Chapter 89 Reunion with Consort Shu

Yongqi smiled helplessly, "It seems that Benjamin's Chinese still needs improvement."

Benjamin nodded in agreement, “Indeed, Chinese culture is profound and extensive, and I still have much to learn from you.”

Xiao Jian glanced at the sky, frowned, and looked at everyone. "It's about time. It's time to go back, or the master and the others will worry."

More than ten days later, they finally returned to the palace. "Ziwei, I'll take you to Shufangzhai."

The news had already been sent back, and Mingyue Caixia and the four great talents were already waiting at Shufangzhai. "Greetings, Princess Feiyan, Princess Mingzhu."

"Get up, everyone." After having them introduce themselves, Xiao Yanzi pulled Xia Ziwei into the hall. "Ziwei, from now on, the two of us sisters will live here in Shufangzhai."

Xia Ziwei asked in confusion, "Father Emperor said you used to live in Yonghe Palace, so are you not going back now?"

Little Swallow sighed, "I'm fifteen years old now, how can I continue to live with him? Outsiders don't know that the Emperor has already decided our status..."

"Oh? When are you two getting married?"

Little Swallow looked up at the ceiling and waved her hand helplessly, "According to the Emperor, he'll keep me here for a few more years, at least so that all of us can get married together..."

Xia Ziwei was dumbfounded. "No way? We're going to get married together? Wouldn't that delay you both?"

Seeing Xia Ziwei's anxiety, Xiao Yanzi quickly comforted her, "Ziwei, don't worry. As long as our hearts are together, what's wrong with getting married a few years later? Besides, I didn't want to marry him so early in the first place. I haven't had enough fun yet!"

She can still go out of the palace from time to time now, but if she really gets married, she won't be so free. Even if Qianlong and Yongqi agree and even accompany her out, she can't do that. If she can't dispel the doubts and opinions of outsiders, she can't act willfully!

Xia Ziwei asked, "Didn't you say before that Fifth Prince and Father Emperor wouldn't let you stay in the palace forever, and that even if you got married, Fifth Prince would still accompany you if you wanted to leave the palace?"

"That may be true, but I can't just take advantage of their love and care for me and act recklessly, can I? If I really disregard everything and do whatever I want, it will ruin the reputation of the Emperor and Yongqi. I don't want others to think that the Emperor and Yongqi have been bewitched by this vixen!"

Xia Ziwei looked at the girl in front of her. Although she was the same age as her, her eyes were full of vicissitudes. She felt very sorry for her. "You have thought so much about them. I hope they can live up to your kindness!"

"With you and Qing'er, my good sisters, here, what do I have to fear? If they betray me, I wouldn't mind letting the Qing Dynasty fall into chaos and be replaced by another dynasty..."

Xia Ziwei was so frightened that she quickly covered her mouth, "Why do you say such things? What would happen if someone heard you saying these things?"

"Don't worry, I have people all over Shufangzhai, no one can get in. From now on, we can live here in peace."

"Princess, the imperial kitchen has brought lunch..." Mingyue and Caixia came in to deliver the message, "Princess, you two should hurry up and have your meal."

"Ziwei, let's go eat and drink our fill first, then we'll go see someone this afternoon."

Xia Ziwei was a little curious, but since Xiao Yanzi didn't say anything directly, she didn't ask anymore. She figured she could see her after dinner.

After lunch, Xiao Yanzi took Xia Ziwei to Chengqian Palace. "Princess Feiyan has arrived! Princess Mingzhu has arrived!"

"Little Swallow/Ziwei greets Consort Shu."

When Consort Shu saw the two sisters appear, she was so happy that she quickly got up and said, "Little Swallow, you're finally back."

"Your Highness, how have you been lately?" Little Swallow looked at Consort Shu with concern. "You didn't go on the tour, is it because..."

After hearing this, Consort Shu lowered her head and sighed, "Ever since Yongyue left, I've had no more desires. If it weren't for the thought of seeing you and the Fifth Prince become a couple, I probably would have already..."

"Your Majesty..." Little Swallow wanted to comfort her, but didn't know what to say.

Consort Shu changed the subject, looking at Xia Ziwei, "This must be Princess Mingzhu you brought back, right? At first glance, she's just as endearing as you. No wonder you two became sisters..."

Consort Shu had a bracelet handed over, saying, "This is a gift from me. I hope that you and Xiao Yanzi can work together in the future!"

Xia Ziwei looked at Consort Shu's bracelet and was about to refuse when Xiao Yanzi accepted it for her, saying, "Ziwei, since it's Her Highness's kind offer, you should accept it."

"Thank you for the gift, Your Highness." Seeing that Xiao Yanzi had accepted it, Xia Ziwei could only thank Consort Shu.

"If you ever need anything in the future, just come to me. I will do my best to help you if I can."

"Thank you, Your Highness." After bowing, Xia Ziwei left with Xiao Yanzi.

"Little Swallow, are you very familiar with this Consort Shu?"

"I forgot to tell you before, not long after I entered the palace, Consort Shu showed me kindness. I suppose she saw that Yongqi and I were close and wanted to save her own life."

"When you and the Fifth Prince were in the palace, you must have suffered a lot of open and covert attacks, right?"

Xiao Yanzi smiled slightly and said, "There have been open and covert attacks, but they have all been close calls. Moreover, Consort Jia, who targeted me back then, has long since passed away. Now, the people in this palace are either on my and Yongqi's side or neutral. As for other enemies who haven't shown themselves yet, if they dare to show themselves now, I will kill them one by one, and two by two!"

Hearing Xiao Yanzi's words, Xia Ziwei was a little scared, but she would always support Xiao Yanzi. In this palace, one wrong step could lead to total defeat. They had so many people helping them, and if they failed, countless people would die!

"Ziwei, remember this: in this palace, being merciful to your enemies is being cruel to yourself!"

"Don't worry, I've memorized everything you taught me. Even though my strength is not as good as yours and I may not be able to help much, I still have the ability to protect myself and not be a burden!"

"Please wait, ladies." The two sisters had barely stepped out of Chengqian Palace when Mei'er from Yonghe Palace ran over. She looked at Xiao Yanzi and said, "Please wait, ladies. The Fifth Prince wants you two to have dinner at Yonghe Palace. He will cook for you himself."

Upon hearing that Yongqi was going to cook again, Xiaoyanzi's eyes immediately lit up. "Really? Yongqi is going to cook himself? That's great! Ziwei, let's go quickly!"

She hadn't eaten Yongqi's cooking in ages. "Ziwei, Yongqi has been working hard to improve his cooking skills these past few years. His skills must be even better now. Maybe what we're eating tonight will be even better than what the imperial chefs make!"

Mei'er chimed in from the side, "Even the chefs in the Imperial Kitchen say that the Fifth Prince's current skill level is good enough to be a chef in the Imperial Kitchen. However, the Fifth Prince doesn't cook easily. When he does cook, it's either for his elders or for the princesses..."

Xia Ziwei looked at Xiao Yanzi with a smile, "I really didn't expect you to be doing so well in this palace!"

Little Swallow raised an eyebrow and smiled, "If you stay in the palace long enough, you can do it too. Your personality is much more likable than mine in this palace!"