Chapter 113 The Turmoil

After several failed attempts to serve the emperor in bed, Huo Lin, though not explicitly stating it, silently revealed his inner frustration through the oppressive atmosphere surrounding him.

That afternoon, Jiang Huan was lounging on the veranda outside the small kitchen of Weiyang Palace.

She rested her chin on her hand, staring blankly at the few flowers in full bloom in the yard.

The sweet aroma of lotus seeds wafted from the small kitchen; she was making rock sugar lotus seed soup.

This was just an ordinary summer dessert soup, but what came to Jiang Huan's mind was the restlessness that Huo Lin had been brooding over for the past few days.

“Sigh,” she sighed softly, “She can’t even calm down this little bit of anger. It’s kind of pitiful.”

She wasn't ready, but she couldn't let Huo Lin keep holding back like that every day.

It's not good to hold it in; she'll be the one who suffers in the end.

An idea sprouts like a tender bud in spring, breaking through the soil.

How about we make something to cool him down? That way, he won't be thinking about sleeping with us all the time.

The kitchen just happened to get some excellent honeysuckle and fresh bitter melon...

Without hesitation, Jiang Huan immediately had Xiao Zhao push her into the small kitchen.

So when Huo Lin finished dealing with the mountain of memorials and stepped into Weiyang Palace, he was not greeted with the usual delicious snacks, but with a bowl of clear and transparent soup that exuded a faint herbal fragrance.

Jiang Huan presented him with a small, delicate celadon bowl, as if offering a treasure.

"Your Majesty, you've worked hard. Please try this. I specially cooked it; it's the best for cooling down your body."

Huo Lin's gaze fell on the bowl of soup with its peculiar color. Several unfurled chrysanthemum petals and honeysuckle floated in the clear broth, and a faint bitter taste mixed with the fragrance of herbs wafted into his nose.

[Clearing heat...reducing internal fire?]

Huo Lin's inner thoughts rang out, carrying a subtle pause and an indescribable mix of emotions.

Jiang Huan blinked. Although she had the idea of ​​letting the Emperor calm down, she was also concerned about his health and was definitely not afraid of serving him in bed.

Yes, that's it.

Huo Lin raised his eyes, his gaze lingering on Jiang Huan's sincere face, his heart filled with inquiry.

Was she doing it on purpose?

[Has she noticed how obvious my behavior has been these past few days?]

An indescribable sense of embarrassment crept into my heart.

Huo Lin naturally knew why he was angry, but this reason...

It's really not something I can tell outsiders, especially not to Jiang Huan herself.

Or is she mocking me?

The thought flashed through his mind, but Huo Lin immediately dismissed it.

Jiang Huan's eyes were too pure to be fake.

But the more this happened, the more obvious the inexplicable frustration in Huo Lin's heart became.

[I, the Emperor, am so frustrated about serving you in bed that I'm practically burning with anger, and now this clueless little woman is feeding me fiery tea?]

This is simply... utterly unbearable!

Huo Lin's lips tightened almost imperceptibly for a moment, and his jawline also tightened slightly.

He silently accepted the bowl of cold tea, his fingertips touching the cool bowl, yet a strange heat inexplicably rose in his heart.

Jiang Huan, who had been wearing a slightly smug smile, froze on her face after clearly receiving Huo Lin's complex thoughts.

The words "deliberate" and "mocking" pierced through her little schemes in an instant.

She suddenly realized that her bowl of cooling tea might be interpreted as a very serious signal in His Majesty's eyes.

I swear to God!

She genuinely just wanted to make him feel better; she had absolutely no intention of mocking him.

Seeing Huo Lin's silent scrutinizing expression after taking the bowl, Jiang Huan's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Is he angry? Does he think I'm deliberately provoking him?

Jiang Huan shrank her neck, and the smile in her eyes vanished instantly.

"If the Emperor doesn't like it, I'll drink it myself."

Huo Lin took in Jiang Huan's helplessness, and the awkward emotions in his heart strangely subsided, leaving him even feeling somewhat helpless.

[I didn't say anything, why are you so panicked?]

He held the bowl of cooling tea, which exuded a refreshing aroma, but neither drank it immediately nor put it down.

Huo Lin looked at Jiang Huan, but Jiang Huan became even more nervous because of Huo Lin's gaze, and her eyelashes trembled slightly.

That's enough...

A silent sigh escaped, carrying a deep sense of helplessness and resigned acceptance.

Why bother arguing with this clueless, naive girl? What does she know about getting a sore throat?

Huo Lin took a step forward, his tall figure instantly enveloping Jiang Huan.

As the distance suddenly closed, Jiang Huan could smell the ambergris scent on Huo Lin's body and hear his innermost thoughts more clearly.

[I'm suffering from internal heat, but can a bowl of herbal tea really cure this?]

This direct, almost scalding hint instantly ignited all of Jiang Huan's senses.

She felt her cheeks suddenly burn, even more so than before, and her neck turned crimson.

Oh dear, what is Your Majesty saying? What kind of internal heat can't be cured by a bowl of herbal tea?

If one bowl isn't enough, then two bowls will do. Anyway, she... she's the one who serves the emperor...

Jiang Huan's head was spinning with excitement at the thought of what was to come, and she wished she could disappear into the ground.

Looking at the person in front of him who had blushed, Huo Lin felt a surge of tenderness in his heart, and he leaned down slightly.

There was no blame or cold reprimand as expected.

A kiss, carrying his unique scent, landed lightly on Jiang Huan's forehead, like a dragonfly skimming the water.

All the helplessness and embarrassment in Jiang Huan's mind were shattered at this moment, leaving only a blank and bewildered state.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

My heart suddenly went out of control, pounding violently against my chest with a deafening sound.

Huo Lin had already straightened up, as if the intimate gesture just now was just her imagination.

He still held the bowl of cold tea, his expression calm and unwavering, as if nothing had happened. Only a faint trace of satisfaction flickered in the depths of his deep eyes.

[It's not unreasonable for me to charge a little interest, is it?]

"I will reluctantly accept this bowl of cooling tea."

He even elegantly picked up the spoon, scooped up a spoonful of tea, and slowly put it into his mouth.

The slightly bitter and cool liquid slid down my throat, carrying the unique aroma of honeysuckle and chrysanthemum.

"Hmm...it's a bit bitter, but I can still accept what she made."

He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Huan's still flushed and burning face, a barely perceptible curve appearing at the corner of his lips.

Jiang Huan stood frozen in place, the slightly cool touch on her forehead as clear as a brand.

She felt as if her brain had turned into a pot of boiling soup, bubbling and steaming, making it completely incapable of thinking.

The only thing that was clear was the heart pounding wildly in my chest.