Chapter 245 Wiping the Face
Jiang Huan stood up, patted the dirt off her hands, and a bright, innocent smile bloomed on her face.
"Your Majesty? What brings you here? And Lord Shen as well?"
Princess Mingzhu also looked up. Excited about playing, she forgot to be afraid of Huo Lin and happily held up the earthworm in her hand.
"Uncle, look! What a huge bug!"
Huo Lin looked at the earthworm wriggling in her hand, and the vein on his forehead throbbed again.
He strode forward, ignoring the two people beside him, and grabbed Jiang Huan's wrist.
"Come in with me."
Before Jiang Huan could react, Huo Lin half-dragged and half-pulled her into the side hall next door.
Bang--
Huo Lin slammed the palace door shut, blocking the curious gazes from outside.
Only two people remained inside the hall.
Huo Lin looked at Jiang Huan's mud-covered face and dirty hands, and felt a little helpless.
[How did you get like this? Your hands are all dirty, and your face is all messed up.]
What if I get bitten by an insect or scratched by a pebble in the soil?
They really don't know how to take care of themselves!
He forced himself to walk to the copper basin next to him, picked up a clean, damp cloth, wet it, wrung it out, and with a stern face, began to wipe the dirt off Jiang Huan's face.
When the damp, cool handkerchief touched her cheek, Jiang Huan instinctively shrank her neck.
"Hiss, it's cold..."
"Don't move." Huo Lin's voice was low and sounded somewhat helpless.
He held her chin firmly with one hand and used a handkerchief in the other to carefully wipe the ash from her cheeks, his movements gentle and his eyes unusually focused.
[His face was all smeared, like a little cat, but thankfully he wasn't seriously injured.]
Listening to his inner monologue, Jiang Huan swallowed back the words she was about to say, and couldn't help but smile slightly.
This guy is clearly worried to death, but he still has to keep a straight face.
Even wiping your face is so clumsy.
After wiping his face, Huo Lin took Jiang Huan's hand and began to wipe the dirt off her hand, finger by finger.
His movements were light and slow, his fingertips calloused as they caressed her palm, bringing a slight tickle.
Jiang Huan's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.
He was clearly a ruthless and decisive emperor, yet he was so meticulous and gentle when wiping his hands.
Anyone who didn't know better would think they were dusting some valuable porcelain.
However, he looked much better this way than when he usually scolded people with a stern face.
Jiang Huan secretly raised her eyes.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows on Huo Lin's profile. His usually sharp phoenix eyes were now focused with an almost tender intensity.
A blush crept onto Jiang Huan's ears, and she quickly lowered her eyes, pretending to study the intricately patterned carpet on the floor.
Huo Lin was completely oblivious and continued wiping with focused concentration.
Why are these hands so soft? And so small...?
Digging? That's too tiring.
[However, cultivating and farming the land—what a thoughtful and considerate measure this is! Even I am ashamed of my own in comparison.]
After wiping his hands and face clean, Huo Lin looked at the refreshed Jiang Huan before him, and his expression softened slightly.
"From now on, I will help you too." His voice was deep, and his appreciation and concern were impossible to hide.
Jiang Huan blinked and flattered him, saying, "He cares about the people's livelihood and understands agriculture. It is a blessing for the country to have such an emperor."
After tidying up inside the hall, the two of them went outside.
On the open ground, the traces of tilling were still visible, and the smell of soil had not completely dissipated.
Princess Mingzhu and He Ling had also taken a quick shower sometime earlier, and when they saw Jiang Huan come out, they both looked at her expectantly.
Shen Yi stood aside, a smile of anticipation on his face.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty," he said with a mischievous smile, his gaze sweeping between the two of them, "the land has been tilled almost completely. Shouldn't we prepare some food now? My stomach has been rumbling for quite some time."
Huo Lin ignored his teasing and focused his gaze on Jiang Huan.
Jiang Huan understood and immediately turned to Xiao Zhao, who was waiting nearby, and instructed her: "Xiao Zhao, go and prepare the grill and charcoal, cut up the venison sent by the Imperial Kitchen and skewer it, and bring me all the seasonings I usually use."
"Yes," Xiao Zhao replied and left immediately.
Soon, the palace servants quickly brought over the grill, charcoal brazier, and prepared the charcoal.
Various vegetables and fresh venison were cut into appropriately sized pieces and skewered on iron skewers. Next to them were jars of Jiang Huan's special sauce and various seasonal vegetables.
The charcoal fire crackled and popped, dispelling the evening chill.
Jiang Huan walked to the grill, picked up long chopsticks, and skillfully placed the meat skewers on it.
As soon as the meat skewers touched the scorching hot iron rack, they sizzled softly, dripping oil and bursting into flames, instantly filling the air with a rich aroma of meat.
"Wow, it smells so good!"
Princess Mingzhu couldn't resist and moved closer to the grill, her mouth practically watering.
She stared longingly, and soon couldn't contain herself any longer.
"Your Highness, is this ready? This one looks ripe."
"Little glutton, what's the rush?" Jiang Huan smiled, skillfully flipping the meat skewers and brushing on the sauce. "Wait a little longer, the sauce will help them absorb the flavor."
The moment the sauce touches the scalding hot meat, it releases an even more enticing aroma, mixed with the smoky fragrance of charcoal, making one's mouth water.
The group was already very hungry, so they all started grilling food, just like Jiang Huan.
Huo Lin also grilled some. He was about to give his grilled meat skewers to Jiang Huan when he caught a glimpse of another hand reaching out out of the corner of his eye.
It was He Ling, who was sitting on the other side of Jiang Huan.
He Ling picked up a skewer of meat and handed it to Jiang Huan.
"Your Majesty, please try this. I think it's cooked just right."
[Hey, this is the best skewer I ever grilled, it's for the Empress.]
[Hopefully Your Majesty will like it, and my favorability rating will increase a bit...]
System: "Ding! Detected that the host actively cared for the target person Jiang Huan and shared food with her. The target person is in a good mood, favorability +5, current favorability value: 40 points."
Wow, it's gone up! That's great!
He Ling cheered with joy, her smile becoming even brighter.
Huo Lin's hand holding the meat skewers froze in mid-air, his eyes narrowing.
Jiang Huan didn't notice Huo Lin's little actions. She took the meat skewers that He Ling handed her and nodded in satisfaction.
"Yes, it's really well baked. You put a lot of thought into it."
She took a bite; the outer layer was crispy, the inside tender and juicy, and the sauce was just right.
"Delicious." She gave He Ling an approving look.
He Ling blushed with delight at the compliment.
[The Empress praised me, I'm so happy.]
Huo Lin's displeasure grew even stronger as he watched this scene.
[Hmph, it's just a skewer of meat.]
【I can bake very well too!】
He silently took back his skewer of slightly charred meat, placed it on the plate in front of him, then picked up a skewer of raw meat next to him, put it on the grill, and started grilling it again.
By this time, Jiang Huan had already grilled a batch of meat skewers.
"Okay, you can eat now."
"I want this!" Princess Mingzhu reacted quickly, her chopsticks flashing towards a skewer of grilled meat with a perfect balance of fat and lean meat.
"Oh, little princess, give me this fat one."
Shen Yi was not to be outdone, and his chopsticks precisely picked up the other end of the same skewer of meat.
"Lord Shen, I was the one who chose this first." Princess Mingzhu pouted and pulled it back forcefully.
"Princess, good things should be shared." Shen Yi smiled, her grip on his hand remaining firm.
The two of them were fighting over it, their chopsticks clanging against each other on the grill, and the poor skewer of meat teetering precariously between them.
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