Chapter 189 The Jealousy Jar Has Spilled Again

As night deepened, the Imperial Study remained brightly lit.

Huo Lin and Shen Yi's conversation lasted for a whole day, ranging from the distribution of guards at the newly built villa of Prince Nan, Huo Cong, to the frequent transfers of trusted men under Prince Mu, Huo Ting, and the details of the preparations for the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet.

The two discussed the map and the secret report in hushed tones, deliberating repeatedly.

It wasn't until the moon was high in the sky that Shen Yi stretched, his bones making a soft cracking sound.

"Oh dear, I'm exhausted. Do you provide meals?"

It's fine if you don't talk about food, but as soon as you do, Huo Lin feels an emptiness in his stomach.

He rubbed his throbbing temples, moved the mountain of memorials piled on his desk aside, and waved his hand.

"Consort Zhuang will take care of my meals. You can take a bowl to the imperial kitchen to eat."

The way you're saying that makes it sound like he's the only one with a wife.

With no one in the backyard, Shen Yi wailed, "Where's the brotherhood? How come there's only sharing hardship but no sharing happiness?!"

Huo Lin glared at him, fully expressing his strong dissatisfaction with him being a third wheel.

Shen Yi pouted and reluctantly took a step.

Hmph, you value romance over friendship!

As soon as the heavy door to the Imperial Study was pushed open, an enticing aroma of food wafted out.

Jiang Huan was standing not far from the door, holding an exquisite food box in her hand.

She seemed to have just arrived and was about to have Wang Degui announce her arrival.

"Consort Zhuang?" Shen Yi's eyes lit up, and he quickly went to greet her, smiling and teasing.

"What a coincidence, knowing you were coming, the person inside hurriedly threw me out."

Jiang Huan was somewhat surprised to see Shen Yi come out.

Hey, isn't this Huo Lin's love strategist, one of the Thirty-Six Strategies for Chasing Women?

They would occasionally bump into each other in Huo Lin's study, but they would always pass by quickly and had little interaction.

What a coincidence today!

Since we've already encountered them and told them our grievances, it's not right to just wave them away.

Moreover, although this Cupid killed the master with a hail of arrows.

But Shen Yi deserves some credit for her being able to marry Huo Lin, as she was seated at the head table.

Thinking about it, he weighed the food box in his hand again.

"Has Lord Shen eaten yet? I happened to have prepared some extra snacks. If you don't mind, would you like to have some with me?"

"Oh dear, that's too kind of you. I'll shamelessly take advantage of the Emperor's favor."

Shen Yi was locked in the imperial study all day discussing official business, and he was starving.

He had been listening to Huo Lin boast in front of him all day long, saying that Consort Zhuang's cooking was unparalleled in the world. Today, he finally had a chance to test her skills.

Moreover, he was extremely curious about Jiang Huan.

The former Huo Lin was aloof from women and fierce-looking, so Huo Lin even suspected that his good brother might have homosexual tendencies and perhaps had taken a liking to him.

Now that I've met Jiang Huan, I've truly experienced the full spectrum of love's joys and sorrows.

Jiang Huan was amused by his frank manner.

"Lord Shen is too kind. These are just some ordinary snacks, like red bean pastries and osmanthus cakes. I thought His Majesty was working hard reviewing memorials, so I brought them to him to help him catch his breath."

"It smells delicious." Shen Yi sniffed exaggeratedly, looking completely intoxicated.

"But since Your Highness sent me some snacks, shouldn't I also give Your Highness something in return? I wonder if Your Highness enjoys reading storybooks?"

He paused, then opened his folding fan with a whoosh and gently waved it.

"I recently found a few newly published storybooks. Some are about chivalrous couples in the martial arts world, and some are about talented scholars and beautiful women meeting secretly under the moon... The plots are full of ups and downs, and they are written so wonderfully. Most importantly, they are not available on the market."

Jiang Huan's eyes lit up.

Talking about this will keep her awake.

Just kidding, she's a top-tier enthusiast of all kinds of novel websites.

If I hadn't read so many books, I probably wouldn't have ended up here.

"With such strict regulations lately, where did you get your connections to be so reckless?"

She lowered her voice, unable to contain her curiosity.

Shen Yi rarely met someone with the same interests, and he spoke mysteriously.

"Your Majesty, just let it go if you hear it, but please don't spread it..."

"cough!"

A deep, clear cough pierced through the Imperial Study, instantly interrupting Shen Yi's introduction.

Inside the Imperial Study, Huo Lin sat behind his desk, seemingly listening intently to the report from the Vice Minister of Works.

In reality, they all had to break the vermilion pen from gripping it so tightly.

[What are you doing? I'm not dead yet.]

[What kind of storybook is this? What kind of unorthodox style? Don't get so close!]

[Shen Yi is asking for a beating! Believe me, I'll send him to guard the imperial tombs tomorrow!]

Huo Lin barely managed to maintain a calm demeanor, but the low pressure emanating from him caused the temperature in the entire imperial study to drop several degrees.

The Vice Minister of Works, who was giving his report, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, and a ghostly coldness shot straight to the top of his head.

He cautiously glanced at the emperor behind the desk, only to see that the emperor's face was gloomy and his eyes were coldly staring in the direction of the door.

The Vice Minister of Works was so frightened that he trembled and couldn't utter the rest of his words.

What happened? Everything was fine just now...

Did he say something wrong? Oh no, did he overstate the budget?

The Vice Minister of Works inwardly groaned, his legs began to tremble, and he felt even breathing had become difficult.

Standing at the door, Jiang Huan could clearly hear the overwhelming jealousy in Huo Lin's heart.

How could someone standing so far away and speaking so softly still be heard?

This vinegar jar is truly one of a kind in the entire capital.

Shen Yi only recommended a storybook; he didn't even give the full title yet.

Her jealousy was so intense, anyone who didn't know better would think Shen Yi was trying to elope with her.

Jiang Huan shook her head helplessly.

"Lord Shen, let's talk again next time..."

She paused, then glanced meaningfully into the imperial study.

"The snacks are getting cold, so I'll go in first."

Shen Yi naturally felt the icy gaze that seemed to pierce through him and the sudden drop in air pressure behind him.

The sour smell can be detected from ten miles away.

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty is right. It would be a shame if the midnight snack got cold."

He paused, then deliberately raised his voice towards the imperial study.

"Your Majesty, please enjoy yourself. I won't be here in your way, lest some people become jealous and cause chaos in the Imperial Study!"

After saying that, he winked quickly at Jiang Huan, then slipped away as fast as he could.

Jiang Huan watched Shen Yi's retreating figure and thought to herself, "Those who know when to yield are truly wise."

She raised her eyebrows slightly, carrying the food box as she slowly walked into the Imperial Study.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Jiang Huan gave a graceful bow, her clear and melodious voice breaking the almost frozen atmosphere in the imperial study.

Huo Lin raised his eyes and his gaze fell on her.

[Hmph, so you finally decided to come in. You seemed to be having a good chat with that kid Shen Yi, huh?]

[I'm angry. I know about storybooks too, why don't they ever talk to me about them?]

He felt deeply aggrieved inside, but showed no sign of it on his face.

The Vice Minister of Works was still nervously reporting to the side when Huo Lin glanced at him and said coldly, "That's all for today. You may leave now."

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty, I take my leave!" The Vice Minister of Works felt as if he had been granted a pardon and practically scrambled out of the Imperial Study.

Jiang Huan carried the food box to the desk and put it down.

Upon opening the lid, an enticing sweet aroma instantly fills the air.

"Here, I brought this especially for you."

"Hurry up and eat a couple of bites while it's hot, so you don't get dizzy from reviewing the memorials later."

Huo Lin didn't speak, his burning gaze fixed on her for over ten seconds without shifting.

"If I don't eat, I'll starve myself to death."

Anyway, that person is too busy chatting to pay attention to me.

【snort! 】

Jiang Huan understood immediately, exaggeratedly raised her pinky finger, and took the initiative to pick up a piece of osmanthus cake and put it to his mouth.

"Oh dear, it was my oversight. Your Majesty has been exhausted after a long day; you don't have the strength to feed yourself. Open your mouth, let me feed you~"

She's now quite experienced at appeasing this jealous woman.

Huo Lin glanced at the pastry being offered to his mouth, then at Jiang Huan's feigned coquettish expression, and inwardly snorted coldly.

He opened his mouth and took a bite of the pastry from Jiang Huan's hand.

That's more like it.

The pastry was soft, sweet, and fragrant, instantly soothing Huo Lin's mind and body, which had been tormented by jealousy and political affairs all day.

Seeing his expression soften, Jiang Huan secretly smiled to herself. Just as she was about to pull her hand back, Huo Lin grabbed it.

His palms, calloused, held her hand tightly.

Jiang Huan was slightly taken aback. She looked up at Huo Lin, who was also looking at her. In his deep eyes, there was only an almost obsessive focus.