Chapter 211 - 212: Guilty Conscience
However, things didn’t go as planned.
When the voices inside the room fell silent, the person outside knew he had been discovered.
He leisurely emerged from behind the door.
It was none other than Prince Zhao, Li Ji!
His face was still deathly pale, his lips completely bloodless. He wore a loose-fitting, pale lavender-blue robe, his jet-black hair tied loosely with a ribbon. A single strand fell along his cheek.
In this state, looking both casual and fragile, he was somehow even more captivating than before.
Hua Manman, however, was in no mood to admire the scoundrel’s good looks.
Her heart hammered in her chest and a cold sweat broke out on her back. She wished she could turn back time and beat her past self to death for spouting such nonsense.
’It’s over! I’m done for!’
’The scoundrel definitely heard everything I just said.’
’With his petty, vindictive nature, he’ll never let me off easy.’
Li Ji leaned languidly against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching Hua Manman with a cryptic smile.
His gaze made her scalp tingle and her limbs freeze.
Hua Manman stammered.
"Y-You... what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be in bed resting?"
Li Ji drawled, "I’ve been in bed for days. I got tired of it and wanted some fresh air. I didn’t expect to overhear you and your sister talking."
Due to his weakened state, his voice was lower and huskier than usual, carrying an inexplicably languid tone.
Hua Manman forced a guilty laugh.
"We were just rambling. Please don’t take it seriously."
Worried that Prince Zhao would hold what was said against her younger sister, Hua Qingqing quickly tried to explain.
"Manman only said those things to console me. She doesn’t truly feel that way about you."
Li Ji gave a faint smile. "This is between Manman and me. It has nothing to do with you. If there’s nothing else, you should head back."
Hua Qingqing hesitated.
She glanced at Prince Zhao, then at her younger sister, but ultimately decided to leave.
Before she left, she didn’t forget to whisper a warning to her younger sister.
"Explain things clearly to Prince Zhao. Whatever you do, don’t antagonize him. I’ll come see you again in a few days."
She knew her younger sister could be difficult and often said the opposite of what she meant. Even if she cared deeply about something, she would insist on acting completely indifferent.
’But Prince Zhao might not know that’s what my sister is like.’
’And even if he did, it’s not like he would tolerate her behavior every time.’
That’s why Hua Qingqing was so worried about her younger sister, fearing she would be at a disadvantage with Prince Zhao.
Hua Qingqing departed, her heart heavy with worry.
Only Hua Manman and Li Ji remained in the room.
Hua Manman stepped forward to support him. "It’s windy out here. You’re not well right now, you shouldn’t be exposed to the draft. Let’s get you inside first."
She helped Li Ji inside and sat him down on the daybed.
Then, Hua Manman solicitously brought over a thin blanket, draped it over his legs, and asked if he was thirsty or wanted some water.
Watching her, Li Ji smiled again.
The moment Hua Manman saw him smile, her scalp prickled with dread.
"W-What are you smiling at?"
Li Ji said, "You’re being unusually attentive today. Is it out of guilt?"
Hua Manman feigned composure. "Not at all. I am always this attentive to you."
Li Ji drawled, "Is that so?"
Hua Manman scrambled to defend herself.
"I only said those things earlier to comfort Hua Jieyu. My feelings for you are absolutely sincere, as heaven and earth can attest!"
Li Ji watched her with a leisurely air, like a lazy predator studying its prey.
After a long moment, he finally spoke.
"It doesn’t matter whether your feelings are real or not.
I just want to remind you not to repeat what you told Hua Jieyu to anyone else. Those are not words you should be speaking."
Hua Manman nodded hurriedly. "Yes, yes! I definitely won’t say a word to anyone else!"
Li Ji seemed to tire, his voice dropping low.
"Help me back."
Hua Manman helped him to his feet, and they walked out slowly.
Back in the bedroom, Hua Manman helped him lie down and tucked the covers around him.
Li Ji closed his eyes, seemingly asleep.
Not daring to disturb him, Hua Manman tiptoed out of the room.
It wasn’t until she was standing in the corridor, gazing at the garden’s autumn scenery, that it hit her.
’Prince Zhao didn’t even punish me for spouting all that nonsense!’
’This is completely out of character for the scoundrel!’
Hua Manman’s eyes narrowed. Something wasn’t right.
’The scoundrel must have something else planned for me.’
’I can’t let my guard down.’
As dusk fell, the Emperor came to visit Prince Zhao again. Seeing that he was still asleep, he chose not to disturb him and left quietly after a single glance.
It wasn’t until night had fully fallen that Li Ji slowly stirred awake.
The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Hua Manman slumped over by the bed, dozing.
She must have been dreaming of something delicious. She kept smacking her lips, a contented smile on her face as if savoring the memory.
Li Ji stared at her for a moment before waking her.
"If you’re going to sleep, go sleep on the couch."
Hua Manman sat up straight, letting out a huge yawn.
Her voice was thick with sleep. "I wasn’t sleeping. I’ve just been sitting here so long I got a little drowsy. I was just resting my eyes for a moment."
Li Ji asked, "How long have you been sitting here?"
Hua Manman scratched her head, still looking groggy and half-asleep.
"I don’t remember... maybe two to four hours, I suppose."
Li Ji called in a palace maid. Upon asking, he learned that Hua Manman had actually been sitting there for over six hours.
She hadn’t even eaten dinner.
Now fully awake, Hua Manman belatedly felt the pangs of hunger.
She rubbed her stomach and muttered to herself.
"No wonder I dreamt I was eating so much. Turns out I was just starving."
Li Ji told her to go eat.
Hua Manman had dinner brought directly to the bedroom.
She wanted to eat with Prince Zhao.
Li Ji didn’t object.
Soon, the palace maids brought in dinner.
Since Prince Zhao was still recovering, the meal was light and consisted mainly of restorative dishes.
Hua Manman didn’t mind and ate with gusto.
Li Ji had little appetite. He put down his chopsticks after only a couple of bites, not wanting to eat any more.
Seeing this, Hua Manman asked what he might like to eat, offering to cook for him personally.
Li Ji looked at her with a profound expression.
His gaze made Hua Manman feel uneasy.
’He must have seen right through my little scheme.’
In truth, she was afraid Prince Zhao would get even with her later, so she was deliberately being more attentive to make up for her earlier blunder.
Li Ji said, "Actually, you don’t have to be so anxious. I truly have no intention of blaming you."
Hua Manman looked at him, skeptical.
Li Ji continued, "I’m gravely poisoned. With one foot already in the grave, I don’t know how many days I have left.
The fact that you don’t like me is actually a relief.
That way, you won’t be too heartbroken by my passing."
Hua Manman said, "Don’t be so pessimistic. The Imperial Hospital is doing everything they can to treat you. You’ll definitely recover."
Li Ji gave a self-deprecating laugh. "If the Imperial Hospital could cure me, I would have gone to them for help long ago. Why would I have waited until now?"
Hua Manman blurted out.
"You still have me! I can help you!"