Chapter 41 Arrival at the Imperial Palace

After a brief resupply in the town, the group resumed their journey and finally arrived at the summer palace a few days later.

There are no strict rules like in the palace here, and everywhere you look there are fresh and new sights.

The rest of them were born within the high walls of the palace and were accustomed to constraints.

But Jiang Huan is a modern person who was born under the red flag and raised under the blue sky, with impeccable revolutionary credentials.

On their first day of arrival, she dragged Xiao Zhao around the palace like a madwoman.

"My lord, please slow down."

Xiao Zhao followed behind, panting, watching her master as she frolicked like a bird released from its cage.

"Xiao Zhao, you don't understand the value of something that's all-natural and pollution-free."

Jiang Huan stood on a rockery, gazing at the distant rolling hills. She took a deep breath and felt that even the air was sweet.

Xiao Zhao supported herself on her knees, looking somewhat helpless.

"My lady, if you keep running like this, you'll get tired soon."

Jiang Huan didn't take it to heart, her gaze drifting and landing on a hillside covered with wildflowers.

The reflections are vibrant and colorful, like pink ocean waves.

In the few months she spent navigating the complexities of the imperial harem, she felt like she had done the work of her entire life.

Now that I'm out relaxing, all the pent-up emotions in my heart have dissipated, so how could I feel tired?

"Let's go pick flowers."

Jiang Huan's eyes lit up, and she grabbed Xiao Zhao and ran over there.

"My lady, there are fresh flowers in Weiyang Palace in all four seasons. If we pick any more, we won't have enough to store them all."

Before long, Xiao Zhao, carrying a large bouquet of flowers, followed beside Jiang Huan, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Homegrown flowers never smell as sweet as wildflowers."

Jiang Huan was in high spirits and stuffed another bouquet of flowers into Xiao Zhao's arms, her gaze inadvertently drifting to a spot not far away.

A small lake, its surface shimmering in the sunlight.

Her eyes lit up.

He immediately stopped picking flowers, grabbed Xiao Zhao and ran over, only to find several fishing rods lying by the lake.

"Step aside, let me show you the skills of a fisherman."

Jiang Huan excitedly picked up the fishing rod and deftly baited the hook. "When I catch one, we'll have an extra meal tonight!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhao stood quietly to the side, afraid of scaring the fish away.

Jiang Huan's skills were indeed excellent, and she was also lucky. Before long, she caught two plump carp.

"Braised or steamed?" Jiang Huan asked smugly, shaking the fish basket.

Xiao Zhao opened her eyes wide and said, "I'll eat whatever you make, my mistress."

There was a small kitchen in the palace specifically for the palace servants. Jiang Huan found out the location and then led Xiao Zhao inside.

The Grand Eunuch was also in the procession of the imperial palace. When he saw that the person who came was Jiang Huan, he greeted her with a smile.

"Your Majesty is here! What new tricks will you be up to today?"

Jiang Huan smiled and held up the fish. "This is what I just caught. I'll make this today."

Ever since she showed off her skills in the imperial kitchen, the people there have been completely in awe of Jiang Huan.

Later, she often came to make snacks for Huo Lin, and over time they became quite familiar with each other.

If it weren't for Consort Jiang Huan's status, Chief Steward Gao would have pleaded with her to switch jobs and become the imperial chef, no matter how much he talked.

Upon hearing that Jiang Huan was going to cook fish, Chief Steward Gao immediately took decisive action and had a stove prepared for her.

Jiang Huan rolled up her sleeves and deftly prepared the fish.

Before long, a plate of fragrant braised carp was ready.

Jiang Huan divided the fish into two portions, and had Xiao Zhao take one portion back to her bedroom in the palace to eat herself.

A beautifully arranged plate was prepared to be delivered to Huo Lin as a way of thanking him for mentioning her.

Hmph, Jiang Huan is a person who knows how to repay kindness!

"Let's go, let's go find the Emperor."

Food is the best way to get in touch with people, and Jiang Huan is never worried about being rejected by Huo Lin.

As expected, upon learning of Jiang Huan's arrival, Huo Lin immediately had someone lead her inside.

When Jiang Huan entered, Huo Lin was still handling official business.

This year's sweltering heat was unbearable, several major counties suffered natural disasters, and the war in the Northwest was also intense. The pile of memorials on his hands was almost half a person high.

His already stern features became even more serious, with a deep furrow between his brows.

Are these ministers just sitting around doing nothing? I have to do everything myself, and their ideas are worse than the food in the imperial kitchen. I might as well just give them each a bowl of rice and choke to death.

[And then there are those concubines. I'm already exhausted from reviewing memorials every day, and they still come to bother me in groups.]

Since everyone's so idle, why not recall my soldiers, put them in armor, and send them to battle!

Jiang Huan's eyes darted around; the Emperor was in a bad mood.

She should try not to bother them and minimize her presence.

"Your Majesty, I caught a big carp today, and I was thinking of making some home-style dishes to help you cleanse your palate."

As Jiang Huan spoke, she obediently arranged the dishes on the table one by one.

He didn't lift his head or glance around; he perfectly embodied the sycophantic, working-class attitude.

[I like Consort Zhuang's attitude; she went straight to the kitchen on her very first day at the palace.]

[Not only does she not bother me, but she also relieves my worries. This is the conduct of an empress. Hmm, Consort Zhuang doesn't need to go to war.]

After washing his hands, Huo Lin sat down at the table, picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks, and put it in his mouth.

His brow twitched slightly, and then...

He picked up another piece with his chopsticks.

"Not bad," Huo Lin commented casually, but his hands didn't stop moving.

Ah, Xuan.

Jiang Huan pursed her lips, suppressing a smile, and served Huo Lin soup and dishes, quietly keeping him company as he ate.

How could I not advertise such a freshly killed carp?

Perhaps due to the long journey, Huo Lin ate much more than usual this time.

Wang Degui served him from the side, and knowing that the journey had been arduous, he refrained from spoiling the mood.

After finishing her meal, Jiang Huan wisely excused herself.

It's fine if she doesn't accompany Huo Lin. She had long heard that there was a hot spring villa behind the palace, which had been carefully transformed into a royal bath by craftsmen.

Water vapor rises, mist swirls, creating a scene of dreamlike beauty.

She had been craving this pool for a very, very long time!

Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside Consort Jia's bedchamber was completely different.

"The Emperor still refuses to see me?"

Consort Jia's face was gloomy, and she almost crushed the fan in her hand.

Seeing Consort Jia's expression, the palace maid knelt on the ground and answered tremblingly.

"Your Majesty, Eunuch Wang says the Emperor is discussing the war in the Northwest with his ministers and is not available..."

On the way to the imperial palace, the procession was almost always on the move, rarely stopping except when necessary, and the emperor never summoned any of his concubines.

Jiang Huan was the only one who was injured while protecting the Emperor and was left in his carriage by him, which aroused the envy of many.

Consort Jia originally thought that after arriving at the imperial palace, Jiang Huan and the emperor would be separated, and she would have a chance to see the emperor. However, she did not expect that the emperor would still refuse to see her.

Snap—

The round fan in her hand was violently smashed to the ground by Consort Jia.

Every time she sent someone to request an audience with the Emperor, he refused her with various excuses.

In the past, it would have been fine if no one could see the emperor.

But now that Jiang Huan's family is all the power, Consort Jia can't sit still.

"If I cannot see the Emperor, where is Consort Zhuang?"

"Consort Zhuang..." the palace maid replied, forcing a smile, "I heard that Consort Zhuang delivered a meal to the Emperor, and then toured the entire palace with her maids. In the evening, she... she's even planning to go to the hot springs..."

Consort Jia gave a cold laugh and lightly tapped the table with her nail-painted fingers.

The war in the Northwest was never a reason for her to refuse; the Emperor's refusal to see her stemmed from the fact that he simply didn't want to!

It's all that little vixen Jiang Huan's fault. I don't know what tricks she used, but she managed to completely fool the Emperor.

We absolutely cannot let her continue like this.

Consort Jia's eyes suddenly turned sharp. "Soaking in a hot spring? Good, I've been looking forward to this opportunity."

She beckoned her trusted maidservant forward and whispered a few instructions.

The palace maid's expression changed slightly, then she nodded respectfully and withdrew.