Chapter 300 is hard to collect.
Jiang Huan sprang away from Huo Lin's embrace and stared at him with wide eyes.
Are you alright?
She reached out and touched Huo Lin's forehead.
"You don't have a fever, so why are you talking nonsense? Lieutenant General Li and Mingzhu have absolutely nothing to do with each other!"
Huo Lin grabbed her hand that was reaching towards his forehead, held it in his palm and played with it, looking completely at ease.
[Why can't we hit them? One is lively and carefree, the other is honest and upright; they complement each other perfectly.]
Besides, that kid looks like an honest and simple person; he definitely wouldn't bully Mingzhu.
[It's better than Mingzhu staying in the palace every day and getting tricked by those smooth-talking scions of noble families.]
[This is a well-thought-out plan by me, a precautionary measure to prevent future problems!]
Jiang Huan listened to his earnest inner thoughts and couldn't help but laugh and cry.
This isn't complementary at all; it's practically a forced combination!
“Your Majesty, think about it,” she pulled out her finger and poked Huo Lin’s chest, “Mingzhu is so impulsive, and Vice General Li, this straight-laced man, simply can’t keep up with Mingzhu’s thinking. Don’t let him speak too bluntly and anger Mingzhu to death.”
Huo Lin imagined the scene, frowned slightly, but still insisted.
"It's all about practice. I believe he'll be able to adapt after spending more time with him."
The main thing is to quickly settle the marriage prospects of this potential threat... oh no, I mean, this outstanding young talent.
Now that things are settled, he has no reason to keep going to the palace, and even less reason to pester her with questions.
[I am doing this entirely for the sake of the Great Liang's talent pool and the tranquility of the harem; I have absolutely no selfish motives whatsoever.]
Jiang Huan: ……
She felt that if Huo Lin switched careers to become a matchmaker, he would definitely become famous throughout the surrounding area.
"Let me tell you, don't you dare do anything reckless." She put her hands on her hips, striking a fierce pose. "You can't force matters of the heart. Have you forgotten how fiercely Mingzhu reacted?"
Huo Lin found her protective attitude amusing and deliberately teased her.
"I am the emperor, my word is law, and if I say they are to be matched, they are to be matched."
"Hey! You get all excited just because I give you a little encouragement, huh?" Jiang Huan rolled up her sleeves and pounced on him, ready to tickle him. "I'll expose all your wicked schemes of matchmaking!"
Huo Lin outwardly maintained his imperial demeanor, but his body betrayed him by leaning back, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.
A suppressed burst of laughter suddenly rang out in the imperial study. Wang Degui had already discreetly slipped out before the two started arguing.
However, Huo Lin was not joking; he took action the very next day.
The next day, in the Imperial Garden.
Mingzhu clutched the hem of her skirt, her large eyes blinking with curiosity as she secretly peeked at the upright young general before her.
"General Li, is it?" She cleared her throat and adopted a dignified demeanor. "My royal uncle said you have made great contributions in the northern border and asked me to accompany you for a stroll in the imperial garden."
The Imperial Uncle summoned her early in the morning, saying that this Vice General Li, who had returned from the northern border, was a meritorious official of the country with extensive knowledge, and asked her to accompany him for a walk in the Imperial Garden to learn about the customs and scenery of the frontier.
Normally, she would absolutely refuse to accompany a strange military officer on a stroll through the garden.
But this time is different. The Imperial Uncle said that as long as she performs well, he will have Consort Zhuang make her two portions of fresh snacks!
For the sake of delicious food... uh, no, for the sake of fulfilling her uncle's request and showing hospitality, she went all out!
Lieutenant General Li immediately clasped his hands in greeting: "This humble general pays his respects to the Princess."
The Emperor suddenly ordered him not to rush to the Ministry of Works, but to accompany the Princess for a walk in the Imperial Garden first.
Princess, of noble status, was entrusted with such an important guarding duty by the Emperor, who must have valued his loyalty.
Upon thinking of this, Lieutenant General Li felt his blood boil and his sense of mission surge.
He subconsciously straightened his already ramrod straight back, his eyes blazing as he surveyed every blade of grass and tree around him.
Protecting the princess's safety is his duty, and no movement in the imperial garden can escape his eyes!
Mingzhu waved her hand to indicate that he didn't need to be so polite, then remembered Huo Lin's instructions, forced out her sweetest smile, and chatted about the most awkward things.
"General Li, you've returned from the northern border? You must be tired. Was the sandstorm particularly bad there?"
Upon hearing this, Lieutenant General Li, like a soldier called out by name, suddenly looked up, clasped his hands in salute, and spoke in a loud, clear voice.
"Your Highness! Serving the country on the frontier, I dare not complain of hardship. The winds and sandstorms in the north are indeed fierce, sometimes the visibility is less than ten paces, and even warhorses must be blindfolded!"
Mingzhu was startled by his sudden loud voice, took a small step back, and her smile froze a little.
"Is that so... Listen, it sounds truly... extraordinary..."
She muttered to herself, inwardly groaning, "How am I supposed to respond to this?"
An awkward silence descended once again, even more embarrassing than before.
Mingzhu wanted to stomp her feet. She twisted the silk handkerchief in her hand, her eyes darting around, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Who did the Imperial Uncle find? His words are so offensive they could choke you to death!
Mingzhu tried to start a conversation again: "General Li, you must have had a long journey back to the capital and haven't tasted the local snacks yet. My little kitchen just made some chestnut flour cakes. They're sweet but not greasy, and they melt in your mouth. They're delicious. Shall I have someone go and fetch some?"
Mingzhu's eyes lit up when the topic of food came up.
Humans eat grains, and everyone can find something of interest in this topic, so let's keep talking about it!
But Lieutenant General Li frowned.
He was often in the military camp, eating dry rations when he was hungry and drinking cold water when he was thirsty. He had no time for such fancy gadgets.
Thinking this, he said in a righteous and righteous tone: "Thank you for your kindness, Princess, but I am just a rough man. I can easily make do with some coarse grains and simple food. The palace snacks are so exquisite and precious. I am not used to them and cannot afford them."
Mingzhu stared blankly at him, a flash of lightning striking her eyes, leaving her completely stunned.
For a moment, I didn't know whether to praise him for being principled or blame him for being clueless about romance.
This person... how could this person be like this?
Did the Imperial Uncle deliberately bring along a fool to annoy her?
Somewhat unwilling and a little defiant, she walked to the side and pointed at the plump koi carp slowly swaying their tails in the pool below, making one last effort.
"General Li, look, the fish in this pond are so fat, and they swim so adorably. It's really interesting."
She had expected the other party to at least say something in agreement, but to her surprise, Lieutenant General Li stepped forward, swept the pool water, and his professional habit instantly overwhelmed everything.
“Princess, this fish is plump and slow-moving. If it were in the wild, it would easily become prey for birds of prey or large fish. Moreover, being kept in captivity here for a long time has caused it to lose its wild nature, which is not a good thing.”
Mingzhu stood there, mouth agape, completely petrified by the pond.
These fish were originally just for ornamental purposes, and she simply thought they were cute because they were chubby.
Who wants to hear why they die so easily!
At that moment, she was absolutely certain that her royal uncle had not sent her here to learn about the local customs and culture.
They're basically just finding ways to torture her!
Beside him, Vice General Li watched as the princess's face fell instantly and her eyes filled with despair. He belatedly realized that he might have said something wrong again.
A barely perceptible hint of embarrassment flashed across his dark face. He opened his mouth, his Adam's apple bobbing as he tried to say something, but found himself unable to come up with anything to cheer up the young princess.
Silence is golden, so Lieutenant General Li chose to remain silent, standing even straighter and with a more solemn expression.
Mingzhu stole a glance at his serious expression, which seemed ready to charge into battle at any moment, then silently turned her gaze to the fat carp in the pond and sighed deeply.
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