Chapter 158 Not Wanting to Attend Court
That night, Huo Lin naturally stayed overnight at Weiyang Palace.
Lying in bed, Huo Lin let out a satisfied sigh and hugged the person tightly.
[She's finally calmed down; my culinary magic worked!]
Should we make her more?
Jiang Huan nestled in his arms, feeling ashamed as she listened.
The sentiment is good, but it's a little hard to swallow.
However, her bowl of nourishing soup was no saint either, so we're even.
Let's stop poisoning each other from now on.
As Jiang Huan thought about it, she couldn't help but smile, feeling a sweet warmth in her heart.
She adjusted to a comfortable position, leaned against Huo Lin's warm chest, and closed her eyes.
The sense of relief from having lost something and then regaining it, along with the fatigue of the past few days, surged up all at once.
Listening to the soft breathing of the person in his arms, Huo Lin felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and fell asleep without realizing it.
The next morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
Wang Degui's voice rang out from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, it's time to prepare for the morning court session."
Huo Lin had actually been awake for a while, but with Wen Xiangru in his arms, he couldn't bear to get up.
He tightened his arms, holding Jiang Huan even closer.
[I can listen to those old scholars spitting at each other anytime, but can't I hold them a little longer today?!]
[How about we have Wang Degui ask for a sick leave for me? Anyway, I've heard them arguing about this all these years, and they've probably already figured out all the talk about blood deficiency and unstable blood pressure, so it's not exactly a lie.]
Jiang Huan felt his movement, and groggily opened her eyes, nudging him.
"Oh, Your Majesty, you'll be late if you don't get up soon."
Huo Lin remained motionless, instead tightening his grip on Huo Lin's arm.
[I can't hear you, I'm sleeping.]
[Waaah, I don't want to leave! I want to go on strike!]
As Jiang Huan listened, she slowly opened her eyes, her expression a mixture of helplessness and sympathy.
This is exactly what she's thinking, isn't it? She's going to work.
But despite the empathy, Huo Lin, as the ruler of a country, is still somewhat different from her, a mere cog in the machine.
Grit your teeth, make an effort, Your Majesty, get up and roll it up!
As for her, having finally escaped the clutches of capitalists, she's going to have a nice nap.
"The morning court session is a major event. If the emperor doesn't go soon, even the eunuch Wang will have to summon the ministers here to work."
Huo Lin gave a muffled groan, then pulled the brocade quilt up to cover Jiang Huan's beautiful collarbone.
[A big deal? An old lady in the west of the city lost three baskets of eggs, and people say that's a big deal too.]
"Well, I also said that my most important thing is to hold her in my arms. My amnesia has made her sad for so long, what's wrong with spending a little more time with her now?"
[How dare you come here to attend court? You're so disrespectful! What if you bump into her? Will your entire family be punished?!]
Wang Degui waited outside the palace for a response, but received none, and became as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
"Your Majesty, please come out quickly."
Jiang Huan simply sat up, nudged Huo Lin, and urged, "Alright, go on."
Finally, Huo Lin's voice came from inside the hall.
"Okay, I'll wait."
He reluctantly released Jiang Huan, sat up, and his face was as cold as a snowy day, as if anyone who came near him would freeze to death.
[This is so annoying! But she's already asked. If I don't go, will she think I'm a lazy, shameless person, and that I'm unreliable for the rest of my life?]
[That won't do! My ambition is burning bright!]
Jiang Huan was no longer sleepy. She had thought through all the sad things in her life before finally suppressing the corners of her mouth that had been turned up.
This childish sentiment is just too much! I'm already giving her nasolabial folds extra weight this morning.
Just as she was about to throw off the covers and get out of bed, Huo Lin gently pressed her down.
"Get some more sleep, you must be tired from last night." Her tone was incredibly gentle and considerate.
Jiang Huan blushed and said, "I'm not tired."
I didn't do anything last night except sleep in his arms.
It's said to be inappropriate for children. Is this blatant misleading or a blatant insinuation?
Huo Lin did not insist any further. He got up and let the palace servants file in to help him change his clothes and wash up.
Throughout the entire process, he kept a straight face, looking at Jiang Huan with an indescribable resentment in his eyes.
[Sob, I'll put my career aside for now, I still want to be with her, sob sob.]
[I am so pitiful...]
Jiang Huan was both amused and exasperated by his stare, and could only pretend not to see it.
After finally getting dressed, Huo Lincai left with great reluctance.
Stepping out of Weiyang Palace, the cool morning air invigorated him, but the thought of facing the noisy ministers made his face darken again.
He walked hurriedly, eager to finish the morning court session as quickly as possible.
However, just as he turned a corner, a slender figure emerged from the moon gate beside him.
It's Liu Shuyao.
She was still dressed in an elegant moon-white dress, with a thick fox fur cloak wrapped around her.
Her face was pale, and she looked even more frail in the morning mist.
Upon seeing Huo Lin, she showed no panic, as if she had expected it.
She curtsied and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Huo Lin paused, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.
There are so many roadblocks in the palace lately!
Moreover, it was an organized and premeditated roadblock.
Where are the Imperial Guards and the Chief Eunuch of the Inner Palace? When they're sweeping snow, could they please carry away any unimportant people as well?
"No need for formalities." He said coldly, and then turned to leave.
He was in a hurry to attend court and had no time to pay attention to others, especially the woman the Empress Dowager had forced upon him.
Liu Shuyao stopped him, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I did not mean to disturb Your Majesty. It is just that I am concerned about my father's old illness and do not know if he..."
Before she could finish speaking, she looked at Huo Lin with the worry and anticipation of a daughter for her father.
Old ailment?
Prime Minister Liu is in excellent health; he was even arguing with the Minister of Revenue in court yesterday.
Whether it's an old ailment or just an excuse, it's self-evident.
Huo Lin sneered inwardly, but remained indifferent and aloof on the surface.
"Prime Minister Liu is in good health and there is nothing seriously wrong. Since you are weak, you should rest well in Chuxiu Palace and not go out unnecessarily."
"Wang Degui." Huo Lin was too lazy to argue with Liu Shuyao any longer, so he directly ordered, "Send her back to Chuxiu Palace."
"Yes." Wang Degui replied, walked to Liu Shuyao's side, and made a gesture, "Your Highness Consort Liu, please come back to the palace with this servant."
Liu Shuyao's face seemed to have turned even paler, and her eyelashes trembled, concealing the fleeting emotion in her eyes.
She didn't argue or say anything more, but simply curtsied obediently.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I thank you for your concern."
Huo Lin didn't linger and strode away.
Escorted by Wang Degui, Liu Shuyao silently walked back to Chuxiu Palace.
As soon as I entered the courtyard, a sneer came crashing down on me.
"Oh, isn't this our Sister Liu?"
Wen Yilin leaned against a pillar with her arms crossed, her face bearing undisguised sarcasm.
"Look at you, going out so early in the morning, before it's even light, your face is as white as paper money. Don't let your illness be passed on to the Emperor."
Clearly, the news that Liu Shuyao had gone out early in the morning and was brought back by Wang Degui spread quickly.
Liu Shuyao didn't stop walking, as if she hadn't heard Wen Yilin's harsh words, and went straight to her room.
Wen Yilin had never been ignored like this before, and she was furious. She took a few steps forward to block her way, raising her voice several decibels.
"Liu Shuyao, I'm talking to you. Are you deaf or possessed by a sickly ghost? Can't you even understand human speech? Stop pretending to be a high and mighty fairy in front of me."
"Who doesn't know your filthy thoughts? Just because your father is the prime minister, you think you're a flower that should bloom on the emperor's bed? Wake up! The emperor is in good health and wouldn't want a sickly old man like you!"
These words were extremely harsh, and even the palace maids standing nearby turned pale.
Liu Shuyao finally stopped and looked up at Wen Yilin, her eyes calm like a deep pool.
"What Consort Wen says is true. Shuyao is frail and shouldn't be moving around, only causing trouble. Consort Wen, on the other hand, is full of energy and has a loud voice, so she must have rested very well, but..."
She paused, her gaze sweeping meaningfully over the dark circles under Wen Yilin's eyes.
"A strong liver fire in the morning can easily harm one's health. Consort Wen should try to avoid getting angry, lest your makeup be ruined and your voice become hoarse, which would not be as beautiful."
After saying that, she ignored Wen Yilin's ashen face, walked past her, went straight into her room, and closed the door.
"you!"
Wen Yilin punched a cotton ball, choked and felt a tightness in her chest, and stomped her foot hard.
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