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Xiao Liulang had an uneasy sleep during the night, and got up a quarter of an hour later the next day.
He was only a quarter of an hour late in waking up, but he was told that Gu Jiao had already gone out.
Gu Jiao went to visit Grandaunt.
Just as the Emperor recalled Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing when he heard of Empress Dowager Zhuang’s illness, Gu Jiao was reminded of his Grandaunt's sleepless night watching over the Emperor when she saw the ill Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing. Grandaunt was already advanced in age, and to not get any sleep for a night was extremely taxing on her body.
Gu Jiao didn’t only have Empress Dowager Zhuang's token, but also the token given by the Emperor. She randomly fished out one token, and the guard outside the palace gate was stunned.
Hold on.
Were you not using the token of Renshou Palace the last few times?
Why did it suddenly change into the token of Huaqing Palace today?
"Is it wrong?" Gu Jiao put it away and took out another piece.
The guard took a look and almost fainted!
This was the token of the late Emperor!
..... Er, that piece seemed to be the one given to her by Granduncle.
Gu Jiao rummaged around in her pocket again, as if there was still more in there.
The guard’s face turned pale. Don't rummage anymore! Who knows what you'll pull out next! Hurry up and go in! Hurry up and go in!
The guard returned the token to Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao headed to Renshou Palace.
Eunuch Qin was surprised to see her come, but at the same time he was relieved, "Aiya, Young Miss Gu, you have finally arrived. I wouldn't have known what else to do if you hadn't come."
"What's the matter? Is Grandaunt sick?” Gu Jiao asked upon seeing Eunuch Qin's worried look.
Eunuch Qin sighed and nodded, "She's been ill for a few days now, but she refuses to make it public and wouldn't let this servant invite you over either. The Empress Dowager says it's just a minor illness and she'll be fine if she rests."
It was difficult and dangerous for someone at her age to be feeling unwell.
Gu Jiao hurriedly went to Grandaunt’s bedchamber.
Empress Dowager Zhuang merely caught a cold from being overworked, yet as Gu Jiao had said, for someone of her age, an illness could be life-threatening at any moment.
Empress Dowager Zhuang lay weakly in the phoenix bed, and in a single night it seemed as if much of her vitality had been drained away.
"Grandaunt!" Gu Jiao stepped forward, placing the food box on the table, before settling next to her bed to take her pulse.
Empress Dowager Zhuang weakly gazed at Gu Jiao and then at Eunuch Qin, who followed behind her. With a roll of her eyes, she said, "Who told you to bring people here?"
Eunuch Qin was passive.
Gu Jiao pulled the quilt up around Grandaunt and said, "It wasn't Eunuch Qin who called me, I came of my own accord."
Empress Dowager Zhuang: "Humph!"
“Has the medicine been taken this morning?” Gu Jiao asked.
Eunuch Qin replied, "Not yet, the imperial physician instructed it to be taken after meals, but Empress Dowager…"
Empress Dowager Zhuang gave him a cold glare, "You don't want a long life, do you?"
He dared to tell on her!
Eunuch Qin shrunk his neck awkwardly.
Gu Jiao said, "I brought food."
"Yes, yes, yes!" Eunuch Qin hurried to the table, opened the food box that Gu Jiao brought, and a familiar scent of scallion filled the room.
Egg millet congee, brown sugar cake, mung bean paste, and some home-pickled fruit jerky.
The mung bean paste was made by Yao Shi, while the other three were made by Old Chief, all with only half of the usual amount of sugar.
Empress Dowager Zhuang had no appetite at first, but after tasting a bit she couldn't put it down.
Gu Jiao didn't let her eat too much, only a few bites before having Eunuch Qin take it away.
Empress Dowager Zhuang pouted in frustration, "Aijia is ill, yet you people won't let Aijia eat her fill!"
Gu Jiao replied, "You have to leave room in your stomach for medicine."
But she didn't want to drink medicine, she wanted to fill her stomach with food!
After about two quarters of an hour, Gu Jiao had the medicine soup brought up. She tasted it first; it was a suitable remedy with mild properties.
Empress Dowager Zhuang refused with a straight face.
Gu Jiao took out three pieces of candied fruits.
"I could've eaten the three pieces originally…" Empress Dowager Zhuang curled her lips.
Gu Jiao said, "These three pieces are extra, if…"
Before she could finish her sentence, Empress Dowager Zhuang took the medicine bowl and drank it with loud gulps. Then, under everyone's dumbfounded gazes, she decisively took away the three pieces of candied fruits!
Last night, it had rained for a while, dissipating the heat. Today, the sky was clear, perfect for a stroll outside.
“Grandaunt, let us take a stroll in the imperial garden.” Gu Jiao proposed to Empress Dowager Zhuang.
Empress Dowager Zhuang was too lazy to move.
Gu Jiao said, "I will come to see you again tomorrow."
Empress Dowager Zhuang agreed.
The group then headed to the imperial garden.
Gu Jiao was enjoying herself immensely while riding Empress Dowager Zhuang's phoenix palanquin, but Empress Dowager Zhuang felt stifled and refused to ride it, resulting in a very peculiar scene—— while Empress Dowager Zhuang was slowly and steadily walking ahead with Eunuch Qin's arm to support her, Gu Jiao rode on the phoenix palanquin with a look of contentment, her head bobbing up and down.
The people of the palace: "..."
A group of people arrived at the imperial garden.
There was a pavilion and a large stretch of shade.
Empress Dowager Zhuang and Gu Jiao cast their gaze at the shade of the tree in unison. Eunuch Qin, understanding the situation, quickly ordered for chairs and tables to be brought over. Empress Dowager Zhuang and Gu Jiao then took their seats, and Eunuch Qin laid out tea, water and freshly prepared pastries on the table.
The pastries were for Gu Jiao.
She was at the age of growing and got hungry fast.
Gu Jiao picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and began to eat with great seriousness.
Soon, she was sweating, and Empress Dowager Zhuang gave a signal to one of the palace maids, who hurried to stand behind Gu Jiao and fan her gently.
The breeze blew softly, carrying with it the fragrance of the garden.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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