"He really looks like his father when he was young," the Empress spoke hoarsely but with a hint of satisfaction, "The most important thing is that he's healthy and still so imposing and tall, that's wonderful..."
At this point, she turned her tearful eyes towards Fu Zhen, "By the way, is he married? The child must be quite big by now, right? My daughter-in-law and grandson have never seen me, their mother-in-law and grandmother."
Fu Zhen felt a pang in her nose and steadied her breath with difficulty, "There was simply no time to mention these things. Moreover, we dared not inquire."
"Is that so? Then it doesn't matter," the Empress smiled through her tears, holding the portrait to her heart, "As long as everyone's well and fine, everything's good."
Her tears dropped onto the portrait, spreading the still-drying ink in two places. She quickly lifted her sleeve to gently wipe it, but the more she rubbed, the worse it got, with a large smear already on the left arm.
