"..." Xiao Yanzi and Xia Ziwei fell silent.
Yongqi's chopsticks snapped with a crack. Jiang Ying swallowed hard, somewhat frightened. "Master, how should we handle this?"
"...What should we do? Beat him up in the middle of the night?"
Yongqi suddenly said, "Throw that Liu guy back to their gang and openly question them about what they're up to."
"If I remember correctly, the most annoying thing in the martial arts world is this kind of behavior of planting spies in other sects."
Jiang Ying nodded, "Fifth Prince is right. If we openly and honestly throw them back, and then the news spreads throughout the martial arts world, then..."
Xia Ziwei worriedly said, "What if the leader of the Flying Tiger Gang also admits it? What if he has developed feelings for the sect leader? Wouldn't that make us a laughing stock?"
Yongqi said, "There's nothing wrong with liking beautiful women and handsome men, but the mistake lies in planting spies, which is despicable!"
"At that time, everyone in the martial arts world will thoroughly investigate whether there are any spies from other sects among them?"
After a moment, Xiao Yanzi said, "Okay, Jiang Ying, do as Yongqi says and send the message back."
Jiang Ying then asked, "What if they insist on seeing you?"
“I haven’t been able to travel that far lately. The Flying Tigers’ headquarters is in Sichuan, which is far from the central government’s reach, so it can’t be resolved in a short time.”
Xia Ziwei continued, "Unless the Emperor goes on another incognito tour, it is unlikely that he will go to Sichuan."
Yongqi looked at Xiaoyanzi, then at Jiang Ying, "Then let's arrange a time and place closer to us."
After pondering for a while, Xiao Yanzi finally spoke up: "If they insist on seeing me, then let's meet at the Summer Palace in July this year... You can discuss and arrange the details, and then let me know when the time comes."
Xia Ziwei pressed further, "Little Swallow, are you going to show your true face this time?"
Little Swallow shook her head. "Not for now. If they find out I'm a girl beforehand, a bunch of people will definitely cause me trouble. I don't have that much time to deal with them!"
After discussing some internal religious matters, Jiang Ying got up and left the palace.
Watching Jiang Ying's departing figure, Yongqi sighed, "Little Swallow, Jiang Ying's martial arts skills have become so formidable? She can come and go from the palace with ease!"
Little Swallow laughed and said, "My brother said that Jiang Ying is a martial arts genius. In recent years, her martial arts have improved by leaps and bounds. If you don't play dirty tricks on her, there are really not many people in the world who can fight her."
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"Greetings, Princess! Greetings, Your Majesty!" The crowd gathered around the parrot that could mimic speech, looking at it curiously. Little Swallow looked at Yongqi happily, "Yongqi, where did you find this parrot?"
"Xiao Shunzi stumbled upon it by chance, and I thought it was interesting, so I brought it over to you."
Little Swallow pressed on, "Is this parrot the birthday present you're giving me this year?"
Yongqi nodded. "Yes, it also has a name, Little Liar. Xiaoshunzi and Xiaoguizi have been tricked by it several times."
"Really?" Little Swallow looked at Little Shunzi and Little Guizi with some disbelief. "You two, do you really think you were fooled by it?"
The two nodded repeatedly. Xiao Shunzi smiled and looked at Xiao Yanzi, "Princess, Xiao Guizi and I have been scared half to death several times when we heard 'May the Emperor be auspicious,' only to turn around and find that no one was there at all."
"Yongqi, is this all you have for a birthday present? That doesn't seem like your style, does it?" Qing'er, who came later, looked at Yongqi with a smile. "I bet you have other presents you haven't brought out yet."
Xiao Jian chimed in, "That's right, giving Xiao Yanzi a gift isn't something you would do!"
Little Swallow looked at Yongqi with a smile, "There's another gift? Then don't hide it, take it out quickly."
"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived, His Majesty the Empress has arrived, Her Majesty the Empress, Her Majesty Consort Yu..." The eunuchs' voices rang out one after another at the entrance of Shufangzhai.
The crowd then stood in two or three rows, bowing and greeting the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and the ladies of the palace.
"May His Majesty be blessed, may the Empress Dowager be blessed, may Her Majesty the Empress be blessed..."
No need for formalities.
Emperor Qianlong, the Empress Dowager, and the ladies of the palace all brought gifts for Xiao Yanzi. "Xiao Yanzi, what gift did Yongqi give you this year?"
"Greetings to Your Majesty, Greetings to the Empress Dowager." The parrot's voice rang out at the right moment. Qianlong looked at the parrot curiously, "Yongqi, is this the gift you gave to Xiaoyanzi?"
Yongqi nodded, while Xiaoyanzi muttered, "Your Majesty, Qing'er said that this is only one of them. He has other plans, but he hasn't brought them out yet."
Emperor Qianlong looked at Yongqi curiously, "Really? Yongqi, since you have something prepared, why don't you take it out quickly?"
Yongqi was a little embarrassed. "Father, I'll give this to Xiaoyanzi privately later."
Xia Ziwei said with a smile, "It seems to be a secret that none of us can see."
"Little Swallow, this is a necklace my mother gave me, and today I'm giving it to you..." The Empress Dowager's voice drew everyone's attention.
Little Swallow looked at the Empress Dowager with some disbelief, "Your Majesty, this is too precious."
“Your name is already on the imperial register, so you're considered part of the royal family. Can't I even give my granddaughter-in-law a necklace? Or are you looking down on her?”
Little Swallow quickly shook her head, "Your Majesty, how could Little Swallow dare to dislike it?"
"Since you don't mind, then accept this gift. After you and Yongqi are officially married, may you produce offspring for the royal family as soon as possible." When this was mentioned, both Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi blushed.
The others were all secretly laughing, waiting for Yongyan's wedding day to arrive.
After the Empress, Consort Yu, Consort Ling, Consort Shu, and others delivered their gifts, they retreated with Emperor Qianlong and his entourage. "Alright, now that we've delivered our gifts, let's go. Let's leave the time and space for the younger generation. Little Swallow, I hereby grant you permission to be unrestrained and drink to your heart's content today."
"Yongqi, Xiaojian, Erkang, Ertai, Benjamin, you guys take good care of them."
"Yes, Your Majesty, Your Majesty."
"Little Swallow thanks Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
After seeing everyone off, they indulged in eating, drinking, and having fun at Shufangzhai.
After drinking too much, Little Swallow started asking for everyone's blessings.
"Little Table wishes Princess and Fifth Prince a happy marriage soon."
"Little Stool wishes Princess and Fifth Prince a lifetime of harmony and happiness."
After hearing everyone's blessings, Xiao Yanzi and Yongqi wanted to increase their monthly salary. Everyone knelt down one after another, saying, "Thank you, talented scholar/beautiful lady, for your reward! Thank you, Fifth Prince, for your reward!"
"Yongqi..." Xiaoyanzi held a wine cup in one hand to drink from herself, and in the other hand she poured wine from her empty cup and handed it to Yongqi. "Drink."
Xiao Jian said in a low voice, "We can leave now. What happens next is something we won't be able to see."
Everyone saw their chance and ran away.
When Little Swallow came to her senses, everyone had disappeared.
"Yongqi, where are they?" Xiaoyanzi's face was slightly flushed, and she leaned against Yongqi, almost unsteady on her feet. "It felt so comfortable."
"Little Swallow, you're drunk. Let me help you back to rest." Yongqi took the wine cup and wine pot from Little Swallow's hands, but Little Swallow wrapped her arms around his neck. "Little Swallow, behave yourself!"
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