Chapter 66 Longing for Yan Leads to Illness

After leaving Yongding Gate, they were getting further and further away from the Forbidden City. Yongqi hadn't deliberately calculated it beforehand, so he didn't know. Xingchen, who was driving the carriage outside, said, "We should arrive at Yongding Gate around Chenshi (7-9 AM)."

They prepared to depart at dawn. Although they were delayed at Shenwu Gate and the Academy, it would not take them too long to reach Yongding Gate.

"Yongqi, brother, then just take me to Yongdingmen. After that, I'll walk the rest of the way myself!"

Xiao Yanzi looked at Yongqi sitting to the side and Xiao Jian sitting on the other side and said, "Even after a thousand miles of farewell, we must eventually part ways. Don't worry, I will definitely take good care of myself."

After giving them a lot of instructions and reminders, they finally arrived at Yongding Gate and had to return to their respective posts.

"Little Swallow, take care!"

Yongqi held Xiaoyanzi in his arms and said, "Take good care of yourself. If anything happens, be sure to send a message back. Don't try to tough it out on your own!"

"I understand. I'll take good care of myself, and so will you. Don't overwork yourself!"

Xingchen, Shizhu, and the others stepped forward and said, "Please rest assured, Master, we will definitely take good care of her."

Little Swallow looked at the group and said, "Let me tell you first, now that we've left that home, we have to change how we address each other. We mustn't reveal our identities!"

Liu Qing and Liu Hong are fine, but Xingchen, Shizhu, Meizhu, and Qingyun have all been in the palace for quite some time, so calling them by their first names might be a bit awkward for them. "How about Shizhu and I just call you 'Miss' like before?"

When Meizhu and Qingyun met Xiaoyanzi, Xiaoyanzi had not yet been named a princess, so they also addressed her as "Miss." Naturally, the two of them were used to it.

Little Swallow thought for a moment and felt there was no problem, so she agreed, "If you feel more comfortable with it this way, then that's fine too, but you just can't call me Princess!"

"Don't worry, young lady, we definitely won't give ourselves away!"

Little Swallow turned to the men beside her and said, "Alright, you should all go home now, don't worry your families!"

"Little Swallow, you get in the car first. I'll watch you leave." That's what Yongqi thought, and so did the others.

Xiao Jian said, "Yes, we'll watch you leave."

Seeing that they were determined to do so, Xiao Yanzi had no choice but to comply. "Qingyun Meizhu, come sit here."

With those young masters gone, her carriage felt empty, so she naturally had to call over the two men in the back.

"Xingchen, let's find a place to eat around noon."

"good."

After Xiao Yanzi finished speaking, she stopped talking and closed her eyes to rest in the carriage. She hadn't slept well yesterday and had to get up early today, so she needed to catch up on her sleep.

After watching Xiao Yanzi leave, Yongqi and the others had no choice but to turn back to the palace. "We've only been apart for a short while, and I'm already missing her..."

Seeing Yongqi's distraught appearance, the brothers Fu'erkang and Fu'ertai could hardly bear to look at him. Fu'ertai sighed, "Fifth Prince, it's only been a short while, and you're already like this. What will you do if she leaves for several years?"

Fu Erkang chimed in, "Yes, if your elders saw you like this, they'd probably have some complaints about your Little Swallow, wouldn't they?"

"...I am like this here. When I return to the palace, I will naturally be in the same state as I am in the palace."

Xiao Jian chuckled softly, "That's how he automatically puts on different masks when facing different people. When he's alone, he can reminisce like this..."

Fu Erkang teased, "Xiao Jian, I think you'd better hurry up and study hard. If you don't pass the imperial examination, your dream won't come true!"

"Just kidding! What I, Xiao Jian, want, has never failed to obtain!"

The imperial examinations are no challenge for him!

They came out in a horse-drawn carriage, but now they have to go back on foot.

"Erkang and Ertai, if you want to go back sooner, go hire a carriage. I plan to walk back slowly by myself..."

This way, he'll have more time to think about Xiao Yanzi and to be heartbroken.

However, Fu Erkang and Fu Ertai said, "If you want to leave, how could the two of us leave? Besides, we just promised Xiao Yanzi that we would take good care of you. What would we be if we left on our own?"

"My brother is right. They want us to leave first? No way!"

Xiao Jian laughed and said, "We're all brothers, so let's walk back together!"

More than an hour later, Yongqi returned to the palace. When Consort Yu saw the sweat on Yongqi's forehead, she asked curiously, "Yongqi, did you walk back?"

Yongqi nodded, "Yes, it's a good opportunity to travel around and see the people, and also to clear my mind. Father Emperor gave me a day off today, so I can use the rest of my time as I please. I must make good use of it."

He's still young, and Emperor Qianlong won't let him attend court sessions. So he has to read various books on his own and then go to the Qianqing Palace every day to learn about the affairs Emperor Qianlong handles. That way, he won't miss Xiao Yanzi so much...

(Just kidding, when Xiao Yanzi was around, he thought about her every day. Now that Xiao Yanzi has left the palace, he can't control himself anymore. Those political affairs can't stop his longing!)

As noon approached, Xiao Yanzi and the others were already eating at an inn, while Yongqi was reading while eating. Consort Yu felt sorry for him and said, "Yongqi, you should eat first. You can read after you finish eating!"

"Mother, you just eat your food, don't worry about me, I know what I'm doing!"

Seeing Yongqi's furrowed brows, Consort Yu worried that Xiaoyanzi's departure would change Yongqi's personality. She finally understood that Xiaoyanzi was the most important person in her son's heart!

He wanted to sit at the top of the table because Xiao Yanzi made him do it; otherwise, he would have left with Xiao Yanzi long ago!

Consort Yu prayed in her heart, "Little Swallow, you must come back safely, otherwise, my son might go crazy!"

As night fell, in the Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager sat on her bed, with Qing'er beside her. The Empress Dowager sighed, "Since Xiao Yanzi left, I feel like things are different in this palace..."

Qing'er sighed, "When Xiao Yanzi was around, we could often play together. Now that she's gone, none of us feel like playing anymore. We feel like life is meaningless without her..."

"Qing'er, do you still firmly believe that Xiao Yanzi will win?"

Qing'er nodded, "Your Majesty, I believe in Xiao Yanzi from the bottom of my heart, and I believe that she and the Fifth Prince will definitely win!"

The Empress Dowager then asked, "So if Little Swallow wins in the end, which means I have to grant you one request, is that request to help you and Xiao Jian get together?"

"I raised you, do you think I wouldn't see what you're thinking?"

"But I heard that Xiao Jian longs for Dali in Yunnan. Do you really want to follow him and leave this old woman like me?"

Qing'er immediately shook her head, "Of course not! If I could, I would love to stay by the Empress Dowager's side forever and never go anywhere else! The Empress Dowager is so good to me, I really can't bear to leave you!"