Chapter 160 - 161: Determined to Win
As soon as Hua Manman left, Li Cheng left too.
Lin Qingzhi knew she could no longer stay by Prince Zhao’s side.
So she hurriedly chased after the Crown Prince.
She explained as she walked.
"I never wanted to cook for them at all. Lady Hua forced me to do it.
Everything she told you just now was made up. She’s trying to sow discord. You mustn’t fall for her tricks!"
Li Cheng sneered. "Do you take me for a fool? Do you think I can’t tell if what Lady Hua said was true or not?"
Lin Qingzhi was so frantic she was on the verge of tears.
"I have always been completely loyal to you! I have never been unfaithful!"
Li Cheng retorted.
"If you’re not unfaithful, then why did you stay the night at Prince Zhao’s residence?
Has something been going on between you two for a while now?"
Lin Qingzhi swore an oath to the heavens.
"If I have any sort of illicit relationship with Prince Zhao, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"
When Li Cheng saw her dare to make such a vicious oath without the slightest hesitation or flinching, she no longer seemed to be lying.
The expression on his face softened slightly.
Seeing this, Lin Qingzhi quickly recounted everything that had happened between her and Hua Manman the previous night from beginning to end.
The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she felt, until she couldn’t help but shed tears by the end.
"That Lady Hua is truly inhumane. She’ll stop at nothing to torment me.
I almost couldn’t take it several times.
It was only by constantly thinking of you, Your Highness, that I managed to hold on until now."
After listening, Li Cheng was only half-convinced.
In his eyes, no matter how cunning Hua Manman was, she was still just a delicate woman.
How could she possibly be as dreadful as Lin Qingzhi described?
Lin Qingzhi must be deliberately painting Hua Manman as a monster to clear her own name.
Li Cheng reached out, pulled the tear-streaked little Beauty into his arms, and soothed her in a low voice.
"Don’t cry. Once I’ve taken Lady Hua for myself, I’ll make her serve you tea."
Lin Qingzhi hadn’t expected that even after hearing her story, the Crown Prince still hadn’t given up on the idea of obtaining that little beast, Hua Manman.
’It seems the Crown Prince is dead set on having Hua Manman!’
’That works too.’
’Once Hua Manman becomes the Crown Prince’s plaything, I can torment her however I please.’
Lin Qingzhi said coquettishly, "I also want to make her my foot-washing maid."
Li Cheng said with a smile, "Alright, whatever you want."
He paused, his large hand caressing her flat stomach as he sighed.
"Last night, I heard you were pregnant. I was quite happy, but it turned out to be fake."
Lin Qingzhi blushed. "I’ve disappointed you, Your Highness. It is my fault."
Li Cheng’s hand slipped into her clothes, and his lips pressed against her ear.
"A verbal apology is too insincere. You’ll have to express your apology to me with your body."
"I haven’t bathed yet."
"Perfect. We can wash together."
...
Hua Manman turned and fed the bowl of rice porridge, now seasoned with saliva, to a stray dog that was passing by.
’What a waste of good rice.’
’Lin Qingzhi ruined it all.’
Hua Manman had another breakfast prepared and personally delivered it to Prince Zhao.
Li Ji had already finished his sword practice and was now reading a secret letter.
For some reason, he had been receiving secret letters frequently as of late.
Hua Manman had no idea where these letters came from; it was as if they appeared out of thin air.
She called Prince Zhao over for breakfast.
Li Ji burned the letter after he finished reading it. Only when it had turned completely to ash did he walk over to the dining table and sit down.
"Where did you go just now? I didn’t see you around."
Hua Manman poured him some soy milk and replied.
"I just ran into the Crown Prince and chatted with him for a bit."
Li Ji looked at her. "What did you talk about?"
Hua Manman replied calmly.
"Nothing much, just some small talk."
However, her internal answer was not the same.
Li Ji heard her thinking—
’Who would have thought? The great Crown Prince actually wants to hit on me?
It’s one thing for him to have his eyes on my sister, but he won’t even spare me, a married woman. He’s got some heavy tastes.’
Although Li Ji didn’t quite understand what "hit on" meant, he could roughly guess its meaning from the context.
He took the warm soy milk Hua Manman offered him but didn’t drink it.
At this moment, he was feeling a little displeased.
That punk, the Crown Prince, dared to have designs on his woman. He was getting bold.
Furthermore, Hua Manman had deliberately hidden this from him, refusing to tell him the truth.
’Could it be that she wants to go along with the Crown Prince’s wishes and start a passionate extramarital affair with him?’
Hua Manman keenly sensed that Prince Zhao’s gaze was growing increasingly hostile.
She was bewildered. "Prince, why are you looking at me like that?"
Li Ji asked impassively.
"I’m curious, what do you think of the Crown Prince as a person?"
Hua Manman blurted out without hesitation.
"He’s the spitting image of a moron!"
Li Ji: "..."
Hua Manman added, "His audacity is so vast, it must span thousands of miles."
Li Ji suddenly felt that he had been overthinking things.
With her peculiar way of thinking, it was impossible for any man to conquer her.
Hua Manman asked, puzzled, "Why did you suddenly bring up the Crown Prince?"
Li Ji took a sip of the warm soy milk, feeling refreshed in body and mind.
A smile returned to his face.
"It’s nothing. I think you’re just fine the way you are now. Please, keep it up."
Hua Manman: ???
’Prince Zhao is as inscrutable as ever today!’
After Li Ji investigated the embezzlement case, Luo Yun was exonerated and released.
He was severely injured, and the doctor told him he needed to rest for at least another ten to fifteen days before returning to work.
But now, only five days later, he ignored everyone’s advice and forced himself to come and thank Prince Zhao.
He knelt on the ground and said in a hoarse voice.
"Thank you, Prince Zhao, for saving my life. I am eternally grateful!"
He had been in despair, certain that he would die. He never expected Prince Zhao to suddenly appear, not only rescuing him from the Crown Prince’s clutches but also clearing his name.
To him, Prince Zhao was like a second father, and his debt of gratitude was as heavy as a mountain!
Li Ji rarely received thanks from others, especially this kind of sincere gratitude that came with no ulterior motives.
He shifted his posture, slightly uncomfortable, and said.
"Alright, you can get up. If there’s nothing else, go back and continue resting."
Luo Yun stood up with the help of others.
After the torture he endured in prison, Luo Yun was so thin he was almost unrecognizable. Fortunately, his spirits were high, and a new light shone in his eyes.
He looked at Prince Zhao with fervent eyes.
"Prince, you saved me from Water and Fire. I can never repay such a great kindness.
In the future, if you have any need of me, Prince, you have but to say the word.
Even if it means charging through mountains of blades and seas of fire, I will not hesitate!"
Li Ji rested his cheek on one hand and thought for a moment. "I do, in fact, have something I need you to do."
Luo Yun said quickly, "Please give your orders, Prince."