The sixth day of the fourth lunar month is Xiao Yanzi's 19th birthday.
The entire group gathered at Shufangzhai. After Emperor Qianlong and the concubines presented their gifts, they dispersed.
Before leaving, Emperor Qianlong instructed, "Little Swallow, you two just have fun and don't need to worry about so much."
Yongyan's child was looked after by Consort Yu, Kangwei and Taiya's child was looked after by Fu Lun and his wife, and Xiaoqing's child was looked after by the Empress Dowager.
The younger generation could play freely, sometimes playing the piano and singing, sometimes dancing gracefully, making it a very lively scene.
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In a corner outside Shufangzhai, someone was watching them enviously, thinking, "I wish I could go and have fun with them too..."
"Your Majesty, let's go!"
"Xiaochun, let me take another look..."
"Your Majesty, you can't look anymore! What if we get caught..."
Xiaxia, standing nearby, advised, "Your Majesty, please don't act impulsively. Please be patient for now..."
She was finally persuaded, "Yes, we should be patient!"
We can't let a moment of happiness ruin all her grand plans!
"Let's go back!"
"(Little Swallow, I'll let you be happy for one more month. After that, you won't be able to laugh anymore!)"
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After Consort Yu's birthday, it will be the Dragon Boat Festival.
The palace was in a flurry of activity, both inside and outside. And on that very day, another major event occurred in the palace.
Are you ready?
Xia Xia asked worriedly, "Everything is ready, but Your Highness, are you really sure?"
"I've already thought it through. Rather than wasting time on the Emperor, I'd rather take a gamble!"
"But the Fifth Prince and his wife have a deep affection for each other. Even if you do manage to enter Yonghe Palace, I'm afraid..."
"There's still a long time to go. Who can guarantee that the Fifth Prince and she will stay this close forever? Maybe my appearance will shatter all of this!"
"No matter the outcome, I'm going to give it my all tonight!"
"Don't worry, if we succeed, you'll all rise to great heights with me; if we fail, I will never drag you down with me!"
Xiaochun and Xiaoxia quickly replied, "No matter the outcome, we will stand with Your Majesty!"
They've been with her since they were little, and she's been so good to them, so no matter what she's going to do, they'll be there for her!
"action!"
"Alright, everyone, go back to your respective palaces and get some rest." Emperor Qianlong dismissed the banquet, and everyone dispersed.
Yongyan and Consort Yu returned to Yonghe Palace, Kangwei and Taiya returned to the Scholar's Residence, and Xiao Qing returned to the General's Residence.
After Yongqi returned to Yonghe Palace, he went straight to his bedroom. Xiaoyanzi couldn't help but wonder, "What's wrong with you? You're actually drunk..."
Yongqi sighed, "With you by my side, it's hard for me not to get drunk..."
"Mother, Mingyue, and Caixia are taking care of the child, so let's get some rest!"
"Alright."
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Qing'er nestled comfortably in Xiao Jian's arms, closing her eyes to rest. "Xiao Jian, what are our plans next?"
Xiao Jian countered, "What arrangements do you want?"
Qing'er whispered, "As long as I'm with you, any arrangement is fine..."
Just as Xiao Jian was about to say something, Xiao Bin rushed over with a message, "Master, the young master has been poisoned..."
"What?" Xiao Jian and Qing'er were both shocked.
After the two rode back at full speed, they immediately went to find Xiao Yucheng.
Qing'er asked anxiously, "Shuangxi, what exactly happened?"
Before Shuangxi could answer, the doctor who was diagnosing Xiao Yucheng said that he was not skilled enough to treat him.
"Xiao Jian, go find Xiao Yanzi..." Qing'er's first thought was to find Xiao Yanzi, as she was the most skilled among the group of people who knew medicine!
"I'll go right away!" He rushed to the palace. By the time the news reached Xiao Yanzi, she was almost asleep!
"What? Little Sun is poisoned?" Little Swallow asked as she dressed and carried her medicine box outside.
"Xiao Shunzi, keep a close eye on Fifth Prince!" Xiao Yanzi felt to herself that tonight might really be anything but peaceful!
"Don't let anyone near him while I'm not around!"
"yes!"
Xiao Yanzi followed Xiao Jian out of the palace. When Emperor Qianlong and the Empress Dowager learned that Xiao Yucheng had been poisoned, they immediately sent people to check on the situation.
Consort Yu, who was guarding Yonghe Palace, paced anxiously back and forth in the courtyard. Mei'er comforted her, "The Princess Consort's medical skills are superb; she will surely be alright!"
"That child is still so young. If something happens to him, Qing'er and the Empress Dowager will probably be devastated..."
Just as she was worrying about Xiao Yucheng, many snakes appeared in Yonghe Palace.
"Ahhh, how could there be snakes in the palace..." Consort Yu and Mei'er were all trembling with fear!
"What's going on? Wasn't realgar already scattered in Yonghe Palace?"
The commotion in the courtyard alerted Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Guizi, who were guarding Yongqi.
"Xiao Guizi, you stay here and watch over the Fifth Prince, I'm going to go check on him..."
"Okay." However, not long after Xiao Shunzi left, various reptiles appeared outside Yongqi's room.
Even the hidden guards had to step out and help resolve the situation. "What exactly happened?"
When Yonghe Palace was in turmoil, the surrounding palaces were also all driving away these animals.
Xiao Shunzi frowned and said, "Could it be that it's not aimed at us?"
But this doesn't make sense!
It's Dragon Boat Festival, and the palace has been sprinkled with realgar for a long time, so there's no way the snakes could come!
Some of the guards in Yonghe Palace went to protect Consort Yu, some went to protect the two children, some went to protect Yongqi, and there were also guards protecting the eunuchs and palace maids. However, a fire suddenly broke out in Chengqian Palace next door. Consort Yu sent people to help put out the fire next door. If the fire got bigger, it would also affect Yonghe Palace.
Almost everyone around Yongqi had left, and she appeared in Yonghe Palace.
"Fifth Prince, I'm so sorry..."
She took off all her clothes, climbed into bed, touched Yongqi's face, and used her right hand to unbutton his clothes...
"Little Swallow..."
She overheard Yongqi's murmurs and thought to herself with a cold laugh, "(What a pity, there's no chance for you two anymore!)"
She needed to hurry and create the impression that Yongqi had been infatuated with her and ruined her reputation, so she worked even faster. But unexpectedly, someone suddenly barged in.
"...That's really an eyesore!" The man quickly knocked her unconscious, then threw the clothes on the ground to cover her. He looked down at Yongqi on the bed and laughed, "This time, I can do you a big favor!"
He returned from his travels and was surprised to witness such a shocking scene. "Tsk tsk tsk, it's a good thing I came back in time, otherwise your innocence would be in jeopardy, and Little Swallow would be furious. That would have been quite a show!"
After that, to prevent any further accidents, he sat directly by Yongqi's bedside and waited for Yongqi to wake up.
After the commotion at Yonghe Palace subsided, Consort Yu returned to check on Yongqi, only to find a stranger sitting by Yongqi's bedside, and a disheveled woman lying on the floor. "Who are you? And what's going on?"
“Ask them…” He glanced at Yongqi, then at the woman lying on the ground.
"Little Swallow, thank you so much this time!"
"Sister-in-law Qing'er, don't be so polite with me. We're family, why stand on ceremony..."
Xiao Jian said, "Little Swallow, it's so late, why don't you stay at the manor for the night?"
Little Swallow smiled and shook her head, "Forget it, I'd better go back. I have a bad feeling about this. I have to go back and keep an eye on Yongqi..."
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