Chapter One is huge, it makes my mouth water!
"With such a beautiful young lady like Consort Jiang, if she doesn't take advantage of today's palace banquet to showcase her talents to His Majesty, she may never have the chance to see him again."
At the palace banquet, Jiang Huan was put on the spot, and her headache was so bad that she kept having headaches.
"Sister Jiang, the Emperor is looking for you, why don't you go upstairs quickly?"
Consort Yu smiled, but her intentions were clearly malicious.
Consort Yu was the head consort in her palace. A month ago, she cooked a meal late at night, and the aroma wafted into Consort Yu's bedroom.
She was accused of being restless and unruly at the time, but was it really necessary to target her like this at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet?
Jiang Huan subconsciously looked up and caught Huo Lin's gaze directed at her, then clenched her handkerchief.
Huo Lin was a notorious tyrant. He seized the throne at the age of twenty-four by murdering his brother. He was capricious, ruthless, and replaced countless palace servants in a single year.
He was dressed in a purple-gold dragon robe, and his appearance was so handsome that he could inspire fear simply by raising his chin slightly.
When those cold, sharp, dark eyes looked over, Jiang Huan had no choice but to bite the bullet and get up.
Jiang Huan transmigrated into the book "Tyrant Dynasty" three months ago. The book tells the story of the tyrant Huo Lin's reign over the dynasty, and Jiang Huan became a minor character with only one sentence in the book.
The original owner, Jiang Huan, entered the palace through a talent show three years ago. Her father was only a minor official of the seventh rank, but because her face was outstanding enough, she was chosen to fill the harem.
Among the concubines in the palace who came from prominent families, Jiang Huan was the least noticeable one. Because of her timid nature, she could only live a life of keeping a low profile.
Until three months ago, the Imperial Concubine was in a bad mood and slapped Jiang Huan in public, which frightened her so much that she developed a high fever overnight and died, which led to the current Jiang Huan transmigrating into the book.
But Jiang Huan had no special talents, so she didn't seek to rise in rank. She just wanted to live a quiet, unnoticed life and leave Jinhua Palace so she wouldn't be tormented by Consort Yu anymore!
Now that things have come to this, there's no other way but to force the issue.
"I am neither talented nor beautiful, and dare not show my incompetence before the Emperor."
As she spoke, Jiang Huan made a gesture to pick up the wine glass on the table to offer a toast, but before she could even lift the glass, Huo Lin above her spoke with a gritted teeth.
"Another round of toasts, huh? Every concubine comes to toast me. I haven't even eaten all night, just drunk over a dozen cups of wine. Why don't you all drink me to death? I'll have all these women in the harem beheaded sooner or later!"
Jiang Huan's hand trembled, and she was so frightened that she spilled most of the wine.
In fact, Jiang Huan had been listening to Huo Lin's comments for quite some time while the concubines were performing.
"It jumps like a big monkey, not as graceful as the toads in the Imperial Garden."
"Do you even find this music pleasant to listen to? You dare to flirt with me? I'll gouge your eyes out!"
"After dealing with state affairs all day, I still have to listen to you all bickering and arguing? Is this how I, as emperor, should act?"
Jiang Huan listened and watched the show for as long as she could, since it wasn't her problem. But she was curious: even though the Emperor was so sharp-tongued, why were these ladies still so eager to go on stage and perform?
Until just now, Huo Lin said, "Chop all these people up."
Jiang Huan's pupils trembled as she shrank back and looked at the bright yellow figure in the distance.
She had been in the book for three months, and this was the first time she had seen the Emperor. With her ability to read people, she felt that the Emperor didn't seem really angry at the moment, since he hadn't actually killed anyone.
Moreover, the ladies below remained on the sidelines, eager to watch the drama unfold and egging Jiang Huan on to perform.
At this moment, Jiang Huan's mind went blank, and a thought suddenly occurred to her: could it be that only she could hear what the Emperor said just now?
Jiang Huan then replaced the wine cup with the food box she had brought.
"I am not good at singing and dancing, but I am good at cooking. This bowl of rice wine dumplings will warm you up. Please enjoy it, Your Majesty."
The chief eunuch in front of Huo Lin received a signal, stepped forward to take the food box, tested it for poison with a silver needle, and then presented it to the emperor.
"Your Majesty, please enjoy!"
Huo Lin's cold, stern eyes swept over the steaming bowl of fermented rice dumplings, and he slowly raised his hand, looking rather unwilling.
Jiang Huan was still standing with her head bowed, waiting for the Emperor to speak, when she heard Consort Yu's mocking laughter.
"The palace has an imperial kitchen to serve the emperor's meals. Isn't it absurd for Consort Jiang to bring out these tattered things?"
Scattered laughter soon broke out during the banquet, and everyone's gazes toward Jiang Huan were particularly targeted. Huo Lin had many concubines in his harem, all of whom came from prominent families, but Jiang Huan was the only one who entered because of her looks. However, Huo Lin was worried about the court and never set foot in the harem.
These noble ladies were going crazy with frustration, so they conspired to pick on one unlucky person to bully, and Jiang Huan was that unlucky person!
Today, in order to make a name for themselves in front of the Emperor, all the concubines used every trick in the book, but none of them could win Huo Lin's favor.
They didn't get anything good themselves, so they only hoped that Jiang Huan would suffer an even worse fate. But if she hadn't heard Huo Lin's true feelings, Jiang Huan would have actually believed it.
[Food? This is hot food that you have to chew before you can swallow? So hot meals exist in the world? What about the cold porridge and vegetables I ate in the imperial kitchen?]
[Announcement~ This cooking is far superior to that of the Imperial Kitchen. Out of all the people in the palace, she's the only one with the foresight to bring me food. Who is she? I don't remember anyone named Consort Jiang in the palace.]
Jiang Huan stood there, feeling like her ears were about to explode. She suppressed the urge to look up, her brows furrowed in a deep frown.
Why does Your Majesty talk so much?
"It's acceptable."
Huo Lin took a small bite of the fermented rice balls, his expression still cold and aloof. He put down his spoon and gave a neutral evaluation.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Jiang Huan bowed in greeting, but muttered to herself.
Still pretending? Is that even acceptable? I wonder who was just mentally "proclaiming" something like that?
Ever since she transmigrated into this book, Jiang Huan has been unable to eat or sleep well. Fortunately, she has excellent cooking skills, and she uses her monthly salary to feed herself in the small kitchen.
Jiang Huan knew that she wouldn't be able to eat to her heart's content at the palace banquet today, so she specially made a bowl of rice wine dumplings with plenty of filling, but it all ended up in the Emperor's stomach!
"Consort Jiang, come and sit beside me."
While the crowd below was still chuckling softly, Huo Lin spoke a single sentence that instantly silenced the entire banquet. Jiang Huan glanced at Consort Jia, who was sitting to Huo Lin's left, her mind filled with questions.
Her fermented rice dumplings are so delicious, does that mean she deserves the same treatment as the favored concubine?
But when the Emperor spoke, Jiang Huan dared not question him. She could only grit her teeth and slowly sit down to Huo Lin's right under the resentful gazes of the crowd. The concubines below were so angry they were practically grinding their teeth to powder.
If they had known that presenting a bowl of glutinous rice balls would win the emperor's favor, why would they have bothered practicing their skills for months?
[A silent, unassuming person.]
Jiang Huan was sitting stiffly when she heard Huo Lin's cold voice ring out.
Is she the one being called "silent gourd"?
Jiang Huan glanced at Consort Jia, who was chattering and laughing in front of Huo Lin, and lowered her head even further.
So be it, she's a quiet person. She doesn't have a general father who's out fighting in the world, so how could she dare to make the emperor laugh?
Although she had only recently transmigrated into the book, Jiang Huan had watched plenty of palace dramas before. Someone like her, who had no talent, no imperial favor, and no family background, would only become cannon fodder and be eliminated early if she showed her face in public.
Jiang Huan wanted to live a few more days.
Next, the performances began in turn. However, Ye Ronghua, who was dancing at the moment, was bold and unconventional. Dressed in exotic Western Region costume, her dance was graceful, with large expanses of her snow-white skin exposed. Her soft, fragrant breasts made Jiang Huan, a woman, unable to resist wanting to bury them in her arms.
Jiang Huan couldn't help but wonder to herself, "Could it be that the Emperor doesn't like women?"
Ever since she transmigrated into the book, Huo Lin has never chosen her.
Just as I was wondering, the dull, hoarse voice in my head rang out again.
[So big, I'm so hungry!]
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