Chapter 158 - 159: Seduction
Lin Qingzhi went to the kitchen, her heart filled with resentment.
The servants in the kitchen were busy with their tasks. They were surprised to see Lin Liangyuan and hurriedly bowed in greeting.
Lin Qingzhi was still wearing the same dress from last night, which had a row of dried bloodstains on it.
Hua Manman had originally found a coarse linen dress for her to change into.
But she found the dress too ugly and refused to wear it no matter what.
So, she had no choice but to go out wearing the bloodstained dress.
Noticing everyone’s strange looks, Lin Qingzhi was furious inside, but on the surface, she acted as if nothing was wrong, nonchalantly strolling around the kitchen.
Seeing so many people in the kitchen, Lin Qingzhi had an idea.
’Why not just dump all the work on the servants?’
’Hua Manman isn’t here anyway. Even if I do nothing, she won’t know.’
But as soon as she turned her head, she saw Hua Manman leaning against the doorframe.
Hua Manman flashed her a brilliant smile, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth.
"Good luck!"
Lin Qingzhi could only abandon the thought of having others do her work.
While inwardly cursing Hua Manman, that little beast, she rolled up her sleeves to wash the rice and vegetables.
The others who saw this were completely bewildered.
They couldn’t understand what had happened between Lin Liangyuan and Lady Hua.
As servants, they dared not say a word or ask any questions, so they could only bury their heads and continue with their own work.
Just then, a young maid came running to find Hua Manman, saying that Prince Zhao had something to discuss with her.
Hua Manman remembered that Prince Zhao should be practicing his swordplay at this time.
Ever since his legs recovered, the first thing he did every morning was practice his sword.
Today should be no exception.
’I wonder why he’s looking for me at this hour?’
Filled with confusion, Hua Manman turned and left.
As soon as Hua Manman was gone, Lin Qingzhi immediately threw the spatula aside and began to brazenly slack off.
She looked at the porridge bubbling and steaming in the pot, and another idea struck her.
’Since Hua Manman dared to make me cook breakfast, I’ll have to make her a breakfast she’ll never forget for the rest of her life!’
After taking the porridge off the stove, she carried the food container and walked out.
When she reached a secluded spot, Lin Qingzhi stealthily opened the container and spat viciously into the porridge several times.
To prevent anyone from noticing, she even deliberately used a spoon to stir the porridge until it was evenly mixed.
’You little beast, you dare to torment me? We’ll see if I can’t disgust you to death!’
Meanwhile, Hua Manman did not get to see Prince Zhao.
She was intercepted by the Crown Prince on her way to Prince Zhao’s residence.
Whether by coincidence or design, the area was very quiet at that moment. There was no one else in sight, just the two of them.
"This servant greets the Crown Prince."
After bowing, Hua Manman prepared to leave.
However, Li Cheng extended his right hand, once again blocking her path.
"Lady Hua, why are you in such a hurry? I am not a tiger; I won’t eat you."
As he spoke the last part of the sentence, he deliberately lowered his voice. Paired with the slight upward curl of his lips, it carried an inexplicable hint of intimacy.
Hua Manman was no naive little girl, ignorant of the ways of the world.
She understood at once that the man before her was trying to seduce her.
’Back then, the Crown Prince had fallen for her sister at first sight, bringing Lin Qingzhi into the Crown Prince Mansion less than two days later. Now, he was coming on to her, a married woman.’
’It’s clear this man has a very strong reproductive drive. He probably wishes he could sow his seeds all over the world.’
’It’s just a pity he’s a human.’
’How wonderful it would be if he were a boar. He could endlessly breed piglets, and by the end of the year, we’d have a bountiful harvest of delicious pork.’
Hua Manman feigned a shy and timid demeanor, backing away in a fluster.
"Prince Zhao sent someone to find me. I cannot keep Prince Zhao waiting long.
I must go see him quickly. Please forgive me for not being able to linger."
Li Cheng gave a wicked smile. "You don’t have to hurry. In truth, Prince Zhao didn’t summon you. I was the one who sent that young maid to find you."
Hua Manman looked surprised. "Why would the Crown Prince do such a thing?"
Li Cheng spoke to her in a deliberately low voice.
"To see you, of course."
Hua Manman’s face immediately turned even redder, and she looked so shy she didn’t know what to do.
"What is the Crown Prince doing? It’s broad daylight. If someone saw us like this, they would surely misunderstand."
Li Cheng was very experienced in matters of the heart.
The moment he saw Hua Manman’s bashful appearance, he knew he had a chance!
But then he remembered the two dishes she had someone send him last night, and he cooled down a bit.
’This woman is very cunning. Perhaps she’s just putting on an act to deceive me. I can’t fall for it.’
Li Cheng took a step forward, closing the distance between them again.
He lowered his head and gazed at Hua Manman with deep affection.
"Don’t be afraid. I just have something I don’t understand and wished to ask you about."
Hua Manman seemed very nervous about their proximity, her small hands clutching the hem of her clothes as a faint blush rose on her cheeks.
She said hesitantly, "What does the Crown Prince wish to ask?"
If Li Ji were present at this moment, he would have clearly heard her inner thoughts—
’At this distance, if I just lift my leg, I could smash his little brother with my knee. I guarantee I could end his family line on the spot.’
She was a little eager to try.
But on second thought, she decided against it. After all, he still held the title of Crown Prince.
If she really crippled him with a kick, not only would she lose her head, but Prince Zhao and the entire Zhong’an Bo Mansion would be implicated as well.
She couldn’t be impulsive.
Li Cheng had no idea his ’little brother’ had just narrowly escaped disaster.
He was still gazing affectionately at the woman before him, asking in a low voice,
"Those two dishes you had someone send over last night, what was the meaning behind them?"
Hua Manman feigned ignorance. "What dishes?"
Li Cheng reminded her good-naturedly.
"Pickled fish and braised chicken."
Hua Manman feigned realization. "Oh, those two dishes! Actually, Lin Liangyuan had them prepared for you. How did you find the taste?"
Li Cheng retorted, "So it was Lin Liangyuan who had them prepared? But how is it that I heard you were the one who had them prepared for me?"
Hua Manman acted as if she were flustered, stamping her foot angrily.
"How could those people do that?
I clearly told them that those two dishes were prepared for the Crown Prince by Lin Liangyuan.
Now that the Crown Prince knows the truth, Lin Liangyuan will surely be upset."
As she finished, an uneasy expression appeared on her face, and her eyes, looking at the Crown Prince, even seemed to glisten with unshed tears.
She was already born charming and beautiful. Paired with such an expression, she looked even more pitiful and lovely, enough to stir pity in anyone’s heart.
Few men could withstand such an offensive.
Li Cheng was naturally no exception.
He was instantly struck by Hua Manman’s beauty and hurriedly softened his voice to comfort her.
"Don’t worry, I will go explain to Lin Liangyuan. I promise she won’t blame you."