Chapter 282 Teasing

Jiang Huan felt as if she were sinking to the bottom of warm water, her consciousness hazy.

She didn't know how much time had passed when a ray of light pierced the darkness, and she struggled to open her eyelids.

The familiar embroidered curtains came into view, and the scent of ambergris lingered in the air.

She turned her head slightly and met a pair of deep eyes.

Huo Lin sat upright on the edge of the couch, holding a warm, damp cloth in his hand, gently wiping her forehead.

His brows were furrowed, his thin lips were pressed into a straight line, and his eyes were filled with an intense, unyielding worry.

Seeing Jiang Huan open her eyes, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and said softly, "Is there anything wrong? I'll have the imperial physician come and take your pulse again, okay?"

[Phew, thankfully she woke up safe and sound.]

Otherwise, I've already decided where to bury myself.

Jiang Huan suppressed her laughter, almost causing her chest to ache from holding it in.

Look at how furrowed his brow; it's almost enough to trap a fly.

It was as if she hadn't just fainted from vomiting, but had just crawled back from the brink of death.

Haven't you wrinkled your face enough while reviewing memorials? If you keep wrinkling like this, you might develop wrinkles prematurely.

She blinked, her thick eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, and a thought popped into her head.

We need to help him relax.

Hmm... I'll tease him a bit.

Jiang Huan mobilized all the muscles in her face, revealing a blank expression, her eyes empty and unfamiliar.

"Who are you?"

Huo Lin's pupils contracted, and he froze instantly, as if he had been frozen in place.

What did she say? Doesn't she recognize me?

[Could it be...could it be that vomiting so badly damaged his brain? Or...or did Consort Li really do something wrong?]

[The imperial physician! Where is the imperial physician?!]

His mind exploded instantly, and panic overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.

"Jiang Huan?" Huo Lin's voice trembled slightly. He leaned down, getting closer, eager to see her eyes clearly. "You...you don't recognize me?"

Jiang Huan maintained that bewildered and innocent expression, even with a hint of timidity, and gently shook her head.

"I don't know you, but you're quite good-looking..."

Huo Lin: ...

His mind went blank, and he felt dizzy.

[Oh no, I really don't recognize her!]

This is absolutely divine punishment for me, absolutely!

Just as Huo Lin was about to yell at Wang Degui to come in, Jiang Huan finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

That smile, like ice and snow melting, instantly broke the heavy atmosphere.

Her eyebrows curved, her face was still pale, but her eyes were full of light, and there was no trace of confusion left.

"I was just kidding!" Her voice was soft and weak, tinged with laughter. "Look how nervous you are, your face is all pale."

Huo Lin stood there stunned for several seconds before he reacted.

What followed was a feeling of both anger and helplessness.

Even in this state, you still have the mind to tease me!

[This is incredibly audacious; they deserve to be taught a lesson!]

[But this also proves she's really alright, thank goodness!]

He breathed a long sigh of relief, then gritted his teeth and bent down to flick her forehead lightly as punishment.

"You've gotten quite bold, haven't you? Is it fun to tease me?"

Jiang Huan covered her forehead, let out an exaggerated "ouch," and laughed even more heartily.

"I'm just trying to lighten the mood. Look how nervous you are. Even if I say a hundred times that it's okay, you probably won't believe me."

Seeing her carefree laughter, Huo Lin's anger dissipated, leaving only a deep sense of heartache.

He shook his head helplessly and picked up the medicine bowl that had been kept warm on the small table next to him.

"Stop being so glib," he scooped up a spoonful, blew on it gently, and then held it to her lips. "Drink your medicine first."

Jiang Huan's face scrunched up as she looked at the dark, murky medicine.

"Oh, I'm all better now. I'm strong enough to run two 800-meter races. Can I skip the drink?"

Huo Lin raised an eyebrow, unmoved, and pushed the spoon forward again: "Good medicine tastes bitter, you must drink it."

"Let's discuss it..."

Jiang Huan pouted and looked at him pitifully, trying to soften his heart with her eyes.

"Look how weak I am. If I drink such bitter medicine, what if I throw up again? Wouldn't that be suffering for nothing?"

Huo Lin was almost amused by her twisted logic. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a commotion outside the hall, mixed with the tinkling of various jade pendants.

"Has Consort Zhuang awakened? We heard that Your Highness was unwell, so we came to visit you."

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty is of noble birth, how could you suddenly vomit so incessantly? It's truly terrifying."

"The Emperor is here too? This concubine greets the Emperor."

At the palace gate stood a group of beautiful women, none other than the concubines of the harem.

Jiang Huan had Huo Lin help her sit up, and glancing outside, she thought, "Good heavens!"

Each of them was exquisitely made up, with their hair piled high and adorned with gold hairpins and dangling ornaments. Their faces wore perfectly measured expressions of worry, yet their eyes kept glancing at Huo Lin.

Jiang Huan: ……

I'm afraid their visit to comfort the wounded is just a pretense; their real intention is to participate in a beauty pageant.

Huo Lin clearly shared Jiang Huan's opinion; his face instantly darkened, and his eyes were filled with anger.

Who are these people, dressed in gold and silver? Aren't they afraid of breaking their necks?

Why is there still such a strong smell of perfume? Are they trying to knock her out again?

His gaze swept over the group of brightly dressed women at the door, his brows furrowing.

[Chattering and chattering, it's so noisy.]

She just woke up and needs to rest; why are they causing trouble?

[Get out of here right now!]

He spoke coldly, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority: "Consort Zhuang has just woken up and needs to rest. She is not fit to receive guests. I understand your intentions. You may all leave."

The smiles on the faces of the concubines froze instantly.

"Your Majesty, I am only worried about Consort Zhuang."

"Yes, Your Majesty, just let me see it once, so I can feel at ease."

Huo Lin's eyes sharpened, and his tone grew even colder: "If you don't want to step down, then kneel in Weiyang Palace until you die!"

An overwhelming imperial aura instantly spread out, and the group of concubines at the door were so frightened that they turned pale and dared not utter another word.

They quickly curtsied and left, looking like wilted eggplants, unwilling to give up.

As Jiang Huan watched the group of people slink away, peace finally returned to her ears.

Tsk tsk, serves him right.

They're even vying for her favor right up to her bedside. Don't they know that disturbing a patient is punishable by contempt, warnings, and expulsion? It's like they're offering a one-stop service.

Once most of the concubines with their own agendas had left, He Ling and Mingzhu cautiously peeked in.

They had been keeping watch in the side hall and heard the commotion, but they didn't dare to come in and disturb them.

"Your Majesty, you're finally awake! You scared me to death!"

Mingzhu hopped in like a little rabbit, rushed to Jiang Huan's bedside, her eyes red-rimmed.

"That scared me to death! In that instant, I felt like my life was flashing by on a revolving lantern." He Ling also stepped forward quickly, her face showing genuine worry.

Seeing how nervous they were, Jiang Huan sat up straighter and gently patted her chest: "It's not that dramatic. I'm not dead yet. I'm sorry to have worried you."