Chapter 84 Confinement

Inside the bedchamber, Huo Lin paused slightly, his brows furrowing.

Consort Jia's voice came through clearly: "I don't know which damned person is spreading rumors, saying that Sister Jiang fell off her horse today because she was too close to Prince Mu at the horse farm and her careless behavior startled the horse. She also said that Sister Jiang and His Highness the Prince have been seeing each other every day at the horse farm these days and have gotten along very well..."

"Such foul language is utterly despicable! I feel so sorry for my sister!"

The moment she finished speaking, the air in the hall froze.

Huo Lin's hand gripping the vermilion brush tightened suddenly, his knuckles turning white.

He hasn't paid much attention to Jiang Huan's affairs these past few days because of official duties, but that doesn't mean he can tolerate Consort Jia smearing Jiang Huan!

He knew very well that Jiang Huan was not that kind of person at all.

If such rumors are indeed circulating, then Huo Ting must be the one with the problem.

Huo Lin was about to reprimand her when a voice suddenly rang out, completely drowning out Consort Jia's affected tone.

"nonsense!"

Princess Ayina charged forward like a burning flame.

She had clearly just settled things at the horse farm and hadn't even had time to change her clothes; her riding attire was still covered in dust and hay.

"Your mouth is for eating, not for spreading rumors!"

Ayina's voice is crisp and bright, carrying the straightforwardness unique to the children of the grasslands.

"What do you mean by being too close? What do you mean by being inappropriate? You weren't even at the horse farm, which eye of yours saw it? Or is that thing around your neck just for show, and you only believe rumors?"

Consort Jia had never been scolded like this before, and a crack appeared in her carefully maintained dignified expression.

She instinctively clenched the handkerchief in her hand, forcing herself to retort, "I was just confused by my concern, and that's why I heard those filthy words..."

"Concern? This princess thinks you're a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken—you're up to no good!"

Ayina stood with her hands on her hips and her chin held high.

"Who did Jiang Huan fall off her horse for? Huh? If it weren't for trying to avoid that damned Prince Mu of your Great Liang's groping hands, would she have fallen like this?!"

Her words were like a thunderclap, stunning Consort Jia and causing Huo Lin's pupils to shrink sharply in the hall.

Outside the palace, Ayina became more and more agitated as she spoke, her eyes burning with fervor, her finger almost poking Consort Jia's nose.

"That Huo Ting is like a fly that can't be shaken off, buzzing around the horse farm every day. His eyes are sticky and disgusting. I've warned him eight hundred times to get lost, but he just pretends not to hear me."

"That chestnut horse suddenly went berserk today. Clearly, someone tampered with it to harm me, Princess. Jiang Huan was innocently implicated. When she fell off the horse, that bastard Huo Ting tried to take advantage of her. Jiang Huan would rather break her own leg than let him touch her. Do you understand?!"

Ayina gasped for breath, her chest heaving violently. Looking at Consort Jia's face, contorted with shock and embarrassment, she felt even more furious.

"And you, in charge of the six palaces, instead of investigating that treacherous Huo Ting, instead of finding out who messed with this princess's horse, are you here gossiping about Jiang Huan? Or are you the one who had the rumors about Jiang Huan and Huo Ting spread!"

"You! You're spouting nonsense!" Consort Jia was so angry that her face turned red and she trembled all over, her finger pointing at Ayina was shaking.

"I was only trying to warn Your Majesty with good intentions. How dare you, a princess from a foreign land, be so presumptuous in the palace and slander me!"

The two were arguing fiercely when suddenly a voice boomed like thunder.

"Enough!" Huo Lin appeared at the entrance of the bedroom.

“Consort Jia,” he said in a low voice, but each word struck Consort Jia’s heart like a hammer, “I have heard the rumors you kindly brought me.”

Consort Jia was overjoyed, thinking that the Emperor believed her, and was about to speak when she was ruthlessly interrupted.

"Wang Degui".

Wang Degui, who had been waiting to the side, immediately bowed and said, "This servant is here."

"Consort Jia is worried about the inner palace, which has led her to overthink and speak inappropriately." Huo Lin's gaze was as cold as ice. "From today onwards, she is to be confined to her quarters for three months to reflect on her mistakes."

"emperor?!"

Consort Jia was struck dumb, her eyes widening in disbelief.

She never imagined that her carefully planned provocation would result in such a consequence.

What kind of spell did Jiang Huan cast on the Emperor to gain his trust?

Consort Jia opened her mouth as if to say something, but was quickly ushered out by Wang Degui with a few words.

In an instant, the bustling main hall of Weiyang Palace became so quiet that only the sound of breathing could be heard.

Huo Lin's gaze finally landed on Ayina. Although his tone was still cold, it softened slightly.

"Princess, you have been frightened today. Please go back and rest early."

Ayina didn't move. She looked at Huo Lin, then at the direction of the bedroom.

"Your Majesty, I would like to go see Jiang Huan, just for a moment."

Huo Lin looked at her silently for a moment.

Although he didn't really like Jiang Huan and Ayina being together, Ayina showed Jiang Huan a lot of concern.

After a moment's thought, Huo Lin stepped aside to make way.

Inside the bedchamber, Jiang Huan lay quietly on the bed, her pale face making her appear exceptionally fragile.

Ayina tiptoed to the bedside and sat down, her eyes filled with worry.

"Jiang Huan, you need to get better soon, you know?" she said softly. "I haven't had enough of those snacks yet, and there's horseback riding too. I keep my word, I will definitely teach you how to ride."

Ayina talked on and on to Jiang Huan, and as she looked at Jiang Huan's peaceful sleeping face, Ayina's gaze gradually became somewhat complicated.

She recalled her initial purpose in approaching Jiang Huan.

Because Jiang Huan was Huo Lin's most favored concubine, she thought that through Jiang Huan, she could more easily get close to the emperor and fulfill the expectations of the Northern Kingdom.

However, after spending this time together, Ayina had long since changed her mind.

Jiang Huan was unlike any other woman she had ever met in the Liang Dynasty.

She is not pretentious or hypocritical; she is lively and agile. She may complain and grumble, but she also has a sincere heart.

Ayina recalled the moments she had spent with Jiang Huan over the past few days, and a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.

In fact, she had long considered Jiang Huan a friend in her heart.

“Hey Jiang Huan, listen to me,” Ayina’s voice was soft, but carried the solemnity of a grassland girl who keeps her word, “This princess has made up her mind. There are already many people in the Liang harem, so this princess will not compete with you.”

"We people of the Northern Desert never use friends as stepping stones. You should focus on recovering and make some snacks for this princess as soon as possible, do you hear me?"