Chapter Ninety-Nine: Exhaustion

That very night, Huo Lin summoned his trusted advisors from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue, slightly modified the method on the slip of paper, and ordered them to conduct a pilot program in Yunzhou County, the area most severely affected by the disaster, as quickly as possible to ensure its effectiveness.

However, the intrigues in the imperial court and the flames of war on the borders will not be quelled by the appearance of a good policy.

A few days later, an even more somber message shattered the tranquility of the palace.

An urgent report came from the southern border: a detachment of the Zhennan Army, while pursuing a group of enemy troops that had crossed the border to harass the area, was ambushed due to underestimating the enemy and advancing recklessly. Most of their supplies and provisions were burned, their commander was seriously wounded, and they suffered thousands of casualties.

The message arrived late at night.

Inside the imperial study, Huo Lin had just finished reviewing a report on the pilot program in the north.

This rare solace was instantly shattered by the news of defeat in the South.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"

He slammed the report in his hand to the ground.

His chest heaved violently, and veins bulged on his forehead.

He grabbed the teacup from the table and smashed it hard on the ground.

A sharp, piercing cracking sound rang out in the deathly silent hall, as scalding tea mixed with sharp porcelain shards splashed everywhere.

Wang Degui and a group of palace servants knelt down in unison, instantly shrouding the entire imperial study in a suffocating atmosphere.

Huo Lin was furious: "What use are you to me? Have the border troops become so pampered that they can't even see through a simple trick to lure the enemy!"

The Vice Minister of War and the messenger trembled with fright, their foreheads pressed tightly against the cold ground.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

The pressure of the past few days, the worry for the disaster victims, and the anger at the incompetence of the court officials all erupted like a torrent at this moment.

His eyes were as cold as knives as he swept them over the person kneeling before him.

"By imperial decree, the commanders and deputy commanders of the Zhennan Army in this battle shall be handed over to the Ministry of Justice for deliberation. The Vice Minister of the Ministry of War shall be fined one year's salary for failing to supervise the army effectively and shall be confined to his residence for three days to reflect on his mistakes."

"Your Majesty, I accept the decree and thank you for sparing my life."

The Vice Minister of War's voice trembled with relief as he practically scrambled out of the room.

The messenger, as if granted a pardon, fled in panic.

The hall was in a mess. Huo Lin stood behind the imperial desk, his tall figure casting a heavy shadow in the candlelight.

He clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

An unprecedented feeling of exhaustion made him dizzy, and he had to raise his hand to support himself on the heavy imperial desk to barely keep his balance.

In the north, famine victims cry out for food; in the south, soldiers shed their blood on the battlefield. I…I…

So tired...

Jiang Huan paused as she stepped into the imperial kitchen.

She was worried that Huo Lin hadn't eaten enough, so she specially made a bowl of calming soup and brought it over. Afraid of disturbing Huo Lin while he was dealing with his business, she waited outside the door.

This seemed to be the first time she had ever seen Huo Lin truly enraged.

Even in the face of thunderous rage, Jiang Huan felt no fear whatsoever.

On the contrary, listening to that tired and fragile voice, her heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand, the pain almost making it hard to breathe.

Throughout history, disasters have always affected various states, and with one disaster after another, the burden on Huo Lin's shoulders was no small amount.

He stayed up all night and still had to attend court.

Even the strongest person can't withstand this kind of ordeal.

She gestured for Xiao Zhao to be quiet, then turned her wheelchair and entered the hall, quietly bypassing the broken pieces on the ground, and came to Huo Lin's side.

Upon seeing this, Wang Degui quickly signaled the other palace servants to leave and closed the palace gate.

For a moment, only Jiang Huan and Huo Lin remained in the hall.

Huo Lin sensed Jiang Huan approaching, but did not turn around.

He still had his back to Jiang Huan, his hands supporting himself on the imperial desk, his shoulders taut as if bearing an immense burden.

The air was filled with the bitter smell of tea and an oppressive, oppressive atmosphere.

Seeing this, Jiang Huan reached out and gently tugged at the corner of his sleeve.

"emperor……"

This soft call instantly shattered Huo Lin's carefully constructed defenses.

His tense body trembled suddenly, and he slowly turned around.

Under the light of the palace lanterns, Jiang Huan could clearly see Huo Lin's face.

That once cold and resolute face was now etched with exhaustion.

His eyes were dark and bloodshot, and they were filled with thick bruises.

His usually firm and calm gaze was now filled with frustration and confusion.

"You've come." Huo Lin's voice held a kind of dependence, like a drowning person clinging to a piece of driftwood.

He looked deeply at Jiang Huan, then bent down slightly, gently resting his forehead on her shoulder.

"Let me lean on you for a while, just for a little while."

His voice was thick with nasal tone, filled with an unprecedented vulnerability and pleading.

Jiang Huan's heart melted instantly. Without the slightest hesitation, she reached out and gently embraced Huo Lin.

"Your Majesty can lean on me for as long as you wish," she murmured softly, her voice gentle.

Huo Lin leaned on Jiang Huan's shoulder, his heavy breathing gradually calming down.

The hall was silent, with only the occasional crackling of the candlelight illuminating the two figures leaning against each other.

Huo Lin's deep voice suddenly rang in Jiang Huan's ear.

"The disaster victims in the north are still waiting for food, and the soldiers in the south have lost thousands more. I review memorials until late at night every day, but I always feel that there are never enough things to deal with."

Jiang Huan listened quietly, her fingers gently stroking his back, offering silent comfort.

"And then there's the imperial court, where arguments rage on every day, with officials shirking responsibility. The Ministry of Works demands money to repair the dikes, the Ministry of Revenue cries out for food, and the Ministry of War is demanding pay..."

Huo Lin's voice grew softer and softer, as if he had finally found someone to confide in.

"They all speak so eloquently, as if the sky would fall if I were not with them, but how many of them can truly share my burdens and relieve this urgent crisis?"

As he spoke, his voice trembled slightly, as if emotions that had been suppressed for a long time had finally found an outlet.

Jiang Huan felt his shoulders tremble slightly, and a pang of sorrow gripped her heart.

She gently held Huo Lin's hand and whispered, "Your Majesty, you have done very well."

"Not enough, far from enough."

Huo Lin gave a bitter smile, shook his head, and his voice was filled with self-blame and helplessness.

"Sometimes when I look at the mountain of memorials, I think, this country and its people, their livelihood and peace all rest on my shoulders. Can I really... bear that burden?"

His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, yet it struck Jiang Huan's heart with tremendous force.

She had never seen Huo Lin like this before, stripped of his usual imperial majesty, leaving only a weary soul.

"The disaster in the north has not yet subsided, and war has broken out in the south. I..."

He took a deep breath, as if using all his strength.

"I really don't know what to do next."

Jiang Huan listened quietly without interrupting him.

She knew that what Huo Lin needed at that moment was not advice, but someone to listen.

Jiang Huan gently patted his back: "Your Majesty, things will work themselves out. No matter what, I'll be here for you."

Huo Lin was slightly taken aback, then straightened up and looked at her.

In the candlelight, Jiang Huan's eyes were clear and firm, like a clear spring that could wash away all his weariness.