Chapter 119 Massage

In a flash, Jiang Huan managed to suppress the urge to run away.

Huo Lin's fingertips finally landed on the smooth, round pearl.

The touch under his fingertips was warm and slightly cool, just as he had imagined.

【Huh? They didn't dodge this time?】

[Could it be that my previous actions were too obvious and frightened her?]

It seems she's just shy.

Huo Lin's lips relaxed, even curving upwards in a tiny arc.

He straightened the slightly crooked hairpin with extremely gentle movements, as if afraid of hurting her in the slightest.

Yes, this hairpin suits her very well.

He silently admired her, his gaze lingering on her soft hair and fair skin, reluctant to leave immediately.

Huo Lin's gaze followed Jiang Huan's lowered eyelashes down, finally landing on her slightly pursed lips.

The intoxicating scene in the bath instantly flooded his mind, spreading like wildfire and burning down the defenses he had just built.

I want to...

This idea, like a wild horse unleashed, carried an undeniable domineering force.

Just once, just once...

Huo Lin's body reacted before his reason, almost yielding to the desire in his heart, and he leaned forward slightly.

Before Jiang Huan could react to what Huo Lin meant, she felt the lights in front of her being blocked.

A handsome face suddenly loomed large in Jiang Huan's vision, and a warm kiss gently landed on her lips.

"Hmm."

Jiang Huan trembled violently, as if struck by a tiny electric current, and her eyes widened abruptly.

The kiss was light, like a dragonfly skimming the water, fleeting and brief.

But it was like a fire, instantly igniting all of Jiang Huan's senses.

The lingering warmth on his lips was crystal clear, carrying his unique scent and domineeringly proclaiming his presence.

Huo Lin had already straightened up, his face still displaying a calm and composed imperial demeanor, as if he wasn't the one who had just been recklessly stealing a kiss.

Only the slightly reddened earlobes betrayed the owner's thoughts.

Jiang Huan's face turned completely red, and even her neck was tinged with an alluring pink.

She instinctively raised her hand to cover her mouth, glaring at Huo Lin with a mixture of shame and anger.

"Your Majesty, you...you..."

She hesitated for a long time, but couldn't find the right words.

Seeing her embarrassed and annoyed expression, Huo Lin's smile deepened.

He cleared his throat, tried to suppress the upturned corners of his mouth, and changed the subject in a serious manner.

"Ahem, I noticed you seemed a little unwell while you were eating just now."

His gaze swept over Jiang Huan's slender waist, his tone carrying just the right amount of concern.

"Is it a sore lower back?"

The topic shift was incredibly abrupt, and coupled with his serious and earnest expression, it left Jiang Huan feeling choked with shame and indignation, unable to vent her anger.

She did have back pain, but whose fault was it?

"Um……"

Jiang Huan responded sullenly, her voice barely audible, tinged with a hint of grievance.

As expected.

Huo Lin's heart was immediately filled with deep self-reproach and heartache.

"It was my recklessness last night; her body is delicate, she couldn't withstand it."

I need to take good care of myself.

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Huo Lin immediately raised his voice.

"Wang Degui," Huo Lin said, his voice losing its usual calmness and devoid of emotion.

“Your servant is here,” Wang Degui immediately bowed and replied.

"By imperial decree, Consort Zhuang is unwell. The Imperial Hospital is to immediately send over the best tonics such as donkey-hide gelatin and lingzhi mushrooms. The Imperial Kitchen is also to prepare a bowl of the finest tonic soup daily, using a gentle and nourishing recipe."

Wang Degui understood immediately and readily agreed.

"Your servant obeys the decree and will proceed immediately."

Jiang Huan was stunned. Was she being fed like a piglet?

Making soup every day? That's way too much!

Huo Lin's gaze then turned to Jiang Huan, his tone filled with undeniable concern.

"Your health is weak, so you need to take good care of yourself. If there's nothing wrong, just rest well and don't overwork yourself."

Her posture seemed somewhat stiff; she must have been injured in the water.

We need to find an experienced nanny to massage her muscles and joints to relieve the strain.

Thinking of this, Huo Lin then gave instructions to Wang Degui.

"Go to the Imperial Household Department and summon two skilled and experienced masseuses to give Consort Zhuang a good massage."

Jiang Huan: ……

Press? Two more? Is the Emperor going to publicly execute her?

If this gets out, where will she put her face?!

"Your Majesty, I..."

Jiang Huan tried to struggle, indicating that she was fine and didn't need such a big fuss.

"Listen to me." Huo Lin interrupted her, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable force. "This is for your own good."

He paused, looking at Jiang Huan's lifeless expression, a faint smile flashed across his eyes, before he regained his serious demeanor.

The nannies have good technique; once the pain is relieved, it disappears.

Soon, two elderly women with gray hair and sharp eyes were led into the inner hall.

After they bowed swiftly, they asked Jiang Huan to lie down on the couch covered with thick cushions.

Separated by a screen, Huo Lin sat behind a desk in the outer room, with a memorial open in front of him.

However, his mind was not on the memorial at all.

The screen was made of light gauze, which vaguely outlined the figures inside.

"Your Majesty, this old servant is about to begin. Please relax."

"If the force is not right, please let me know."

Next came the very soft sound of hands pressing against skin, and the steady breathing of the nannies.

Huo Lin's vermilion brush hovered over the memorial for a long time. A drop of full vermilion ink fell and spread a small, glaring red on the paper, but he was completely unaware of it.

[It's started. Where are you pressing? Shoulders? Or waist?]

Was the nanny's touch too rough? Did it hurt her?

[Should I go in and take a look? Perhaps I can learn some techniques from the old woman so I can massage him myself later.]

Huo Lin was restless, so he simply put down the vermilion brush and leaned back slightly.

While seemingly resting with her eyes closed, she was actually focusing all her senses on the movements behind the screen.

Inside the inner hall, the old nanny's technique was indeed skillful and exquisite, with just the right amount of force.

Warm, calloused hands massaged Jiang Huan's sore and stiff shoulders, neck, and back, bringing waves of tingling soreness followed by a refreshing relaxation.

"Hmm~"

Jiang Huan couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh, her voice soft and sweet, like a feather gently brushing against her heart.

That voice...

Huo Lin's heart suddenly started beating erratically, and an inappropriate thought quietly arose.

No, no, it's just a massage, don't overthink it.

Huo Lin picked up the vermilion brush again, in high spirits, and wrote the word "Approved" in a flourish on the spot where the previous drop of vermilion ink had spread.