After breakfast, Yun Xi was about to go out when she saw Xiao Anzi in a hurry, leading a man towards her father's courtyard.
"Xiao Anzi, didn't Father go to the morning court?"
Yun Xi was a bit worried and stepped forward to stop Xiao Anzi. She hadn't seen her father for several days since he had been on night duty in the palace recently. Moreover, it wasn't a day off today. Logically, her father should have gone to the morning court in the palace long ago.
Seeing Yun Xi, Xiao Anzi quickly stopped and said anxiously, "Good morning, Miss. The master is ill! I've just invited a doctor and am going to have the master diagnosed and treated!"
Yun Xi was shocked. She nodded to the doctor carrying a medicine box and couldn't help worrying, "Father has always been in good health. How could he suddenly fall ill? And wasn't he on duty in the palace yesterday?" Since he was ill, why didn't they call the imperial physician but instead ask Xiao Anzi to invite a doctor? Wasn't this going the long - way around?
Seeing Xiao Anzi looking hesitant and embarrassed, Yun Xi said, "Let's talk as we walk." Then she went with Xiao Anzi towards her father's courtyard.
Hearing that the prime minister was ill, Yu Zhu was very worried. But thinking about the women's academy, she couldn't help saying, "Miss, shall we still go to the women's academy today?" Since the queen had given Yun Xi a quota, the women's academy had sent her an invitation, notifying Yun Xi to start school today.
Yu Zhu was worried that if the miss was late on her first day of school, it might have a bad influence. After all, it was said that the princess who was in charge of the women's academy was notoriously strict. No matter which noble girl offended her, she would surely be in trouble!
Yun Xi had also heard about the princess's temper and frowned. "We'll talk about it later." Nothing was more important than seeing her father first.
Since Yun Xi's mother passed away, Yun Sheng had always kept the scenery and furnishings in the courtyard unchanged for more than a decade. Although Madam Jiang had been in charge of the family for many years, she was never allowed to step into this courtyard. It was as if Yun Sheng's heart had been completely closed with Su Yun's death, and no one else could set foot in it.
Yun Xi entered the courtyard and followed Xiao Anzi all the way to her father's study. Seeing her father lying on the narrow wooden bed with a flushed face, Yun Xi felt inexplicably sad and thought her father was a bit pitiful.
"Why is Father sleeping here?" Yun Xi stepped forward to feel her father's forehead and frowned tightly at the burning temperature. Her father had always been strong. Except for the year when her mother had just passed away, when had she ever seen him so weak and haggard?
The doctor concentrated on feeling the pulse, said it was just an ordinary cold, prescribed a few doses of medicine, and then left. Yun Xi sat by the bed and watched over her father for a long time.
According to Xiao Anzi's description, her father had locked himself in the study after returning to the mansion yesterday evening and hadn't left. When Xiao Anzi brought dinner halfway, her father also said he wasn't hungry and hadn't eaten or drunk anything. He even didn't allow anyone to enter the study. It was not until this morning that Xiao Anzi found her father had a high fever and was almost in a coma. But he still didn't forget to tell Xiao Anzi not to alarm others, let alone call the imperial physician. Therefore, Xiao Anzi was in a dilemma and had to hurry out to invite a doctor.
Hearing this, Yun Xi couldn't help being confused. "Did Father encounter something unusual in the palace yesterday?"
Xiao Anzi shook his head, and then seemed to suddenly remember something and hesitantly nodded. Feeling that she had found the crux of the matter, Yun Xi hurriedly asked. Xiao Anzi carefully glanced around and whispered to Yun Xi, "I heard that yesterday was the anniversary of the late emperor's death." Although he was once the emperor, few people dared to mention this after that palace coup. Thinking carefully, at this time every year, his master seemed to fall ill. It was really strange...
Yun Xi's eyes widened. Suddenly, she remembered the unexpected guest yesterday - Qi Rong. No wonder his eyes were blood - red and he seemed very gloomy. It turned out to be because of this... And although her father was secretly called a "treacherous official" and a "sycophant" by others, saying that he had let down the late emperor's trust and was a spineless and cowardly villain. But she knew that her father had great respect for the late emperor. Compared with those who talked about benevolence and righteousness but were reluctant to plead for the people, her father was the one who truly "ate the emperor's salary and shared the emperor's worries"!
However, just as her father had told her when she was a child, "A tree that towers above the forest is sure to be uprooted by the wind." He taught her that "the philosophy of life lies in acting." Pushed forward by the torrent of the times, his strength was too weak after all. How could he contend with the ever - changing imperial power?
Yun Xi sighed softly. Not to mention the prime minister who was a subject, even the high - ranking emperor couldn't be completely carefree. Once in that position, admired by thousands of people, one also had to bear the livelihood of the common people. If one couldn't do it, one would be overthrown overnight!
When her father's fever gradually subsided and his condition became stable, Yun Xi gave a few instructions and then left.
"Miss, shall we still go to the women's academy?" It was already past noon. In another two hours, the women's academy would be out of school.
Yun Xi looked up at the sky and thought for a moment. "Let's go now." After all, it was her first day of school. If she offended the princess, it would be of no benefit to her future plans.
"Okay." Yu Zhu nodded and was about to arrange the carriage when she saw Yun Xi still standing there.
"Miss?"
"However, before going to the women's academy, we need to prepare some things." Yun Xi continued.
Hearing this, Yu Zhu looked confused and couldn't help being a bit anxious. "Miss, what things? Do we still have time to prepare? Can't we do it tomorrow?" If it was a gift for the princess, they would surely have to choose carefully for a long time. By the time they got there, the school might already be out!
Seeing Yu Zhu frowning, Yun Xi laughed and tapped her on the forehead, smiling, "It's not a difficult thing. As long as you go with me to the 18th Street, everything will be taken care of!"
The 18th Street? Yu Zhu was stunned. Wasn't that the famous snack street in the capital? What time was it, and her miss still wanted to eat? Yu Zhu wanted to cry.
"Miss, no matter what you say today, we can't go to the 18th Street again..." Just as Yu Zhu was earnestly persuading, Yun Xi ignored what she said and pulled her towards the mansion gate.
"Let's go! If we're late, we won't be able to eat the mochi balls at the east end!"
The 18th Street in the capital almost gathered all kinds of snacks in the Liu Kingdom. From one end to the other, the street was full of dazzling food, and it would take an hour to walk through it. If there was a food paradise in Yun Xi's mind, besides the Deer - Turning - Back in Jiangcheng, the 18th Street deserved to be ranked second! However, although there were a wide variety of delicious food on the 18th Street, some of the most famous ones were often in short supply and sold out quickly because of their complicated production processes. So, it was common for some people to wait for several hours just for a bite.