Chapter 417 Playing Cards
Huo Lin and Jiang Huan sat side by side, just about to take advantage of this time alone to have some private words, when the carriage curtain was lifted from the outside.
Mingzhu peeked in with her pretty little face and asked softly, "Uncle, Your Majesty, is there room for me in your carriage?"
She knew she was there to be a third wheel, so she avoided eye contact, as if afraid Huo Lin would open his mouth and devour her.
This time, however, someone else suffered along with her.
Almost the instant Mingzhu finished speaking, He Ling also squeezed in from the other side, waving a deck of cards in her hand.
"Your Majesty, I've arrived! I even brought the mahjong tiles! Uh... Your Majesty, you're here too? Did I come at the wrong time...?"
Huo Lin's face instantly darkened, his brows furrowed, and the pressure around him plummeted.
[This is outrageous! Is this some kind of market? Everyone's crowding in here!]
Mingzhu and He Ling are becoming increasingly unruly; no wonder people of similar tastes tend to group together!
He was about to tell them to leave when Jiang Huan quickly pulled the two of them in, winking and smiling, "Nonsense, you've come at just the right time."
Huo Lin was about to say something when Jiang Huan's words stopped him from speaking. He pursed his thin lips, gave a heavy snort, but ultimately said nothing more.
He simply stretched out his arm and pulled Jiang Huan to his side, asserting his dominance with his actions, while coldly glancing at the two of them.
The chill in her gaze made Mingzhu shrink back in fright, instinctively moving closer to He Ling.
He Ling stuck out her tongue and quickly found a seat as far away from them as possible.
Jiang Huan noticed the cold aura emanating from him and smiled as she tried to smooth things over: "Alright, alright, it's more fun with more people, He Ling, shuffle the cards!"
He Ling responded incredibly quickly, washing her hands in a flurry: "The four of us, how about we play 50K?"
Huo Lin snorted coldly, about to rebuke Jiang Huan for wasting her time on frivolous pursuits, but seeing Jiang Huan's eager expression, he swallowed back the words he was about to say.
Well, since we have plenty of time, playing cards might be a good idea.
"But if you try to play against me, hmph, I'm afraid you'll be crying before you even finish three rounds."
So the four of them sat in a circle inside the carriage. Jiang Huan skillfully took the cards that He Ling had shuffled and dealt them with practiced ease.
"Same as always, the loser gets to stick a note on their face."
Upon hearing this, Huo Lin's lips curled up slightly.
[Then He Ling and Mingzhu would have to be covered up like two zombies.]
As expected, the game started off with the situation tilting to one side.
Huo Lin and Jiang Huan were in one group, while He Ling and Mingzhu were in another. Although He Ling was also a skilled card player, she unfortunately had an ancient teammate who couldn't carry her!
On the other hand, Huo Lin was quick-witted, and the two of them worked together, accurately calculating the cards and playing tricky moves. After several rounds, they crushed the opposing team.
"A royal flush!" Jiang Huan smiled and threw down her last two cards. "Sorry, we won again~ Come on, let's stick some stickers on our cards!"
Huo Lin even made the cards into a fan shape, not afraid to let anyone see them, because it was basically a bomb!
Mingzhu said with a mournful face, "Your Majesty, if these notes are kept up, I won't be able to see you anymore."
He Ling also clutched her head and wailed, "How are we supposed to play like this? The other side has cheaters! You two are like that gambling god couple!"
After several more rounds, it was still a one-sided massacre by Jiang Huan and Huo Lin.
Finally, Jiang Huan felt a little sorry for him, so she pushed the cards away and said, "Alright, alright, I'm a little tired too. Let's play again next time!"
After putting down the cards, the group started chatting.
Jiang Huan leaned back leisurely to one side, munching on snacks.
However, perhaps because the afternoon sun was too warm and the carriage was rocking like a cradle, Jiang Huan's eyelids began to droop.
Her head bobbed up and down until it finally rested on the soft pillow, and she fell into a deep sleep.
The three people in the car noticed her change almost simultaneously, and Huo Lin's gaze immediately shifted to her face.
He gestured for the other two to be quiet. Mingzhu immediately covered her mouth, blinked her big eyes, nodded vigorously, and even breathed softly, afraid of disturbing the tranquility.
He Ling immediately understood and put down the snacks.
The three of them stopped chatting in perfect unison, even moving slowly and deliberately. For a moment, the only sound in the carriage was the rumble of the wheels rolling over the official road.
Huo Lin carefully tucked the blanket corner that had slipped off Jiang Huan, gazing at her peaceful sleeping face. His brows and eyes softened unconsciously, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
Sleep well, sleep well, pregnancy is so exhausting.
Mingzhu and Heling exchanged a knowing glance as they looked at Huo Lin with such doting eyes.
The atmosphere inside the carriage was warm and cozy, as if time itself had slowed down.
After an unknown amount of time, the convoy slowly came to a stop, and a voice announced from outside: "Your Majesty, we have arrived at the hunting grounds."
Huo Lin immediately raised his hand to signal for silence, but Jiang Huan's breathing was even, showing no signs of waking up.
[The hunting grounds are noisy and windy, so let her sleep a little longer in the car.]
He gave a very low order to the person outside the carriage: "Pass on my decree that Her Majesty is resting after a long journey and no one is allowed to approach."
Mingzhu and Heling also held their breath and quietly got off the carriage first, not daring to make a sound.
Huo Lin glanced at Jiang Huan, then quietly got up as well.
He specifically left two of his most composed guards outside the carriage: "Keep a close watch. If the Empress wakes up, report back immediately without fail."
After making the arrangements, Huo Lin straightened his robes and walked towards the members of the Northern Desert delegation who were already waiting not far away.
Tubar, the leader of the northern desert delegation, had been waiting there with his subordinates. Upon seeing Huo Lin arrive, they all bowed and paid their respects.
"Your Majesty must be tired from your journey. We have prepared a simple banquet to welcome you back and wash away the dust of your travels."
Tubar, with a warm smile on his face, stepped aside to lead the way.
Inside the banquet hall, the long table was already laden with various dishes, mainly roasted meats and dairy products, and the rich aroma of spices filled the air, creating a distinctly northern atmosphere.
Tubar's voice was loud and proud: "Your Majesty, today's banquet was personally prepared by Ulan, the daughter of the chief strategist of my Northern Khanate."
“Not only is Miss Wulan proficient in poetry and literature, but she is also quite talented in cooking. She has always admired the culture of the Celestial Empire. Having heard that the Imperial Noble Consort’s cooking skills are superb, she specially offers her humble skills and asks the Emperor to taste and instruct her.”
As he spoke, a slender young woman dressed in luxurious northern nobility attire approached, carrying a plate of fragrant roasted meat.
She bowed to Huo Lin and said in a clear and melodious voice, "Ulan greets Your Majesty. This is lamb roasted using my family's secret recipe. It is crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and juicy. Please enjoy it, Your Majesty."
She looked up at Huo Lin, her eyes filled with confidence in her own skills.
Tubar added with a smile, "The father of the Ulan girl is highly trusted by the Khan. I think that Your Majesty has tasted all the delicacies in the world, and perhaps you can appreciate the unique sentiments of my noble lady from the northern desert. It would be a wonderful story of exchanges between our two countries."
Upon hearing Tubar's words, Huo Lin's previously calm gaze suddenly turned icy, and the surrounding temperature plummeted.
Ah, what a unique and thoughtful gesture.
Does he think that he can just find any noblewoman who can cook and compare her to his wife?
His wife was naturally beautiful and pure-hearted; this noblewoman was simply a poor imitation!
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