Chapter 339 Massage
Huo Lin fled the "fragrance-polluted area" near the Imperial Study as if he were escaping, walking hurriedly as if a raging flood or ferocious beast was chasing him.
It wasn't until he returned to his own palace that he felt the tightness in his chest dissipate slightly.
"Prepare water, I wish to take a bath," he commanded succinctly.
The palace servants dared not delay and immediately prepared hot water at a suitable temperature.
Huo Lin removed his robes, which were stained with the scent, and immersed himself in the warm bath.
Phew, I'm finally saved.
He doesn't want these clothes anymore; let's throw them away a million miles away to feed the mosquitoes.
He scrubbed himself thoroughly several times until he was sure there was no trace of sweet fragrance left on his body before changing into clean everyday clothes and walking towards Weiyang Palace, feeling refreshed.
He strictly followed the imperial physician's instructions and stayed away from all suspicious sources of odor.
She even took a bath and changed clothes to make sure she was clean and there was no smell that would make her uncomfortable.
He's so thoughtful and considerate; Jiang Huan would definitely praise him if she knew.
Huo Lin's mind was already playing out all sorts of little dramas, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up, even his usually cold and stern eyes softened a bit.
However, when he stepped into the inner hall of Weiyang Palace, the warm welcome he had imagined did not appear.
Jiang Huan was lounging lazily on the soft couch by the window, covered with a thin brocade quilt.
Her eyes were half-closed, and her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes, making her look drowsy.
An experienced nanny was sitting by the couch, skillfully massaging her calves and ankles.
Huo Lin walked over quietly and carefully examined Jiang Huan's face. Seeing that she looked relaxed and unwell, he then turned his gaze to the nanny.
He watched intently from the side, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
[Isn't this old woman using too much force? Look where she pressed; the flesh has sunk in.]
[Her skin is so delicate, can she withstand it? Won't it hurt?]
"Hey, hey, be gentle! Is this old woman even capable? Don't hurt her and the baby."
His inner monologue was incredibly rich, as if the nanny wasn't giving a massage, but rather performing some high-risk procedure.
Jiang Huan was in a daze and was almost asleep when the nanny pressed her down, but Huo Lin's urgent and worried voice woke her up a bit.
She opened her eyes helplessly, only to meet Huo Lin's tightly furrowed brows.
"What's wrong?" she asked lazily.
"It's nothing, you can go to sleep." Huo Lin said this, but his eyes were fixed on the old woman's hand, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly.
This technique is too crude; it won't do. I must do it myself.
My hands are certainly lighter and gentler than hers; I will never hurt her.
He observed for a moment, feeling that he had "grasped the essence," and even simulated the movements in his mind several times before finally unable to resist.
He cleared his throat and deliberately lowered his voice so as not to disturb Jiang Huan: "Alright, I'll handle this. You may leave."
The old woman was taken aback. Looking at the emperor, who had a serious and somewhat eager expression, she moved her lips but ultimately didn't dare to ask any more questions. She respectfully bowed and withdrew.
Huo Lin immediately rolled up his sleeves, revealing his strong forearms, and sat down on the edge of the couch.
He imitated what the old woman had done earlier, placing Jiang Huan's legs on his knees, then gently massaging her ankles with his warm palms.
At first, he was indeed very careful, using very light pressure, afraid of hurting her, and while pressing, he nervously observed Jiang Huan's expression.
Hmm, this pressure should be okay, right?
She didn't frown, and the corner of her mouth even seemed to relax slightly, so she seemed comfortable and didn't feel any pain.
[I learn everything so quickly; massage is a piece of cake.]
From now on, leave this matter to me. No one is allowed to touch her. I feel most at ease handling it myself.
Jiang Huan also felt quite comfortable and closed her eyes again.
Huo Lin's palms were warm, and his pressure was just right, showing more care than the nanny's routine massage.
Excellent, excellent! She should enjoy this royal service as soon as possible.
However, before long, Huo Lin's thoughts began to drift off course.
Her calves seem a bit rounder than before; they feel soft and squishy to the touch.
Is this what swelling during pregnancy looks like? The imperial physician said I should massage her more; I have to massage her every day.
Will my future children be this soft and fluffy? I wish they were like her, a soft and fragrant little bundle.
[I'm holding her, and she's holding the little dumpling—just imagining that scene is beautiful.]
Jiang Huan's lips twitched slightly. This guy's thoughts were wandering a little too fast.
The baby was still in her belly, and he was already imagining what it would be like to hold the baby?
She barely managed to maintain the posture of closing her eyes to rest, pretending not to hear, and trying hard to ignore the increasingly distant associations in her mind.
However, Huo Lin's inner monologue showed no signs of abating; on the contrary, it seemed to be escalating.
[Wait, did I press too lightly? It doesn't seem to be having any effect. Should I apply more pressure?]
But won't it hurt if I go harder? Her skin is so delicate. Let's be gentler, safety first.
Even her ankles are so beautiful, slender and well-proportioned; I could easily encircle them with one hand.
Jiang Huan's toes curled up involuntarily, and her ears felt a little hot.
Hey, if you're going to give me a massage, don't be so mushy, okay? You're practically digging your Barbie castle out of your head.
I really want to shake all the dirty thoughts out of this guy's head!
She opened her eyes, decisively pulled her legs off Huo Lin's knees, and quickly tucked them back into the quilt, her movements swift and efficient.
Huo Lin's hand was suddenly empty. He looked at Jiang Huan with a blank expression and asked, "What's wrong? Did I press it wrong, or was the pressure too strong? I'll correct it."
Jiang Huan looked at Huo Lin's genuinely bewildered and worried face, and couldn't help but laugh and cry.
She really wanted to tell him directly that it wasn't a problem with the strength of his hand, but that his mind was drifting towards the 18+ channel again!
"The massage was quite good..." She paused, a hint of fatigue appearing on her face. "I'm a little sleepy and want to take a nap."
As she spoke, she yawned slightly, and a few tears even welled up in the corners of her eyes.
Seeing her tired appearance, Huo Lin didn't want to force her to stay.
He carefully tucked the blanket around her to make sure there was no draft, then whispered, "Then... you get some sleep, I'll come see you later."
Jiang Huan closed her eyes and mumbled an "Mmm".
Huo Lin stood by the couch and watched her silently for a while. Seeing that her breathing gradually became steady and she really seemed to be asleep, he slowly walked out, turning back every few steps.
[Next time, I'll be more skilled with my hands.]
[When I have time, I'll go see the imperial physician again to ask which other acupoints are good for pregnant women to massage.]
Okay, let's do it that way.
He made up his mind in secret, as if he had found a new direction to strive for, and then gently closed the palace door, returning the tranquility of the room to the person on the bed.
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