Chapter 239 Request for a Marriage
Huo Lin was so startled by the sudden knock on the door that he almost jumped off his chair. He hurriedly shoved the hot booklet deep into the cabinet, his movements as fast as lightning.
Clang—
With a muffled thud, the cabinet door slammed shut, the brass lock falling and firmly locking away those blush-inducing images.
After doing all this, Huo Lin's heart was still pounding wildly in his chest, almost as if it would burst out of his ribs.
The blush on his face had not yet faded, and the sudden interruption added to his shock and anger at being caught red-handed.
"Who?" he shouted sharply, his voice tense, carrying the majesty of an emperor who had been offended, yet also revealing a hint of hoarseness.
A cautious voice came from outside the door: "Your Majesty, it is this servant. The commander of the secret guards has urgent business to discuss with you."
Commander of the Dark Guard?
Huo Lin felt a chill run down his spine, instantly banishing all those romantic thoughts to the winds.
The secret guards report directly to him, and would never disturb him at this time unless it was an extremely urgent matter.
"Come in."
Huo Lin took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning blood and the heat on his face, and tried to adjust his breathing and straighten his back.
He picked up the cool tea beside him and took a big gulp, trying to extinguish the heat in his heart.
The door to the imperial study was pushed open, and the commander of the secret guards, dressed in a black outfit, silently slipped in and knelt on one knee.
"Your Majesty, I have important matters to report."
"Speak," Huo Lin said in a deep voice, his gaze sharp.
“An hour ago, the Empress Dowager disguised herself and quietly left the palace through the Xihua Gate with only two trusted maids.” The commander of the secret guards said succinctly, “I have sent people to follow her secretly and found that the Empress Dowager and her party went straight to the Prince Mu’s residence.”
Prince Mu's Mansion? Huo Ting?
Huo Lin's eyes instantly turned cold, as if they were filled with ice, and the air pressure around him dropped several degrees.
Ah, it's him again, just as I expected.
Huo Ting's leg is broken, he's a cripple lying in bed, yet he's still so restless.
The Empress Dowager, on the other hand, had thought that after the last incident, she would have seen through Huo Ting's true colors, but she never expected him to be so stubborn and unrepentant.
He sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm.
Huo Ting, that scoundrel, is still ambitious, but now he's nothing more than a spineless mangy dog, incapable of causing any real trouble.
"Understood." Huo Lin's voice was unreadable. "Send more men to keep a close watch on the Prince Mu's residence, especially Huo Ting and his trusted confidants. Report any unusual activity immediately."
"Yes!" The commander of the secret guards accepted the order, his figure flashed, and he silently retreated, as if he had never appeared.
Silence returned to the hall. Huo Lin leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples, feeling a surge of irritation.
What bad luck! It ruined the good learning atmosphere.
I wonder what she's doing now...
He was just about to send someone to ask Jiang Huan what she was doing, or perhaps he could sneak over and take a look himself, when another announcement came from outside the palace.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests an audience."
Huo Lin paused, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.
They came back quickly.
She had just left that good-for-nothing Huo Ting's mansion and then headed straight for him?
Nobody would believe it if I said I had no ulterior motive!
He wanted to see what the Empress Dowager wanted to ask for on behalf of Huo Ting this time, or... what she was plotting.
"Please invite the Empress Dowager in." He sat up straight, his face regaining its usual composure.
A moment later, the Empress Dowager entered, supported by a nanny.
She changed back into her palace attire, but her face showed obvious fatigue, and her eyes seemed to be red, indicating that she had just cried and probably suffered some injustice at Huo Ting's hands.
The Empress Dowager sat down in the main seat and waved her hand, signaling all the palace servants to leave, leaving only her trusted nanny guarding the door, as if she were about to discuss confidential matters.
Only Huo Lin and the Empress Dowager remained in the hall, and the atmosphere became somewhat tense.
The Empress Dowager remained silent for a moment, seemingly considering her words, before slowly speaking.
"Your Majesty, I have come today to ask you for a favor."
Sure enough, no one visits the temple without a reason.
Is it for Huo Ting?
Huo Lin remained expressionless, even picking up his teacup and taking a small sip.
"Your Majesty is too kind. Please speak freely."
The Empress Dowager sighed, a look of worry on her face.
"It's...it's about Mingzhu."
Huo Lin was slightly taken aback, somewhat surprised.
Why bring up Mingzhu at this time?
“Mingzhu is not young anymore. I think it’s time to find her a good husband. Let’s settle down.”
The Empress Dowager looked at Huo Lin with eager anticipation in her eyes, like a grandmother who was genuinely concerned about her granddaughter's marriage.
"These past few days, I have thought it over and over and I have come to have my eye on someone."
She paused, observing Huo Lin's reaction, and continued, "He is General Weiyuan's nephew. I have met that boy a few times. He is tall and strong, with excellent martial arts skills, and has the same style as his uncle. His family background is also worthy of our Mingzhu. Your Majesty, do you think it would be possible to issue an imperial decree to grant the marriage?"
Huo Lin listened to the Empress Dowager's words, but his eyes grew colder and colder.
In the end, they still picked a scoundrel for Mingzhu.
That guy is clearly a good-looking but brainless good-for-nothing, all show and no substance.
Relying on his uncle's power, he ran rampant in the capital, bullying men and women. He was also a spendthrift who was addicted to gambling!
Does such a scumbag deserve Mingzhu?
Ah, the Empress Dowager only values General Weiyuan because he holds the power of the garrison troops in the capital region and has a high prestige in the army.
Huo Ting is now practically a cripple in the mansion.
But the remaining forces behind him, those unwilling old subordinates, are still stirring.
If Huo Ting could win over General Weiyuan, who commands a large army, it would undoubtedly provide him with a powerful ally.
Even if Huo Ting himself is crippled, this power can still be used by him or by the Empress Dowager!
He just didn't expect that Mingzhu was the Empress Dowager's own granddaughter, whom she had raised herself.
In the end, however, the Empress Dowager actually wanted to use her lifelong happiness to pave the way for that good-for-nothing Huo Ting.
The Empress Dowager was not looking for a home for Mingzhu; she was clearly using Mingzhu as a pawn, a pawn to exchange for military power and consolidate Huo Ting's power.
Even tigers don't eat their cubs, what a cruel heart!
Huo Lin felt a surge of anger rising from the bottom of his heart, almost bursting out of his chest.
Looking at the Empress Dowager's face, which was full of concern for Mingzhu, he felt that it was so hypocritical that it was disgusting.
Huo Linqiang suppressed his surging anger, his voice low and unreadable.
"Mingzhu's marriage is of great importance. As for General Weiyuan's nephew, I will have someone carefully examine his character and talent. As for bestowing a marriage upon him..."
He paused, his gaze sharp as a knife, staring directly into the Empress Dowager's eyes, and slowly said, "This matter is of great importance and requires careful consideration."
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