Chapter 82 Rumors Spread
Ayina's pupils constricted sharply. Forgetting that she had just escaped danger, she jumped off her horse like a madwoman and rushed towards Jiang Huan.
"Jiang Huan! How are you feeling?"
She knelt down beside Jiang Huan, reaching out her hand as if to touch her but not daring to.
His blue eyes were stained red with blood, and filled with boundless rage.
She had never hated her own carelessness as much as she did at this moment.
Looking back now, the strange fragrance she smelled on the handkerchief while resting earlier was not her imagination at all!
Someone wanted to harm her, but by a twist of fate, it was Jiang Huan who suffered.
Huo Ting missed his target, and the carefully feigned concern on his face froze instantly, turning into a gloomy displeasure and astonishment.
He clearly hadn't expected that Jiang Huan would rather break her leg than let him touch her in the slightest.
This intense resistance felt like an invisible slap across his face.
However, he reacted very quickly, immediately putting on an extremely anxious expression and roaring at the terrified palace servants around him.
"Are you all blind? Consort Zhuang has fallen from her horse and is bleeding almost dry! Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"
He roared at the top of his lungs, "Go find a stretcher! The Empress is injured in the leg. Anyone who dares to lay a hand on her will be skinned alive!"
The palace servants were jolted awake by the shouts and scattered in a panic to summon the imperial physician and find a stretcher.
The horse trainers, sweating profusely, worked together to subdue the still struggling chestnut horse.
Amidst the swirling dust, only Jiang Huan's suppressed gasps of pain and Ayina's trembling calls were exceptionally clear.
"Don't be afraid, the imperial physician will be here soon."
Ayina's voice had lost its usual sharpness, leaving only panic and feigned composure.
Jiang Huan felt so much pain that her vision blurred and her ears rang as if they were behind a layer of water.
Her left leg felt like it was being repeatedly scalded by countless red-hot irons, and every heartbeat brought excruciating, tearing pain.
It really hurts.
Actually, if Huo Ting hadn't come, she could have held on until Princess Ayina came to help her.
Jiang Huan felt both frustrated and aggrieved. She bit her lower lip hard, but still couldn't suppress the painful groan that escaped from her throat.
Ayina stayed by Jiang Huan's side, and seeing Jiang Huan's pained appearance, she felt even more guilty.
"Just bear with it a little longer, the imperial physician will be here soon!"
She looked up and roared at the panicked palace servants, her tone fiercer than ever before.
"Where have the imperial physicians gone?! If they don't come soon, this princess will tear down the Imperial Hospital!"
At this moment, several nimble eunuchs finally came running over, carrying a makeshift stretcher.
"Lift it gently! Be steady! Her leg is broken!"
Ayina gave a stern order to the eunuch who was lifting Jiang Huan, her eyes gleaming as if she wanted to kill him.
Huo Ting stood to the side, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Huan's pale face and bloodstained legs, a barely perceptible hint of excitement flashing deep in his eyes.
Although his plan took an unexpected turn, the unexpected turn was even more exciting than he had anticipated.
He almost greedily captured the faint gasps Jiang Huan let out in agony, watching her furrowed brows and tightly closed eyes as she endured the pain…
Broken, helpless, like a bird with broken wings, only able to tremble and cry in vain.
All of this struck the darkest corner of Huo Ting's heart with perfect precision, and a strong urge to ravage him surged up, making his throat tighten.
He could almost picture the crisp sound of her leg bone breaking, and the agony she was enduring.
Amidst this chaos and widespread anxiety, some trivial yet malicious gossip and rumors quietly spread.
"Hey, did you see that? Prince Mu looks so nervous."
"That's right, they rushed out to save Consort Zhuang just now, they were incredibly fast."
"Tsk, we 'bump into' each other at the horse farm every day. When Consort Zhuang learns to ride a horse, the Prince is more concerned than the Princess."
"Consort Zhuang doesn't even try to hide it. If you ask me, they might have been in contact in private for a long time."
...
Rumors, like winged venomous snakes, slithered swiftly in the shadows of the palace walls.
With a little guidance and embellishment from those with ulterior motives, these malicious speculations quickly morphed and fermented, spreading like wildfire through whispers and whispers among the palace servants.
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study.
Several high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works were discussing state affairs with great enthusiasm.
Huo Lin sat upright in his chair, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.
Just then, Wang Degui suddenly walked in, looking somewhat flustered.
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Consort Zhuang has fallen from her horse at the riding field!"
"What?!"
That startled shout was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, instantly silencing the imperial study.
Huo Lin suddenly sprang up from the dragon throne, the vermilion brush in his hand falling onto the imperial desk, leaving a glaring red mark.
At this moment, nothing matters—no court discussions, no ministers.
Huo Lin practically smashed through the imperial desk blocking his way, rushing out of the imperial study in an unprecedentedly disheveled state, leaving only a blur behind.
"Your Majesty, wait for this old servant!" Wang Degui was so frightened that he scrambled out of the way and chased after him.
Huo Lin couldn't hear the shouts behind him at all. He used all his strength and pushed his lightness skill to the limit, running wildly through the palace gates.
Time passed slowly, and Huo Lin had never felt that the palace was so large, and the road from the Imperial Study to the horse farm was so long, as if it would never end.
Fear, like a cold, venomous snake, coiled tightly around his heart, tightening its grip ever more.
He dared not think about the worst possible outcome, so he could only run as fast as he could!
Finally, the familiar outline of the horse farm appeared on the horizon.
From afar, he could see a scene of chaos and devastation, with a faint, lingering smell of blood in the air.
Huo Lin's heart sank to the bottom, and he quickened his pace, almost flying over.
When Huo Lin saw the person lying on the stretcher, his heart felt as if it had been gripped by a giant hand, and he felt an extreme pain.
"Jiang Huan!"
[It's all my fault! Why did I let her and the princess come to learn about horses?]
I should have stayed by her side; it was my fault.
[I am late.]
Jiang Huan, who had been enduring excruciating pain and struggling on the verge of losing consciousness, opened her eyes the moment she heard that familiar voice.
When she met Huo Lin's gaze, the strong shell she had maintained shattered completely.
All the grievances, fears, and lingering anxieties, mixed with the excruciating pain in my legs, surged forth like a burst dam, overwhelming all the dams.
"emperor."
She pursed her bloodless lips, and tears streamed down her face like broken pearls.
"I'm here, I'm here, don't be afraid, I'm coming."
Huo Lin grasped Jiang Huan's hand, his heart aching beyond measure.
The usually dignified and aloof emperor's eyes quietly reddened at this moment, wishing he were the one who was hurt.
"I...I'm in so much pain..." Her voice was broken and choked with sobs.
Jiang Huan, who hadn't uttered a single word since being injured, finally let down her guard at this moment.
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