Chapter 289 Helping
The easy days didn't last long. With the ancestral worship ceremony approaching, all sorts of tedious preparations piled up, and Huo Lin was once again caught up in a flurry of activity.
Although most affairs were handled by the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department, he still needed to personally oversee many aspects. He was busy with a mountain of memorials every day, often working until late at night.
On this day, Huo Lin was in the Imperial Study discussing the details of the ancestral worship ceremony for the last few days with the Minister of Rites when Wang Degui suddenly came in to announce his arrival.
"Your Majesty, Prince Huo Yuan requests an audience."
Huo Lin was somewhat surprised. Ever since this kid entered the palace last time, he had been staying quietly in the residence arranged by his old imperial uncle in the capital.
What is he trying to do by suddenly entering the palace?
He frowned, but still ordered, "Let him in."
Huo Yuan walked in, bowed, but his expression was not as indignant and passionate as last time; instead, it was somewhat awkward.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty has heard that the ancestral worship ceremony is a busy affair, and Your Majesty is in dire need of capable people..."
Huo Yuan hesitated for a long time before finally speaking, his tone stiff and unyielding.
"Although I am not talented, I am willing to share Your Majesty's burdens and assist in handling some paperwork and miscellaneous matters related to sacrifices, and do my best in my small way."
Huo Lin raised an eyebrow and sized up Huo Yuan.
The sun must have risen in the west! This kid's changed his ways; he actually offered to help!
Could it be that my words that day had an effect?
"Your Highness is very kind. In that case, you should go to the Ministry of Rites to report and assist the Vice Minister in organizing and verifying the procedures."
"I obey the decree!"
Huo Yuan immediately agreed, and then, as if he had completed a difficult task, he hurriedly bowed and withdrew.
Huo Lin watched his retreating figure, which could almost be described as fleeing in disarray, and his doubts deepened.
What exactly is he up to?
For the next few days, Huo Yuan went to the Ministry of Rites on time every day to handle those paperwork.
Although he still had a stern face and rarely smiled, he was quite efficient.
Huo Lin understood him; although he was rigid, pedantic, and had a bad temper, he was utterly loyal to the court.
Although I can't figure out his motives for the time being, he's doing his part anyway, so I'll just let him be.
Until one day.
When Huo Lin inquired about the food preparations for the ancestral worship journey, Wang Degui chimed in, "Your Majesty, rest assured, the Imperial Kitchen has prepared everything according to the menu drafted by Consort Zhuang, especially the instant noodles, which have already been prepared in advance."
Before Wang Degui could finish speaking, Huo Yuan, who was engrossed in copying the memorial text, paused with his brush, and ink dripped down, spreading a small black stain on the paper.
Huo Lin raised an eyebrow, keenly noticing his loss of composure, and then he understood what was going on.
So all that humility and hard work was for the sake of delicious food.
Haha, what a Huo Yuan! Before, when we offered him something to eat, he was half-dead, but now he's eager to come.
Huo Lin was both amused and exasperated; his doubts vanished instantly.
He forced a smile and glanced at Huo Yuan, only to see that Huo Yuan's face was almost completely red from his ears to his neck, and his head was practically buried in a pile of documents.
Tsk, so you know how to be embarrassed?
It seems that instant noodles are quite tempting, enough to make this old-fashioned guy work for free.
From then on, Huo Lin had a firm grasp on Huo Yuan's weaknesses.
It was easy to manipulate Huo Yuan; all he had to do was occasionally have Wang Degui send him some snacks made by Jiang Huan.
Huo Yuan always looked resistant, but he would pack up the food quickly and eat it all up.
With Huo Yuan as a powerful external aid, Huo Lin's life became much easier, and he no longer had to work overtime and stay up late.
That day, he finished dealing with several urgent government affairs early, put down his pen, and let out a long sigh of relief.
It was still early outside the window, and the afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window frame, casting a warm golden glow.
Finally, I'm done with work, all thanks to her.
If it weren't for the instant noodles she invented that hooked Huo Yuan, he would still be struggling with those documents.
Huo Lin stood up in a cheerful mood, stretched his stiff neck, and walked briskly towards Weiyang Palace.
Upon entering Weiyang Palace, a fragrant aroma of food wafted over. Jiang Huan was directing the palace servants to place several side dishes and a bowl of black chicken and wolfberry soup on the table.
Hearing footsteps, Jiang Huan turned around and saw Huo Lin, a smile blooming on her face.
"Your Majesty, are you done with your work? Come and have a taste. I just made some soup, it's perfect for warming the stomach and relieving fatigue."
Huo Lin sat down naturally, took the jade bowl handed to him by Jiang Huan, scooped a spoonful and put it in his mouth.
The warm chicken soup, with its sweet goji berries, slid into my stomach, bringing warmth and dispelling the fatigue of the past few days.
"Mmm, it tastes excellent."
He put down his spoon, looked up at Jiang Huan, and his eyes were full of pleasure.
"The preparations for the ancestral worship ceremony have gone so smoothly these past few days, all thanks to you."
He leaned forward slightly, getting closer: "The menu you drafted, and the idea for instant noodles, really helped me a lot. Even Huo Yuan, that hard rock, was moved by this food and came to the Ministry of Rites to do odd jobs. It saved me a lot of trouble."
If it weren't for her, I probably wouldn't even be able to get away from this. She's truly my lucky star!
As he thought about it, he reached out, wanting to pull Jiang Huan into his arms.
After days of preparing for the sacrificial ceremony, Huo Lin inevitably became covered in the scent of incense.
For some reason, Jiang Huan felt a little uncomfortable in her stomach when she smelled this odor.
Almost instinctively, she leaned back the moment Huo Lin leaned in.
Huo Lin's expression remained as calm as ever, but his outstretched arm remained suspended in mid-air.
She dodged it? Why?
Is there something I did wrong, or has she grown tired of me?
[Or perhaps she feels I've been too busy lately and neglected her?]
Huo Lin felt wronged and slowly lowered his arm, which had been hanging in mid-air, his fingertips slightly cold.
He maintained that slightly forward-leaning posture, his gaze fixed on Jiang Huan's face, deeply hurt.
Listening to his innermost thoughts and seeing his current state, Jiang Huan almost jumped up in frustration.
Oh no, he seems to have misunderstood.
It's all because of that damned smell of incense.
I need to comfort her quickly, otherwise she'll become withdrawn!
She quickly adjusted her expression, put on a bright smile, and instead of backing away, she leaned forward slightly.
“Your Majesty,” she said, her voice softening and tinged with a hint of coquetry, “you just came back from the Imperial Ancestral Temple, didn’t you? You’re covered in the strong smell of incense.”
She wrinkled her small nose and made a slightly disgusted expression: "That smell is a bit... um, a bit stuffy after a while, and it makes my stomach feel uncomfortable too. It's not that I'm avoiding you."
Upon hearing this, Huo Lin frowned slightly and subconsciously lowered his head to smell his sleeve.
[It's the smell of incense...]
No wonder she wasn't feeling well; she'd been going to the Imperial Ancestral Temple frequently these past few days and must have picked up quite a bit of dirt.
[It's alright, as long as they don't dislike me.]
Most of the grievances in his heart dissipated instantly, but his face still showed that indifferent expression.
He turned his head slightly and said in a nonchalant tone, "Is that so? I didn't notice."
When Jiang Huan saw his awkward expression, she secretly chuckled to herself, knowing that he needed to be coaxed.
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