Chapter 173 Feeding Porridge

The palace doors shut out the sarcastic remarks from the outside world, and the imperial study was filled with a faint scent of ambergris.

Huo Lin was reviewing memorials, his brows slightly furrowed, radiating a cold and austere aura that kept strangers at bay.

He looked up when he heard familiar footsteps.

Jiang Huan walked slowly towards them, her eyes lacking their usual liveliness, and her expression unusually calm.

What... happened?

Huo Lin held his pen above the memorial, staring at Jiang Huan's overly calm face, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

How can getting injured turn a person into someone who is indifferent to worldly desires?

[It's as if they're constantly chanting Amitabha Buddha's name, as if they're giving me alms.]

Could it be that she's so angry she's going to become a nun and abandon me?

Listening to his heartfelt words, Jiang Huan suppressed the urge to clasp her hands together and smiled calmly.

"Did Your Majesty find the handling of state affairs today satisfactory?"

Huo Lin felt a chill run down his spine from her laughter. "Ahem, it's all just trivial stuff anyway."

Unexpected concern is often devastating.

Should I kneel down and admit my mistake? But what did I do wrong?

Jiang Huan blinked slowly and put her finger to her lips: "This word 'broken' is not good. Your Majesty is not allowed to mention it again."

All this breaking and ruining has ruined my mood; I'll add this to the list of prohibited words from now on.

Then she said softly, "Let's put aside those worldly pressures for now. His Majesty has been reviewing memorials until late at night these past few days; he should take good care of his health."

As she spoke, she opened the food box and laid out the food inside one by one, and the tempting aroma of the food immediately wafted out.

"Your Majesty, please eat it while it's hot. It's yam and red date porridge, good for your stomach."

Huo Lin looked at the food in front of him, and then at Jiang Huan's way of taking care of the sick.

I couldn't help but chuckle for a moment.

Her attitude makes it seem as if I am terminally ill and near death.

She was clearly the injured one.

Huo Lin's gaze swept over Jiang Huan's bandaged hand, his eyes flickered, and an idea instantly formed in his mind.

His fingers suddenly covered Jiang Huan's hand, his fingertips burning hot.

"Don't move, you have an injury on your hand." His voice was deep and gentle, and his deep pupils were filled with the image of Jiang Huan.

"Let me do it."

Huo Lin picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful of hot porridge, and gently blew on it.

Instead of drinking it himself, he offered it to Jiang Huan's lips, his voice filled with a doting smile.

"Until you recover, just tell me what you want to do."

Jiang Huan looked at Huo Lin, who was holding a spoon, and her heart skipped a beat.

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting a soft golden glow on his handsome profile.

"And what happens after the injury heals?" Jiang Huan couldn't help but ask.

"Once you recover from your injuries, giving orders will become a habit. It will be difficult for you to renege on my orders now."

Oh no, handsome guy with sweet words.

This move is too destructive; her Dao heart, which she has been struggling to maintain, is about to shatter!

"Alright, alright, let's get back to the point. This porridge is for the Emperor; what would it look like if I drank it myself..."

Huo Lin smiled faintly, a mischievous glint in his eyes, then said with focused affection, "It's on me."

[Hehe, plan in progress! After all that chatter, I can finally feed her legitimately.]

Jiang Huan looked at the barely concealed smugness in his eyes, and listened to his inner thoughts, and immediately understood.

Excuses like her hand injury making things inconvenient or that she had been busy for a long time are all just excuses.

This guy just wants to take this opportunity to get close to someone.

She was both annoyed and amused. The heaviness in her heart caused by learning that Huo Lin would die suddenly in two years was greatly reduced by his childish behavior.

"Is Your Majesty treating me like a three-year-old?" She deliberately leaned back to avoid the spoonful of porridge.

Huo Lin's hand hovered in mid-air, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes: "I am taking care of the wounded."

"It's just a minor injury." Jiang Huan waved her hand dismissively, making a move to snatch the spoon from his hand. "I'm not a porcelain doll."

Huo Lin quickly raised the spoon high, taking advantage of his height so she couldn't reach it.

"I decide." He leaned closer, his voice gentle. "Be good, open your mouth."

Jiang Huan's ears burned from his sudden intimacy, but she still glared at him defiantly.

"His Majesty is using his power to intimidate us!"

"I'm just confused because I'm worried," Huo Lin chuckled, taking the opportunity to bring the porridge spoon to her lips. "Will you grant my wish this once?"

Seeing his rare display of weakness, Jiang Huan's heart softened, and she finally reluctantly opened her mouth and drank the spoonful of porridge.

"Is it good?" he asked, his voice low and gentle.

Jiang Huan nodded, her cheeks slightly flushed: "Mmm, delicious."

Just kidding, what chef would ruin their own reputation?

Huo Lin scooped up another spoonful and continued his feeding mission.

However, as they continued feeding, their gaze took a turn for the worse.

He looked at Jiang Huan's slightly parted lips, which appeared exceptionally rosy and full because of the glistening porridge stains on them.

Her long eyelashes cast soft shadows under her eyes, and her cheeks were flushed, like a ripe peach.

[How can she look so beautiful while eating? It's practically tempting to commit a crime.]

[That little mouth opening and closing was more...cough! than any delicacy she could cook!]

[Hmm... I must be hungry... so hungry I'm itching for food.]

Huo Lin's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and he slowed down his feeding of porridge.

His gaze deepened, pressing firmly against her lips.

Just as Jiang Huan swallowed the porridge in her mouth, she heard Huo Lin say in his heart that he was hungry.

Just as she was about to turn the tide and get Huo Lin to obediently drink the porridge, she was silenced by a warm kiss before she could even speak.

"Your Majesty... Ugh!"

It wasn't a superficial attempt; it was an almost greedy absorption.

Jiang Huan froze instantly, her eyes widening in shock.

Huo Lin's kiss came suddenly and domineeringly. He held the back of her head with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist, trapping her in his embrace and deepening the unexpected kiss.

The air seemed to freeze at that moment, leaving only the sound of intermittent breathing and the faint wet sounds between lips and teeth.

After a long while, Huo Lin reluctantly released her.

"I'm hungry," he said seriously, though his ears were secretly turning red.

Jiang Huan's cheeks were hot and burning, her breath was unsteady, and she glared at him with a mixture of shame and anger.

If you're hungry, eat! Why would you eat her?

"Then Your Majesty should drink a few more sips of porridge..." she quickly steered the conversation toward a more serious topic.

Huo Lin chuckled softly, pulled her back into his arms, and gently rubbed his chin against the top of her head.

"not enough."

Jiang Huan was held in Huo Lin's arms, her cheek pressed against his firm chest, and she could clearly hear his strong heartbeat.

Will this vibrant existence disappear in two years?

This thought coiled around Jiang Huan like a snake, and she subconsciously clenched Huo Lin's clothes, as if she could keep him forever that way.

"Your Majesty..." she began softly, her voice slightly strained, "I have something I want to tell you."

When she arrived, she was already thinking about how to persuade Huo Lin to accept this inexplicable psychological counseling.

You can't exactly say, "Hey buddy, I've been observing the heavens, and I predict you won't live past two years."

The atmosphere is just right now, so we need to seize the opportunity to offer guidance.

"Um?"

Huo Lin then turned his head, his eyes still holding a lingering smile.

[Oh no, did I tease her too much? She's not only not calmed down, she's even angrier now!]

[Sob, but she's so cute, I want to kiss her.]

Jiang Huan looked serious and thought she would kiss him after turning off the lights at night.

Saving lives is the top priority right now!

"Has His Majesty been staying up late again lately reviewing memorials?" she asked with a stern face.

Huo Lin was taken aback, then guiltily looked away: "No."

[I finished reviewing the memorials last night and it was almost dawn; staying up all night doesn't count as staying up all night.]

Besides, I secretly dozed off twice while reviewing memorials, which is practically the same as sleeping.

"Liar!" Jiang Huan put her hands on her hips. "Your Majesty, staying up late is bad for your health. Long-term sleep deprivation can lead to deficiency of both qi and blood, excessive liver fire, and a bad temper..."

She counted on her fingers, just like a worried old Chinese medicine doctor.

Huo Lin was amused and looked at her with great interest, resting his chin on his hand: "Where is my temper bad?"