Chapter 154 Being Dragged Away
He Ling was in a daze and followed Wang Degui to the side hall of Chuxiu Palace.
After settling in, He Ling sat on a stool, her heart pounding with worry, the system's electronic voice still chattering in her head.
"Host, please maintain a positive attitude. Staying in the palace is the crucial first step to achieving your ultimate goal."
"According to calculations, the target, Huo Lin, should be in a period of relatively weak emotional defenses at this moment. It is recommended that the host seize the opportunity to create a chance encounter. Moreover, the target is very likely to go to Weiyang Palace around dinner time. The host can wait on the road that he is sure to pass through."
He Ling felt a chill run down her spine: "Huo Lin must be driving me crazy right now. Didn't you see the look in his eyes during the talent show? And he even tried to create a chance encounter? I'm afraid he'll just drag me out and chop me up!"
"The host need not worry excessively."
The system is full of confidence.
"According to the analysis, although the target is ruthless, he is not one to kill innocent people indiscriminately. Moreover, the host has a buff, so this mission will definitely be a success."
He Ling was torn between fear and the desire to go home.
Ultimately, the desire to go home overcame all fear.
"Okay, I'll give it a try."
She took a deep breath; apart from winning over Huo Lin, she had no other options at the moment.
As evening fell, Huo Lin, who had been accompanying Jiang Huan, was called away once due to busy official duties and could not get away again.
As soon as he finished what he was doing, he immediately took a shortcut to Weiyang Palace, moving as fast as the wind.
Just as he was passing by a patch of flowers, a figure emerged from the other side of the patch.
Seemingly startled by the sudden appearance of the emperor, he staggered a few steps toward Huo Lin.
Huo Lin's eyes were cold and sharp as he looked at the approaching person and immediately took a step back to avoid them.
Who put a roadblock in the palace so late at night?
He Ling was shocked and barely managed to stop herself from falling.
What's going on? Shouldn't the male lead pull the female lead into his arms after she falls, and then accidentally kiss her if he slips?
Her heart began to pound; Huo Lin was playing by his own rules.
But since things had come to this, she could only continue to follow the system's instructions, bowing gracefully and deliberately making her voice soft and gentle.
"Your subject He Ling greets Your Majesty."
He Ling lowered her head, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her throat.
Her palms were sweaty, and she just hoped the buff would take effect soon.
However, Huo Lin just frowned impatiently.
This roadblock even buzzes like a fly. Why doesn't it grow wings and fly away? It's not a latrine!
They're so pretentious, it's annoying to watch.
Huo Lin waved to the head of the guards beside him, his voice extremely cold.
"Stop making noise, move away, don't block my way."
The two guards moved with lightning speed, grabbing He Ling's arms on either side before she could react.
"Ah!" He Ling's eyes nearly popped out of her head in fright.
In the past, when I watched dramas, those characters would just die eventually. I wondered if the emperor would really cut off her head.
He Ling burst into tears instantly, her voice trembling: "Your Majesty, spare me! I didn't mean to! I just got lost!"
The guards didn't give her a chance to explain; they simply grabbed her and dragged her away from the path Huo Lin was about to take.
"Waaaaah... Don't drag me..."
Her clothes were covered in dust from the struggle, and her face was streaked with tears.
Wang Degui didn't even lift his eyelids, but silently waved his hand, signaling the guards to hurry up and not let the filthy thing's cries continue to pollute the emperor's ears.
Huo Lin ignored the pleas and cries behind him. He didn't stop walking; in fact, he quickened his pace.
Before long, Huo Lin arrived at Weiyang Palace.
But Jiang Huan was not inside the house.
Xiao Zhao was standing nearby. Upon seeing this, Huo Lin asked, "Where is your mistress?"
"Your Majesty, Her Majesty is currently busy in the small kitchen and has specifically instructed that no one is allowed to disturb her," Xiao Zhao said in a steady voice.
Small kitchen?
Jiang Huan is cooking. Is she making it for him?
Yes, it must have been made for him!
This is definitely a sign of softening one's heart and a signal of reconciliation.
He's a good student who's studied the Thirty-Six Strategies for Pursuing Women; he knows them!
"It's alright, I won't disturb her."
Huo Lin coughed lightly, concealing the joy in his eyes, his voice indifferent.
"I will wait here for her to finish her work. There's no rush."
Xiao Zhao nodded, lowered her eyes, and took her leave.
Inside the Weiyang Palace, in a small kitchen.
Jiang Huan stood in front of the stove, listening to Xiao Zhao's report.
He was holding a long ladle in his hand, slowly stirring the soup in the casserole.
The soup had an enticing milky white color, steaming hot, and the rich aroma of meat mixed with the umami of mushrooms filled the entire kitchen.
Jiang Huan continued what she was doing and gave a thoughtful "hmm".
He immediately grabbed the salt shaker next to him, twisted his wrist slightly, and poured the salt in.
Xiao Zhao's eyelids twitched as she looked on in horror: "Your Majesty, this is so salty it'll kill you!"
Jiang Huan casually lifted her eyelids: "That's true."
After saying that, he picked up the dish of Sichuan peppercorn powder next to him and poured the whole dish of powder into it.
"Then let's numb our tongues until we can't feel them anymore. Wouldn't that perfectly solve the problem of 'sweet' taste?"
"Your Highness, this..." Xiao Zhao muttered, the smell alone was terrifying, "Is this still edible?"
The problem of the cloying saltiness has been solved, but after this meal, I'm afraid the emperor will also be dealt with.
Jiang Huan, however, didn't take it to heart and a mischievous smile appeared on her lips.
Like a witch concocting an elixir, she kept turning the pot of porridge over and over again.
What's the panic? If it weren't for the difficulty in catching live frogs and the illegality of gouging out eyeballs, she would definitely use this "perfect tonic soup" to nourish Huo Lin's amnesiac brain.
Consort Zhuang, right? You're not familiar with her, are you? She's not someone you can easily fool!
Now that you've remembered, you should prepare for the worst-case scenario of trying to win back your wife.
"Thank goodness for the times; he's really lucky to have such a good meal."
Jiang Huan glanced at Xiao Zhao with a longing look.
Hmph, she'll have to create this spectacle herself.
At this moment, Huo Lin had already imagined a heartwarming scene where Jiang Huan felt sorry for his hard work and cooked for him, which moved him deeply, and the two of them held hands and looked at each other.
Hearing a noise at the door, he immediately looked over.
Upon seeing Jiang Huan arrive, Huo Lin's eyes lit up, and he stepped forward to greet her.
"No rush, I can wait however I want, just don't tire yourself out."
Jiang Huan neither looked at him nor responded, and gestured for Xiao Zhao to put the tray on the table.
Then he raised his eyes, pretended to be obedient, and gave a slight curtsy.
"Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, and I dare not disturb you. This soup is a token of my appreciation. Please enjoy it while it's hot."
"I understand your intentions, and I will cherish them."
[Not only should it be treasured and cherished, but it should also be eaten completely. If I could, I would even like to keep this bowl in my imperial study as a sacred object.]
From now on, I will check on Jiang Huan every day, examine myself three times a day, and ensure that I do not anger her, do not cause her any distress, and do not break her heart!
[Alright, alright, I'm going to start drinking now.]
Huo Lin walked a few steps to the table and sat down, then happily opened the lid.
An indescribable odor rushed out, making him blink frantically.
The soup was cloudy and thick white, with some dark powder with a strong granular texture floating on top.
[Am I too happy and hallucinating at first glance? What is this poisonous... soup?]
Huo Lin rubbed his eyes. No matter how hard he tried, the poison was still the same bowl of poison.
Could it be her new formula?
A sense of foreboding crept into Huo Lin's heart, but remembering that Jiang Huan had made it herself, he forcibly suppressed his doubts.
He picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful, and put it in his mouth.
The salty and numbing taste instantly overwhelmed his taste buds, and Huo Lin's body stiffened abruptly.
[What a potent poison! Even poisons like Arsenic and Gelsemium elegans would have to acknowledge it as their ancestor!]
He instinctively wanted to spit out the soup, but then he heard a voice beside him.
"Your Majesty, is the soup I made not to your liking?"
Jiang Huan narrowed her eyes dangerously, her expression light yet carrying a tremendous sense of oppression.
Huo Lin stubbornly forced his neck down and, relying on his survival instinct, managed to swallow the soup with great difficulty.
It took him all his strength to control his distorted face and maintain the dignity of an emperor.
"How could that be? Your cooking is exactly to my liking."
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