How Is Your Mother-in-law's Health Now

To be honest, Grace felt a ripple in her heart about entering the palace today.

After all, the depth of her hatred now matches the depth of her love back then...

But just now, Pan'er’s words suddenly touched her.

Colin Gu is a man of immense ambition and deep cunning.

She may no longer be the Chloe Zhu she once was, but she still needed to be cautious around him.

Grace took a deep breath, forced herself to clear her mind, calmed down, and finally stepped out of the Pavilion of Forgetting Worries.

The Dowager, Aunt Maya Summers, Grace, Cynthia Zhu, and Grace Wan were all dressed in their finest, riding in five carriages. Kevin Zhuo rode on horseback, and the group arrived at the palace early.

Walking along the road, gazing at the familiar yet distant palace outside the carriage, Grace’s heart... was as calm as still water.

She had to face those two people—Colin Gu and Wendy Zhu—without showing a single flaw...

When they reached the banquet hall, they saw the Empress Dowager seated at the center, with Colin Gu on her left.

He wore a crown and royal robes, smiling lightly. He looked mature and steady, tall and handsome—truly striking.

On the Empress Dowager’s right sat Empress Wendy.

Wendy Zhu looked somewhat like Cynthia Zhu, but she seemed much more poised and composed than Cynthia.

Today, she wore an elaborate and beautiful Empress’s ceremonial gown, making her look even more regal.

Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu led the way, with Maya Summers by her side. The others followed behind and knelt together in formal greeting: "The Zhu family pays respects to the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and Empress Wendy. Wishing the Empress Dowager happiness as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity as great as the Southern Mountain!"

The Empress Dowager looked young, beautiful, and dignified. Smiling, she said, "Aunt, please rise!"

"Yes!" The Dowager Lady rose and was granted a seat.

With the Dowager Lady and Maya Summers stepping forward in their ceremonial dress, the rest of the group—Grace and the others—became visible.

Grace wore a light blue gauze dress, ethereal and dreamlike, making her look like a rare, breathtaking blue lotus.

Everyone present couldn’t help but be dazzled by her.

Colin Gu’s gaze deepened as well.

Empress Wendy smiled and waved to her, "Sister, come sit by me."

Grace smiled back and, under Cynthia Zhu's envious glare, gracefully walked over and sat beside her.

"Sister, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you. Why haven’t you come to visit me lately?" Empress Wendy warmly held her hand and asked.

"My mother has been seriously ill, so I’ve been at Moonwater Abbey praying for her," Grace replied with a gentle smile.

"Has your mother’s health improved?" At this moment, Emperor Colin Gu actually spoke up.

Grace’s mother is Empress Wendy’s birth mother, so Colin Gu should address her as mother-in-law.

But... he had never called her that before.

Grace lowered her eyes and answered calmly, "Your Majesty, my mother’s condition is still stable."

Colin Gu was a bit surprised by Grace’s demeanor today.

After a few months apart, she seemed taller—and even more beautiful.

But this beauty was different from the Grace Colin Gu had known before.

It wasn’t just her looks—there was a subtle, elegant aura about her. She was poised, neither arrogant nor servile; beauty on the outside, grace within.

If the old Grace was pleasant to behold, the Grace of today... was simply breathtaking.

What surprised Colin Gu even more was her behavior.

Before, whenever Grace saw him, she’d act like a lovestruck fool, always trying to get close to him.

Even in public, her beautiful eyes would always sneak shy glances at him.

But this time... he couldn’t catch her gaze at all.

She never looked at him.

Maybe she’s grown up—finally learned how to be shy?