Chapter 179 Fleeing in Disarray

Huo Lin naturally reached out and took Jiang Huan's wrist to examine it.

"How's your hand? Does it still hurt?"

Jiang Huan turned her hand, which was wrapped in fine cotton cloth, around and said, "It's all better now. With the Emperor taking such good care of it, even if you lost a hand, it should have healed by now."

"nonsense."

【Pah! Pah! Pah! You're not allowed to say unlucky things.】

Huo Lin carefully held her wrist, his brows furrowing slightly, his eyes filled with heartache.

Just as he was about to speak, he noticed what Jiang Huan was holding in her other hand.

It glitters silver, has a unique shape, and looks strange.

What is this?

Could it be another new dish she's invented for me?

Even in such terrible condition, you're still thinking of me. I'm about to cry...

Jiang Huan thought to herself that things were not good, and that He Ling had laughed too soon.

Huo Lin's arrival was so sudden that she didn't have time to hide.

Well, it's inevitable that the ancient people will be shocked by modern technology.

"Oh, this is a burn ointment that He Ling gave me. I heard it works really well."

Jiang Huan pretended to be nonchalant and handed the burn ointment to Huo Lin.

Upon hearing that it was a gift from He Ling, Huo Lin's gaze instantly fixed on He Ling, as if it were a tangible object.

He Ling felt a chill run from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head, her heart stopped, and her mind went blank.

[No way, is the Emperor starting to suspect something?]

The packaging of this ointment looks completely off. How can I explain this?

Wait, he doesn't think it's poison, does he?

[System! Think of a solution quickly!]

The system, of course, wouldn't offer her a solution; it was currently too busy reveling in its own elation.

"Host, this is a golden opportunity! This is Huo Lin, the target, inquiring on his behalf. Immediately step forward to explain, demonstrate the drug's effects, and gain his attention and favor. Hurry!"

He Ling almost screamed out loud. What kind of suggestion was this, that treated human life like dirt?!

What kind of opportunity is this? Is it a chance to lose my head?

[Go up and explain? Explain what? Say it's a specialty of the Western Regions? Would he believe that?]

[You expect me to win your favor? The moment I open my mouth, won't that lose all my goodwill?]

"Host, please calm down. According to data analysis, Huo Lin is currently in a state of vigilance but not hostility. All you need to do is step forward, show your weakness and innocence, and confidently explain the effects of the medicine. There is a 37.2% chance of triggering his curiosity or pity. This is a key step in increasing his favorability."

He Ling wailed inwardly.

All I want right now is to stay alive!

What about the remaining 62.8%? Were they beheaded and killed?

No, no, absolutely not!

[Besides, Consort Zhuang just helped me out of a predicament and gave me some snacks. How could I repay kindness with enmity by trying to seduce... uh, try to win over her man in front of her?]

Huo Lin's gaze was like a tangible ice blade, making He Ling feel cold all over, and the old injury in her knee seemed to start to ache again.

"If you have trouble walking, stay inside and don't wander around in front of me."

Huo Lin's earlier rebukes still lingered in her ears, and she recalled his look at her like she was trash.

Fear, like an icy tide, instantly overwhelmed her.

Tasks and points become insignificant in the face of the instinct for survival.

[Escape! We must escape! I'll die if I stay any longer!]

[System, I'm sorry, I'm not doing the task anymore, I don't want the points, I want my life!]

Just as Huo Lin's brows furrowed more and more, and his thin lips parted slightly, about to question him again, He Ling suddenly screamed like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"Your Majesty, I'm sorry! I've suddenly remembered I have urgent business to attend to. I must take my leave!"

He Ling's voice trembled so badly that she didn't even bother to bow. She turned around and scrambled out of the palace gate.

That speed was comparable to Usain Bolt's.

[Help! Run! Run! Run!]

[Your Highness, I'm so sorry! Your Majesty, I'm so sorry!]

[I am guilty, I repent, please don't kill me!]

The system sounded a piercing alarm in her mind.

"Warning! The host has seriously deviated from the mission. Warning! The host has seriously deviated from the mission. Please return immediately! Please return immediately!"

I don't want to hear a single word!

I want to go back to Chuxiu Palace, I want to hide, waaaaah...

He Ling's figure disappeared in a disheveled state outside the palace gate, leaving only a series of hurried footsteps.

The hall was deathly silent.

Huo Lin: ...

He held up the tube of ointment, his face unusually blank for a moment.

[They...ran away?]

[Wow, getting rid of competitors is this easy?]

[I understand!]

Huo Lin raised the corners of his lips with a smug smile and casually placed the tube of burn ointment back on the coffee table in front of Jiang Huan.

He turned to Jiang Huan, his previous coldness vanishing instantly, his eyes softening.

Was I really that scary just now?

[But if I can scare someone into a lame quail, I hope I won't frighten her too?]

Jiang Huan looked in the direction where He Ling disappeared, then at the burn ointment that Huo Lin had thrown back at her, and listened to Huo Lin's complaints. Her heart was filled with mixed feelings.

Terrible? Doesn't Your Majesty have any idea?

His eyes looked like he wanted to devour someone; even if it were her in the past, she would have run away, let alone He Ling.

However... He Ling's survival instinct is indeed second to none.

The system was practically screaming itself hoarse in her head, but she didn't even flinch.

Jiang Huan withdrew her gaze and landed on Huo Lin's handsome face, which was filled with worry. The corner of her mouth twitched involuntarily.

She cleared her throat, patted his shoulder generously, and blinked.

"It's because Consort Ling is too timid. Our wise and mighty Emperor just stands there, his aura is overwhelming, no wonder she runs away."

Huo Lin was taken aback by her obviously teasing tone. His ears turned slightly red, but he kept his mouth tightly shut.

"And what about you?"

Jiang Huan was both speechless and amused, so she patted his arm instead.

"I only saw your wisdom and might, and I absolutely did not sense any terrifying aura that made you aloof and deadly."

Is this supposed to be comforting? It sounds rather strange.

[It must be because she doesn't comfort me often. The few times she does, I'm so touched!]

Looking into Jiang Huan's bright eyes, Huo Lin's slight displeasure inexplicably dissipated.

He pulled Jiang Huan into his arms, nuzzled his chin against the top of her head, and said in a low voice, "You're the best."

Well, they're hugging again. This clingy nature of theirs is just not going to change.

Fine, I'll let it go because he's good-looking.

Jiang Huan leaned against Huo Lin's chest, but her thoughts couldn't help but wander to He Ling.

This time, she truly defied the system's requirements.

Knowing she couldn't repay kindness with enmity, and unwilling to put on a pitiful act in front of Huo Lin.

For this reason alone, it's much better than that cold, impersonal system that only knows how to issue tasks.

Her gaze swept over the tube of burn ointment on the coffee table again, and a thought flickered in her mind.

Perhaps a human alliance can defeat artificial intelligence?