Two bowls were placed in front of each of the three women.
The Empress Dowager's eyesight wasn't very good, so she couldn't see fine details clearly. After picking up a single grain of white rice, she would examine it closely. Once she confirmed it was plump and pure white, she would recite a blessing and place it into the empty bowl.
The bowl of raw rice the nanny had presented to the Empress Dowager was filled entirely with perfect grains.
Her re-inspection was more for the sake of ceremony.
Although the Empress Dowager had said they were praying for Yan Chi, the Emperor, and the Empress, and the nanny had said any blessing would suffice, there was clearly an expected script.
Jiang Xian listened for a moment. The Empress Dowager was reciting:
"May Buddha bless the Empress with the safe and early birth of a legitimate son."
