Chapter 49 The So-Called Truth

The second day of the eighth lunar month is Xia Ziwei's birthday. Unfortunately, only Xia Yuhe and Jin Suo are by her side to celebrate with her now. Yongqi and Xiao Yanzi can only help celebrate in silence at the Summer Palace.

Yongqi couldn't help but recall the birthday celebration they had helped Xiaoyanzi and Ziwei in their previous life—it was a huge surprise!

Consort Ling helped Xiao Yanzi and Ziwei change into new clothes, and they set up in Shufangzhai.

After the two of them returned, Benjamin led a Western band to sing a song called "Swallow Song," and then Jin Suo sang "Crape Myrtle Flower" for Ziwei.

Liu Qing and Liu Hong also entered the palace. The sudden arrival of the Empress and the Empress Dowager startled everyone.

But the Emperor was hiding in the back, which made everyone extremely happy...

Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi were chatting idly in the room. Yongqi sighed, "That day seems like it was just yesterday. I can still remember how happy you were that day, but it also feels like it was a very, very long time ago..."

Little Swallow leaned against Yongqi's chest and said, "Then let's create even more beautiful memories in this life, let's make our story even more wonderful, so that when we're old, we can look back on it for the rest of our lives!"

"you're right."

"By the way, although I can't see Ziwei right now, I prepared a gift for her. Do you think she'll be happy when she finds out?"

"Definitely! You and she are sworn sisters, you know each other best. If she knew you were preparing a gift for her right now, she would definitely be happy!"

Little Swallow laughed and said, "That's good. Then I can focus on preparing the gift for the Emperor for the next few days!"

The two of them had to practice swordsmanship, paint, and cook, keeping them very busy every day!

Others were also racking their brains to find ways to celebrate for Emperor Qianlong, and the 13th of August finally arrived!

All the officials went to the Summer Palace to celebrate Emperor Qianlong's birthday, and the princes presented their gifts one after another.

Yongqi was last in line. He and Xiaoyanzi presented the gifts they had prepared. Xiaoyanzi made two-colored water chestnut cakes, and Yongqi painted a portrait of Emperor Qianlong. The two of them then performed a sword dance together, wishing their father/emperor boundless happiness and longevity!

Emperor Qianlong was overjoyed and immediately rewarded them with a great deal of gold and silver jewelry, saying, "Good, good, good, you are all excellent!"

There were other activities that day, and everyone else quietly followed Qianlong's lead. After delivering their gifts, Yongqi and the others slipped away once again!

Xiao Jian looked at the others who had fled, somewhat puzzled, "The event isn't over yet, why did you all run away?"

Yongqi laughed and said, "Our performance time is over, so we can leave now. It's the ministers' and empresses' turn to perform, so let's not try to steal the spotlight!"

Qing'er chimed in, "Yes, it's better to hide away and chat than to listen to those people's flattery!"

"Erkang, is there any news about the Xiao family?"

Fu Erkang shook his head. "My father didn't say anything. It seems that the Emperor asked him not to say anything for now, and that the Emperor would make the final decision after everything was investigated and understood!"

Yongqi sighed, "Father Emperor is probably afraid that if they really are rebels, they will harm Xiao Yanzi and Xiao Jian!"

He had barely uttered those words when Xiao Jian panicked, "My father couldn't possibly be a rebel!"

Yongqi comforted him, "Don't worry, I definitely believe your father isn't like that!"

"But everything requires evidence. The problem now is that the person who framed your father has gathered solid evidence, and even if you know it's false, you have no way to prove it..."

It's like they knew in their past life that Ziwei was trapped in the Empress's Jingren Palace, but they had no choice but to sneak into Jingren Palace at night to find Ziwei before they could take their father to Jingren Palace to find her!

If we can find evidence to prove that Xiao Zhihang was wronged, that would be the best outcome. But I'm afraid that if the false evidence is found, it will ruin them both!

Yongqi then looked at Qing'er, "Actually, what I fear most is not Father Emperor, but Empress Dowager!"

"Given Father Emperor's temperament, even if it is found that Uncle Xiao is indeed connected with the rebels, he certainly will not take action against Xiao Yanzi and Xiao Jian!"

"But the Empress Dowager loves her son dearly and is afraid that they might want to take revenge. Even Xiao Yanzi's entry into the palace has become a complicated matter!"

"Qing'er, if you can speak to the Empress Dowager, then speak up. If you can't, then don't speak up for now. Otherwise, you might end up getting yourself into trouble instead of helping her!"

Qing'er nodded worriedly, "I understand. Don't worry, if I can put in a good word for you, I will definitely persuade the Empress Dowager!"

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On the fifteenth of August, the Mid-Autumn Festival, they ate mooncakes, admired the moon, and watched performances. On this day, the truth about Xiao Zhihang's case was also revealed.

Emperor Qianlong sat on his dragon throne and looked at the crowd, saying, "In order to clarify Xiao Zhihang's case, I order Fu Lun to reinvestigate it."

"Today, Fu Lun and Fu Heng rushed back from Hangzhou and have already reported the results of their investigation to me."

"In order to demonstrate my credibility, I have summoned all relevant parties here!"

"I hereby summon Ma Yu, the governor of Hangzhou during the Renxu era, who is now the governor of Gansu!"

Those present who were listening in were Yongqi, Xiaoyanzi, Xiao Jian and his group, while Fu Lun and Fu Heng sat on the side.

Immediately afterwards, a short, stout middle-aged man walked in, knelt on the ground, and shouted, "Your subject Mayu pays respects to Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"

After kneeling down and kowtowing, Ma Yu looked up at Emperor Qianlong and said happily, "Your Majesty, as soon as I heard Your Majesty's urgent summons, I immediately rushed from Gansu to the mountain villa. May I ask what Your Majesty's instructions are?"

Emperor Qianlong slowly said, "Ma Yu, I have heard about your reputation in the court."

"However, in view of the many merits your Ma family made in the previous dynasty, I am benevolent and have always preserved your family's honor, and have never removed your hat;"

"Even if you are transferred from prosperous Zhejiang to the frontier Gansu, at least you will still be a governor!"

"But you have served as an official for many years and have never created any benefit for the people and the country. On the contrary, you have caused great suffering and death, and you have allowed your only son, Ma Huang, to prey on the villagers, kill innocent people, rape women, and commit all kinds of evil!"

"Ma Yu, you have failed in your duty to raise your son. What is your punishment?"

Emperor Qianlong grew increasingly angry, and Ma Yu, terrified, quickly protested, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! This humble subject is filled with trepidation!"

"Your Majesty is wise. My son has been dead for ten years. How could there be any talk of him preying on the villagers and raping women?"

"Your Majesty, please do not listen to the hearsay of the common people!"

Upon hearing Ma Yu's explanation, Emperor Qianlong angrily retorted, "How dare you! You still want to protect your son!"

"Have you not had even the slightest self-reflection or regret over the past ten years?"

"I am now reviewing matters that occurred ten years ago!"

"Tell me, how did your son Magoon die?"

Ma Yu's face was full of pain, and her eyes revealed confusion. "Your Majesty, I lost my son at a young age. What does that have to do with the current emperor?"

Why press on about these painful past events?

Seeing the pain on Mayu's face as she recalled her son's death, Yongqi clenched his fists, almost rushing out to beat her up!

Emperor Qianlong questioned, "So you also know what 'unbearable to recall' means?"

"So you killed Xiao Zhihang, harmed his family of nineteen, and set fire to and destroyed Xiao Zhihang's home. How can the descendants of the Xiao family ever face this?"

As Qianlong spoke, he glanced at Xiao Yanzi and Xiao Jian, who were suppressing their anger on the side.

After learning the truth of the matter, Emperor Qianlong was both angry and heartbroken!

How did Little Swallow survive all these years of wandering the world?