Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress-Chapter 1952 - 1959: Longevity Festival (Part 5)

The body felt warm, but Cai Wei suddenly found her eyes stinging unbearably.

In the past few months, she saw with her own eyes how hard Nangong Yi was working, how laboriously, and it pained her heart.

In front of others, he never showed a hint of fatigue, nor did he display any anxiety or impatience. Every day, he handled state affairs methodically. To outsiders, he was always the unfathomable emperor with a gem in hand, in control of everything.

But Cai Wei knew that he must have been very worried inside, even bearing immense pressure. He would only show his exhausted, even vulnerable side in front of her. Whenever this happened, Cai Wei didn’t need to do anything, just quietly accompany him was enough.

By the next day, he would be spiritedly managing state affairs again.

However, recently Cai Wei clearly felt that Nangong Yi was much more relaxed, the smile on his face appeared more often, because everything was moving in the best possible direction.

That night, the two of them drank quite a bit of wine. Nangong Yi always had self-control and never drank excessively, but this time, it was cup after cup. Cai Wei didn’t stop him; he had ascended the throne for three years, and such a large scale earthquake had occurred, and in two years, there would be a great drought, surely someone would take advantage of this to spread rumors and stir up trouble.

In the face of difficulties, he needed to strive hard and also needed to vent his emotions a bit.

Even an emperor is human, not a god.

It wasn’t until he was somewhat drunk that Cai Wei stopped him, ordered sobering soup for him, and after brushing teeth and washing face, waited upon him to bed.

Ten days later, the Longevity Festival arrived. Nangong Yi held the Birthday Feast in Shuntian Hall, with civil and military officials, foreign envoys, the imperial family’s relatives, and several princes and princesses all present. Cai Wei sat beside Nangong Yi, accepting the worship of everyone alongside him.

Jin’er, Yu’er, and Ming Zhu sat with several royal uncles and the eldest princesses.

After everyone performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows and recited the birthday congratulations text, it was time to offer birthday gifts.

First, the two princes and Princess Ming Zhu presented gifts to Nangong Yi, then followed the Barbarian King, the eldest princess, civil and military officials, the imperial family’s relatives, and foreign envoys.

Jin’er and Yu’er gave Nangong Yi the flower wine brewed by the two brothers themselves. Although Cai Wei was guiding on the side, the brothers did not let Cai Wei help with even a tiny bit, from picking flowers to fetching water. It could be said that this earthen jar of wine was entirely completed by the two brothers, making it very commemorative.

Nangong Yi, very appreciative, had someone open it, poured a cup, and drank it all in one go.

The gift from Ming Zhu was a cartoon picture she drew where five people huddle close with affection, the two bigger ones are her imperial father and mother, the three smaller ones are they three siblings. Even though her drawing skill was not very refined, seeing this warm gift, Nangong Yi felt quite content, and ordered someone to collect it properly.

The other gifts given were rare and exotic treasures, some were rare books, some were Buddhist statues, some were self-made poetry and calligraphic painting. No matter what gift was presented, Nangong Yi nodded and accepted, encouraged everyone with a few words.

However, the gift sent by Miaojiang, Nangong Yi didn’t even glance at it and directly rewarded it to the Department of Public Works official Huang Youshan.

The birthday gift from Miaojiang was two music-busting beauties, reportedly one carried a natural fragrance on her body that made one want to get drunk by smelling it, named Xiang Xiang; the other was adept at rhythm and had the ability to make lingering sounds for three days, named Piao Piao.

However, Nangong Yi had no interest in their beautiful women, and coincidently the official from the Department of Public Works recently lost his wife, so he "presented Buddha with borrowed flowers" and sent those two delicate beauties away.

After three rounds of wine, Nangong Yi suddenly stood up and said loudly to everyone: "Today, I have an important matter to announce to you all."