The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

After leaving the Imperial College, Li Ji walked with a light step, a joyful smile playing on his lips.

One look and you could tell he was in a great mood.

He had finally sent his stinky son away.

From now on, he and Manman could finally have the world to themselves!

The mere thought was delightful.

When Li Ji returned to the Regent Prince Mansion, Hua Manman had just finished her medicine and was about to have breakfast.

She asked Li Ji if he wanted to grab a quick bite with her.

Li Ji, naturally, happily agreed.

The two of them sat facing each other at the table.

With no stinky son in the way, Li Ji’s gaze was glued to Manman, never leaving her for a moment.

"How are you feeling today? Does your wound still hurt?"

Hua Manman replied while eating her breakfast, "Much better, thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

Li Ji frowned. "We are husband and wife. You don’t have to be so distant. Just call me by my name."

Hua Manman felt extremely awkward.

Although she mostly believed the Regent King’s stories about their past, the fact remained that she had lost her memories.

With no past experiences to back it up, she felt the man before her was just an acquaintance, a long way from being part of a close, loving family.

Li Ji sensed her awkwardness and knew he had been too hasty.

So he relaxed his demeanor.

"Never mind. You can call me whatever you want. It’s just a title, anyway."

Hua Manman replied, "Mm."

Then she focused on her breakfast.

As she ate, she suddenly recalled what the Regent King had said when he mentioned the Princess Consort before.

He had said he didn’t like the Princess Consort at all, that she could eat everything in sight but couldn’t do anything right.

Hua Manman looked at the food in her bowl and asked abruptly.

"Your Highness, do you look down on me for eating too much?"

Li Ji immediately denied it. "Of course not."

Then he asked, "Why would you think that?"

Hua Manman said, "Then why did you say I’m useless at everything, but number one when it comes to eating?"

Li Ji: "..."

’Crap, I forgot about that.’

He picked up a shrimp dumpling with his chopsticks and placed it in Hua Manman’s bowl.

"This is delicious. Here, try it."

For a moment, Hua Manman’s gaze flickered between the scoundrel and the shrimp dumpling.

Then she decisively picked up the shrimp dumpling and, with a CHOMP, ate it in one bite.

Li Ji breathed a sigh of relief.

’Sure enough, delicious food is the best way to deal with a foodie.’

But the next moment, he saw Manman swallow the shrimp dumpling and ask again.

"Well? Why did you say that about me?"

’She’s quite persistent.’

Li Ji continued to place food in her bowl. "Just eat first. This food won’t taste good if it gets cold. We can talk after you’ve finished."

Hua Manman thought he had a point.

’Scolding this man can wait, but my food absolutely cannot!’

When she had eaten her fill and was just about to speak, she saw Li Ji suddenly stand up.

"I just remembered I have some official business to attend to. I’ll be taking my leave."

With that, he quickly slipped away.

Watching his rapidly retreating back, Hua Manman scoffed.

’Let’s see how long you can run from this.’

...

Li Ji had originally thought he and Manman would get to enjoy their time alone today, but he never expected her to bring up his past comments.

If he had known this day would come, he would never have said those things back then.

Running your mouth is fun for a moment, but winning your wife back is hell.

Li Ji let out a long sigh. He was filled with regret!

Just then, Chen Wangbei came to find him.

"Reporting to Your Highness, this is the household register I borrowed from the Jingzhao Mansion."

Li Ji took the thick household register and quickly flipped to the page for the Juci Gambling House.

The residence where the Juci Gambling House was located was registered under Prince Anshun’s name.

The Prince Anshun Li Ji remembered was a lazy, timid, henpecked man. Logically, he shouldn’t have any connection to that group of assassins.

Closing the register, Li Ji said in a low voice, "Prepare the horses. I’m going to Prince Anshun Mansion."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Li Ji rode to Prince Anshun Mansion.

Because he had not announced his visit beforehand, Prince Anshun and his wife were not expecting him and were startled.

The couple scrambled out to greet the Regent King.

Prince Anshun asked cautiously, "To what do we owe the honor of your visit, Regent Prince? What are your instructions?"

Li Ji didn’t beat around the bush, asking him point-blank.

"Is the Juci Gambling House one of your businesses?"

Prince Anshun looked bewildered. "What gambling house? I haven’t opened any gambling house."

Princess Anshun, however, quickly remembered.

She hurriedly said, "Regent Prince, you must be talking about the residence in Ma Yi Lane in Dingkang Square, right? That residence is indeed ours, but we rented that courtyard out a long time ago. We heard someone opened a gambling house there, but we have never been there."

Although the court did not prohibit commoners from opening gambling houses, gambling houses, like brothels, were considered part of the lower echelons of society.

Even if the upper-class gentry were to do business, they would not engage in such a disreputable enterprise.

Princess Anshun was eager to distance her family from the Juci Gambling House in order to protect the reputation of Prince Anshun Mansion.

Prince Anshun caught on and hurriedly nodded in agreement.

"Yes, yes! The Princess Consort is right. We only rented the residence out. Whatever they use it for has nothing to do with us."

Li Ji asked, "Have you met the owner of the gambling house?"

Prince Anshun looked at his wife.

His wife managed all the family’s business affairs; he knew very little about them.

Princess Anshun said, "To be honest, I was not present when the contract was signed. The matter was handled by a steward from the mansion."

It was just renting out a courtyard; there was really no need for the Princess Consort to appear in person.

Li Ji asked, "Can you summon that steward?"

"Of course!"

As Princess Anshun sent for the steward, she wondered to herself.

’It seems the Regent King is investigating the Juci Gambling House.’

’Could it be that the Juci Gambling House did something to offend the Regent King?’

The steward arrived quickly.

He told them everything he knew.

According to his description, the man who signed the lease contract with him was in his early thirties. He was of average build and ordinary appearance. Judging by his clothes, he seemed to be just a common merchant with no distinguishing features.

Li Ji had him sketch the man’s appearance.

Princess Anshun took the initiative to bring over the lease contract for the residence and presented it with both hands.

"This has the man’s signature and handprint. Perhaps the Regent Prince will find it useful."

Li Ji accepted the contract. He saw two words written where the signature should be—

Wu Zimu.

A name that seemed perfectly ordinary.

But Li Ji stared at the name for a long time.

Princess Anshun asked uneasily.

"Did this person commit some sort of crime?"

Instead of answering, Li Ji asked, "Has this contract ever been swapped out?"

Princess Anshun denied it without a second thought.

"Impossible! I keep all these contracts locked up. There is only one key, which I carry with me at all times. It’s impossible for anyone but me to get to those contracts."

Li Ji looked at Prince Anshun.

Prince Anshun said quickly, "What the Princess Consort says is true. She keeps all the household’s contracts. Without her permission, not even I can touch them."

Li Ji asked again, "May I borrow this contract?"

Princess Anshun agreed without hesitation. "Of course. Please, take it."