When the last osmanthus flower in the palace fell, the time entered October.

It seemed as if it became cold overnight, and the thin silk curtains hanging in front of the hall gate were replaced with wind-resistant felt curtains.

The eighth day of this month is Pei Yan’s 22nd birthday.

Tao Ti learned from Linglong that since the Imperial Heavenly Prison ruled that "the prince would not live to be twenty-three years old", Emperor Zhaokang no longer celebrated Pei Yan's birthday. He believed that the celebration was too ostentatious and would remind the King of Hell to remember the days to attract souls.

When Tao Ti was speechless when he first heard this statement.

Then when he thought about the Zhongyuan Festival, Emperor Zhaokang invited Taoist priests and monks, and thought about having an afterlife with Empress Gu. So he could understand how he treated Pei Yan so cautiously and superstitiously.

Isn’t there any custom among the people that is cheap and easy to support, and the ears are tucked into the eye to support?

Emperor Zhao Kang is the emperor, but he is also a person, with flesh and blood, and worries and fears.

However, this time, Emperor Zhao Kang decided to hold a banquet for Pei Yan to celebrate his birthday. It was because under Xu Wenhe's conditioning, Pei Yan's health improved significantly. Not to mention living at the age of 23, it would be fine to live at the age of 70 or 80.

But Pei Yan politely rejected Emperor Zhaokang's arrangement, with simple and sincere reasons-

"Father, my son has already promised Atti to spend the birthday with her in the East Palace. If you hold another banquet on your side, your son may be separated. You are too tired... Besides, although the palace banquet is lively and grand, there are probably not many people who really celebrate their son's birthday."

Emperor Zhaokang frowned deeply in the character "Chuan" and said, "You are the prince, how dare they not celebrate your birthday with sincerity?"

Pei Yan pursed his lips and said nothing, but only looked up calmly at Emperor Zhaokang.

That look was like looking at a bluffing child.

Emperor Zhaokang stroked the warm cup wall, his expression dark and unclear.

He also knew that the prince was telling the truth. Those palace banquets looked lively. In fact, everyone in the audience was very careful, smiling, flattering, and saying some fake words that could not be fake anymore.

It's really boring.

Emperor Zhaokang lowered his eyes, picked up the teacup and sipped it lightly, and said in a low tone, "Since you want to celebrate your birthday with Tao, then let me go."

He was a little unhappy and often heard people say "I forgot my mother after marrying my wife." Now, the prince "I forgot my father after marrying my wife". He said these words without the scruples to discourage him.

Pei Yan smiled calmly, "If my father is free tomorrow, why not come to the East Palace and have lunch with us?"

Emperor Zhao Kang let out a hum 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, thank you for your father's birthday gift."

Emperor Zhao Kang waved his hand, "Come on, I still have a bunch of notes to be approved, so you can leave first."

Pei Yan slowly stood up, respectfully bowed to Emperor Zhaokang, and left.

Emperor Zhao Kang stared at the tall and straight figure, and a hint of melancholy appeared on his handsome face, who was no longer young. After a while, he sighed, "I've grown up."

The eunuch general manager Li Gui bent over and whispered, "Your Highness is almost twenty-two, you haven't grown up."

Emperor Zhao Kang narrowed his eyes that were no longer clear, "I have always dreamed about the queen these two days, and dreamed of Yan'er when he was a child..."

Yuanyuan in the dream was still cold to him. Her beautiful eyes looked at others with tenderness, and she was so indifferent when she looked at him.

He was deeply stinged by the cold eyes, and his heart was so uncomfortable, but he didn't know what to do. He could only cover her eyes like before, kiss her over and over again, and tease her. At least at that time, her low moan was not cold.

But in his dream, he walked to the bed and reached out to hug Yuanyuan. Yuanyuan did not resist and only let him hug him.

He was so happy that he thought Yuanyuan was willing to give him a good look and accepted him.

At this moment, a crisp and sad child voice sounded in his ears, "Father, they all said that the Queen Mother is dead. Is the Queen Mother really dead? Does she want Yan'er?"

Emperor Zhao Kang looked up and saw the five-year-old little Pei Yan standing in front of him, with a delicate little face as white as a porcelain doll, and tears in his black eyes, looking pitiful as if he wanted to cry but did not force himself to not cry.

"Mother, Yan'er is very obedient. Yan'er will study hard with the Grand Tutor, study hard, and listen to your words...Mother should not die, okay..."

When Emperor Zhao Kang heard this, he was shocked and hurriedly lowered his head. He saw Yuanyuan's face in his arms looked like paper, his eyes were closed, and bright red blood flowed out of the corners of his mouth.

He panicked and ran out with her body in his arms, looking for the imperial physician to make her survive.

Just like many years ago.

At the end of the dream, there was a piece of bright red blood. He woke up with a look of water on his face, unable to tell whether it was cold sweat or tears.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?" Li Gui called out nervously.

Emperor Zhao Kang came to his senses and raised his hand to pinch his eyebrows, "I may be really old."

Li Gui hurriedly said, "Your Majesty is healthy, long live the dragon body."

Emperor Zhao Kang snorted and said nothing more. He drank the remaining tea in the cup and got up to go to the table to handle government affairs.

Li Gui breathed a sigh of relief, but his heart couldn't help but feel worried: Your Majesty's mental condition seems to be getting worse and worse this year. Alas, it is said that the person who tied the bell must be tied, but the queen had passed away long ago. Your Majesty is afraid that he will not be able to let go of this regret in his whole life.

The next day, the breeze was refreshing, and Taoti got into the kitchen early in the morning to work.

This was her first birthday with Pei Yan. It was of great significance to them, so she naturally had to take it seriously.

Since it is a birthday, a birthday cake is naturally indispensable.

Baking cake embryos is not difficult, and the steps to make fresh cream are also simple. When whipping cream, you have to keep whipping it manually. It takes half an hour to make the cream thick and delicate. This job is so tiring. Fortunately, there are many palace maids who help the kitchen. Each person takes turns to beat it for a while and successfully beat it into a large bowl of white, fragrant and thick cream.

"I didn't expect that the egg whites could be beaten and it could be made of such a white thing." Linglong smacked her tongue and turned to see the princess who were concentrating on handling the egg yolks. She couldn't help but praise her, "Prince Princess, you are so amazing, you can come up with so many special foods."

Tao Ti smiled at her, "This hasn't been done yet. When it's done, it's not too late for you to praise it."

"The food made by the Crown Princess must be excellent!"

"Okay, go and wash some grapes, autumn pears, citrus, hawthorns, and you'll use them later."

"I'll go now!"

Linglong responded, quickly picked a large pot of fruit and went out. As soon as she left the door, she saw Princess Qingping walking in from the door. She hurriedly greeted her, "I pay homage to Princess Qingping, Princess Wan Fu Jin'an."

Qinghe was wearing a tender goose yellow dress today, smiling and smiling, and kind, "No need to be polite. Where is your princess?"

Linglong replied, "The Crown Princess is busy in the kitchen."

Qinghe said, "Then I'm here just right. Linglong, please send someone to bring these gifts in first. I'll go to the kitchen to find the princess."

Linglong looked at the generous gift in the hand of the eunuch behind the princess and quickly responded.

Qinghe walked towards the kitchen lightly. After a while, the laughter of Tao Ti and Qinghe came from the kitchen.

Emperor Zhaokang went to court earlier today, so he would go back to Qinzheng Hall directly to criticize memorials, or read and practice calligraphy.

But now sitting on the sedan chair, he felt a little uncomfortable when he thought that the East Palace was lively, but he had to sit alone in the Qinzheng Hall.

After pondering for a moment, he ordered, "Go to Mingyue Palace and sit down."

Concubine Xu is gentle and gentle, the fifth prince is naughty and lively, and he is much more comfortable when he is in the Mingyue Palace.

Li Gui sang, "Set the Moon Palace--"

The luxurious imperial chariot carried by eight people immediately turned and headed towards the Mingyue Palace.

Unexpectedly, just as I walked upstairs, I saw Concubine Xu's sedan chair coming towards me. There was a sedan chair behind her, with the fifth prince and the sixth princess sitting side by side. The two children were chattering and didn't know what they were talking about, and they were having a very happy chat.

Isn’t this a coincidence!

Li Gui was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously looked up at Emperor Zhaokang.

Emperor Zhaokang raised his hand slightly and signaled the sedan chair to stop.

Concubine Xu quickly brought the fifth prince and the sixth princess forward to salute. Emperor Zhao Kang sat high on the sedan chair, narrowed his black eyes and looked down at them, "Concubine, where are you going?"

Concubine Xu lowered her eyebrows and said with a pleasing eyes, "Your Majesty, today the prince set up a birthday banquet in the East Palace. The princess sent someone to invite me to go to the banquet with Xiaowu and Xiaoliu..."

Emperor Zhao Kang pursed his lips and kept silent.

Li Gui's heart was silenced. His Majesty wanted to go to the imperial concubine to relax and quickly, but the imperial concubine wanted to go out? What's this called?

He was worried about reminding Concubine Xu, and suddenly he heard Emperor Zhao Kang's majestic and low voice coming from above, "Besides you, who else did the Crown Princess invite?"

Concubine Xu said, "This... I heard that the eldest princess and Princess Qinghe will go, and the others... I don't know much about it."

The fifth prince spoke quickly and added, "Sister Achan from the Xu family will definitely come, and his sister-in-law will make a lot of delicious food today. As long as there is a delicious place, Sister Achan's is indispensable."

Seeing that his younger son was happier than during the Chinese New Year, he caught a glimpse of his younger daughter's restrained appearance, Emperor Zhao Kang's grim face softened a little, "It sounds lively."

Concubine Xu also received a reminder from Li Gui's eyes, and pinched her fingers calmly, sighing in her heart, why is this a coincidence?

If His Holy Lord looked for her on weekdays, she would be overjoyed. But today... the Crown Princess will definitely make many delicious delicacies today. I heard that there is a snack called "birthday cake". It can only be eaten on the birthday day, and it is impossible to eat it.

If you miss this, wouldn’t you have to wait for the birthday of the prince next year?

Concubine Xu bit her lip, endured her yearning for the cake, and gently pushed the steps, "Your Majesty, I have recently made a new fragrance, which has the effect of calming my mind and condensing my energy. Do you want me to try it with me?"

After a pause, she said to the fifth prince and the sixth princess, "You two go to the East Palace and give me a word to the prince and the princess for me, just say me..."

Emperor Zhao Kang interrupted her, "You go with the children."

Concubine Xu was stunned for a moment, "Your Majesty, you..."

Emperor Zhao Kang gently stroked the handrail of the carved dragon pattern with his thumb, thought for a moment, and said lightly, "I'll go with you."

Concubine Xu was stunned for a moment, and then she showed joy, "This is the best! With His Majesty accompanying the prince, he will be happy."

Fifth Prince: I don’t know if the prince’s brother is happy or not. I only know the scene of the father, which must be embarrassing and restrained.

Six Princess: Attached.

No matter what the two little guys thought, in the end, they followed Emperor Zhaokang's sedan chair and rushed to the East Palace slowly.

The sun is shining at noon, and there is laughter and joy in the Yihe Hall where the East Palace is hosting a banquet.

Because there were not many people coming to the banquet, and they were all familiar friends and elders, Tao Ti did not set up small tables, but a large round table.

When everyone arrives, everyone can gather around a table and eat and chat casually.

Qinghe arrived early and helped Taoti in the kitchen.

Xu Wenchan and Xu Guangji came with Mr. Xie. It is said that two carriages happened to meet on the road, so they followed the way. As for whether they happened to meet, Tao Ti secretly asked Xu Wenchan. Xu Wenchan only changed the topic in a vague way, and his ears were red.

Gu Minglan and Gu Zhihong, Pei Yan and Princess Jingyang were also present. At this moment, Concubine Xu and Xiaowu and Xiaoliu were separated.

Tao Ti was about to send someone to urge him, but the next moment, she heard a loud news from outside the hall-

"Your Majesty is here!"
Chapter completed!