Chapter Forty: The Town
Huo Lin personally supervised Jiang Huan's daily medication intake and ordered people to prepare various candied fruits and sweets to relieve her bitterness.
Because she recovered well, the injury on her shoulder has also healed significantly.
Although she complained about the bitterness of the medicine, Jiang Huan inexplicably felt that this kind of life wasn't so bad.
On this day, the imperial procession passed through a small town and happened to arrive during the local annual lantern festival.
As dusk fell, the streets of the small town remained brightly lit and bustling with people.
Jiang Huan leaned against the carriage window, gazing at the bustling crowd outside, her eyes sparkling with longing.
She's been in this world for so long, and in the harem she's either counting mosquitoes or getting beaten.
The walls of the capital city, though square and rigid, could not confine her free spirit!
"Your Majesty, look how lively it is outside!" she said to Huo Lin, her eyes shining brightly.
Huo Lin followed her gaze and saw that the streets were decorated with colorful lanterns, vendors were shouting, and children were running around carrying lanterns, creating a festive atmosphere.
Huo Lin's heart stirred slightly, "Want to go?"
[If she wants to go, she should just say so. Why make me guess? If I say I don't want to go, will she start crying right away?]
[I spend every day in court reading and approving memorials; I'm almost sick of seeing those ministers' faces.]
【Taking advantage of the lantern festival, I want to relax! I want to quit!】
Jiang Huan's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly.
"think!"
As expected, Huo Lin nodded lightly: "In that case, I will accompany you for a walk."
Jiang Huan was overjoyed and quickly straightened her clothes before following Huo Lin off the carriage.
To avoid attracting attention, the two changed into ordinary people's clothes. Huo Lin wore a dark black long robe, while Jiang Huan wore a light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), making them look like an ordinary wealthy couple.
"Your Majesty, shall we wear masks?" Jiang Huan pointed to a street stall selling masks.
Huo Lin's identity is too sensitive, and given the recent assassination attempt, Jiang Huan doesn't want to suffer another blow.
Huo Lin shared the same idea, and he nodded slightly. The two of them each chose a mask.
Jiang Huan chose a fox mask, while Huo Lin chose a majestic tiger mask.
The emperor, who has long held a high position, exudes an imposing aura, and when he puts on a mask, he appears even more ruthless.
Jiang Huan knew, however, that the person hidden behind the mask was not as he appeared.
He could have been easily appeased with just one meal.
Thinking of this, Jiang Huan couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Huo Lin raised an eyebrow, a hint of doubt in his eyes.
Why is she so happy? Does she think I look funny wearing this mask?
Jiang Huan suppressed a laugh and quickly said, "Your Majesty, you look quite imposing with that mask on."
Huo Lin didn't think Jiang Huan meant anything by it. He snorted and didn't take it to heart. The two walked into the crowd side by side.
The streets were bustling with activity, filled with all sorts of food stalls, acrobatic performances, and lantern shops.
Jiang Huan walked along, stopping frequently to take a closer look at anything new and interesting that caught her eye.
She excitedly bought a sugar figurine and handed it to Huo Lin.
"Your Majesty, please try this."
The last time I ate a sugar figurine was when I was very young. Its golden color and crispy texture...
[Hmm? Why is Consort Zhuang looking at me with such a mischievous grin? Is she mocking my fondness for children's snacks?]
Huo Lin shook his head and refused, saying, "I won't eat."
Forget about children, the Emperor is just too embarrassed to admit it.
Jiang Huan pouted, "Then I'll eat it myself."
After saying that, she took a bite of the sugar figurine, and the sweet taste spread in her mouth.
She squinted her eyes and shook her head contentedly.
Huo Lin looked at her like this, and the corners of his lips lifted almost imperceptibly.
The two continued walking. Jiang Huan's stomach was already full of various snacks, but she still couldn't resist buying a serving of glutinous rice cakes and eating them in small bites.
As they walked, Jiang Huan suddenly noticed that Huo Lin's gaze was fixed in a certain direction.
She followed his gaze and saw a stall selling sweet fermented rice balls.
"Your Majesty, would you like some?" she asked softly.
Huo Lin withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "I was just taking a look."
[Hmph, I won't eat it, let her be angry to death.]
Jiang Huan chuckled inwardly; he clearly wanted to eat it, but he was being stubborn.
Without saying a word, she grabbed Huo Lin's hand and headed towards the stall.
Jiang Huan called out boldly, "Boss, a bowl of sweet fermented rice balls, please!"
Huo Lin saw the guards secretly protecting her and Jiang Huan not far away and reluctantly refused.
"I said I won't eat it."
[Sigh, why are those guards following me so closely? I can't even eat properly anymore.]
Besides, I'm wearing a mask; how could anyone recognize me so easily?
Jiang Huan could tell from Huo Lin's thoughts that he was just saying he wouldn't eat, but that was just a lie.
Oh dear, but considering that the Emperor took her out for fun today, she'll help him out.
"Your Majesty, I'm here."
As she spoke, Jiang Huan took the sweet fermented rice balls from the shopkeeper and presented them to Huo Lin, inadvertently blocking the guards' view with her body.
"Your Majesty, please try it, ah-----"
Well done, Consort Zhuang.
Huo Lin took the bowl and took a bite.
The sweet, fragrant, and soft fermented rice balls melted in his mouth, and Huo Lin's brows relaxed a little.
Seeing this, Jiang Huan asked with a smile, "Is it delicious?"
Huo Lin hummed in agreement and said nothing more, but Jiang Huan knew that he meant he was satisfied, after all, the emperor was overjoyed.
[It's still far inferior to what Consort Zhuang did, but it has its own unique charm.]
[It was a wise decision to agree to go out with Consort Zhuang this time!]
The two strolled along like this, with Jiang Huan trying almost every kind of snack, while Huo Lin, under her "cover," also managed to sample a few local delicacies, a rare treat.
As night deepened, the street lanterns shone even brighter.
Jiang Huan stood on an arched bridge, gazing at the lotus lanterns floating on the river, and suddenly felt a little dazed.
At this moment, she and Huo Lin were just like an ordinary couple, without the rules of the palace or the constraints of their status. They simply strolled through the lantern festival together, ate snacks, and watched the lanterns.
This feeling...
"What are you thinking about?" Huo Lin's voice rang in my ears.
Jiang Huan snapped out of her daze and smiled slightly.
"Nothing, I just feel...very happy tonight."
Jiang Huan was telling the truth; she hadn't had this much fun in a long time.
Huo Lin was silent for a moment, then suddenly reached out and gently brushed away a sesame seed stuck to the corner of her mouth.
"It's everywhere."
His tone was calm, yet it made Jiang Huan's heart skip a beat, and a flush rose to her face. "Thank... thank you, Your Majesty."
Huo Lin remained silent, simply standing quietly beside Jiang Huan.
The two stood on the bridge for a while, until the night breeze grew cool, before slowly walking back.
On the way back, Jiang Huan's steps were much lighter. She would steal glances at Huo Lin from time to time, feeling inexplicably sweet inside.
Huo Lin noticed her gaze and turned to look at her.
"What are you looking at?"
Perhaps because the atmosphere was too relaxed, Jiang Huan boldly said, "I just think the Emperor looks especially handsome tonight."
Huo Lin turned his head expressionlessly and continued walking forward, but Jiang Huan clearly saw that the tips of his ears seemed to be slightly red.
She smiled secretly and quickly followed after him.
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