Chapter 3 was cut?

Huh? To serve in bed?

Jiang Huan's mind exploded into pieces with a loud bang, and as she turned her head, she met Consort Yu's gaze, which was full of jealousy and hatred.

Sending a glutinous rice ball is considered vying for favor and currying favor. If she were to return from serving the emperor, wouldn't she be blamed for causing chaos in the harem?

"My lady, please don't delay any longer! The Emperor is urging us on!"

The eunuch urged her again, and Jiang Huan finally got up and followed him out with a blank mind. She just wanted to leave Jinhua Palace and live far away from trouble. The emperor hadn't set foot in the harem for three years, and he summoned her to serve him because of a bowl of glutinous rice balls. Wasn't that a bit strange?

Jiang Huan suddenly remembered when they were already halfway there.

That's not right. She didn't bathe or change clothes, and she didn't even ride in the Phoenix Spring Grace Carriage when she went to the Emperor's bedchamber. Was the Emperor so casual when he first summoned a concubine?

On the way, the little eunuch followed and explained, "Your Highness, please don't have any lingering resentment. Tonight was a bit rushed, but you are receiving a unique favor, aren't you?"

"This servant would like to remind you that His Majesty is not in a good mood, so please be careful with your words and actions."

The young eunuch swallowed hard, looking at Jiang Huan's small frame with a hint of worry. Tonight, the Emperor had finally been unable to defy the Empress Dowager. After reviewing all the notices from the Imperial Household Department, he specifically requested Jiang Huan.

You know, Consort Yu used money to deliberately remove Jiang Huan's green plaque. But after tonight, it's unclear whether Jiang Huan will become a sensation or be banished to the Cold Palace.

After all, the emperor was indeed displeased at the moment. The emperor usually had a bad temper. Although he would not beat or kill servants, he would smash things and kick them when he was angry.

With Consort Jiang's physique, she probably couldn't even withstand half a foot from the Emperor...

"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Eunuch."

Jiang Huan entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but her mind was still foggy and she couldn't clear her head.

"Now that you're here, what are you standing there for?"

Only when Huo Lin spoke in a low voice did Jiang Huan move forward with heavy steps and her head down.

[It's so annoying! All they do all day is flip through the palace gates. I can't even get enough to eat, how can I have the energy to give the Empress Dowager a grandson?]

[This is how my life is going to be. I'd rather not be a man. I'm too tired to have children. At least Consort Jiang is a good person—she cooks glutinous rice balls and peels crabs for me.]

[Let's find an excuse to have Consort Yu come and take her away. I'm really not in the mood, so I can only apologize to you.]

Before she could finish listening, Jiang Huan knelt down with a thud, her eyes filled with panic. "Your Majesty, even if you don't want to summon your concubines, you can't play games with her like this!"

Right now, Consort Yu sees her as a thorn in her side. If Consort Yu takes her back, she might not even have the money to cook in the small kitchen anymore!

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I came in a hurry today and have not yet bathed or dressed. I dare not offend Your Majesty's ears. Instead, I will massage your shoulders and legs and help you rest."

Jiang Huan's heart was pounding wildly, and she was terrified. She knew that if she really returned to Jinhua Palace tonight, it would be more than just being forced to kneel all night.

Jiang Huan had no intention of serving the emperor in bed, but even if it was just for one night with him...

If I become the first concubine to be summoned to the emperor's bedchamber, my life will definitely be easier from now on!

[This Consort Jiang is quite sensible, but I'm starving and really don't want to waste any more time chatting with women, so I'd better send her away.]

Hearing Huo Lin's thoughts, Jiang Huan gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and took out the three crabs she had hidden in her sleeve for half an hour.

"I brought back some trinkets from the palace banquet today. I wonder if Your Majesty would be interested?"

When Jiang Huan revealed the three crabs, Huo Lin's eyes visibly lit up.

[Crabs? Did Consort Jiang bring back crabs? And peeled ones at that?]

[Is that even a question? What are you kneeling there for? Why aren't you handing it to me? Are you expecting me to go and get it?]

Jiang Huan felt a headache coming on. "Your Majesty, you haven't said anything. How am I supposed to know if you want it or not?"

You usually remain silent, so how could any servant possibly know what you mean?

Jiang Huan handed over three crabs, watching Huo Lin eat slowly and methodically, but the voices in her head were exploding.

[So what if crabs are considered "cold" in traditional Chinese medicine? I'm going to eat them all! I'll devour them all in one go and infuriate Wang Degui!]

[It's a pity there were only three crabs; I'm still not full, but it's much better than before.]

[Of all the people in the palace, only Consort Jiang knows to feed me. I'll have them all executed one day!]

This was the umpteenth time Jiang Huan had heard Huo Lin say he wanted to kill everyone in the palace. Although she knew Huo Lin was probably just saying it in anger, Jiang Huan still couldn't help but feel afraid.

After all, this is the Emperor, and she is just a lowly concubine, with no powerful father to back her up. If she doesn't serve him well, she won't be able to live a peaceful life, let alone save her own life.

Huo Lin had finished eating and left the crab shells aside. He was now sitting with his hands on his knees.

[Is Consort Jiang blind? Doesn't she know to wipe my hands? Throw her out later!]

Jiang Huan's heart was pounding. She had been hiding the crabs for so long, and she hadn't been able to bear eating a single bite. The Emperor had eaten them all. Why was he turning his back on her and even trying to drive her away?

Jiang Huan hurriedly brought over a basin of water and helped Huo Lin wash his hands. She then dried them thoroughly with a handkerchief before he dared to look up, his heart pounding with fear.

"After I helped His Majesty to bed, I rested on the small couch in the outer hall?"

Before Huo Lin could ask her to leave, Jiang Huan offered a solution.

[Does Consort Jiang not want to serve the emperor? Does she already have a lover in the palace?]

These words nearly made Jiang Huan faint. Serving the emperor was not an option, nor was not serving him.

Your Majesty, if you're going to kill someone, you should at least give me a straight answer!

"Your Majesty is exhausted from state affairs today, and you drank quite a bit of wine at the palace banquet. I am of lowly status and dare not disturb Your Majesty's health."

Jiang Huan felt extremely insignificant, even less so than a laborer who toiled like a beast of burden in her previous life. After all, making a mistake in the palace could mean losing your life.

Under Huo Lin's burning gaze, Jiang Huan braced herself for a long time before he finally spoke.

"Then go to the outer hall to rest. What happened tonight must not be mentioned to outsiders."

Jiang Huan breathed a sigh of relief and immediately knelt down to express her gratitude.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will not utter a single word!"

Having listened to Huo Lin's innermost thoughts for so long, how could Jiang Huan not know what he was afraid of?

She simply didn't want the Empress Dowager to know that the concubines she summoned to serve her in bed ended up sleeping in the outer palace. But as soon as she turned to leave, Jiang Huan heard the murmurs in her mind.

I ate three crabs in one go today. If Wang Degui finds out, the Empress Dowager will nag me again.

[Judging from Consort Jiang's appearance, she doesn't seem like someone who can't keep her mouth shut. If she dares to say anything out of line, I'll sew a lock on her mouth!]

Jiang Huan's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Oh, so the Emperor was worried that the Empress Dowager would find out about the crab-eating incident...

Jiang Huan slept soundly in the outer palace all night; the voices in her head never stopped throughout the night.

One minute he's yelling "I'm hungry," the next he's saying, "These women in the harem are so annoying, I wish they could all just die of hunger," and then he's complaining, "Can those ministers not be angry with me? They're always complaining about the people's suffering, but I can't even get enough to eat myself!"

After tossing and turning all night, Jiang Huan got up again before dawn, her dark circles almost as pronounced as a panda's. Before the eunuchs and maids who were helping her with her washing and grooming came in, Jiang Huan had already entered the inner palace to help Huo Lin get up.

"Your Majesty, it's time to hold court."