Chapter Sixty-Four: Having Lunch Together
"Sister, your knife skills are truly superb. No wonder the Emperor likes you."
Inside the imperial kitchen, Consort Jia stood beside Jiang Huan, the incense emanating from her making her dizzy.
Jiang Huan paused, nearly cutting her finger, as she was holding the cleaver.
She took a deep breath and continued to shred the radish.
He cursed Consort Jia's ancestors for eighteen generations in his mind.
Is this imperial concubine like a stubborn, persistent leech?
They were so close, their heads were practically buried in the cutting board.
Since she's so shameless, I might as well let her stab me a couple of times.
The moment the thought popped into her head, Jiang Huan was startled.
When did she become so petty?
"My sister doesn't look well?" Consort Jia feigned concern. "Are you tired?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am fine."
That's what I said, but my hands were moving at a crazy pace, as if I just wanted to end this torment as soon as possible.
Consort Jia was not idle either; she instructed the imperial kitchen staff to prepare several more dishes.
Time passed slowly, and before we knew it, it was noon.
Finally, all the food was ready.
When the food box was ready, Consort Jia suddenly reached out and said, "Let my sister carry it."
Jiang Huan looked at the hand painted with nail polish resting on the food box, the nails almost digging into the lacquer.
She released her hand, lowered her eyes, and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Your Majesty."
Along the way, Consort Jia would stop from time to time to adjust her clothes.
Jiang Huan followed behind her, watching her swaying figure, feeling a tightness in her chest, as if a ball of cotton was stuck in her throat.
Outside the Imperial Study.
Wang Degui was visibly taken aback when he saw the two traveling together, and then bowed and greeted them: "This old servant greets Consort Jia and Consort Zhuang."
"Is His Majesty inside?" Consort Jia raised her chin.
"Yes, it is, but..."
Before Wang Degui could finish speaking, Consort Jia had already stepped in carrying a food box.
Seeing this, Jiang Huan had no choice but to follow.
Inside the study, Huo Lin was reviewing memorials at his desk. Hearing the sound, he looked up, his gaze turning noticeably cold when it fell on Consort Jia, before settling on Jiang Huan behind him.
Why did she come with Consort Jia?
[She looks so pale, who made her angry?]
Upon hearing these thoughts, Jiang Huan felt the tightness in her chest tighten even more.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
She gave a hasty curtsy, unaware of how awkward her greeting was.
No need for formalities.
Huo Lin frowned slightly, his cold gaze sweeping over Consort Jia, who was deliberately standing close to Jiang Huan.
"Is there something you need, Consort?"
"It is the Empress Dowager's will."
Consort Jia smiled and placed the food box on the table.
"Your Majesty, I have come with Consort Zhuang to serve you a meal."
As she spoke, she opened the food box, her movements so practiced it seemed like a daily routine for her.
Jiang Huan stood aside, watching Consort Jia arrange the dishes one by one, even the placement was exactly the same as her usual habits, obviously she had observed it on purpose.
Scholars, whether ancient or modern, Chinese or foreign, are indeed all annoying.
Huo Linfeng narrowed his eyes almost imperceptibly and turned to look at Jiang Huan.
Is Consort Jia trying to imitate Xi Shi (a famous Chinese comedian)? She can't even strike a pose right, she can't quite capture the essence, and she's just plain ugly. Can I throw her out?
Jiang Huan lowered her eyes, avoiding Huo Lin's gaze.
"Then why don't you throw it away?" The words rolled around in her throat twice before she swallowed them whole.
She didn't understand what she was so angry about.
Consort Jia is the Emperor's concubine. If she wants to come and see the Emperor, what right does she have to stop her?
Don't get excited, take a deep breath!
Stay calm and objective.
"Your Majesty, please try this."
As their eyes met, Consort Jia placed a piece of chicken slices with egg white into Huo Lin's bowl.
"I have heard that His Majesty has been working hard lately, and this dish is the most nourishing."
Huo Lin stared at the chicken slices in the bowl, hesitating to pick up his chopsticks.
Jiang Huan knew that he disliked others picking up food for him, especially using chopsticks that others had used.
Has Consort Jia tried to imitate others but ended up with a completely different, ineffective approach? Using chopsticks that were wet with her own saliva to serve me food?
[Don't they know I'm a germaphobe?!]
[Jiang Huan always knows to use serving chopsticks. This idiot has been in the palace for so long and doesn't even know this basic etiquette. She should just find a white silk ribbon and hang herself.]
Jiang Huan's heart stirred slightly; she hadn't expected him to remember even such a detail.
Normally, by this time, Jiang Huan would have already handed out serving chopsticks and served Huo Lin a few side dishes that suited his taste.
But today, looking at the meticulously dressed Consort Jia, she suddenly didn't want to move.
Isn't the goal to distribute benefits equally among all people?
Wasn't it because you thought her belly wasn't working properly?
Then let this beautiful and charming imperial concubine serve her well.
She deliberately took a half step back, and even secretly hid the almond shortbread in her sleeve.
Since the goal is for "sisterly harmony," there's no need to give him this snack separately.
Anyway, Consort Jia must have prepared some of her signature desserts, such as bird's nest cake and pearl white jade pastry, right?
Maybe they'll even feed it to you by hand!
This thought was like a small thorn, making her feel suffocated.
"Why is Consort Zhuang standing?" Consort Jia feigned surprise. "Come and sit down."
Jiang Huan reluctantly sat down opposite Huo Lin, and the three of them sat around a small table, the atmosphere indescribably strange.
Huo Lin's gaze seemed to carry warmth, occasionally lingering on Jiang Huan's face.
Jiang Huan stared at the snow-white rice in her bowl, counting each grain clearly, but refused to look up and meet his gaze.
Why didn't she serve me any food today?
[He didn't even glance at me.]
Huo Lin's innermost thoughts came through one after another, and Jiang Huan heard them clearly, but pretended not to know.
She picked up a piece of stir-fried vegetables with her chopsticks and chewed it slowly.
She was afraid that if she looked up, she would reveal the unruly emotions in her eyes.
Those bittersweet and burning emotions that even she herself hadn't yet figured out.
Consort Jia seemed oblivious to the strange atmosphere around her, and diligently served food to Huo Lin.
"Your Majesty, this sweet and sour fish was specially ordered by me to be made by the Imperial Kitchen."
Consort Jia picked up another piece of fish and asked, "Would you like to try it and see if it suits your taste?"
Huo Lin stared at the food in the bowl, his expression indifferent.
"I will do it myself."
Jiang Huan kept her head down, but she took in the whole scene.
She saw Huo Lin pick out the piece of fish that Consort Jia had given him and put it in an empty bowl.
Because he disliked it, Huo Lin even changed the pair of chopsticks.
Consort Jia, still unwilling to give up, ladled out another bowl of soup and handed it over: "Your Majesty..."
Snap—
Huo Lin suddenly put down his chopsticks, the silver chopsticks making a startlingly crisp sound on the table.
Startled, Consort Jia's hand trembled, and the spoon hit the rim of the bowl, spilling a few drops of soup in a mess.
“I said,” he said, emphasizing each word, “I will come myself.”
Consort Jia's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal.
"It was my oversight. Your Majesty is busy with many affairs of state and must want some peace and quiet during meals."
Despite saying that, Consort Jia's hands never stopped moving, handing out handkerchiefs and refilling tea, her attentiveness was so excessive that it was uncomfortable.
Seeing this scene, Jiang Huan felt increasingly frustrated, and even lost her appetite.
"I've finished eating," she said softly, putting down her chopsticks.
Huo Lin looked up upon hearing this: "So fast?"
[I'm counting; I've only eaten half a bowl of rice.]
[Usually by now, the second bowl would be empty.]
Something was definitely off today.
Hearing these words, Jiang Huan felt a warmth in her ears.
There's no need to remember it so clearly!
"It's probably because of the heat that I don't have much of an appetite," Jiang Huan explained softly, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards Huo Lin's bowl.
The Emperor took all the dishes that Consort Jia had picked up, without even touching them.
It seemed as if the cotton ball in my heart had opened up, and my mood improved a little.
After finishing her meal, Consort Jia showed no intention of leaving; instead, she moved closer to Huo Lin.
"Your Majesty, I have learned a new tune, how about..."
"I still have memorials to review."
Huo Lin interrupted her, reaching out to push the memorials on the table toward her, forcefully pushing Consort Jia aside.
"Consort Zhuang, please stay and grind the ink."
Jiang Huan was taken aback, not expecting him to suddenly call out her name.
Consort Jia's expression changed, her venomous eyes fixed on Jiang Huan, as if she wanted to poke holes in her with her gaze.
But in front of the Emperor, she could only force a smile and say, "Then this concubine will take her leave."
After Consort Jia left, the study immediately fell silent.
Jiang Huan stood by the table, mechanically grinding the ink stick, the fragrance of ink slowly spreading in the air.
"Are you angry?" Huo Lin suddenly asked.
Jiang Huan's hand trembled, and a little ink splashed out.
"This concubine dares not be angry with Your Majesty."
Huo Lin put down the vermilion brush and looked directly into her eyes: "That means you're angry."
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