Chapter 297 Time Flies

Little Swallow asked again, "Do Hanxiang and Mardan know about this?"

"Just before I entered the palace, I saw Princess Hanxiang and her husband riding fast out of the city, presumably to hurry back."

"Yongqi, it seems we need to hurry up and arrange for someone to go there."

Xiao Yanzi, Yongqi, and Xiao Jian immediately wrote three letters each and handed them to Tianfeng. Yongqi said, "This operation is entirely in your hands. Take your men and hurry after them. Make sure to protect Hanxiang and their child."

"Yes, Your subordinate obeys."

Tianfeng accepted the order and left. Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi hurriedly went to find Qianlong, leaving the children in the care of Kangwei and Xiaoqing for the time being.

"Father, something has happened."

Emperor Qianlong, seated on his dragon throne, looked at Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi in their hurried manner and asked with some confusion, "What happened?"

Yongqi delivered the message Tianfeng had given him to Qianlong: "There's been unrest in Xinjiang. We've already sent men to pursue Hanxiang and Mardan towards Xinjiang..."

After reading the letter, Emperor Qianlong became worried about Ali Khoja and quickly discussed countermeasures with Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi to help Ali Khoja.

It took nearly two months to quell the unrest in Xinjiang.

Fortunately, Ali Hezhuo, Hanxiang, Mardan and others were all safe and sound, and there were no major casualties.

In the past two months, two major events have occurred.

The first thing was that Consort Ling gave birth to the seventeenth prince, Yonglin. The Empress Dowager and Emperor Qianlong were overjoyed, and Consort Ling received a continuous stream of rewards.

The second thing was the death of the court painter Giuseppe Castiglione.

Although Yongqi had already informed Benjamin of Lang Shining's serious illness, the transmission took a long time, so Benjamin was unable to return in time.

Afterwards, Emperor Qianlong led everyone to the Mulan Hunting Grounds for a hunt.

They had only been there for two days when news of the Empress's death arrived.

This dampened Emperor Qianlong's appetite for hunting.

Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi were also filled with sadness and had no strength left to go hunting.

The hunting trip ended, and Emperor Qianlong led everyone back to Beijing.

After the Empress's death, Emperor Qianlong suspended court for five days.

The twelfth prince, Yongqi, was in tears because the empress had left, and Rong Momo had also left.

These two people were of extraordinary significance to him, and after losing them overnight, Yongqi was immersed in grief for a long time.

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It was the first day of the eighth lunar month. Yongqi used both carrier pigeons and fast horses to finally deliver the news of Lang Shining's death to Benjamin.

Benjamin could hardly believe it; he was already engaged to his wife, but his master had already passed away.

"ben, what does this letter say? why are you crying?"

Benjamin's fiancée, Jimmy, looked at him with a bewildered expression.

"Jimmy, my master passed away due to illness. I have to go to china."

"(Jimmy, my mentor has passed away, I have to go to China.)"

"oh my god! ben, if you want to go to china, I\\u0027ll acpany you."

Jimmy's words deeply moved Benjamin. "Jimmy, thank you."

The two hurriedly packed their luggage and prepared to leave.

The second day of the eighth lunar month is Xia Ziwei's 24th birthday.

In previous years, we would definitely have held a grand banquet.

But this year, not long after the Empress's death, they had no interest in holding a banquet and simply ate a longevity noodle dish cooked by Fu Erkang himself at the Scholar's Residence.

"Little Swallow, thank you."

Hearing Xia Ziwei's thanks, Xiao Yanzi gently tapped her head, "Why are you thanking me between us?"

"It's your birthday, so I definitely can't miss it!"

"Besides, if the Empress Dowager knew that you were unhappy on your birthday because of her, she would definitely be sad too."

"So, we should look on the bright side. Although our Emperor Father was a good emperor and a good father, as a man, he was far inferior to Yongqi..."

"The Empress Dowager is gone. Perhaps it's a relief for her."

Xia Ziwei sighed, "Perhaps. I hope that next time, the Empress Dowager won't marry into the royal family again."

After all, it's rare for members of the royal family to be as exceptional as Yongqi.

"Fortunately, before the Empress Dowager passed away, Father Emperor had already arranged a marriage for Yongqi, which can be considered as some comfort to the Empress Dowager."

Xiao Yanzi nodded, "That's true. After the three years of mourning, Yongqi will be 17 years old, which is the age when he can get married."

Because of the Empress's passing, all the birthdays of young couples and children this year will be celebrated simply, and those that need to be celebrated in a big way will have to wait until next year.

Even on his own birthday, Emperor Qianlong would simply have his family gather at the Qianqing Palace for a simple meal.

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The Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the 15th of August, is a time for eating mooncakes and admiring the moon.

At the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), the banquet was held outside the Qianqing Palace.

Simon and Ji Xiaolan sat together. Simon stood up and said, "Your Majesty, in the past... it was always Master Ji... who had the princes and princesses compose poems. This year... how about we try something different?"

Emperor Qianlong was also a little curious, "Oh? What's different?"

"The princes and princesses recently learned a word called 'moon,' which refers to the moon hanging in the sky. Why don't we have each of them say a sentence about the moon in English?"

Simon thought this was already the easiest one, and that it shouldn't be too difficult for the kids.

Ji Xiaolan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I think Simon's suggestion is good. These princes and princesses have been learning foreign languages ​​for quite some time now, it's time to see how well they've improved..."

"However, you not only have to speak it, but you also have to write it down in the English you speak."

After hearing this, Emperor Qianlong found it somewhat interesting and immediately nodded, "Alright, it will be as you say."

While the others found it tedious, Mianyao was overjoyed.

She was the first to get restless, standing up and exclaiming, "How round the moon is!"

"Grandpa, what does that mean? The moon is really round!"

“Perfect!” Simon nodded in satisfaction.

Ji Xiaolan smiled and said, "Then please write this sentence down, Princess. Not only should you write it in English, but you should also write it down in all the languages ​​you know."

Ji Xiaolan thought it would be difficult for Mianyao, but the girl only hesitated for a moment before writing down the content.

"Grandpa, I've finished writing it."

"Xiao Luzi, go and bring up what Mianyao wrote."

"twitter!"

Xiao Luzi walked to Mianyao's table and handed what Mianyao had written to Qianlong.

"Xiaolan, Simon, come and take a look."

After the three finished checking, Emperor Qianlong laughed and said, "You little girl, you're really good! You wrote every word correctly, and your handwriting is neat. Impressive!"

Mianyao smiled and said, "This is all thanks to Master Ji. He always makes me copy things as punishment, so it's hard for me not to learn!"

Emperor Qianlong raised an eyebrow and smiled, "So, copying as punishment really works! Xiaolan, you must continue to use this method in the future, make them copy more so they can remember it!"

Mianyao was dumbfounded, "Grandpa! My hands hurt every time I copy it a hundred times!"

Emperor Qianlong laughed heartily, "This matter is not up for discussion. Who will be next?"

Xiao Yucheng stood up. "Your Majesty, let me do it."

After the English language test was over, it was time for the Chinese language test.

Ji Xiaolan stroked his beard and smiled, "Today we'll play a simple idiom chain game, starting with the character '月' (moon)."

"Eleventh Prince, let's start with you this time."

Yongxing blurted out, "A dark and windy night."

Yongqi was a little confused. "Please...please...please have mercy!"

"Seventh Princess, what about you?" Ji Xiaolan looked at Jingwan, who was standing next to Consort Ling.

Jingwan was getting a little anxious. "My hands... I'm all flustered."

Eighth Princess Jinghua stood up, “A hero in troubled times.”

Ninth Princess Jingyun stood up as well, “ambitious and determined.”

Xiao Yucheng: "We share the same ideals and goals."

Mianhua: "To unite as one."

Mianyao: "Wholeheartedly."

The only word that came to Fu Peidong's mind was "unexpected".

Ji Xiaolan looked at Yongyan, who had not yet spoken, "Fifteenth Prince..."

Yongyan shook his head weakly, "Father, Master Ji, I didn't expect this."

Little Swallow said, "Since that's the case, then you should perform a talent show."