Chapter 137 Yongyan Meets Old Friends

(See the original version here: 8/2/0/2/3/7/6/5/3)

On June 24th, Yongqi accepted an invitation from an old friend and took Xiaoyanzi to Biboting.

After Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi went inside, the person they were supposed to meet was waiting for them in the hall.

"You brat, you're about to get married and you didn't even call me back. I had to come all this way here, begging you to call them out..."

As soon as the two walked in, they heard the old man, Xu Haoxuan, complaining about Yongqi.

"Yongqi, is he the master you mentioned?" Xiao Yanzi looked at the casually dressed old man who didn't care about his appearance at all, with some disbelief.

Yongqi nodded helplessly, "Although I don't really want to admit it, he is indeed my master."

Little Swallow then stood respectfully to the side, bowed, and said, "Little Swallow greets Master."

"Well done, you brat! Look at her, how polite she is! Unlike you, so disrespectful!"

"Come here, little girl, come and play chess with the old man."

Xiao Yanzi sat down opposite Xu Haoxuan, while Yongqi watched from the side. Xu Haoxuan muttered, "You brat, you can't help your wife when we're playing chess."

Little Swallow laughed and said, "Master, it should be 'neither side takes sides, a true gentleman observes the game without speaking.'"

Xu Haoxuan nodded in satisfaction, "Well said."

After playing five games of chess, it was already noon. "Little Swallow, come and eat!"

Xiao Yanzi smiled as she got up and helped Xu Haoxuan to his feet. Xu Haoxuan smiled and nodded, "You're so kind, unlike that brat..."

"That's enough, even food can't shut you up!" Yongqi gave him a disgruntled look.

"However, this kid's cooking skills are really good. Little girl, you're in luck."

While eating, Xiao Yanzi replied, "Everyone is in for a treat. You are his master, so it's only natural for him to cook you a meal!"

After finishing their meal, Yongqi was about to clear the dishes when Xiaoyanzi snatched the food away, saying, "You cooked the meal, so it's my job to clean up the mess."

But Xu Haoxuan stepped forward and said, "A wife is meant to be pampered, not to do such rough work. Let this boy wash her. Little girl, come with me for a walk to help digest your food."

“He’s right. You stay with him, I’ll go wash up.” Yongqi pushed Xiaoyanzi to accompany Xu Haoxuan for a walk, and took the things to the kitchen by himself.

As for why he cooked himself?

The reason is that he wants to use his cooking skills to entice Xiao Yanzi's stomach, so that she won't be lured away by other good cooks one day!

Although Xiao Yanzi would definitely only belong to him, he just didn't like Xiao Yanzi praising other people's cooking skills, even if they were women!

(That's right, a few years ago, Little Swallow praised Grandma Sun's grandson for making good pastries. Later, he learned to make pastries himself and surpassed that person.)

"Little girl, won't you regret marrying that boy?" Xu Haoxuan asked, looking at Xiao Yanzi as he walked.

Little Swallow looked at him, puzzled. "Why would you regret it?"

Xu Haoxuan sighed, "He is the emperor's most valued prince and will surely inherit the throne in the future. When that time comes, will he really be able to guarantee you a lifetime of love and companionship? What will you do if one day he truly fails to hold on?"

Xiao Yanzi smiled slightly and said, "If the court officials truly understood who was in charge of this country, they wouldn't interfere with what the royal family wanted to do. Besides, it's Yongqi's marriage. If a princess from another country takes a fancy to him, I have my own solutions..."

"You've got quite the nerve, little girl. No wonder he's so devoted to you and completely infatuated with you. Don't worry, you two focus on the affairs of the court. I'll take care of things in the martial world."

After Yongqi finished her work, she came out to find them. Just then, Xu Haoxuan had almost finished walking as well. He looked up at Yongqi and said, "Alright, I've had my walk enough and I'm going to take a nap. You can take care of this girl yourself."

After seeing Xu Haoxuan back to his room, Yongqi took Xiaoyanzi's hand and went to the lakeside. They boarded a boat, and this time, Yongqi used a larger boat and brought a boatman with him.

————————————————————

"What's going on? You actually let the boatman come aboard? Something's not right..."

Looking into the cabin, where there was a bed, Xiao Yanzi's intuition told her that Yongqi had brought her here with ulterior motives.

Revised version:

Yongqi's purpose in bringing her here was obvious, but she couldn't escape, nor did she want to, because it wasn't just him who wanted to, she wanted to too...

She suddenly asked, "Yongqi, will you love me forever?"

Yongqi smiled slightly, "It's not just for one lifetime, I want to chase after you, protect you, love you, and cherish you for all eternity, so that you will always be with me!"

Will we change after we get married?

"Of course it will change. I love you even more, I can't live without you anymore, I wish I could stay with you every day, wherever you go, I'll follow!"

Little Swallow couldn't help but laugh, "Isn't this a bit too unambitious of you?"

Yongqi said nonchalantly, "As long as I don't neglect my duties, what does it matter whether I'm alone or spending all my time with my wife!"

"If you really become emperor, will I really be able to freely enter and leave the palace?"

"Of course! I've said it before, I'll do everything I can to make it happen for you!"

Perhaps because their wedding was approaching, Xiao Yanzi had many questions to ask, and Yongqi answered them one by one without the slightest impatience. "Yongqi, do you find it annoying that I ask these questions?"

Yongqi shook his head. "The fact that you're willing to ask me these questions shows that you truly want to marry me and that you genuinely care about me. I'm overjoyed, how could I be annoyed?"

"If someone who likes you causes me trouble, and I retaliate, would you be unhappy?"

"Of course not! I will never let anyone who dares to bully you get away with it!"

"Silly girl, don't worry about whether it will cause me trouble. I just want you to be happy!"

Yongqi said that, but Xiaoyanzi knew that it was a good thing that Yongqi was willing to dote on her, but she could not take advantage of Yongqi's kindness to act recklessly. If she did, she would not only be making things difficult for Yongqi, but also for Qianlong and Consort Yu!

Yongqi feels sorry for her, and she should feel sorry for Yongqi in return. Only in this way can their relationship last longer!

It is often written in storybooks that the man says he doesn't care what trouble the woman gets into, as long as she is happy; but once trouble actually happens, the man still can't help but blame the woman.

Little Swallow had also tried to put herself in her shoes. If she were in her shoes, what would she do? She might not say anything, but she would definitely feel a headache inside!

So the best way to get along is for you to say, "I can do anything, you are my support"; and for me to say, "I will be fine, I won't hold you back, I won't cause trouble, and I will be your good helper and good partner!"

————————————————————

Some time later, someone said, "How can you, the Fifth Prince, have such thoughts on your mind..."

Yongqi picked Xiaoyanzi up, helped her wash her hands, and massaged her, all while listening to Xiaoyanzi's various complaints and grumblings about him.

Yongqi whispered in Xiaoyanzi's ear, "It's because you've taken up residence in my heart that I can't wait to become one with you and become yours."

Little Swallow muttered, "You can't do that again. I don't want to be labeled a wicked empress who brought ruin to the country."

"The spring night is too short and the sun rises high; from then on, the emperor no longer holds morning court. I have now experienced this feeling..."

After he put Xiao Yanzi back on the bed, he saw her draped in a thin veil, the view beneath it barely concealed, and his heart stirred again...