The Prime Minister's Darling

Chapter 534: 266 Long Live the Empress Dowager! (Second Update)_2 Chapter 534: 266 Long Live the Empress Dowager! (Second Update)_2 The carriage stopped outside the gate under the windy rain.

Zhuang Ping was the first one to kneel down. Once he knelt down, all those present knelt down with him. He cupped his fists and said loudly, “We welcome the empress dowager, long live the empress dowager, for a thousand, thousand, thousands of years!”

Everyone kowtowed and saluted, “Greetings to the empress dowager, long live the empress dowager, for a thousand, thousand, thousands of years!”

The Grand Tutor Zhuang got off from another carriage, bracing the wind and rain, personally holding an umbrella for Empress Dowager Zhuang.

Empress Dowager Zhuang still wore clothes from Bishui Alley, but that did not affect her aura.

These people were all her family, yet they all knelt at her feet.

She glanced at everyone lightly: “Rise.”

“Thank you, Empress Dowager!” Everyone respectfully responded, standing up in an orderly manner. Everyone’s clothes were soaking wet, but even the youngest three-year-old child did not dare to make a sound.

Everyone knew that the Empress Dowager valued propriety.

The Grand Tutor Zhuang smiled and said, “Let’s go in quickly, it’s raining hard. The empress dowager is injured and should not stay in the rain.”

Grand Tutor Zhuang walked into the Zhuang residence, entering the courtyard carefully prepared for her by the Zhuang family.

This was the courtyard of Zhuang Jinse before her marriage. The plants and trees inside were arranged the way they were before she got married. Even after decades, the original appearance was maintained.

However, Empress Dowager Zhuang did not even bat an eyelid, she walked up the steps.

But passing by a begonia tree, she took a second look, always feeling there should be a child sat on it.

She entered the room.

In the Zhuang family, only Grand Tutor Zhuang and the Duke of An knew about the Empress Dowager’s leprosy. Therefore, Grand Tutor Zhuang did not even call his own son. He only brought the Duke of An with him.

As the three of them entered the room, Grand Tutor Zhuang called two maids over, “Previously, the people used to serve the empress are in the palace. These are the servants that Hangheng picked for the empress dowager to serve her for the time being.”

“No need, you may leave.” After sitting down, Empress Dowager Zhuang waved her hand, “I don’t need anyone serving me.”

The grandfather and grandson both gave a startle. The Empress Dowager used to follow the etiquette and enjoyed grand occasions. There used to be at least seven or eight palace maids and eunuchs serving her daily —
Empress Dowager Zhuang reached out to take the teapot on the table to pour herself some tea.

Grand Tutor Zhuang furrowed his brows, looking at the two maids and said, “Why are you standing there? Why aren’t you serving tea to the empress dowager?”

The two rushed over to pour the tea.

Empress Dowager Zhuang put the teapot on the table with a bang, unimpressed. The two were scared to their knees.

Empress Dowager Zhuang seemed a bit flustered momentarily, seeming to realize her reaction was not appropriate, she said lightly: “Go ahead and pour it.”

“Yes!” The two glanced at each other, stood up, one pouring tea and the other serving desserts.

Empress Dowager Zhuang didn’t have much appetite, she took a sip of tea and sent the two off.

“What exactly happened during these days?” Empress Dowager Zhuang asked somberly.

Grand Tutor Zhuang and the Duke of An exchanged glances, both seeing the surprise in each other’s eyes.

It was still the Duke of An who broke the silence: “You…don’t you remember what happened?”

Empress Dowager Zhuang pressed her somewhat aching temples: “I only remember I had leprosy and was forced to be sent to the Mafeng Mountain. I escaped when they were not paying attention. After that, it seems that I went to many places and finally fainted because of hunger… I can’t remember much about what happened after that. Where did you find me? How long was I unconscious for?”

Unconscious for several days?

The two couldn’t help but gasp.

Empress Dowager remembered what happened in the past, but she couldn’t remember what happened during these days. Her memories stopped the day she fainted in the village.

She remembered something and said again, “How is my leprosy doing?”

The Duke of An said: “Your leprosy…”

“You are not infected with leprosy! It was a misdiagnosis!” Grand Tutor Zhuang interrupted the Duke of An’s words.

“Misdiagnosis?” Empress Dowager Zhuang frowned.

Grand Tutor Zhuang confirmed: “Yes, it was a misdiagnosis! To be honest, you have been missing for more than a year. If you truly had leprosy, it couldn’t possibly be like this now!”

Empress Dowager Zhuang looked at her own hands and touched her face: “I clearly remember there were symptoms…”

Grand Tutor Zhuang said, “Leprosy is incurable, you just showed similar symptoms, but it is not leprosy!”

In Zhan Country, leprosy is indeed incurable. It is said that the only place leprosy can be treated is in the powerful Yan Country.

Empress Dowager Zhuang paused for a moment, then said, “Then where have I been these days when I was missing?”

Grand Tutor Zhuang said, “You were controlled by his majesty’s people! We don’t know what kind of drugs they gave you, which made you lose your memory. I tried to see you several times, but they ruthlessly stopped me. Today I had no choice but to send guards to forcefully take you away, and I accidently hurt you in process. Please punish me, Empress Dowager!”

The Duke of An wanted to say something, but then stopped himself.

“Granny! Granny!”

A voice that belonged to Zhuang Mengdie suddenly sounded from the outside of the room.

Empress Dowager Zhuang’s expression faltered once again.

A name flashed in her mind, seemingly ready to pop out, as if she had once been called by this name, but she couldn’t recall it.

“It’s Mengdie.” Grand Tutor Zhuang chuckled, “She must be with her sister. Empress Dowager, would you like to see them?”

Mengdie.

Was it Mengdie who called her Auntie?

It must be, who else would call her Auntie?

Empress Dowager Zhuang nodded, “Let them in.”

Zhuang Mengdie pushed open the door and walked into the room cheerfully, “Auntie!”

“Address her as Empress Dowager!” Grand Tutor Zhuang reminded sternly.

“Oh.” Zhuang Mengdie reluctantly responded, then she respectfully bowed, “Mengdie pays respects to the Empress Dowager.”

Zhuang Yuexi, who entered the room with her, also bowed, “Yuexi pays respects to the Empress Dowager.”

Empress Dowager Zhuang acknowledged their greeting with a nod.

Zhuang Mengdie sat down by Empress Dowager Zhuang, took her arm and said affectionately, “Empress Dowager, I’ve missed you! Why didn’t you summon me?”

Grand Tutor Zhuang sternly rebuked, “No unruly behaviour!”

Zhuang Mengdie snorted in response.

Empress Dowager Zhuang was very fond of the Zhuang family’s children for two reasons; firstly, she didn’t have any children of her own, and secondly, these children were indeed charming.

Empress Dowager Zhuang looked at Zhuang Mengdie sitting next to her, then at the gentle and demure Zhuang Yuexi.

In the past, Empress Dowager Zhuang would favour Zhuang Mengdie more. The crying baby gets the milk – Zhuang Mengdie knew how to act coquettishly, thus naturally received more affection.

However, today, Empress Dowager Zhuang mysteriously felt closer to the quietly reserved Zhuang Yuexi.

She stared blankly at Zhuang Yuexi.

Getting the hint from the look Grand Tutor Zhuang gave her, Zhuang Yuexi went and took a seat on the other side of the Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager Zhuang lifted her hand and touched Zhuang Yuexi’s left cheek, “Is it gone?”

“What’s gone?” Zhuang Mengdie asked in confusion.

Yes, what’s gone?

Even Empress Dowager Zhuang herself didn’t know.

Medical Hall.

Gu Jiao was standing quietly by the entrance to the Grand Hall, her body still bearing injuries. Cold wind blew in, carrying the icy rain with it.

Xiao Liulang held up an umbrella just above her.

“Auntie left,” said Xiao Liulang.

“Will she ever come back?” Gu Jiao turned to look at him, her eyes staring fixedly at him as she asked.

At this moment, she finally bore the innocence and uncertainty that a fifteen-year-old girl should have.

But Xiao Liulang couldn’t find any comfort in this.

Xiao Liulang sighed and looked down, speaking softly, “Jiaojiao, she’s not your auntie, not anymore.”

Looking blankly at the pouring rain, Gu Jiao seemed solitary and small.

Xiao Liulang put down the umbrella, turned her body around, and gently pulled her into his arms.

Her head rested against his firm chest.

She shook her head, looked up into his eyes, and said earnestly: “I’m not upset.”

Xiao Liulang’s hand tightened around her waist, his large palm gently cradled her head: “Hmm.”

In the courtyard, Gu Yan was asleep but suddenly woke up, he sat up straight.

His abrupt movement startled Yao Family, “What’s the matter?” she asked.

Gu Yan didn’t answer, a single tear trickled down from the corner of his eye. He wiped the tear with his fingertips and looked at it intently.

Yao Family noticed it too, she asked in surprise, “Why are you crying?”

Gu Yan replied, “I’m not crying.”

These were not his tears, they were Jiaojiao’s.