Chapter Twenty-Five: The Emperor in a Bad Mood
Xiao Zhao looked at Jiang Huan helplessly, not knowing what to do.
Just when the Emperor was starting to treat the young lady a little better, this happened.
If the emperor were to change his mind so easily that he develops a dislike for the concubine, then those other concubines would surely come to kick him while he's down!
"Oh dear, don't cry, things aren't that bad yet."
Jiang Huan sighed helplessly and patted the little maid on the shoulder.
She, the person directly involved, hasn't even cried yet, so why is Xiao Zhao already crying?
It's her own fault, really. She knew Consort Jia had ill intentions, but she was too careless in taking precautions.
She was just a noblewoman, yet a deadly amount of jealousy was already raining down on her.
Jiang Huan scratched her head. "What will happen in the future!"
Xiao Zhao wiped away her tears beside her, "What's not bad? What if the Emperor is angry with you, Your Highness, and never comes to us again... Waaah..."
The thought of anyone being able to step on her mistress in the future made Xiao Zhao feel sorry for Jiang Huan.
Jiang Huan was deeply moved to see that Xiao Zhao was thinking of her so much.
She told herself that she had to calm down and analyze the situation rationally.
She has cooked for the Emperor so many times; she deserves recognition for her hard work, if not merit.
As the saying goes, everyone makes mistakes, and as long as you have life, you can always rebuild.
Your Majesty should know the difference between being full at one meal and being full at every meal, right?
Thinking of this, Jiang Huan's panicked heart gradually calmed down.
"Since things have come to this, there's no use in thinking about it anymore. Let's go see the Emperor!"
Xiao Zhao looked at Jiang Huan with teary eyes. Her mistress was not meeting the emperor; she was clearly sacrificing herself heroically.
The two arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Study. Upon seeing Jiang Huan, Chen Jinxi hurriedly went in to announce her arrival.
Not long after, Jiang Huan received news that she had been allowed to enter.
Chen Jinxi pushed open the door and stepped aside.
"Consort Zhuang, His Majesty requests your presence!"
Jiang Huan swallowed hard and bowed respectfully.
Huo Lin merely glanced up, his gaze sweeping across the documents on the table before finally settling back on them, his expression as cold as frost.
[The sky has fallen! My Consort Zhuang, why didn't you bring anything today!]
[Didn't you say yourself that I could have whatever I wanted just because it was on paper?!]
【You're empty-handed now, are you asking me to eat you up?!】
Seemingly disbelieving, Huo Lin glanced at Jiang Huan's hands again, and indeed they were empty, with nothing inside.
Huo Lin remained expressionless, his voice indifferent.
"Speak if you have something to say."
[I want to hear how Consort Zhuang explains that she brought nothing with her!]
If the explanation isn't good enough, throw it into the Imperial Garden to feed the turtles!
Jiang Huan felt a chill run down her spine as she listened.
I originally thought it was just a meal and nothing serious would happen.
But now the Emperor is clearly sulking, and he's the kind of person who can't be easily appeased!
Alas, Jiang Huan was suffering, but there was nothing she could do.
She could only cautiously explain, "I had prepared Wensi Tofu and other dishes for Your Majesty, but on my way here I accidentally bumped into Consort Jia, and I didn't hold the food box properly, so... all the food was spilled..."
"I think the food from the Imperial Kitchen today should be...not...bad?"
Jiang Huan spoke the last few words almost tentatively.
As a result, Huo Lin's words exploded immediately, and the explosive power of his inner voice was no less than that of an atomic bomb.
【Consort Zhuang, are you a three-year-old? You can't even walk straight without tripping!】
[I was understanding when you were injured before, but today you were knocked over again. Are you toying with my feelings, or are you planning to starve me to death?]
[I don't care, I don't care! I refuse to pay the price for Consort Zhuang's mistake!]
Jiang Huan sighed inwardly and smiled bitterly.
Who's the three-year-old here?
But no matter what, if the emperor harbors resentment towards her because of this meal, then all her previous efforts will have been in vain.
That won't do.
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I will definitely be more careful in the future!"
This time, Jiang Huan knelt down and bowed sincerely, seemingly unintentionally revealing the back of her hand that had been burned by spilled food.
Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, the first one is the Self-Inflicted Injury Stratagem.
Huo Lin narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze like needles, fixed on Jiang Huan's slightly reddened hand.
Although the area was small, it stood out starkly against her fair skin.
[Did she get burned? How could Consort Zhuang be so careless! Her hands are meant to be used for cooking for me, how could she get hurt!]
[That Consort Jia is so blind! The palace is so vast, what is she looking at?!]
Most importantly, she also spilled my food. Should I make her fall flat on her face too?
Upon hearing Huo Lin's heartfelt words, Jiang Huan was momentarily unsure whether he was referring to Consort Jia or to her.
Just as I was wringing my hands in my mind, about to say something more, a barrage of thoughts suddenly erupted from my heart again.
[Should we punish her with a spanking?]
No, although I'm very angry, it's just a small matter.
[It's one thing for Consort Jia to get away with it, but if she injures Consort Zhuang, I can't expect her to cook for me with her feet, can I?]
[But I was made to go hungry and have my joy vanished; I absolutely must be taught a lesson!]
[This way, Consort Zhuang will remember to be more careful when she walks in the future!]
fine!
Jiang Huan quietly patted her chest, thinking that the Emperor had bowed down to the temptation of food, and she was trying to convince herself.
When Huo Lin looked up, she quickly put on a serious expression again.
Huo Lin straightened his face, a hint of reproach flashing in his eyes, and said in a low and authoritative tone: "Where have you learned the etiquette of the palace? What kind of behavior is this, acting so recklessly!"
He paused slightly, then snorted coldly: "Considering this is your first offense, I will not pursue the matter. But if you do it again, it will be an act of disrespect to the Emperor, and I will certainly send someone to discipline you severely!"
If Jiang Huan hadn't known Huo Lin's inner thoughts, she would have been intimidated just by looking at Huo Lin's majestic imperial demeanor.
Thankfully, nothing serious happened!
Jiang Huan knew when to stop and immediately put on a learned expression, "Thank you, Your Majesty, I will remember!"
"Go down."
Huo Lin flicked his sleeve, a hint of impatience in his eyes.
Sigh, another year without any good food.
[I'm so miserable! I've been eagerly anticipating this all morning, just hoping for this little extra meal to satisfy my cravings.]
"Are these memorials and inkstones edible? I don't want to work on an empty stomach."
Jiang Huan paused in her steps as she was leaving.
Huo Lin still harbored deep resentment about not having eaten this meal.
Jiang Huan frantically searched for a solution, otherwise the powerful figure she was about to latch onto would turn into a worthless wreck.
With the harem vying for power, the only way she could feel better was to please Huo Lin.
As Jiang Huan left the imperial study, Xiao Zhao followed behind, breaking out in a cold sweat, her heart still pounding wildly.
"Fortunately, His Majesty was in a good mood today and did not punish the young lady."
Upon hearing Xiao Zhao's words, Jiang Huan silently complained to herself.
With that feeling of utter despair, how could one say they were in a good mood?
At this moment, the emperor was probably already weeping in his heart.
If she doesn't come up with a plan soon, her standing in Huo Lin's eyes might drop.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com