Return of the Pearl

On this day, the morning light shone on the golden tiles and red walls of the Forbidden City. Emperor Qianlong held the imperial edict in his hand, his eyes determined. When he went to court, he motioned for Xiao Luzi to come forward. Xiao Luzi opened his voice and announced loudly: "By the will of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

I am compassionate and considerate of you, and I have deeply considered the heavy responsibility entrusted to you and the desire to carry on the legacy. The thirteenth prince is a man of great talent, with a virtuous character, a brilliant appearance, and extraordinary intelligence. He has been diligent and studious since childhood, and has a kind heart, showing the demeanor of a king.

Now I have decided to establish him as the crown prince to inherit the throne. I hope that he will be diligent and frugal, respect Heaven and follow the ancestors, inherit the great plans of our ancestors, and usher in prosperity for future generations. You must obey my orders immediately and be awarded an honorable rank to live up to my deep love.

The announcement was made at home and abroad, and the envoys heard about it.

"I admire this"

There was silence in the court, and then all the ministers echoed in unison, without anyone raising any objection. When the Sixth Prince heard the news, his face remained calm, and he only focused on doing his own job well, not competing with others, nor trying to snatch anything.

After Qianlong appointed the crown prince, he had the idea of going on a tour in disguise. So, he took Xiao Yun and their daughter with him on an unprecedented tour, and all the affairs of state were left to the Thirteenth Prince, who was only five years old.

When the Thirteenth Prince learned about this, he did not show any complaint, but quietly went to the Yangxin Palace and began to review the memorials that piled up like a mountain. Xiao Luzi watched from the side, feeling a little bit reluctant, and secretly sighed that daughters are still the best.

The Tenth Princess has been a fierce little bully since she was a child. She lives a reckless and ostentatious life. Yaojie from Erkang's family is often bullied by her, but he dares not say a word, let alone complain, because everyone knows that the emperor loves the Tenth Princess very much, and she is invincible among the royal family members.

Everyone knows this, so even if their own children are wronged, they can only helplessly tell them to bear it! The Tenth Princess is the little bully, no one can afford to mess with her!

On the day when Qianlong decided to go on a secret tour, the sun was exceptionally bright, as if cheering for this special journey. Qianlong was dressed in simple casual clothes, but it could not conceal the kingly aura emanating from him. Xiao Yun was dressed in an elegant dress, gentle and beautiful, and the Tenth Princess was like a cheerful little bird, surrounding them.

They walked along the bluestone-paved road, passed through the bustling market, and felt the atmosphere of folk life. Qianlong's eyes were full of curiosity and joy. He saw the hard work of the people and the smiles on their faces.

When they came to a beautiful place, Qianlong stopped and took a deep breath of the fresh air. He looked at the mountains in the distance and the flowing stream, and an indescribable tranquility and satisfaction surged in his heart.

After they left, time passed by like a white horse, and half a year passed in a flash. During this long six months, the Thirteenth Prince managed all the affairs of the court in an orderly manner, which was almost perfect.

Although Qianlong was traveling incognito, he would pass on all the affairs of the court, big or small, to him through his secret guards. If the Thirteenth Prince made any mistakes in handling affairs, Qianlong would properly resolve them for him behind the scenes.

However, what pleasantly surprised Qianlong was that his son was truly his pride. He handled every matter flawlessly and showed the demeanor of a king. He truly possessed the qualities of an excellent heir. Qianlong was therefore more at ease and indulged in this trip.

On this day, the sun was shining brightly and the breeze was gentle. They arrived at a quiet manor. The Tenth Princess was thirsty because she had enjoyed herself so much. She saw the dazzling array of fruits in the manor, which were as tempting as stars. She grabbed Qianlong's arm tightly and begged in a delicate voice, "Father, I want to eat them so much. Please buy them for me!"

Qianlong smiled helplessly, took his daughter's hand lovingly, walked to the gate of the manor, and gently knocked on the quaint door.

The door slowly opened. Qianlong was stunned for a moment, his eyes filled with surprise and emotion, and he blurted out, "Yongji!"

The twelfth prince was also stunned. He never expected that he would be able to meet his father on this day. "Father, are you going on an incognito tour again?" There was a hint of excitement in the twelfth prince's voice.

Qianlong nodded, and the Tenth Princess widened her eyes in curiosity, carefully examining the Twelfth Prince. With his sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he looked quite similar to the Emperor! The Tenth Princess was not unfamiliar with the Twelfth Prince at all. She skipped over to him, looked up, and asked, "Are you my brother?"

The twelfth prince looked at the cute little girl in front of him, who only reached his thigh, and asked with a smile, "Is this your daughter with the Empress?"

Qianlong nodded slightly, with a loving smile on his face, and said slowly: "She is your sister."

The Twelfth Prince had already reached adulthood, but had never married. Instead, he chose to live in seclusion in the countryside. He gently picked up the Tenth Princess, who excitedly pointed to the ripe fruits in the garden and said, "Brother, I want to eat this!"

The twelfth prince smiled softly and dotingly, his smile as warm as a spring breeze, and said softly, "Okay, I'll pick it for you."

Xiao Yun waited in the carriage for a long time, but they still didn't return. Feeling anxious, she got off the carriage. When she saw the Twelfth Prince, she couldn't help but be stunned. She thought to herself: I never thought I would meet him here...

When Xiao Yun approached, what caught his eye was the heartwarming scene of the Twelfth Prince gently picking fruits for the Tenth Princess. The two brothers and sisters had never met before, but the way they got along at this moment was as if they had grown up together. They were extremely intimate, which made people feel warm. After a brief discussion with Xiao Yun, Qianlong decided to stay here for a while.

This made the Tenth Princess very happy. She kept calling the Twelfth Prince "Brother" all day long. The Twelfth Prince did not feel annoyed at all. He not only accompanied her shopping and playing, but also picked various fruits for her.

When it was time for dinner, the twelfth prince recounted to Emperor Qianlong in detail her experiences during the years since she left the palace. Qianlong could see that after making a contribution, the twelfth prince felt much more relaxed and happier. Qianlong secretly felt that his decision back then was indeed the right one.

Looking back to those days, the guards who escorted the twelfth prince were scattered around like stars, settling down one after another. Among them, many have formed happy families, given birth to new lives, and are enjoying the happiness of family.

The twelfth prince himself also got involved in some small businesses and even opened a private school with a unique idea. He personally served as the teacher, but did not charge a penny. He just worked silently and taught those children from poor families who could not go to school to read and write.