Chapter 142: Imperial Letter of Appreciation, Joy of Colleagues
On the eighth day of the eleventh lunar month, the sun shone obliquely into the imperial study. Curls of sandalwood rose from the gilded bronze censer, lingering between the carved window lattices. Spread across the desk was a freshly drafted imperial edict, its bright yellow satin gleaming softly in the sunlight. Qianlong, clutching a red brush in his fingers, gazed first at Xiaoyanzi and Ziwei, standing at the steps, then at Xiao Jian, standing to the other side, a warm smile on his lips.
Xiaoyanzi wore a pomegranate-red Manchu dress embroidered with lotus flowers. Her jet-black hair was pinned with a red-gold and kingfisher-embellished hairpin, which swayed gently with her movements. She had just heard Qianlong announce the date for the enthronement, and her eyes lit up like two little suns. She couldn't help but take a half-step forward: "Father Emperor, what do you say...when will it be set?"
Ziwei stood beside him, her moon-white plain gauze dress accentuating her gentle features. She clutched a handkerchief embroidered with orchids, her fingertips tinged with white, yet her eyes held a hint of anticipation. Xiao Jian, dressed in a navy blue suit, a family heirloom sword strapped to his waist, stood tall and straight as a pine tree, his gaze fixed on Emperor Qianlong. He had originally come to accompany his sister into the palace, but he hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise.
Qianlong put down his red brush and tapped the table lightly with his fingertips. His voice was steady and smiling, "Today is the eighth day of the eleventh month. I prefer Laba Festival, the eighth day of the twelfth month. Laba Festival is a time for family reunions and a good harvest. I bestow this title upon you, symbolizing your good health for the years to come." He paused, then turned his gaze to Xiao Jian, his tone becoming more serious. "Fang Yan, you are so protective of your sister and so skilled. I have decided to appoint you as an imperial guard. You will serve by my side and protect the palace with Erkang. You will be awarded a yellow jacket."
Xiao Jian suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, then he knelt on one knee, saluted with his fists, and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, I am Fang Yan, thank you for your grace! I will do my best to protect Your Majesty and the palace!" The sword tassel on his waist swayed gently, and the word "peace" embroidered on the blue silk thread was particularly clear in the sunlight - this was embroidered by Fang's mother, and at this moment it seemed to be touched by warmth.
"Hurry up." Qianlong raised his hand to signal, "From now on, we are all family, no need to be polite."
"Guard Xiao!" Erkang had just walked in from outside the hall and happened to hear this. He hurried forward and patted Xiao Jian on the shoulder. The cuffs of his royal blue brocade robe were stained with ink, but it did not diminish his high spirits in the slightest. "From now on, we will be colleagues! Let's exchange martial arts when we have time. I have long wanted to experience Brother Xiao's swordsmanship!"
When Xiao Jian stood up, he had regained his cheerful demeanor and curled his lips. "That's what I really want, but I dare not ask for it. Brother Erkang, please give me some advice."
Xiaoyanzi watched with delight, clapping her hands and shouting, "Great! Brother Xiaojian has become an imperial guard! As formidable as Erkang! From now on, the two of you will be the 'imperial guards', protecting me and Sister Ziwei. No one will dare to bully us!"
The atmosphere in the Imperial Study suddenly became lively. Yongqi smiled and shook his head. "You're so clever! You're already arranging shifts for them?" He walked over to Xiaoyanzi and quietly handed her a piece of sweet-scented osmanthus candy he had just bought from outside the palace. "I just heard you asking for money to change your words. Have you been thinking about the reward from the Emperor for a long time?"
Xiaoyanzi stuffed the candy into her mouth, the sweetness spreading. Her eyes rolled, and she suddenly took Ziwei's hand and jumped forward half a step, blinking at Qianlong, "Your Majesty, wait a minute! You just appointed Brother Xiaojian as a guard, and set a date for the coronation of Sister Ziwei and me, but Sister Ziwei still calls you 'Your Majesty'!" She shook the handkerchief in her hand and tilted her head playfully, "This will cost me a fee to change my mind! When I recognized you as your Majesty, you rewarded me with a box of pearls. Sister Ziwei must pay me a fee to change her mind!"
A burst of laughter suddenly erupted in the imperial study. Qianlong was amused by her and laughed out loud. Pointing at Xiaoyanzi, he said, "You, all you do is worry about your sister." He turned to Ziwei, his eyes as gentle as melted spring water. "Ziwei, you should change your words from now on."
Ziwei's cheeks flushed, and her fingers, which were pinching the handkerchief, curled up. She moved her lips, but was a little embarrassed to speak. At this time, the sound of rings and pendants jingled outside the palace, and the Queen walked in with Rong Mama, followed by Ling Fei, who happened to hear these words. The Queen was wearing a bright purple palace dress embroidered with a phoenix pattern, and a phoenix hairpin with a pearl in her hair. The dignified demeanor of Kunning Palace was naturally revealed in her steps. She smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I just came from Kunning Palace to pay you my respects. At the door, I heard Xiaoyanzi asking for money to change her name." She walked to Ziwei and patted the back of her hand gently, "I will prepare this money to change my name. I am sure that our Mingzhu Gege will be satisfied."
Ziwei quickly knelt and saluted: "Thank you, Queen."
The Empress held her arm to prevent her from kneeling, her eyes full of kindness. "Silly child, we're all family from now on." She turned to look at Qianlong, then smiled and said to Ziwei, "Your mother is gone. Now in the palace, the Emperor is your Royal Father, and I live in Kunning Palace, so I'm your Royal Mother. If you're wronged in the palace in the future, come to Kunning Palace to find me, okay?"
Ziwei suddenly raised her head, her eyes instantly red. She looked at the empress's gentle features, then at the smiling Emperor Qianlong. Her nose felt sore, and her voice was sobbing but clear: "Emperor...Emperor Father...Emperor Mother..."
As soon as the words "Emperor Father" and "Empress Mother" were uttered, the atmosphere in the Imperial Study instantly warmed like the spring sunshine. Qianlong responded with a clear voice, "Ah! Good child!" The Empress took Ziwei's hand, her eyes wrinkled with a smile. "That's right, from now on we're a family. We'll always have your favorite almond cakes in the warm room of Kunning Palace. Come visit often."
Concubine Ling smiled and nodded, "Your Majesty is right. Guard Xiao is now serving in the imperial court, so it will be more convenient for him to protect the two princesses in the future."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jian clasped his fists again towards the Empress and Emperor Qianlong, "I will definitely protect my sister and Princess Mingzhu and live up to the trust of the Emperor and the Empress." Erkang added, "With Guard Xiao and I here, we will not let them suffer even the slightest injustice."
Xiaoyanzi clapped her hands and laughed, "This is perfect! With the protection of the Emperor and Empress, Brother Xiaojian, and Erkang, Sister Ziwei and I are the safest place in the world in the palace!" She turned to Emperor Qianlong and waved her hand. "What about the money for changing our words and Brother Xiaojian's reward? The Emperor can't deny it!"
Qianlong pointed at her helplessly yet dotingly, "Yours is indispensable. Su Peisheng, go get two boxes of oriental pearls. One for Princess Huanzhu and one for Princess Mingzhu as compensation for changing her name. Also, get a gold-inlaid dagger for Guard Xiao, as a reward for his position as an imperial guard." He paused, then added, "Tell the imperial kitchen to send two plates of freshly baked almond pastries to Kunning Palace and a basket of osmanthus cakes to Shufangzhai."
"I obey your order!" Su Peisheng responded with a smile, turned around and quickly went to get it.
Yongqi walked over to Xiaoyanzi and chuckled softly, "You're the one with so many ideas. You even have to ask for Xiaojian's reward." Xiaoyanzi made a face at him, but he quietly tugged on her sleeve. When their fingertips touched, both of them blushed. Xiaojian accepted the tea from Erkang, and they smiled at each other, their eyes full of the tacit understanding of "colleagues."
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, falling on everyone's face. Even the sandalwood in the air was sweet. Ziwei leaned against the empress, listening to her describe the layout of the warm room in Kunning Palace. Occasionally, she looked up at Qianlong, then at Xiaoyanzi, who was arguing with Yongqi. The restraint in her eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by a solid warmth. Xiao Jian grasped the gold-inlaid dagger he had just received. The pattern on the hilt pricked his palm, but he felt a heavy weight in his heart - this was not just a reward, but also a responsibility to protect his family.
Meanwhile, in the shadows of Jingren Palace, Nanny Li was whispering the news she had just gathered to Consort Gao: "Your Majesty, the Emperor has scheduled a ceremony for the two of them to be conferred titles on Laba Festival. He has also appointed Xiao Jian as an imperial guard and awarded him a gold-inlaid dagger, giving him the same rank as Fu Erkang!"
Concubine Gao placed her teacup heavily on the table, spilling a few drops onto the gilded tray. She sneered into the bronze mirror, her reflection a sullen expression. "Give me titles, reward me! The higher I climb, the harder it hurts when I fall." She dug her nails into her palms. "Go and retrieve that batch of Shu brocade with silver threads mixed in. I'm going to make some generous gifts for the 'Imperial Guards' and the two princesses."
A hint of viciousness flashed in Madam Li's eyes, and she bowed and replied, "I'll do it right away."
In corners untouched by sunlight, plots still quietly simmered, but the warmth and anticipation within the imperial study, like the aroma of Laba Festival porridge, mingled with the sweet scent of sandalwood and osmanthus cake, quietly permeated the palace walls. Xiao Jian stroked the hilt of his dagger, Xiao Yanzi counted the pearls in the box, and Zi Wei gazed at the empress's gentle profile—this life of peace and reunion had only just begun.
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