Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Assassin
As she cried and shouted, Consort Wan's voice grew fainter and fainter until it could no longer be heard.
Jiang Huan felt a throbbing sensation in her temple.
Things haven't been peaceful in the harem lately.
Unnoticed by anyone, the curtain of a carriage was lowered as the farce came to an end.
"What a pity about that bottle of medicine."
Consort Jia clenched her fists with a sinister glint in her eyes; she had originally intended to use that bottle of medicine to vie for the emperor's favor.
Who leaked the information?
The palace maid sat down next to Consort Jia, gently massaging her legs and saying in a low voice, "Your Highness, there's plenty of time. It's good to have someone else besides Consort Wan."
These words struck a chord with Consort Jia.
Consort Jia hummed in agreement, propped her forehead with one hand, closed her eyes, and pretended to sleep.
The carriage began to sway and wobble as the large group headed towards the summer palace.
The journey to the imperial palace was long, and Jiang Huan became somewhat bored after a short time in the carriage.
I want to play on my phone, and I want to eat snacks.
She rested her chin on her hand and looked out the window. All she could see was green, and she had been looking at this green for an hour.
Even if the green is very natural, you'll get tired of looking at it after a while.
She still had several days of travel ahead, and she would get suffocated in the carriage if things continued like this.
I need to find something to kill time.
Jiang Huan's eyes lit up, and then she had an idea!
He raised his hand to beckon Xiao Zhao over and whispered a few words in her ear.
During a rest stop on the road, Xiao Zhao got off the carriage and soon brought Jiang Huan the cut-out paper she needed.
Jiang Huan leaned on the table inside the car and started writing and drawing on the paper. Before long, a simple deck of cards was completed.
Mission accomplished!
Jiang Huan stretched and relaxed.
Xiao Zhao curiously leaned closer, "My lady, what is this?"
"Playing cards? Never heard of them, have you? Why don't you call someone else over, and the three of us can play cards together?"
Xiao Zhao was also extremely bored, but she perked up as soon as she heard this and excitedly called over a palace maid from Weiyang Palace.
The playing cards are in place, and everyone's here. It's game time!
Jiang Huan arranged the playing cards while explaining the rules to the two of them.
"The three of us play together. First, we draw cards to determine who will be the landlord. The landlord has three cards as the bottom cards. Then we compete by playing cards. Whoever plays all their cards first wins..."
Xiao Zhao and another palace maid were completely confused, but Jiang Huan expressed her understanding.
"It's okay, I'll play with my cards face up the first time, you guys watch my moves."
Before long, the two palace maids gradually mastered the game, their eyes sparkling with excitement.
The previously somber atmosphere inside the carriage suddenly became lively, with laughter and cheerful chatter constantly filling the air.
Just as they were having a great time, the carriage suddenly stopped, followed by Wang Degui's voice.
"Consort Zhuang, His Majesty has ordered us to invite Your Highness over."
Jiang Huan peeked out from the fan-shaped deck of cards in her hand and blinked.
She only has one trump card left, and she's going to win it all.
Huo Lin really knows how to pick his timing.
I'm either hungry or bored.
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Huan packed some food and playing cards and followed Wang Degui into Huo Lin's carriage.
Huo Lin was leaning against the soft cushions of the carriage, resting with his eyes closed, when he heard Jiang Huan's voice and slowly opened his eyes.
[Peach blossom pastries! Peach blossom pastries! I can smell the fragrance!]
[Hmm? What else is she holding in her hand?]
[Thin, could it be an ice cream slice!]
Jiang Huan almost couldn't hold back her laughter and pretended to cough.
There's really no one else who's as greedy as Huo Lin.
She fawned over Huo Lin, placing the food on the table and handing him the playing cards.
"Your Majesty, this is a new contraption I made, called playing cards. You can play it all night long when you're bored."
[Interesting. It's been so hot and stuffy on this journey; I'm almost dying of boredom.]
[Consort Zhuang is truly a savior. All the officials in the court only bother me with memorials, but she entertains me with these... ice cream chips.]
Huo Lin took the playing cards, looked at them with interest, and unusually took the initiative to ask, "How do we play this?"
Jiang Huan smiled, for this was the charm of modern games.
She immediately nodded obediently in agreement, sat down opposite Huo Lin, and began to explain the rules.
She shuffled the cards in her hands, and Huo Lin watched intently, nodding occasionally. He quickly grasped the rules of the game.
“But Your Majesty, we are one short.” Jiang Huan scratched her forehead.
"Wang Degui." Huo Lin raised his voice slightly, and Wang Degui came in.
Once you're in, you're a card player, and you're not allowed to leave.
The three sat inside the carriage, eager to try their hand at the first round.
At first, Jiang Huan relied on her experience and always called for the landlord position. Huo Lin and Wang Degui, who were not very familiar with the rules of Dou Dizhu, always lost to Jiang Huan.
But after two or three rounds, Jiang Huan realized that she couldn't win!
Her position as landlord was firmly occupied by Huo Lin, and she lost every time.
Huo Lin played his cards quickly and accurately, suppressing Jiang Huan's cards precisely every time.
Jiang Huan was initially full of confidence, but ended up losing several times in a row.
"I have won."
Huo Lin unleashed another incredible straight, and his cards just kept pouring out of his hand.
He leaned back leisurely in his seat, a faint smile playing on his lips.
[Haha, I didn't expect that Consort Zhuang, who seems so clever, has such poor card skills.]
[Consort Zhuang looked so embarrassed, like a steamed bun, all puffed up with anger. It made me happy, hahaha!]
Jiang Huan listened to Huo Lin's inner thoughts and gritted her teeth in silence.
She looked at Wang Degui, who was sitting to one side, and said quietly, "Eunuch Wang, we have a spy on our side."
She would have won the last round if Wang Gonggong hadn't suppressed her cards.
But the Emperor is the landlord!
Wang Degui chuckled as he shuffled the cards, saying, "No, it's just that we're not very familiar with the game. I hope you won't take offense, Mr. Zhuang."
Jiang Huan was both angry and amused; this was blatantly releasing a vast ocean of information.
However, Huo Lin, a beginner, was able to play such a card game.
We're always fooled by his gluttonous tongue, forgetting that he also has a clever mind!
But Jiang Huan was no pushover either, and she refused to admit defeat.
She refused to believe it and insisted on fighting for the dignity of modern people!
"Again!"
Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out outside, and the carriage lurched violently, almost overturning.
"Ah!" Jiang Huan exclaimed, almost losing her balance.
On one side, Huo Lin's expression instantly turned serious, his eyes sharpened, and he quickly pushed open the carriage window to look outside.
Outside, a group of men in black, armed with weapons, surrounded them from all sides, clearly targeting them.
The Imperial Guards shouted, "Assassins!"
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