Chapter 334 Phoenix Man

Looking at Princess Mingzhu's face, which had instantly brightened from gloomy to cheerful, Jiang Huan thought to herself that this girl was truly innocent and adorable.

She took Mingzhu's hand and walked to a stone bench to sit down. A palace maid tactfully brought her some freshly brewed flower tea and some snacks.

"Okay, now tell me in detail how you met?"

Jiang Huan handed her a pastry, her tone gentle and encouraging: "I need to know the whole story so I can help you analyze it and think about how to talk to your royal uncle, right?"

Princess Mingzhu took the pastry, took a small bite, and blushed again, but this time with a hint of excitement at sharing a secret.

"Just last month, I went to a poetry gathering hosted by the Duke of Anguo's mansion. There were so many people that day. I felt bored, so I went to the backyard for some fresh air. I accidentally tripped over a pebble and almost fell. He was right next to me and reached out to help me up. He was very polite and even asked me if I was hurt."

She paused, her gaze drifting into the distance, as if reminiscing.

"A few days later, I went to the Moxiang Pavilion in the south of the city to look for some newly published travelogues and ran into him again. He said he was also there to look for some ancient books, so we... chatted about the books we had been reading recently."

"Your Majesty, you don't know how much he knows. He can talk about the Four Books and Five Classics, poetry and songs, and even the local customs and traditions of some places. He is very humble and never shows off."

"Oh? What a coincidence?" Jiang Huan raised an eyebrow, her tone inquisitive.

Doesn't that sound a little strange?

“Yes!” Princess Mingzhu nodded vigorously, completely unaware of Jiang Huan’s implied meaning, and instead felt that she had met a kindred spirit.

"Another time, my maid and I went to Yipinxuan for tea and we ran into him again. That day, the waiter accidentally spilled tea on my skirt, and he immediately handed me a clean handkerchief and asked the waiter to quickly bring me a clean cloth. He was very thoughtful."

She became more and more excited as she spoke, counting on her fingers: "I've met him so many times, and every time he would greet me and ask how I was doing. He also said that although I'm young, I have unique insights and a sharp mind, unlike those young ladies who only know about cosmetics..."

At this point, her voice lowered, filled with shyness and sweetness.

However, the more Jiang Huan listened, the more her brows furrowed.

The Pearl Channel is indeed full of idol dramas.

But to run into someone at a poetry gathering, a bookstore, and a teahouse—isn't the frequency of these encounters a bit too high?

He always manages to show up at just the right moment whenever Mingzhu has a minor problem; his timing is just too perfect.

He kept praising her intelligence and insight, saying that Mingzhu's limited knowledge... cough cough, that's not the point.

The key question is, where does someone from a poor family get the time and money to frequently visit these kinds of places?

This script sounds like a meticulously planned tale of a man from humble beginnings rising to power.

Jiang Huan's inner alarm bells were ringing, but seeing Mingzhu's blissful expression, she couldn't bear to pour cold water on her enthusiasm.

Mingzhu is simple-minded and in the heat of the moment; if you were to directly point it out, she might not listen.

If we add her to the list of wicked mothers-in-law later, then not even eight donkeys could pull her back.

Having made up her mind, Jiang Huan did not interrupt Mingzhu. Instead, she waited for her to finish speaking and then smiled casually.

She picked up a potato pancake made in the small kitchen and handed it to Mingzhu.

"Here, try this. It's made with potatoes from this field."

Princess Mingzhu took it, took a bite, and nodded.

"Mmm, delicious, very sweet."

Jiang Huan took a piece herself and ate it slowly, saying casually, "This potato, don't be fooled by its yellowish-brown appearance. It's a real good thing, it can fill your stomach. But I'm afraid of some things that look shiny on the outside but are already rotten inside. Eating them will only give you an upset stomach."

She then pointed to a plate of exquisite hibiscus cakes next to her: "Just like these cakes, they are beautifully made and made with a lot of expensive ingredients, but if too much sugar is added or if the ingredients are not fresh, no matter how good they look, you can't eat too much of them."

He Ling, who was listening nearby, understood Jiang Huan's implied meaning and echoed her.

"Your Majesty is right. The most reliable ingredients are those that are left in their natural state."

Princess Mingzhu, being simple-minded and immersed in sweet memories, did not immediately understand Jiang Huan's hint and simply nodded in bewilderment.

"Oh...yes, potato pancakes are quite delicious."

Seeing Mingzhu's expression, Jiang Huan sighed inwardly, knowing that her words wouldn't have much effect on Mingzhu, who was immersed in the bubble of love.

Neither of them noticed that a tall figure had been standing quietly for a moment under the corridor not far away.

Huo Lin was in a bad mood and had intended to visit Jiang Huan, but he happened to overhear Mingzhu's enthusiastic story and Jiang Huan's tactful reminder.

The more he listened, the calmer his expression became, and the sharper his eyes grew.

"The worst thing in this world is hypocrisy," his deep voice suddenly broke the conversation in the courtyard.

The three were startled by the sound and turned to look. They saw that Huo Lin was already standing not far away.

[Hmph, as expected, she's a spoiled brat who doesn't know the ways of the world. A few sentimental poems and a little favor are enough to make her lose her head.]

[She's quite perceptive, even knowing to subtly remind her, but unfortunately, this silly girl's brain is so sweet she doesn't understand at all.]

It seems I must play the villain and make things clear.

When Princess Mingzhu saw Huo Lin and met his all-knowing gaze, her face turned pale instantly, and she almost dropped the pastries in her hand.

"Royal...Royal Uncle!"

He Ling also quickly stood up and bowed.

Jiang Huan remained calm, looking at Huo Lin with surprise: "When did you arrive?"

Goodness, how long have you been eavesdropping? Judging from your expression, you've heard everything.

Huo Lin walked to Jiang Huan's side, put his arm around her waist, and looked at Mingzhu.

"It wasn't long, but I heard everything I needed to hear."

Upon hearing this, Mingzhu trembled and lowered her head even further.

Huo Lin stopped beating around the bush and bluntly pointed out: "Where's your brain? Where would a poor scholar get the money and leisure to run into you so precisely?"

He snorted coldly: "Besides, one chance encounter is a coincidence, but two chance encounters are premeditated. What he cares about is your status as a princess."