Chapter 178 Delivering Medicine
As soon as Jiang Huan stepped into the side hall, she saw He Ling with her back to the door, looking like a thief, frantically stuffing something into her sleeve.
His furtive manner made him look just like a little mouse that had stolen some oil.
She deliberately made her steps heavy and cleared her throat: "Ahem."
"Ah!" He Ling jumped three feet high in fright, and the metal hose in her hand fell to the ground with a thud, rolling to Jiang Huan's feet.
[How did it fall? You're so clumsy! Pick it up quickly!]
[Wouldn't Consort Zhuang call me a witch and roast me over a fire for three days and three nights?]
[Waaaaah, System, you unscrupulous merchant who cheats and swindles!]
Jiang Huan raised an eyebrow and bent down to pick up the burn ointment.
"Hey, this thing is pretty unique."
She looked at the metal hose, which clearly belonged to a different era; the production date and manufacturer information were all there.
Is this a gift-giving occasion or a family reunion?
Judging from her inner thoughts, He Ling clearly doesn't know that she is also a transmigrator.
It's highly likely that she made a mistake in her haste and was scammed by the system.
They're all from modern times, don't they know to be wary of "pig butchering scams"?
He Ling's face turned deathly pale, her lips trembled and she couldn't speak, her mind filled with the terrifying image of being burned to death as a monster.
Jiang Huan found it amusing to see her on the verge of fainting, but deliberately kept a straight face and said, "I have never seen such craftsmanship in Daliang. Where did you get it?"
"Yes, yes..." He Ling closed her eyes, going all out, "This is a secret medicine passed down in my family, the packaging is specially made in the Western Regions..."
"Oh, the Western Regions."
Jiang Huan shook the ointment in her hand. "Then what about the scribbles on this?"
“It’s a script from the Western Regions!” He Ling said, forcing a lie. “It means it can treat burns.”
Good heavens, with such a talent for blatant lying, it's a waste that he's not a storyteller on Tianqiao.
Special metal pipes made in the Western Regions? Are the Western Regions really that advanced?
Tsk, that excuse is so bad, it wouldn't even fool a three-year-old.
"That's quite novel." Jiang Huan suppressed a smile from the corner of her eye and spoke slowly, "Read a couple of lines to me."
It's true that people can hold back everything when they're doing something bad.
He Ling was petrified on the spot.
[Read, read, read? Read it in a Western Regions dialect?]
How about we memorize the 26 letters of the alphabet, or try speaking a southern dialect to muddle through?
"Alright." Seeing her troubled expression, Jiang Huan decided to stop while she was ahead. "Since it's a gift for me, just take it."
The main problem is that if He Ling were to actually read aloud the ABCD, she's afraid she'd laugh herself to death.
He Ling felt as if she had been granted a pardon and breathed a sigh of relief, but her eyes were still a little red.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
[Waaaaah, Consort Zhuang is truly an angel! She didn't arrest me as a monster!]
I will definitely repay her kindness in the future.
Jiang Huan paused in her steps.
Such a heartfelt expression of gratitude!
This He Ling is more timid than a rabbit, and her brain... doesn't seem to be very sharp either.
However, it's quite suitable for getting information out of people.
Jiang Huan's face instantly lit up with a gentle smile: "You're so kind. Please sit down, don't stand."
He Ling was flattered and carefully sat down on the edge of the chair, only daring to touch half of her bottom, her back straight, like a primary school student waiting for a teacher's scolding.
[Consort Zhuang smiled at me. How wonderful! That's the smile of a goddess!]
[Waaaaah, from now on, if Consort Zhuang tells me to go east, I will never go west.]
Goodbye, system. I'm switching sides.
As Jiang Huan listened to her inner declaration of betrayal, the corner of her mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
Although being a fence-sitter has a high risk factor.
But even a lone, ambitious opportunist can be won over.
Let's see if she rekindles her old flame with the system, or decisively abandons the darkness and embraces the light.
"Xiao Zhao," Jiang Huan called out, "go prepare some tea and snacks. We must treat Consort Ling well."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
He Ling was flattered and waved her hands repeatedly, "No, no need to trouble Your Highness..."
"Don't mention it." Jiang Huan smiled and pulled her to sit down. "You came all this way to bring me medicine, how could I possibly neglect you?"
A short while later, Xiao Zhao served up some delicate pastries and hot tea.
He Ling stared wide-eyed at the dazzling array of food on the table.
Wow, osmanthus cake, almond shortbread, so many delicious treats!
[Consort Zhuang's meals are practically on par with a five-star restaurant; compared to that, the food at Chuxiu Palace is practically pig swill.]
He Ling carefully picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, took a small bite, and immediately squinted her eyes in happiness.
[Wow, it's so delicious! Sweet but not cloying, it melts in your mouth.]
[Consort Zhuang is truly beautiful and kind-hearted; she even gave me delicious food.]
From this day forward, I will be Consort Zhuang's little follower.
The system's cold voice suddenly rang in He Ling's mind.
"Warning! The host's thoughts have seriously deviated from the main mission! Please correct this immediately!"
Startled, He Ling's hand trembled, and the osmanthus cake fell onto her skirt.
【Ouch! System, you suddenly spoke up and scared me to death! Can't I just think about it?】
That emperor is terrifying; my legs go weak just looking at him...
Jiang Huan watched with great interest the fascinating changes in her facial expressions, and deliberately asked, "What's wrong? Don't you like the snacks?"
“No, no, no,” He Ling quickly shook her head, “It’s delicious, especially delicious.”
She hurriedly picked up the fallen osmanthus cake, hesitated for a moment, but still couldn't bear to throw it away, and secretly stuffed it into her mouth.
[We can't waste Consort Zhuang's kindness, and it's so delicious, waaaaah...]
If I could eat the pastries made by Consort Zhuang every day, I would do anything.
Looking at her like this, Jiang Huan felt that she was at least 50% sincere.
If He Ling could rise above her circumstances and take control of her own destiny, the two of them might actually be able to work together to accomplish something great.
In this way, when fellow villagers meet, their eyes will fill with tears.
"Eat more if you like it. You can order anything else you want to eat."
Jiang Huan pushed the plate towards He Ling, saying, "We may not have much else at Weiyang Palace, but we must make sure we're full."
He Ling was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
[Is Consort Zhuang a Bodhisattva reincarnation? I must have been blinded by greed, actually thinking of working with the system to seduce the Emperor.]
[Let whoever wants to be the mistress be it, I'm not doing it!!!]
Isn't it better for him to just sit there and ship the couple?
As Jiang Huan listened to her heartfelt confession and self-praise, she estimated the possibility of recruiting her.
Just as this joyous moment was beginning, a cold, deep voice suddenly came from the palace entrance.
"You dare to bother her at Weiyang Palace?"
Huo Lin appeared at the doorway at some point, his figure tall and straight, his handsome face slightly sullen, his gaze sweeping over He Ling like ice, and the atmosphere around him instantly dropped several degrees.
Why are they all rushing towards her?
[Mingzhu, Ayina, and now this one, who was it again?]
[They actually dared to eat it? Have they no shame?]
Where are the thunderbolts and the gale-force winds? Why are there no dogs guarding the gates of Weiyang Palace? Are they all too busy sleeping because they eat so well?
Startled by the sudden, icy voice and imperial aura, He Ling trembled, and the half-eaten pastry in her hand fell onto the plate with a thud.
She stood up hastily, her cheeks puffed out, and crumbs fell from her mouth as she spoke.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Huo Lin didn't even glance at her, and walked straight to Jiang Huan's side. Only when his gaze fell on her did it soften slightly.
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