"You bring up a valid point," Baili Yan mused. "But now isnât the right time to act."
"Thatâs exactly why Xiaxia doesnât want to donate money directly to the national treasury."
"Tsk tsk," Baili Yan said cheerfully. "I wondered why she was happily accepting gifts. Turns out she had this plan in mind. When you go back, make sure to thank her properly for me. Without you all, Iâd be having a hard time."
Before becoming Emperor, everything seemed simple; after attaining the position, nothing turned out as easy as imagined.
Since entering the palace, he hadnât slept well for days. The army was out there, needing supplies every day, and the already depleted national treasury was even emptier.
Now he feared any natural or human disaster because then the court couldnât even afford disaster relief silver.
Baili Yan appreciated Yang Chuxia, and the Empress was also touched.
She never expected Yang Chuxia to perform such a charitable act in her name. With this matter, she could stabilize her position as Empress even more.
However, the Empress was smart, knowing that it was Yang Chuxia who had the silver, and all the good reputation went to her. She couldnât just do nothing.
So she secretly had her personal maid sell a box of her East Pearls and bought several carts of herbs to send to the battlefield.
With the army out there, both food and herbs were indispensable.
Baili Yan appreciated her prudence and valued her highly.
After this matter, the day of Baili Yanâs ascension quickly arrived.
At the hour of Yin, the Emperor led royal family members to offer sacrifices to ancestors, then proclaimed Heaven and Earth, and returned to the palace at the hour of Chen to receive the ministersâ kneeling bows.
At midday, they began the formal ceremony to appoint the Empress, followed by that for the concubines and others.
Finally, came the evening banquet, which family members of officials could also attend.
Ye Ziâan and Lele set off early, while Yang Chuxia directly went to attend the evening banquet.
From the time of offering sacrifices, Baili Yan was worried, fearing troubles along the way. Luckily, nothing happened.
Thinking the ascension ceremony would proceed smoothly, who would have thought trouble would erupt during the evening banquet.
Everyone attending the banquet was poisonedânot with deadly poison, but with a laxative, and a strong one at that, turning the joyous banquet into a foul-smelling ordeal.
The medicine was in the food, so everyone partook and fell victim.
Some couldnât hold it and directly soiled their pants.
Sure, itâs understandable for men, but even some women couldnât avoid this, including many young ladies whose faces turned pale. Facing something like this resulted in tears; this was a disgrace before the throne.
Baili Yanâs face was dark; Yang Chuxia clearly saw the veins bulging on his hands.
Thus, a supposedly pleasant evening banquet ended on an unhappy note.
The Ye Family of three naturally didnât escape either. However, Yang Chuxia and Ye Ziâan ate less and didnât fare as poorly, but Lele wasnât so lucky. One dish happened to suit his taste, and he ate moreâunable to hold on; he soiled his little underwear.
Yang Chuxia looked at her sonâs pitiful face, his eyes filled with mist.
"Alright, donât feel bad; youâre not the only one. Compared to others, youâre much better off. You can clean up at the Empressâs place and change into clean clothes. Look at the others; they went home reeking. Plus, there were many young ladies among them."