Chapter 1 The Swallow Commits Suicide

"Doctor Hu, how is Yongqi's condition?"

Today was Yongqi's birthday. Seeing that Yongqi usually liked to practice swordsmanship, she had a sword made to suit him. Yongqi was so happy that he immediately started practicing swordsmanship.

Unexpectedly, Yongqi fainted after only a short while of sword dancing, which terrified Consort Yu.

She instructed Mei'er and Ying'er to quickly summon Physician Hu. After taking Yongqi's pulse, Physician Hu reassured him, "Your Majesty, rest assured, the Fifth Prince is just a little tired and there's nothing serious. Let him get a good night's sleep, and he'll be full of energy again tomorrow."

Consort Yu asked a few more questions, and seeing that Physician Hu assured her that Yongqi was indeed alright, she let him go. "In that case, thank you, Physician Hu."

"This is my duty, Your Majesty, there's no need for thanks." Physician Hu wanted to leave, but seeing Consort Yu's furrowed brows, out of a sense of responsibility, he added, "If Your Majesty is truly worried, then I will stay here today to watch over the Fifth Prince. If anything happens to him, I will be able to help him in time!"

Upon hearing Physician Hu's words, Consort Yu quickly expressed her gratitude, "Then thank you very much, Physician Hu!"

Yongqi lay on the bed with a furrowed brow, as if he had seen something bad...

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"Husband and wife bow to each other!"

Inside Yonghe Palace, joy and celebration filled the air. The master of ceremonies' voice rang out, but the groom stood frozen in place. His mother grew anxious, "Yongqi, what are you standing there for?"

Consort Yu was afraid that Yongqi would abandon the marriage on the spot, and she wished she could go over and make him bow. But at this moment, two talented men came to Shufangzhai and cried out at Xiaozhuo and Xiaodeng: "Your Majesty, Fifth Prince, something terrible has happened! Princess Huanzhu has hanged herself!"

Everyone was shocked. Stunned, Yongqi turned and ran towards Shufangzhai, muttering, "Little Swallow, no, no, how could you..."

He refused to believe it. Clinging to a sliver of hope, he rushed to Shufangzhai, hoping to see Xiaoyanzi lashing him with her divine whip, hoping to see Xiaoyanzi yelling at him, hoping to see Xiaoyanzi still singing…

However, when he arrived at Shufangzhai, he saw the remaining little insects and mosquitoes, as well as Mingyue, Caixia, and Jinsuo, all kneeling in front of Xiaoyanzi's bed, crying and shouting, "Princess, how could you be so foolish?"

"Little Swallow..." Yongqi cried and rushed to Little Swallow's bedside, helping her up. "Little Swallow, Little Swallow, I was wrong, I was wrong. I should have taken you away a long time ago. Little Swallow, don't leave me..."

Yongqi held Xiaoyanzi tightly in his arms. At that moment, he noticed a letter placed under Xiaoyanzi's pillow, addressed to "Yongqi, please open this." Yongqi, in disbelief, took the letter out and read:

To my beloved Yongqi:

Yongqi, by the time you read this letter, I will probably have already left.

You must be surprised that I would write to you. Actually, I have been working hard to practice my handwriting. Although you said you don't care whether I am educated or not, I still want to be worthy of you. But I never expected that the day we would be separated would come so soon.

Yongqi, since I met you, my life has gotten better and better. During my time in the palace, I was fortunate to have you and everyone else protecting me. I really feel very lucky. But I guess my luck ran out quickly, which is why God made me lose you...

Yongqi, I know you had no choice but to marry Xinrong, and I understand your pain. But, Yongqi, I'm so sorry. Without you, I really don't know how I can go on living. I can't be with you anymore...

If we have a next life, I hope we can meet again!

Little Swallow's last words!

After reading the letter Xiao Yanzi left for him, Yongqi wept bitterly and held Xiao Yanzi tightly, refusing to let go.

Xiao Yanzi's departure was a huge blow to the talented men and beautiful women of Shufangzhai!

"Princess, how can you abandon these talented men and beautiful women?"

"Princess, Caixia hasn't been able to repay your kindness yet, Princess, why are you so heartbroken..."

"Little Swallow, wake up! You're my older sister. You promised to protect me forever. How could you break your promise again?"

"Little Swallow, wake up! Didn't you say you'd always protect us? How could you just abandon us like this?"

When Emperor Qianlong and the others arrived, they saw everyone crying and calling for Xiao Yanzi. Qing'er also rushed to Xiao Yanzi's bedside, crying, "Xiao Yanzi, Xiao Yanzi, wake up! You are the invincible Xiao Yanzi!"

"...Little Swallow, open your eyes and look at me! I command you to wake up, do you hear me? Little Swallow..."

When Qianlong looked at his lively daughter, who was now lifeless in Yongqi's arms, his heart felt as if it had been cut by a knife!

If he had known that arranging a marriage between Yongqi and Xinrong would ultimately take away his beloved Xiaoyanzi, he wouldn't have compromised in the first place. But now, it's too late for anything he says...

All the princes and princesses who were on good terms with Xiao Yanzi rushed over, saying, "Sister Xiao Yanzi, wake up quickly!"

"Sister Little Swallow, don't scare me! Get up and do a magic trick for me..."

The Empress Dowager's heart seemed to clench as well, "Your Majesty, I..."

"Yongqi, it's good that this vixen is dead, you still want to marry Xinrong!" Consort Yu disliked Xiaoyanzi to begin with, and now seeing Xiaoyanzi hang herself on Yongqi and Xinrong's wedding day, she felt only bad luck. "Your Majesty, I think..."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qianlong's anger flared up, and he roared, "Shut up! Consort Yu, don't you think it's going too far to say such things at this time?"

"Your Majesty, that Little Swallow, she really is a vixen! You and Yongqi have both been bewitched by her!"

Seeing that Consort Yu was stubborn and unyielding, Emperor Qianlong immediately said angrily, "Guards, take Consort Yu back to Yonghe Palace and confine her to her quarters. From now on, without my order, she is not allowed to step out of Yonghe Palace even once!"

Consort Yu was pulled away, but Yongqi still held Xiaoyanzi tightly, unresponsive. "Ziwei, Yongqi, it's my fault, it's my incompetence that caused Xiaoyanzi's death..."

Yongqi shook his head, "It has nothing to do with Father Emperor, it is my fault, it is my incompetence!"

As Yongqi spoke, he picked up Xiaoyanzi and said, "Xiaoyanzi, I'm taking you away. This time, no one will stop us!"

"Yongqi, where are you taking Xiaoyanzi?" Everyone looked at Yongqi with great concern, afraid that he would do something foolish.

"Don't follow me! I want to be alone with Xiao Yanzi for a while!" Yongqi looked tenderly at the girl in his arms and walked out step by step.

Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Guizi were waiting outside the courtyard when they saw Yongqi carrying Xiao Yanzi out. Neither of them dared to speak.

They only heard Yongqi slowly say, "Xiao Shunzi, Xiao Guizi, go and bring Fei'er here for me."

Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Guizi knew that Yongqi was referring to Xiao Yanzi's horse. Although they didn't know why, since Yongqi had said so, they would do it. "Yes, we'll go right away."

(Influenced by Xiao Yanzi, those around him gradually learned not to call him a servant.)

After Yongqi waited for a while at the entrance of Shufangzhai with Xiaoyanzi in his arms, they brought Feier over. Yongqi then helped Xiaoyanzi onto his horse and said, "Xiaoyanzi, I'll take you somewhere."