Chapter Forty-Five: Questioning

Huo Lin held Jiang Huan tightly, his eyes like abysses, his icy voice cutting through the mist like a knife.

"I didn't hear you clearly just now, Your Highness, why don't you repeat it again?"

Every word he uttered was like a poisoned blade, seemingly capable of slowly torturing a person inch by inch in the deathly silence.

Consort Jia stood there, her smug expression vanishing instantly, replaced by panic.

She had planned everything, but she never expected the Emperor to appear here!

Could it be that he saw through her plan...? No, that's not right.

If the Emperor truly knew everything, he wouldn't have given her a chance to see Jiang Huan at all.

Something else must have happened.

If that's the case, then what about the guards she sent?

Consort Jia silently searched for the guards within the venue.

Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the unconscious guard lying not far from the hot spring.

Consort Jia gripped her skirt tightly, her knuckles turning bluish-white, but she forced a calm voice.

"I...I heard that some guards had trespassed into the hot spring villa. I was worried about Sister Jiang's safety, so I brought people here to check."

Huo Lin hugged the person in his arms even tighter, his fingertips stroking Jiang Huan's burning forehead.

The girl unconsciously rubbed against his palm, like a sickly kitten.

This gesture made the emperor's eyes grow even colder: "Oh? The Imperial Concubine's spies are quite well-informed."

Jiang Huan got into trouble, but he didn't know, and Xiao Zhao didn't know either. On the contrary, Consort Jia was very aggressive and even calculated the time to catch her in the act perfectly.

Thinking further, there must be something fishy going on.

Consort Jia dared not look Huo Lin in the eye; the unease in her heart made her tremble uncontrollably.

She had once witnessed Huo Lin disposing of people by chance.

At that moment, Huo Lin stood on high ground, looking down at the people kneeling in the pool of blood.

There was no pity, only boundless cold and raging flames.

Watching the sinner being slowly sliced ​​to death, his pitiful screams gradually weakened, and blood flowed all over the ground.

His eyes are just like they are today.

Consort Jia was sweating profusely. No matter what, she couldn't afford to arouse the emperor's suspicion at this time.

At least on the surface, she couldn't give Huo Lin any ammunition to use against her.

"Your Majesty, please see the truth!" Consort Jia suddenly raised her head, the golden phoenix hairpin at her temples rustling.

"As a Noble Consort, I am in charge of the six palaces and should naturally prioritize palace rules. Today, I heard that a guard trespassed into the concubines' bathing area. If I do not deal with it in time, wouldn't that be condoning such a rebellious act? I am only thinking of the discipline of the harem, which is why I brought people here to investigate."

She paused, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Jiang Huan in Huo Lin's arms.

"But... I didn't know that Your Majesty would be here."

Huo Lin's eyes were dark and gloomy, a mocking smile curving his lips, his voice chillingly cold.

"The Imperial Concubine is quite dutiful, even inquiring about my whereabouts?"

Was Consort Jia treating him like a three-year-old child?

Did he really think he couldn't see that she had orchestrated everything today?

Seeing Consort Jia's forced composure, Huo Lin's eyes grew even colder.

It was one thing for him to stir up trouble in the harem in the past, but now he's even setting his sights on Jiang Huan...

Consort Jia's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly lowered her head.

"Your Majesty, I dare not."

Huo Lin's gaze swept over her trembling fingertips, which were shaking with guilt, and he already had a plan in mind.

He heard a slight movement in his arms and looked down to see Jiang Huan unconsciously snuggling into his embrace. Huo Lin's gaze softened involuntarily.

Then he frowned. What if it hadn't been him who arrived today...

Then, in whose arms will Jiang Huan be?

The thought made Huo Lin feel a tightness in his chest. He straightened her little head and placed it against his neck.

He stopped looking at Consort Jia and turned to Wang Degui, coldly saying, "Take that guard away and keep him under strict guard. I will interrogate him personally tomorrow!"

Wang Degui immediately obeyed the order and waved for the guards to drag the unconscious strong man out.

Upon seeing this, Consort Jia, who was kneeling on the ground, was covered in cold sweat.

This guard was assigned to her by her family and was very loyal to her.

Although Consort Jia had already made all the arrangements before the plan was even implemented.

Even if you searched the entire hot spring palace three feet deep, you still couldn't find her.

But one can't be too afraid of the unexpected. Everyone knows Huo Lin's methods. If this guard falls into his hands, it's no wonder that something unexpected will happen!

"Your Majesty, this matter is of utmost importance. Your Majesty is willing to assist in a thorough investigation..."

"No need." Huo Lin coldly interrupted her. "Since the Imperial Concubine likes 'investigating' so much, why don't you investigate for me why Consort Zhuang was drugged?"

Consort Jia's pupils contracted sharply, "This concubine does not know..."

Huo Lin was too lazy to deal with her anymore, his gaze turning icy.

"Guards, escort Consort Jia back to the palace. Without my decree, she is not to step out of the palace gates!"

Consort Jia was struck dumb and hurriedly knelt down again.

"Your Majesty! I truly do not know..."

Huo Lin didn't even glance at her, but picked up Jiang Huan and strode away.

The summer night breeze was also sultry, and Huo Lin completely ignored the fact that he was soaked through, only holding the person in his arms even tighter.

The scalding heat seeped through his clothes, making his chest feel tight.

He looked down at Jiang Huanchao: her cheeks were red, her brows were furrowed, and she quickened her pace, arriving at the bedchamber in no time.

"Summon the imperial physician!" Huo Lin shouted sternly as soon as he stepped into the bedchamber.

The palace maids hurriedly made up the bed, only to see him sit on the dragon bed with the person in his arms, showing no intention of letting go.

The old doctor rushed over, his forehead beaded with cold sweat as he took his pulse.

"Your Majesty, Consort Zhuang has been poisoned by an extremely potent aphrodisiac."

Huo Lin's eyes narrowed, and the pressure around him suddenly dropped as he suppressed his anger.

Is there a solution?

The imperial physician was so overwhelmed by his imposing manner that he could barely breathe, and replied in a trembling voice, "This medicine can only be countered with Qingxin Decoction."

Huo Lin's expression softened slightly, but his eyes remained sharp as knives.

"Then hurry up and go."

"yes."

The imperial physician felt as if he had been granted a pardon and immediately turned around, leaving the palace at almost a jog.

Before long, the medicine was ready.

Huo Lin took the medicine bowl, looked at the person in his arms with furrowed brows, half-conscious, and called out softly.

"Jiang Huan, wake up."

The girl opened her eyes groggily, her misty pupils unfocused.

"Ugh...it's hot..."

Jiang Huan instinctively snuggled into Huo Lin's arms, her hot breath spraying onto Huo Lin's neck.

Huo Lin's Adam's apple bobbed. He composed himself and brought the medicine bowl to Jiang Huan's lips.

The moment the medicine touched her lips, Jiang Huan scrunched up her face and struggled to get away.

"No...no..." she protested vaguely, her voice soft and sweet, like she was being coquettish.

Huo Lin's heart softened as he recalled the last time Jiang Huan drank her medicine.

They were just as disobedient.

But back then, she could clearly still joke around with herself, unlike now, when she's weak and powerless, and anyone can bully her.

As his thoughts returned, he felt a dryness in his throat, and his tone unconsciously softened.

"Sweetie, drink your medicine first."

While coaxing her, he lifted the back of Jiang Huan's head with one hand, but he was reluctant to use any force.

Jiang Huan seemed to sense his touch, and suddenly grabbed his collar, looking at him with wet eyes.

"Who...who are you..."

The drug made her delirious, but she felt that the person in front of her was familiar and reassuring.

Huo Lin was both annoyed and amused, and deliberately frowned.

"How dare you! You don't even recognize me?"

Jiang Huan stared at him blankly for a while, then suddenly reached out and touched his chin.

“Fierce-looking…like an emperor…”

The imperial physician standing nearby was so frightened he almost knelt down, but Huo Lin chuckled softly.

"Heartless."

Huo Lin touched her lower lip with the rim of the bowl, his voice full of helplessness.

"It's harder for me to coax you into taking medicine than to approve ten memorials."