Chapter 232 List of Black Materials

Huo Lin fell into a brief silence.

His brow furrowed, and his fingers tapped unconsciously on the table, clearly indicating that he was engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

She's right. Mingzhu has been spoiled by the Empress Dowager and is very stubborn.

If I force her to accept something she doesn't like, she'll probably throw a huge tantrum.

[But at least I put my heart into choosing a matchmaker for her. The Empress Dowager, on the other hand, seems to have gathered all the ugly ducklings and swans in the capital here!]

He frowned, took out a neatly folded piece of paper from his sleeve, and handed it to Jiang Huan.

As if trying to prove something, he spoke earnestly.

“You have foresight. I don’t approve of any of the candidates the Empress Dowager has suggested.”

Jiang Huan took the note, unfolded it, and read it.

The paper was covered with tiny, neatly written characters, but the content was shocking.

The second son of the Marquis of Jing'an appears to be dull and taciturn, but in reality, he keeps several male prostitutes in his household and often commits sordid acts in his villa on the outskirts of the capital.

General Weiyuan's nephew was brave and strong, but also violent and addicted to gambling. He once lost so much money at a gambling den that he beat a civilian in the street, leaving him crippled.

The eldest son of the Vice Minister of Rites, he was exceptionally talented in literature, but narrow-minded and vindictive. Once, because a classmate's essay surpassed his, he secretly had someone ruin his future.

As Jiang Huan looked at the list, her brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

Good heavens, this isn't choosing a son-in-law, it's choosing a fiery pit for Mingzhu to jump into!

These people are all scoundrels; they may look respectable on the surface, but they're rotten to the core.

If she hadn't known that the Empress Dowager favored Mingzhu the most, she would have thought the two of them had a blood feud spanning eight lifetimes.

Jiang Huan looked utterly exasperated, her eyes filled with complex emotions. "It's not just unbearable to look at, it's downright unbearable to watch..."

"Hmph." Huo Lin snorted coldly, clearly agreeing, "They're all just pretty on the outside but rotten on the inside."

Even if Mingzhu doesn't marry the pillar of the nation I've chosen, she absolutely cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of these scoundrels.

【only……】

His brows furrowed again, a hint of frustration in his expression.

For some reason, Mingzhu has been running away whenever she sees me lately.

[I wanted to have a serious talk with her, but she made excuses like a stomachache, a headache, and needing to copy Buddhist scriptures... and disappeared faster than a rabbit!]

"I'm not a monster in disguise."

He drew circles in frustration, then suddenly remembered something, and his eyes darkened slightly.

[Could it be because I scared her last time?]

"But she was in the wrong first, and it was reasonable for me, as an elder, to give her a few words of reprimand. Is it really necessary for her to hold a grudge until now?"

Jiang Huan looked at his frustrated expression and smiled bitterly, rubbing her forehead.

Not just last time, Mingzhu has been living in his shadow since she was a child.

But every family has an elder who's sharp-tongued but kind-hearted.

This couldn't go on forever, so Jiang Huan pointed to the list of scandals and offered to take on the task.

"Perhaps I can talk to Mingzhu, show her this, and ask her about her wishes regarding her future husband."

Huo Lin was just struggling to find a breakthrough: "Alright."

She is my destined star!

Jiang Huan smiled and then lowered her head, her expression focused and serious.

She planned to read it carefully first and find a breakthrough point in the topic.

It has to be said that Huo Lin's ability to dig up juicy gossip is truly impressive, making him a master paparazzi.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating her delicate profile.

Long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes, and the curve of her nose appeared particularly elegant in the light.

She pursed her lips slightly, exuding a calm wisdom.

Huo Lin's gaze fell on her face, and he became mesmerized without realizing it.

A furrowed brow looks good, but a serious expression makes it even more attractive.

[Her eyelashes are so long, and her lips look so soft...]

An indescribable impulse grew wildly in his heart like weeds, and his Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.

I really want to kiss him...

Just for a moment...

He was itching to make a move, and his body leaned forward slightly, moving closer to Jiang Huan.

Just as his lips were about to touch her smooth forehead, Jiang Huan seemed to suddenly remember something, abruptly raised her head, and pointed to a line on the list.

"Your Majesty, this record states that the statement of the steward of the villa in the suburbs of the capital has been sealed. Has the matter been completely resolved? Will there be any future problems?"

Huo Lin: ...

His forward lean froze instantly, his lips just inches away from Jiang Huan's forehead.

My dearest...

Jiang Huan seemed completely oblivious, blinking her eyes and looking quite innocent.

Trying to ambush me? Not a chance!

Huo Lin took a deep breath, suppressing his disappointment and trying to remain calm, his voice slightly hoarse.

"Yes, it's all been taken care of, don't worry."

"That's good." Jiang Huan nodded, her gaze returning to the list.

Huo Lin looked at her lowered head again, her lips so close to his, stirring his heartstrings.

[I almost did! No, I must kiss him today!]

His fighting spirit was rekindled.

This time, he didn't hesitate any longer, his movements were even faster, he bent down directly, and his target was precise.

However, just as he was about to succeed, Jiang Huan seemed to be startled by a certain word on the list, and suddenly gasped, her body instinctively leaning back.

"Hiss, this Vice Minister of Rites, he's embezzling disaster relief funds?"

Huo Lin's kiss missed again, only brushing against a strand of soft hair at her temple.

[...]

Huo Lin was completely torn apart.

"I just wanted a kiss, why is that so difficult!"

Was she doing it on purpose?

He stood frozen in place, his expression shifting unpredictably from astonishment to disappointment, and then to grievance.

Jiang Huan raised her head and looked at him innocently, as if she knew nothing.

"Your Majesty? What's wrong? You don't look well."

What's the point of letting him succeed so easily?

Men need to learn to be patient.

Looking into Jiang Huan's clear, innocent eyes, Huo Lin felt a surge of lust rise within him.

[It was intentional, she definitely did it on purpose!]

His eyes darkened, and the desire that had been stirred within him instantly overwhelmed his reason.

"Jiang Huan".

"Huh?" Jiang Huan blinked, still not quite understanding.

The next second, a warm and strong hand gripped the back of her neck, preventing her from retreating in any way and holding her firmly in his arms.

"Hmm."

Jiang Huan only had time to let out a short gasp before Huo Lin's lips covered hers.

[You think you can hide now? Let's see how you hide now!]

He thought fiercely, yet his movements were gentle and tender, his touches sweeping and conquering, as if he wanted to pour all his love into this belated kiss.

Jiang Huan was completely enveloped by his powerful aura. After her initial surprise, she felt a slight tremor in her heart as she sensed the deep affection conveyed through Huo Lin's words.

The intention to tease her quietly faded, and as her body gradually relaxed, Jiang Huan even began to respond awkwardly.

The setting sun shone brightly outside the window, elongating the shadows of the two embracing, filling the air with a silent, enchanting atmosphere.