Chapter 213 Meeting Parents

The Imperial Study.

Huo Lin had just finished reviewing a memorial and was about to have a cup of tea to rest.

A bodyguard appeared in a corner of the hall and knelt on one knee.

"Your Majesty, Lord Jiang and Lady Jiang have entered the palace, but... they were stopped by Consort Yi."

Huo Lin frowned slightly, his teacup hovering in mid-air.

The guard continued, "Consort Yi said that Lady Jiang does not understand palace rules and that her improper behavior will implicate Consort Zhuang. Lady Jiang immediately burst into tears and cried very sadly."

Snap—

The teacup landed heavily on the table, splashing a few drops of tea.

He dared to block his father-in-law and mother-in-law, and even dared to say those nonsense things that made his mother-in-law cry.

They must have eaten the gall of a bear and the heart of a leopard!

You've been living too peacefully in the harem, and you want something bloody to change things up, right?

Huo Lin's face was ashen. He didn't say a word, but strode around the imperial desk and walked straight out of the hall.

"Your Majesty, you..." Wang Degui hurriedly jogged to catch up.

"Prepare the carriage, I will go to fetch them." Huo Lin's voice was cold and hard, brooking no argument.

A moment later, Huo Lin appeared menacingly on the palace road.

He could see a group of people blocking the way from afar, and the one leading them was Consort Yi.

Consort Yi raised her chin slightly, her expression condescending.

Jiang Wenyuan, holding Madam Jiang's red-rimmed eyes and bowing her head in tears, repeatedly clasped his hands in a gesture of respect to Consort Yi, seemingly muttering something under his breath.

Consort Yi looked at the Jiang couple with even more contempt in her eyes. Just as she was about to say a few more words, she suddenly caught sight of Huo Lin out of the corner of her eye.

Her pupils contracted sharply, the color drained from her face in an instant, her body stiffened, and she even stopped breathing.

The Emperor... The Emperor? Why is he here?

I didn't hide my expression well; he must have seen it all.

Everyone present bowed to Huo Lin upon his arrival.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

When Huo Lin approached and saw Madam Jiang's obviously swollen eyes and the tear stains on her face, the icy coldness in his eyes instantly turned into a raging fire.

"Consort Yi, my men say you were instructing Lord Jiang and Lady Jiang on palace rules?"

Huo Lin's voice was slow and deliberate, yet it carried an oppressive air of impending doom.

"Tell me, what exactly did you instruct them on? Let me hear it too, where did they do things that didn't conform to your rules?"

Consort Yi felt a chill rise from the bottom of her heart, and her teeth were chattering.

"This concubine dares not, this concubine merely... merely happened to meet Lord Jiang and Madam Jiang, and was concerned about Consort Zhuang, so..."

"Concerned?" Huo Lin interrupted her, a cold smile curving his lips.

What kind of concern could move someone to tears, making his mother-in-law's words so touching?

She was clearly driven to desperation and cried out of desperation!

"So concerned you cried? Hmm?"

The last "um" was pronounced with a slight upward inflection, carrying a questioning tone.

Consort Yi was so frightened that she fell to her knees with a thud.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I meant no harm. I was just afraid that Lady Jiang, being new to the palace, might not know the rules and her words and actions might be inappropriate and could implicate Consort Zhuang. I meant well, Your Majesty!"

"Kindness?" Huo Lin scoffed. "Your kindness is stopping those I specially granted permission to enter the palace on this palace road, spouting nonsense and accusing them of not knowing the rules?"

Consort Yi was so frightened that she collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face.

"I deserve to die! I beg Your Majesty for mercy! I beg Your Majesty for mercy!"

Huo Lin snorted coldly, "Consort Yi's words were inappropriate. She shall be fined one year's salary and confined to her quarters for three months to reflect on her mistakes. No one is allowed to visit her without my decree."

Upon hearing the verdict, Consort Yi's vision went black, and she collapsed to the ground, her face ashen.

Huo Lin didn't look at her again, but turned to the Jiang couple, his voice gentle.

"You've been frightened. Come, I will personally escort you to Weiyang Palace to see Consort Zhuang."

After saying that, Huo Lin personally led Jiang Wenyuan and Madam Jiang towards Weiyang Palace.

Inside the Weiyang Palace, Jiang Huan was already waiting in the main hall.

A few days ago, she received a letter from home saying that the Emperor had been so kind as to allow them to enter the palace to visit their daughter.

The news is good, but...

She unconsciously twisted the handkerchief between her fingers, feeling somewhat uneasy.

What should I say when I first meet the original owner's parents?

As blood relatives, wouldn't they immediately recognize that the original Jiang Huan is no longer there?

Jiang Huan's heart pounded, and she was restless.

Just then, an announcement came from outside the hall: "His Majesty has arrived! Lord Jiang and Lady Jiang have arrived!"

Jiang Huan's heart skipped a beat. She quickly stood up, straightened her clothes, took a deep breath, and went out to greet them.

Never mind, we'll deal with whatever comes our way!

Huo Lin walked in first, followed by a middle-aged couple.

The man was slender and refined, dressed in an official robe; the woman was petite and gentle, though her eyes were slightly red.

These are... her parents in this world?

Jiang Huan looked at the two unfamiliar yet somewhat familiar faces, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She tried to suppress her nervousness and put on a polite smile.

"Your Majesty, Father, Mother, you have arrived."

She chose a more intimate term of address in an attempt to bridge the gap.

"Huan'er!" As soon as Madam Jiang saw her daughter, tears welled up again. Forgetting all etiquette, she stepped forward and grasped Jiang Huan's hand, looking her up and down, her voice choked with emotion.

"My Huan'er, you...you've lost weight..."

Jiang Wenyuan's eyes also reddened slightly. He looked at his daughter, his lips moved, but in the end, it only turned into a low sigh.

"Huan'er".

Jiang Huan felt a slight tremor in her heart as she felt Madam Jiang's warm hand grasp hers and she sensed her concern.

Although emotions may be unfamiliar, the longing of parents all over the world is similar.

Thinking about it, I put on a smile.

This unfamiliar emotion left her somewhat bewildered, but she tried to maintain her smile and gently patted Madam Jiang's hand.

"Mother, I'm fine. I haven't lost weight. The food and accommodations in the palace are great. Look, I've even gained weight."

She deliberately pinched her cheek, trying to lighten the mood.

Huo Lin stood aside, watching Jiang Huan's forced composure, and his gaze softened.

She seemed a little nervous when she saw her parents.

That's true, after all, it's been so long since we last saw each other.

I need to give them some space so they can talk.

"Your family has not seen each other for a long time, and you must have a lot to talk about. I still have some official business to attend to, so I will come back later."

After saying that, he turned and left.

The palace doors closed gently, shutting out all the noise from the outside world.

Madam Jiang's gaze never left her daughter; her eyes were filled with heartache and a hint of caution.

My daughter seemed a little distant, unlike how affectionate and dependent she used to be at home.

"Huan'er".

Madam Jiang looked at her daughter, hesitated, and then tears welled up in her eyes again. "Your mother and father are useless. We couldn't protect you. You were forced into the palace and suffered so much."

Her voice choked with sobs, filled with self-reproach, "Are you blaming your parents?"

Jiang Wenyuan also lowered his head, his voice low.

"It's because your father is incompetent, his official position is too lowly, and he can't protect you, causing you to suffer."

Jiang Huan felt a pang of sadness seeing her parents' guilty and remorseful expressions.

The original owner was forced into the palace and suffered injustice. The torment from Consort Yu and the snobbishness in the palace left these honest and simple parents powerless.

She understood that they thought she had been forced into the palace, that she had been wronged, and that her current estrangement stemmed from resentment.

After all, the original owner's situation before entering the palace was indeed not good. The torment of Consort Yu and the snobbishness in the palace left these honest and simple parents powerless.

Alas, the hearts of parents are always full of love and concern. Although she is not the original Jiang Huan, she is still Jiang Huan.

"Father, Mother, please don't say that. Your daughter has not been wronged at all, and she doesn't blame you at all."