The emperor's birthday is a national celebration. Emperor Zhaowu was extravagant by nature, and every year his birthday had to be celebrated with great care. This year was his 40th birthday, so naturally he could not be vague.

Before daybreak, Emperor Zhaowu took all his family members and all the civil and military officials to the Tiantan Temple to offer sacrifices and bathe the Buddha. At the same time, slaughtering animals was prohibited throughout the country for one day, and the entire capital celebrated the birthday. Outside the palace walls, many vegetarian meals were set up and mats were spread on the road. After dozens of miles, more than ten thousand people came to watch and eat.

The ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven did not end until the afternoon, and the court officials stood under the scorching sun for a full five hours. Two or three of the elderly who were frail fainted.

Yan Sikong stood far behind, chanting a meditation mantra while staring at the back of Feng Ye's head. He noticed that Feng Ye turned his head several times to look for something, so he must be looking for him. He counted in his mind how many times Feng Ye turned his head to look for something, and he didn't even find the sacrifice boring.

After the sacrifice, they returned to the palace for the birthday banquet in the evening.

Emperor Zhaowu took the opportunity of his birthday to pray for the people on both sides of the Yellow River who were suffering from the flood, so the birthday banquet was a full vegetarian banquet. Yan Sikong secretly mocked in his heart that the cost of a birthday celebration was at least hundreds of thousands of silver dollars. How could this foolish emperor really not know how to alleviate the suffering of the people?

On the way back to the palace, Yan Sikong and Liang Sui walked side by side, chatting about what birthday gifts they had prepared. Suddenly, Yan Sikong felt someone approaching him from behind. He was about to turn his head alertly, but a strong hand grabbed his shoulder and a familiar breath hit his nose. It was a kind of personal smell mixed with a faint scent of lavender and wormwood, as refreshing as the grassland after the rain, and every clump of green was full of vitality.

Yan Sikong turned around and saw Feng Ye smiling at him. Under the setting sun, his skin was as transparent as jade.

"Oh, Prince." Liang Sui bowed.

Feng Ye nodded: "You two must be tired."

Liang Sui smiled bitterly and said, "It's okay, it's okay."

"Lord Yan, could you please spare me a moment to check if there are any omissions in my congratulatory speech?"

Yan Sikong said respectfully, "I am willing to serve you, Your Highness."

Feng Ye pulled Yan Sikong aside and whispered, "Where on earth were you standing today? I've been looking for you."

"What do you want to see me for?" Yan Sikong twitched the corner of his mouth and thought, I have "looked for" him sixteen times.

"I was afraid you might faint from the heat, so I wanted to send someone to bring you some water."

Yan Sikong laughed: "How can I be that weak?"

"Look at you, your face is red from the sun." Feng Ye looked down at him, "Eat more tonight, and come find me after the birthday banquet. I'll take you home."

"Okay." Yan Sikong asked, "Did the scout find out anything?"

"The Wala have been sending people to spy on us for years, so there is nothing special about this time."

Yan Sikong nodded: "That's good."

"Don't you have anything to say to me?"

Yan Sikong blinked: "You mean..."

Feng Ye curled his lips, not too happy: "Don't you miss me?"

Yan Sikong suppressed his laughter and said, "It's only been two days."

Feng Ye touched his chin and said, "So, if I haven't seen you for a long time, you will miss me?"

Yan Sikong finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"I can't go back and forth to Jingshan Camp every day, so you don't have many opportunities to see me on weekdays. If you still don't miss me..." Feng Ye snorted and laughed, "I will really carry you up the mountain."

Yan Sikong looked around and coughed softly: "Keep your voice down."

Feng Ye grinned and said indifferently: "I will stay in the city for a few days. I will accompany you."

"Why should I ask you to accompany me?"

"Then you accompany me." Feng Ye said domineeringly.

Yan Sikong didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Feng Ye took advantage of his unpreparedness and shook his hand vigorously: "Come to me after the birthday banquet." Then he winked at him and walked away with a smug look on his face.

Yan Sikong raised the corners of his lips slightly, straightened his clothes, and strode into the Baohe Hall.

The birthday banquet began with a lecture, not to the court officials but to the emperor himself, and most of the words used were self-humble, such as being grateful for the grace of heaven and caring for the people, shouldering a heavy responsibility but realizing one's own shortcomings, and so on.

Then, the eunuch Xie Zhongren, who was in charge of the Imperial Household Department, praised the achievements of Emperor Zhaowu. Yan Sikong listened with an indifferent look on his face, but he still followed suit and shouted "Long live the emperor".

Afterwards, the dance, music and banquet began, and the court officials were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief and fill their stomachs that had been hungry for most of the day.

Yan Sikong was chatting and laughing with his colleagues, but he was calculating clearly in his mind that if he rode faster, Ali should have reached Qingyang by now.

After a lull in the dancing and music, the officials of the Honglu Temple held a long list of gifts in both hands and read out aloud the birthday gifts of foreigners, vassal kings and ministers one by one. When a gift was read out, the young eunuchs would present it. If the birthday gift was too large, they would have to have someone carry it in.

Of course, not everyone has the opportunity to personally present the birthday gift they prepared to the emperor, but for the crown prince it is an indispensable etiquette. After all the birthday gifts were shown to Emperor Zhaowu one by one, Chen Yi held the scroll in both hands, bowed his body, lowered his head, walked in respectfully, and knelt in front of Danxi.

"Your Majesty, I wish you great happiness and longevity. Long live your father—"

Emperor Zhaowu was in a good mood today, and he smiled at Chen Yu: "Yu'er, stand up."

"Thank you, Father."

Empress Xu smiled and asked, "What treasure did Yin'er prepare for Your Majesty?"

At the banquet, hundreds of officials turned their eyes to Chen Yi.

Chen Yu straightened his chest. The handsome young man had an air of nobility that could not be concealed. He answered in a neither humble nor arrogant manner, "I wrote a poem for you, the emperor."

There were sounds of surprise at the banquet. Today's birthday ceremony contained many rare treasures, but the dignified Prince of Da Sheng only wrote a mere poem. It was a bit disgraceful.

Emperor Zhaowu smiled but said nothing.

Empress Xu had no children and had been fighting openly and secretly with the Second Prince's mother, Concubine Chang Gui, for many years. Naturally, she favored Chen Yi in her heart. She thought of how expensive the Nine-Dragon Jade Goblet given by the Second Prince was, and felt a little embarrassed at this moment.

Chen Yi bowed his hands and said, "I think that since your father has the whole world under his control, no rare treasures are worthy of praise in his eyes. What your father values ​​must be the heart. Your filial piety and love for your father are evident to all. This poem took me several months to write. I wish your father a long life."

"Haha, good." Emperor Zhaowu said with a smile, "Come, Yin'er, read it to your father."

Chen Yi slowly spread out the rolled leaves, cleared his throat, and chanted aloud.

This poem is full of restrained and implicit praise, and is full of genuine admiration, but not overly flattering. It makes people feel comfortable all over. Although the words used are occasionally immature, the merits outweigh the flaws, and one can feel the true feelings expressed by Chen Yi.

When a poem ended, Yan Zilian took the lead in clapping his hands. Naturally, the court officials had to give face to Yan Ge and followed suit.

Yan Sikong showed a satisfied smile on his face.

Emperor Zhaowu showed a delighted expression: "Yin'er's knowledge has made great progress."

Yan Zilian hunched over and left the table, knelt down, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, although the words of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's ode are still a little childish, his talent should not be underestimated. Most importantly, this poem is full of sincerity and reverence, and it pays great attention to the country's destiny and people's livelihood. When this old minister heard it, I was really... really moved." At the end of his words, his voice trembled.

"Yes, it's a great poem. Your Highness the Crown Prince's innocent heart is full of countless treasures."

The hall was filled with voices of praise.

The officials from the Second Prince's faction all looked unhappy.

Emperor Zhaowu was flattered and was obviously very satisfied with the poem: "It is rare for Yun'er to have such a thought, I like it."

Chen Yu knelt down in excitement: "Thank you, father."

The birthday banquet lasted until midnight that day. All the officials were exhausted and hurried home after the banquet.

Yan Sikong walked out of the palace slowly, thinking that the new history had been submitted and would be made public tomorrow. Cai Zhongfan would never miss the opportunity to impeach Wang Shengsheng, and the court would inevitably face a storm. Whether it would be a violent storm or a drizzle, he could not predict. But even if he could not achieve his goal, it didn't matter. He would try his luck this time. Sooner or later, he would be able to turn the tide.

"Sikong." A voice came from behind.

Yan Sikong paused and turned around quickly: "Teacher."

Yan Zilian came over, walked side by side with him, and whispered, "Your Highness's poem, was it written by you?"

Yan Sikong smiled faintly: "I can't hide anything from the teacher."

Yan Zilian stroked his beard and smiled, "That poem is flawless. Your Highness does not have such talent. Hexuan is too rigid and cannot do such a thing. Who else can do it except you?"

Yan Sikong looked a little uneasy: "Did the student do something wrong?"

"You have done a great job. You must assist His Highness wholeheartedly in the future."

“Students understand.”

"Oh, right." Yan Zilian seemed to remember something, "I heard that you have been getting close to Prince Jingyuan recently?"

Yan Sikong avoided the point and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for not disrespecting me and condescending to make friends with me. We drank together."

"Well, not bad." Yan Zilian stopped and patted Yan Sikong on the shoulder. "Sikong, the teacher has high hopes for you. Don't let me down."

"yes."

When the two of them walked outside the palace gate, they saw Feng Ye leaning against the wall with his arms folded, obviously waiting for him.

Yan Sikong hurriedly explained: "Oh, it's late at night now, I just begged the prince to give me a ride."

Yan Zilian nodded and bowed to Feng Ye, who returned the greeting: "Thank you for your hard work today, Mr. Yan. Be careful on your way."

"Thank you, Prince. I will go ahead now."

After Yan Zilian left, Feng Ye pulled Yan Sikong aside, narrowed his eyes, and said unhappily: "What did I say? I asked you to come find me, but you just went outside the palace. How could you have the intention of looking for me?"

Yan Sikong soothed her, "I just want to wait for you where there are fewer people."

Feng Ye raised his eyebrows: "Really?"

"Of course it's true."

Feng Ye snorted softly: "Let's go."

After getting on the carriage, Feng Ye asked, "Did you write the little prince's poem?"

Yan Sikong was not surprised that everyone could guess it. After all, it was not difficult to guess. He said, "I am your highness's tutor. It is my duty to guide your highness."

"Don't try that on me." Feng Ye said in a deep voice, "My father said that this party strife will break out sooner or later, and by then, there's no telling where the flames of war will burn to. You're just a little student, so don't get too involved."

Yan Sikong looked at Feng Ye steadily: "What about you? Your Highness Prince Jingyuan, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to stay out of it." Feng Jianping holds the greatest military power in Da Sheng. Whoever can get his support can sit firmly on the throne of the crown prince, but he is not leaning towards any side at the moment, which is actually a wise move.

Feng Ye said: "The Feng family is only loyal to His Majesty."

Yan Sikong nodded: "Your Highness Prince Jingyuan is wise."

The carriage stopped and Xiao Liu said, "Master Yan, you are here."

Yan Sikong bowed and said, "I'm leaving now."

Feng Ye's bright eyes flickered in the darkness as he looked at him but said nothing.

Yan Sikong hesitated for a moment, a voice in his heart urged him to make a decision. In just a moment, he had an answer and said softly: "Today there is a banquet but no wine, it's not enough to enjoy it, why don't you... go to my house and have a couple of drinks?"

Feng Ye showed a look of delight.