Hu Huai'an's expression was just right—not the anxiety of the sky about to fall, nor any obvious smile. The changes in his features were minute, entirely following the emperor's expression.
Such changes could not give the emperor a deeper impression of him, but they could effectively prevent the emperor from venting his anger on him as well.
Like a chameleon, when the emperor was in a towering rage, though he stood nearby, it was as if he had vanished into hiding.
Sure enough, the emperor panted lightly, not sparing Hu Huai'an any extra attention at all.
Hu Huai'an breathed a faint sigh of relief, but worry flashed across his face at once before he forcibly suppressed it.
The emperor's health has actually declined to this extent. It feels worse and worse. This realization stirred a dense unease in Hu Huai'an's heart.
Yet when his gaze fell on the man kneeling on the ground and still kowtowing, he felt a sense of relief by comparison.
No matter how bad his future situation became, could it possibly be worse than Ma Shunde's current state?
Back then, he had even envied Ma Shunde for obtaining the Imperial City Office from Zhao Bingzhong and becoming the chief eunuch.
Now, it seemed that commanding the Imperial City Office was like holding a double-edged sword. Whether it was good or bad truly could not be said.
If Ma Shunde had not commanded the Imperial City Office, how could today's life-threatening situation have arisen?
Huff, huff.
The emperor could hear his own heavy breathing. It was an outward sign of his aging, and he loathed it. He closed his eyes and let the medicine take effect. After a while, as its effects set in, his emotions gradually calmed.
Only then did the emperor lift his eyelids again.