"This maid by your side seems quite skilled at serving. Leave her with me."
The indifferent words drifted down as Huo Lin calmly lifted his gaze to glance at Consort Yu.
Consort Yu's smile froze instantly, nearly causing her to drop the porcelain bowl before her.
She had brought Jiang Huan along out of necessity—now that the meat was grilled, Jiang Huan had served her purpose.
Before she could even dismiss her, the Emperor personally requested she stay?
What did her carefully laid plans amount to then? Was she just making a fool of herself?
"Your Majesty jests," Consort Yu said, her crimson nails digging into her palm as she forced a strained smile. "This girl is clumsy and awkward. Just the day before yesterday, she broke my favorite cloisonné vase. How could she possibly serve at Your Majesty's side?"
Huo Lin disagreed, his expression darkening by three degrees.
"I want her to stay."
Consort Yu's face turned ashen; she wished she could slap Jiang Huan right then and there.
What a seductive little vixen!
Even with a veil covering her face, she managed to enchant the Emperor. If she weren't wearing it, would she be serving in his bedchamber right now?
No, she absolutely had to take Jiang Huan away today!
Suppressing her rage, Consort Yu maintained her smiling facade.
"This servant notices the girl still has many shortcomings—she can't compare to those already serving Your Majesty. Moreover, my palace has many attendants far cleverer than her. When I return, I'll send someone over to serve Your Majesty, alright?"
Huo Lin grew impatient. Setting down his silver chopsticks, his gaze sharpened like a blade.
His deep voice carried a jade-like chill.
"I said I want her."
Consort Yu's heart clenched, her smile strained.
She wanted to argue further, but then she saw Huo Lin's expression shift, his knuckles rapping sharply on the table.
As his wide black dragon-embroidered sleeves settled, the air suddenly grew heavy.
The young Emperor slightly lifted his chin, the shadow cast by his brow arching like a suspended blade.
He was truly considering beheading her.
Consort Yu's silk handkerchief gradually grew damp with cold sweat. She swallowed hard, forcing her words to take a different turn.
"But since Your Majesty favors her, I shouldn't keep her. I only beg Your Majesty to allow me to take her back to Jin Hua Palace first, to train her for a few days. Then I'll send her to Your Majesty. Would that be acceptable?"
If the Emperor kept her now and discovered Jiang Huan's identity, all her efforts today would be wasted!
She might as well use a delaying tactic. When the Emperor asked for someone later, she could send a cleverer maid in Jiang Huan's place.
As for the grilling skills, she'd just have to make Jiang Huan teach them.
And if Jiang Huan still refused to teach? Then there'd be no need to keep her around anymore!
Huo Lin snorted coldly. "I'll give you three days. You must send her to me by then."
[I'm the Emperor, and Consort Yu dares to refuse me a mere maid? Accusing her of rebellion wouldn't be unjust.]
[If not for today's grilled meat, I'd definitely have someone teach Consort Yu some manners!]
Jiang Huan grew increasingly anxious inside. Hearing Huo Lin's authoritative mutterings made her head spin.
Beside her, Consort Yu's jealousy and murderous intent felt like they were carving into her flesh.
If she followed Consort Yu back to Jin Hua Palace, only severe punishment awaited her.
If the punishment were any harsher, she might not survive.
But if she revealed her identity directly to the Emperor, Consort Yu could always retaliate later.
What should she do?
Why do other transmigrators get extraordinary talents and overpowered abilities to sweep through everything?
Can I trade this mind-reading power for something else?
Consort Yu remained completely unaware of this. Hearing the Emperor's agreement, she did not hesitate.
She couldn't give Jiang Huan any opportunity to seduce the Emperor!
"Your Majesty, please grant this concubine permission to withdraw first, so I may return to the palace and have her properly trained."
Huo Lin was currently displeased with Consort Yu. Upon hearing her request to leave, he immediately consented.
Seeing Jiang Huan still standing motionless, Consort Yu's eyes flashed with sharp hostility.
"Let's go! Why are you still standing there foolishly?"
"Yes."
Jiang Huan had no choice but to comply while her mind raced, desperately seeking a solution.
Returning meant death; revealing her identity outright also meant death.
Her only option now was to expose herself seemingly by accident.
This way, she could reveal her identity before the Emperor while still having an explanation for Consort Yu afterward.
Having decided, Jiang Huan began looking for an opportunity.
As she followed Consort Yu out, a young eunuch happened to be rushing into the room.
Just as they were about to pass each other, Jiang Huan's eyes darkened slightly. She subtly stuck out her foot to trip the eunuch.
Sorry about this!
With them so close, the eunuch instinctively grabbed Jiang Huan, who stood nearby, as he nearly fell.
Jiang Huan pretended to lose her balance from the pull, stumbling forward and knocking Consort Yu down.
Amid the chaos, Jiang Huan took advantage of the distraction to quietly remove her face veil, revealing her features.
Wang Degui, who had rushed from outside to help Consort Yu, stared at Jiang Huan in slight astonishment. "Changzai Zhuang?"
Seeing Jiang Huan still on the ground, Wang Degui quickly called for assistance.
"Hurry! Someone help Changzai Zhuang up!"
The palace maids attending inside hurried over to support her.
By then, Consort Yu had already been helped up by Wang Degui. Seeing Jiang Huan's exposed face, her expression changed dramatically.
If looks could kill, Jiang Huan felt she would have been devoured by Consort Yu right then.
"It was my carelessness that caused you trouble, Your Highness," Jiang Huan said with a remorseful expression, appearing deeply apologetic.
Inwardly, however, she gave a mental cheer—she had navigated this crisis safely.
If palace intrigue had levels, she reckoned she had just advanced at least one rank.
"No matter, let's leave quickly," Consort Yu replied, flustered and anxious, no longer concerned about any pain from the fall, only hoping Huo Lin hadn't noticed Jiang Huan.
But she was destined to be disappointed.
The commotion was loud, and the Hall of Mental Cultivation was quiet; unless Huo Lin was deaf, he would have heard.
Sure enough, he approached with a frown and looked surprised upon seeing Jiang Huan.
[Changzai Zhuang? It's been so long since she appeared, I thought she had died.]
[So this charcoal-grilled meat was her doing. That makes sense—the tangyuan she made last time pleased me greatly.]
[Excellent, excellent. I wondered when Jin Hua Palace had acquired such a skilled cook. If it's Changzai Zhuang, then it's no surprise.]
[However…]
Huo Lin's expression turned stern, his voice authoritative.
"What is all this noise?"
"Consort Yu, why is Changzai Zhuang with you, dressed as a palace maid?"
This fatal inquiry struck, and Consort Yu's grip on Jiang Huan's arm tightened abruptly.
Panic-stricken, she was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
Jiang Huan, however, had already formed a plan. She stepped forward, took a deep breath, and said,
"Your Majesty, I heard that Consort Yu was arranging a meal for you and begged her to bring me along."
"The idea to change into a maid's uniform was mine. Grilling meat tends to splatter oil, which could ruin silk garments. Wearing this, I wouldn't mind the stains."
If she had a choice, Jiang Huan wouldn't have spoken up for Consort Yu.
But she was under someone else's roof and had no choice but to lower her head.
As a low-ranking concubine without power or influence, how dare she openly offend Consort Yu who managed the household affairs of Jin Hua Palace?
Her most urgent task now was to protect herself and Xiao Zhao while seeking an opportunity to leave.
Huo Lin listened to this explanation, his expression cool and detached. His lips barely moved, yet his words left no room for doubt.
"Consort Yu may leave. You stay."