Chapter 49 Stop arguing

Shen Yi took a half step back and raised his hands: "Heaven and earth bear witness, it was your Dark Guards who were gambling on when the nobleman would serve the emperor. The bet was even set at three to one."

"Shut up!"

Huo Lin suddenly tightened his grip, breaking the vermilion brush in two, but Shen Yi laughed even harder.

"She is your concubine. If you truly like her, you can simply issue a decree. Why bother..."

Huo Lin felt a tightness in his chest when he thought of Jiang Huan's appearance when she faced him today.

"What I want is willingness."

If an imperial decree were issued ordering Jiang Huan to force herself to serve the emperor, how would he be any different from the guards who broke into the hot spring villa?

Shen Yi couldn't help but click his tongue, thinking that Huo Lin had really fallen for him.

Since that's the case, how could he, as a friend, not lend a hand?

Most importantly, he also placed bets on the gambling games of the Dark Guard Camp.

Shen Yi's smile grew even brighter. "Actually, it's not impossible if you're willing to do it. I do have some ideas."

Huo Lin's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this. "What method?"

Shen Yi smiled. He had read hundreds, if not thousands, of novels in the past few years, and he was sure he could help Huo Lin win her over!

In the study, one dared to teach and the other dared to learn, and they spent the night diligently studying together.

The next morning, Jiang Huan woke up with a start from the empty bed.

She stared at the curtains for a while, feeling uneasy.

Refusing to serve someone in bed is a serious offense; is Huo Lin angry?

If the powerful figure you're clinging to gets angry, you're not far from being kicked to the Western Paradise.

Could we perhaps consider that she did a good job feeding the animals and give her a get-out-of-jail-free card or something?

Jiang Huan was depressed. She didn't want to serve the emperor, and she couldn't think of a solution for the time being.

He got up in a daze, finished washing up with a tragic expression, and drifted back home with a sense of resentment.

Back at her residence, Jiang Huan spent the entire morning listening intently for any news.

During that time, I ruined countless daisies and muttered "It's all over" countless times.

It's been so long since they came back, but Huo Lin's side is still quiet.

She has fallen out of favor; no, she has definitely fallen out of favor.

We were about to be back to square one, living a life where the rice jar was empty and even the mice in the yard were emaciated.

This anxiety continued until noon, when it was finally interrupted by the sound of footsteps.

The visitor was a young eunuch, and he was very respectful.

"Consort Zhuang, His Majesty said that the dishes served in the Imperial Kitchen are not to his liking, and instructed me to give this list to Consort Zhuang."

The young eunuch handed the item to Jiang Huan, who took it with trembling hands.

They were terrified that the list would say her death date.

But a quick glance revealed that the menu was still the same.

Jiang Huan's tense shoulders instantly relaxed, and a smile spread across her lips.

Thank God, heaven and earth.

Huo Lin was giving her a way out by using this awkward way of urging her to eat.

Great, she understands.

They'll obediently tumble and crawl down the slope on their own!

"Thank you, sir. I'll go prepare right away."

Jiang Huan walked briskly towards the small kitchen, as if all the anxiety she had felt that morning had been an illusion.

She hummed a little tune, feeling relaxed, and her hands moved more nimbly, preparing the meal in about half an hour.

After thinking for a while with his hands on his hips, he felt it wasn't enough.

Even we lackeys have professional ethics.

So she brewed another bowl of refreshing chilled plum juice. Looking at her work on the table, Jiang Huan was extremely satisfied.

See? It's so nice to be a cook disguised as a concubine.

Serving someone in bed is such a waste of talent!

Jiang Huan packed the prepared food into boxes and followed the young eunuch to the study to see Huo Lin.

As long as they remain loving dining partners, they can have fun together.

One is full and satisfied, while the other, like a salted fish, turns over and sings a song.

That's the best of both worlds.

Inside the study of the imperial palace, Huo Lin had been staring at the memorial for a quarter of an hour without turning a page.

Looking closer, it seems like you could stare a hole through it.

How long has it been since my decree was issued? Has Consort Zhuang gotten lost? Why hasn't she arrived yet?

Did I scare her last night? Her legs went weak and she couldn't walk.

Or... let Wang Degui carry my sedan chair and personally go to fetch me?

The vermilion brush smeared a blot of red ink on the folded document, but Huo Lin was completely unaware.

Last night, Chen Yi's "Thirty-Six Strategies for Pursuing Women" kept churning in Huo Lin's mind, making him restless.

The problem stems from having too much knowledge, leading the child to learn too many different things.

Just then, Wang Degui relayed a message.

"Your Majesty, Consort Zhuang is waiting outside the palace."

Huo Lin slammed the memorial shut in his hand, then coughed lightly, trying to remain calm.

"Announce."

Jiang Huan entered carrying a food box and bowed gracefully.

"This concubine greets Your Majesty."

Her lotus-colored skirt spread out like flower petals on the blue brick floor, and a plain silver hairpin in her hair swayed gently with her movements, making Huo Lin's heart itch slightly.

I never thought of it before, but Consort Zhuang's bowing posture was quite beautiful.

The skirt's hem resembles a peony? But its overall feel is more like an apricot blossom...

Jiang Huan stumbled as she stood up, her hand trembling so much she almost dropped the food box.

Did 4399 exist in ancient times? Otherwise, why would the emperor play Flower Fairy?!

If she had to say, she thought Huo Lin was like a domineering flower.

She quietly took a breath and swallowed her complaints.

Trying to appear as normal as possible, I laid out the food from the lunchbox one by one on the table.

Let's hurry up and eat. If we don't stuff ourselves with something soon, who knows what kind of earth-shattering evaluation Huo Lin might give?

However, the food that used to be so appealing to Huo Lin suddenly didn't taste good at this moment.

The chopsticks continued to pick up food bit by bit, but the inner thoughts kept flowing.

[I am skilled in both literature and military strategy, and I am also reasonably good-looking, so why does Consort Zhuang look down on me so much?]

[Disliking me yet cooking for me, trying to get close to me?]

[What was that Thirty-Six Stratagems again? Was it something like "feigning indifference to lure the enemy into a trap"?]

The three deadly questions left Jiang Huan too afraid to even lift her head.

Feeling the gaze that I thought was hidden beside me, I felt extremely uncomfortable.

Playing hard to get? She's practically on the verge of tears, isn't she?

She admitted that Huo Lin was both scholarly and martial, ruthless, and exceptionally handsome, surpassing many celebrities and idols.

But she didn't apply to be a vixen!

Where did the inspirational story of getting promoted go? How did it turn into a guide to flirting with guys?

Switch accounts, switch my accounts!

Jiang Huan felt resentful inside, but smiled sweetly on the outside.

Please, Your Majesty, stop looking at her and hurry up and eat.

But Huo Lin was unaware of Jiang Huan's thoughts; he could only stare at her intently.

【stare……】

[I must eat this meal slowly, one grain of rice at a time, otherwise there's no reason for her to keep me company.]

[But just sitting here like this isn't appropriate; it makes it seem like I'm interrogating someone. Besides, Shen Yi said that silence is the worst thing between men and women; I can't scare Consort Zhuang away a second time.]

The Thirty-Six Strategies of Love played in his mind, and Huo Lin's eyes flickered slightly.

With a slight movement of her slender fingers, a piece of food was placed into Jiang Huan's bowl with her chopsticks, her posture elegant and her movements graceful.

There was a hint of unnatural stiffness in his cool and aloof voice.

"Try this."

Jiang Huan: ……

The Emperor served her some of the dishes she had made herself?

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Jiang Huan lowered her head and ate her rice, inwardly speechless with frustration.

She secretly glanced at Huo Lin and noticed that his ears were red.

Oh my god, this is going to be a disaster.

Jiang Huan subconsciously touched her face and felt that her cheeks were a little hot.

Wait, are you kidding me?

Is blushing contagious?

Huo Lin saw that Jiang Huan was eating and assumed that she was enjoying it, which pleased him greatly.

[She ate it all! Consort Zhuang finished the food I put on her plate!]

Shen Yi said that if a woman accepts a man's offer to serve her food, it means she has feelings for him...

How can I subtly add another piece of food without deliberately trying to increase Consort Zhuang's favor towards me?

...

A series of unspoken thoughts rang out one after another. From the moment Jiang Huan sat down to eat, it felt like they never stopped ringing in her ears.

Didn't the ancients believe in not speaking while eating or sleeping? What are they doing?

Under the pollution of yet another wave of love-struck sentiments, Jiang Huan finally couldn't bear it any longer and blurted it out.

"Can you please stop arguing!"