Time accelerated again. This day was the first day of the Lunar New Year, the day Qianlong handed the country over to Yongqi.
The main characters' ages in the first year of Rongchun
(The current time is January, but Xiao Yanzi conceived in March.)
(Fu Zhentian was born on December 14th last year, so he will only be 1 year old on December 14th this year.)
All the civil and military officials knelt with their heads bowed in the Taihe Hall Square. Inside the Taihe Hall, Emperor Qianlong handed the Imperial Seal of the State to Yongqi, who was already wearing the dragon robe. "Yongqi, I am entrusting the empire to you!"
Yongqi respectfully said, "Father, rest assured, your son will certainly live up to your high expectations!"
"I believe in you!" Qianlong helped Yongqi up. "I will stay in Ning Shou Palace for another six months. After six months, I will also have to go out and travel."
Then, Qianlong looked at Fu Lun, Fu Heng, and E Min below the stage and said, "The three of you can also have your wish fulfilled."
The three knelt down, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting our request!"
It turns out that Emperor Qianlong wanted to retire, and Fu Lun, Fu Heng, and E Min also wanted to retire. They went to ask Emperor Qianlong for permission, and he agreed. After abdicating the throne to Yongqi, they could go home and take care of their children!
"I'm leaving." With the abdication completed, his task for the day was finished.
"Respectfully seeing off the Emperor Emeritus!"
After that, Yongqi, oh no, it was Yongqi who sat on the dragon throne.
(However, in private, Xiao Yanzi still calls him Yongqi.)
"Today I ascend the throne, and I shall follow the path of filial piety and benevolence, honoring my birth mother, Lady Keliyete, as the Holy Mother Empress Dowager, and my primary consort, Lady Xiao, as the Empress..."
The Empress Dowager Cixi was promoted to Grand Empress Dowager, but she still lived in the main hall of Cining Palace.
Consort Yu was promoted to Empress Dowager and moved to a side hall of Cining Palace.
Consort Ling was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort Ling, Consort Shu was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort Shu, Consort Ying was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort Ying, and Consort Yu was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort Yu.
Of this group, only the Imperial Noble Consort Ling lived with Emperor Qianlong in the Ning Shou Palace.
The rest of the people were all to move into the Shou Kang Palace, which was originally occupied by the imperial concubines.
Yongqi then promoted Fu Erkang to Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and Xiao Jian was put in charge of the Ministry of War and the Xiao Family Army.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
After a flurry of ceremonial duties, Yongqi's stomach was growling with hunger.
However, Xiao Yanzi, who was promoted to Empress, came to Shufangzhai.
Yongqi also went to Shufangzhai, "Little Swallow".
Yongqi rushed over, and Xiaoyanzi was stunned. "You're the emperor now, can't you be a little more composed?"
Yongqi shook his head. "As the saying goes, when you see someone you love, you should rush over to them."
"Stop being silly. You've been busy all morning, you must be hungry. I'll go make you something to eat right away."
"Thank you, Madam!"
Yongqi helped Xiaoyanzi with her work in the kitchen, and then they went to the restaurant for a meal.
Such an ordinary yet loving couple is rare, even among ordinary people.
Afterwards, the two went to see the Empress Dowager, who was still at Yonghe Palace.
"The Emperor has arrived, and the Empress has arrived."
Although Xiao Yanzi has not been officially conferred the title, she is already being addressed as Empress in the palace.
"emperor."
Hearing this address, Yongqi felt genuinely uncomfortable. "Mother!"
"You don't need to act like this in front of me!"
"Outsiders treat me like an emperor, you can't do that, I'm your son!"
Little Swallow chimed in, "Yongqi is right. It would be one thing if we were outside, but on our own turf, we don't need all that. You can still call him the same way you used to!"
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Alright, then I'll still call you Yongqi in private, but Your Majesty in public."
Yongqi laughed and said, "That's more like it!"
“Father, Mother, Grandmother.” Mianhua, Mianyao, and Mianzhi rushed in.
Little Swallow laughed and said, "Why are you running so fast?"
Mianyao, holding Xiaoyanzi's hand, smiled and said, "I'm so happy!"
Then, Mianyao looked at Yongqi very seriously, "Father Emperor, now that you're the Emperor, you can't be like Grandfather Emperor, otherwise..."
"Or what?" Yongqi asked Mianyao with a smile.
"Or else... or else I'll take my mother and leave the palace, and never come back!"
Yongqi looked at Mianyao in a very serious tone, then at Mianhua and Mianzhi, "Don't worry, the three of you, there will only be your Empress Mother by my side!"
"Those ministers are all perceptive; they know who your father and mother are, and they wouldn't dare to go against us!"
Little Swallow said with a smile, "Besides, there's your uncle's Xiao family army and your great-uncle's Feng family army. How dare they do anything reckless?"
After hearing this, Mianyao nodded, "That makes sense!"
Three days later, the coronation ceremony will take place.
It was another momentous ceremony. The two stood hand in hand on the steps of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, receiving the kowtows of the officials: "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"
"All of you, rise."
After all the formalities were over, Xiao Yanzi immediately took off her heavy hat and changed out of her complicated clothes.
Little Swallow lay paralyzed on the bed, saying, "I'm exhausted."
Yongqi smiled and looked at her, "Let me rub it for you."
With her eyes closed, Xiao Yanzi enjoyed Yongqi's massage when she suddenly asked, "Judging by the time, shouldn't Benjamin and the others be arriving soon?"
Yongqi frowned and said, "If all goes well, it might arrive in February or March..."
"I wonder how long Benjamin will stay here this time. If we can wait for Ertesaya to come back, and then have Hanxiang and Mardan bring the children over, then our whole group will be together."
Little Swallow nodded, "That's true."
“However, we are all very busy people and cannot easily leave the capital. Ertai and Saiya are fine, but Hanxiang and Mardan are currently very busy and I'm afraid they won't be able to find the time to come over anytime soon.”
Yongqi smiled and said, "As long as we're still in this world, we'll always be able to reunite."
"Too."
"Now that you're comfortable, isn't it my turn?"
Little Swallow was speechless. "Hey, do you really have to do this?"
"You're going to make me exhausted for my coronation ceremony again? Is there no justice in this world?"
"Besides, it's broad daylight. Do you want your mother to roll her eyes at you again?"
"If your grandmother knew, she'd probably be angry again!"
Yongqi smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything!"
-------------------------------------
More than half a month later, Benjamin and Jimmy arrived in Tianjin, the territory of the Qing Dynasty.
Jimmy asked curiously, "Ben, where are we now?"
Benjamin took a deep breath and chuckled, "Jimmy, this is Tianjin."
Jimmy then asked, "So where should we go next?"
Benjamin smiled. "With me, let's go to a place first."
Jimmy followed Benjamin to Yongqi's Wuxiang Valley branch in Tianjin. "Hey."
The two's unusual appearances had already caught the attention of the Wuxiang Valley branch.
"Artist Ban, you're finally back."
"I want two horses."
"Please wait a moment, Mr. Ban."
Immediately, someone led out two fine horses. "Master Ban, these two horses are the fastest. They should arrive in the capital around sunset tomorrow."
Just as Benjamin was about to thank him, Jimmy's stomach growled.
"Artists, have you guys eaten yet?"
"Then let's stay here, have a meal, and continue our journey."
“Okay.” Benjamin glanced at Jimmy helplessly and nodded.
Jimmy was already hooked, exclaiming, "Ben, this is too delicious!"
Benjamin patted her head and smiled, "Now that you're in China, why not try speaking in Chinese!"
Jimmy nodded as he ate, "Understood!"
After finishing their meal, the two set off on horseback.
The people from the Wuxiang Valley branch immediately sent a message to Yongqi via carrier pigeon.
Yongqi received the message around 3 PM.
"Little Swallow, Benjamin will arrive in Beijing tomorrow, and he'll be accompanied by a foreign girl."
Little Swallow laughed and said, "This must be the person Benjamin will spend the rest of his life with. I wonder what she looks like?"
Yongqi said, "Anyone who can catch Benjamin's eye will definitely catch your eye too."
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