Chapter 219 - 220: Happy for Nothing
Li Ji kept his promise and had the guest room next door prepared for Hua Manman to move into.
Hua Manman could finally have a bed all to herself. ’This is wonderful!’
However, when night fell and she was about to get into bed, she saw Prince Zhao walk in, dressed in loose sleeping robes.
He announced that he would also be sleeping here tonight.
Hua Manman was utterly bewildered.
"Isn’t your room next door?"
Li Ji said, "I’ve decided to move in with you."
Hua Manman retorted, "But didn’t you promise to let me have a room to myself?"
Li Ji smiled faintly. "I only promised to let you move somewhere else. I never said I wouldn’t move in with you."
Hua Manman was speechless.
’No wonder he agreed so readily. So this was his plan all along!’
’He really is a dog!’
Now thoroughly suspicious of this man, Hua Manman couldn’t help but ask.
"You promised you wouldn’t give me any more ’homework.’ That’s still true, right?"
Li Ji replied, "Of course."
"Swear it," Hua Manman pressed.
"I swear," Li Ji said. "If I’m lying, I’m a puppy."
’You’re already a dog,’ Hua Manman thought, but her common sense stopped her from saying it out loud.
Once they were both in bed, Li Ji once again pulled her into his arms.
She sighed internally. After all that, she was right back where she started.
’I got my hopes up for nothing.’
...
Although Li Ji was constantly attached to Hua Manman, he hadn’t forgotten to investigate the attempt on her life.
He ordered his men to compile a list of everyone who had been near Hanzhang Hall on the day Hua Manman disappeared.
Naturally, Li Ji’s actions did not escape the notice of the Emperor’s spies.
But the Emperor did not intervene.
He, too, wanted to know who would dare cause such trouble in the Imperial Palace.
Soon, Li Ji received a complete list.
His gaze swept over the names one by one, soon stopping on the name Yin Meiren.
Hua Manman rarely entered the Imperial Palace and had almost no dealings with its residents.
To date, she had only made a handful of enemies.
Yin Meiren was one of them.
Just then, a rumor began to circulate in the palace: Lady Hua had nearly died because she was attacked by the ghost of a former empress.
Otherwise, why would she have been thrown into the well in Chaoyang Palace of all places, in a palace so vast?
The rumors were surprisingly detailed, and combined with the existing tales of Chaoyang Palace being haunted, many people actually started to believe them.
Some even urged the Emperor to send Lady Hua out of the palace at once, lest she fall victim to the former empress’s ghost again.
The Emperor had never believed in ghosts or spirits, so he naturally scoffed at the idea.
Upon hearing of this, Li Ji ordered his men to trace the source of the rumors.
After some digging, the investigation ultimately led back to Yin Meiren.
As for Yin Meiren, she had been in high spirits ever since throwing Hua Manman into the old well.
That is, until she heard that Hua Manman hadn’t died and was back at Prince Zhao’s side. Her mood instantly soured.
A deep sense of unease began to creep over her.
’What if Prince Zhao finds out I tried to murder Hua Manman?’
’Knowing his personality, he definitely wouldn’t let me off lightly.’
To clear her name, Yin Meiren deliberately had people spread the ghost story, hoping to blame the attack on Lady Hua entirely on a spirit.
The Empress heard the rumor as well.
Having managed the imperial harem for many years, she knew perfectly well that someone was spreading these rumors deliberately.
So she also sent people to investigate.
When the investigation led to Yin Meiren, she was so angry she had to laugh.
"How long has she been in the palace? She already dares to act so presumptuously? She must have a death wish."
Though furious, the Empress still considered their family ties and immediately sent for Yin Meiren.
When Yin Meiren arrived, she feigned innocence and asked respectfully.
"Aunt, for what reason have you summoned me?"
The Empress sneered. "I called you here to save your life."
Yin Meiren didn’t understand and looked at her in confusion.
The Empress didn’t explain, only saying, "Just wait and see."
They did not have to wait long before news arrived.
Prince Zhao had sent men to Yin Meiren’s residence, reportedly to question her, but they had found no one and returned empty-handed.
Hearing this, Yin Meiren broke out in a cold sweat.
’If I hadn’t come to Fengyi Palace, Prince Zhao’s men would have caught me for sure.’
’Knowing his methods, he certainly wouldn’t have let me off easy.’
Yin Meiren looked anxiously toward the Empress, who was seated in the place of honor.
The Empress saw her expression and sneered again.
"So now you’re scared? Why weren’t you scared when you were acting so recklessly?"
At this point, Yin Meiren knew everything she had done must have been discovered.
She no longer dared to feign ignorance. She hurriedly dropped to her knees, crying and pleading.
"Aunt, I was reckless! I shouldn’t have acted on my own! Please, help me!"
The Empress said, "Isn’t that what I’m doing right now?"
Yin Meiren said quickly, "Thank you for saving my life, Aunt!"
The Empress instructed, "You are to stay here for the time being. Do not go out. No matter how audacious Prince Zhao may be, he wouldn’t dare force his way into Fengyi Palace."
Besides, even if Prince Zhao dared to storm Fengyi Palace, the Emperor would never allow it.
Regardless of their private relationship as husband and wife, they had to maintain a veneer of mutual respect for the sake of appearances.
In the eyes of others, the imperial couple was a single entity.
Their honor and disgrace were shared.
Yin Meiren relaxed slightly.
But then a new worry creased her brow. With a long face, she said, "I can hide for a time, but not forever. I can’t hide here with you for the rest of my life."
The Empress gave a meaningful smile.
"It won’t be for long. Prince Zhao has been afflicted with a deadly poison. He doesn’t have much longer to live."
Yin Meiren knew that Prince Zhao was poisoned, but she hadn’t known it was fatal.
Upon hearing this, she was overjoyed.
’As long as Prince Zhao dies, no one will bother to investigate my attempt on Lady Hua’s life anymore.’
Yin Meiren began to pray silently.
’I hope Prince Zhao dies soon.’
...
Li Ji’s men came back empty-handed. He had them investigate and soon learned that Yin Meiren had taken refuge in Fengyi Palace.
Fengyi Palace was the Empress’s residence, and Yin Meiren was her niece.
It was clear the Empress intended to protect her.
An ordinary person would have likely dropped the matter at this point.
After all, they were dealing with the Empress.
Li Ji, however, seemed to have been born without a single shred of hesitation.
He settled into his wheelchair and said to Chen Wangbei.
"To Fengyi Palace."
Chen Wangbei hesitated. "Your Highness, you haven’t fully recovered. It might be best not to go out just yet."
Li Ji shot him a cold glance.
"Do as I say. If you’re not willing, I’ll find someone who is."
Chen Wangbei immediately fell silent and did as he was told.