Chapter 488 Late Night Snack

Inside the imperial study, candlelight flickered.

Huo Lin sat behind a large rosewood dragon desk, with memorials spread out in front of him and a vermilion brush in his hand, but he did not write a single word for a long time.

He frowned slightly, the words of Jiang Huan praising the musician still faintly echoing in his ears.

Does she find him boring?

I feel that he spends all his time on politics, unlike those who can play the piano and sing.

Waaah, the wedding has only been going on for a short time, and they're already admiring the skills of outsiders.

As the old saying goes, once you get something, you don't cherish it...

Could it be... that she actually prefers that kind of look? A delicate, frail figure in flowing white robes?

Huo Lin suddenly felt a surge of irritation. He slammed the vermilion brush he was holding onto the inkstone. A few specks of vermilion, thickly coated with ink, splashed onto the snow-white Xuan paper, their bright red color strikingly bright, much like the inexplicable stagnation in his heart at that moment.

He silently berated himself for his improper behavior.

When did an emperor become so impatient?

However, reason is one thing, and emotions are another. That slight unease was like fine sand, making him restless.

Just then, the study door was gently pushed open, and a delicious aroma of food wafted in.

Jiang Huan walked in with a smile, carrying a red lacquered tray with a steaming bowl of stewed pears with rock sugar and a few delicate snacks on it.

"Your Majesty, you must be tired after reviewing so many memorials. I've stewed some snow pears to soothe your throat."

Huo Lin opened his eyes upon hearing the sound and saw her smiling face. The gloom in his heart dissipated slightly, but when he thought of what happened at the banquet, he turned his face away again, deliberately avoiding looking at her.

"Now you know you're here? You weren't this attentive at the banquet."

Stewed pears? Hmph, they're probably just feeling guilty.

Jiang Huan ignored his coldness and placed the tray on a corner of the table.

Her gaze swept over the neglected vermilion pen and the glaring red dot on the paper, a knowing smile flashing in her eyes.

Jiang Huan reached out and picked up the imperial brush. She examined it intently in the bright candlelight, then shook her head seriously and sighed softly.

"Sigh—" she drawled, her voice full of sympathy, "What wrong did this pen do today? Look at this cinnabar, splattered everywhere, its 'heart' must be broken, right? It must know it didn't serve the Emperor well enough, making him not even want to approve any words, and it's feeling ashamed here!"

As she spoke, she gently brushed the pen with her fingertips, as if comforting a child who had made a mistake, but her eyes secretly glanced at Huo Lin's tense profile.

"If you ask me, this pen is really disobedient. His Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state and works so hard to review memorials. Instead of performing well and making His Majesty's writing more beautiful, it throws a tantrum here, splashing ink and making His Majesty unhappy. It should be punished."

She became increasingly indignant as she spoke, and with the pen in hand, she turned to leave, saying, "I'll take it right now and soak it in clean water for several hours, making it reflect on its mistakes, and see if it dares to be so negligent again!"

Huo Lin was both amused and exasperated by her feigned ignorance, and his forced indifference almost crumbled.

He turned his head, intending to glare at her, but unexpectedly met her eyes, which were filled with subtle smiles.

In those clear pupils, her own reflection was clearly visible.

In an instant, the last shred of defense Huo Lin had been holding onto crumbled.

[Knowing full well she's just trying to flatter me, why do I still find myself so easily swayed?]

So what if she praises someone else? She's mine, and her heart is mine too.

"I am the Son of Heaven, with a heart that can hold a boat... though that boat is still a bit shaky."

He reached out to pull her closer, but Jiang Huan, like a slippery fish, turned away gently, avoiding his hand.

She put the pen back on the pen holder, then picked up the bowl of rock sugar pear soup, gently stirred it with a porcelain spoon, blew on it to cool it down, and brought it to his lips.

"Let's not talk about that foolish pen for now, Your Majesty. You've been busy all night. Have something to drink and see if it's sweet."

The aroma of pears mixed with the scent of rock sugar lingered around his nose. The white pear flesh in the spoon trembled slightly. Seeing her expectant eyes, Huo Lin finally opened his mouth.

The warm, sweet taste melted in his mouth, moisturizing his slightly dry throat and seemingly soothing the restlessness in his heart.

Hmm... the sweetness is just right. Considering she cooked it herself, I won't hold it against her.

Seeing his brows relax and his expression soften, Jiang Huan's smile deepened. She scooped up another spoonful and handed it to him, casually bringing up the old story as if they were having a casual chat.

"Your Majesty, do you think the fingering techniques of the musicians in Jiangnan are quite unique? They seem to be different from the styles of the musicians in the palace."

"Pfft..." Huo Lin almost choked on his pear soup, and his expression, which had just calmed down, instantly darkened again.

[Keep bringing it up, keep bringing it up, is this never going to end?]

[What special finger technique? I think it's just seductive and affected.]

Jiang Huan exclaimed in surprise, quickly put down the stew pot, and took out a handkerchief to wipe the corner of his mouth.

"Why did you choke? I was just saying it casually, why are you reacting so strongly? Do you also think that musician played well, so you got excited when I mentioned it?"

Huo Lin grabbed her busy wrist, his eyes dark and filled with a hint of gritted teeth: "I was angry."

Jiang Huan blinked, showing no fear whatsoever. Instead, she moved closer to him, her voice laced with a seductive glint: "Oh dear, honest advice is hard to swallow, I think..."

Before she could finish her teasing remark, Huo Lin could no longer hold back.

He leaned down and silenced that chattering, annoying little mouth with his lips.

The kiss carried a clear sense of punishment. It was initially fierce, as if it wanted to devour all her words about others, but the moment it touched her soft lips, it unconsciously softened its strength, becoming tender and deep.

Caught off guard, Jiang Huan quickly went limp under his forceful yet gentle advances, clinging to his broad shoulders and tilting her head back to receive the kiss, which was filled with jealousy and intense possessiveness.

In a moment of confusion and passion, their hot breaths mingled, and she seemed to hear him whispering deep words close to her, his breath burning hot.

"You are not allowed to mention anyone else. From now on... you are only allowed to look at me and praise me..."

His kisses gradually moved downwards, sometimes light, sometimes heavy, leaving behind subtle, ambiguous traces.

"Huo Lin..." Jiang Huan was held tightly in his arms, her body weak and numb, her breathing completely disordered, "...I can't...I really won't talk about it anymore, I promise..."

"It's too late." Huo Lin's voice was so low and hoarse that it was unbelievable. He pulled her body completely into his arms, and with his other hand, he stroked the back of her neck, his fingertips running through her thick hair. He forced her to tilt her head back and kissed her again, swallowing all her unfinished words.

The candlelight flickered and swayed in the breeze, its glow uncertain.

The image of the two people embracing tightly is projected onto the wall, stretching out a hazy outline that sways gently with the firelight.

Inside the Imperial Study, the previously suffocating air had long been replaced by a sweltering atmosphere, with only the soft rustling of fabrics rubbing against each other, making one blush and their heart race.

The bowl of stewed pears with rock sugar sat quietly in a corner of the table, its sweet aroma wafting through the air, but no one paid it any attention anymore.