Time flew by and it was Xiao Yucheng's second birthday. Originally, Xiao Jian wanted to hold a birthday banquet at the Xiao residence, but since Qing'er was the Empress Dowager's darling, Xiao Yucheng was naturally also pampered by the Empress Dowager. Therefore, the little guy's birthday banquet was held in the Cining Palace.
“Qing’er, seeing how happy you are now, I’m glad I agreed to your relationship with Xiao Jian. This way, I can face your parents in the afterlife with a clear conscience.”
Qing'er smiled and said, "What are you saying, Your Majesty? I know that Your Majesty is worried about me, which is why you were reluctant to agree to this marriage before. But in the end, didn't Your Majesty still personally go to the Emperor to ask for the imperial decree to grant the marriage on my behalf?"
The Empress Dowager sighed, "Xiao Jian longs for Dali. If you were to go with him alone, I would worry, and your father and mother would worry too. Now, for your sake and Xiao Yanzi's, he is willing to stay in the court and become Yongqi's right-hand man. This is enough to show how important you are to him!"
Qing'er asked curiously, "Your Majesty, what if Xiao Jian continues to refuse to stay in the court?"
"He sticks to his pursuit, and no one will say he's wrong, but he will absolutely never marry you!"
"You are someone I cherished and raised, a precious gem, someone who was waited on hand and foot. If you really marry him, wouldn't that mean you'd have to cook and prepare meals?"
Even if you're willing, I'm not. Your hands aren't meant for doing this kind of thing.
"You can do housework occasionally, but you can't spend all your time on it..."
The Empress Dowager hugged Xiao Yucheng and laughed, "Look at you now, Xiao Jian is in the court, and you have maids and servants at home. You certainly won't have to do any of the housework..."
"Qing'er, a few years ago, you probably thought that keeping Xiao Jian here was putting him in a difficult position, and that you still felt indebted to him, right?"
Qing'er nodded, "As expected of the Empress Dowager..."
"But let me tell you, you don't owe him anything at all. Your father sacrificed his life for the country, and you are a princess of the Aisin Gioro family. Your status is so noble. Logically speaking, you should be matched with at least a prince. Xiao Jian marrying you is him being too good for himself..."
"If all he's thinking about is how to lure you out of the palace and how to persuade you to abandon everything here, then I will definitely not agree to your relationship!"
"However, I've seen his behavior, so in the end I agreed to your relationship. By the time your child grows up, I'll probably be gone. At that time, if you two want to go to Dali or live somewhere else, that's fine with you..."
Qing'er frowned and said, "Your Majesty, why are you saying this all of a sudden? Little Sun still needs you to keep him company!"
The Empress Dowager smiled slightly, "Qing'er, everyone will reach that point eventually. Haven't you come to terms with it yet?"
"As long as you still remember me in your heart, I will always live in your heart, understand?"
"Your Majesty, it's almost time. The banquet is about to begin." Xiao Jian walked in, interrupting their conversation.
The Empress Dowager stood up and said, "Alright, let's go."
The Empress Dowager carried Xiao Yucheng in her arms, while Qing'er and Xiao Jian stood on either side, supporting her as they walked out.
Emperor Qianlong, the Empress, the concubines of the various palaces, and the younger generation such as Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi had already taken their seats.
When the Empress Dowager came out, everyone stood up and bowed.
The Empress Dowager waved her hand and said, "No need for formalities, please sit down."
Only after the Empress Dowager sat down did the others dare to sit down.
Qing'er looked at the Empress Dowager and said, "Empress Dowager, let me hold you."
Qing'er was also worried that the child would make a fuss and accidentally hurt the Empress Dowager.
The old lady smiled and said, "Although I am an old woman, I can still carry a two-year-old child."
Seeing that the Empress Dowager was determined to do so, they had no choice but to obey.
After the banquet, Xiao Jian and Qing'er stayed overnight at Cining Palace with Xiao Yucheng, while everyone else returned to their respective palaces.
As Yongqi walked back to Yonghe Palace, he said, "In a couple of days, we'll be going to the Summer Palace again."
Little Swallow nodded. "Yes, time really flies. Come to think of it, how many times have we gone to the Summer Palace?"
Yongqi thought for a moment and said, "If we count this year, this should be the fifth time, right?"
"The year before last, you and Sister-in-law Qing'er were both pregnant, so neither of us went."
"We're all going this year, no one can escape it."
Little Swallow laughed and said, "Even Mianhua and Mianyao will be taken along."
Hearing this, Yongqi felt a slight reluctance, but it vanished in an instant. "Okay, let's take them with us, and our family can be together!"
However, on their way back to the palace, they heard some indescribable sounds.
Yongyan was speechless. Why did they always run into these kinds of things?
Just as they were about to leave, they overheard the conversation between the mandarin ducks.
"How's the matter going?"
"Don't worry, everything is put away."
"Great, then we'll watch the show together."
After that, the pair of mandarin ducks left.
Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi, who were hiding to the side, naturally did not linger.
Both of them frowned, quietly left, returned to Yonghe Palace, and entered Yongqi's study before they began to speak.
Yongqi frowned and asked, "What were those two saying just now?"
Little Swallow shook her head. "What they're saying is so nonsensical, it's impossible to guess what they're talking about."
"The only thing we can guess is that what they put there might trigger some important event..."
Yongqi pondered, "What could it be?"
Little Swallow comforted her, "We'll meet force with force and water with earth. We're of one mind, so I'm not afraid of any demons or monsters!"
“I still feel something’s not right. I’ll have Xiao Shunzi and the others check Yonghe Palace and Shufangzhai, just in case they’ve let in anything they shouldn’t have…”
Little Swallow quickly stopped her, "No, if we do that, wouldn't that just tell them we heard what they said? Then we won't know what they're planning to do!"
"How about this, let's try a different approach. Even if we do discover something, it will be a happy accident..."
"What method?"
"Come closer to my ear."
Xiao Yanzi whispered a few words in Yongqi's ear, and Yongqi's eyes lit up instantly. "You're so smart!"
"That's right, look who my husband is! He's influenced by his company, so of course I've become smarter!"
Yongqi put his arm around Xiaoyanzi's waist and chuckled softly, "How come your little mouth is so sweet?"
Little Swallow hooked his chin and laughed, "Would you like to try some?"
Before Yongqi could make a move, Xiaoyanzi kissed his chin and licked his neck.
"Little Swallow..."
Yongqi said he had a headache; his wife was acting up again!
"Don't worry, I won't do anything reckless!" Little Swallow chuckled mischievously, then reached out to pull at Yongqi's clothes.
Yongqi grabbed Xiaoyanzi's misbehaving hand and threatened, "Xiaoyanzi, don't go too far, or you'll lose your freedom after you give birth to the child!"
Little Swallow whispered in Yongqi's ear, "Then let's see if your child is willing?"
"Even if I were willing to let you do whatever you want, your child wouldn't agree!"
"And Mother, Mother will not stand idly by!"
Yongqi was so angry at Xiaoyanzi's words that he almost vomited blood.
He chuckled twice, then leaned close to Little Swallow's ear and said, "Alright, I'll be waiting!"
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