As the carriage traveled down the street, sure enough, a person carrying something ran towards Qianlong's carriage.
Upon seeing this, Fang Shizhou was naturally extremely anxious.
But the more anxious he became, the more itchy he felt. The itch made him completely oblivious to the man who rushed up to Qianlong's carriage.
"Your Majesty, we beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for us common people!"
Although Wuxiang Valley, Ziyun Sect, and Xiao Yanlou sent people to help the people, it was ultimately a drop in the ocean.
Only by eliminating the culprit, Fang Zhou, can the people live a good life.
After listening to the man's request, Emperor Qianlong felt so itchy that he couldn't resist taking off his clothes.
"Guards, seize Fang Zhou for me."
After issuing the order, Emperor Qianlong immediately sent people to investigate and verify what Fang Zhou had done. Once confirmed, he was executed on the spot.
Two days later, Fang Shizhou was taken to the execution platform and beheaded as a warning to the public.
Afterwards, Emperor Qianlong traveled south, providing disaster relief along the way. The people were deeply grateful for the emperor's boundless grace, recognizing him as a good emperor who cared for the country and its people.
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That day, Xiao Yanzi, Xia Ziwei, and Qing'er accompanied Emperor Qianlong and the Empress Dowager in a carriage, while Mianhua and Mianyao, the other little ones, rode in another carriage.
Xia Ziwei glanced at the scenery outside the car window and asked, "Father, are we almost in Haining? Where will we stay tonight?"
Emperor Qianlong smiled and said, "Tonight... I'll probably be staying at the Chen family's place. Chen Bangzhi from Haining is an old friend of mine. His Chen Garden is not much different from the family gardens in Suzhou."
Little Swallow looked at Qing'er across from her and asked, "...Sister-in-law Qing'er, is their family the one that has the skills of playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting?"
Qing'er nodded, "That's right, it's their family."
Little Swallow swallowed hard, thinking to herself, "(If Yongqi and I hadn't worked so hard, perhaps even the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting would have become my rivals?)"
The carriage arrived outside the Chen residence, where Chen Bangzhi and his wife welcomed Emperor Qianlong and his entourage into the main hall.
Emperor Qianlong and the Empress Dowager sat at the head of the table. To their right were the Empress, Consort Yu, Consort Ling, Consort Shu, and Consort Ying. To their left were Chen Bangzhi and his wife, as well as young people such as Yongyan, Kangwei, and Xiaoqing.
After the tea was served, the four daughters of the Chen family stood in the center of the hall.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, these are our Chen family's four young daughters: Zhiqin, Zhiqi, Zhishu, and Zhihua."
"May Your Majesty be blessed, and may the Empress Dowager be blessed." The four of them bowed and greeted each other.
The Empress Dowager and Emperor Qianlong both smiled broadly as they looked at the four girls, praising them highly.
Chen Bangzhi and his wife naturally didn't dare to take advantage of the situation. Chen Bangzhi said modestly, "Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager are too kind. How can the four daughters of the Chen family compare to the three princesses traveling with us..."
The Empress Dowager asked with a smile, "Have your four daughters been betrothed yet?"
Her words shocked everyone present.
Many thoughts flashed through Chen Bangzhi's mind, but he still smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Zhiqin, Zhiqi, and Zhishu are all married. Only my daughter Zhihua is still unmarried. Does Your Majesty mean to find a match for my daughter? That would be a great blessing for her."
"Zhihua, come here." The Empress Dowager called Chen Zhihua, who was standing in front of her, over. "How old are you?"
Chen Zhihua walked up to the Empress Dowager and said, "Your Majesty, I am seventeen."
The old lady held her hand and asked again, "What kind of books do you usually read?"
"Your Majesty, Zhihua didn't study much. She only studied the Biographies of Exemplary Women, the Four Books, Three Hundred Tang Poems, and the Complete Song Lyrics. Father also taught her the Zizhi Tongjian and the Records of the Grand Historian. Father said that a Chinese person cannot be ignorant of Chinese history..."
Everyone looked at Chen Zhihua with curiosity, except for Yongqi, Fu Erkang, and Xiao Jian.
They were all too busy watching their own wives to pay attention to anyone else, and they didn't take the conversation between the Empress Dowager and Chen Zhihua to heart.
However, Xiao Yanzi, Xia Ziwei, and Qing'er, who were listening in, felt that the conversation between the two was a bit strange.
"Qing'er, what is the Empress Dowager trying to do?" Xia Ziwei looked at the Empress Dowager's eyes and felt a little flustered.
Qing'er held Xia Ziwei's hand, "Calm down, we can't panic, let's see."
Little Swallow smiled and said, "No matter what the Empress Dowager is planning, it won't affect the three of us."
After all, Emperor Qianlong had personally promised that he would never interfere in Yongqi's marriage!
As for Ziwei and Qing'er, one is Emperor Qianlong's precious daughter and the other is the Empress Dowager's beloved daughter. It is absolutely impossible for them to allow Fu'erkang and Xiao Jian to take concubines.
So this time, if the Empress Dowager wants to cause trouble, the only possible target is Little Swallow.
However, it's also possible that they're overthinking it. Perhaps the Empress Dowager really just wanted to help Chen Zhihua find a husband!
When the Empress Dowager announced that Zhihua should marry into the Aisin Gioro family, everyone panicked.
"Your Majesty," Qianlong spoke first anxiously, "I promised Yongqi I would never interfere! Please don't make me break my promise!"
The Empress Dowager glanced at Emperor Qianlong and said, "I haven't even said who it is yet, why are you in such a hurry?"
"I'm talking about Yongrong. He's only four years older than Zhihua, and I think they're a perfect match..."
Upon hearing Yongrong's name, the three young couples, Yongyan, Kangwei, and Xiaoqing, finally felt at ease.
The Empress Dowager looked at Chen Zhihua, "Zhihua, are you willing?"
"..." Chen Zhihua fell silent.
Because in her heart, she still favored Prince Rong, Yongqi.
Suddenly, Mianyao, who was standing next to Yongqi, spoke up, "Sister Zhihua, I know that many people want to marry my father, but unfortunately, my father and mother's world cannot tolerate the interference of any outsiders."
"Similarly, my brothers and I cannot tolerate outsiders entering our Prince Rong's Mansion..."
"My sixth uncle is gentle and doesn't like too many people serving him. If you marry him and become his primary wife, you won't have to compete with others for anything in the future."
"On the contrary, if you insist on pursuing someone who doesn't belong to you, you'll suffer the consequences."
Upon hearing Mianyao's words, Chen Zhihua's face turned pale. "What are you saying, Princess? Zhihua knows her place and wouldn't dare to even dream of such a thing..."
"It had better be true, otherwise I, the princess, will show you what price you'll pay for coveting my father!"
She had watched her father and mother's loving relationship for so many years, and she couldn't let anyone destroy it!
If someone is ungrateful, she'd rather be the bad guy.
Mianyao came to Qianlong again and said, "Grandpa, I know that what I said just now may have been a bit too much, but these are all my true feelings. Grandpa knows best how much Father and Mother have been through to be together, so I will absolutely not let anyone ruin it!"
She turned to look at Chen Zhihua, "Sister Zhihua, if you don't have those intentions, then I'll apologize to you personally after you become my sixth aunt."
Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi were deeply moved to see Mianyao protecting them so much.
"Good child, your mother has truly not loved you for nothing."
Mianyao pinched Xiaoyanzi's cheek. "You are my mother. We can fight all we want, but we absolutely cannot let outsiders interfere!"
Yongqi squatted down and said to Mianyao, "You are truly your father's good daughter."
Mianyao said smugly, "That's right, anyone who covets you will be kept out of the palace!"
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