Chapter 185 - 186: He Had Judged a Gentleman by His Own Petty Standards
The moment the old matriarch breathed her last, Hua Qingqing could no longer bear it and fainted on the spot, overwhelmed by tears.
Fortunately, the Imperial Physician hadn’t left yet and quickly attended to Hua Qingqing.
Hua Qingqing’s extreme emotional distress had destabilized her pregnancy. The Imperial Physician didn’t dare prescribe any medicine, so he could only administer acupuncture. He also ordered some calming soup to be prepared for her.
It was only then that Hua Dingzong and He Family learned Hua Qingqing was pregnant.
This should have been wonderful news, but with the old matriarch’s recent passing, no one could bring themselves to celebrate.
He Family gently comforted Hua Qingqing and personally brought over a bowl of chicken soup to feed her.
Hua Qingqing had no appetite.
He Family coaxed.
"It’s been most of the day, and you haven’t eaten a thing. Pregnant women must not go hungry.
Even if you won’t think of yourself, you must think of the child in your belly. Please, drink at least a little."
Hua Qingqing touched her flat stomach. In the end, she opened her mouth and drank the chicken soup offered by He Family.
As dusk approached, it became clear Hua Qingqing had to return before the palace gates closed for the night.
Hua Dingzong urged her to hurry back.
Hua Qingqing insisted on seeing her grandmother one last time.
Hua Dingzong had no other choice but to have her escorted back to Changsheng Residence.
Hua Qingqing pushed away the maidservant’s hand and knelt before her grandmother’s body, respectfully kowtowing three times.
On the final kowtow, she pressed her forehead to the ground, unable to rise for a long while.
She spoke, her voice thick with sobs.
"Grandmother, thank you for taking care of me all these years. I wasn’t able to properly fulfill my duty to you in this life. In my next life, I will repay you for raising me."
...
He Family specially packed some nutritional supplements beneficial for pregnant women and loaded them onto the carriage for Hua Qingqing to take back to the palace.
After seeing Hua Qingqing off, Hua Dingzong and He Family could not yet rest.
They ordered the pre-prepared coffin to be brought out. The old matriarch’s body was washed, dressed in burial shrouds, and placed within the coffin.
The mourning hall was set up inside Changsheng Residence, and all the lanterns in the Uncle’s Mansion were replaced with white ones.
Hua Manman hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to stay and keep He Family company.
She had a message sent back to the Prince Mansion, informing Prince Zhao that she would not be returning that night.
Hua Dingzong, fearing Prince Zhao would be displeased, frowned and chided her.
"Prince Zhao was already gracious in allowing you to return. How can you push your luck? What married daughter stays overnight at her parents’ home?"
Although He Family was also worried Prince Zhao might be angry.
The moment she heard Hua Dingzong scolding their daughter, she grew displeased.
She spread her arms, shielding her daughter behind her like a mother hen protecting her chick, and retorted fiercely.
"Manman wants to stay and help out of filial piety. Is that so wrong?"
Hua Dingzong fumed, his mustache bristling.
"You know perfectly well that’s not what I meant!
Don’t you think I want Manman to stay for a few more days? I’m just worried Prince Zhao will hold it against her when she returns!"
He Family shot back, "Then why couldn’t you say so nicely? Why did you have to shout?"
Hua Dingzong slammed his hand on the table, roaring.
"Who’s the one shouting? Who?!"
He Family pointed at him. "See? You’re shouting right now!"
Hua Dingzong: "..."
’Damn it! This is impossible!’
Hua Manman peeked out from behind He Family and said to her father.
"Prince Zhao is a really nice person. He won’t hold such a small thing against me. You can both relax."
Now it was Hua Dingzong and He Family’s turn to stare at her.
Their expressions clearly said—
’Prince Zhao is a nice person?? Are you fucking kidding me?!’
’Go outside and ask anyone you find. Who would dare say Prince Zhao is a nice person?’
’If his personality can be called ’nice,’ then there are no bad people left in this world!’
Hua Manman did her best to defend Prince Zhao’s reputation.
"Don’t listen to the nonsense people say about him. Prince Zhao just seems a bit difficult to get along with. Actually... actually..."
Hua Dingzong and He Family stared at her, their faces blank.
’Go on. Actually what?’
Hua Manman racked her brain for a complimentary term, but whenever she recalled Prince Zhao’s foul temper, her mind was flooded with nothing but insults.
’Like ’black-bellied and venomous-tongued,’ ’insane,’ ’unpredictable and moody,’ ’inhumane’...’
’In short, there wasn’t a single good word for him.’
In the end, Hua Manman gave up and resignedly said.
"Alright, fine. He really is just difficult to get along with."
Hua Dingzong said urgently, "Then why aren’t you hurrying back?"
Hua Manman clung to He Family’s arm, stubbornly refusing to budge.
"I’m not going back. I’ve already sent a message. If Prince Zhao weren’t happy about it, he’d definitely send someone to hurry me back. Since no one has come from him yet, it means he agrees to me staying here."
The words had barely left her mouth when the butler rushed in.
"Mr. Bo, Madam, Prince Zhao has sent someone over."
Hua Manman: "..."
’You’ve got to be kidding me!’
’Could my words come back to bite me this quickly?’
Hua Dingzong pointed at Hua Manman’s nose and snapped.
"See? He sent someone! Now aren’t you going to hurry up, pack your things, and get back to the Prince Mansion?!"
This time, even He Family couldn’t say anything. She just hurried to have the kitchen pack two boxes of freshly made desserts for Manman to take back with her. Manman had always loved these little snacks since she was a child.
Hua Dingzong led Hua Manman to the main hall, where they found the visitor was none other than Chen Wangbei.
Chen Wangbei was carrying a small bundle.
He cupped his fist in salute and said in a deadpan voice.
"The Prince learned that Lady Hua would be staying at the Uncle’s Mansion and has ordered me to deliver some things to her."
Hua Dingzong was surprised. "Didn’t Prince Zhao send you to bring Lady Hua back?"
Chen Wangbei shook his head.
Hua Manman immediately perked up, smugly telling Hua Dingzong.
"See? The Prince really is very nice."
Hua Dingzong was left speechless.
’He never expected Prince Zhao to have such a tolerant and considerate side.’
’He had misjudged a gentleman’s heart with his own petty standards.’
Hua Manman asked cheerfully, "What did the Prince have you bring me?"
Chen Wangbei presented the small bundle with both hands.
Hua Manman took the bundle and opened it, only to find a thick book inside.
Her smile slowly vanished.
Chen Wangbei said, "The Prince said that although Lady Hua is unable to return to the Prince Mansion, her studies must not fall behind. The Prince asks that you finish this book. He will be quizzing you on it later."
Hua Manman: "..."
’She wanted to take back everything she’d just said to her father.’
’Prince Zhao wasn’t nice at all!’
’Prince Zhao wasn’t even human!’
His task complete, Chen Wangbei declined Hua Dingzong’s invitation to stay and left the Uncle’s Mansion without a backward glance.
He Family was overjoyed to learn that her daughter didn’t have to leave after all.
She quickly had someone tidy up Luomei Residence for her daughter to stay in.
Luomei Residence looked just as it always had, with almost nothing changed. Hua Manman looked around, a wave of nostalgia washing over her.