Chapter 24 Consort Shu gives a bracelet

"The ladybug I'm talking about is the way swallows learn to read."

“She told me that if there’s a side, read the edge; if there’s no side, read the middle. If you can’t find the edge or the middle, look for the hat, the belly, and the tail. That’s how she reads it.”

Little Swallow couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Hahaha, okay, that's exactly what I would say."

"But that was before."

"Now that you're teaching me, I certainly can't say that anymore, otherwise it would be too embarrassing!"

Xiao Yanzi paused, then added, "It's one thing to embarrass myself in front of you, but if word gets out, it will be a disgrace to you and Consort Yu, and also a disgrace to myself!"

"Since we are all people with lofty goals, let's not let such small mistakes stop us. Let's do our best in everything!"

"Okay, I'll listen to you. Come on, let's continue writing!" The evening study session ended happily. "Alright, go to sleep now!"

Seeing that it was getting late, Yongqi urged Xiaoyanzi to go back to sleep.

Although he desperately wanted her to stay, he clearly couldn't.

He wouldn't care if word got out, but he would tarnish Xiao Yanzi's reputation!

"Alright, I'm going back now, don't rush me!" Little Swallow dawdled back to her room.

Xingchen helped her change her clothes and remove her headdress. Xiaoyanzi looked at Xingchen gratefully, "Thank you, Sister Xingchen!"

"You're welcome, get some rest!"

Xingchen helped Xiaoyanzi to bed, and after watching her lie down, he slowly left the room.

The next morning, they hurriedly ate breakfast and then went to class.

Unexpectedly, just as they were about to finish class, someone from Chengqian Palace appeared. "Your Majesty, Consort Shu has caught a cold. Please go and take a look!"

When Emperor Qianlong, who was watching the children attend class, heard this news, he naturally couldn't sit still.

Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi were also worried about Consort Shu's condition, so they went to Chengqian Palace together.

When they arrived, Empress Nara was already in Chengqian Palace.

At the same time, there were also Consort Jia of Qixiang Palace, Consort Chun of Zhongcui Palace, Consort Ling of Yanxi Palace, Consort Yu of Yonghe Palace, and others, who said, "May Your Majesty be blessed!"

The Empress led the way in bowing, and Consort Shu, who was lying on the bed, also hurriedly tried to get up.

Emperor Qianlong quickly said, "Alright, you've caught a chill, no need for such formalities! Just lie down and rest!"

"Your Majesty, what happened? How could you have caught a cold out of nowhere?"

Emperor Qianlong told Consort Shu to lie down, but then looked at Empress Nara beside him, wanting to know the cause of the matter.

The Empress looked at the palace maid kneeling to the side and said, "Why don't you tell the truth?"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, it was this servant who forgot to close the window in time last night, which caused Your Majesty to catch a cold."

"This servant knows her mistake, Your Majesty, please spare my life!"

The young palace maid spoke while tears streamed down her face.

Seeing this made Xiao Yanzi feel sad too.

Consort Shu, lying on the bed, hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please forgive her. In the end, this matter is still my own fault!"

"It was me who had the window opened last night, hoping to get some fresh air, but I never expected it would make me catch a cold and cause so many people to worry about me!"

"If Your Majesty insists on punishing someone, then punish me!"

Seeing that Consort Shu was pleading for the young palace maid, Emperor Qianlong had no choice but to let the girl go.

"Fine, this girl is your personal maid, and she usually seems obedient. Since you're not going to punish her, I'll spare her life. However, she'll have to have her salary deducted for half a year as punishment!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!" Having escaped with her life, the palace maid was overjoyed and quickly kowtowed, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

"Alright, everyone disperse. Your Majesty, remember to keep a close eye on the imperial physician!"

The Empress replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand!"

Since Emperor Qianlong was about to send them away, they naturally dared not stay any longer.

Before leaving, Consort Yu and Consort Ling glanced at Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi standing to the side. Seeing that neither of them intended to leave, they didn't say anything more.

After all the concubines had left, Consort Shu turned her gaze to Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi, "I didn't expect that the Fifth Prince and Xiaoyanzi would have such a good relationship..."

Yongqi stood to the side and respectfully asked, "Your Highness Consort Shu, will Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi's arrival disturb you?"

Consort Shu shook her head. "How could that be?"

"I wish you could come, but unfortunately..."

Emperor Qianlong asked, "What's a pity?"

Consort Shu glanced at Xiao Yanzi, then looked at Emperor Qianlong and said, "Xiao Yanzi has been in the palace for so many days now, she's even been to Consort Jia's Qixiang Palace, but she hasn't come to my palace..."

Yongqi quickly begged for forgiveness, "Your Majesty, this is not our fault!"

“We’re usually busy with classes and don’t have any extra time.”

"Besides, the time we went to Qixiang Palace, it was Fourth Brother who invited us, not us who wanted to go!"

He still feels resentful when he thinks about it now; he went to Qixiang Palace, but got himself into a lot of trouble.

"I don't come here often, partly because I don't want to disturb your pregnancy."

"We're just kids. If we accidentally hurt you, we wouldn't be able to pay for it even if we had several lives!"

"If we hadn't overheard the message being sent out today, we wouldn't have dared to come in..."

"Yongqi, your eloquence has improved quite a bit these past few days!" Emperor Qianlong chuckled, "Your speaking skills are getting better and better!"

Yongqi waved his hand helplessly, "There's nothing I can do. In this harem, there are many people of higher status than me. The only thing I can do is to improve my eloquence!"

Little Swallow chimed in, "Your Majesty, everyone in this palace is incredibly eloquent; Yongqi is still learning..."

Even Consort Shu, lying on the bed, couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Your Majesty, look at them, one sentence at a time, how wonderful! I'm truly envious!"

As she spoke, Consort Shu took off the bracelet from her wrist. "Little Swallow, come here. I'll give you this bracelet!"

Little Swallow's first reaction was to refuse; she couldn't accept something for nothing.

She had absolutely no idea what Consort Shu's purpose was in giving her the bracelet, especially in front of Emperor Qianlong!

However, just as she was about to refuse, Emperor Qianlong spoke up, "Since Consort Shu asked you to accept it, then you should accept it!"

Well, since Emperor Qianlong had already instructed her to accept it, she naturally had no reason to refuse. "Yes."

Little Swallow obediently walked up to Consort Shu and let Consort Shu put the bracelet on her.

Of course, since she is still young, she cannot wear Consort Shu's bracelet.

"You can wear it when you're a little older!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"You're welcome. The first time I saw you, I felt an instant connection with you."

"Later, after hearing about what happened between you and the Fifth Prince in the palace, I wanted to see you even more!"

Now that I've seen you, the more I look at you, the more I like you!

Little Swallow was a little dumbfounded. Had she unintentionally won over one of Emperor Qianlong's concubines?

"Little Swallow, after I give birth to this child, can you come often?"

Consort Shu looked at Xiao Yanzi with great anticipation, as if afraid that she would refuse.

Little Swallow looked a little embarrassed, and Yongqi quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, let me answer this question. It might be possible this year, but next year, it's not so good..."

Consort Shu instinctively asked, "Why?"

Yongqi explained, "After Xiaoyanzi has stayed in the palace for a full year, she will leave the palace."

"He will only come back once a year on the birthdays of Father Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Mother."

"If she really can't make it back in time, she'll still send the gift back!"

Consort Shu was very confused. She looked at Emperor Qianlong sitting to the side and asked, "Your Majesty has also agreed?"