The Prime Minister's Darling

Chapter 535: 267 She is my great-aunt! (Third update) Chapter 535: 267 She is my great-aunt! (Third update) Empress Dowager Zhuang had a chat with the Zhuang family, but she felt tired.

Zhuang Taifu ordered a few children to withdraw, letting Zhuang Mengdie and Zhuang Yuexi return to their respective courtyards to rest. He then asked Prince An to join him in his study room.

“Yes.”

Prince An went to Zhuang Taifu’s study.

The study was lit by an oil lamp, the light was not too dim, but it wasn’t too bright, either. The storm outside carried on unabated.

Zhuang Taifu waved his hand, dismissed the servants, leaving only himself and Prince An in the room.

The empress dowager had been found, but Zhuang Taifu discovered that this grandson wasn’t as excited as he had imagined. As a matter of fact, he had been this way since the palace examination.

This led Zhuang Taifu to doubt whether Prince An had lost his confidence after one setback.

Zhuang Taifu earnestly said: “It’s not a big deal if you didn’t do well in one imperial examination. You can still rise to the top in your official career, and you can still defeat him. I must say, you will definitely win!”

Life is very long, and a small victory or defeat doesn’t count at all. What’s important is to look forward and aim high, and never look back.

“The Empress Dowager and the Zhuang family are your support!”

Prince An wasn’t disappointed because of the imperial examination, or at least not entirely. In his view, he lost to Xiao Liulang in the palace examination because the emperor wanted to suppress the Zhuang family, and it was normal for him to lose. But the real pain came from the different way Gu Jiao treated him and Xiao Liulang on the day of the parade.

But he could not express these feelings.

“Grandson understands. If there’s nothing else, I will take my leave.” He bowed and prepared to leave.

“About the Empress Dowager…” Zhuang Taifu stopped Prince An, his gaze was meaningful, “You should know what to say and what not to say.”

Prince An asked with a dull expression: “What does the grandfather think I should and should not say?”