Return of the Pearl

Qianlong and his entourage did not choose to ride in a carriage. Instead, they mounted their horses, raised their whips, and galloped away like arrows. The sound of their hooves echoed on the empty road, as if they were racing against time.

Qianlong was filled with worry about the situation of the people in Shandong. He was anxious, his brows furrowed, and his eyes revealed deep concern and anxiety. He wished he could arrive in Shandong immediately to see with his own eyes the living conditions of the people there and understand the difficulties they faced.

So they traveled almost day and night without a moment's rest. During the day, they galloped on horseback under the scorching sun, raising clouds of dust flying behind them; at night, the moonlight shone on them, reflecting their determined figures. They ignored fatigue and hardships, just to get to Shandong as soon as possible and bring a glimmer of hope to the people.

As time passed, the sky gradually darkened, and twilight quietly enveloped the earth like a veil. The sunset glow gradually faded away, and stars appeared in the sky. When they finally arrived in Ninghe County, Tianjin, everyone was exhausted and tired.

The horses were panting and covered in sweat, as if they had just experienced a fierce battle; Fu Heng and others also looked tired, with deep fatigue in their eyes. Their clothes were soaked with sweat and stuck tightly to their bodies.

Even Qianlong felt a sense of irresistible fatigue. He was still holding Xiao Yun tightly in his arms. Looking at the other's pale face, his heart was filled with worry. He gently stroked the hair of the person in his arms, his eyes full of tenderness and love.

He knew that they had to rest here and recover some strength before they could continue on their journey. However, he was still concerned about the people of Shandong, and that worry always lingered in his heart and could not be dispelled.

Qianlong looked around and saw that everyone looked so tired. He felt very sorry. He knew that if they continued to move forward, they would not be able to maintain their good condition, so he decisively ordered to find an inn to stay and rest. Everyone felt relieved and dismounted, leading their horses and following Qianlong's footsteps, looking for a place to rest.

They walked slowly along the streets of Ninghe County. The sound of horse hooves echoed on the bluestone road, which was particularly clear. Most of the shops on both sides of the street were closed, with the doors closed. There was silence. Only a few dim lanterns swayed gently in the wind. The faint light flickered in the dark night, adding a sense of desolation and loneliness to the silent night.

In this quiet atmosphere, they soon arrived at the door of an inn. The old door of the inn was closed, as if telling of its vicissitudes of life, but the warm light shining through the crack of the door was like a beacon in the dark night, bringing a glimmer of hope and warmth to people.

Erkang walked forward quietly, raised his hand and gently knocked on the heavy door. The crisp knock was particularly loud in the silent night, as if breaking the tranquility of the night. After a while, a slight sound of footsteps came from inside the door. The footsteps came from far away and gradually became clearer. Then, the door slowly opened, and a white-haired old man appeared at the door.

When the old man saw Qianlong and his entourage, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. His gaze lingered on them for a moment, as if trying to discern something. But soon, he regained his composure, a respectful expression on his face, and asked, "Dear guests, what can I do for you?"

Erkang smiled faintly, a smile that seemed to contain a hint of fatigue, but also a hint of kindness. He said, "Old man, we have come a long way and are really tired. We would like to stay here for one night. Is that convenient?"

Upon hearing this, the old man nodded quickly and replied, "That's convenient. Please come in, everyone." As he spoke, he stepped aside and warmly welcomed everyone into the inn. The door of the inn slowly opened, as if welcoming these guests who had come from afar.

As the door of the inn opened, a warm breath blew in, as if isolating the cold and fatigue outside. Qianlong and his entourage walked into the inn. Their figures appeared particularly tall and firm under the light. They would rest here for a while and accumulate strength for the next journey.

When we stepped into the inn, we saw that the interior was simple and unpretentious, but every corner was kept in order. The clean and tidy environment made people feel comfortable. The old man enthusiastically led everyone to their seats and greeted everyone sincerely. Then, he told the waiter to quickly prepare hot water and food for the guests.

Qianlong gently put Xiao Yun down from his arms and let her sit beside him. He sat at the table, gently stroking Xiao Yun's hair, his eyes full of love and care. Xiao Yun still leaned quietly in his arms, like a delicate flower.

After a while, the waiter brought steaming hot food and water. Everyone was already starving, and when they saw the food, they picked up their chopsticks like hungry tigers and started eating in big mouthfuls.

When the food was served, Qianlong carefully picked up Xiao Yun's favorite dishes and placed them on the plate in front of her. He watched Xiao Yun chew the food slowly, with a smile on his lips all the time. It was a doting look that he only had when facing her. The whole inn was filled with the deep emotions between them, which made people feel the beauty and power of love.

Qianlong also picked up a piece of cake and slowly put it into his mouth, chewing it. His eyes were always on Xiao Yun. Staring at the other's pale face, the feeling of pity in his heart became stronger. He hoped that Xiao Yun could get better soon and regain his former vitality and vitality.

In this quiet inn, Qianlong gently embraced Xiao Yun while listening to stories about Ninghe County. It was said that this place had suffered an extremely severe drought. It was a difficult time and the people's lives were miserable.

But they did not retreat at all, nor were they defeated by difficulties. Instead, they united as one and worked together to fight the drought. With their tenacious perseverance and indomitable spirit, they finally defeated the drought and overcame the difficulties.

Qianlong listened to these stories quietly, feeling a lot of emotions in his heart. His thoughts drifted in the stories, and waves surged in his heart. He knew very well that the lives of the people were not easy, and that was a problem that he had to face and solve as the king of a country.

He secretly made up his mind to work harder for the welfare of the people, do more for them and make their lives better. His eyes revealed a firm belief, as if telling himself that he had a heavy responsibility and he must work tirelessly for the people.