Chapter 188 Bookkeeping

Huo Lin frowned, grabbed her fingers, and said matter-of-factly.

"Don't be afraid, if anyone dares to object, I will..."

"So you're going to take care of whoever you want, right?" Jiang Huan interrupted him.

Huo Lin was speechless, feeling wronged.

"I just wanted to give her the best, so why is she complaining?"

When Jiang Huan heard his thoughts, she almost burst out laughing.

She quickly pursed her lips, trying to put on a serious face.

"Your Majesty, listen to me, rank is just an empty title, there's no need to promote me any further."

"Tell me, as the ruler of a country, how many important matters do you have to worry about every day? The provisions for the soldiers in the northwest, the military situation at the border fortresses... which one is not more important than your promotion?"

Jiang Huan paused, then tiptoed close to his ear, her voice extremely low.

"Besides, if you argue with those old ministers over this little thing, getting all hoarse and having to stay up late to finish reviewing memorials, you'll come to see me with dark circles under your eyes and look ugly."

Huo Lin's heart skipped a beat, as if he could already see himself with dark circles under his eyes, surrounded by a group of old ministers spitting and spewing insults.

He subconsciously touched his eyes, and then thought of the mountain of memorials on his desk, a chill rising from the bottom of his heart.

No, absolutely not.

If my appearance is damaged, I won't be able to compete with those young, handsome, and strong men.

Moreover, a lack of mental energy can easily lead to mistakes, and those old foxes are just hoping I'll make a mistake.

We cannot let them succeed, nor can we allow them any excuse to speak ill of me.

[When those memorials come pouring in, they'll flood the road and you won't be able to see anything. Who could stand that?]

"But...but I just want to give her the best. Don't those old men have wives at home? Why can't they understand me?"

Jiang Huan listened to his inner monologue and watched his ever-changing expressions, finding it all quite fascinating.

She suppressed a laugh and reached out to poke his shoulder.

"Alright, stop standing here and hurry up and go to the Imperial Study to review your memorials. If you keep dawdling, you'll be up late again tonight."

Huo Lin was pushed back half a step by her, his handsome face full of reluctance.

"I have only just arrived and have not spent much time with you."

"Even those who have just arrived have to leave."

Jiang Huan put her hands on her hips and deliberately widened her eyes: "Your Majesty, you promised me that you would never stay up all night reviewing memorials. Look at what time it is now! If you don't keep your promise, I will punish you!"

As she spoke, she clapped her left and right hands together like a headmaster, looking fierce and menacing.

Waaaaah, she really thinks I'm ugly.

[I am clearly handsome, dashing, and elegant...]

Okay, dark circles under the eyes do affect my appearance a bit.

Huo Lin was deeply hurt and finally gave in reluctantly.

"Then... I'll go first."

He walked away, his voice muffled, turning back every few steps.

Only after Huo Lin's figure disappeared did Jiang Huan turn around and head towards Weiyang Palace with Xiao Zhao.

Just then, she decided to try something out.

She walked to the dressing table and took out the burn ointment that He Ling had given her.

It's a product of the system, so we don't know how effective it will be.

This was a great opportunity to learn about that shopping mall; her intuition told her that the system's power went far beyond this.

It is at least better than most modern ointments.

Jiang Huan opened the burn ointment and applied it to her burned hand.

As soon as the ointment was applied, a cooling sensation immediately seeped into the skin, and the previously aching area instantly felt much better.

Even more miraculously, in just a few breaths, the red mark faded rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Jiang Huan stared wide-eyed in surprise. This effect was simply too incredible!

She even stumbled upon a miraculous medicine that was only found in books.

This system is pretty good.

If the premium shop is really unlocked, wouldn't the items in it be able to be brought back to life?

Perhaps this is also a path to save Huo Lin.

Perfect timing! He Ling is currently in a position where she desperately wants to change jobs, so she needs to act quickly.

Meanwhile, inside the Imperial Study.

Huo Lingang had barely sat down at his desk when Wang Degui walked in.

"Your Majesty, Lord Shen requests an audience."

"Let him in."

Soon, a young man dressed in a moon-white brocade robe and holding a jade-shaped bone fan strolled in.

"Oh, Your Majesty, are you still working hard on state affairs? You must be exhausted."

Shen Yi gave a perfunctory bow with a grin.

Huo Lin glanced at him: "Stop talking nonsense. Have you made any progress on the matter I asked you to investigate?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yi lightly waved his folding fan twice, gradually concealing his playful and smiling demeanor.

"Your Majesty, your two good uncles, the Prince of Nan and the Prince of Mu, have been getting quite close lately."

Huo Lin's hand holding the vermilion brush paused slightly, and his eyes instantly turned cold.

Huo Cong, Huo Ting.

A cunning old fox with a smile that hides a knife, and a ruthless fool.

When these two get together, nothing good ever comes of it.

"Have you found out what they're plotting?" Huo Lin's voice was unreadable.

Shen Yi shook his head: "The specific plan is still unclear. These two are very meticulous and slippery in their actions, but..."

He paused, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

"The Prince of Nan recently purchased a villa in the west of the city. The location is very remote, but the guards are as tight as an iron barrel. Interestingly, the Prince of Mu's men have been frequent visitors there lately."

Huo Lin snorted coldly and tapped his fingertips lightly on the imperial desk, producing a dull "tap-tap" sound.

"Keep a close eye on them. I haven't settled accounts with Huo Ting yet regarding what happened at the horse farm last time."

Shen Yi naturally knew what Huo Lin was referring to.

After Jiang Huan fell from her horse, Ayina discovered that the handkerchief had been tampered with and told Huo Lin about it.

Huo Lin secretly entrusted him with this matter, and eventually learned that Huo Ting had deliberately made the horse go berserk, and the original target was Ayina, while Jiang Huan was just implicated.

"Your subject understands," Shen Yi replied, bowing.

He paused, then added, "There's one more thing. Another person was carried out of Prince Mu's residence yesterday."

Huo Lin frowned, his eyes revealing undisguised disgust.

"Another one died?"

"Yes." Shen Yi's tone was calm, as if he were talking about something ordinary, but a hint of coldness flashed deep in his eyes.

"It is said that she was a newly acquired concubine who had been in the household for less than half a month. The official story was that she died suddenly from an illness, but the rumors circulating in the mansion were that Prince Mu accidentally beat her to death while drunk."

"Write it down as well." Huo Lin's voice was as cold as ice. "In a few days, it will be the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. They will also come to the palace at that time. I will settle these accounts with them one by one sooner or later."