Chapter 60 Yongyan Xiaoqing Embroidered Purse

After passing Qianlong's test, everyone waited for the afternoon training to end so that Fu Erkang could take Meizhu out. When Fu Erkang and the others learned about Meizhu's situation, they were all shocked and sympathetic.

However, considering Mei Zhu's feelings, he didn't mention it further. After Zhu Baiyu and Mei Zhu reunited, Fu Erkang sent them to Liu Qing and Liu Hong's place.

"Liu Qing and Liu Hong, I've brought you two more helpers today."

Liu Qing, Liu Hong, and the others all came out. "What happened?"

Fu Erkang explained, "As for the specifics, you should ask them yourselves. In short, from now on you will be comrades-in-arms fighting side by side. Your mission is to assist Princess Feiyan and Little Swallow in all their actions among the people!"

"This is Zhu Baiyu. He was originally a palace guard, but now he's just a bodyguard for Princess Feiyan..."

"The other one is Meizhu, who was originally an embroiderer in the palace, but now she is also working for Princess Feiyan. You two should get to know each other. Then, Liu Qing and Liu Hong, you two should show them around your arrangements and make sure they understand everything as soon as possible..."

Because in about six months, Little Swallow will be leaving the palace to venture out into the world on her own!

After that, things will be bustling inside and outside the palace again. About two months later, it will be the birthday of the current Empress Dowager, the Old Buddha. Emperor Qianlong will send her some nice gifts again.

The concubines, juniors, and ministers of the harem all had to rack their brains to present birthday gifts to the Empress Dowager before her birthday arrived, and naturally, this also stumped Xiao Yanzi.

"Yongqi, what do you think we should give the Empress Dowager?"

Yongqi laughed and said, "I think Qing'er can give a better answer to this question. She has been by the Empress Dowager's side since she was a child, so she must know better than us what the Empress Dowager likes and dislikes. If Qing'er says it's okay to give, we will consider it. If she says it's not okay, we will resolutely not give it!"

Little Swallow hesitated for a moment and asked, "But wouldn't this make us seem less sincere?"

Yongqi comforted her, "Since you're so worried, why don't you go ask Qing'er this afternoon..."

After they finished their tasks for the day, Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi walked up to Qing'er. Xiaoyanzi asked, "Qing'er, the Empress Dowager's birthday is coming up. What should we give her?"

"Little Swallow, you don't really need to go to too much trouble to do anything. As far as the Empress Dowager is concerned, the Emperor is safe and happy, the royal offspring are numerous, the harem is harmonious, the Qing Dynasty is prosperous and peaceful, and the weather is favorable. That is enough for the Empress Dowager!"

After a pause, Qing'er continued, "However, if you really want to give the Empress Dowager a gift, why don't you each give her a purse? The words on the purse could be something like wishing the Empress Dowager peace, happiness, and that her dreams come true..."

Xiao Yanzi thought this was feasible and immediately came up with an idea, "Then Yongqi and I, you and my brother, the four of us will embroider a purse together, each of us will embroider two words on it, and when Meizhu says it's acceptable, we'll give it to the Empress Dowager on her birthday!"

Qing'er was somewhat surprised. "Huh? Let your brother do the embroidery? That's not a good idea, is it? And does your brother even know how to do it?"

Little Swallow smiled and looked at Yongqi, "Yongqi didn't know how before, but he's learning now, isn't he? If my brother doesn't know how, let him learn. There are still two months until the Empress Dowager's birthday, aren't there?"

Qing'er asked again, "It's just the four of us, what about Erkang and Ertai? Aren't we taking them with us?"

Yongqi smiled slightly and said, "Let the two brothers think about it themselves. Besides, after the Empress Dowager's birthday, it will be Ertai's birthday. Then we can go to the Scholar's Mansion to celebrate again."

Hearing Yongqi's words, Qing'er remembered that Ertai's birthday was after the Empress Dowager's birthday. "That's right, then we should also prepare a gift for Ertai!"

Little Swallow sighed, "I suddenly realize that we're all so busy. Besides all the various festivals, we also have to prepare birthday gifts for the empresses, the emperor, the empress, and the empress dowager—none of them can be missing..."

Besides attending classes every day, she also had so many things to think about, and she also had to squeeze out time to plan her route and schedule after leaving the palace...

Qing'er looked at Xiao Yanzi and smiled, "Xiao Yanzi, I think you'll be much freer after you leave the palace. You can be more carefree and don't need to push yourself too hard. I think Yongqi wouldn't want you to exhaust yourself trying to get closer to him!"

"Qing'er is right. You should always prioritize your health and never ruin it!"

Little Swallow looked at the two people in front of her and comforted them, "Don't worry, I'm not a three-year-old child. I know what's important!"

Hearing Xiao Yanzi's resolute guarantee, Yongqi was still worried. Fortunately, there were several people following her and watching over her, hoping to keep her safe.

Yongqi looked at the Cining Palace, which was not far away, and said, "Qing'er, go back and rest early today."

"The next few days will be even busier. That Master Xiao probably hasn't had much experience with needle and thread. Asking him to embroider a purse and even embroider two characters on it is probably too much of a challenge for someone as accomplished in both literature and martial arts as him. So we need to hurry up and go with him to embroider the purse!"

"Okay, then I'll head back first. You should head back early too."

Little Swallow added, "Qing'er, remember to give our regards to the Empress Dowager!"

"I will remember, don't worry." Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi watched Qing'er walk into Cining Palace before they turned and left.

Two months before the Empress Dowager's birthday, these people had been rushing to embroider the sachets. Meizhu was also busy guiding them and teaching them how to embroider. They worked hard and finally finished embroidering them the day before the Empress Dowager's birthday!

"We finally made it! Luckily, we all completed the task!" Little Swallow sighed as she leaned back in her chair after finishing embroidering the purse.

Xiao Jian followed up with, "This is the first pouch I've ever made in my life, and also the most tiring one..."

This master of the flute now has holes all over his fingers. It doesn't hurt much, but he's just very irritable.

Seeing the needle marks on Xiao Jian's hands, Qing'er felt a pang of sympathy. "Xiao Jian, you really need to apply medicine to these wounds quickly..."

Xiao Jian said nonchalantly, "I've been wandering the martial world for so many years, what haven't I braved? What can this little scratch do to me?"

Little Swallow sighed, "Qing'er is kindly concerned about you, why don't you appreciate it? How can you marry Qing'er if you keep acting like this?"

"..."

Xiao Jian felt a bit annoyed looking at his sister who didn't give him any face. Why did his sister always side with Qing'er but never with her brother?

Looking at Xiao Jian's eyes, Xiao Yanzi could guess what he was thinking. She smiled and said, "I'll help whoever is right. Qing'er always makes sense, so I always help her!"

"Alright, Little Swallow, stop teasing your brother!"

"Okay, okay, I won't say anymore, my sister-in-law is worried!"

"Little Swallow!" Qing'er became more and more embarrassed as she listened.

Yongqi quickly advised, "Alright, Little Swallow, that's enough!"

Luckily, they didn't have many servants here, otherwise, if this got out, it wouldn't be good for any of them!