After the two sisters arrived at Yonghe Palace, Xiao Yanzi first went to check the kitchen. Sure enough, Yongqi was inside. "Xiao Yanzi, you and Ziwei wait a little longer. Go out and talk to your mother..."
"I sent Ziwei to keep the Empress company. I'll stay here with you." She knew Yongqi wouldn't let her help, so she had no choice but to stay with him in the kitchen. "You won't let me help, and you won't even let me see you?"
"Okay, whatever you want. You can watch it whenever you want, for as long as you want."
Watching Yongqi's familiar movements in the kitchen, Xiaoyanzi couldn't imagine how many times a prince like him had entered the kitchen to be able to do it so skillfully.
"Isn't it a waste of the Fifth Prince of the Qing Dynasty to cook for us?"
Xiao Yanzi's sudden remark made Yongqi feel uneasy. "Wouldn't it be a waste of your talents to have you cook for me?"
He knew in his heart that compared to him, the Fifth Prince who had grown up in the palace since childhood, Xiao Yanzi, who had studied in the Imperial Study and had been tempered by the world, was a more worthy talent for the country to use!
Seeing Xiao Yanzi's guilty expression, Yongqi comforted her, "Xiao Yanzi, put away your guilt. I did all of this willingly. I just wanted to do my best to make you happy, so please don't take away my right!"
“Okay, then you can take care of our three meals a day from now on, and I can earn money to support the family!” After saying that, Xiao Yanzi quietly watched Yongqi continue to work. She thought to herself, “Yongqi, you protect the people of the world, and I will protect you from behind!”
Little did she know that Yongqi thought the same thing: "Little Swallow, just do what you want to do, and leave the rest to me!" He would take care of things at home so she could rest assured.
By the time Yongqi finally finished his work, it was already three-quarters past 5 PM. Mei'er and Ying'er brought all the food to the dining room. Xia Ziwei looked at the delicious dishes on the table and exclaimed in surprise, "Did the Fifth Prince really make this?"
“Of course, it’s the real deal. I watched him make it.” Little Swallow nodded. “Ziwei, you should try it.”
After taking a few bites, Xia Ziwei praised Yongqi highly, "My God, you're a prince who can write poetry, fight, and cook. You're amazing!"
"What I'm doing is nothing; Xiao Jian is far more skilled than me!"
When Xiao Yanzi saw Yongqi praising Xiao Jian for the first time ever, she couldn't help but ask, "Why don't you say you're the best today?"
"One must know one's own limitations. I certainly don't have Xiao Jian's abilities, but I can still make you happy!"
Watching their conversation, Xia Ziwei felt she should just disappear on the spot. "Fifth Prince, if you put it that way, wouldn't Qing'er be the happiest one?"
"That's not necessarily true, it depends on the person. Anyway, Little Swallow and I will definitely be happy together in the end!"
"Then I'll offer you both my blessings with tea instead of wine!"
Consort Yu looked at them, her eyes filled with tears, "Seeing you all come back, eating with me, and watching you bicker, it feels like I've gone back to a few years ago, not long after Little Swallow entered the palace..."
Tears welled up in her eyes, and Xiao Yanzi walked to Consort Yu's side, gently comforting her, "Your Majesty, don't worry, everything outside has been taken care of, and you can be with everyone from now on!"
"Little Swallow, do you remember what I said before, that when you come back, you should call me Mother..."
"This..." Little Swallow was stunned upon hearing this. "Isn't this inappropriate?"
Yongqi quickly said, "Anyway, Xiaoyanzi's name has already been written down. Now all that's missing is the ceremony. She can call me Mother now."
"Mother..." Seeing that both of them really wanted her to call her that, Xiao Yanzi no longer hesitated.
Consort Yu hugged her tightly, "Good child, if Yongqi ever dares to bully you, just come to your mother, and your mother will definitely stand by your side!"
Consort Yu's words left Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi speechless with amusement, while Xia Ziwei was filled with envy. "I never imagined that Xiaoyanzi and Consort Yu could get along so well..."
After having dinner at Yonghe Palace, Yongqi personally escorted the two sisters back to Shufangzhai. "Xiaoyanzi, Ziwei, go back and get some rest. We'll be continuing our classes tomorrow."
"..." For a moment, Xiao Yanzi felt that she might as well be struck dead by lightning. "Can I not go to class?"
Yongqi shook his head, "Father said that you can stop going to class once you get married..."
"No way?" After spending several years roaming the martial world freely, she has to continue taking Ji Xiaolan's lessons after returning to the palace?
For a moment, she felt incredibly miserable. Seeing Xiao Yanzi's utterly hopeless expression, Xia Ziwei asked curiously, "Xiao Yanzi, you seem to really dislike going to class?"
Little Swallow explained, "Actually, it's not that. It's mainly because I'm used to being wild in the martial arts world. Even though I continued my studies there, I never sat there properly like I did in the palace, listening to Master Ji lecturing on and on..."
"I thought it was something serious. I'll get used to it after a while. I'm actually looking forward to taking Master Ji's class tomorrow."
Hearing Xia Ziwei's words, Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi were both praying for her. Xiaoyanzi said helplessly, "If you're still looking forward to it after you take his class tomorrow, then I'll truly admire you!"
"Alright, I'll head back now. You all get some rest." Yongqi kept turning back as he walked, until he was out of sight of Shufangzhai, before heading straight for Yonghe Palace. "I really didn't expect that Xiaoyanzi would go straight back to Shufangzhai after returning to the palace. This is even worse than before..."
If Xiao Yanzi were still living in Yonghe Palace, he might have been able to sneak in to see her, but now that's basically impossible.
Xiao Yanzi and Ziwei are currently under a lot of attention. If he were to sneak into Shufangzhai, countless people would come after him. He cannot afford to make any mistakes now!
"Forget it, I'd better go back to sleep early and go to class with them tomorrow."
Now that Fu Erkang has become an imperial bodyguard, he no longer attends classes with them. The eldest prince in the class is the Fifth Prince Yongqi. The Third and Fourth Princes no longer need to attend classes; their current task is to assist Emperor Qianlong in handling state affairs.
"Master Ji, it's been a long time. How have you been?" Xiao Yanzi and Xia Ziwei arrived early at the door of the Imperial Study. Soon after, the others arrived one after another. Ji Xiaolan was the last to appear. Seeing Xiao Yanzi whom he hadn't seen for a long time, Ji Xiaolan was in a great mood. "Your subject greets Princess Feiyan and Princess Mingzhu."
Little Swallow said, "Master Ji, it's the same as always. In this study, you are the most important person. Let's skip all the 'princess' titles."
"Alright, everyone, please come in first." After everyone was seated, Ji Xiaolan looked at Xia Ziwei, "Ziwei, this is your first day of school, so I'll test you first to see how good you are?"
"Master Ji, please ask away." The questions Ji Xiaolan initially posed were naturally ones that everyone already knew the answers to. Seeing that Xia Ziwei could answer them all correctly, Ji Xiaolan's smile grew wider and wider. "Hahahaha, I never expected that my little study would actually gather three such talented women!"
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