Chapter 166 I'm Not Tired

Huo Lin's lips traveled down from Jiang Huan's smooth forehead, placing a light kiss on her brow, then moving to the tip of her nose, and finally covering her soft, tender lips.

Unlike the previous eagerness, this kiss was gentle and lingering.

Jiang Huan's body went limp from the kiss, and her fingertips unconsciously gripped the brocade quilt tightly.

Gradually, I became addicted.

After an unknown amount of time, he lowered his head and pressed his forehead against hers, his dark eyes burning Jiang Huan's heart and making her feel involuntarily flustered.

Did I go a little too far with that flirting?

"Huo Lin," she called his name softly, her voice tinged with hesitation, "It's late. You've been reviewing memorials all day. You must be tired."

Huo Lin paused slightly, propped himself up, and looked at her.

In the candlelight, his eyes were as deep as ink, churning with an intense, unyielding desire.

"I am not tired." His voice was hoarse, and his Adam's apple bobbed heavily.

[What a joke! You're saying you're tired at a time like this? I could go three days and three nights straight without breaking a sweat.]

[Seven layers of foundation!]

Jiang Huan's legs went weak, and her whole body felt hot; her eyelashes trembled slightly.

"But we have to attend court early tomorrow, won't you..."

Understanding her unspoken meaning, Huo Lin narrowed his eyes dangerously. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, his hot breath spraying onto her sensitive earlobe.

"Why don't you verify for yourself whether I'm tired or not?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he untied the jade belt at his waist with one hand.

The black dragon robe then fell open, revealing the snow-white undergarment underneath.

The faint outline of his muscles, visible in the candlelight, made Jiang Huan unconsciously swallow.

Beauty is alluring!

Huo Lin propped himself up on the bed, his strong, smooth thighs spread apart as he knelt, his broad shoulders pressing down on Jiang Huan's petite body.

He lowered his head and bit her lip.

Jiang Huan is no longer able to think clearly.

She heard Huo Lin's hoarse whisper.

"Relax."

The layers of gauze curtains were swept away, the candlelight flickered, and the light and shadow cast two closely intertwined figures on the curtains.

The room was filled with the warmth of spring.

The next day, sunlight streamed through the window lattices, casting golden dapples across the bedroom.

Jiang Huan was awakened by the noise outside. She opened her eyes groggily and it took her a while to adjust to the bright light in the room.

"What time is it?" Her voice was dry and hoarse as soon as she spoke.

Upon hearing the sound, Xiao Zhao, who was waiting outside, immediately tiptoed in, lifted a corner of the curtain, and smiled with barely suppressed laughter.

"Your Majesty, it's almost noon. His Majesty has finished his morning court session and said he's going to the Imperial Study to see his ministers. He told you to get some rest."

"Noon?"

Jiang Huan was somewhat surprised, then recalled everything that had happened last night, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

She moved her body and indeed felt a post-coital weakness, especially a soreness in her lower back.

Jiang Huan rubbed her sore waist and mentally berated a certain unrestrained man.

That bastard Huo Lin, is he born with a donkey? He's been reviewing memorials all day and still has so much energy.

He still insisted on proving it. Now look what happened, she's turned to dust, while he's all high and mighty as he goes to the Imperial Study. Where is justice?

Xiao Zhao watched her mistress's face flush red and then pale, her smile deepening.

While gently massaging Jiang Huan's shoulders and neck, she whispered a reminder: "Your Highness, Princess Mingzhu is still waiting in the small hall outside. She has been waiting for almost half an hour. The princess looks very anxious, saying that there is something extremely urgent."

Jiang Huan frowned slightly. "Princess Mingzhu? What's the urgent matter?"

Xiao Zhao shook her head, "I don't know, the princess didn't say."

Seeing that Xiao Zhao didn't know, Jiang Huan's heart skipped a beat. She wondered if Xiao Zhao had really gotten into some trouble. Despite her extreme discomfort, she quickened her washing up.

After getting ready, Jiang Huan asked Xiao Zhao to call Princess Mingzhu in.

A moment later, a figure in pale yellow rushed in, it was Princess Mingzhu.

Her little face was puffed up with anger, just like a little sparrow with its feathers standing on end, and she started yelling as soon as she entered the door.

"Sister Jiang! Sister Jiang, help me!"

"Slow down, slow down," Jiang Huan chuckled at her flustered manner, patting the spot beside her. "What could possibly make our little princess so anxious? Is something urgent?"

Princess Mingzhu plopped down next to Jiang Huan and started shaking her arm.

"This is far more terrifying than a fire burning my eyebrows; it's the most important thing in my life!"

Jiang Huan's already aching back almost gave way, so she quickly begged for mercy: "Ouch, shake me slower, or your sister Jiang will really fall apart. What life-long event? How old are you?"

Princess Mingzhu let go of her hand, her little face scrunched up, looking extremely aggrieved.

"My grandmother says that I have come of age and it's time to consider marriage. Lately, she's been making me meet with the sons of dukes and marquises and the younger generation of noble families every day. My eyes are getting tired of seeing them."

Tsk, they're pressuring us to get married.

Jiang Huan instantly understood; this was a troublesome problem in any era.

She maintained a gentle expression and reassured him, "Isn't that a good thing? Pick a promising young man who's pleasing to the eye."

“What’s so good about them!” Princess Mingzhu pouted. “They all pretend to be upright gentlemen on the surface, but who knows what they’re really like behind the scenes? And that’s not all, the scariest thing is that the Empress Dowager said that if they meet someone she likes, she should ask the Imperial Uncle to issue an imperial decree to grant them a marriage.”

Upon hearing the words "Imperial Uncle," Princess Mingzhu subconsciously shrank back, as if that heartless imperial uncle might appear behind her at any moment.

"Sister Jiang, you know perfectly well that the Imperial Uncle is a cunning and ruthless man..."

She looked around and lowered her voice, "He's so shady! How could he possibly be genuinely trying to pick a good one for me? He must have ulterior motives, like wanting to marry me off to those burly, pockmarked bastards so I'll suffer."

Jiang Huan was almost amused by her vivid description of a tragic future, but quickly pursed her lips to cover it up.

"Princess, you've misunderstood. His Majesty may sometimes act a bit ruthlessly, but he would never do that to his own family. When it comes to your marriage, His Majesty must take into account the wishes of the Empress Dowager, your father, and your mother, and consider everything carefully."

"I don't believe it. I just won't let him grant me the marriage." Princess Mingzhu pouted and shook her head like a rattle drum.

"Sister Jiang, please help this princess! Could you put in a good word for me with the Empress Dowager? Or could you take a look at those portraits and their families and character? I think your judgment is a million times better than my uncle's!"