Chapter 742 A Dream of Youth 274
She really liked the dried plums in the snowflake crisps. The dried plums from Liu's shop on Maxing Street in Beijing were the freshest and tastiest, so she brought some back with her. If the snowflake crisps were filled with dried plums from other brands, they would taste a bit less flavorful.
"Brother, have some almond tea. It was made by my great-aunt. The almond powder is all homemade, it's very fragrant." When eating pastries, you naturally need some soup with them. If you only have plain water, it just feels like something is missing.
If you drink plain water after eating the pastries, the aroma will be diluted. But if you pair them with almond tea, the two will complement each other and create a rich and fragrant flavor.
Summer Solstice arrived in Xinghua Village under a clear sky, while in the capital city, dark clouds rolled in, turning the sky black and inky, with only the distant mountains faintly visible. White raindrops pattered on the eaves, splashing into tiny droplets.
Yan Xi stood atop the high building, gazing into the distance. She saw a figure in a Taoist robe heading towards the emperor's palace, surrounded by a crowd. The head palace maid beside her glanced at the raging storm outside and whispered, "Your Highness, it's chilly by the window. Don't catch a cold."
"Go to the Empress Dowager's palace." Yan Xi's expression was calm, but her heart was anything but.
A month ago, the emperor's health deteriorated. What Yan Xi couldn't understand was that even the Imperial Hospital couldn't cure him. No, the Imperial Hospital had never mentioned the emperor's condition, or rather, they had kept quiet about it.
Then the emperor summoned Buddhist and Taoist monks and Taoist priests to examine him.
One was refining elixirs, the other was concocting medicines; they seemed to be praying to gods and Buddhas.
Many ministers in the court raised objections, believing that the emperor's move was inappropriate.
Yan Xi also thought it was wrong, but on the other hand, she felt that the emperor was not someone who could be easily fooled by monks and Taoists. But the fact was that the emperor invited one monk and Taoist after another and gave them all kinds of favors.
This is very abnormal.
A wise emperor would never allow himself to fall into such a foolish state. When she was young, her father even complained to her about the foolish actions of emperors in history who believed in Buddhism.
But how is Father Emperor's behavior any different from that of that emperor?
"Mother!" Yan Xi nestled close to the Empress. "Mother, today Father Emperor summoned new Taoist priests to perform rituals and refine elixirs. Father Emperor is doing this..."
Yan Xi couldn't bring herself to use the word "incompetent" because she had always believed that her father was wise and powerful.
"Mother, how is Father's health...?"
The Empress did not reply, but said, "Your father's affairs are being taken care of by the adults. Your mother and your grandmother will also be watching over things, so don't worry."
"Your Majesty!" The little prince hugged Yan Xi's leg, grinned, and revealed his tiny, rice-grain-like teeth.
Not long ago, this child was made crown prince. He is currently being raised in the empress's palace, but in a few years, he will move to the East Palace to live on his own, where there are officials belonging to the crown prince.
Given the rush to establish a crown prince and recent events, the emperor only revealed one signal: his health was failing.
Establish an heir apparent early, so that the dynasty will not fall into chaos.
Seeing Yanxi's worried expression, the Empress took her hand and comforted her, "Yanxi, you must believe in your father."
She also trusted her husband, and even if something happened to the emperor, her son would be made crown prince, and she, as empress, would be secure. So no matter how panicked others were, she had to remain calm, not only for herself but also for the harem.
Then there's the previous dynasty. She can't control others, but the Prime Minister's family will absolutely not get involved in any disputes.
Even if it's siding with the crown prince.
If the emperor is truly seriously ill this time, then her prince is rightfully entitled to the throne, after all, her little prince not only brings good fortune but is also the legitimate son of the empress and the crown prince.
If the emperor is using his illness as a pretext to do something, then it's best for her to stay out of the spotlight right now.
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