Chapter 330 Heartfelt Words

Jiang Huan turned over and covered her head with the blanket, trying to block out the mind-numbing inner monologue.

However, Huo Lin's thoughts were all-pervasive, penetrating the quilt and clearly reaching her ears.

[Won't she be able to breathe if the blanket is over her head? No, we need to pull it down a bit.]

[Should we cancel tomorrow's morning court session? I need to personally supervise her breakfast.]

The flowers in the Imperial Garden are blooming beautifully; should we take her there for a stroll to clear her mind...?

Jiang Huan felt her temples throbbing. If this continued, she wouldn't be able to have a peaceful pregnancy; she'd probably suffer from neurasthenia.

She suddenly threw off the covers and sat up, her movements so fast that Huo Lin, who was standing next to her, was startled.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Do you feel nauseous or have a stomachache?" Huo Lin immediately leaned over anxiously and reached out to touch her forehead.

Why did she suddenly sit up? Was she having a nightmare? Or did I accidentally bump into her?

[You don't look well. Are you really feeling unwell? Should we summon the imperial physician?]

Jiang Huan was about to go crazy listening to his completely oblivious thoughts.

She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the urge to kick him off the bed, and said in a calm tone, "I'm fine, Huo Lin. Your breathing is a little heavy. Can you sleep quietly?"

Huo Lin blinked, a hint of guilt on his face, and quickly assured him, "Okay, okay, I'll go to sleep now, I promise I won't disturb you!"

He quickly lay down, closed his eyes tightly, not daring to even tremble his eyelashes, adjusted his breathing, and tried his best to appear as if he were falling asleep.

Jiang Huan sighed and lay down again, praying that things would finally calm down this time.

However, the silence lasted for less than three seconds...

She lay back down, and her breathing seemed to be more steady.

[I must control myself, I can't think about it anymore, I need to sleep.]

[But what's a good nickname for the baby? Xiao Bao? Too common. Tuan Tuan? Sounds a bit too soft. What if it's a boy?]

Ah, no, no, I need to sleep.

One sheep, two sheep, three sheep... Is this sheep's wool soft enough to make a little blanket for the baby sheep...?

Jiang Huan stared in despair at the intricate embroidery on the tent ceiling in the darkness, feeling like she was about to lose her mind.

This isn't sleeping, it's mental torture!

She could no longer contain herself and sat up again, this time her tone filled with obvious anger: "Huo Lin!"

Huo Lin was startled by her angry voice and immediately opened his eyes, asking nervously, "What is it now?"

Jiang Huan looked at his blank expression and almost laughed out of anger.

She pointed towards the palace gate and said decisively, "You, now, immediately, right now, go to sleep in the side hall. We'll have separate rooms tonight!"

"Separate rooms?" Huo Lin was struck dumb, his voice changing. "Why? Did I disturb you? I promise I won't move or make a sound."

Why do we need separate rooms? If it's because you're upset that I'm crowding her, I can sleep a little further off the bed!

Jiang Huan couldn't very well say it was because his inner thoughts were too noisy, so she had to come up with an excuse.

"I have light sleep since I got pregnant. I can't sleep soundly if there are people around me. I need an absolutely quiet environment. I can't sleep with you here."

The reason sounded reasonable, and Huo Lin was stunned for a moment, a struggle appearing on his face.

He glanced at Jiang Huan's unwell complexion, then thought about what the imperial physician had said about pregnant women needing sufficient sleep, and was torn between his inner conflict and his own thoughts.

[It's bad for the baby if she doesn't sleep well, and it's even worse for her health, but I'm worried about leaving her alone.]

What if she needs me tonight? But she says she can't sleep...

In the end, his concern for Jiang Huan and the child overcame his reluctance to part with them.

Like a large dog that had been scolded by its master, he drooped his head, slowly got up, and walked toward the palace gate with every step he took, looking back every few steps.

"Then I will go to the side hall. If you need anything, be sure to call me. I am right next door and can come over anytime."

Jiang Huan felt a little soft-hearted when she saw his aggrieved expression, but the thought of the peace and quiet that was about to come immediately suppressed that soft-heartedness by her desire for sleep.

She hardened her heart and nodded: "I understand, go ahead."

Huo Lin lingered and left, and the bedchamber finally returned to silence.

Jiang Huan breathed a long sigh of relief; the world was finally quiet.

She lay back down, enjoying the rare silence, and soon her consciousness began to fade as she drifted off to sleep.

In the side hall, Huo Lin was wide awake.

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became. Finally, unable to contain himself any longer, he sent someone to invite Shen Yi over late at night.

Shen Yi was dragged out of his warm bed, yawning and walking in with a resentful look on his face.

"My Emperor, why have you summoned me in the middle of the night instead of resting with your beautiful wives and concubines?"

Huo Lin frowned and recounted the whole story of how he was kicked out.

Shen Yi was taken aback, then let out an even bigger yawn and leaned lazily against the pillar.

"Oh, is that all? I thought the sky was falling."

"Your Majesty, women, especially pregnant women, are heavy and easily tired. Their sense of smell and hearing are particularly sensitive, and they are very particular about their surroundings. You were so tense, like you were going to war, of course she could sense it and couldn't sleep well."

"Let her sleep in separate rooms for a few days to give her some peace and quiet. It will be good for both mother and child. You should stay in this side hall for a few days and behave well. Things will naturally get better in a while."

After being comforted by Shen Yi, Huo Lin felt a little more at ease, but he was still thinking about Weiyang Palace.

He managed to lie down in the side hall, but tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

His mind was filled with thoughts of Jiang Huan and the child in her belly; he worried about her kicking off the covers, having nightmares, and being hungry in the middle of the night…

Will she be cold sleeping alone?

She didn't look well just now. Is she really feeling unwell and hiding it from him?

The side hall is so close, it shouldn't be a problem for him to sneak a peek, right? Just one peek, to make sure she's asleep, then he'll come back.

Once the thought arises, it can no longer be suppressed.

So, in the dead of night, His Majesty the Emperor, like a voyeur, tiptoed back to the main hall of Weiyang Palace.

He gently pushed open the palace door and, by the faint moonlight from the window, walked to the bedside.

Seeing that Jiang Huan was breathing steadily and sleeping soundly, Huo Lin's heart finally settled down a little.

He dared not utter a sound, nor dared he touch Jiang Huan. He simply stood quietly by the bed, greedily gazing at her sleeping face in the moonlight, his inner thoughts stirring once more.

I slept so soundly; it seems like sleeping in separate rooms was the right decision.

Her complexion looks rosier, that's good. The baby must be sleeping soundly too.

[Have the imperial kitchen make some sour plum drink tomorrow to whet her appetite; she seems to crave sour things lately.]

Just as he was engrossed in his internal monologue, Jiang Huan on the bed was woken up again.

She finally lost her temper and snapped, "Can't you just shut up for a minute?"