Chapter 6 Meeting with Emperor Qianlong and the Empress Dowager

The carriage moved forward amidst Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi's casual conversation, finally returning to the palace within the time limit set by Emperor Qianlong.

After entering the palace, Yongqi led Xiaoyanzi down from the carriage, and the guards all knelt down and shouted, "Greetings, Fifth Prince!"

"No need for formalities." After saying that, Yongqi took Xiaoyanzi's hand and walked towards Qianqing Palace. The guards, as well as the palace maids and eunuchs walking around the palace, were all stunned when they saw Yongqi leading a little girl back to the palace!

Especially the little girl's clothes, they were practically tattered. "How could the Fifth Prince have brought such a little girl back?"

"I really don't know how that girl met the Fifth Prince?"

"Stop talking! Are you out of your mind?!"

The palace gossip went unnoticed by Yongqi; he was only worried about Xiaoyanzi, looking at her with concern, afraid that she would be affected by those negative rumors. Xiaoyanzi looked at him curiously and asked, "Are we going to see your father now?"

“Yes, once he agrees, I’ll take you to my place.” Yongqi led Xiaoyanzi step by step toward the Qianqing Palace.

Meanwhile, Emperor Qianlong, who was in the Qianqing Palace, had already heard the news from outside and was waiting for Yongqi to arrive with great curiosity.

"Fifth Prince, I'll go to Consort Ling's place first, and then I'll go to the Qianqing Palace to help you."

"Alright, thank you, Madam." After watching Madam leave, Yongqi continued walking forward with Xiaoyanzi.

He slowly told Xiao Yanzi about each of the places, saying, "After Father Emperor agrees to let you stay, I will take you around to see the sights."

Before 3:45 PM, they had already arrived at the Qianqing Gate. "May the Fifth Prince be blessed!"

As soon as they reached the door, a eunuch bowed to Yongqi, who waved his hand and said, "No need for formalities."

"Little Swallow, this palace in front is where my father, the Emperor, lives." Yongqi took Little Swallow's hand, went up the steps, and entered the Qianqing Palace, where Emperor Qianlong was already waiting for Yongqi in his seat.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be blessed!" After Yongqi bowed to Emperor Qianlong, he gestured for Xiaoyanzi to bow as well.

"Little Swallow greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be well!"

Yongqi had already taught her how to do it while she was in the carriage, so she just repeated it.

Emperor Qianlong waved for them to rise. "Get up, both of you. Yongqi, tell me properly, what's going on? Where did you bring this girl from?"

"Your Majesty, when I went out today, I happened to see her being harassed by a street vendor, so I helped her out. Later, I learned that she had no parents or family, and she wanted to stay with me. I couldn't bear to see her like that, so I thought of bringing her back to the palace..."

"Your Majesty, Yongqi said you are the best father in the world, so please don't blame him!"

Seeing that Qianlong was not smiling, Xiaoyanzi was afraid that Yongqi would be scolded for bringing her back, so she quickly spoke up for Yongqi.

Seeing how anxiously the little girl was protecting Yongqi, Qianlong laughed out loud, "Yongqi, it seems you made the right decision to save him. The little girl knows how to repay kindness."

"Father, our palace is so big, one more person won't make a big deal. Please have mercy and let her stay!" Yongqi walked to Qianlong's side, tugged at his sleeve, and pleaded with him.

Looking at Yongqi before him, and Xiaoyanzi, whose clothes were not exactly clean but whose eyes were pure, Qianlong remained silent for a long while before speaking: "It's not impossible for her to stay, but we still need to find out more about her background!"

Although Emperor Qianlong sympathized with the young girl, he was also worried that the visitors might have ill intentions.

Yongqi knew that he couldn't say anything more at this point; if he expressed himself too strongly, Qianlong would be displeased.

Xiao Yanzi was very excited when she heard Qianlong's words. "So, Your Majesty is going to help Xiao Yanzi find her family?"

"If Your Majesty can find Xiao Yanzi's family, Xiao Yanzi will surely pray for Your Majesty every day, asking Heaven to bless Your Majesty with long life!"

After hearing this, Emperor Qianlong simply couldn't refuse the young girl. "Alright, you can stay then. However, Yongqi, you'll need to have someone with you. You'll have to inform the Empress Dowager first..."

"Here's what you'll do: have someone change this little girl into some decent clothes, then have her come with me to the Cining Palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, and also let her get to know this little girl."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey!" Qianlong nodded, and it was almost certain that Xiao Yanzi would stay in the palace.

With the Empress Dowager and Emperor Qianlong speaking well of Xiao Yanzi, and Xiao Yanzi's auspicious words, persuading the Empress Dowager shouldn't be too difficult.

Yongqi took Xiaoyanzi to a side hall and had the palace maids give Xiaoyanzi a simple wash and change her headdress, ordinary qipao, and flowerpot shoes.

The palace maids helped Xiao Yanzi, who had just finished washing and dressing, out of the room, and Yongqi was completely stunned.

It wasn't until Emperor Qianlong burst into laughter that he snapped out of his daze. Qianlong laughed and said, "It's true what they say, clothes make the man, and gold makes the Buddha. Now that you've changed your clothes, you really do look like a young lady from a wealthy family. Alright, Yongqi, Xiaoyanzi, let's go quickly."

Originally, Xiao Yanzi was being supported by the palace maids, and she was a little embarrassed. But unexpectedly, Yongqi took over the task, saying, "Let me support her."

Yongqi had spoken, so the palace maids couldn't force him to stay, and could only follow behind, just in case Yongqi couldn't support them and they both fell.

As Yongqi helped Xiaoyanzi walk, he comforted her, "Take it slow, don't be afraid..."

Because of Yongqi's cautiousness, what should have been a 15-minute walk to Cining Palace took 25 minutes. Fortunately, it wasn't too late, otherwise the Empress Dowager would definitely have been displeased.

Inside the Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager sat in the main seat, with 12-year-old Qing'er standing beside her. The Empress and the concubines from various palaces sat on either side below. "His Majesty has arrived."

The Empress Dowager and everyone else stood up, and Emperor Qianlong spoke first, "May Your Majesty be blessed."

"Yongqi greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be blessed, may the Empress Dowager be blessed, and may all the ladies of the palace be blessed!"

"Little Swallow greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager! May Your Majesty be blessed, may the Empress be blessed, and may all the ladies of the palace be blessed!"

Immediately afterwards, the Empress and the concubines bowed to Emperor Qianlong, saying, "Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be well!"

"No need for formalities..." Qianlong had just finished speaking when he noticed a pregnant woman standing in the crowd. "Consort Shu, you are pregnant, so there's no need for formalities. Everyone, please sit down."

Everyone sat down one after another, but Consort Shu remained standing. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am fine." Only then did she slowly sit down.

The Empress Dowager finally spoke, asking, "Your Majesty, what's the matter with this little girl?"

Emperor Qianlong smiled slightly, then looked at Yongqi and said, "Your Majesty, let Yongqi tell us about this matter himself."

Yongqi, holding Xiaoyanzi's hand, knelt before the Empress Dowager and said, "Empress Dowager, let Yongqi handle this matter..."

Yongqi told the Empress Dowager about his encounter with Xiaoyanzi. After hearing this, the Empress Dowager felt very sorry for the little girl.

However, as the previous champion of palace intrigue, she couldn't help but have some dark thoughts, worrying that this young girl was deliberately trying to climb the social ladder. "Your Majesty, has the background of this young girl been investigated?"