Chapter 303 Warning

[System, redeem!]

"Beep—Command confirmed, exchange successful."

As the system notification sounded, an object appeared out of thin air in He Ling's hand.

It was a jade talisman tied with a red string. The jade was delicate and white, and it was engraved with mysterious and difficult-to-understand runes.

"Your Majesty, here you go."

As He Ling spoke, she placed the life-saving talisman directly into Jiang Huan's hand.

[Waaaaah, it hurts a little to spend my points, but it's good that I can help Your Majesty!]

Jiang Huan gripped the small jade talisman tightly. The warm touch from her palm seemed to carry a magical power, calming her wildly beating heart a little.

Back at Weiyang Palace, she found the strongest red rope, carefully threaded the jade talisman through it, and tied a tight knot to ensure it would never come loose.

Time passed day by day, and the eve of the army's departure arrived.

After finishing his final official business in the imperial study, Huo Lin dismissed everyone around him, rubbed his temples, and looked utterly exhausted.

These days I've been so busy, I've met with countless ministers, but I haven't had a chance to see her.

I'm heading to the North tomorrow. What if... I don't make it back?

No, I absolutely have to go to Weiyang Palace today.

Thinking it over, Huo Lin said in a deep voice, "Wang Degui, prepare the carriage..."

Before he could finish speaking, a figure pushed open the door and entered, with a gentle smile on her face. It was Jiang Huan, the woman he had been longing for.

Where is the Emperor going?

Huo Lin raised his head, his cold and stern features softening slightly. He walked a few steps to her side and pulled her into his arms.

As if that wasn't enough, he rested his chin on her shoulder and nuzzled her affectionately, saying, "Now that you're here, I won't go anywhere else."

Alas, if this departure means we are separated forever, I will surely die with my eyes wide open in disbelief.

[Besides, the food in that harsh, cold north probably doesn't taste as good as hers.]

[No, no, I'm going to war, I can't keep thinking about these things!]

Jiang Huan resisted the urge to make him spit out his unlucky thoughts, and her eyes became a little wet.

She took a breath, gently slipped out of Huo Lin's arms, and took out the life-saving jade talisman from her sleeve, handing it to him.

"You absolutely must carry it with you at all times."

Huo Lin's gaze fell on the jade talisman, and he paused for a moment.

"This is?"

Jiang Huan had prepared her answer beforehand and replied, "This is a peace talisman, blessed by a master. It's said to protect you, ward off evil, and bring you back safely. Wear it, and you'll surely return safely."

Upon hearing this, Huo Lin felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

[Ah, what virtue or ability do I possess? This jade talisman exudes such spiritual energy; it must have been obtained through her sincere prayers.]

[I insist on wearing it close to my body, even when showering!]

His eyes were deep as he solemnly accepted the jade talisman.

"Okay." Huo Lin's voice was deep and gentle.

He lowered his head, wrapped the red rope around his neck, and tied it carefully.

The jade talisman touched my skin, giving me a slightly cool sensation, which was then warmed up by my body temperature.

He raised his head and looked at Jiang Huan, as if trying to etch her image deep into his mind.

"I guarantee that I will return safely."

The next day, outside the capital.

Below the command platform, banners fluttered and the army stood at attention.

Huo Lin, clad in silver armor, gleamed in the morning light, his handsome features like a god, exuding an aura of unapproachability.

Jiang Huan stood at the very front of the procession of imperial concubines seeing her off, her gaze fixed on that dazzling figure.

She watched him mount his horse with agility, watched him take the wine offered by Wang Degui, drink it all in one gulp, and then smash the wine bowl on the ground.

"Set off!"

As bugles sounded and war drums beat, the army, like a black torrent, began to move slowly.

As Huo Lin rode past the farewell procession, his gaze landed precisely on Jiang Huan.

Even through the bustling crowd, his gaze remained as deep and focused as ever.

Jiang Huan's heart clenched suddenly, and she forced back the surging tears.

I mustn't cry, I mustn't let him worry.

She clutched her handkerchief tightly, silently praying to every deity in her heart.

Silly Huo Lin, you absolutely, positively must come back safely!

The sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance, and billowing dust eventually disappeared at the end of the official road.

After Huo left, life in the palace seemed to slow down all of a sudden, and it became much quieter.

Jiang Huan suppressed the emptiness in her heart and tried her best to keep herself busy.

She spent most of her time in the increasingly lush greenhouse in the backyard, where the warmth and vitality contrasted sharply with the gradually cooling weather outside.

She often stares blankly into space, holding something in her hand, motionless for a long time.

When eating, he would subconsciously make an extra dish that Huo Lin liked, and then stare blankly at the extra food.

Mingzhu would occasionally come over to freeload, chattering about interesting things happening inside and outside the palace, trying to make her happy.

He Ling often came to keep her company. The two of them tended the vegetable garden together and sometimes researched new dishes, but they tacitly avoided topics related to the front lines.

As the days went by, Jiang Huan's heart remained in suspense, and her anxiety about not being able to grasp the true situation of Huo Lin grew day by day.

She could only take even better care of the fruits and vegetables, as if the better they grew, the more peaceful Huo Lin would be in the far north.

And so, in the long wait, time quietly slipped by.

The weather was rather gloomy that afternoon.

Jiang Huan was watering a row of newly sown seeds alone in the greenhouse, her movements slow and her eyes vacant.

Suddenly, the greenhouse door was flung open, and He Ling rushed in, her face pale and panting.

Her forehead was covered in cold sweat, and her eyes were filled with fear.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The system... the system just issued a warning... a red warning!"

The water ladle in Jiang's hand fell to the ground with a thud, and her breathing quickened instantly.

"Tell me slowly, whose warning was it about?"

Upon hearing this, a sense of foreboding washed over me.

She was practically begging He Ling not to say that name.

But often, things don't go as planned.

He Ling grabbed Jiang Huan's arm, her fingers digging so hard they almost dug into her flesh.

"It's about the Emperor. The system says that the Emperor's trip to the Northern Border is fraught with danger, and he may very well die in an assassination trap!"

Jiang Huan felt her mind go blank, and all the sounds of the world seemed to disappear in an instant.

She staggered and had to grab onto the nearby shed to steady herself. Her face instantly turned even paler than He Ling's.

"Isn't the life-saving talisman supposed to withstand one fatal wound? Did he lose it, or...?"

I couldn't continue.

The battlefield is ever-changing, and a fatal wound can never be suffered only once.

She looked at He Ling, her voice dry and trembling, almost incoherent.

Is there a possibility of a system malfunction causing a false alarm?

He Ling's expression was equally unpleasant, but she still made up her mind and said, "I think this time it's for real."

Jiang Huan's vision went black for a moment, and she almost fainted, but a strong willpower held her up.

No! It can't fall!

Huo Lin is still alive, which means there is still room for maneuver.

She absolutely refused to let herself fall in the palace first and miss the opportunity to turn the tide.

"He Ling, I need to go to the Northern Border."

Jiang Huan suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with an unprecedented determination.

He Ling was terrified: "Your Majesty, there is a war in the Northern Border. It's too dangerous in this chaotic situation. You don't mean to go and rescue the Emperor all by yourself, do you? That's impossible."

"Of course I'm not that stupid." Jiang Huan suppressed her emotions, tears almost blurring her vision.

“He Ling, have you noticed that the plot of this book has been completely changed because of us? There is no set plot, only warnings. This is an unknown risk, but also a way to survive. Even if there is only a one in ten thousand chance, I will try.”

During the brief moment of explaining to He Ling, Jiang Huan also sorted out her thoughts.

She can't just pack her bags and set off alone; she'd probably be exhausted before she even got halfway there.

We need to find help.

She turned abruptly and shouted loudly towards the outside of the hall, "Someone come here!"

The palace maid guarding the gate immediately responded and entered.

"Go to Prince Qing's residence and the Xu residence immediately!" Jiang Huan spoke rapidly. "Tell them I have an extremely urgent matter and request that the Crown Prince and my elder brother enter the palace at once. Be quick!"

"Yes." Seeing that her expression was more solemn than ever before, the palace maid dared not delay and quickly turned around and ran to deliver the message.

The waiting time became unbearably agonizing. Jiang Huan paced back and forth in the palace, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, her heart pounding like a drum.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of footsteps approached from afar.

Xu Xiuyuan was the first to enter. He had clearly rushed over; his official robes were even slightly disheveled, and his face showed obvious worry.

Upon entering the hall, his gaze immediately locked onto his pale-faced sister.

"Huan'er?" Xu Xiuyuan strode forward. "What happened? Why..."

Before he could finish speaking, another figure strode in.

It's Huo Yuan.

He walked hurriedly, his brows furrowed slightly as usual, seemingly somewhat displeased at being suddenly summoned.

Just as he was about to say something sarcastic, he saw that Jiang Huan's eyes were red and she had lost her usual composure.

Huo Yuan immediately straightened his expression and asked, "Your Highness, why have you summoned us in such a hurry?"

Jiang Huan took a deep breath, her gaze now more resolute than ever before.

"Brother, Your Highness, I want to go to the Northern Border."