"Father, if you promised someone something very important, but then broke your promise, and that person paid the price with their life, what would you do?"
Yongqi didn't want to talk about it so soon, but looking at Qianlong, he didn't know how to lie, so he had no choice but to tell the truth about his confusion.
After hearing this, Emperor Qianlong seemed to recall something, but he did not say anything more.
After regaining his senses, he looked at Yongqi and asked, "Who did you promise? And who is it that will pay for it with their life?"
Yongqi swallowed back the words he was about to say. He had been momentarily distracted and could not speak now.
He forced a smile. "I just had a nightmare. In the dream, I promised the most important person besides my father and mother that I would do something, but I couldn't keep it, and in the end, she..."
Yongqi's nightmare made it impossible for the class to proceed easily.
After finally enduring until Ji Xiaolan said that get out of class could end, Qianlong was the first to leave the study, followed by the brothers Yongqi and Fuerkang and Fuertai, who also slowly walked out.
Fu Ertai asked curiously, "Fifth Prince, who exactly were you talking about just now?"
“Ertai…” Fu Erkang, who was four years older than Ertai, stopped him from asking the question. “Fifth Prince, although I don’t know who you are talking about, I think that as long as you don’t intend to break your promise, I don’t think the other party will hold a grudge!”
Yongqi suppressed his disappointment and looked at Fu Erkang and Fu Ertai, "I'm going out of the palace to find someone. Do you want to come with me?"
"..." Fu Erkang and Fu Ertai both fell silent.
They didn't understand why Yongqi could change the subject so quickly, but since Yongqi had already asked, they naturally couldn't not answer.
After carefully considering his words, Fu Erkang said, "Fifth Prince, who are you looking for? We can help you. If it's not necessary, it's best not to leave the palace!"
Fu Ertai chimed in, "Yes, if you leave the palace, it will be difficult to explain to the Emperor!"
Yongqi smiled slightly and said, "So, I'm going to see Father Emperor in a bit. If Father Emperor agrees, would you like to come with me?"
The two brothers looked at each other and immediately nodded. "As long as the Emperor has no objection, we'll go with you!"
"Alright, I'll go to the Qianqing Palace to find Father Emperor right now!" Yongqi left after seeing that his two brothers had agreed, and then turned and ran towards the Qianqing Palace!
Watching Yongqi's departing figure, Fu'ertai was truly puzzled. "Brother, what's going on? Who is this person that he has to go find in person?"
Fu Erkang shook his head. "I don't know either. Let's go and wait at the entrance of the Qianqing Palace."
Xiao Luzi was somewhat surprised to see Yongqi run into the Qianqing Palace. He quickly bowed and greeted him, "This servant greets the Fifth Prince. May the Fifth Prince be well!"
"Eunuch Lu, I need to speak with Father Emperor. Please go and inform him!"
Seeing Yongqi's serious expression, Xiao Luzi didn't dare to be negligent. "Yes, Fifth Prince, please wait a moment, this servant will go and inform him."
A moment later, Xiao Luzi came out and said, "Fifth Prince, you may go in now!"
Yongqi hurriedly went inside and immediately bowed to Emperor Qianlong, who was reviewing memorials at the table, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be well!"
As Emperor Qianlong read the memorials, he asked, "Yongqi, what is it that you need to tell me at this hour?"
"Your Majesty, I would like to go out of the palace for a walk."
Yongqi's words made Qianlong look up instantly.
He asked, somewhat puzzled, "Yongqi, why do you suddenly want to leave the palace?"
Yongqi said, “Father, I often read about the hardships of the people in books, but I have never seen them with my own eyes. If I cannot understand the suffering of the people, how can I help them live a better life and make the Qing Dynasty stronger?”
"Therefore, I humbly request Your Majesty's permission for me to travel incognito within the capital. I wish to see, as an ordinary person, how the people outside are faring."
Yongqi's words made Qianlong, who was already tired from reviewing memorials, light up. He laughed and said, "Yongqi, you are really smart. However, you are only ten years old. I am really worried about letting you go out."
"Besides, even if I agreed, the Empress Dowager wouldn't agree!"
Yongqi hurriedly said, "As long as Father Emperor agrees, I will naturally have a way to get the Empress Dowager to agree as well!"
Seeing Yongqi's anxious expression, it seemed he was very worried about not being able to leave the palace.
Emperor Qianlong suddenly wondered what kind of capital city Yongqi would see if he were to actually go out.
He stood up, walked up to Yongqi, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "If you really want to leave the palace, then go ahead."
"However, you must conceal your identity. Remember to bring your Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Guizi with you, and you can also bring Erkang and Ertai along."
"But you have to be back by the beginning of the 5-7 PM."
"Also, every time you go out, you have to write an article describing what you saw in Beijing and tell Father Emperor. Can you do that?"
Yongqi nodded firmly, "No problem, I guarantee I will complete the mission!"
"Then go ahead. I'll speak to the Empress Dowager." Qianlong sat back in his seat and added, "Remember, safety comes first!"
"Thank you, Father Emperor, for granting my request. I will take my leave now!" Seeing that Qianlong had agreed, Yongqi was very happy. After kneeling to pay his respects, Yongqi left the Qianqing Palace.
Fu Erkang and Fu Ertai were waiting outside. "Erkang, Ertai, let me change into some civilian clothes before I go out."
"Huh?" Fu Erkang and Fu Ertai were dumbfounded again.
The two then went to Yonghe Palace. After Yongqi changed into some more commoner clothes, he came out. Fu Erkang was really curious. "Fifth Prince, who exactly are you going to find this time?"
"Exactly, who is this person that deserves your condescension?"
Yongqi smiled and said, "You'll find out later."
After obtaining Emperor Qianlong's permission, he was able to leave the palace every day to search for Xiao Yanzi. He hoped to find Xiao Yanzi as soon as possible so that she could have a wonderful childhood!
Yongqi had Xiaoshunzi and Xiaoguizi find a carriage, and the three of them got in and headed out of the palace.
The three chatted, but Yongqi was thinking about Xiaoyanzi and Benjamin, who hadn't arrived yet, muttering to himself, "(Benjamin won't be back until next year. Life without him will be so boring!)"
Although he and Erkang and Ertai were brothers, they lived outside the palace, so it wasn't as convenient for them to meet.
After Benjamin entered the palace, he lived in the Ruyi Pavilion. Without interfering with his studies or work, they could chat all night long.
Now, to make matters worse, he hasn't even arrived yet...
After leaving the palace, Fu'ertai asked curiously, "Fifth Prince, where are we going after leaving the palace?"
After Yongqi mentioned a place name, he told Xiaoshunzi and Xiaoguizi to drive the carriage to the place he wanted to go, and then said, "Get out of the carriage."
After the three got out of the car, the Erkang and Ertai brothers were very shocked. The house in front of them had cracks in the corners and the windows were drafty. They didn't know why Yongqi had come here.
Fortaire asked in a low voice, "Brother, could the person he's looking for be in here?"
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