Chapter 87 A Good Thing Gets Ruined

Jiang Huan was huddled under the covers trying to calm her racing heart when she suddenly heard footsteps outside the palace.

Surprisingly, Huo returned after leaving, followed by several eunuchs carrying memorials. Stacks of official documents were neatly piled on the table in her bedroom.

[As for reviewing memorials, it doesn't matter where you are; this way, I can review the memorials while also keeping an eye on her.]

Huo Lin's heartfelt thoughts echoed through the room.

Jiang Huan propped herself up on one side, feeling both surprised and sweetly affectionate.

She watched as Huo Lin set up a small table by her bedside and began to seriously review memorials, glancing up at her every now and then with eyes so tender they could melt your heart.

[Oh, you're frowning. Does your leg hurt again?]

[Tsk, isn't this position uncomfortable? Should I carry her to a different position?]

Jiang Huan's ears burned from the barrage of these heartfelt words.

It's just that I've been lying down for too long, and my legs are a little numb.

She unconsciously wiggled her toes, not expecting that he would notice such a subtle movement.

"Your Majesty, isn't this... against the rules?"

Huo Lin didn't even look up, but drew a sharp annotation on the memorial with his red pen.

"What rules?"

[I am the rule!]

Jiang Huan was speechless at the confidence and conviction behind his words.

Yes, the person in front of me is the Emperor, and his words are the golden rules.

Okay, you're amazing.

Jiang Huan said no more and shrank back into the quilt, but she kept stealing glances at Huo Lin, who was reviewing memorials.

[You're spying on me again.]

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huan nearly bit her tongue and quickly turned her face away.

Your eyesight is amazing!

Huo Lin remained outwardly cold and dignified, his pen tracing lines on the memorial, but his mind had already wandered far away.

Why isn't she watching anymore? Is it because I'm sitting too far away? Should I move closer?

Huo Lin casually moved his chair closer to the bed.

The chair legs made a faint sound as they rubbed against the floor tiles, which was particularly noticeable in the quiet bedroom.

Now she should finally look at me, right?

Jiang Huan couldn't hold back any longer. She poked her head out from under the covers and deliberately put on a stern face.

"Your Majesty, if you're going to approve a memorial, just do it. Why do you keep trying to get closer to me?"

Huo Lin paused, looked up at her, and said seriously.

"I'm afraid you'll be bored."

Actually, it's because I want to see you more.

Jiang Huan's heart skipped a beat, and her ears felt slightly hot, but she didn't mince words.

"Then why doesn't Your Majesty read the memorial to me? Perhaps I can be of help."

She had only mentioned it casually, as a small activity for listening to stories, but she never expected that Huo Lin would actually pull out a memorial and hand it to her.

"Take a look first, and if you're interested, I'll read it to you."

Jiang Huan was taken aback, not expecting Huo Linzhen to let her see it.

"This..." she hesitated, "Aren't women in the inner palace forbidden from interfering in politics?"

Huo Lin gave a faint "hmm," but in his heart he was thinking...

[During the last drought, if it weren't for her strategy to save the country and its people, I would still be having a headache right now.]

[Regardless of whether they are involved in politics or not, anyone with talent and learning can offer advice, let alone my beloved?]

Fine, if even the Emperor doesn't care, why is she being so dramatic?

Jiang Huan took the memorial, glanced at it, and found that it was submitted by the Ministry of Rites.

"Cockfighting and gambling have recently become rampant in the capital, and despite repeated bans, they persist. Your Majesty, please make a decision."

Jiang Huan blinked. What kind of important political matter was this?

She thought it would be a frontier war report or an important matter concerning the canal transport.

Huo Lin chuckled inwardly when he saw her subtle expression.

She probably finds this memorial boring, but I just want to hear her talk.

Jiang Huan's lips twitched. So the Emperor was using her to amuse himself?

Her eyes darted around, and suddenly an idea came to her. She pretended to be serious and said, "Your Majesty, I think that it is better to guide than to block."

Huo Lin raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

Jiang Huan cleared her throat: "Since the people like cockfighting, why doesn't the imperial court organize a 'Royal Cockfighting Competition' with prizes but without gambling? This would satisfy the people's entertainment needs, regulate the competition, and collect registration fees to replenish the national treasury."

Huo Lin's eyes flickered slightly. He stared at her for two seconds, then suddenly chuckled softly.

"You certainly know how to do business."

[How can she be so clever? She even came up with a way to make money for me.]

[This is no concubine; she is clearly my strategist Zhuge Liang.]

Jiang Huan almost choked on her own saliva.

She muttered to herself, "I was just saying..."

Don't overpraise her.

Huo Lin, however, had already picked up his pen and written his comments on the memorial, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"We'll do as you say."

Jiang Huan's heart skipped a beat. "Isn't Your Majesty afraid I'll give you bad advice?"

Huo Lin put down his pen, suddenly got up and sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

"I trust you."

Two short words, yet they carry immense weight.

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled patterns of light on his sharply defined profile.

Those usually sharp phoenix eyes were now filled with tenderness, making Jiang Huan unable to look away for a moment.

Huo Lin reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips brushing against her earlobe, causing her to tremble.

Her ears turned red; she looked so cute.

Hearing this heartfelt message, Jiang Huan's ears burned even hotter. She instinctively shrank back, but he gently held her wrist.

"What are you hiding from?" Huo Lin's voice was deep, with a hint of amusement.

"I...I didn't dodge..."

Jiang Huan stammered in rebuttal, but he drew closer and closer, his warm breath spraying on her face, carrying a faint scent of ambergris.

The hall suddenly became so quiet that one could hear each other breathing.

Huo Lin's gaze slowly moved down from her eyes, finally landing on her slightly parted lips, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

I want to kiss you.

Jiang Huan: !!!

Before she could react, Huo Lin had already slowly lowered his head and approached.

The speed was extremely slow, as if giving her ample opportunity to push it away.

His eyelashes cast a shadow under his eyes, and his high, straight nose almost touched her cheek.

Finally, his lips covered hers.

Huo Lin's kiss was gentle and restrained, as if he were afraid of breaking her.

Jiang Huan's mind went blank, her whole body froze, and her fingers unconsciously clenched the corner of the blanket.

Her ears burned, and she instinctively tried to dodge, but Huo Lin held the back of her head, deepening the kiss.

Just as their breaths mingled and they were reluctant to part...

“Your Majesty, Princess Ayina requests an audience,” Wang Degui’s voice rang out from outside the palace.

Huo Lin paused, his eyes darkening as he released her, his voice low and hoarse.

"...Let her wait."