Chapter 116 A Natural Implementation

Jiang Huan tilted her head, her watery, misty eyes staring intently at the man standing dumbfounded at the door.

Her luscious red lips, glistening with water, curved into an alluring smile.

"emperor?"

She paused, seemingly feeling that Huo Lin was standing too far away, and subconsciously reached out her hand to him as if inviting him.

"Would you like to take a bath together...?"

The last syllable rose slightly, carrying a hint of drunken naiveté.

This sweet invitation, like the last straw, instantly broke the string of reason in Huo Lin's mind.

[Taking a bath together?! She...she's inviting me?!]

Is she even thinking straight? Does she even know what she's saying? This isn't the first time she's denied things. I... I...

Huo Lin felt an indescribable heat surge up and instantly engulf his entire body.

All hesitation, restraint, and concerns crumbled in the face of her invitation.

The fragrance of flowers is intoxicating, and the beauty is as lovely as jade.

If one could still endure this situation, then one would not be a man.

Huo Lin's eyes instantly turned deep, surging with a desire that could no longer be suppressed.

He strode forward and reached the edge of the bath in just a few steps.

"Alright, I... will accompany you."

Without further hesitation, Huo Lin quickly took off his clothes and stepped into the water.

Jiang Huan watched him approach with hazy, drunken eyes. The alcohol had dulled her mind, but sharpened her senses.

Huo Lin stopped in front of Jiang Huan, his fingertips gliding over her hot, delicate skin, sending a slight shiver down her spine.

She instinctively tried to dodge, but Huo Lin firmly encircled her waist and gently pulled her into his arms.

The two bodies were pressed tightly together in the water.

“Mmm…” Jiang Huan let out a muffled moan.

Huo Lin lowered his head, his forehead gently touching hers, their hot breaths mingling, carrying the sweet scent of plum wine and their own scents.

Jiang Huan closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling violently, but her body relaxed, and she nestled softly in his firm, warm embrace.

This silent consent completely ignited the final fuse.

Huo Lin's kiss, filled with long-suppressed desire, landed.

Without the previous restraint and forbearance, it spread like wildfire, engulfing everything and conquering new territories.

Jiang Huan responded awkwardly, clumsily accepting his overwhelming love.

Rippling water, a room filled with the colors of spring.

...

After an unknown amount of time, the turbulent water in the bath gradually calmed down.

Jiang Huan was carefully wrapped in a large bath towel by Huo Lin and carried back to the bed in the palace like a precious treasure.

She felt weak and sore all over, too tired to even move her fingers. The blush on her cheeks was deeper and more vibrant than when she was drunk, carrying a delicate and charming allure like that of someone newly blessed with love.

She curled up in the soft bedding, her eyes tightly closed.

Huo Lin, dressed only in a thin nightgown, sat on the edge of the bed, holding another dry, soft cloth, and gently wiped her long hair.

His eyes were focused and gentle, and there was a hint of satisfaction on his lips.

The entire Weiyang Palace was filled with an indescribable ambiguity and warmth.

The palace servants nearby all saw Huo Lin carrying Jiang Huan back to her bedchamber.

They stood guard outside the hall, not daring to approach, but each held their breath, their faces bearing a tacit, shy smile.

Just then, a sudden and hurried sound of footsteps approached from afar, breaking the tranquility of this small world.

Immediately afterwards, Wang Degui's voice rang out from outside the hall.

"This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager and Your Highness Consort Jia. Please allow me to announce your arrival..."

"What announcement?!" The Empress Dowager's authoritative voice suddenly rang out, carrying an undeniable sense of oppression. "Do I need to wait for an announcement before I see the Emperor? Get out of the way!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the door to the bedchamber was pushed open with a loud bang.

The Empress Dowager, dressed in a deep purple palace gown with phoenix patterns, her face ashen, stormed in, supported by Consort Jia.

Behind them followed a group of palace maids and eunuchs, who were meek but had their ears perked up. They were clearly well-prepared and came with great fanfare.

However, when they saw the scene inside the hall, everyone froze on the spot.

Huo Lin, dressed in his nightgown, sat leisurely on the edge of the bed.

As for Jiang Huan, although she was asleep, the clearly visible ambiguous red marks on her exposed neck clearly indicated that something had just happened.

How can it be that she cannot serve the emperor in bed?

She had clearly just finished serving him in bed!

The Empress Dowager's face immediately changed from ashen to astonished, followed by a surge of anger at being fooled.

She looked at Consort Jia, "Didn't you say..."

Halfway through her sentence, the Empress Dowager realized the Emperor was there and quickly fell silent.

Consort Jia's expression wasn't much better than the Empress Dowager's; her smugness froze instantly, and her eyes widened in disbelief.

She stared intently at the marks on Jiang Huan's neck, as if she could see every detail.

How could that be? Didn't that old woman say...?

Or was Jiang Huan doing it on purpose, knowing that she was coming?

Consort Jia was filled with suspicion and uncertainty, unsure whether she had been deceived or if some unforeseen event had occurred.

Huo Lin looked at the two of them, a hint of displeasure at being disturbed on his face.

He put down the cloth in his hand, carefully tucked the corner of the blanket in to make sure Jiang Huan was wrapped up tightly, and then stood up to face the Empress Dowager and Consort Jia.

"Empress Dowager, Imperial Concubine, what brings you here with so many people, barging into the palace? What is the purpose of this?"

Huo Lin's voice was not loud, but it carried the imperial authority and echoed clearly in the silent hall.

The Empress Dowager choked for a moment, and her face turned even more unpleasant.

Consort Jia suppressed her panic and jealousy, and forced a smile before anyone else could react.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. Your Majesty and I have come to visit Consort Zhuang after hearing that she was unwell."

Her gaze swept meaningfully across the bed. "But judging from your rosy complexion, my sister seems to be alright?"

Upon hearing this, Huo Lin's lips curled into a cold smile.

It seems the visit was a pretense, and the real intention was to cause trouble.

His gaze shifted to the bed, looking at the slightly raised quilt, and his eyes softened instantly, filled with undisguised tenderness.

"Consort Zhuang is frail and was indeed a little tired just now."

Huo Lin's voice remained steady, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears: "However, the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine have arrived at the perfect time, as I have something to announce."

"Consort Zhuang, née Jiang, is gentle and virtuous, and has won my heart. From today onwards, she shall be promoted to Imperial Concubine Zhuang."

She was promoted to Consort Zhuang?

Consort Jia's fingers instantly sank into her palm. How could Jiang Huan, a mere concubine, have risen to the rank of consort?

The Empress Dowager also frowned deeply; how could she possibly allow such a thing to happen in front of her?

Huo Lin watched the Empress Dowager's expression change, sneered inwardly, and shut her down with a single sentence.

"As for why Consort Zhuang is unwell," he said, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Jiang Huan's flat stomach. His voice was soft, but it resounded like thunder to everyone.

"Perhaps it is because the imperial heir is newly born and is a bit too delicate. Since the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine are concerned, we should take even better care of him in the future."