Chapter 149 The Unspeakable Explanation
"Oh, a talent show."
Jiang Huan nodded slightly, then, as if realizing something, her eyes widened: "Huo Lin!? The talent show!?"
"Your Majesty, be careful what you say!" Xiao Zhao was so frightened that she almost covered her mouth. "The news has spread everywhere. The Emperor said that Consort Jia, oh no, Consort Lin, is morally flawed and the harem is empty. He wants to select concubines to fill the harem."
Jiang Huan felt a sour and astringent feeling in her chest, and also a little wronged.
"He says he feels empty, but he doesn't? So many concubines have nothing better to do than fatten up the fish in the pond. Is that what you call not having enough people?"
Seeing this, Xiao Zhao quickly comforted and advised, "Your Majesty, don't worry. The Emperor still cares about you; he just doesn't remember it now."
Jiang Huan didn't reply, but in her heart she cursed Huo Lin as a despicable person.
I promised her I wouldn't do any talent shows, but now they've come up with Idol Producer.
In Huo Lin's eyes now, she is no different from the other concubines in his harem.
Jiang Huan was extremely irritable. She usually cooked for herself, but today she had no mood for it at all.
Lunch was tasteless and bland; even his favorite crystal shrimp dumplings were only eaten once before being put down.
She poked at the white rice in her bowl, her mind buzzing.
That jerk Huo Lin, last night he sneaked into her bedside like a flower thief, and today he's busy with the talent show.
Once he recovers, she'll teach him a lesson, but...
Jiang Huan sighed and slumped her head, wondering when he would finally get better.
Xiao Zhao was so anxious seeing Jiang Huan's listless appearance that she paced around in circles.
"Your Majesty, could you please eat some more?"
"I have no appetite." Jiang Huan put down her chopsticks, looking as if all her energy had been drained away.
The Imperial Study.
Huo Lin was reviewing memorials when the imperial kitchen staff brought him food.
After Wang Degui had the meal laid out, he reminded the emperor, "Your Majesty, it's time to eat."
"Hmm." Huo Lin put down the memorial and pinched the bridge of his nose.
He sat down at the table. The hall was quiet, yet it made him inexplicably irritable.
Huo Lin felt that something was missing, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Wang Degui carefully observed the expressions and hesitated before speaking.
"Your Majesty, this servant just heard that at Weiyang Palace..."
He paused for a moment, as if hesitating whether to speak.
Huo Lin paused slightly as he picked up the silver chopsticks, his voice low and deep.
What happened to Weiyang Palace?
“Your Majesty,” Wang Degui bowed even lower, “I heard that Consort Zhuang had a poor appetite today and only ate a few bites before the banquet was over.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Huo Lin discreetly.
Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this is all the help this old servant can give you.
Upon hearing this, Huo Lin paused almost imperceptibly for a moment.
Poor appetite? Only ate a few bites? Is it because of the talent show?
Huo Lin snorted softly, trying to convince himself with the rationality of an emperor.
What's wrong with talent shows? They've been held in every dynasty. They were used to stabilize the court and fill the harem. Isn't that a normal thing?
But the thought of Jiang Huan's dim eyes caused Huo Lin another pang of heartache.
The meal eventually became somewhat unappetizing.
After the meal, Huo Lin continued with his official duties as usual, but he couldn't help but think back to what Wang Degui had said.
He grew increasingly depressed and simply stood up: "Come with me for a walk."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Wang Degui quickly followed, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
Judging from the direction the Emperor is heading, he is heading towards Weiyang Palace, which shows that the Emperor still cares about the Empress.
As the two walked along the road, Huo Lin appeared to be walking steadily, but in reality, he carried a hint of urgency that he himself was unaware of.
He didn't know what he had wanted to do in the past, but he felt that only by getting close to that place could he relieve the inexplicable depression in his chest.
As they walked to the entrance of Weiyang Palace, the palace maid guarding the gate saw Huo Lin about to go in to announce his arrival, but Huo Lin stopped her with a single look.
He gestured for Wang Degui to stay outside, and then quietly went inside.
The courtyard was quiet, and Huo Lin spotted Jiang Huan by the window at a glance.
She stood with her back to the door, her figure appearing somewhat frail in the light, exuding an indescribable sense of loneliness.
Huo Lin's heart felt as if it had been gently pricked by something.
"Ahem." He cleared his throat, trying to break the silence.
Jiang Huan was startled by the sudden sound and turned around abruptly.
Upon seeing Huo Lin, a flicker of surprise flashed across her eyes, quickly replaced by a complex mix of emotions.
What a heartless man! Why is he looking for her?
Jiang Huan was inwardly furious, but outwardly she politely bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Huo Lin was taken aback by her aloof demeanor, and completely forgot his prepared opening remarks.
"I was just passing by and came in to take a look."
Huo Lin's voice sounded drier than he had expected. "I heard you didn't eat much for lunch?"
Jiang Huan lowered her eyes and stared at the tips of her shoes: "Thank you for your concern, but I have no appetite and don't want to eat."
Huo Lin felt a little uncomfortable. He walked to the small table and his gaze fell on a plate of osmanthus cake.
The patterns on this seem familiar, like I've seen them somewhere before.
A blurry image flashed through my mind, too fast to grasp.
He looked at the osmanthus cake and asked casually, "Don't you like the dessert? I remember you like sweet things."
Even Huo Lin himself was taken aback when he said those words.
How could he know that Jiang Huan liked sweet things?
Jiang Huan's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked up at Huo Lin.
This is a sign that things are getting better!
However, when she met Huo Lin's still unfamiliar gaze, the light in her eyes quickly went out.
It seems I still haven't remembered.
The thought of this person wanting to participate in the talent show made Jiang Huan both annoyed and aggrieved, and her words naturally carried a hint of temper.
"I don't want anything sweet today, is that not allowed?"
Seeing her like this, Huo Lin felt even more irritated.
For a moment, no one spoke in the hall; the atmosphere was oppressive.
Huo Lin suddenly wanted to explain something, such as that the talent show was not his original intention, but was necessary for the court to maintain balance.
With Consort Jia's downfall, the number of high-ranking concubines in the harem will decrease, and powerful ministers will become restless. The selection of concubines is a way to silence public opinion and appease various factions.
Should I tell her these things? Would she believe me?
Wait, we've gone off-topic!
When has he, the emperor, ever needed to explain his decisions to a woman?
But that feeling of stagnation in my heart just wouldn't go away.
Jiang Huan was still sulking. Seeing that he didn't speak, she simply pretended to be cold and said, "If Your Majesty has nothing else, I will rest."
Huo Lin's brow twitched; this was a way of telling him to leave.
What kind of behavior is this! It's turning the Heavenly Gang upside down!
Hmph, you think I'll just leave because you tell me to? I won't...
But his thoughts were suddenly interrupted, as if a program had been forcibly started, and Huo Lin turned around and strode out.
Jiang Huan stood there alone, watching his figure disappear through the palace gate.
The palace doors closed, blocking out the outside light and also the emperor's figure.
Jiang Huan's eyes finally welled up with tears.
All male protagonists in the world are the same; their mouths are just for decoration!
Would it kill you to explain, even if it's just that you think it's not what you think?
Jiang Huan walked to the small table, looked at the plate of osmanthus cake that had hardly been touched, grabbed a piece in a huff, and took a big bite.
"Xiao Zhao! Tonight we're having braised pig's trotters with soybeans. I'm going to bite this big pig's trotter to death!"
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