Chapter 161 When in a good mood, all ailments disappear.
The day after the wedding, according to royal custom, Yan Yang was to take his newlywed princess to the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine, and then to the Emperor.
This situation is somewhat special.
Because the retired emperor abdicated before his death, he and the empress dowager moved to Ning'an Palace after the abdication. It was a distance from Shou'an Palace, the former empress dowager's and current empress dowager's palace, and was quiet and peaceful, suitable for recuperation.
Early in the morning, Yan Yang took his young princess to the palace by carriage to pay his respects to his father, the Emperor, and the Empress Dowager. In the carriage, Xue Ziying was a little uneasy: "I've never met the Empress Dowager before. Is she very fierce?"
Yan Yang paused, his expression subtle: "Yesterday, when you left the Prince of Yan's residence to get married, the Empress Dowager sat with your father and mother. Have you forgotten?"
Xue Ziying was stunned: "Huh?"
Oh right.
She patted her head, realizing she must have been out of it during her sleep.
Thinking back to the Empress Dowager yesterday, she was stunningly beautiful and had a dignified demeanor, yet she was approachable and easy to get along with. Moreover, her smile was especially beautiful.
As for the retired emperor...
She had only seen the Emperor Emeritus twice: once when she was rescued by Yan Yang from the Wen family, and once at a palace banquet on the day her father and mother came.
I was deeply impressed. After all, he was the ruler of a country, and his majesty was immense. It was impossible not to leave a deep impression.
But now he has become the retired emperor.
Xue Ziying felt that the situation was changing too quickly, and the abdication of the retired emperor was too hasty.
Although the emperor is unwell, which emperor who reigns over the world doesn't love power? Even if he has only one breath left, he will not voluntarily relinquish power.
However, the young Emperor Emeritus of Yongguo abdicated without any warning.
"What are you thinking about?" Yan Yang noticed that the little princess was lost in thought and couldn't help but ask curiously.
Xue Ziying looked up at him, and, afraid of being overheard, lowered her voice and asked, "Isn't it a bit too early for the Emperor Emeritus to abdicate?"
Yan Yang thought for a moment and said, "Father's health is not very good."
After saying those words, he felt a little guilty.
The reason for the Emperor's poor health is actually quite obvious.
The burden of official duties was one aspect, but another was naturally the anger he felt towards his several unfilial sons, especially the incident four years ago when his eldest brother engaged in homosexual relations. His father was disappointed and heartbroken, and in a fit of rage, he punished Yan Chen, and he himself fell seriously ill.
He was just young then—four years ago, His Majesty the Emperor was only in his early forties, in the prime of his life, and no one expected that his health would suffer.
Yan Chen and Shen Jingbai were deeply in love, so much so that even death could separate them—they didn't care about their own lives, so how could they possibly think about the Emperor's health?
It's possible that after that incident, my body developed health problems.
Although Yan Yang didn't make him seriously ill, he was still a troublesome person. Occasionally, when he reflected on himself, he would indeed feel that he was a worthless person, but old habits die hard.
Even knowing he was a worthless person, he never intended to change.
It's hard to say whether it's a blessing or a curse.
None of the royal brothers in this generation coveted the throne. Apart from the fifth prince, none of them seriously vied for the throne. Therefore, the possibility of brothers fighting and killing each other was almost eliminated. After the new emperor ascended the throne, he almost always kept most of his brothers safe and sound. Of course, the main reason was that the new emperor himself was powerful enough that he did not have to worry about anyone posing a threat to the throne.
For the emperor, it was obviously a very fortunate thing that his children and grandchildren were all alive and well, which probably made up for some of the anger and disappointment caused by his unfilial son.
However, sitting in the carriage, Yan Yang was thinking that if his elder brother had not fallen in love with Shen Jingbai, but instead followed the path arranged by their father and became the most outstanding crown prince of Yong, then Yan Cang, who commanded the army and had made great military achievements, would eventually become someone his elder brother would fear.
Maybe, maybe not.
The carriage slowly arrived at the palace gate.
Yan Yang was pulled back to his senses by the guard's report.
He and Xue Ziying got off the carriage and walked to Ning'an Palace.
In the vast palace grounds of Ning'an Palace, the Emperor Emeritus slowly swung his arms, performing a set of boxing techniques. Although the movements were not particularly powerful or forceful, he did not appear as weak as he had been when he coughed so violently at Chonghua Palace that day.
Yan Yang paused slightly, then took Xue Ziying's hand and stepped into the palace gate: "Father's health seems to be quite good?"
The retired emperor turned to look at them, his face showing no unusual expression. He simply smiled and said, "Having relieved myself of official duties and rested quietly for a few days, I naturally feel much better now that I don't have to see the faces of you unfilial sons every day."
When you're in a good mood, all your ailments naturally disappear.
Yan Yang raised an eyebrow: "Why didn't Father Emperor say so sooner?"
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"If you had said you didn't want to see us unfilial sons, I would have become a monk ten years ago."
"You became a nun ten years ago, what am I supposed to do?" Xue Ziying looked up at him. "Am I supposed to die in the Wen family's backyard?"
Yan Yang paused for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh: "I was just joking."
The retired emperor glared at his gentle expression, snorted coldly, and turned to walk into the palace.
Yan Yang and Xue Ziying followed them inside.
The Empress Dowager was instructing the palace maids to serve the meal. The table was laden with a dazzling array of palace delicacies, which looked quite exquisite and were a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.
"Your subject, along with Ziying, has come to pay respects to Your Majesty and Your Majesty." Yan Yang walked up to the Empress Dowager, lifted his robe, and knelt down. "I wish Your Majesty and Your Majesty good health and a long life."
The words sound like a birthday greeting.
The retired emperor said irritably, "Sit down and eat."
If it weren't for Ziying's sake, he would have asked An to get lost immediately; he couldn't be bothered to see him.
The Empress Dowager ordered someone to bring over a set of jewelry: "This is a gift for Ziying."
Xue Ziying quickly declined, saying, "This is too expensive—"
"You dare refuse something bestowed upon you by the Empress Dowager?" Yan Yang turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow involuntarily. "This is a token of the Empress Dowager's affection; take it."
Xue Ziying thanked her.
"Your subject will not have breakfast with Father and Mother." Yan Yang stood up and helped Zi Ying up. "Your subject still needs to pay his respects to the Emperor."
The retired emperor glanced at the sky outside: "His Majesty should still be holding court at this time."
"The court session has already ended," Yan Yang said. "The Empress is pregnant, so the Emperor leaves court early every day. He first goes back to Fengyi Palace to have breakfast with the Empress before going to Chonghua Palace to review memorials."
The Emperor Emeritus: "..."
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "That's true."
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