Return of the Pearl

Xiao Yun clearly heard the noisy shouts and cries of killing outside the door. A wave of unease surged in her heart. She quickly turned to look at Qianlong and asked anxiously, "Hongli, what exactly happened outside just now?"

Qianlong looked at Xiao Yun, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. He took a deep breath and said slowly, "Yongcheng and Yongyan... they attempted to force the emperor to abdicate and rebel! They have been executed."

After hearing this, Xiao Yun was struck by lightning and was completely stunned. She opened her eyes wide, her face full of astonishment and disbelief. After a long time, she came to her senses and finally understood why Qianlong came back so late some time ago. That night, she clearly felt the heavy worry in his heart. It turned out that he had known all this for a long time.

A bitter smile slowly emerged on Xiao Yun's once beautiful face. This smile seemed to carry endless bitterness and helplessness. She slightly opened her cherry-red lips and spoke in an extremely gentle voice, "Hongli, no matter how the future changes, our child and I will always be by your side and will never leave you."

Hearing these affectionate words, Qianlong's heart was filled with emotion. He slowly extended his slender and broad hands and patted Xiao Yun's slightly pale but still tender little hand with tenderness and love. He said softly, "Yun'er, you can rest well and rest assured. Big brother is still waiting outside. I will take our child out to show him. I was so anxious just now that I rushed into the room with the child in my arms to see you, and I forgot to let Big Brother see this adorable child in time."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qianlong carefully and gently held the baby in his arms, then turned around and walked out of the room slowly with steady steps.

Xiao Yun looked at Qianlong's departing back, slowly closed her eyes, and lay quietly on the soft and comfortable bed. At this moment, an unprecedented sense of peace surged in her heart, as if all her worries and troubles disappeared at this moment.

When Qianlong walked out of the room holding the child in his arms, the other concubines waiting outside all turned their eyes to them. When everyone saw that Qianlong was holding a baby girl in his arms, they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The faces of these concubines all revealed complex and indecipherable expressions, including envy of Xiao Yun's favor and the birth of a daughter, jealousy that was difficult to conceal, and even a hint of deep worry that was not easily noticed.

After all, in this ever-changing and treacherous palace, everyone's fate is as uncertain as a candle in the wind. No one can predict what will happen tomorrow. Therefore, they are always worried about their own future and fate...

At this moment, Qianlong had no time to pay attention to other people's reactions. His eyes were fixed on Xiao Jian, and he walked straight towards him with anxious steps.

Qianlong's face was filled with anticipation and joy, and he said tenderly, "Brother, come and see Yixin, your niece. Come and hug her."

When Xiao Jian heard Qianlong's words, he was struck by lightning. Complex emotions surged in his heart. He seemed a little flustered and at a loss. He stood there with his eyes wide open, not knowing how to react for a moment. After all, he had never held such a young child, which made him feel both novel and nervous.

Xiao Jian slowly raised his hand, as if afraid of disturbing something, and carefully took the child. When he touched the child's soft body, an inexplicable throbbing spread throughout his body. His body was stiff and he didn't dare to move, for fear that he would accidentally hurt this little life that was as fragile as a porcelain doll.

Qianlong was constantly directing them from the side, his eyes filled with concern and anxiety. He said anxiously, "Brother, the way you hold the child is wrong. You need to be more careful. You need to support her head gently and don't let her feel uncomfortable."

When others heard Qianlong call him "big brother", they couldn't help but feel a lot of emotion in their hearts. You know, even if he was the queen's biological brother, it would be impossible for him to hear the emperor call himself so intimately.

At the same time, anger and jealousy surged in their hearts like a tide, reaching an uncontrollable peak. They looked at Qianlong and Xiao Jian with eyes full of unwillingness and resentment.

At that dreamlike moment when Xiao Jian's hands were trembling slightly and he was holding the child very carefully, Qianlong's majestic and loud voice, like the ringing of a huge bell, resounded in the hall, shocking everyone.

Qianlong solemnly issued an order, "Xiao Luzi, pass on my decree. Yun'er has made great contributions in giving birth to the royal heir. Her gentleness, gracefulness, and refined character have won my heart. I will now promote Yun'er to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort to honor her virtue and achievements."

I hope Yun'er will uphold the virtues of a virtuous person, continue to provide heirs for the royal family, and bring more blessings to my country."

This imperial edict was like a huge rock, suddenly thrown into the calm lake, instantly stirring up thousands of waves and huge waves. When the other concubines heard the news, their faces turned extremely ugly in an instant. The emotions of resentment and unwillingness were clearly shown on their faces like a surging tide. They clenched their teeth, and their teeth made a crunching sound, as if they were about to be bitten to pieces. There was a raging anger in their eyes, as if they wanted to burn everything to ashes.

But Xiao Luzi took Qianlong's order respectfully, then turned around quickly. He took brisk and firm steps and rushed away like a gust of wind.

Qianlong looked indifferently at the concubines who were trembling with fear. There was no trace of pity in his eyes, but rather a bit of disgust.

He said coldly: "Yun'er has safely given birth to the royal heir. This place has nothing to do with you anymore. Go back to the palace." After hearing this, the concubines felt as if they had been pardoned and a heavy burden had been lifted off their shoulders. With the support of the palace maids, they left the Jianjia Palace with unsteady steps and walked slowly towards their own palaces. The departing figures, with endless loneliness and unwillingness, looked particularly desolate in this deep palace.

Afterwards, Qianlong raised his hand to signal Xiao Jian to carry the child to the inner hall by himself, while he had to go and deal with something, so he turned around and left in a hurry.

Xiao Jian did not ask why Qianlong was going there. He knew very well that at such a moment, the matter that needed to be dealt with must be extremely important.