Chapter 133 Free Meal

Consort Jia stormed back to her palace in a rage.

"You vile women, that vile woman Jiang Huan, and that wicked servant beside her, what are they to dare to humiliate me like this? I will make sure they suffer a terrible death!"

Consort Jia's chest heaved violently, and her face was distorted with anger.

The trusted palace maid was so frightened that she knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. Your Majesty, please calm down. Your health is the most important thing."

"Calm down? How can you expect me to calm down!"

Consort Jia turned around abruptly, her finger almost poking the palace maid's face.

"His Majesty only has eyes for that vixen, and even her lackeys dare to point fingers at me. I, a noble consort, have been rendered speechless by an old servant. It is an utter disgrace!"

Consort Jia grew angrier the more she thought about it, and grabbed an incense burner from the side and smashed it at the palace maid.

Bang--

The incense burner flew past the palace maid's ear, and the maid trembled with fear, but still forced herself to persuade her.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. That Consort Zhuang only has a few rudimentary cooking skills. Now you have invited the top chef. As long as you learn from Chef Su, do you have to worry about the Emperor not remembering Your Majesty?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water, slightly extinguishing Consort Jia's anger.

“You’re right. Where’s the head chef? Ask him to go to the small kitchen immediately. I want to learn right now.”

She wanted to learn even better than Jiang Huan, and she wanted to let the Emperor know who was truly worthy of him!

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study.

Xiao Zhao was taking the food out of the food box and arranging it when Jiang Huan and Huo Lin sat down at the table.

Once all the food was laid out, Jiang Huan picked up a crab roe xiaolongbao (soup dumpling) and offered it to Huo Lin's mouth.

"Try this." Her eyes sparkled with a hint of pride. "The crab roe is especially plump and delicious this year."

Huo Lin readily agreed and took a small bite from her hand.

The piping hot, sweet broth bursts in your mouth instantly, with rich crab roe.

Mmm, delicious.

[Anyone who tries to learn this skill will only end up with a poor imitation; she is unique.]

Hearing his undisguised praise, Jiang Huan couldn't help but smile even more broadly.

No wonder Consort Jia was so angry when she left; she probably wanted to invite the Emperor to dinner but failed.

Oh dear, you can't blame her, her cooking skills are just too good.

Huo Lin sat beside her, looking at Jiang Huan's smiling profile, his heart softening completely.

The atmosphere was just right, but then a voice suddenly rang out.

"It smells so good! I can smell the fragrance from far away."

The newcomer was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, and was dashing and debonair; it was none other than Huo Yunxing.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Huo Yunxing said with a perfunctory bow, then immediately turned his gaze to Jiang Huan with a bright smile, "Greetings, Consort Zhuang."

Before Huo Lin could speak, he casually approached the table.

"These crab roe xiaolongbao are absolutely amazing, the aroma is incredible."

As he spoke, he stared intently at the plate of steamed buns, his face practically screaming that he wanted to eat them.

Huo Lin's temple throbbed, and his voice was as cold as ice.

"Why is the Imperial Uncle here?"

Is he born in the Year of the Dog? How come he came here just by smelling the scent?

"I just miss my imperial nephew."

Huo Yunxing, with his thick skin, automatically shielded himself from Huo Lin's low-pressure aura.

"Look..."

He stared longingly at Huo Lin, then at Jiang Huan, his meaning crystal clear.

Just as Jiang Huan was about to ask Xiao Zhao to bring another set of chopsticks and a bowl, Huo Lin spoke first, coldly interrupting her.

"Wang Degui".

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

"Take the Imperial Uncle to the Imperial Kitchen. He can eat as much as he wants." Huo Lin's tone left no room for argument.

Huo Yunxing's smile immediately vanished: "Hey, no, no, how can the taste of the Imperial Kitchen be the same as this? I just want to try the one made by Consort Zhuang, just one, is that alright?"

Not even one; these were all made for me.

I wouldn't even share a drop of soup with you, not even with my imperial uncle.

Huo Lin was inwardly raging, but his face remained as cold and aloof as ever.

Jiang Huan looked at Huo Lin's possessive manner and then at Huo Yunxing, and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Don't listen to him, Your Highness, sit down and eat with us."

"Oh, Consort Xie Zhuang."

Huo Yunxing immediately beamed with joy, fearing that Huo Lin might change his mind, and plopped down on the table.

He raised his eyebrows smugly at Huo Lin: "Look how generous Consort Zhuang is, much better than you."

Huo Lin: ...

I really want to throw him out.

[My private world for two, my food.]

Huo Yunxing didn't stand on ceremony with the two of them at all. As soon as he sat down, he picked up a steamed bun and stuffed it into his mouth. He grimaced from the heat but kept praising it.

He devoured several steamed buns in a flash, then sighed contentedly before finally remembering his business and putting down his chopsticks.

He looked at Huo Lin, his face unusually devoid of any cynicism.

"emperor."

Huo Yunxing cleared his throat, his smile fading as he became much more serious. "I have a... well... a request."

[You actually have something important to say?]

[Alright, alright, hurry up and get out of here, lest you stop mooching off me and eat all the food Jiang Huan made for me.]

Huo Lin didn't even lift his eyelids, his voice remaining indifferent.

"explain."

"It's about Ayina. The Northern Desert delegation is supposed to go back next month, right?"

He paused, lowering his voice, "Once she leaves, she'll probably be back on her wedding day, and who knows how long that will be in between."

Huo Lin looked at Huo Yunxing: "So?"

Huo Yunxing felt a little uncomfortable being stared at, so he picked up his teacup and took a sip as a cover-up.

"She came from afar to promote diplomatic relations between our two countries, which is truly commendable. However, since arriving, she has hardly left the palace. Now that she is about to return, she hasn't even had a chance to try our busiest streets and local delicacies. Isn't that a bit of a pity?"

Huo Lin didn't speak, but just watched him quietly, as if waiting for him to continue making things up.

Huo Yunxing felt a little uneasy under the gaze, and lowered his voice even further.

"Well, so I thought that before the delegation departs, I should find a suitable day to allow the princess to leave the palace for a visit. I will accompany her, which can be considered as fulfilling my duty as a host."

Recently, the palace has been under strict management. Without a waist token and the emperor's permission, no one is allowed to leave the palace. Ayina has not left the palace for a long time.

[So that's what it was about. Why didn't you just submit a memorial? Why waste my precious time alone with my wife?!]

Huo Lin immediately nodded: "I grant your permission. I will have someone send you the palace pass later. You may leave now."

Huo Yunxing smiled upon hearing this.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."