The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 537

Chapter 537: 269 Entering the Palace (Second Update)

The news that Empress Dowager Zhuang could not eat was quickly relayed to the Zhuang family.

Zhuang’s Grand Tutor, worried that the Empress Dowager might be sick, promptly invited the royal physicians to check her pulse. However, her pulse indicated no significant issues. The physician speculated that it might be a matter of the heart.

"Perhaps... it’s because the Empress Dowager has been away from the palace for a long time and now she is having some difficulty adjusting to being back."

Zhuang’s Grand Tutor coldly retorted, "She’s spent a lifetime within the Forbidden City, isn’t leaving it what she’s not accustomed to?"

She was returning home, what could be there to adjust to?

"Perhaps... we can let her family members spend more time with her," the royal physician suggested.

Zhuang’s Grand Tutor thought this idea might work and consequently sent Zhuang Yuexi and Zhuang Mengdie to the Imperial Palace overnight.

When Empress Dowager Zhuang saw Zhuang Mengdie, she did not seem particularly relieved. However, when she caught sight of Zhuang Yuexi standing behind Zhuang Mengdie, her expression froze momentarily.

Zhuang Yuexi was still adorned in her magnificent gowns as before, except now there was a red Chinese Peony painted on her left cheek.

This was the current makeup trend in the Capital City. Ever since the valedictorian parade, the young ladies of the city had started to dab cinnabar onto their faces. Initially, Zhuang Yuexi didn’t favor this simple trend, but one day, while touching her left cheek, the Empress Dowager had mentioned that something seemed missing.

Zhuang Yuexi surmised, could it be the trending cinnabar makeup?

So, she started applying it herself. The apparent effect was pleasing; indeed, the Empress Dowager seemed to like it.

Empress Dowager Zhuang beckoned Zhuang Yuexi towards her.

Zhuang Yuexi obediently sat down next to her. She noticed that since the Empress Dowager’s return, she had been treating her differently. Even though she was not the type to act coy or seek attention, it was her simple-minded younger sister, Zhuang Mengdie, who was the favorite at home, despite Zhuang Yuexi being the one praised for her talents.

Even when her elder brother took his little sister on a trip to Jiangnan, he chose to take along Zhuang Mengdie, who was often teased as the dim-witted one.

"What did you have for dinner?" The Empress Dowager asked while holding her hand.

Surprised by the Empress Dowager’s attention, Zhuang Yuexi responded, "I had some mixed grains porridge for dinner."

The Empress Dowager replied, "That’s not enough. You’re at an age where your body is still growing, you should eat more. Servants, bring the meal!"

The palace maids could hardly contain their glee. As expected, the Grand Tutor was known for his solutions. As soon as the two young misses were sent to the palace, the Empress Dowager immediately regained her appetite.

A table full of finely prepared dishes was presented.

Empress Dowager Zhuang declined the attendance of the palace maids, opting instead to personally serve Zhuang Yuexi a heaping bowl of food, "Eat a bit more, you are too thin. If you don’t put on some weight, you won’t be able to give me a great-grandchild."