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It was the same scenery, yet with a different person, Empress Dowager Zhuang had a different mood.
Eunuch Qin looked at Gu Jiao, who was eating snacks in relish, and at Empress Dowager Zhuang, who was quietly drinking tea.
What did Empress Dowager need in her later years?
In reality, it was nothing more than companionship.
Young Miss Gu didn’t have to do anything special, simply accompanying the Empress Dowager would make her happy.
It was only moments like this that Empress Dowager Zhuang didn’t loathe the inner palace.
However, peace was always short-lived, as Empress Dowager Zhuang had barely enjoyed her leisure when she was disturbed by an uninvited guest.
"From afar, this son thought it is imperial mother, and it truly is!"
That’s right. The uninvited guest was the Emperor.
Empress Dowager Zhuang's face suddenly darkened.
The Emperor strode over like a shooting star, greeting Empress Dowager Zhuang with a salute, "Greetings to imperial mother."
What a mood-killer bastard!
Empress Dowager Zhuang glared at him.
This was a wonderful moment between her and JiaoJiao and she didn’t want it to be interrupted by this annoying fellow!
The Emperor wasn’t alone, as Ning Wang was by his side.
Ning Wang also saluted Empress Dowager Zhuang, "Greetings to imperial grandmother."
Empress Dowager Zhuang finally had some better expressions seeing Ning Wang.
"En." She uttered in response.
Eunuch Qin and the others all bowed to the two of them.
"Greetings to Your Majesty."
"Greetings to His Highness Ning Wang."
Ning Wang cast his gaze towards Gu Jiao who was by Empress Dowager Zhuang's side.
Gu Jiao was halfway through a snack and a few crumbs were still clinging to the corner of her mouth, giving her a slightly childish and endearing look. She raised her head gently and gave a nod to the Emperor and Ning Wang, saying, "Your Majesty, Your Highness Ning Wang."
Her expression was cold, but the crumbs around her mouth were too eye-catching to be ignored. She simply looked like a child posing as an adult.
Ning Wang wanted to laugh.
The Emperor was unconcerned that Gu Jiao didn’t perform a proper salute for them, so naturally Ning Wang didn't mind either.
"Keep eating." Empress Dowager Zhuang said to Gu Jiao.
"Oh." Gu Jiao lowered her head and continued to eat.
As for Gu Jiao accurately addressing Ning Wang by his title, neither the Emperor nor Empress Dowager Zhuang thought that the two of them had met before and only regarded it as Gu Jiao learning Ning Wang’s identity through the greetings of the palace people.
The Emperor automatically ignored the disapproval on Empress Dowager Zhuang's face as he walked over and sat on the other side of Gu Jiao, conveniently facing Empress Dowager Zhuang.
Empress Dowager Zhuang even thought it excessive to give him a glance.
The Emperor looked at the pastries on the plate and said, "What can be delicious about osmanthus cake? Have the cooks in Renshou Palace become so neglectful? If imperial mother lacks good cooks, this son can send a few to imperial mother."
Without waiting for Empress Dowager Zhuang to refute, he immediately said to Gu Jiao, "Zhen has just acquired a cook from Jiangnan. The lotus cake he makes is simply delicious, far better than this one."
He spoke in a manner of someone who wanted to abduct a child home.
Empress Dowager Zhuang spoke petulantly, "JiaoJiao doesn't like to eat lotus cakes!"
Ning Wang glanced at Gu Jiao in astonishment upon hearing how Empress Dowager Zhuang addressed her.
The Emperor continued to coax Gu Jiao, "There are other pastries too, the snacks made by the cook are truly quite delicious. See what Jing Kong and them like and bring some back for them."
This struck a chord in Gu Jiao's heart.
Gu Jiao wasn't particularly picky about food, but her several younger brothers at home were all foodies.
Empress Dowager Zhuang felt a sense of urgency and resorted to her last resort, "Aijia is sick, JiaoJiao still has to treat Aijia!"
The Emperor let out a cry, "What a coincidence. Zhen is injured, and here comes the little miracle physician just at the right time. Right, there is also Eunuch Wei, I have no idea how his arm is doing."
Eunuch Wei commented silently: Servant’s arm is doing well…
The Emperor shot a glare at him.
Eunuch Wei cried out in pain with a desire to survive, "Ow, ow! It hurts like hell!"
Gu Jiao:“…”
Ning Wang:“…”
Empress Dowager Zhuang:“...”
The Emperor and Empress Dowager Zhuang's murderous aura filled the imperial garden, as if the two of them would draw their swords and fight in the next second!
Gu Jiao glanced at her Grandaunt, then at the Emperor, "Er… How about a rock-paper-scissors game?"
Everyone laughed.
Little girl, you're still too naive. Do you know who these two people are? One is the ruler of the State of Zhao, and the other is the uncrowned overlord with the power to overturn the imperial court and the common folks. Do you think they would play rock-paper-scissors with you?
Hehehe!
The next second, everyone was slapped in the face.
Two most high-ranking big shots of the State of Zhao actually rolled up their sleeves and began to play a game of rock-paper-scissors in the imperial garden.
Needless to say the result.
Empress Dowager Zhuang, of course, emerged victorious.
The Emperor gnashed his teeth and said, "Best, best, best of three!"
Just moments later, the Emperor gritted his teeth again, "Five, five, best of five!"
Empress Dowager Zhuang gave him a look of concern for the mentally handicapped, "Aijia has already won three games in a row though."
The Emperor, wounded by a thousand arrows in his heart: "..."
It was no surprise that Empress Dowager Zhuang emerged victorious, for she was known as the gambling god of Bishui Alley and was never bested in a game of rock-paper-scissors.
"Humph!" Empress Dowager Zhuang returned to Renshou Palace with Gu Jiao.
The corner of the Emperor's mouth twitched violently.
"Cough!" Ning Wang cleared his throat and asked, "Imperial father, who is that Young Miss Gu?"
"She is Zhen’s benefactor." The Emperor sighed, still vexed by having been outmaneuvered by the Empress Dowager. "She cured me of my illness, and saved me from the assassination this time as well. Furthermore…"
The Emperor paused, then continued, "The glutinous rice mortar and the bellows were also crafted by her."
Ning Wang's handsome face flickered with surprise, "Ah…so it was her? Does that mean she is the daughter of the Marquis Ding'an Estate?"
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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