Chapter 314 Yongqi's Inner Thoughts

So what if the emperor loves his son? So what if he's the future ruler?

What use is the throne if you can't even protect your own beloved?

But if time could turn back, everything could start over.

This time, Little Swallow wants him to ascend to the throne and bring blessings to all people.

Okay, he still has no choice but to obey Yanzi's orders!

He watched Xiao Yanzi leave, enduring the days and nights she was gone, until they were reunited.

Xiao Shunzi: "Fifth Prince, please don't drink anymore."

Xiao Guizi: "Fifth Prince, if the Princess finds out you're like this, she'll definitely worry..."

Drinking his wine, Yongqi leaned against the door and laughed loudly, "She's worried? Does worrying mean she'll come back?"

"She's only been gone for a day, and I can't take it anymore..."

"I really regret letting her go. What if she never comes back?"

Do you think she'll leave me?

Before Xiaoshunzi and Xiaoguizi could answer, Yongqi continued talking to himself, "No...she wouldn't..."

"She won't abandon me..."

He is a very clean Yongqi. He has not been tainted by others, and Xiao Yanzi will not abandon him!

Ten days after Xiao Yanzi left, Yongqi sat solemnly at his desk, holding a booklet of Xiao Yanzi's sayings in his hand. "Xiao Shunzi, how many days has Xiao Yanzi been gone..."

"Ten days have passed..."

"Yes, it's been ten days. I've written down her Little Swallow quotes ten times already. Do you think she misses me?"

"Definitely!"

"Little Swallow, if you miss me, please come and see me in my dreams, okay?"

A year after Xiao Yanzi left, Yongqi sat at the table expressionlessly. "Any news about Xiao Yanzi?"

Tianyi was speechless. "Master, the princess just sent a letter yesterday..."

"Even if our people find out something today, they can't deliver it..."

“If the princess saw you like this, she would definitely be sad too…”

"If she feels pain too, then she'll probably come to my dreams tonight, right?"

"Definitely." Tianyi nodded repeatedly.

("Princess, please have pity on us servants! Hurry up and go into the master's dream so that he can have a good sleep!")

During the time Xiao Yanzi was away, Yongqi went from being emotionally expressive at the beginning in Yonghe Palace to being expressionless later on, which shows how much mental preparation he did.

Later, after reuniting with Xiao Yanzi, he seemed to find himself again, as if he had come back to life.

He walked step by step in the direction that Xiao Yanzi hoped for, putting their loved ones at ease and gradually enabling the people they cared about to live a better life.

The war with Annam truly traumatized Yongqi.

Fortunately, things turned out alright.

Little Swallow returned safely and regained her memory.

After that, he was even less willing to leave Xiao Yanzi.

Later, Myanmar descended into chaos again.

He and Xiao Yanzi led their troops into battle again, and this time, they were lucky enough to successfully drive the Burmese army out of the country.

After the fight in Burma, Little Swallow rarely resorted to violence again.

What she preferred to do was stay by his side, cling to him, and always be with him.

While others couldn't bear to watch, Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Even Emperor Qianlong at the beginning gradually got used to Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi showing affection in front of them.

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"You must be my granddaughter?"

"Little Swallow greets her maternal grandmother and maternal grandfather."

That happened after Xiao Yanzi and Xiao Jian recognized their uncle Feng Chengyao as relatives, and they followed Feng Chengyao back to the then Feng'an Kingdom.

Upon meeting the then-Empress and her consort, one might ask, "Is this Xiao Yanzi's husband?"

"Yongqi has met his maternal grandmother and maternal grandfather."

Empress Feng laughed and said, "Good, good, little swallow, your taste is just like your mother's!"

Although she never got to meet Xiao Zhihang in person, she had already seen their portraits and they were indeed a perfect match!

Now, seeing Xiao Yanzi and Yongqi, Xiao Jian and Qing'er, and the Empress and her consort, she was even happier.

Afterwards, out of consideration for Xiao Yanzi and Yongqi, Empress Feng incorporated Feng'an Kingdom into the territory of the Qing Dynasty, and Feng'an Kingdom became Feng'an County.

After arranging things in Feng'an County, Xiao Yanzi's maternal grandparents went to Hangzhou to pay their respects to Xiao Zhihang and Du Xueyin.

When Yongqi reported this matter to Emperor Qianlong, the emperor was naturally overjoyed.

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In May of the 28th year of Qianlong's reign, Qianlong fell asleep and accidentally knocked over a candle, causing a fire.

Yongqi did everything in his power to rescue Qianlong, and as a result, he was awarded the title of Prince Rong.

Emperor Qianlong even teased Yongqi, saying, "I thought you would be indulging in the pleasures of women, but I never expected that the first person to come to my rescue would be you..."

Yongqi explained, "Father, how can you joke about something like this?"

"How could I not know when to be serious and when to relax?"

"Yongqi, I am at ease with such an outstanding son as you."

"No, if it weren't for Little Swallow insisting that I stay, I wouldn't want to take on this business..."

Emperor Qianlong rolled his eyes. "I shouldn't have praised you. I should have praised Xiao Yanzi instead!"

Emperor Qianlong knew that Xiao Yanzi loved money, so he showered her with money as much as possible, almost overwhelming her.

"Father, that's enough!"

"You've already given us too much. If you keep giving, I'm afraid it will only create more hatred!"

Emperor Qianlong said indifferently, "Anyway, those who want to deal with you are no match for you. If they come out because of this matter, we can just take care of them all at once!"

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It didn't take long for Qianlong to be promoted from Prince Rong to Crown Prince, but he became increasingly lazy.

"Father, you haven't even abdicated yet, why are you in such a hurry to hand over such an important matter to me?"

"You'll ascend the throne sooner or later, so you might as well learn and master it sooner..."

"In that case, I can go out for a stroll with peace of mind..."

Yongqi pouted, "Little Swallow is right, Father Emperor, you're such a rascal!"

Emperor Qianlong didn't say anything, just said, "I'm an old rascal, and you're just a bunch of little rascals. You're all restless and want to go out and play..."

"However, while it's fun and games, don't joke about national affairs!"

Yongqi nodded, "Father, rest assured, I know what I'm doing."

After Yongqi officially ascended to the throne, he thought about abdicating every day, and the more he thought about it, the slower time seemed to pass.

Little Swallow could only try to divert his attention, that is, to get the children to attract a quarter of his attention, and then leave two parts of his attention to the court and one part to her and her mother.

However, it was clear that since Yongqi ascended the throne, Mother Mother had not been very keen to see them.

The mother just wanted to play with the children and enjoy family time.

As a result, Xiao Yanzi's original plan was disrupted, which led Yongqi to devote half of his attention to politics and the other half to her. As a result, she was often so exhausted that she would fall asleep on Yongqi's lap...

He endured year after year, watching his close relatives pass away one by one, until the day Yongyan ascended the throne, and Yongqi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He led everyone on a journey retracing their previous life's route, but this time, they were merely spectators and did not need to participate.

However, after settling in Dali, one by one, Xiao Yanzi's fellow disciples emerged.

Fifth Senior Brother: "Junior Sister, is this the Yongqi you've always longed for?"

"Okay, he does look younger and more handsome than me..."

Third Senior Brother: "Brother-in-law, it's been many years. How have you been?"

Yongqi had a good impression of his third senior brother and his sixth and seventh senior brothers. If they hadn't come to deliver the message in time, they probably wouldn't have been able to defeat Burma so easily.

However, Yongqi still harbored hostility towards his senior brother Lu Yue and his fifth senior brother who once wanted to marry Xiaoyanzi, though he didn't show it on his face.

Most of Xiao Yanzi's fellow apprentices were unmarried and preferred to stay free, so they settled down in Dali and would occasionally come to Yongqi and Xiao Yanzi's house for a meal.

Sometimes, they even steal Xiao Yanzi's attention, which annoys Yongqi, who is a devoted husband.

As a result, while the senior brothers caused trouble during the day, their junior sisters had to pay a price at night.

"Yongqi, do you really not regret living the life you're living now?"

"I don't regret it at all!"

"With you by my side, and the children coming back from time to time, these are the happiest times for me!"

("Father and Mother are with him, they don't need their son to stay by their side anymore. For the rest of his life, he should just stay with Xiao Yanzi...")