Chapter 179: Chapter 179

After all, while East Chu faced the arrival of envoys from the northern barbarians and Bei Xia, they had not met with them and instead left them waiting at the posthouse for various reasons.

Now, they were originally planning to meet, but a plague broke out. Newest update provıded by 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⁂𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⁂𝓷𝓮𝓽

To prevent the plague from spreading into the palace, they could not hold the meeting.

Those envoys who did not understand the situation thought that East Chu was deliberately keeping them waiting or putting on airs, trying to control them, which is why they were unwilling to meet them.

The relations between the countries, therefore, became quite delicate.

However, East Chu and the northern barbarians at least had a marriage alliance, so the meeting could be temporarily put on hold without major concerns. But with Bei Xia, it was different.

East Chu and Bei Xia had not been peaceful for years and were constantly at odds.

If this matter is not resolved properly, it might give rise to disputes again.

East Chu cannot afford to engage in war, nor can it withstand one. Therefore, to avoid war, even at a time when the plague is rampant, Emperor Yongning and his ministers could only decide to meet with the envoy from Bei Xia.

Nevertheless, the appointment was set, but why did the envoy from Bei Xia not appear today?

What exactly is the reason?

Emperor Yongning was agitated, wondering if there had been some upheaval in Bei Xia, or if King Bei Xia had made some decisions that skipped even the meeting with the envoy.

In any case, under such circumstances, Emperor Yongning did not expect any good news.

Xiao Lizi consoled him, "Your Majesty, stop worrying unnecessarily, perhaps you should take your medicine first?"

"Since being poisoned and recovering, Your Majesty’s health hasn’t been restored. It’s important to take the medicine regularly and recuperate properly," said Xiao Lizi as he brought a bowl of dark concoction to Emperor Yongning.

In the past, upon seeing these dark concoctions, Emperor Yongning would begrudgingly take a sip and set it aside.

But now it was different. The poison in Emperor Yongning’s body had been neutralized, and he wouldn’t suddenly die. With newfound hope in life, he was motivated to care for his health to live a few more years.

Emperor Yongning raised the bowl and drank the dark concoction in one gulp.

Xiao Lizi helped wipe the medicine stains from the corners of his mouth, noticing that Emperor Yongning kept his eyes closed, seemingly troubled by the bitter taste. He then brought a jar of preserved fruits before Emperor Yongning, "Your Majesty, would you like some preserved fruit to ease the bitterness?"

Emperor Yongning shook his head, "No need." He opened his eyes and looked at the preserved fruits in Xiao Lizi’s hand, "Put these snacks away for now, give them to Yi Yi when she returns."

The little girl loved eating quirky things; surely these preserved fruits would be no exception.

"How about a pastry?"

Emperor Yongning took a piece of pastry and had a bite.

The pastry was mung bean cake.

The Imperial Study Room kept them stocked, with fresh ones replaced daily. However, Emperor Yongning rarely ate them, leaving them where they were. This was his first time eating it today.

He took a bite and immediately frowned, complaining, "Xiao Lizi, is this mung bean cake? Why does it taste odd? It’s different from what I’ve had before."

Emperor Yongning found it hard to swallow, holding the bite of mung bean cake in his mouth, looking at the rest with a puzzled gaze.

Xiao Lizi, understanding what the Emperor was thinking, explained, "Your Majesty, you can rest assured and eat it, the mung bean cake is not spoiled and is perfectly fine."

"Then why does it taste ?"

Emperor Yongning mumbled unclear words.

"Because you rarely eat this mung bean cake, it’s made to the princess’s taste. The princess enjoys coriander-flavored mung bean cake and secretly told me, so I instructed the chef to make it coriander-flavored and keep it here," Xiao Lizi explained.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongning reluctantly swallowed the mung bean cake, but his expression was still one of pain, forcing himself to eat it.

"It’s truly awful, I don’t understand why the little one likes such oddly flavored things."

Emperor Yongning couldn’t eat another bite, tossing the cake back onto the plate, looking at the platter with disdain.

Xiao Lizi cautiously inquired, "Your Majesty, should I remove these pastries?"

"No need," said Emperor Yongning.

"Shall I still keep them available in the future?"

"Keep them available."

Though Emperor Yongning disliked these strangely flavored things, as long as Jun Ning liked them, he would ensure they were available.

"Alright, go and personally check if the people I sent have returned,"

because the hard-to-swallow mung bean cake made Emperor Yongning lose interest in reviewing documents. He walked to the window, hands behind his back, looking at the vast sky, eyes shadowed with unclear thoughts.

Xiao Lizi went outside to check, but the people sent out had not returned.

However, Liu Pin came with Yao Yao, insisting on seeing Emperor Yongning, saying Yao Yao would be appointed Princess An Ding in three days, but due to the plague, there couldn’t be a grand ceremony, and the traditional parade to heaven’s temple was skipped, making it completely different from when Jun Ning was appointed Princess Anle. Yao Yao felt aggrieved, wanting to see the Emperor.

Xiao Lizi reported this truthfully to Emperor Yongning, who refused without a thought, "Send them away, I have no time to see them today!"

His words carried a hint of impatience.

The matter with the Bei Xia envoys was still weighing on Emperor Yongning’s mind, leaving him too preoccupied to bother seeing the girl.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I’ll inform Concubine Liu and the princess accordingly."

Xiao Lizi conveyed Emperor Yongning’s exact words to the mother and daughter, but they refused to leave, insisting on waiting for Emperor Yongning to see them.

Xiao Lizi felt speechless, why couldn’t they change their tactics?

Every time the Emperor refused to see them, they resorted to the same methods, being so persistent that the Emperor was likely frustrated.

Xiao Lizi shook his head and left, deciding not to bother Emperor Yongning with this, assuming the two would leave after waiting long enough.

After another incense stick’s time, the Imperial Guard sent to investigate returned.

In contrast to Liu Pin and her daughter’s treatment, it was like night and day.

This Imperial Guard didn’t even need to announce himself and was directly escorted in by the eunuch waiting at the doorway to see Emperor Yongning.

This was clearly instructed by Emperor Yongning.

Liu Pin and her daughter: "..."

Did this mean that in the Emperor’s eyes, they were less significant than a guard?

In making this comparison, they forgot one key point. One involved state affairs, while the other was a palace matter, completely incomparable. If they insisted on comparing, they were missing the point.

The Imperial Guard reported everything that happened at the palace gates to Emperor Yongning in detail.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongning broke out in a cold sweat, finding it hard to believe, and with a trembling voice asked, "What, did you say Princess Anle contracted the plague?"