Chapter 3398: Difficult to guarantee long-term
Xinping looked at him with wide eyes and asked seriously, "Father, will people in the world really starve?"
Concubine Yi was startled and immediately made a "hush" gesture to Xinping.
You know, emperors never like to hear words like "starving people" and "famine", not to mention that Xinping actually said directly that "people all over the world will starve". Even though she was the emperor's favorite princess, it would probably arouse the emperor's anger.
Compared to her, Nan Yan was not that nervous.
She knew Zhu Feng. Although Zhu Feng had some bad habits of being ambitious, he was not one who could not tolerate honest advice. Besides, the child was just naive and ignorant. She just needed to teach her well. After all, today the emperor made both children roll in the mud and taught them to respect the land.
Nan Yan thought that Zhu Feng would definitely take this opportunity to explain some truths to his daughters.
However, Zhu Feng did not speak.
On the contrary, after hearing Princess Xinping's question, his expression unexpectedly became a little solemn and he was silent for a while.
This moment made Concubine Yi more and more uneasy, fearing that the emperor would be angry and scold Xinping. She looked at Nan Yan carefully, indicating that she should think of a solution. Nan Yan also felt a little confused, but at this time, she did not say anything, just stared at Zhu Feng.
After a long time, Zhu Feng looked up at his daughter.
He said calmly, "Okay, don't talk while eating."
“……?”
Nan Yan was stunned for a moment.
Concubine Yi on the opposite side breathed a sigh of relief and immediately pressed Yongping's head to make her eat obediently. Xinping was older and wanted to ask more questions without getting an answer, but Nan Yan reached out and pressed her shoulder, saying softly, "Listen to your father and eat well."
Xinping pouted and could only lower her head to eat.
Nan Yan looked at Zhu Feng again and clearly felt that he seemed to be worried about something, but this was not the time to talk about it, so she didn't say much.
I finished the meal with a heavy heart.
Afterwards, Zhu Feng asked Nan Yan and Concubine Yi to take the princesses back to rest, as they had to get up early and set off tomorrow. He stayed outside, apparently discussing something with Master Shang Shan. Nan Yan did not ask much, and went back with Concubine Yi.
As they walked along the road, Concubine Yi held Yongping, who had already begun to doze off, and said to Xinping, "Xinping, be careful when you talk to your father from now on. Don't say anything about being hungry."
Xinping held Nanyan's hand and looked up at her strangely: "Empress Yi, why can't you say you're hungry? Don't people all go hungry?"
Concubine Yi was so angry at her naive appearance that she was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
Nan Yan, who was standing by, smiled and said, "Your father is the emperor, in charge of all the people in the world. If everyone in the world is starving, wouldn't that be a culpable act on your father's part?"
Xinping suddenly realized: "Oh, so it means that father did not make a good emperor."
"oops!"
Concubine Yi stamped her feet in fear and whispered, "You still dare to talk!"
Xinping immediately shrank his neck and stuck out his tongue.
Nan Yan also said: "You are grown up now. You can't be like a child. You have to think about what to say and what not to say."
Xin Ping said, "I understand."
After saying that, she obediently took Nan Yan's hand, lowered her head and walked forward without saying anything else.
After walking for a while, Concubine Yi seemed to be still recalling what she had just heard from Master Shangshan. She said softly, "Your Highness, when I was little, I also heard my father and brothers talk about the period of famine. This time of year is the most difficult time for the common people. I heard that in the past, many people from Emperor Gao's hometown fled to other places every year."
Nan Yan nodded and said, "Even now, if the rain is uneven in the first year and there is not enough food stored, famine is likely to occur in spring and summer."
Concubine Yi said, "I haven't heard of it in these years."
Nan Yan smiled. She was already the emperor's concubine, living deep in the inner palace. How could she possibly hear about what was happening outside, let alone something like a famine? It was only when Nan Yan followed Zhu Feng on his tours a few years ago that she truly understood the suffering of the common people.
She only said: "Now that we have the Emperor and the Crown Prince, these matters will naturally be handled."
Concubine Yi said, "So, there's no need for us to worry about it."
As she spoke, she laughed herself.
The two people walked away talking and laughing, leaving behind only a cold moonlight.
The next morning, as soon as it was light, they got up and packed up. After breakfast, Zhu Feng took two concubines, two princesses, and a group of people to leave the Imperial Tomb Temple.
When they stood at the ferry, ready to board the ship, Master Shangshan walked up to Nanyan and saluted her with a smile: "Your Majesty."
Nan Yan knew at a glance that he had something to say to her.
So he smiled and said, "Master, do you have anything to tell me?"
Master Shangshan laughed and said, "How can I bear the consequences of what your Majesty said?"
Nan Yan smiled, lowered her head, and let Xin Ping go to the side. Then she said to Master Shang Shan, "The Taoist priest is a companion of the Emperor Gao. To the Emperor and me, he is an elder. Whatever the Taoist priest tells me to do, as long as I can do it, I will do it without any slack."
"Your Majesty, you are too kind."
Master Shangshan sighed softly as he spoke, then continued, "At my age, it's hard to predict when I'll pass away. I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to meet your Majesty again, so there are some things I'd like to discuss with you this time. Your Majesty has been with the Emperor for so many years, and you should know that there's something weighing on his mind. Now, that matter has finally come to an end, with a conclusion."
Nan Yan nodded.
Master Shangshan said, "But ending it doesn't mean it's a good thing."
Nan Yan frowned when she heard this: "What do you mean, Taoist priest?"
You know, when people have something on their minds, it's like having a stone pressing on their hearts. When things are settled, it's like removing the stone. How can that not be a good thing?
Master Shangshan said, "My Lady, the outcome of things can be either good or bad."
Nan Yan's heart skipped a beat.
She whispered, "What the Taoist priest means is—"
Master Shangshan said, "Your Highness should know this matter better than I do, so I will not elaborate. If a matter remains unresolved, it is like a stone pressing on the heart. Although it is painful, it does not hurt. However, if the result of a matter is bad, even though the stone has been removed, it still hurts."
Nan Yan's voice was slightly hoarse: "You mean, the emperor was hurt?"
Master Shangshan smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty is with the Emperor day and night, how could you not see it?"
“…”
"External injuries are easy to heal, but emotional injuries are hard to heal."
“…”
"If His Majesty the Emperor continues like this, I'm afraid it won't last long."
Nan Yan frowned.
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