" After sitting down, Consort Ling smiled and looked at Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi. "You two have come this far over the years, and now you're finally going to be a couple. I'm so happy for you!"
Consort Shu chimed in, "Yes, after waiting for so many years, I am truly happy to finally see you two get married."
Consort Ling and Consort Shu sat on the same side, and Xiao Yanzi stood in front of them, smiling as she said, "Your Highnesses, it is truly Xiao Yanzi's blessing to have you think of me so much."
The group had been chatting for a short while when a voice came from the main gate of Yonghe Palace again, "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"
Everyone hurriedly stood up and stood respectfully until the Empress, supported by Rong Momo, walked up to them. "Your Majesty, we pay our respects to Your Majesty the Empress."
Just as Consort Ling was about to perform the curtsy, the Empress stopped her, saying, "You are pregnant, so there's no need for such formalities. Please sit down."
"Your Majesty, did you also hear the news and come here specifically?" Xiao Yanzi looked at the Empress curiously.
Before the Empress could speak, Rong Momo interjected, "Yes, as soon as Her Majesty heard the news that the Emperor had bestowed a marriage upon the Fifth Prince and the Princess, she immediately wanted to come and congratulate you..."
The Empress looked at them and smiled, "Knowing that you two are getting married, the happiest people besides you two should be Consort Yu. The rest of us are just sharing in the joy."
"Your Majesty is too kind. Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi's marriage has brought joy not only to us, but to countless people in the palace who have been waiting for this day."
"By the way, Yongqi, when do you plan to personally tell Xiaoyanzi's parents about this?" After the imperial decree of marriage is issued, the prince will choose an auspicious day to visit the princess's parents.
However, Xiao Yanzi's parents had passed away, and she only had one biological brother still alive. "Empress Mother, I plan to go to the Xiao residence first thing tomorrow morning."
Chat with Xiao Jian, and also visit the ancestral hall of the Xiao family to talk to the two elders of the Xiao family.
"I'll go with Yongqi tomorrow." Although their marriage was already an open secret, there was no guarantee that Xiao Jian wouldn't be angry, so it was better for her to go along.
The Empress smiled, looked at Consort Yu, Consort Ling, and Consort Shu, then at Xiao Yanzi, and teased, "Look at this Xiao Yanzi, she's been with Yongqi since she was little, and as she's grown up, she's always been protective of him. I wonder if your brother has a blessing or a curse to have a sister like you..."
Little Swallow immediately chimed in, "Of course it's a blessing! He should be burning incense and praying to Buddha for a sister as capable as me! Thank God!"
Xiao Yanzi's words made everyone burst into laughter. Consort Ling covered her mouth and laughed, "With Xiao Yanzi in the palace, there's no shortage of fun."
Consort Shu followed up, saying, "Yes, every time I see Little Swallow, I feel so happy. As soon as she opens her mouth, I can't stop smiling!"
The Empress looked at Consort Yu with envy, "Consort Yu, with such a daughter-in-law, Yonghe Palace will surely be filled with laughter and joy from now on!"
Yongqi finally spoke up: "With Xiao Yanzi in this palace, everyone here will be laughing heartily all the time!"
Consort Ling smiled gently at Xiao Yanzi, "No wonder the Emperor said that Xiao Yanzi is his source of joy. Thinking about it, it's true."
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