Chapter 205 Giving a Scarf

The palace door was gently pushed open, and Huo Lin walked in.

He immediately spotted Jiang Huan sitting by the window, looking dazed.

Jiang Huan was wearing only a thin nightgown, her wet hair clung to her neck, and she looked exceptionally frail in the moonlight, as if she would break at the slightest touch.

Huo Lin's heart clenched, and he walked very quietly, afraid of disturbing her.

Why are you spacing out? Are you still shaken by what happened today?

He raised his hand and waved, signaling Xiao Zhao to step back.

He then took off his outer robe and gently draped it over Jiang Huan's shoulders.

"It's chilly at night, why aren't you wearing more clothes?"

He sat down next to Jiang Huan and reached out to wrap her slightly cool hand in his warm palm.

Jiang Huan was startled back to her senses by his actions. Feeling the warmth from his palm and the temperature around her, the chill in her heart seemed to be dispelled a little.

She looked up at Huo Lin.

Her image was reflected in Huo Lin's dark eyes, deep and focused.

"Don't be afraid," he whispered, his fingers tightening. "With me here, no one can hurt you."

[He fell from grace once, was poisoned once, not to mention his repeated underhanded dealings.]

[I think Huo Ting is simply tired of being a prince and wants to play the emperor for fun.]

[Alright, let him try and see if he'll still be a whole corpse when he sits on the dragon throne!]

His gaze grew increasingly cold, and the veins on his forehead became more prominent.

Hearing this declaration, which was both menacing and protective, Jiang Huan felt the panic that had just accumulated in her heart melt away little by little, like ice and snow being exposed to the sun.

Her tense shoulders relaxed, and she gently squeezed Huo Lin's hand in return.

"Yes, I know." Jiang Huan's voice was soft, but her eyes lit up. "With you here, I'm not afraid."

Whether or not he hears his true feelings, Huo Lin is still the best little emperor in the world.

He loved her, protected her, and was willing to fight against everything for her.

So what reason does she have to doubt or fear this relationship?

Huo Lin felt Jiang Huan's hand return and saw the light return to her eyes, and his heart relaxed.

She's not afraid anymore! She trusts me!

[Great, at least she can rest assured. It seems I'm still a reliable support after all.]

Rely on me more!

The little voice inside him smugly put his hands on his hips.

"You must be exhausted after a long day," Huo Lin's voice softened. "Get some rest. I'll stay with you."

Jiang Huan was indeed exhausted. She nodded and let Huo Lin lead her to her feet, walking towards the large bed.

Huo Lin carefully helped Jiang Huan lie down, then lay down beside her, wrapped his arm around her waist, and gently pulled her into his embrace.

The warm embrace carried a reassuring aura, dispelling the last trace of unease.

Jiang Huan closed her eyes, buried her face in Huo Lin's firm chest, listened to his steady and powerful heartbeat, her nerves relaxed, and her consciousness quickly sank into darkness.

The next day, early morning.

The news spread rapidly throughout the palace.

Prince Mu, Huo Ting, was riding his horse to his villa in the suburbs of the capital early in the morning when his horse suddenly became frightened and lost control, breaking his right leg on the spot. He was seriously injured and had to be rushed back to the palace for treatment.

Upon hearing the news, the Empress Dowager smashed the teacup in her hand at Cining Palace.

Boiled tea mixed with tea leaves spilled all over the floor, also wetting the hem of the robes of the eunuchs kneeling in the hall.

"Useless! A bunch of useless people!" The Empress Dowager's face turned ashen, her chest heaving violently.

He pointed at the chief eunuch kneeling on the ground reporting the news, his voice angry and shrill.

"Huo Ting's horse was a carefully selected steed, and his riding skills were taught by a renowned master from a young age. How could he have fallen off his horse out of the blue? Tell me! Did someone tamper with it?"

The chief eunuch was so frightened that he trembled all over and almost buried his head in the ground.

"Your Majesty, this servant is unaware. A report came from the Prince's residence that the Prince's horse suddenly went berserk on the way, throwing the Prince off and breaking his right leg on the spot. The imperial physician said the injury is extremely serious..."

"You don't know? You think you can fool me with a simple 'I don't know'?"

The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the table, making the teaware on it clang loudly.

"That incident just happened at yesterday's birthday banquet, and today he suffers this misfortune. What a coincidence! Investigate! The horses, the saddles, everyone who passed by along the way—leave no one unchecked! I want to see who has the audacity to target the Huo family!"

Her eyes burned with rage, and she had already sketched out a picture of the culprit in her mind.

Yesterday, Huo Ting angered Consort Zhuang and He Ling, and today he fell from his horse and was seriously injured.

It was no coincidence that Consort Zhuang was injured in the same place as her.

This was Huo Lin's tactic, and also a warning to her.

The Empress Dowager grew angrier the more she thought about it, feeling a rush of blood to her head and her vision blurring.

She leaned on the table, panting heavily, her well-maintained face contorted in a grimace.

Meanwhile, in the west hall of Changchun Palace.

He Ling felt that she was simply a medical miracle.

Yesterday I was half dead, but after a good night's sleep, apart from the slight pain in my forehead wound, the heat and weakness in my body had miraculously subsided, and I felt much better.

He Ling excitedly rolled around on the bed twice, feeling full of energy.

She immediately turned over, got out of bed, and after washing up, took out an item wrapped in silk, which was the scarf she had stayed up most of the night to knit.

The scarf has fine and even stitches, exquisite patterns, and is decorated with tassels of the same color at both ends. It is soft and fluffy.

He Ling admired her work with satisfaction, a contented smile on her face.

She rewrapped the scarf, held it in her arms, and excitedly went to Weiyang Palace to find Jiang Huan.

The morning sunlight shone warmly on the palace path, and her mood was as bright as the sunlight.

The Empress has been so kind to her, so she can finally express her gratitude in some way.

He Ling became happier and happier as she thought about it, and her steps became lighter and lighter.

Soon, they arrived at Weiyang Palace.

After being informed by a palace servant, He Ling, clutching her scarf, walked in excitedly.

"Greetings to Your Majesty." He Ling bowed respectfully, her voice clear and bright, filled with undisguised joy.

"No need for formalities." Jiang Huan looked at her rosy cheeks and bright eyes, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a smile. "You look well. Are your injuries getting better?"

Actually, she was still somewhat surprised.

He Ling is incredibly resilient. Yesterday, she was drugged and banged her head against the wall. Most people would be lying in bed for three days before they could recover.

She's quite something, arriving early in the morning, full of energy.

Hmm, it seems the restoration went quite well.

"Thanks to Your Majesty, I'm much better." He Ling nodded vigorously, stepped forward, and eagerly opened the package in her arms, presenting it to Jiang Huan.

"Your Majesty! I have come to thank you for saving my life! This is something I wove myself..."

etc……

Suddenly, He Ling had a mental block, and the words she wanted to say were burning hot, so she couldn't spit them out or swallow them.

[Oh no! I was so focused on repaying the Empress that I completely forgot that scarves don't seem to exist in this era!]

"If I bring this to Your Majesty, will you find it strange?"

Oh my god, how did I end up putting myself in such a dangerous situation again?!