Chapter 181 - 182: To End It All
Hua Manman deliberately adopted a defiant, "do your worst" attitude.
"In any case, I can’t complete two tasks at once. So, why should I bother struggling?
Punish me however you see fit.
If I really can’t take it anymore, I’ll just end it all. One and done."
System: "You wouldn’t kill yourself."
It had chosen Hua Manman as its host precisely because it knew how desperately she yearned to live.
As long as there was even a sliver of hope for survival, she would never choose to die.
Hua Manman smiled.
"It seems you don’t know me as well as you think.
The reason I want to live is because I promised my grandparents.
I promised that no matter what hardships I encounter, I will live on.
That was my vow to them, and I must honor it.
But if the price of living is a fate worse than death, then I’d rather just die.
If my grandparents knew about this from the great beyond, I’m sure they would understand."
The system fell silent.
Hua Manman knew it was still weighing its options and offered a friendly reminder.
"You’re running out of time."
Two burly nannies walked in and held down Hua Qingqing’s shoulders, one on each side.
The female official stepped forward with a discipline ruler and said matter-of-factly,
"Hua Jieyu, pardon the offense."
Knowing her fate was sealed, Hua Qingqing resignedly closed her eyes.
Seeing that the female lead was about to be disfigured, the system could no longer restrain itself. It said to Hua Manman,
"You only need to complete one task."
Hua Manman’s lips curled into a smile. She deliberately asked, "Which one?"
System: "Protect Hua Qingqing."
The next moment, Hua Manman’s clear voice echoed through Fengyi Palace.
"Wait!"
All eyes snapped to Hua Manman.
A vicious glint flashed in the Empress’s eyes. ’Excellent. It seems I can dispose of both sisters today!’
The Empress sneered.
"Lady Hua, do you intend to speak up for your sister?"
Hua Qingqing opened her eyes and looked anxiously at her younger sister, pleading with her eyes not to do anything rash.
She could see it now—the Empress was deliberately targeting them.
She didn’t know why, but she knew she wouldn’t escape unscathed today.
It was one thing for her to suffer, but she couldn’t let her sister be dragged down with her.
Hua Manman pretended not to see Hua Qingqing’s warning glance and spoke respectfully to the Empress.
"You misunderstand, Empress. I have no objection to your actions at all.
Everything you do is to maintain order in the palace. Your impartiality is admirable.
It is a blessing for the Great Zhou Dynasty—and the entire world—to have an Empress such as you!"
The Empress was speechless.
For a moment, she couldn’t tell if the girl was praising or mocking her.
Hua Manman then changed her tune and continued.
"Hua Jieyu has indeed erred and deserves punishment.
However, she is now with child.
I hope the Empress will show mercy on account of her pregnancy and refrain from harming her and the child in her womb."
The Empress froze.
Everyone else present was stunned as well.
Even Hua Qingqing herself was dumbfounded.
’When did I get pregnant?’
’How did I not know this myself?’
The Empress quickly recovered. "Don’t even think of fooling me! Hua Jieyu has never said anything about being pregnant!"
Hua Manman replied with a helpless sigh.
"Hua Jieyu was just telling me that her monthly courses are over ten days late. It’s highly likely that she has conceived."
The Empress sneered. "That’s merely your speculation. What if she isn’t pregnant?"
Hua Manman countered, "But what if she is?
If the Empress knowingly inflicts punishment on a concubine who might be with child, causing a miscarriage...
Isn’t that a clear-cut case of harming a royal heir?
Compared to the crime of accepting bribes, wouldn’t you say that harming a royal heir is far more severe?"
The Empress shot to her feet and snapped,
"How insolent!"
Hua Manman fell silent, but her dark, lucid eyes remained fixed on the Empress, neither meek nor defiant.
The Empress felt her authority had been challenged.
"Who do you think you are? How dare you speak to me in such a manner?"
Hua Manman said, "I was merely offering a kind reminder. If you insist on refusing to believe me, that is your prerogative. Please, do whatever you think is best."
The Empress, convinced she was bluffing, ordered the two nannies directly.
"What are you waiting for? Do it!"
The two nannies exchanged glances, neither daring to move.
’They couldn’t afford to be accused of harming a royal heir.’
’Even if Lady Hua hadn’t said for certain that Hua Jieyu was pregnant...’
’...what if she was?’
’What if there really was a young prince in Hua Jieyu’s womb?’
’Who would dare take such a risk?’
The Empress turned her gaze to the others in the room.
Everyone bowed their heads, avoiding her eyes.
’If Hua Manman hadn’t brought up the possible pregnancy, it would have been fine.’
’They could all have claimed ignorance later; after all, there’s no punishment for what you don’t know.’
’But Hua Manman had announced it in front of everyone.’
’Punishing Hua Jieyu now, with the knowledge that she might be carrying a royal child? That was a death wish.’
The Empress took a deep breath, struggling to suppress her mounting fury.
"Fine. You’re all just fine!"
Not daring to look at her expression, the attendants bowed their heads even lower.
Knowing she couldn’t touch Hua Qingqing today, the Empress sat back down. With a stony expression, she said to the female official,
"Fine. Since Hua Jieyu is carrying the Saint’s child, we shall spare her this once."
Hua Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief.
Only then did she belatedly realize the back of her robes was soaked in a cold sweat.
She had been utterly terrified.
Hua Manman, however, couldn’t relax. On the contrary, the knot of tension inside her pulled even tighter.
’She knew it wasn’t over yet.’
And sure enough,
The next moment, she heard the Empress speak again.
"The matter with Hua Jieyu is now closed. But as for Lady Hua’s offense against me just now, that score has yet to be settled."
Hua Manman said nothing.
Hua Qingqing’s heart, which had only just settled, shot back into her throat.
The Empress fixed Hua Manman with a malevolent stare and said, her voice unhurried,
"You are but a lowly nanny, yet you dare to openly defy me. Tell me, what should be done about this?"
She paused, her eyes lingering on Hua Manman’s abdomen for a moment before she continued with a smirk.
"Pray, don’t tell me that you’re also pregnant and can’t be touched."
Hua Manman kept her lips pressed tightly together, saying nothing.
The Empress spoke with chilling coldness.
"Even if you are pregnant, you aren’t carrying a child of the Royal Family. I can have you beaten however I wish.
Men! Slap her! Slap her hard!
And you are not to stop until I give the order!"
Hua Qingqing tried to plead for her sister, but a nanny covered her mouth, silencing her.
Hua Manman was seized and held fast on both sides.
The female official advanced on her, the heavy discipline ruler in hand.
...
Thank you all for your understanding. From now on, updates will be posted around 6 PM every day. Mwah~