Chapter Seventy-One: A Horrifying Experience Under the Moon

Halfway through the banquet, Jiang Huan felt stuffy in the hall. After drinking a few cups of fruit wine, her cheeks were burning and her head was a little dizzy.

Taking advantage of a lull in Huo Lin's conversation with several ministers, she whispered to Xiao Zhao, "Come with me out for some fresh air."

“Yes,” Xiao Zhao replied.

The two left and walked along the corridor behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony to a relatively secluded lotus pond.

The night breeze was refreshing, and Jiang Huan exhaled a deep breath.

I'm finally alive!

"My lady, please slow down and watch your step." Xiao Zhao carefully helped Jiang Huan, whose steps were a little unsteady.

"You know what, this liquor is pretty strong."

Jiang Huan waved her hand, her voice tinged with a soft, slightly drunken tone.

Just then, a staggering figure came from the other end of the corridor, reeking of alcohol, and almost bumped into Jiang Huan.

"Who...who is it that dares to block my path?"

The newcomer mumbled incoherently, then looked up, revealing a slightly tipsy face that bore a resemblance to Huo Lin.

It was none other than Huo Cong, the Prince of Nanjun.

He seemed to have drunk quite a bit; his eyes were somewhat unfocused.

When he finally saw the person in front of him, a glint of light flashed in Huo Cong's cloudy eyes, but it was quickly masked by his deeper drunkenness.

He grinned, reeking of alcohol, and leaned closer, his tone flippant.

"Oh, isn't this Consort Zhuang? What brings you here? Did you find the banquet boring?"

As he spoke, he reached out and grabbed Jiang Huan's arm without regard for her feelings, his actions carrying a hint of probing and disdain.

Jiang Huan frowned and immediately took a step back warily.

Why is it involving such indecent behavior?

"Your Highness is drunk; please behave yourself."

"Self-respect?"

Huo Cong chuckled and took another step closer, his gaze lingering brazenly on Jiang Huan's face.

"I am perfectly fine, but Your Majesty, despite your beautiful face, you are not as..."

Jiang Huan was much slower than usual because she was drunk.

Fortunately, Xiao Zhao reacted quickly, stepping in front of Jiang Huan to block her path.

"Your Highness, you've had too much to drink." She spread her arms wide, blocking Huo Cong tightly.

"Get out of my way, what are you?!"

Huo Cong frowned in displeasure. "I am speaking with Consort Zhuang. How dare you, a lowly servant, interrupt?"

Unbeknownst to the three, their entanglement and struggle had already been observed by others.

Consort Wan had only come out to clear her head from the alcohol, but she never expected to stumble upon such a "good show".

A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes at first, then was replaced by overwhelming elation.

An opportunity! A golden opportunity!

Jiang Huan was the most favored concubine in the palace, and she had long disliked Jiang Huan.

Heaven has eyes, allowing Jiang Huan to run into her.

"Go." Consort Wan lowered her voice and hurriedly ordered her two trusted maids, "Pull that troublesome lowly maid away from me, and remember to drag her far away."

Two burly old women immediately obeyed the order and quietly stepped forward.

Their goal was clear: one of them suddenly covered Xiao Zhao's mouth, while the other tightly gripped her arms, ignoring her struggles and kicks, and forcibly dragged her away from Huo Cong and Jiang Huan.

"Mmm...mmm..."

All of this happened so suddenly that Xiao Zhao was completely unprepared.

Her eyes widened, and she struggled desperately, but she couldn't make a sound. She could only watch helplessly as Jiang Huan fell into danger.

"What are you doing? Let her go!" Jiang Huan was both shocked and furious. She tried to save Xiao Zhao, but Huo Cong seized the opportunity to grab her wrist.

"Your Majesty, please don't be afraid. I just have a few words I'd like to say to you privately..."

Huo Cong's grip was extremely strong, and his hot, alcohol-scented breath sprayed onto Jiang Huan's face.

His other hand was also busy, trying to put his arm around Jiang Huan's waist.

Consort Wan seized the opportunity, and in a panic, she quickly stepped forward and shouted in a shrill voice.

"Oh dear, what's going on? Your Highness, Consort Zhuang, you...you must let go! This is outrageous!"

She shouted, but she didn't actually try to stop them.

When Jiang Huan heard the noise and saw that Consort Wan was not only not helping but also spreading rumors, she was so angry that she trembled all over.

There's no one else here. The old woman who just dragged Xiao Zhao away must be Wan Pin's person.

Although she was drunk, she knew perfectly well what Consort Wan was up to.

"Consort Wan, what nonsense are you spouting!"

She wanted to confront Consort Wan, but Huo Cong was still holding her back.

Jiang Huan struggled desperately, her wrists gripped painfully by Huo Cong, and humiliation overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.

"Let me go! Prince Nan, let me go!"

Seeing that Jiang Huan was unable to leave, Consort Wan whispered urgently to another palace maid beside her.

"Go quickly! Go tell the Emperor that... that Consort Zhuang and Prince Nan were making a scene by the lotus pond, behaving in a very indecent manner. Please ask the Emperor to come here immediately!"

Upon receiving the order, the palace maid turned and ran.

Consort Wan looked at Huo Cong, who was about to succeed, and Jiang Huan, who was isolated and helpless, and a vicious and triumphant smile appeared on her face.

After tonight, she'll see how Jiang Huan can regain favor.

Even if the emperor liked a concubine who had been "molested" by a prince, he could not swallow his anger.

Wanpin's smile grew wider and wider, as if she could already foresee what Jiang Huan would be like after falling out of favor.

Unfortunately, she was too happy too soon.

A quarter of an hour earlier, inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Huo Lin finished dealing with several ministers and subconsciously glanced to his side.

That spot has been empty for a while now.

Why haven't you come back yet after being gone for so long?

Fruit wine is sweet, but it has a strong aftereffect. Could he have gotten drunk somewhere?

A strange sense of unease and worry welled up in Huo Lin's heart.

He recalled Jiang Huan's slightly flushed cheeks and somewhat unsteady steps as she left the table, and he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Just as he was about to get up, a palace maid suddenly ran over in a panic.

Upon seeing the Emperor, he immediately knelt down.

"This servant has urgent news to report! Consort Zhuang and His Highness the Prince of Nanjun were behaving... behaving..."

She stammered, not daring to speak openly, but her words carried ambiguous hints.

Huo Lin's eyes suddenly turned cold. He abruptly stood up, ignoring everyone's reactions, and strode out of the hall.

Seeing this, Wang Degui quickly led several eunuchs to catch up.

Huo Lin headed towards the lotus pond at top speed, his mind a jumble of thoughts.

It's all because of those ministers who kept offering endless toasts.

Otherwise, I would have already slipped away and gone out with her.

When he turned the corner of the corridor and his gaze fell upon the scene by the lotus pond, all his thoughts froze instantly, replaced by a raging fire of anger.

Under the moonlight, Huo Cong grabbed Jiang Huan's arm and approached her step by step.

Jiang Huan's steps were unsteady, and she was struggling violently.

Behind her was a lotus pond; if she took just a few more steps back, she would fall into it.

A thunderous roar, carrying the oppressive aura of an emperor's fury, instantly shattered the tranquility of the moonlit lotus pond.

"Huo Cong! How dare you!"