When the last sweet-scented osmanthus in the palace was defeated, time also entered October.
As if overnight, it became cold, and the thin silk curtains hanging in front of the hall were replaced with wind-resistant felt curtains.
The 8th of this month is Pei Yan's 22nd birthday.
Tao Ti learned from Linglong that Emperor Zhaokang no longer celebrated Pei Yan's birthday since Qin Tianjian judged that "the prince will not live to be twenty-three years old". He thinks that the celebration is too ostentatious, and he will remind Lord Yan to remember the date to ecstasy.
At first hearing this statement, Tao Ti was a little speechless.
When thinking about the Hungry Ghost Festival, Emperor Zhaokang invited Taoist priests and monks again, thinking about having an afterlife with Queen Gu. Then it's understandable for him to treat Pei Yan so cautiously and superstitiously.
Don't the folks still have customs such as cheap names to make a living, piercing ears and eyes to make a living
Emperor Zhaokang was an emperor, but he was also a person with flesh and blood, and he also had worries and fears.
But this time, Emperor Zhaokang decided to hold a banquet for Pei Yan to celebrate his birthday, because under Xu Wenhe's conditioning, Pei Yan's health has obviously improved. no problem.
But Pei Yan declined Emperor Zhaokang's arrangement for a simple and sincere reason—
"Father, my son has already promised Arti to spend her birthday with her in the East Palace. If Father, you hold another banquet here, my son may not have enough resources... Besides, although the palace banquet is lively and grand, but a person who sincerely celebrates his son's birthday, I'm afraid there are not many."
Emperor Zhaokang frowned deeply, "You are the prince, how dare they not sincerely celebrate your birthday?"
Pei Yan pursed her lips and said nothing, but calmly raised her eyes to look at Emperor Zhaokang.
That look, as if looking at a bluffing child.
Emperor Zhaokang stroked the warm wall of the cup with a gloomy expression.
He also knew that the crown prince was telling the truth. Those palace banquets looked very lively, but in fact, the people in the audience were very cautious, smiling, flattering, flattering, and saying false things that could not be repeated. False compliments.
It's really boring.
Emperor Zhaokang lowered his eyes, took a sip from his teacup, and said in a low tone, "Since you want to celebrate your birthday with Dow, then it's up to you."
He was a little displeased, he often heard people say "you forget your mother when you marry a wife", but now he, the crown prince, "forget your father after marrying a wife", so he said these words out of sight to spoil his interest.
Pei Yan smiled calmly, "If Father is free tomorrow, why not come to the East Palace and have lunch with us?"
Emperor Zhaokang let out a snort from his nose, and said coldly, "The end of the year is approaching, and I still have a lot of government affairs to arrange, so I won't go. Let Li Gui deliver the birthday gift to you tomorrow."
Pei Yan nodded, "My son, I would like to thank my father for giving me the birthday gift."
Emperor Zhaokang waved his hand, "Come on, I still have a bunch of papers to approve, you should withdraw first."
Pei Yan got up slowly, bowed respectfully to Emperor Zhaokang, and left.
Emperor Zhaokang stared at the tall and straight figure, a trace of bewilderment appeared on his handsome face that was no longer young. After a long while, he sighed, "I've grown up."
Chief Eunuch Li Gui bent over and said softly, "Your Highness is almost twenty-two, it's not that he's grown up."
Emperor Zhaokang narrowed his eyes that were no longer clear, "I have been dreaming these two days, dreaming of the queen, and dreaming of Yan'er when he was a child..."
Yuanyuan in the dream still treated him coldly, her beautiful eyes looked at other people with tenderness, only when she looked at him, she was so indifferent.
He was deeply hurt by the indifferent eyes, and his heart was so uncomfortable, but he didn't know what to do. He could only cover her eyes as before, kiss her and tease her again and again, at least at that time, she His crooning is not cold.
But in the dream, he walked to the bedside and reached out to hug Yuanyuan. Yuanyuan didn't resist, just let him hug her.
He was very happy, thinking that Yuan Yuan would give him good looks and would accept him.
At this time, a clear and sad child's voice sounded in my ear, "Father, they all said that the mother is dead, is the mother really dead? Does she not want Yan'er?"
Emperor Zhaokang looked up, and saw five-year-old Pei Yan standing in front of him, with a delicate face as white as a porcelain doll, and tears in his dark eyes, as if he wanted to cry but couldn't hold back Poor look.
"Mother, Yan'er is very good. Yan'er will study hard with the Taifu, study hard, and listen to you... Mother, don't die, okay..."
When Emperor Zhaokang heard this, he was horrified and hurriedly lowered his head, only to see Yuan Yuan in his arms with a face as pale as paper, his eyes closed tightly, and bright red blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
He panicked, and ran out holding her body, looking for an imperial doctor to bring her back to life.
Just like many years ago.
At the end of the dream, there was a patch of bright red blood. He woke up with a start, his face was covered with water, and he couldn't tell whether it was cold sweat or tears.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?" Li Gui whispered anxiously.
Emperor Zhaokang came back to his senses, raised his hand and pinched the center of his eyebrows, "Maybe I am really old."
Li Gui hurriedly said, "Your Majesty's dragon body is in good health, long live long live long live long live."
Emperor Zhaokang snorted and didn't say any more. He drank the remaining tea in his cup and got up to deal with government affairs on the table.
Li Gui heaved a sigh of relief, but he couldn't help but worry in his heart: His Majesty's mental state seems to be getting worse and worse this year. Alas, everyone said that the person who tied the bell had to be untied, but the empress had passed away long ago, and His Majesty might not be able to let go of this regret for the rest of his life.
The next day, with a breezy breeze, Tao Ti got into the kitchen early in the morning to work.
This is her first birthday with Pei Yan, which means a lot to them, so she must treat it seriously.
Since it is a birthday, a birthday cake is a must.
Baking cake embryos is not difficult, and the steps of making fresh cream are also simple, that is, when whipping cream, you have to beat it manually for half an hour, so that the cream can be dense and delicate. This work is really tiring, but fortunately there are many maids helping the kitchen, each of them took turns beating for a while, and they managed to whip out a large bowl of white and thick cream.
"I didn't expect egg whites to be beaten all the time, but something white and fluffy could be produced." Linglong clicked her tongue, turned to see the princess concentrating on handling the egg yolk, and couldn't help boasting, "Prince princess, you are really amazing, you can come up with such a thing." What a special meal."
Tao Ti smiled at her, "I haven't done this yet, when it's done, it's not too late for you to praise it."
"The food cooked by the princess must be excellent!"
"Okay, go and help me wash some grapes, autumn pears, oranges, and hawthorns. I will use them later."
"Slaves, let's go!"
Linglong responded, quickly picked out a large bowl of fruit and went out. As soon as she went out, she saw Princess Qingping coming in from the door. She hurriedly greeted her and said, "I will pay my respects to Princess Qingping, and the princess is blessed and safe."
Qinghe is wearing a fresh goose yellow dress today, smiling and amiable, "You don't need to be too polite. Where's your princess?"
Linglong replied, "Prince Princess is busy in the small kitchen."
Qinghe said, "Then I came just in time. Linglong, you send someone to take these congratulatory gifts in first, I will go to the kitchen to find the princess."
Linglong looked at the generous gift held in the hands of the eunuch behind the princess, and hurriedly said yes.
Qinghe walked briskly to the kitchen, and after a while, Tao Ti and Qinghe were chatting and laughing in the kitchen.
Emperor Zhaokang came down early today, and normally he would go directly to the Hall of Qinzheng to critique papers, or read and practice calligraphy.
But now sitting in the sedan chair, he thought of the bustle and bustle of the East Palace, but he had to sit alone in the Palace of Qinzheng, and he felt a little uncomfortable.
After pondering for a moment, he ordered, "Go to Mingyue Palace and sit down."
Concubine Xu Gui is gentle and considerate, while the fifth prince is playful and lively. When he was in Mingyue Palace, he was quite at ease.
Li Gui sang, "Show ride to Mingyue Palace—"
The luxurious imperial chariot carried by eight people immediately turned and headed for Mingyue Palace.
He walked halfway without thinking, and saw Concubine Xu's sedan chair walking towards him. There was a sedan chair behind her, on which sat the fifth prince and the sixth princess side by side, the two children chatted happily without knowing what they were talking about.
Isn't this a coincidence!
Li Gui was startled, subconsciously raised his eyes to look at Emperor Zhaokang.
Emperor Zhaokang slightly raised his hand to signal the sedan chair to stop.
Concubine Xu hurriedly brought the fifth prince and the sixth princess to salute. Emperor Zhaokang sat high on the sedan chair, narrowed his black eyes, and looked down at them, "Concubine, where are you going?"
Concubine Xu Gui lowered her eyebrows and said pleasantly, "Return to Your Majesty, the Crown Prince held a birthday banquet in the East Palace today, and the Crown Princess sent someone to invite the concubines to attend the banquet with Xiao Wu Xiao Liu..."
Emperor Zhaokang pursed his lips and remained silent.
Li Gui's heart is hanging on his chest, His Majesty wants to go to the imperial concubine's side to relax, but the imperial concubine wants to go out? What are these things called
He was wondering whether to remind Concubine Xu Gui, when he suddenly heard Emperor Zhaokang's majestic and deep voice from above, "Besides you, who else did the Crown Princess invite?"
Concubine Xu Gui said, "This... the concubine heard that His Royal Highness the Princess and Princess Qinghe will go, and the other...concubine is not too sure."
The fifth prince spoke quickly, and added, "Sister Achan from the Xu family will definitely come too. My sister-in-law will cook a lot of delicious food today. As long as there are delicious places, sister Achan is indispensable."
Seeing that the youngest son was happier than New Year's, and seeing the youngest daughter's head bowed and cautious, Emperor Zhaokang's stern face softened a little, "It sounds lively."
Concubine Xu Gui also received the reminder from Li Gui's eyes, she squeezed her fingers calmly, and sighed in her heart, how could it be such an unfortunate coincidence!
If His Majesty came to look for her on weekdays, she would be overjoyed. But today... Today, the princess will definitely cook a lot of delicacies. I heard that there is also a dessert called "birthday cake", which can only be eaten on the birthday, which is not usually eaten.
If you miss this, wouldn't you have to wait for the crown prince's birthday next year
Concubine Xu Gui bit her lips, suppressed her yearning for the cake, and gently passed the steps, "Your Majesty, my concubine has recently made a new fragrance, which has the effect of calming the mind. Would you like to go back with my concubine and try it?"
After a pause, she said to the fifth prince and sixth princess, "You two go to the East Palace, and give the prince and princess a message for me, just say me..."
Emperor Zhaokang interrupted her, "Go with the children."
Concubine Xu was stunned for a moment, "Your Majesty..."
Emperor Zhaokang lightly stroked the dragon-carved handrail with his thumb, thought for a moment, and said lightly, "I will go with you."
Concubine Xu Gui was stunned, and then she showed joy, "This can't be better! On the crown prince's birthday, with His Majesty accompanying him, he must be happy."
Fifth prince: I don't know if the prince's elder brother is happy or not. I only know that the scene with the father must be embarrassing and restrained.
Princess Six: Submit.
No matter what the two little guys thought, in the end, they still followed Emperor Zhaokang's sedan chair all the way, and hurried to the East Palace at a leisurely pace.
The sun was shining brightly at noon, and the Yihe Hall where the banquet was held in the East Palace was full of laughter and laughter.
Because there were not many people who came to the small banquet, and they were all familiar friends and elders, so Tao Ti did not set up small tables, but a big round table.
When everyone is here, the big guys can sit around a table and eat and chat casually.
Qinghe arrived early and helped Tao Ti a lot in the small kitchen.
Xu Wenchan and Xu Guangji came with Young Master Xie. It is said that the two carriages happened to meet on the road and passed by. As for whether they met by chance, Tao Ti secretly asked Xu Wenchan, but Xu Wenchan only changed the topic vaguely, with red ears.
Gu Minglan, Gu Zhihong, Pei Yan, and Princess Jingyang were also present, and now only Concubine Xu Gui and Xiao Wu Xiao Liu were left behind.
Just as Tao Ti wanted to send someone to remind her, the next moment, she heard a loud voice from outside the hall—
"His Majesty is here!"
The hall, which was originally full of laughter and laughter, fell silent in an instant.