According to the customs, men other than the Emperor don't have the freedom to enter or leave the Imperial Harem. Even if they do, they must have an imperial edict or verbal order from the Emperor. But evidently, the Empress Dowager Zhuang herself possessed such a privilege.
The Prime Minister Zhuang was escorted into the Renshou Palace by Chamberlain Qin. With his respectful manners and polite smile, everyone kept guessing the real purpose of the Empress Dowager inviting him to the palace.
They assumed it must be some good news.
Prime Minister Zhuang went to the study room in the side hall. The Empress Dowager Zhuang had been reading official documents all morning, and due to the backlog that had been piling up for several days, she still had to sign and approve a stack of them.
"Your Majesty.", Prime minister Zhuang greeted the Empress Dowager cheerfully, bowing his hands in a respectful salute.