Chapter Fifty-One: Rewards

The two of them had been busy in the kitchen all morning, and by noon, the meal was ready.

Jiang Huan placed the last dish of cold lotus root slices on the table and was about to step aside when Huo Lin suddenly spoke.

"You've been busy all morning, sit down and have a meal with me."

His tone still carried the commanding air typical of an emperor.

Shen Yi said this would make him seem more considerate... She should like it, right?

Jiang Huan's gaze faltered slightly as she looked up at Huo Lin.

Why does this expression of inner thoughts seem a bit off-track?

The young emperor sat upright before his desk, his face stern, yet a hint of anticipation lingered in his phoenix eyes.

Why isn't she moving? Am I being too harsh?

Could you say it again, this time in a gentler tone?

In the past, Jiang Huan would have sat down to eat on her own without Huo Lin having to call her.

However, after the hot springs and the incident of serving the emperor, Jiang Huan hesitated.

Previously, it was because she always cooked for the emperor in an attempt to please him that she gave the emperor the illusion that she also liked him.

If she agrees to have dinner with the Emperor, won't that cause the Emperor to misunderstand?

Refusing to serve the emperor once is one thing, but refusing him again is another.

Who knows if something terrible might happen!

Maybe we shouldn't eat together...

Yes, it's better to keep some distance.

"This concubine..." Jiang Huan was about to politely refuse when she saw Huo Lin suddenly take out an exquisite brocade box from his sleeve.

"Here, take this."

Huo Lin pushed the brocade box in front of her, his face serious, but the tips of his ears were slightly red.

She always wore that plain silver hairpin; did she not have any other hairpins?

This hairpin was specially commissioned by me; it suits her perfectly.

[Furthermore, I often smell jasmine on her; she must really like jasmine.]

I believe I'm not mistaken; I hope she'll like it.

Jiang Huan froze, and looked over.

Inside the box was a jasmine hairpin carved from white jade, with tiny pearls dotting the flower's stamen, gleaming warmly in the sunlight.

Jiang Huan truly loved jasmine, and she often used jasmine-scented balm.

I never expected the Emperor to notice such a small detail.

Her heart softened suddenly. "Thank you for the Emperor's gift."

Oh well, it's just a meal.

He who eats another's food is bound to him; he who takes another's money is bound to him.

Refusing again would seem even more inappropriate.

Moreover, she had been busy all morning and hadn't even eaten yet.

Jiang Huan took the box and sat down.

Huo Lin's eyes lit up, and he was completely satisfied.

She accepted it. Shen Yi was right; girls really do like jewelry.

If I were to give her lots and lots of jewelry, would she pay more attention to me?

Perhaps... well, perhaps they'll discover my charm?

Jiang Huan almost choked on her saliva as soon as she sat down.

She certainly liked the jewelry, but if the Emperor had that in mind, then there was no need for that.

Moreover, giving too many rewards might arouse the envy of the concubines in the harem.

She hadn't even gotten to know the Emperor yet, and she'd already been framed.

Jiang Huan was afraid that Huo Lin would conjure up some more gifts later, so she quickly put a slice of lotus root into Huo Lin's bowl.

Let's eat first.

"Your Majesty, please try this."

Huo Lin appeared unmoved, but in reality, he didn't even notice that he was holding the chopsticks upside down.

Ah, she's served me some food! But what's wrong with this lotus root...?

"Hmm, alright then, it seems I cut this myself."

Wait, is she mocking me for cutting the lotus root too ugly?

No, no, she was clearly smiling.

Shen Yi said that if a woman smiles at a man, it means she has feelings for him...

So, does she like the lotus root I cut, or does she like me?!

Jiang Huan had a big question mark on her forehead, and she could barely suppress the urge to smile.

Who would have thought that an emperor who makes ruthless decisions in the court would be so conflicted about a piece of lotus root in private?

"How does this lotus root taste?" she asked deliberately.

Jiang Huan didn't change the cuts of the lotus root slices; she just asked Huo Lin to cut them a little more to make them less thick, but they didn't look very appealing.

Huo Lin nodded seriously: "It's acceptable."

[I admit, the lotus root slices I cut weren't perfect, but her skills are excellent.]

[So delicious I want to spin around! This is the best lotus root slice I've ever eaten!]

[It was actually made by me and her together!]

Should I tell her that I secretly made a wish while cutting lotus root...?

No, no, this is too embarrassing. I'd better not say it.

Jiang Huan couldn't help but burst out laughing.

She could hear the Emperor's innermost thoughts, let alone when he made a wish.

The wish was very simple: to see her every day.

As an emperor, there's no need for him to make a wish for something as trivial as her.

Jiang Huan never expected that the emperor, who had so many concubines, would be so innocent.

"What's wrong?" Huo Lin raised his eyes slightly.

"N-nothing," Jiang Huan hurriedly lowered her head to drink her soup to cover up her misunderstanding, suddenly finding the emperor particularly endearing.

Actually, although she couldn't serve the emperor in bed, she could still please him.

As the two dined together, Huo Lin's thoughts never stopped.

He looked at Jiang Huan sitting beside him, staring at the distance of a foot between them, and felt a heavy weight in his heart.

Why is she sitting so far away? Is she avoiding me?

Am I really that scary?

Jiang Huan's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she deliberately shifted her body, shortening the distance to half a foot.

"These lotus root slices taste quite good. Would Your Majesty like to try some more?"

Huo Lin's lips curled into a small smile, which quickly disappeared.

Wow, she's getting closer.

[Exhale...inhale...exhale...inhale...Don't panic, stay calm.]

Huo Lin composed himself and picked up another slice of lotus root to eat.

His mind was completely occupied by Jiang Huan, and he couldn't appreciate the taste of the lotus root slices at all.

Jiang Huan suppressed a laugh and served him a bowl of mung bean soup: "Your Majesty has been busy all morning, have some to cool off."

"And this lotus leaf chicken." She picked up another piece of chicken and handed it over. "You made it yourself."

Huo Lin stared at the chicken in the bowl, his mind in turmoil.

[She's put food on my plate again. Eat it all, eat it all! It's her gesture of goodwill.]

But this was made by me, and alas, it's still so ugly...

[Won't she think I'm stupid? I can't even slice lotus root properly, let alone wrap something properly.]

The joyful feelings gradually turned into some anxiety and frustration.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huan quickly offered her words of comfort.

"Your Majesty is truly amazing that you can wrap it like this on your first try, and it doesn't affect the taste of the lotus leaf chicken at all."

Huo Lin's eyes, which had dimmed, gradually brightened again.

She praised me, but has her opinion of me changed at all?

Could it be that there's actually something hidden in the sketchbooks Shen Yi spends all his time idly looking at?

【Very good, I will have him buy all the books for me tomorrow. I want to study them carefully.】

Huo Lin silently encouraged himself, and for a moment he felt that the road ahead was bright.

He maintained an imperial demeanor on the surface, but inside he was like a lively rabbit, his mind racing with thoughts.

Jiang Huan, by expressing her innermost thoughts, responded perfectly to every little thought Huo Lin had.

The meal was a very enjoyable one.