Chapter 81 Yongqi's Struggle

Just as Xiao Yanzi said, she left after only a few days at the Xiao residence in Hangzhou, and her whereabouts are unknown.

In the blink of an eye, it was already the twenty-second year of Qianlong's reign. Inside the Qianqing Palace, Qianlong looked at the concubines, princes, and princesses sitting on both sides and sighed with emotion, "Time really flies. In the blink of an eye, you have all grown up..."

"I wonder how Sister Little Swallow is doing now?" Yongrong sighed, glancing worriedly at Yongqi. "If she doesn't come back soon..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone present understood his implication: if Xiao Yanzi didn't return soon, Yongqi would probably go crazy.

Although Xiao Yanzi would write back to tell everyone about her recent situation when she traveled abroad in recent years, she never came back to meet everyone. Yongqi's face became more and more gloomy, and everyone was worried.

Emperor Qianlong looked at Yongqi with concern and said, "Yongqi, didn't Xiaoyanzi say the other day that she has important matters to attend to and cannot leave? She will come back to see everyone when she finds the time. You must take good care of yourself. If Xiaoyanzi comes back and sees that you have lost weight, she will probably blame me for not taking good care of you!"

Yongqi forced a smile and said, "Father, don't worry, I will take good care of myself and won't let everyone worry about me!"

He said that, but his actions were not like that. If it weren't for Xiao Yanzi's letters warning him, he probably would have been tireless long ago.

Xiao Jian added, "Fifth Prince, don't just talk the talk. If Xiao Yanzi comes back and sees you're not doing well, I, as her older brother, will get a beating too!"

"Yeah, Yongqi, don't get us all scolded by Xiaoyanzi!"

Seeing Qing'er echoing Xiao Jian's words, Yongqi was truly helpless. "Why didn't you guys seem so afraid of being scolded by Xiao Yanzi before? Besides, Xiao Yanzi is so innocent and cute, what could she possibly scold you for?"

"..." Xiao Jian fell silent, inwardly screaming, "When did you go blind? Does that brat even deserve the words 'innocent and cute'?"

But he couldn't expose her, because this girl was so obedient in front of Yongqi, making it impossible for him to say anything, since Yongqi wouldn't believe him at all!

Seeing everyone's worried expressions, Yongqi reassured them, "Don't worry at all. With me here, Xiaoyanzi won't cause you any trouble! If she's really angry, she can come at me alone!"

"You're so disobedient, you really need to get Xiao Yanzi back to deal with you!" It was Consort Yu who spoke. These past few years, seeing Yongqi's mental state so drastically different from before, she had been living in constant fear. Several times she had wanted to write to Xiao Yanzi to tell her the truth about Yongqi, but Yongqi had always stopped her…

When Xiao Yanzi returns, she will definitely complain to her. She can't control her son anymore and can only rely on Xiao Yanzi to discipline him!

The Empress Dowager watched as everyone discussed the matter between Xiao Yanzi and Yongqi with such nonchalance, as if they were all waiting for Xiao Yanzi to return and punish Yongqi. She felt somewhat displeased; she felt this shouldn't be the case. Upon returning to Cining Palace, Qing'er began to comfort the Empress Dowager, "Your Majesty, I know you're worried about the Fifth Prince, but Imperial Physician Chang said that only Xiao Yanzi can untie the knot!"

The Empress Dowager wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Qing'er's words, "I know that the Empress Dowager thinks that the Fifth Prince and Xiao Yanzi are not a good couple, and that a prince of the Qing Dynasty would have such emotional ups and downs for a woman. But Empress Dowager, don't you think that such a person is more suitable to sit on the highest throne?"

The Empress Dowager looked at Qing'er with puzzlement, only to see Qing'er continue, "Xiao Yanzi comes from a common background and knows the hardships of ordinary people from a young age. Yongqi comes from the royal family and has been pampered since childhood, getting everything he could want. Their meeting is the perfect story. With Xiao Yanzi by his side, Yongqi will be more compassionate and better understand how to make people's lives better..."

"Your Majesty, I understand your concerns, but I hope you can give us more time to observe the situation further. Once Xiao Yanzi returns, we can see what Yongqi has become before making any further plans!"

The Empress Dowager was very helpless. "You, you've grown up so much, yet you still side with them. Fine, I'll just wait and see what they do!"

Inside Yonghe Palace, Yongqi sat in his study, looking at the portrait of Xiao Yanzi painted on the table. "Xiao Yanzi, you've been away from the palace for years, and you won't even come back to see me, nor will you let me come to you. How cruel you are..."

Although he knew that Xiao Yanzi was still living a good life outside, he was still sad, worried, and afraid. He was afraid that Xiao Yanzi would never return, afraid that she would leave him forever again, afraid that she would abandon him again. He wanted to go to her countless times, but she warned him countless times not to go to her. If he insisted on going, she would really disappear and never come back!

He was afraid that Xiao Yanzi might actually do something, so he dared not make any rash moves or secretly go to see her. If he were discovered, the consequences would be something he couldn't afford to bear!

"Little Swallow, tell me, how long until you come back to see me?" How much longer until they can be together forever and never be separated again?

"Little Swallow, once you marry me, I will never leave you again. I will never let you go again!" He knew that Little Swallow disliked being restrained, so after the marriage, he wouldn't confine her, but would stay by her side at all times, simply wanting to be by her side...

But when Yongqi thought about these things, he felt scared. Why had he become like this? Was this still him?

"Of course it's you. You've lost her once before, watched her die in front of you. It's perfectly normal to be afraid and reluctant to part with her. Besides, you didn't control her actions; you just wanted to stay with her. What's wrong with that?"

"No, Little Swallow also needs her own time and space. I can't keep bothering her. If it goes on for too long, she'll probably get annoyed!"

"Two people who truly love each other want to be together all the time. If she gets annoyed, then she definitely doesn't love you enough!"

"No, that's not true. The only person Xiao Yanzi wants to marry is me. She said she would only love me and only want me. She wouldn't lie to me!"

The two little figures in Yongqi's mind were constantly fighting, giving him a splitting headache. Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Guizi saw Yongqi clutching his head again and quickly stepped forward, "Fifth Prince, it's late, you should get some rest!"

"Yes, don't think about it so much. Get some rest. If Princess Feiyan saw you like this, she'd probably be angry again!"

Yongqi might not listen to anything else, but he's guaranteed to listen when Xiaoyanzi is mentioned. "Yes, I need to go to bed early, otherwise Xiaoyanzi will be angry with me again. It's hard to coax her when she's angry..."

Yongqi was coaxed into going to sleep, but Xiaoshunzi and Xiaoguizi were praying to God, "Princess Feiyan, please come back soon, we can't hold on any longer!"