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Mianmian wondered why The Emperor had organized such a large family banquet with so many people present.
The Emperor, like an ordinary person, had a special fondness for his first child and held a particular regard for the children of his first wife.
However, as the number of children grew and grew, he could no longer keep up with them all.
There were either those he particularly liked or those he particularly disliked, and those in between, he sotis couldn't even rember.
This was also partly due to the frequent deaths of his children.
At first, he was extrely saddened by these losses.
But over ti, he grew accustod to it, much like a wound that, when repeatedly torn, no longer hurt as much as it did initially. The skin hardened, and so did the heart.
So, despite having so many children, The Emperor did not have a special love for any of them.
A heart can only be divided so many ways; the more people it is shared with, the less each person receives.
Especially when The Emperor began seeking immortality through alchemy and Taoism.
He even regretted having so many children, believing it had drained his essence.
Later, he stopped visiting the harem.
But now, the room was filled to the brim with people.
Fortunately, it was the royal palace, and the room was large enough.
Ordinary nobility would not be able to accommodate so many people.
Even the sickly Tenth Prince was carried in, leaning against a chair and gasping for breath, clearly overwheld by the crowded environnt.
Mianmian noticed him and suspected he had asthma, possibly allergic asthma.
Being a prince, he was well-cared for.
An ordinary commoner would likely have perished by now.
But even a prince was struggling.
The Emperor's condition was not just old age; there were signs of chronic poisoning. Knowing that The Emperor had been taking elixirs, it was clear what was happening.
Ancient elixirs often contained rcury, which is extrely toxic.
In a world where the average lifespan was only thirty-sothing years, Mianmian felt a bit uneasy.
It was only when she visited the Observatory with Brother Chong that she learned the Observatory kept records of annual astrological phenona, climate, and their impact on humans, including statistics on human lifespan.
During years of great disasters, the average lifespan was about 25 years.
In the past century, which had been relatively peaceful, the average lifespan had increased to 33 years, considered a ti of prosperity.
So, it was normal in ancient tis for people in their thirties to beco grandparents, as one might not live long enough to see their grandchildren otherwise.
Mianmian thought that while she couldn't do much else, neither did she engage in palace intrigue or court politics. It was possible she was in a world where longevity was key, and she would survive by simply living long.
Attending the palace banquet felt like attending a wedding feast during Chinese New Year back ho, with dozens of tables filled with relatives, all connected by blood but difficult to recognize or rember.
Back then, when she was in school, she had a bit of a snobbish attitude and felt awkward greeting everyone.
Now, she realized it was unnecessary. They were all relatives, and it was important to engage in conversation boldly. The more unfamiliar, the more one should talk to beco familiar. Starting from this feast, one would find that the entire society was filled with familiar faces, all connected through those dozens of tables of relatives.
With so many people, seating was pre-arranged. Otherwise, choosing a seat would take forever.
Mianmian saw Elder Sister and her two nephews present.
But they were not nearby, so she decided to visit them later.
Today felt a bit like a company's annual eting.
It began with The Emperor (the big boss) arriving and being greeted.
Then ca the boss's speech.
Without microphones or speakers, it was fortunate that the room was quiet when it was The Emperor's turn to speak.
No one made a noise.
The Emperor's voice was not loud, lacking vigor.
His gaze fell on the mostly young and youthful faces below, each one familiar and unfamiliar.
In reality, there were fewer of them.
His children were becoming fewer and fewer.
He wanted to speak passionately about sothing, but couldn't find the words.
He just looked at all those faces.
Let it be lively.
"The past year has had its storms and challenges. Today marks the beginning of a new year. May the nation be prosperous and the people healthy and peaceful."
The Emperor did not give a lengthy speech.
He simply said one sentence before announcing the start of the al.
However, Mianmian noticed that no one rushed to pick up their chopsticks.
Following local customs, she did not rush either.
In fact, the al didn't look particularly appealing. With so many people and the distance between tables, the dishes were usually not very hot by the ti they arrived.
If the boss loved to talk for a long ti, the food would likely congeal.
And in the palace, according to the laws of banquets, sothing always seed to go wrong.
It seed The Emperor had a tough ti, even worrying about being poisoned while eating.
Perhaps The Emperor took elixirs to counteract the poison, standing on the eighteenth floor and looking down.
Mianmian saw Father sitting close to The Emperor, with Seventh Prince and Ninth Prince on the other side.
She didn't recognize them and listened as the young eunuch introduced them.
They all looked quite handso.
None were unattractive.
But the best-looking was still Father.
Father was the kind of person who looked good from any angle.
As the banquet began, it beca a bit noisy.
People couldn't just sit there in silence, but once they started talking, it was mixed with the cries of children, and the Tenth Prince's asthma worsened.
Mianmian saw Elder Sister leave with her child, and the Tenth Prince was also carried away.
So restless princes and grandchildren also left.
The banquet suddenly beca much quieter.
At this mont, Jiang Wan was unexpectedly summoned.
The Emperor called for Chu Xi and Jiang Wan.
The Ninth Princess-in-Law felt a bit uneasy.
The Emperor said there was an important matter to arrange.
He even looked at the Seventh Prince's eldest son, who was a concubine's child. What could this an?
Fortunately, soon after, the Ninth Prince's child also arrived before The Emperor.
The Ninth Prince had a legitimate son.
The Ninth Prince himself was carefree, but his son Chu Ze was raised to be like the Sixth Prince, very dignified and bright.
Chu Xi, being a concubine's son, seed more tactful, not as innocent and sunny.
The Emperor leaned on his throne, looking at the two grandsons, nodding and giving them rewards.
Seeing Jiang Wan, he was also impressed and gave her a reward.
Today, The Emperor seed like a loving elder.
Extraordinarily kind.
The Ninth Prince was slightly excited. When his father had summoned folk healers to the palace for treatnt, one of them happened to be his man.
That healer said The Emperor's health was failing.
While it was sad, the end was near, and the outco would soon be clear.
If he were to luck into becoming the Crown Prince, then the Emperor, it would be wonderful. Being a thousand-year-old was not as good as being ten thousand years old.
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His children becoming princesses and princes would be better than inheriting a title and becoming a distant branch of the royal family.
Moreover, The Emperor had never liked the Seventh Prince, who was also super good at pretending, always acting ek.
Once he took the throne, he would imdiately send the Seventh Prince back to his fiefdom, as far away as possible, too annoying to look at.
The Ninth Prince thought.
But he didn't know that in the previous life, when the Seventh Prince took the throne, he had imdiately executed the Ninth Prince's entire family.
The Ninth Prince, usually appearing as a playboy, today seed a bit anxious.
The Seventh Prince remained calm, no different from before.
Still acting humbly and fearful, as if just being called by The Emperor filled him with joy.
Until The Emperor spoke: "I am old, my health is deteriorating. The Ninth Prince is sincere and filial. After my passing..."
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