New Return of the Pearl: The Group's Pet Swallow Flies

Xiaoyanzi and Ziwei stood in the middle of the living room of the Cining Palace, facing the Empress Dowager, and answered in crisp voices.

The old lady looked at the two little girls so cutely, her eyes were full of love.

"You are three years old now. What knowledge have you learned?"

The old Buddha asked again.

Xiaoyanzi thought about what she had learned and spoke first, "Replying to the old Buddha, Xiaoyanzi, I have learned some Three Character Classic and Thousand Character Classic, but Ziwei is much better. She has learned piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and she has learned them very well. Our teacher praised her for her good learning."

She talked about what she had learned, and did not forget to praise Ziwei a few words, trying to make her more popular in front of her grandmother.

Sure enough, when the old Buddha heard this, he immediately looked at Ziwei and asked in surprise, "So amazing? You're only three years old, and you've already learned music, chess, calligraphy and painting? And you're doing well?"

Ziwei didn't expect Xiaoyanzi to suddenly praise her, which made her a little flustered, but facing the doubts of the old Buddha, she still steadied herself and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner, "Replying to the old Buddha, Ziwei only learned a little, not as good as Xiaoyanzi praised."

When the old lady heard this, she thought that this child was humble, well-behaved, smart, and had clear eyes. She looked pretty good. She nodded secretly, and her liking for her increased a little more.

"Prince Yu, the princess and Princess Qing are here."

The voice of a palace maid greeting was heard outside the door.

"Okay, okay, go back and sit down first. I will test you again in a few days."

Hearing the voice, the old lady stopped testing the two children and asked them to go back and sit down first. She sat upright and looked at the family of three who were about to come in.

Xiaoyanzi and Ziwei walked back and saw Qing'er and her father and mother. The three children smiled at each other. Xiaoyanzi did not forget to say hello to Hongzhan and Yun Qingwan.

"Xiaoyanzi pays her respects to Uncle Hongzhan and Aunt Qingwan."

Hongzhan and Yun Qingwan's eyes lit up when they saw the two exquisitely crafted little girls in front of them.

After hearing a little girl call them uncle and aunt, the two looked at each other and asked tentatively, "Yes, Xiaoyanzi?"

Xiaoyanzi nodded happily and replied, "It's me."

The two of them never expected that the little girl who was still in swaddling clothes would now be standing in front of them calling them uncle and aunt, and they kept lamenting that time passed so quickly.

Hongzhan and Yun Qingwan had no time to continue the greetings. They hurried forward to greet the Old Buddha and others, while Xiaoyanzi and Ziwei returned to sit next to their mother Xia Yuhe.

Xiao Qing'er turned back and looked at them with a smile from time to time.

Hongzhan and Yun Qingwan both knew that the emperor had brought back the woman he had had physical contact with three years ago. That woman also had a daughter, who was named Princess Mingzhu, and he also adopted a daughter, who was named Princess Huanzhu.

Before, they hadn't guessed who it was, but now, after taking a look, they knew it was them.

Hongzhan and Yun Qingwan couldn't help but sigh that everything was fate.

The Empress Dowager exchanged a few words with them, and when the Emperor finally arrived, everyone went to the dining hall to have dinner together.

During meals, the emperor sat at the main seat at a long table, and the Empress Dowager sat at the opposite seat.

On the emperor's left sat Shu Yuan, followed by Wei Qinglan, Xia Yuhe, Concubine Yu, Yun Qingwan, Xiaoyanzi, Ziwei, and Qing'er.

On the right sat Prince Yu Hongzhan, Yongqi and other royal children.

The old lady looked at the whole family having a meal together with a smile on her face. All she wanted in her life was a happy family with many children and grandchildren. Now she is very satisfied and is just waiting for her children to get married and start their own families so that she can have great-grandchildren.

Hongli looked around and saw that all his family members were there, so he stood up and, with a smile, introduced Concubine He and the two little princesses who had just returned to everyone.

Everyone looked at Concubine He and the two little princesses. No one knew what they were thinking, but on the surface, they all looked harmonious.

When the Empress Dowager saw that the Emperor treated the family dinner as a reunion dinner for Xia Yuhe and her two children, she looked a little displeased, but she didn't show it.

After eating a few bites, she left due to feeling unwell. Before leaving, she asked someone to remind the emperor that Concubine Ling was pregnant and asked him not to let her down.

After dinner, Hongli decided to go to the Yanx Palace in the evening. He thought that Concubine Ling was pregnant now, so he wanted to spend more time with her, so he supported Concubine Ling and walked towards the Yanx Palace.

The others dispersed.

Xia Yuhe watched the emperor supporting Concubine Ling and leaving without hesitation, a trace of loneliness flashed across her eyes, but she also knew that after returning to the palace, the emperor would no longer be her emperor alone, nor would he be her Hongli.

When Shu Yuan saw that the emperor went to the Yanx Palace and didn't care about Xia Yuhe as much as she had expected, she felt relieved and at the same time felt a sense of sympathy.

Before leaving, seeing Xia Yuhe's eyes, she thought about it and moved closer to her, silently reminding her, "As the emperor's woman, you must be prepared to stay alone in an empty room..."

Xia Yuhe was stunned for a moment, then turned around to look at the queen, and saw that her face was indifferent. She didn't seem surprised or upset about the emperor going to the Yanx Palace, as if she didn't care about the emperor at all. She felt a little strange, but there was an inexplicable resonance between women.

"Yes, I know."

She thought about it, then leaned forward slightly and agreed.

After all, no matter what, it was a well-intentioned reminder, telling her not to take the emperor too seriously and to avoid getting hurt, and what she said was true.

Seeing that she did not mock him for meddling in other people's business, and even responded seriously, Shu Yuan raised the corners of her lips slightly, raised her head high, hummed, turned around, and left with the help of Madam Rong.

Xia Yuhe watched her leave, while Xiaoyanzi and Ziwei huddled together and whispered.

"I didn't expect that the Queen would take the initiative to persuade my mother. It seems that the Queen is a pretty good person at this time."

Xiaoyanzi leaned over to whisper in Ziwei's ear.

Ziwei nodded in agreement, but before she could say anything, she heard her mother's voice calling from the front.

"Ziwei, Xiaoyanzi, let's go back."

The two of them responded quickly and followed their mother to Chengqian Palace.

As night fell, the sky was dotted with stars. Palace servants led the way with lanterns. It was a little dark at night, but Xiaoyanzi and Ziwei were not afraid. They chatted all the way, making Xia Yuhe smile with all her eyes.