Yongqi smiled slightly and said, "Father, of course I'm afraid, but fear won't solve anything. Only by becoming stronger can I protect those I want to protect!"
Emperor Qianlong sighed, "But Yongqi, only when you truly reach my position will you understand that some things cannot be accomplished simply by becoming powerful!"
"You know Xiao Yanzi's personality very well..."
"I understand this clearly too. To be one person for life, to be devoted to one person—how easy is that?"
"Father..." Yongqi was a little scared when Qianlong spoke to him so bluntly. "Your subject..."
Emperor Qianlong patted Yongqi on the shoulder and comforted him, "The Empress has already told me that she doesn't want her child to live such a tiring life; she just wants him to have a simple life."
"So, I can only place my hopes on you. Things like Consort Jia's will probably happen again and again. Can you handle them?"
"Father, I have confidence."
"I trust you all. As for Consort Jia, we haven't found any evidence against her yet, so we can't touch her. I'll just have to ask you to bear with this for now..."
"Tomorrow you will stay in your tents and rest for a day, so that Consort Jia and the others can catch their breath, and you can also rest."
"Yes, Father Emperor. Then I will take my leave. Father Emperor, please rest well."
Yongqi left and returned to his own tent, his mind filled with the words Qianlong had spoken to him, and he felt a great headache coming on!
However, he had to walk this path with Xiao Yanzi so that he could benefit more people.
Of course, the most important thing is that if a prince who is deeply favored by the emperor fails to ascend the throne, then the emperor who succeeds him will not tolerate him living!
By then, he and Little Swallow will probably have to flee from place to place!
He couldn't afford to gamble with human nature!
Therefore, the best option is for them to be in power themselves!
The next day, just as Qianlong had instructed, they stayed peacefully in their tents.
Meanwhile, Consort Jia, who had sent men to assassinate them, was sweating profusely in her tent, constantly worried that she would be discovered. "Are you sure all those people are dead and that no one has escaped?"
"It's confirmed, they're all dead, and there's not a trace of us on them. The Emperor won't be able to find out!"
"Your Majesty, you mustn't give yourself away! As long as we keep our composure, the Emperor will never know it was us!"
Meanwhile, Yongqi and the others followed Fu Lun and Fu Heng to see the bodies. Yongqi asked, "Uncle Fu, can you see any clues?"
Fu Heng shook his head. "They did it very discreetly, and they had already decided that if things failed, they would commit suicide and not reveal the identity of their so-called master."
To put it bluntly, they were afraid of being tortured, so they simply logged off to avoid further suffering.
Knowing full well who the culprit might be, but having no evidence to point it out, Yongqi felt particularly frustrated!
If they wait for Consort Jia to make another move, will they have the same good fortune?
If they were to force Consort Jia to take action, it would simply be a matter of using her son to carry out their plans.
However, Yongqi was unwilling to use this method!
After all, Yongcheng and the others hadn't done anything to wrong him, so he really couldn't use them.
A few days later, the half-month competition that Yongqi and his friends had agreed upon came to an end.
Emperor Qianlong announced the results: "First place goes to Xiao Yanzi, second place to Qing'er... and last place to Yongqi..."
When this result was announced, everyone was stunned and couldn't believe it!
"Fifth Prince is actually last place! No way!"
"I think he was just trying to make that little swallow happy..."
"That's right, that's right. I heard that the last place winner is supposed to make a weapon for the first place winner. The Fifth Prince is probably taking this opportunity to give her a gift."
"They said they'd make them by hand, but does the Fifth Prince know how to make weapons?"
"If you don't know how, you can learn. We have so many skilled craftsmen; surely they can make it."
"I'm so envious!"
On this day that brought both joy and shock to everyone, a snake silently appeared among them...
Emperor Qianlong called Xiao Yanzi over and said with a smile, "Xiao Yanzi, come here. You are now in first place. Yongqi wants to make you a gift, but that's Yongqi's business..."
"However, I can also give you something. Just tell me what it is, and as long as it's reasonable, I can give it to you!"
"Your Majesty..." Before Xiao Yanzi could finish speaking, she saw a terrifying snake appear behind Qianlong!
She quickly pushed Qianlong back, saying, "Your Majesty, be careful, there's a snake!"
Little Swallow's words threw everyone present into chaos!
The snake seemed to be frightened too; its target had been pushed away by the swallow, so it chased after the swallow!
But with Yongqi and the others present, how could they possibly succeed?
Thankfully, it was another close call; the snake was killed!
However, the women present were also terrified!
Emperor Qianlong looked at Xiao Yanzi with concern, "Xiao Yanzi, are you alright? Did the snake bite you?"
Little Swallow shook her head, "Thank you, Your Majesty, Little Swallow is alright!"
"That's strange, how could there be snakes in a place like this?"
Although Xiao Yanzi said she was fine, Emperor Qianlong still sent Physician Hu to examine her. "Your Majesty, Miss Xiao Yanzi is indeed fine, she was just a little frightened!"
"But strangely enough, Miss Little Swallow actually had a powder on her that could attract snakes..."
"What?"
Everyone was shocked. Could it be that Little Swallow deliberately released snakes to harm Emperor Qianlong?
Yongqi frowned and asked, "Doctor Hu, is this absolutely true, without a single word of falsehood?"
Physician Hu hurriedly said, "Fifth Prince, you are wise. I dare not speak recklessly. In my opinion, it is likely that someone is deliberately trying to frame the young lady, and even the Fifth Prince..."
Yes, if the snake approached Qianlong because of Xiaoyanzi, then wouldn't Yongqi, the Fifth Prince behind Xiaoyanzi, be a more suspicious person?
To murder a monarch, or even to seize the throne, is a capital offense!
Xiao Yanzi was so frightened that she immediately knelt down to defend Yongqi, "Your Majesty, Yongqi would never do such a thing. In Yongqi's heart, you are the Emperor Father he respects and admires the most. He would only risk his life to protect you. How could he possibly harm you?"
"Xiao Yanzi was rescued and brought back to the palace by Yongqi. The Emperor also avenged our Xiao family. The Emperor and Yongqi are both Xiao Yanzi's benefactors. Xiao Yanzi would never repay kindness with enmity. I beg the Emperor to investigate thoroughly and not to wrong Yongqi!"
Those who were on good terms with Xiao Yanzi and Yongqi all knelt down and pleaded for their lives, "Your Majesty, please investigate!"
Emperor Qianlong was deeply moved and shocked by this scene. "Get up, all of you!"
"Little Swallow, I would never doubt Yongqi, no matter who I suspect. I absolutely believe in Yongqi, and I believe in you too!"
Emperor Qianlong publicly expressed his attitude, which delighted Yongqi's side, while Consort Jia's expression visibly turned ugly.
Just as everyone was focused on what was ahead, someone noticed a palace maid trying to sneak out and immediately shouted, "Someone is trying to escape!"
Everyone looked at the person who had run away. Qianlong immediately ordered the palace maid to be brought back. "Who are you? Why did you run away?"
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