"Little Swallow, how are you?" After dealing with the largest group of palace maids, Yongqi turned to Little Swallow. "Don't take their words to heart, no matter what you're like..."
Little Swallow looked up at him, "But I really am nothing, otherwise, they wouldn't dare to say that about me, would they?"
Xiao Yanzi's words silenced Yongqi completely.
He wanted to say something, but didn't know how to start.
Little Swallow continued, "I've always known that if I want to stay by your side, I have to pay a price!"
"I'm just not sure if I can do it..."
"During my two days in the palace, I also learned about the rules and regulations here..."
"I know that if I want to stay by your side and live in this palace, I must abide by the palace rules!"
"Unless I'm powerful enough that no one dares to say a word against me, even if I break the rules, right?"
"I..." Yongqi didn't know how to answer Xiaoyanzi's words.
"Yongqi, you are so outstanding that I feel there is no one in this world who is good enough for you!"
When Yongqi heard Xiaoyanzi say those words, he instinctively smiled.
Seeing Yongqi's smile, Xiaoyanzi continued, "I think you should be standing on the top of the mountain, so you don't really need to be so nice to me, or even bring me back to the palace!"
"The way you look at me sometimes makes me feel like you're not really looking at me, but rather you're using me to see the person you want to see..."
Upon hearing this, Yongqi immediately panicked, "Little Swallow, that's not how it is! The person I was looking at was you, you've been there from beginning to end!"
As Yongqi noticed that more and more people were gathering around, he realized that this was no longer a suitable place for them to talk. "Little Swallow, come with me to a place!"
He took Xiao Yanzi's hand and walked straight towards Shufangzhai, the place he frequented most in his previous life.
Many people on the road watched them curiously, but dared not follow to see what was going on, and could only gossip among themselves.
Finally, they arrived at the front of Shufangzhai. "Greetings, Fifth Prince!"
"I want to go in and take a look. No one is allowed to come in without my permission!"
"twitter!"
Yongqi led Xiaoyanzi into Shufangzhai. Xiaoyanzi asked in confusion, "Why did you bring me here all of a sudden?"
He looked at Little Swallow and said somewhat anxiously, "Little Swallow, there are some things I didn't want to tell you, or anyone else!"
"But what you just said makes me feel that if I don't speak up, you'll wrong me to death!"
"I want to tell you a story, a story about our past lives..."
"What past life? What are you talking about?" Little Swallow looked at him in a bit of a panic. "You mean, we really met in a past life?"
“We’ve done more than just meet…” Yongqi sighed, pressed Xiaoyanzi into her seat, and then slowly recounted the story of their past life.
"You might think I'm talking nonsense, or dreaming..."
"But those scenes were so incredibly realistic!"
"It's so real that I feel that if I still can't be with you in this life, I'll probably become a vengeful ghost and never be reincarnated!"
After Yongqi finished telling the story, Xiaoyanzi was completely dumbfounded!
She couldn't believe it at all, but she also knew that Yongqi wouldn't lie to her, so it was probably true. "In my past life, I was Princess Huanzhu, and I was sworn sisters with your sister? We even went through so many life-and-death situations together..."
Yongqi nodded, his eyes filled with tears, and said, "Yes, so Xiaoyanzi, you can't misunderstand me, you can't abandon me!"
"If you really don't want to stay in the palace, then I'll let you go..."
"But you're taking me with you!"
"I really can't live a single moment without you!"
Little Swallow quickly stood up and shook her head, "No, no, no, how could I take you away?"
"If it's as you say, then you are your mother's only son, and you are her only hope. The Emperor also has high expectations for you. How can you let them down?"
You can't do this!
She paused, grasped Yongqi's hand, and continued, "Besides, I think that if you were to take that position in the future, it would be the best thing for the people of our Great Qing!"
Yongqi sighed, "I know all that you're saying, but Xiaoyanzi, if I don't have you by my side, then all those things are just meaningless to me!"
Little Swallow smiled slightly and said, "But I never said I was going to leave you!"
Her words instantly stopped Yongqi's grief.
Xiao Yanzi continued, "Yongqi, I hope that the person I'll be in the future is you!"
"So, even if it's just for my sake, please try your best, okay? On behalf of the people of the Qing Dynasty, thank you!"
Yongqi looked at Xiaoyanzi with a puzzled expression. "You mean, you want me to take that position?"
He frowned and asked, "But aren't you afraid..."
Little Swallow asked with a smile, "Can you do it?"
Yongqi replied confidently, "Of course not!"
Hearing Yongqi's words, Xiaoyanzi's smile widened, and she said with a hint of pride, "That's settled then, I believe you!"
"Little Swallow..." Little Swallow's words deeply moved Yongqi.
Little Swallow continued, "However, I also have conditions!"
Yongqi frowned at her. "What are the conditions?"
She replied with a smile, "I'll stay with you in the palace for a year!"
"A year from now, I will leave the palace to venture out and see the world. You will wait for me to return in the palace..."
Yongqi pressed further, "You're leaving? How long are you going to be gone?"
Little Swallow pondered, "That's not necessarily true!"
"Let me think... I think he'll come back on your birthday, as well as on the birthdays of your father, mother, and the Empress Dowager!"
"As for my birthday, if I can't make it in time, then I won't come back!"
Looking into Xiao Yanzi's determined eyes, Yongqi knew he couldn't stop her. "How about I have Erkang send someone to protect you? I'm really worried about letting you venture out into the world alone!"
Upon hearing Yongqi's words, Xiaoyanzi blurted out, "Just let Xingchen and Shizhu follow me. Then, in this year, you can teach me more skills. That way, when I go out, I won't be so easily bullied!"
Seeing that Yongqi's brows were still furrowed, she walked up to him, reached out to smooth his brows, and comforted him, "Don't worry, I will write to you whenever I have time!"
"I'll tell you who I've met recently and what happened..."
"Of course, you should also remember to ask your father, the Emperor, to take some extra care about my background!"
"Find my brother as soon as possible, so that Qing'er and he can become a couple soon!"
After listening to Xiao Yanzi's series of words, Yongqi asked, "You've thought of your brother and Qing'er, but what about me?"
Little Swallow smiled slightly, reached out and hugged him, leaning against his chest, and said, "Let's work together to make things better between us, okay?"
"Alright!" The two stayed at Shufangzhai for nearly half an hour before heading to Yonghe Palace.
After returning to Yonghe Palace, Consort Yu did not ask any questions. She simply had someone bring up the bowls and chopsticks and let the two of them eat before calling Yongqi to her room.
Consort Yu asked curiously, "Yongqi, did you have a long chat with Xiaoyanzi today?"
Yongqi nodded. "I guess so. She'll leave in a year."
"However, she went out to gain experience and reported back to me everything she saw, so that I could do better in front of Father Emperor!"
She said, "I'll work hard in the palace, and she'll work hard outside the palace. Let's work together so that better days will come sooner!"
Consort Yu chuckled softly, "Isn't she afraid that once she leaves, you'll fall for someone else?"
"Aren't you afraid that if she leaves you and the palace, and meets someone better, she'll never rely on you like she does now again?"
Yongqi said confidently, "Mother, we trust each other. Besides, as long as Mother is on our side, I have nothing to fear!"
Hearing Yongqi's words, Consort Yu couldn't help but laugh. She asked again, "You've been talking more and smiling more in front of me lately. Since Xiaoyanzi appeared, you can't stop talking about her. Are you afraid that I won't like her and that it will be an obstacle for you two?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com