This day was the first day of the tenth lunar month.
Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi, Xiaojian and Qing'er are preparing to take their children to Hangzhou to pay respects to their ancestors.
The affairs of the court were to be overseen by the brothers Fu Erkang and Fu Ertai.
It took them half a month to travel by horse-drawn carriage from the Summer Palace to Hangzhou.
On the morning of October 16th, they arrived in Hangzhou.
Since they were there to pay respects to their ancestors, they didn't bring many people with them.
Their clothing was all simple and plain, so the people of Hangzhou did not realize that the new emperor and empress had come to their territory.
Yongqi, Xiaoyanzi, and the others arrived at the Xiao residence in Hangzhou in a low-key manner. After resting at the Xiao residence, they went to pay their respects to Xiao Zhihang and Du Xueyin early the next morning.
"Father, Mother, we're back." Now, when Xiao Jian looked at Xiao Zhihang and Du Xueyin's tombstones, he no longer had a bitter and resentful look, but a big smile.
"Father, Mother, don't worry. With me and the child by his side, Xiao Jian will be filled with happiness from now on."
After they had finished talking with the two elders, they returned to the Xiao residence.
The children stayed quietly until October 20th. Mianyao looked up at Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi and said, "Dad, Mom, I want to go out and play."
Five-year-old Xiao Yuting stood unsteadily beside Mian Yao, looking pitifully at Xiao Jian and Qing'er, "Dad, Mom, please let me go out and play with my cousin!"
Xiao Yucheng said, "Father, Mother, you must be tired of staying in the mansion and want to go out. How about this, Mianhua and I will take care of our younger brother and sister, and you can have someone follow behind us."
Mianhua nodded, "Yeah, anyway, you guys don't want to come with us..."
Xiao Jian/Yong Qi: ...Why are you speaking such blunt truths?
However, Xiao Jian and Qing'er are free to go out and play.
Little Swallow, on the other hand, could only take walks in the courtyard, after all, she was now seven months pregnant.
(Xiao Yanzi found out she was one month pregnant in April, and now she's ten months along, so she's seven months pregnant in total.)
Actually, Yongqi originally didn't want to bring Xiaoyanzi along, since Xiaoyanzi was pregnant and it wasn't appropriate for her to go out.
But Xiao Yanzi felt that she still had to go there in person to tell her parents that she was pregnant again.
As a result, Yongqi was tormented by the mother and daughter on the road, but he enjoyed it nonetheless.
Now, the adults have gone out to play, and the children have gone out to play too.
Yongqi could only slowly help Xiaoyanzi take a walk in the yard. "Xiaoyanzi, if you get tired, go back and rest."
"The weather is getting colder now, so I can't catch a cold."
Little Swallow smiled and comforted me, "Don't worry, I'm not a child anymore, how could I catch a cold so easily?"
"Besides, I still have you."
To be honest, Xiao Yanzi now blindly trusts Yongqi, as if no matter what happens, Yongqi can handle it.
"Okay, I will definitely protect you well."
"I think we should stay at the Xiao residence until you give birth to the child."
"Otherwise, I'm really scared on the way back."
Little Swallow nodded, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
"But if we calculate it this way, doesn't that mean we won't be able to go back until after the New Year?"
"After being away for so long, the court officials must be making a fuss, right?"
Yongqi frowned. "Let them make a scene. I believe Erkang and Ertai can keep them in check."
"Besides, before I left, I left the imperial sword to Erkang. Who would dare to act recklessly?"
"You have to believe that our brother-in-law has the ability!"
Little Swallow nodded. "That's true, but Ziwei should be even more powerful."
Yongqi smiled and helped Xiaoyanzi sit on the soft couch. "Then we should be glad that we have such a capable sister and brother-in-law, who can help us keep an eye on things in the court."
As Xiao Yanzi watched Yongqi cover her with the blanket, she said, "However, I think Erkang and Ziwei are just like us, they all want to put aside national affairs as soon as possible."
"Tell me, isn't it a bit unfair of us to leave such an important matter to Mianhua and the others?"
Yongqi sat down at Xiaoyanzi's feet and looked at her with a smile. "Actually, I'm thinking that if possible, anyone who is talented, willing to treat the people well, and can make the right decisions when foreign countries invade, can be the emperor."
"If none of those three children are willing to take the position, then we'll choose someone else..."
Do you have someone in mind?
"Fifteenth Brother is a good person."
"If Hua'er and the others are unwilling, I do think that the fifteenth brother is a good candidate."
Little Swallow asked, puzzled, "Fifteenth Brother? He's only seven years old. How can you be so sure he can do it?"
Yongqi hesitated for a moment before speaking, "This...maybe it's just intuition."
“The fifteenth brother is a year younger than Hua’er and the others. It would be appropriate for them to take over when they are capable.”
Little Swallow suddenly laughed, "Father Emperor has always wanted to pass the throne to you, so that you can govern the country well and achieve true peace and prosperity..."
"But he never expected that you, who have only been on the throne for a little over six months, would already be thinking about abdicating."
Yongqi pouted, "Father Emperor has always known that I love beauty more than the throne. If I had a choice, I would only want to be an ordinary couple with you!"
"To work at sunrise and rest at sunset, how wonderful those days would be..."
Little Swallow pinched his cheek and said with a smile, "What if an ordinary couple encounters powerful and wealthy people bullying them?"
"Only by possessing supreme power can you protect those you want to protect."
"Otherwise, you'll easily be bullied!"
“I saw many such examples when I traveled around in the past.”
"There are countless cases of officials' sons forcibly abducting women and daughters forcibly abducting men."
"Forced abduction of a civilian man?" Yongqi was a little confused.
Little Swallow nodded, "Yes, in every corner of this world, things you can't imagine or have never experienced can happen..."
"That's why we need a monarch like you who has the ability to change this situation!"
"Yongqi, during your tenure, you must fulfill your duties and not let girls like me suffer such a hard life..."
Yongqi smiled, touched Xiaoyanzi's cheek, and said, "Don't worry, since I promised you, I will definitely do it and I will never give up halfway!"
Although he wanted to give up every day and not care about those things, since he had taken this position, he should be responsible for this position and for his subjects!
Therefore, while Xiao Yanzi was sleeping, he would occasionally review the memorials that Fu Erkang had sent over that he couldn't handle.
Xiao Jian and Qing'er, the couple, didn't return until it was almost dark.
Mianhua's children returned around 3 PM.
After Mianyao returned, she chattered excitedly to Xiaoyanzi about what she had for lunch, making Xiaoyanzi's mouth water. "Yongqi, I want to eat too!"
Each time Yongqi became pregnant, he had to abstain from sex, while Xiaoyanzi had to abstain from "sexual activity".
It's so hard to resist the temptation of delicious food.
Seeing Xiao Yanzi frown, Yongqi comforted her, "Okay, let's be patient a little longer. When it's ready to eat, I'll cook it for you right away."
Upon hearing that Yongqi was going to cook himself, Mianyao couldn't sit still and rushed to Yongqi's side, saying, "Dad, I want to eat too."
Yongqi glared at her, "There's none for you. If you want to eat, make it yourself!"
Mianhua pulled her back, "Okay, I'll make it for you."
Then Mianhua led his younger siblings away, clearly sensing Yongqi's anger.
Xiao Yanzi already liked those delicacies, and Mianyao still said them in front of her without any regard for her feelings. No wonder Yongqi was angry!
(It's really too difficult to get Aunt Little Swallow to resist eating delicious food!)
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