Duoduo was startled.
“How could that be?”
“I ate some too, and nothing happened to me!”
Duoduo hurriedly took the Empress Dowager’s hand and began feeling her pulse.
Not only had her pulse not weakened, it was much stronger than before.
At the very least, her heartbeat was more vigorous.
The Empress Dowager tried to remain calm. “In any case, Great-Grandmother’s stomach hurts.”
Duoduo tilted her little head and studied her great-grandmother.
Suddenly, a radiant smile spread across her face.
“I understand!” She clapped her little hands.
“I know how to treat you!”
As she spoke, Duoduo tugged on the Empress Dowager’s sleeve and led her toward the dining hall.
Her personal nanny hurried after them, clasping her hands together as she walked.
Dear heavens and merciful Buddha!
Princess Changle really did have a way!
Her Majesty the Empress Dowager actually wanted to eat!
As soon as they entered the dining hall, the aroma of the food drifted straight into their noses.
The Empress Dowager’s stomach began to rumble loudly.
Duoduo led her to a chair, then instructed the nanny to serve her great-grandmother a small bowl of polished-rice porridge.
“Great-Grandmother, have a little porridge first to line your stomach.”
Duoduo was hungry too, so she obediently sat down beside the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager looked at the bowl of plain porridge before her and frowned.
“Aren’t there all those delicious dishes? Why do I have to drink porridge?”
Duoduo froze.
The nanny hurried forward to persuade her.
“Your Majesty, you haven’t eaten anything for several days.”
“Please have some porridge first to nourish your stomach!”
“If there’s anything else you’d like to eat, this servant will serve it to you.”
Duoduo nodded in agreement.
“Great-Grandmother, this porridge is very good for your spleen and stomach!”
“It’s even better than drinking ginseng soup!”
The Empress Dowager was somewhat skeptical. “Really?”
Duoduo nodded earnestly. “Really! I never lie!”
“Try it. It’s delicious!”
Only then did the Empress Dowager scoop up a small spoonful and put it in her mouth.
The polished rice had been cooked until soft and tender, with a slightly sticky texture.
The flavor of milk blended into it without any of the fishy taste one might expect.
Instead, it made the rice porridge even smoother, creamier, and sweeter.
After one spoonful, the Empress Dowager found that it tasted rather good.
She continued eating, one spoonful after another.
Along the way, Duoduo instructed the nanny to serve her great-grandmother some side dishes.
They were all light vegetables and pastries that were easy to digest.
After finishing the small bowl of porridge, the Empress Dowager wanted another serving. Duoduo hurriedly stopped the nanny’s hand as she reached for the rice pot.
“Great-Grandmother, you’ve eaten enough for today.”
“If you’re hungry later, just have the Imperial Kitchen prepare something for you!”
The nanny was puzzled.
Earlier, she had been frantic because the Empress Dowager could not eat.
Now that Her Majesty had finally developed an appetite, Princess Changle would not let her eat more!
How could they let the Empress Dowager go hungry?
Thinking this, the nanny voiced her question.
Duoduo shook her head.
“I’m not making Great-Grandmother go hungry!”
“It’s just that Great-Grandmother is advanced in age and doesn’t move around much, so she should eat smaller meals more frequently.”
“Her portions should also be measured, and she should eat food that’s easy to digest.”
“Otherwise, food will build up in her stomach, upsetting her digestion and leaving her without an appetite for several days.”
What Duoduo said reminded the nanny of something.
“Her Majesty ate several pieces of sticky-rice cake before. Then she suddenly began belching, complained of stomach discomfort, and didn’t want to eat anything.”
“Princess, could that be the reason?”
Duoduo nodded.
“Great-Grandmother, the little sugar pill I gave you earlier was actually a hawthorn pill to help with digestion.”
“I only added some medicinal herbs that aid digestion, which is why it tasted so sour.”
“I also brought you to Kunning Palace so you could walk around a little!”
“When I finish eating, I’ll take another walk with you.”
“As the old saying goes, a hundred steps after a meal will let you live to ninety-nine!”
The Empress Dowager laughed so hard that her mouth nearly split from ear to ear.
“Where did you hear that? And you call it an old saying? How come I’ve never heard of it?”
Duoduo blinked. “Anyway, moving around more is always good!”
Seeing that Duoduo had been busy taking care of the Empress Dowager and had barely eaten herself, the nanny spoke up.
“Princess, please eat your meal. This servant will accompany Her Majesty for a walk.”
The nanny had served the Empress Dowager for many years.
When she saw her mistress refusing all food and drink, lying in bed as her breathing grew weaker by the day, she had truly thought the Empress Dowager was about to die.
Only after hearing Duoduo’s explanation did she understand: now that her mistress was advanced in age, she needed to eat smaller meals more frequently and take more walks.
As long as her mistress was safe and well, the nanny was willing to do anything.
The Empress Dowager patted Duoduo on the shoulder.
“That’s right. You eat properly while Great-Grandmother goes out for a walk.”
Duoduo’s thoughtfulness had not escaped the Empress Dowager’s notice.
She felt that she could not disappoint her great-granddaughter.
Wasn’t it merely a matter of eating a little less and walking a few more steps?
She was old, but surely she had not become so delicate!
Duoduo nodded.
However, she began eating much faster.
She still wanted to take the opportunity to ask about the Cold Palace.
Duoduo gulped down the rest of her porridge in a few mouthfuls and ate several vegetable rolls before finally putting down her chopsticks.
She hopped down from her chair and ran to find her great-grandmother.
The Empress Dowager happened to be tired from walking and was leaning against the nanny for support.
She normally did not move around much. Today, Duoduo had dragged her all the way to Kunning Palace, and now she had made her walk again.
It was becoming too much for her.
When the Empress Dowager saw Duoduo running out, she deliberately put on a stern expression.
“What is it? You don’t trust Great-Grandmother?”
Duoduo gave her a radiant smile. “I finished eating! I came to exercise with Great-Grandmother.”
“Exercise?” The Empress Dowager was startled.
Walking was already difficult enough, and now Duoduo wanted her to exercise?
Duoduo smiled brightly.
“Great-Grandmother, how about I teach you the Five-Animal Exercises?”
The Empress Dowager hurriedly shook her head.
“I’m not doing that!”
“Then how about Tai Chi?”
The Empress Dowager immediately began walking forward. “I’m not doing that either!”
“In that case...” Duoduo followed after her.
The Empress Dowager hurriedly walked on with the aid of her cane. “I’m not learning anything!”
Duoduo continued trying to persuade her from behind.
“Great-Grandmother, the Five-Animal Exercises are very simple!”
“How about I demonstrate them for you? Maybe you’ll like them once you see them!”
The Empress Dowager quickened her pace. “I’m not watching!”
When the personal nanny saw the Empress Dowager looking as though she wished she could grow wings and fly away, her stomach hurt from laughing.
Princess Changle truly had a way with her.
With just a few words, she had the Empress Dowager running faster than a rabbit.
Duoduo followed the Empress Dowager the whole way, chattering incessantly, until the Empress Dowager finally could not walk any farther and stopped.
Duoduo stopped talking as well.
The Empress Dowager wiped the sweat from her forehead and turned around to look helplessly at Duoduo.
“When did I first start thinking you were so talkative?”
Duoduo blinked innocently.
“Great-Grandmother, it’s just that the Palace of Compassion is too quiet!”
The Empress Dowager paused, then actually nodded.
“You’re right!”
Duoduo smiled and chimed in, “It’s just like a Cold Palace!”
The personal nanny hurriedly gestured at Duoduo to stop, but Duoduo pretended not to see.
The Empress Dowager deliberately put on a stern face. “How has my perfectly good Palace of Compassion become a Cold Palace?”
