Chapter 208 Increased Favorability

Consort Li really wanted to slap Jiang Huan hard, and she couldn't stand Jiang Huan's arrogant and conceited attitude.

But upon glancing at Jing Lei, whose mouth was full of fangs, he saw him staring intently at him.

It was as if the moment she moved, she would be torn to pieces.

That bitch clearly let the dog do the dirty work on purpose!

Consort Li's face was ashen, her hand trembled slightly as she pointed at the dog, and her voice was shrill.

"What kind of place is this palace? How dare such a lowly beast come and go as it pleases and disturb the noble ladies? Today it dares to disturb me, tomorrow it will dare to disturb the Empress Dowager. What use is such a vicious creature? Guards! Drag this beast out and beat it to death with sticks!"

The two palace maids were completely bewildered when Consort Li gave the order again.

But if he disobeyed the order, he would be skinned alive if he went back, so he had to go forward again.

"presumptuous!"

A deep, imposing roar resounded like thunder at the palace entrance.

Everyone was startled and looked in the direction of the sound.

Huo Lin strode in with a grim expression, and Wang Degui followed behind him, bowing deeply and not daring to breathe.

Huo Lin quickly scanned the chaotic scene inside the hall, his brows furrowing.

[Who's howling like a banshee in Weiyang Palace? What if they disturb her?]

[Since they crow so loudly, let's switch them with the rooster that crows in the imperial kitchen tomorrow!]

Consort Li was completely oblivious to Huo Lin's displeasure. As if she had seen a savior, she immediately broke free from the maid's support and rushed to Huo Lin's side.

"Your Majesty, Consort Zhuang has been keeping so many ferocious beasts in her palace. They almost killed me just now, and I was terrified."

She pointed at Jing Lei and several puppies, her voice full of accusation.

"I only wanted my sister to get rid of them, but who would have thought she would scold me for a few animals? Your Majesty, you must stand up for me!"

Liu Cairen also stepped forward quickly, curtsied, her voice trembling with lingering fear.

"Your Majesty is wise. Consort Li's words are all true. These dogs are far too ferocious. Consort Li was almost injured."

The remaining concubines who had come with Consort Li echoed this sentiment, chattering about the "vicious dog's" crimes and Jiang Huan's protectiveness.

As Huo Lin listened to their exaggerated accusations, his brows furrowed deeper and his expression grew increasingly grim.

[Biting? Disruption? Can I say you did a great job?]

[I think these dogs are smarter than people. If they don't provoke them, how can the dogs bite them?]

[A bunch of idiots, barking louder than dogs. I think the ones making these baseless accusations are clearly someone else.]

Huo Lin's gaze grew colder and colder, and he felt as if a swarm of annoying mosquitoes were buzzing in his ears.

"Enough!" he shouted sternly. "I think you are all too idle, causing trouble all day long and disturbing the peace of the palace."

"It's none of your business if Consort Zhuang keeps a few pets in her own palace. As for what you call disturbing..." He paused, his eyes sharp as knives, "I only saw you shouting and disturbing them!"

Consort Li's face turned pale; she had racked her brains but never expected Huo Lin to say such a thing.

She tried to explain, "Your Majesty, I..."

"Shut up." Huo Lin interrupted her. "Consort Li, your behavior is inappropriate, you're shouting and behaving inappropriately."

"And you all..."

His gaze swept over Liu Cai Ren and the others, his displeasure spreading undisguisedly.

"All of you, get back to your own palaces! From now on, without my decree, you are not to set foot in Weiyang Palace even a step, or don't blame me for being impolite!"

Are you still not leaving? Are you waiting for me to close the gate and unleash the dogs?

Consort Li and the others were so frightened by Huo Lin's reprimand that they turned pale and dared not say another word. They could only bow and take their leave in a sorry state.

The tense atmosphere inside the hall finally relaxed, and the puppies seemed to sense that the danger had passed, gently circling around Jiang Huan as if to comfort her.

Jiang Huan squatted down and gave the dog generals a thumbs up.

"Good dogs, good dogs, you're all great! Extra treat tonight!"

She installed such a firewall so well, so cleverly, that the enemy is crying out in frustration!

Huo Lin, left standing to the side, remained indifferent.

I am being ignored, but I will not say so.

[I also roared a couple of times, where's my credit?]

Jiang Huan caught him perfectly, stood up, and gave him a hug as a reward for his service.

"Your Majesty is truly remarkable; I bow down to my magnificent thighs!"

Huo Lin, completely subdued by her embrace, said, "...What do you mean by thighs and calves..."

Jiang Huan smiled and said, "Anyway, it's a compliment."

Huo Lin was increasingly satisfied as he listened. He nodded, took Jiang Huan's hand, and walked towards the inner hall, his mind racing with his own calculations.

[Hehe, she praised me again.]

After all this commotion, I'm hungry. I need a snack.

I wonder if she asked the kitchenette to make any new desserts today?

[The almond cookies I made last time were really good; they smelled so good they made the cats in the neighboring palace drool.]

He had already begun to imagine the warm scene of spending time alone with Jiang Huan, sharing afternoon tea, and his steps became lighter as a result.

However, he stopped abruptly as soon as he walked around the screen.

His facial expression froze instantly, and his eyes became extremely complicated.

On the soft couch in the side hall, He Ling was lying sprawled out, sleeping soundly and without any regard for her image.

She had one leg draped over the edge of the couch, the other leg curled up, her mouth slightly open, with a suspicious, glistening sheen at the corner of her lips.

Upon seeing this, Huo Lin froze instantly, his brows furrowed, and his eyes filled with disdain.

Even an old lady in Beijing sleeps more properly than this.

[Stop, stop, stop! You're drooling all over the cushion! This is outrageous! This is outrageous!]

[Besides, didn't I already get a palace from He Ling? Why should I still sleep here with her?!]

[Waaaaah, who will compensate me for all the time I've lost with just the two of us?]

Just then, He Ling, who was sleeping soundly, suddenly felt a buzzing in her head.

A sharp, piercing, and extremely exciting electronic voice suddenly rang out like a thunderclap in her dormant consciousness.

"Warning! Warning! Target Huo Lin detected approaching!"

"Beep! Beep! Beep! Target's favorability has greatly increased! Current favorability: 40!"

"Congratulations, host, you have broken through the 0-point favorability barrier. Please keep up the good work!"

He Ling was abruptly awakened from her sweet dream by the sudden high-decibel alarm.

She opened her eyes, her heart pounding, her mind blank. Instinctively, she looked up following the system's prompts and met a pair of eyes that seemed to be looking at something dirty.

[Oh no, another day I forgot to pay my respects. Why is the Emperor so unpredictable?]

[Wait a minute, system, what did you just say? Favorability increased by 40?]

[Are you kidding me? Are you infected with a virus?]

The way he looked at me made it clear he wanted to throw me out to feed the dogs!

He Ling was wide awake, her mind filled with questions.

Who is she? Where is she? Is this correct?