Chapter 160 Maintenance
Wen Yilin raised what she thought was a warm smile: "I have only been in the palace for a short time and am not as favored as Your Majesty. I am still unfamiliar with the rules of the palace and the Emperor's preferences. I have always regarded you as a role model for us sisters in the harem!"
Her flattery was blatantly purposeful; once the groundwork was laid, her true intentions were revealed.
"I dare to ask Your Majesty to speak to the Emperor more often when you have some free time to give me some guidance."
Wen Yilin stared intently at Jiang Huan, as if she were looking at a shortcut to heaven.
"Rest assured, my sister's father is the Minister of Revenue. If my sister can gain some favor from the Emperor, my father will remember Your Majesty's great kindness today and will do his best to repay her in the future."
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.
Liu Shuyao's hand holding the teacup remained motionless, her lowered eyelashes concealing the mockery in her eyes.
He Ling was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she wished she could shrink into the chair and disappear.
Jiang Huan paused, then put down the half-eaten cream puff.
She even doubted her ears.
Who would act as a pimp for their partner?
Asking her to help win favor? Why not just play the wedding march for the two of you directly...?
This is an amazing statement; trying to poach someone's partner right up to their own is truly unparalleled.
Jiang Huan's smile faded, and the temperature in her eyes dropped.
"I didn't hear what Consort Wen said just now. Could you repeat it?"
Despite saying that, the pressure around her was getting lower and lower, and her eyes were gradually becoming cold and sharp.
Wen Yilin's smile froze for a moment. She hadn't expected Jiang Huan to not only be ungrateful but also give her a cold shoulder.
But now that she holds a high position and is a favored concubine, I won't gain anything by arguing with her.
She could only suppress her anger and explain, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I only admire Your Majesty's favor and wish to receive your guidance."
"A suggestion?"
The black crow in Jiang Huan's heart drifted by silently.
If we keep talking, this cream puff will turn into plastic.
"How would you like me to advise you, Consort Wen? Should I teach you what hairstyle to wear and what fragrances to use to attract the Emperor's attention? Or should I tell you which garden the Emperor frequents for strolling, where you'll have the highest chance of a chance encounter?"
Her tone was calm, but her words were piercing: "Or, perhaps I could simply introduce you, pave the way for you, and warm your bed so you can sleep right in the Hall of Mental Cultivation?"
These words were too blunt, and Wen Yilin's face turned red, her chest heaving.
After catching her breath for a while, she continued speaking.
"Your Majesty misunderstands. I would never dare to have such improper thoughts. I only wish to gain some imperial favor so as to bring glory to my family and also to maintain harmony in the harem."
"harmony?"
Jiang Huan smiled faintly, as if listening to a fairy tale; this forced attempt to save face had little effect.
She stood up, looking down at Wen Yilin with an imposing aura that she had cultivated around Huo Lin.
"Using your father's position as a bargaining chip to beg for favor? Your Wen family's family education is quite novel."
"You keep saying nice things, but isn't it all just because of your arrogance and conceit? Do you think I'm blind and can't see through you?"
Liu Shuyao's breath hitched slightly as she watched Jiang Huan display her sharpness, which once again refreshed her understanding of Jiang Huan.
This was not merely arrogance due to favoritism; that imposing aura was genuine authority.
He Ling's mind went completely blank, with only one thought in mind.
[System, I'm dying. Will she kill someone? Will she drag Wen Yilin away and beat her to death on the spot, and then I might get caught in the crossfire?]
"High-energy warning! Target's aggression level has reached its peak! Host is advised to immediately close your eyes and minimize your presence!"
Just as tensions were about to rise, an announcement suddenly rang out from outside the hall.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Huo Lin practically stepped into the room as the announcement was made, his robes billowing as he walked faster and more hurriedly than usual.
In the morning court session, I chatted with those old guys about this and that, arguing endlessly over trivial matters.
He suppressed his impatience and finished dealing with state affairs. Without even changing his dragon robe, he rushed to Weiyang Palace.
As soon as she entered, she saw Jiang Huan's face was as cold as ice, her eyes sharp, as if she were scolding someone.
What's wrong with her? She seems to be in a very bad mood.
[Someone must have angered her again. Oh no, at this crucial moment, why am I not here again?]
[Oh no, will this affect my standing in her heart? My situation seems pretty bad too!]
[But this is the first time I've seen her like this. Hmm, that look in her eyes...]
[So scary yet so captivating!]
When the emperor arrived, everyone in the hall knelt down to pay their respects.
Liu Shuyao was the most perceptive and complex person. She had always hoped to see Huo Lin more often. Now that he had arrived at such a convenient time, just in time to witness Consort Zhuang scolding people in anger, she felt a faint sense of anticipation rising in her heart.
What will the Emperor think when he sees her being so strict and aggressive? Will he dislike her?
She quickly lowered her head, bowing respectfully, while her eyes couldn't help but observe Huo Lin's reaction out of the corner of her eye.
Wen Yilin, too, secretly hoped that Huo Lin would teach Jiang Huan a lesson.
But Huo Lin didn't even glance at the three of them, and went straight to Jiang Huan's side.
"Who bullied you? Tell me."
[Let me teach them a lesson! Give me a chance to prove myself!]
His gaze and tone were gentle and tender, yet full of favoritism.
The spark of expectation in their hearts was extinguished instantly, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over them.
The Emperor didn't even glance at them?
Hearing his anxious inner voice, Jiang Huan's composure crumbled somewhat.
It looks a bit like a big dog, with its tail wagging like a propeller.
She toned down her imposing manner, her gaze lingering on Wen Yilin almost imperceptibly, and she pouted, her expression carrying a hint of tattling.
"It's not exactly bullying, it's just that we don't see eye to eye and it's best not to say more."
Huo Lin understood her implication at a glance, and his gaze instantly sharpened, as if a sharp blade was hanging over Wen Yilin's head.
"I understand."
When Wen Yilin saw Huo Lin, she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar and trembled violently.
"Your Majesty, I didn't mean it..."
Huo Lin raised his hand, his movement seemingly casual, yet it carried an overwhelming force, leaving no room for further explanation.
His cold gaze swept over Liu Shuyao and He Ling, devoid of any warmth.
[Liu Shuyao blocked the road this morning, Wen Yilin said a lot of stupid things, and there was another one... never mind, that's even less important.]
[All you do is disturb people's peace and quiet. Didn't my ancestors, father, and brothers find the harem and its many concubines annoying?]
These are all outdated customs; I will abolish them all one day.
The hall was eerily quiet for a moment. After a short while, Huo Lin's cold, deep voice rang out as he gave the order with a resounding tone.
"Wang Degui".
Upon hearing the sound, Wang Degui, who was guarding the entrance to the palace, immediately bowed and approached.
"Your servant is here."
"I will only say this once: I do not wish to see any irrelevant people in Weiyang Palace again."
He turned his head to look at Jiang Huan beside him, and his icy gaze instantly melted like spring snow, his voice also softening considerably.
"From now on, whoever comes, you don't need to bother saying even half a word if you don't want to. If anyone dares to disobey, I will take care of it for you to the end."
This was a firm warning to the three people present, implying that if they didn't leave, they wouldn't have to leave at all.
They will be executed on the spot, without any room for negotiation.
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