Chapter Seventy-Seven: Accompanying Each Other

Just as Jiang Huan finished speaking, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty!" Wang Degui rushed in, flustered. "An urgent military report from the Northwest, eight hundred li away!"

Huo Lin's expression changed drastically, and his relaxed demeanor vanished instantly.

He glanced at Jiang Huan instinctively, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes.

Damn it, of all times.

[I'd also like to try that special spiced milk tea she mentioned.]

Can't those barbarians in the Northwest just shut up for a while?

Jiang Huan clearly caught his last childish complaint, and her heart felt as if it had been gently tickled by a feather, causing a subtle ripple.

She gently nudged Huo Lin: "Your Majesty, please go quickly, military matters are of utmost importance."

Huo Lin pursed his lips, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment before looking away.

He turned and strode away, his black dragon robe fluttering in the wind, disappearing outside the palace gates in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Huan turned around and went back to the small kitchen to continue kneading the dough, but her mind was filled with Huo Lin's words before he left.

"The Emperor seems to be in a bad mood."

Look at how pitiful he looked just now, wanting to eat but not getting to.

Jiang Huan decided to cook more of his favorite dishes and personally deliver them to the Imperial Study later.

Just think of it as... feeding a big cat that's in a bad mood?

An hour later, Jiang Huan arrived outside the Imperial Study carrying a food box.

From afar, one could hear Huo Lin's angry shouts coming from inside.

"Useless trash! What use is he to me!"

There was also the sound of something hitting the ground.

Wang Degui stood guard outside the door, and seeing Jiang Huan was like seeing a savior.

"Your Majesty, you've finally arrived! The Emperor has been in a rage ever since he returned, and he hasn't even had dinner."

This is quite a commotion; it seems the events in the Northwest have greatly angered the Emperor.

She remained expressionless, only nodding reassuringly to Wang Degui to reassure him.

"Your Majesty, I have brought the meal."

The sounds inside stopped abruptly.

A moment later, the door was suddenly pulled open, and Huo Lin's gloomy face appeared in the doorway.

What brings you here?

His voice remained cold and hard, but the surprise in his eyes was undeniable.

Jiang Huan shook the food box in her hand, looked up at him and smiled: "Didn't we agree to make food with the flavor of the northern desert for Your Majesty? I dare not go back on my word."

Huo Lin stepped aside to let her in, his gaze falling on the food box: "I thought..."

"What did you think?" Jiang Huan asked while arranging the dishes.

I thought she wouldn't come.

I thought I wouldn't see her again today.

Is the emperor, a man of great stature, so insecure?

It seems she arrived just in time!

Jiang Huan placed the last cup of milk tea on the table, looked up and smiled at him.

"I will not forget what I promised Your Majesty."

Huo Lin's expression softened noticeably. He walked to the table, sat down, and looked at the dishes on the table.

"so much?"

"I was worried that Your Majesty might be hungry." Jiang Huan served him a bowl of milk tea, holding it with both hands and handing it to him. "Have some to warm your stomach first. This is made using the method from the northern deserts, but I added some sweetness."

Huo Lin took the bowl, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against the back of her hand.

Why is it so cold?

Have you been waiting outside for a long time?

He frowned slightly and suddenly grasped Jiang Huan's hand.

Why are your hands so cold?

Jiang Huan was surprised by his directness, and her ears immediately burned.

"No, it's nothing... It's probably just that it was windy at night."

Without saying a word, Huo Lin took her hands in his palms and gently rubbed them.

Jiang Huan felt the warmth of his palm, her heart beat faster involuntarily, and her cheeks flushed.

Just talk, why are you hitting me?!

"Your Majesty, please try it, the milk tea is getting cold," she whispered, trying to distract him.

Huo Lin then released her hand, picked up the bowl, and took a sip.

The rich milky aroma mixed with a faint floral fragrance spreads in the mouth, sweet but not cloying, and a warm feeling spreads from the stomach all the way to the whole body.

"Is it good?" Jiang Huan asked expectantly.

Huo Lin nodded and took another big gulp: "I have never tasted this before."

"This is a modified version of the method used in the northern deserts, which I learned from the princess."

Huo Lin's expression instantly darkened, and his tone became sarcastic.

"It's that princess again."

They can change their minds faster than turning the pages of a book.

Judging from his expression, it looked like he wanted to vomit up the milk tea he had just drunk.

That won't do. We need to shut that jealous mouth of hers quickly, lest she say something that's hard to handle.

Jiang Huan quickly picked up a piece of lamb chop and stuffed it into his mouth: "Your Majesty, try this. I roasted it according to the method of the northern desert, but reduced the spiciness."

Huo Lin's mouth was full, so he could only glare at her, but he was quickly won over by the deliciousness of the lamb chops.

Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with just the right amount of spices, it was indeed more to his liking than what the imperial kitchen made.

"How is it?" Jiang Huan asked, tilting her head, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Huo Lin gave a light snort: "Not bad."

[It's so delicious! Ten times better than the imperial kitchen!]

She can do everything.

Jiang Huan thought to herself, "He's just saying one thing and meaning another. The Emperor's true feelings are much more honest than his words."

The two of them ate while the other watched, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

Until Wang Degui cautiously reported from outside the door: "Your Majesty, the Minister of War requests an audience..."

Huo Lin's face darkened again: "Let him wait!"

Jiang Huan quickly pressed his hand down: "Your Majesty, state affairs are of utmost importance. I will wait here for you to finish your official business before you leave."

Huo Lin stared at her for a moment, feeling somewhat reluctant, but also unwilling to let Jiang Huan stay there.

"Don't wait any longer, go back and rest. I may be busy until very late tonight."

Jiang Huan shook her head: "I'm not sleepy."

Before Huo Lin could say anything more, the Minister of War outside the door began coughing to remind him.

If we don't go soon, the Minister might cough up tuberculosis at the door.

If news were to spread that she had bewitched the monarch and made the Minister ill, that would be disastrous.

Jiang Huan urged again, "Your Majesty, please go quickly."

He could only sigh, get up and walk towards the desk: "Then rest on the soft couch for a while, don't tire yourself out."

Jiang Huan nodded and watched Huo Lin return to his official duties.

She carefully packed up the lunchbox and then actually sat down on the tatami mat.

There was a distance between the soft couch and Huo Lin's place, with a screen in between.

At first, Jiang Huan listened with great interest to Huo Lin and the Minister's discussion, but the more she listened, the more confused she became.

Hmm, this matter concerning the Ministry of War sounds like gibberish. War is indeed a brain drain.

No, no, this is even more effective than a lullaby.

Jiang Huan's eyelids grew heavier and heavier until they gradually closed.

When Huo Lin finished reviewing the last memorial, it was already past midnight.

He rubbed his sore neck, looked up at the soft couch, and froze.

Jiang Huan had fallen asleep at some point, curled up on the soft couch like a kitten.

The candlelight cast a soft outline on her face, her long eyelashes casting delicate shadows, and a faint smile played on her lips.

Huo Lin tiptoed over, afraid of waking her.

He crouched down and examined her sleeping face up close.

Sleeping so soundly, and even smiling, did you dream of something wonderful?

He reached out to brush the stray hairs from her forehead, but stopped just before touching her, afraid of disturbing her sweet dream.

After hesitating for a moment, Huo Lin gently took off his outer robe and carefully covered Jiang Huan with it.

After doing all this, he squatted down in front of the bed and quietly watched Jiang Huan.

Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows on the floor. The imperial study was so quiet that one could hear each other breathing.

Huo Lin's gaze lingered from Jiang Huan's eyebrows and eyes to her lips, and an unprecedented tenderness welled up in his heart.

If only things could stay like this forever, without court politics, without war, only her.

The moment the thought crossed his mind, he was startled.

How could the ruler of a country have such thoughts?

But looking at Jiang Huan's peaceful sleeping face, he felt that it might be nice to do this occasionally.

Sleeping on a soft couch is not as comfortable as sleeping on a bed. After hesitating for a moment, he bent down and picked up Jiang Huan, robe and all.

In her dream, Jiang Huan unconsciously snuggled into his arms and let out a soft whimper like a kitten.

Huo Lin froze, his heart pounding like a drum.

Oh my god, how can she be so cute?

Should I wake her? But she's sleeping so soundly...

In the end, Huo Lin decided not to wake Jiang Huan.

He carried Jiang Huan out of the imperial study and, under the watchful eyes of the palace servants, personally escorted her back to Weiyang Palace.