The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 751

Chapter 751: 347 Mother and Son United (An update)_3

Empress Dowager Zhuang: "..."

Empress Dowager Zhuang took a deep breath to suppress the turmoil in her heart: "Weren’t there eight? Why are there only five now?"

If she normally ate three a day, and she was told she could have an extra five, wouldn’t that make eight?

Well, she had held back today, and hadn’t eaten a single one.

With her mouth full of candy, Gu Jiao ambiguously replied, "There are only five... If you don’t believe me, try to think again..."

Empress Dowager Zhuang replayed her earlier words in her mind.

"Eat three candies a day?"

She hadn’t agreed to it at the time.

Then the lass said—

"Four?"

"Hmm... five?"

It seemed that she indeed didn’t add "more" to those last two sentences.

Empress Dowager Zhuang slammed her fist on the petition!

...How careless she had been!

Gu Jiao treated her grandmother gently, primarily respecting the older woman’s opinions. She explained everything transparently, without hiding anything from her.

The emperor was not so fortunate. The old priest kept luring him deeper into one trap after another, causing him to stumble so miserably that he was unable to get out of the hole.

However, the emperor clearly harbored strong aversion to the idea of cooperating with Empress Dowager Zhuang: "Everything else is fine, except for this! I’ll never go along with that poisonous old hag!"

The old priest iterated earnestly, "Your Majesty, this is not the time for being stubborn. It is crucial to expose the real culprits who are maneuvering behind the scenes. Is your face more important, or the lives of the imperial concubine, or Jiaojiao? Forget about Jiaojiao. She’s not yours anyway."

Listen, what on earth is he saying? Why is the junior divine physician not related to him?

So, only that poisonous hag, Zhuang Jinse, would care about her, while he would regard her with indifference, wouldn’t he?

"I misspoke." The old priest apologized sheepishly. "I mean, at least Jiaojiao can fend for herself. The imperial concubine has been left fragile from the persecution of the previous favored concubine. If an assassin were to attack her, it would be impossible to prevent it."

This was what the Concubine Jing herself and her servants had said. Concubine Jing had old wounds, and she was very weak!

Finally, the emperor was persuaded.

Therefore, the scene that shocked all the courtiers in the next morning’s court appeared—the emperor and Empress Dowager Zhuang actually entered the Jinluan Hall together.

Weren’t these two known for disdaining each other’s presence even within the same courtyard? Why did they come to the court meeting together? Usually, it was either Empress Dowager Zhuang arriving first or the emperor coming first. In any case, they avoided meeting face-to-face.

Both of them arrived at the entrance of the Jinluan Hall. The emperor stopped, offered a slight smile to Empress Dowager Zhuang, and made a gesture, saying, "After you, mother."

Empress Dowager Zhuang was taken aback. She very nearly picked up her shoe and smacked him upside the head!

It took all of Empress Dowager Zhuang’s strength to hold back. She simply nodded and gracefully stepped over the threshold.

The Civil and Military Officials all knelt down in welcome on both sides, holding up their hu boards.

Empress Dowager Zhuang was the first one to move forward. As she stepped up to the dais, Eunuch Qin cleared his throat. Her lips twitched slightly, and she halted her movement and extended her hand.

The emperor felt like grabbing a shoe and knocking himself out.

How was this going?!

The Huo fellow hadn’t mentioned this beforehand!

The emperor suppressed the involuntary twitch in his heart and held Empress Dowager Zhuang’s wrist.

Acting like a loving mother and filial son, they ascended the staircase together. Once seated in their respective places, both of them unobtrusively wiped their hands!

Emperor: Disgusted!