Chapter Seventy-Eight: Receiving Gifts Again

Jiang Huan was awakened by a clear bird song. She opened her eyes groggily and saw the familiar lotus-colored bed curtains.

Is this Weiyang Palace?

Jiang Huan sat up. She clearly remembered that she was waiting for Huo Lin to finish reviewing the memorials...

"Your Highness is awake?"

Xiao Zhao brought in a copper basin and couldn't help but chuckle when she saw Jiang Huan's bewildered expression.

"Your Highness slept so soundly last night that you didn't even wake up when the Emperor carried you back."

"Bring...bring me back?" Jiang Huan unconsciously tightened her grip on the brocade quilt.

"That's right, the palace servants were all dumbfounded."

Xiao Zhao put down the copper basin and said excitedly, "Eunuch Wang wanted to go forward to help, but the Emperor glared at him and stopped him. When we got to the bedchamber, the Emperor personally covered you with the quilt and stood by the bed for a while before leaving."

Jiang Huan's inner self was already rolling around in tears, covering her face.

This scene is just too, too embarrassing!

How could a king, carrying a concubine who was sleeping like a log, cross most of the palace?

If this gets out...

Just then, a commotion broke out outside the hall.

A palace maid came in and announced, "Your Majesty, the princess from the northern desert has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huan hurriedly got up to wash and dress. Just as she finished tidying her clothes, Princess Ayina appeared at the door.

Ayina changed into a northern desert dress today, still looking radiant and bright.

Upon seeing Jiang Huan, she slightly raised her chin and walked straight up to Jiang Huan, her posture resembling that of a noble cat surveying its territory.

“Yes.” Ayina said succinctly, gesturing behind her, “People of the Northern Desert never owe favors. Today, I, the princess, am here to return the favor.”

The maids following behind Ayina immediately stepped forward and placed the boxes they were carrying on the table inside the room.

The moment the box was opened, the room was filled with light.

There was a whole piece of golden, translucent gemstone that seemed to burn with flames in the sunlight; there were exquisitely embroidered fabrics characteristic of the northern desert; and there were several large boxes of top-grade northern desert spices that exuded a strange and rich fragrance, the aroma of which instantly and domineeringly filled the entire room...

Jiang Huan's eyes widened immediately, her jaw nearly dropping in shock.

The silver bell with agate that the princess gave me yesterday was valuable enough, why give me another one today?

Is this how it's always done in the northern deserts? Wouldn't that mean losing money hand over fist?

"Princess, I cannot accept this."

Jiang Huan quickly waved her hand, her scalp tingling as she recalled Huo Lin's sour warning from last night, "Don't accept other people's jewelry casually."

"The princess already gave you the silver bell yesterday. You should take back these generous gifts. They are just some food. You don't need to worry about them."

It's really not necessary to eat just a couple of bites of rice.

Ayina's brows furrowed immediately, and her blue eyes widened.

"Who...who is concerned about this!"

Her voice rose, tinged with a mixture of embarrassment and anger at having her thoughts exposed.

"This is our custom in the northern desert. When you are treated to hospitality, you must return the favor. Besides, these are all local specialties of the northern desert. They're nothing rare. You can keep them!"

"But……"

Jiang Huan had just opened her mouth to say something when she was interrupted by Ayina.

"No buts. This princess doesn't want to owe anyone a favor, especially... especially a favor from a concubine of the Great Liang."

Her tone suggested that Jiang Huan's refusal to accept the gift meant she looked down on Mobei and on her, the princess.

Jiang Huan looked at Ayina, then at the gems on the table that shone brightly in the morning light, and felt somewhat powerless.

Are all the specialties from northern desert this hardcore?

That's quite a high standard for 'not rare'.

But if we don't accept it, this princess is unlikely to let it go.

The Emperor only said that jewelry could not be accepted, and this doesn't count as jewelry, so it should be fine.

At worst, I'll just feed him more.

"Then thank you for your kindness, Princess."

Jiang Huan accepted it, which earned her a slightly smug hum from Ayina.

"The goods have been delivered, and this princess should now..."

Jiang Huan hurriedly said, "Yesterday, the princess told me a lot about the food in the northern desert. I have written it all down and made some improvements. I am preparing to make some for breakfast."

The gifts Ayina sent were far too valuable; Jiang Huan would find it difficult to feel at ease accepting them.

Yesterday, Ayina seemed reluctant to leave, probably because she liked the food she made.

"Since the princess is here, why not stay and have a taste?"

Upon hearing about the new food, Ayina's blue eyes lit up for a moment, but she quickly realized her lapse in composure, straightened her face, and looked away with a vacant gaze.

"Ahem... Since you have so kindly invited me, this princess cannot refuse."

Jiang Huan smiled slightly: "In that case, Princess, please rest here first. I will go and make the preparations now."

An hour later, Jiang Huan prepared some simple northern desert food for breakfast.

Having already met with Ayina the previous day, Jiang Huan was much more relaxed during the meal, creating a comfortable and harmonious atmosphere.

As they chatted, the topic somehow shifted from the food of the northern desert to the grasslands and horses of the northern desert.

Ayina's eyes instantly lit up, filled with nostalgia and pride.

"The horses of our northern desert are the true steeds. They will carry you across the vast grasslands, and you can feel the wind whistling in your ears..."

"I've never ridden a horse by myself before," Jiang Huan exclaimed.

She had been riding a horse with Huo Lin before.

If given the chance, she would also like to try riding a horse alone and galloping freely across the grassland.

I can't imagine how exhilarating that would be.

Ayina noticed the longing in Jiang Huan's eyes. She straightened her back and slightly raised her chin.

“Even three-year-old children in our northern desert can ride horses. How about this, for the sake of the diplomatic relations between our two countries, this princess can personally teach you how to ride a horse.”

Yes, that's it. Teach her to ride a horse and build a good relationship with her.

That way I can come to see her often, and I can also meet the emperor when he comes here.

Yes, it's definitely not so I can eat more of her homemade desserts!

Jiang Huan smiled as she looked at the princess's haughty little face, as if to say, "It's your honor to teach you."

She put down her chopsticks, rested her chin on her hands, looked at Ayina with bright eyes, and deliberately dragged out her words.

"Oh dear, wouldn't that mean Your Highness would have to go to all that trouble to be my riding instructor?"

Ayina felt a little uncomfortable being stared at and turned her face away.

"Hmph, good to know. Don't be so scared that you cry and beg for mercy later!"

"It's a promise!" Jiang Huan smiled and held out her finger. "Pinky promise?"

Ayina looked at Jiang Huan's outstretched slender white fingers, a hint of confusion flashing in her blue eyes, clearly not understanding what it meant.

Jiang Huan smiled slyly, took Ayina's somewhat bewildered fingers, and gently shook them.

"This is a customary way of making agreements in our Central Plains. Once we make a pinky promise, it's a commitment, and the princess can't go back on her word."

Ayina withdrew her hand and gave a soft hum.

"I am a woman of my word, how could I go back on my word? Rest assured, if I cannot teach you, I will not return to the Northern Desert!"