Chapter 293 Undercurrents

Huo Lin's swift and decisive actions in the Golden Palace instantly froze the rumors and gossip targeting Jiang Huan in the court.

At least on the surface, no one dared to attack Jiang Huan with accusations of her being a femme fatale.

However, beneath the surface calm, undercurrents never cease to surge.

"Have you heard? The Northern Di have attacked, all because Consort Zhuang refused to let the Emperor take a princess as a concubine."

"That's right. The Empress Dowager was furious, saying that Consort Zhuang was jealous, lacked common sense, and was dragging the country down with her."

"Alas, the Emperor is also like this. He even started a war because of her. What if something really happens?"

...

These rumors, like the wind with legs, quietly spread throughout the inner palace.

Jiang Huan was certainly aware of this, but the news spread so quickly that there must be someone stirring things up behind the scenes.

The best way to deal with these chatterboxes is to remain silent, while the enemy remains still.

So she continued her daily routine as usual, tending to her vegetable garden and preparing delicious food.

Instead of letting unpleasant things weigh you down, it's better to cook something delicious for Huo Lin to help him recover.

That afternoon, the sun was shining brightly, and Jiang Huan was busy in the small kitchen.

She rolled up her sleeves, tied on an apron, and deftly stirred a pot of chicken soup.

Golden oil bubbled and sizzled in the pot, garnished with a few plump red dates and goji berries, emitting an enticing aroma.

Huo Lin has been so busy these past few days that he's lost weight.

Just drinking ginseng soup isn't enough; you need to supplement your diet with something substantial.

She had the small kitchen specially find this old hen; it had been stewing for two hours, and the bones were so tender that all the essence was in the soup.

She sniffed the aroma with satisfaction and was about to serve it when she heard hurried footsteps outside.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

Mingzhu rushed into the small kitchen like a whirlwind, her face flushed and her forehead covered in a fine sheen of sweat.

"What's wrong? Is something urgent happening to you?"

Jiang Huan chuckled and teased her, then casually picked up a freshly baked cookie from the side and stuffed it into her mouth.

"Try it, it's freshly baked."

Mingzhu took a bite without thinking. The crispy and sweet taste made her eyes light up, but she immediately remembered her business.

She chewed and mumbled, "Um...no...Your Majesty, something's happened. People outside are saying you're a vixen."

"They say the Northern Barbarians are fighting because of you, and that the Empress Dowager thinks you can't give birth to a prince, so she's preparing to capture a demon."

Mingzhu grew angrier as she spoke, her little fists clenched tightly: "They've gone too far! It's clearly the Northern Di who's being bad, what does it have to do with you?"

As Jiang Huan listened to Mingzhu's endless complaints, her smile faded slightly, but her eyes remained calm.

She picked up another cookie and put it into Mingzhu's mouth.

"Some people's mouths aren't mouths, they're manure-producing machines. Let them spew whatever they want, we'll just stay away from them."

"If the Empress Dowager insists on arresting me, I will say that I am pregnant, but that I am pregnant with Nezha, who will not be born for three years."

Mingzhu was stunned by her nonsensical yet calm attitude, blinking her big eyes.

"But...but what they said was really nasty..."

"Is poop delicious? Relax, relax. I'm not money, how can I expect everyone to like me?"

Jiang Huan patted her head, "I have you all, that's enough for me. Come on, help me taste this soup, is it salty enough?"

Mingzhu wanted to say something more, but seeing Jiang Huan's expression, she felt that the Empress's calmness must have its reasons.

Suppressing her worries, she carefully scooped up a spoonful of chicken soup, took a small sip, and then smiled.

"It's delicious! Can I drink it all?"

"Leave some for your royal uncle." Jiang Huan smiled and flicked Mingzhu's head, but still filled a small bowl and left some for him.

She carefully ladled the remaining chicken soup into an insulated food container and placed a few freshly baked cookies next to it.

"Alright, I'm going to deliver the soup to the Emperor. You stay here and behave yourself, don't run around." Jiang Huan picked up the food box and instructed Mingzhu.

"Yes, Your Highness, please be careful!" Mingzhu nodded vigorously.

Carrying a food box and accompanied by a palace maid, Jiang Huan left Weiyang Palace and headed towards the Imperial Study.

The afternoon sun shone through the palace walls, casting dappled shadows on her.

She was in a good mood and even hummed a little tune.

That guy must have been so busy he forgot to eat again.

She had to watch him finish drinking it, otherwise she would be letting down the old hen that she had stewed for two hours!

Two palace maids followed behind her, maintaining a just-right distance.

Along the palace road, eunuchs and maids would occasionally pass by, and they would all bow respectfully when they saw her, but their eyes would flicker.

Jiang Huan could feel the gazes cast at her from the shadows, but she didn't care.

What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen food delivered to the emperor before?

Just as she was silently complaining, a person dressed as a eunuch suddenly appeared from around the corner ahead.

The man walked towards her with his head down and hurried steps, as if he had something urgent to attend to.

Jiang Huan subconsciously moved aside, but the person seemed to lose their footing and stumbled straight towards her.

"Your Majesty, be careful!" the man exclaimed, but a cold glint flashed in his hand.

Jiang Huan's pupils contracted sharply, and she instinctively took a step back, causing the food box in her hand to slip from her grasp.

With a bang, the soup bowl shattered on the ground, and scalding soup splashed everywhere.

The eunuch's eyes flashed with malice as he thrust the dagger in his hand straight at Jiang Huan's heart.

Jiang Huan finally realized that they were going to hunt her down and kill her!

At this critical moment, a dark figure flashed by like a ghost, knocking away the dagger aimed at Jiang Huan.

A man dressed as a guard appeared out of nowhere and stood firmly in front of Jiang Huan, his long sword pointing directly at the eunuch's throat.

When the eunuch realized that his actions had been exposed, his expression changed, and he turned to flee.

"Take him down!" the guard shouted, and two more guards immediately jumped out from the shadows and subdued the eunuch in a few moves.

Jiang Huan was still in shock and had to lean against the palace wall to steady herself.

"Your Majesty has been frightened." The head guard turned and bowed. "I am the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards, and I have been ordered by His Majesty to protect Your Majesty in secret."

Jiang Huan took a deep breath to calm her racing heart: "Thank you... thank you."

She looked at the subdued eunuch, frowned, and asked, "What's going on?"

The deputy commander said in a deep voice, "This person is not a palace eunuch, but an assassin who has infiltrated the palace. We will only know his specific background after interrogation."

The assassin, being escorted, suddenly looked up at Jiang Huan, his eyes filled with resentment and venom: "You bewitching concubine! You have bewitched the emperor and disrupted the court; you will surely be punished by heaven!"

Jiang Huan: ? ? ?

Even in his dying words, he still mentioned her; don't hate her too much.

The deputy commander's face darkened: "Gag him!"