Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 250 I am in perfect health
……

On the same New Year’s Eve, in the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Daming Palace.

Emperor Anping put down the book in his hand, rubbed his forehead and asked, "What time is it?"

Xia Shouzhong hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, it's almost the second watch."

Emperor Anping nodded.

It’s only the second watch.

Determined to be a wise ruler and revive the Great Xia, he would not rest until at least after three o'clock in the morning. Sometimes he would even review memorials all night long and only rest for a short while at dawn.

I am so diligent!
How hateful are those ministers who are just sitting in their positions doing nothing. They complain as soon as the court is opened at dawn.

I will dismiss them sooner or later!
Thinking of this, Emperor Anping stood up.

It was originally planned that we would stay up with the Emperor to celebrate the New Year's Eve and reunite with him, so today's notes can only be dealt with here.

Suddenly, I felt dizzy.

Emperor Anping quickly reached out to support himself on the jade table, thus preventing himself from falling down.

Xia Shouzhong, who was standing beside him, turned pale with fear. He hurried forward to support him and said carefully, "Your Majesty, what happened to you? You must take care of yourself."

Emperor Anping pushed Xia Shouzhong away and said coldly, "I'm fine, there's no need for you to make a fuss!"

He never makes elixirs but burns mercury.

2. Do not indulge in women.

There were only seven or eight concubines and thirty or forty maids in the harem.

The dragon body is absolutely healthy!

As for the momentary dizziness just now, it was just a bit too sudden.

"Go to Dengxian Pavilion."

Xia Shouzhong hurriedly bent down to hold Emperor Anping's hand, but was pushed away again.

"I'm not old yet!"

"In the future, do less useless things and just focus on doing what you should do!" Emperor Anping said with sharp eyes.

"Yes, yes, I remember."

Xia Shouzhong hurriedly knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.

I thought to myself: What am I doing? You do everything yourself, and never let me touch any memorials. As the Minister of Internal Affairs, I am only qualified to serve you tea.

"Let's go."

Emperor Anping was in front, striding with his head held high.

Xia Shouzhong quickly got up and followed obediently.

Soon, they arrived at Dengxian Pavilion.

The retired emperor sat cross-legged on a cushion in the middle of the hall. He was wearing a Taoist robe, his face was thin, and his eyes were slightly listless.

"My son has met my father."

Emperor Anping bowed respectfully.

The Emperor opened his eyes and said, "No need to be polite. There is no age in the mountains, and no years in cultivation. Is New Year's Eve already here?"

Emperor Anping: “…already arrived.”

The Emperor: "Well, let's set the table."

Soon, the wine and food were served.

The emperor did not take his seat, but waved his hand and said, "Have your meal now."

Emperor Anping was shocked.

Why doesn’t the emperor eat?
"Father, if you don't take a seat, I dare not take one..." Emperor Anping bent over and said very humbly.

The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a calm voice: "Now I am a person outside the world, I don't need this."

Emperor Anping was worried and advised: "Father, please take care of your health."

"I know what's going on." The emperor shook the whisk in his hand, looked out the window and said, "It's getting late. If you don't like these, go back and rest."

"Of course I love to eat it!"

Emperor Anping hurriedly sat down and took a bite of each dish, saying, "Delicious, delicious..."

The emperor smiled and nodded.

"It's delicious, just eat more."

"I heard that you review the manuscripts until very late every day. It's time to catch up. Here are Taoist Bu Lingzi's elixirs. I can't say that eating them will make you immortal, but they can at least prolong your life."

Emperor Anping: "..."

……

"vomit!"

"vomit……"

After returning to the Yangxin Palace, Emperor Anping dismissed everyone and began to vomit uncontrollably. He vomited until all the bitter water in his stomach was gone. Still not satisfied, he drank half a jar of water and continued vomiting.

The first day of the first lunar month.

All those with titles and officials of the fifth rank and above in Beijing had to go to the palace to pay their respects.

Jia Jing and Jia She from the Jia Mansion both had to go to court, so they got up early.

In addition, Lady Jia and Madam Xing also had to go to the palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress. They began to put on their formal makeup and court clothes in the evening and hardly slept all night.

At five o'clock in the morning, four sedan chairs from the Jia family went to the palace in a mighty procession.

……

As for the Yangxin Palace, there was a constant stream of civil and military officials coming and going, making it even busier than usual during court sessions.

Although Emperor Anping had not had a good rest the night before, he had to force himself to persevere. He smiled and encouraged every official who came to congratulate him, especially the powerful ministers in the court, such as Ye Xiang, Jia Jing, Wen Ting and others.

"Your Majesty, please take care of yourself."

Everyone noticed that the emperor looked unhappy.

Emperor Anping waved his hand and said with a smile: "It's okay. I stayed up with the Holy Emperor last night and drank a lot. I forgot about it and drank a little too much. Today, my dear ministers are drinking, so I can't accompany you."

Everyone praised and shouted: "Holy Emperor, Your Majesty is a kind father and a filial son. He is truly a role model for all officials and the people of the world."

"Hahaha."

Emperor Anping smiled with satisfaction.

"Give me a state banquet, and enjoy yourselves, my dear ministers."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Although many officials came to pay tribute, only a few were able to stay for the state banquet. There were only four princes of other surnames in Beijing, a few dukes who inherited the title, a few ministers of the cabinet, nine officials of the six ministries, and vice ministers of the six ministries. All together, there were no more than 20 to 30 people.

There are quite a few other royal relatives. The two younger brothers of the retired emperor are still alive. They are His Royal Highness Prince You'an and His Royal Highness Prince Chu'an, both of whom are over 60 years old.

Emperor Anping's three brothers were Prince Yishun, Prince Yijing, and Prince Yiyuan.

The rest of the princes, nephews, and royal concubines, totaled about thirty or forty people. The huge outer hall of the palace was packed with people, and some people even squeezed into the corridor.

As the top dignitary and leader of the civil officials, Jia Jing naturally had a seat at the central table, along with Ye Xiang, Wen Ting, Wu Nan and other cabinet ministers.

Opposite them were four princes from other families.

After everyone drank for a while, Ye Xiang suddenly turned slightly and said to Jia Jing with a smile: "I heard that your son has been getting better recently. As the saying goes, those who survive a great disaster will have good fortune in the future. I think he will achieve great things in the future."

Jia Jing thought to himself: I'd better do something else. It's good enough to just lie in bed peacefully.

Thinking of this, Jia Jing said, "Prime Minister Ye is busy with all kinds of affairs for the country, and he is still concerned about my son's injury. I feel really...uneasy."

The deaths of the two doctors who treated Jia Zhen were somewhat strange. Although Jia Jing suspected Ye Xiang at first, he had no real evidence. Moreover, it was hard to tell why Jia Zhen was sometimes in good health and sometimes in bad health, so Jia Jing did not investigate further.

But now that I think about it carefully, there is no doubt that it was this old fox who did it.

Ye Xiang smiled awkwardly.

That incident is no longer important.

You made my son stupid, so I'm giving you a little revenge so that we're even.

Next comes the topic of leaves.

"I heard that Lord Lin and Lord Jia have become in-laws? That's really cause for celebration."

Jia Jing smiled and said, "Prime Minister Ye must come to have a drink at the wedding."

Ye Xiang said calmly, "Of course!" Then, he smiled and said, "Wang Yunxi, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, proposed to retire and return to his hometown a few years ago. He has submitted his application twice. I think Lord Lin is just the right person for his position."

Jia Jing narrowed his eyes slightly and quickly understood what Ye Xiang meant.

It seems that there is something fishy about the battle in the northwest!
However, he didn't want to get involved.

Of course we should exchange it if it can bring some benefits.

"Jiangnan Weaving Factory has been in serious deficit in recent years. The commercial taxes paid are getting less and less every year. I want to check it out this year."

Ye Xiang was shocked.

The Jiangnan Weaving Factory would confront the Zhen family.

However, the Zhen family does not have much interest in him.

"It's time to check."

Ye Xiang smiled and nodded.

Jia Jing smiled and said, "The soldiers who won the great victory in the northwest will return in a few days, right? Who knows, they may be able to catch up with the Lantern Festival. Then we will lead all the officials to go out of the imperial city to welcome them."

"Haha, that makes sense."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Everyone gains something.

As for the Emperor...

Don't say any more.

It is the duty of a subject to silently share the emperor's worries.

……

(End of this chapter)