Return of the Pearl

Jianjia Palace

Qianlong stared at the person in his arms intently. He saw Xiao Yun's lips, as pink as cherry blossoms, slightly raised in a graceful arc, as if she was having a beautiful dream that made her very happy. An imperceptible smile inadvertently appeared on Qianlong's face. That smile was as warm as the spring sun and as bright as the stars in the summer night, full of endless pampering and tenderness.

At this moment, Qianlong's movements were as gentle as the breeze blowing the petals. He moved his body slowly, and every subtle movement was cautious, as if he was afraid of disturbing Xiao Yun's sweet dream. He first lowered his head slightly, gazing at Xiao Yun's peaceful face affectionately, with waves of pity and cherishing in his heart. Then, he stretched out his slender and white hands and gently tidied up Xiao Yun's messy hair. The movement was so gentle, as if he was protecting a priceless treasure.

While standing up, Qianlong's eyes never left Xiao Yun, and his gaze was full of attachment and reluctance. His upright figure stood like a green pine, but with infinite tenderness for Xiao Yun. He slowly stood up, and every movement was full of elegance and steadiness.

As he was preparing to go to the court, he was still worried about Xiao Yun, wondering what her expression would be like when she woke up. He would also face the various affairs in the court with this worry. He thought to himself and walked towards the court with firm steps, every step carrying the responsibility and commitment to the country and Xiao Yun.

After dismissing the court, Qianlong returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation with steady steps. This solemn palace was silent at this moment, as if even the air was frozen. Only the rustling sound of him flipping through the memorials echoed in this empty hall, and each sound was like a whisper of history.

Qianlong slowly sat on the dragon throne, his brows slightly furrowed, his expression solemn and focused. The carvings on the dragon throne sparkled in the sunlight, as if witnessing his hard work and responsibility. His eyes were fixed on the mountain of memorials, and the red pen in his hand occasionally crossed the memorials, leaving behind bright red marks.

However, just when he was concentrating on handling government affairs, a report from Shandong broke the silence like a sudden thunder. The report was placed gently on his desk. His eyes glanced at it inadvertently, but were instantly attracted by the words on it. Those words were like a sharp blade, piercing his heart.

Qianlong's eyes became sharp, and he stared at every word in the report. It turned out that Shandong had suffered from an extremely serious drought disaster. There had not been a drop of rain from the sky for several months. The earth was dry and cracked, as if it was a corner forgotten by time. The people were struggling on this dry land, as if being roasted on fire, shrouded in pain and despair. They begged the court to open the granaries to provide disaster relief, and those cries of pleading seemed to still echo in his ears.

What made him even more sad was that in some places, the heartbreaking tragedy of cannibalism had occurred. He could not imagine that those innocent lives were forced to make such a cruel choice driven by hunger. Endless grief and indignation surged in his heart. It was a deep sympathy for the suffering of the people and an endless remorse for his own responsibility.

He could not sit idly by and watch the people suffer so much, he had to take action, so he immediately summoned Fuheng, Erkang and Fulun. The three of them hurried over, their faces still showing fatigue after retiring from court. When they heard the news that Qianlong was going on a secret visit to Shandong, they were not overly surprised, as if all this was within their expectations.

They looked at each other, their eyes filled with understanding and determination. Then, they bent down respectfully and responded in unison: "Your servants obey your order." Their voices echoed in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, as if expressing their firm support for Qianlong's decision.

Qianlong looked at them, his heart filled with emotion. He knew that it was his greatest luck to have these loyal ministers by his side in this difficult time. He stood up and paced slowly in the hall, thinking about the details of his trip to Shandong. He wanted to make sure that this incognito visit could truly understand the suffering of the people and bring them real help.

The sunlight shines on him through the window, stretching his shadow very long. His back appears particularly firm in this silent palace, as if he is an unshakable mountain, guarding the people of this land. He will embark on a journey to Shandong with this responsibility and mission to bring hope and strength to those suffering people.

Jianjia Palace

Qianlong took heavy and slow steps, as if every step was carrying a heavy burden. He dragged his exhausted body, like a tired mountain, slowly moving towards his destination. Finally, he arrived here.

The moment he saw Xiao Yun, a tired yet extremely gentle smile immediately blossomed on his face. That smile was like a spring breeze, warm and gentle, capable of instantly melting all the coldness and gloom in the world.

"Yun'er, I'm going to leave the palace and go to Shandong." Qianlong said softly, with a hint of barely perceptible fatigue in his voice, as if it came from the distant horizon.

When Xiao Yun heard this, her originally dull eyes suddenly shone with surprise and anticipation. That light was like the bright stars in the night sky, glittering and dazzling. But then, that light was covered by a trace of deep worry. She said anxiously, "Hongli, I don't want to stay in the palace either. I want to go with you."

Qianlong frowned slightly, feeling hesitant. The situation in Shandong was complicated and dangerous. This was not an ordinary tour. He was really worried about Xiao Yun's safety. He lowered his head slightly, staring at Xiao Yun's determined eyes and her pitiful appearance, and an indescribable emotion surged in his heart.

Xiao Yun tightly grasped Qianlong's arm, her eyes full of pleading, her voice trembling slightly: "Hongli, I'm really afraid that you will encounter some danger. I don't want to be separated from you, not even for a moment."

Qianlong's heart softened. He gently stroked Xiao Yun's hair, his eyes full of pity and caress. "Yun'er, the situation in Shandong is too complicated. I'm worried that something bad might happen to you..."

"Hongli, if you leave, I will be the only one left in this huge palace. I am so scared and I really don't want to be separated from you." Xiao Yun held Qianlong's arm tightly, her beautiful eyes filled with pleading, tears welling up in her eyes, as if they would roll down at any time.

Xiao Yun's words, "I don't want to be separated from you," were like a stone dropped into a calm lake, stirring ripples in Qianlong's heart and deeply touching his heartstrings. Qianlong pondered for a moment and finally made a decision. Well, let her stay by his side forever! Although he had used thundering methods to intimidate the women in the harem, there was no guarantee that they would not have other thoughts. Ensuring her safety was of paramount importance.