Chapter 128 Performance

After strolling around the garden with Jiang Huan for a while, Huo Lin naturally stayed at Weiyang Palace for his meal.

The palace servants quickly and efficiently set out exquisite dishes on the round table, complete with bowls, plates, and chopsticks.

Huo Lin sat in the main seat, and Jiang Huan's wheelchair was pushed to his side.

Granny Deng stood at attention a short distance away, ready to serve at any time.

As soon as all the dishes were served, Huo Lin did not pick up his chopsticks immediately, but instead scanned the table with his eyes.

[Hmph, spreading her favors evenly? Today I'll show her where my "favors" only fall.]

[I personally served her the food; isn't that obvious enough? Let's see what Granny Deng has to say now.]

Just as Jiang Huan picked up the small bowl in front of her, she heard Huo Lin's heartfelt words of "ambition".

She suppressed a laugh, keeping her eyes down and pretending not to hear.

Huo Lin awkwardly picked up a piece of steamed fish belly and placed it steadily into Jiang Huan's bowl.

"This fish is fresh and tender, use more of it."

His voice was low and steady, revealing little emotion, but his eyes seemed to glance in the direction of Granny Deng.

[See? I personally served it.]

I have no time or inclination for my other concubines.

Jiang Huan looked at the piece of tender white fish in the bowl, and then noticed that Deng Mama had indeed raised her eyes slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across her face.

She quickly lowered her head and whispered, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Why is the Emperor still arguing with Granny Deng?

Men in love are indeed more immature.

During the meal, Huo Lin seemed to transform into Jiang Huan's personal food server, carefully selecting the dishes that Jiang Huan liked and putting them into her bowl.

A piece of cherry meat, a few bright green seasonal vegetables, and a small bowl of thick and smooth bird's nest soup.

He even picked up the spoon himself and gently pushed it in front of her.

"Use more of this to replenish your qi and blood." He said calmly, as if stating an objective fact.

"This is good; the imperial physician said it will be beneficial to her health."

[With my meticulous care, she should understand that my feelings are unique, right? Even Granny Deng should understand by now.]

On the surface, he remained the same composed and aloof emperor, but in every gesture, the tenderness he showed only to Jiang Huan was almost overflowing.

Jiang Huan's bowl was never empty.

She occasionally glanced up at Huo Lin and met his expectant gaze. She couldn't help but smile and nod gently to indicate that it was delicious.

Huo Lin received her feedback and felt even more satisfied and overjoyed.

[As expected, I know her tastes best.]

【Granny Deng, did you see that? This is a special care from me, one that is unique to me.】

Although Granny Deng maintained a respectful and solemn demeanor, her heart was already in turmoil.

She had served the late emperor and seen many imperial concubines, but someone like the young emperor before her was truly rare.

This isn't about spreading the rain and dew evenly; it's about wanting to pour all the "rain and dew" onto this one flower!

Her worries did not lessen; on the contrary, they deepened.

The meal ended in an atmosphere where Huo Lin felt extremely good about himself.

The palace servants stepped forward to remove the bowls and plates and served tea.

Huo Lin picked up his teacup, slowly skimmed off the foam, and glanced at Granny Deng, who stood with her hands at her sides, with great satisfaction.

He felt that he had refuted the argument of equal distribution of favors with his actions, maintained his innocent image, and also gained a lot of goodwill in front of Jiang Huan.

"I still have some memorials to review, I'll come see you later."

Huo Lin put down his teacup and spoke to Jiang Huan, his voice regaining its usual calmness.

She must be very happy, right?

[I've been trying very hard to perform.]

Jiang Huan suppressed a laugh and nodded obediently.

"Yes, Your Majesty, please take care."

Huo Lin then got up and left Weiyang Palace.

The palace doors closed, leaving only Jiang Huan and Granny Deng, who looked solemn and hesitant to speak, inside the vast hall.

Jiang Huan picked up her teacup and slowly blew on the steam.

Seeing that her mistress was clearly in a very good mood, Granny Deng frowned even more.

She stepped forward, hesitated for a long time, and finally decided to speak.

The Empress is intelligent and kind, but she is young and deeply in love. As the head maid, there are some things she must say.

"Your Majesty," Deng Mama's voice was very low, filled with deep worry.

"The Emperor's favor towards the Empress just now was truly unprecedented."

Jiang Huan looked up at her and nodded with a smile.

Seeing that she didn't seem to realize the problem, Granny Deng steeled her heart.

"Your Majesty, if this old servant may presume to speak, excessive imperial favor may not necessarily be a blessing."

Jiang Huan paused slightly in her teacup, as if she had been awakened.

Love is so sweet that you almost forget where you are when you're in it.

This is a harem surrounded by tigers and wolves!

"Please continue, Granny."

Granny Deng said solemnly, “In the inner palace, countless eyes are watching Weiyang Palace. Today, the Emperor has made an exception and served food to the Consort. Tomorrow, the news will spread throughout the six palaces. This unique honor is both honey and poison.”

Her voice was deep, yet every word was clear.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor's affection for you is indeed commendable, but as a concubine in the harem, you must also know how to conceal your talents and maintain a balance. This old servant dares to humbly request Your Majesty to advise the Emperor to restrain himself a little and to distribute his favors more evenly, for this is the way to ensure long-term success."

Granny Deng's words were spoken with genuine sincerity.

Jiang Huan listened quietly.

It's true that she's had too much of a comfortable life, and her little brain hasn't learned its lesson.

Granny Deng's concerns were all reasonable, based on her decades of experience navigating the treacherous waters of the palace.

She deeply cherished these heartfelt words of loyalty.

But then I think of how Huo Lin, in refuting those words, resembled a peacock spreading its tail feathers...

"Pfft—"

Jiang Huan couldn't hold back and spat out the mouthful of tea she had just drunk, choking and coughing repeatedly.

She hurriedly covered her mouth with a handkerchief, "Cough...cough...sorry, Granny..."

Granny Deng was stunned by this sudden turn of events.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong...?"

Granny Deng looked bewildered and worried, her hand outstretched, unsure whether to pat her back to soothe her or call the imperial physician.

Jiang Huan finally stopped coughing, raised her head, her face still flushed and wet with tears of laughter.

Looking at Granny Deng's completely bewildered expression, she thought about it more and more and found it hard to put Huo Lin's childish battle to protect his innocence together with Granny Deng's serious warning about survival.

The contrast is so great that it's hilarious.

She tried hard to put on a stern face and act as dignified as a concubine should.

But the corners of his mouth seemed to have their own will, uncontrollably and desperately turning upwards.

"N-nothing, cough cough..."

“What the old nanny said makes a lot of sense. I understand.”

Joking aside, Jiang Huan really remembered it.

But Granny Deng was somewhat worried, hoping that her mistress wasn't being unreasonable.