The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

Li Liao calmly replied.

"I’ve already arranged for men in the Celestial Capital. They will safely escort Princess Rouwan out of the city."

He had been plotting in secret for years and had made all the necessary preparations, which naturally included ensuring Princess Rouwan’s safety.

However, Li Ji didn’t feel the least bit relieved.

He stared intently at him and asked.

"If I refuse to rebel with you, what will you do?"

Li Liao had long expected this reaction and replied without hesitation.

"I will publicize your true identity and let the whole world know you are the son of the former Crown Prince Li Shu.

At that point, whether you agree or not, everyone will assume you’re one of us."

Li Ji scoffed. "So it seems you’ve planned everything out already, leaving me no chance to refuse."

Li Liao spoke slowly.

"I know this will make you hate me.

But it doesn’t matter.

I’ve already died once before.

The only reason I’m still alive is to fulfill the Crown Prince’s last wish.

Once the Crown Prince’s name is cleared and the true culprit behind it all has been executed...

...my life will be yours as an apology. Whether you want to kill me or flay me, I’ll be at your mercy."

Even without her Mind Reading Technique, Hua Manman could tell that Li Liao was speaking from the heart.

He had truly cast aside all thought of life and death.

That was why he was fearless and would stop at nothing to achieve his goal.

Li Ji scoffed, "What would I do with your life? I just want to get my son out of there right now."

Li Liao said at once.

"I will help you rescue Gou Dan."

Hua Manman hurriedly pressed, "You can rescue Gou Dan?"

Li Liao said, "The men I have in place in the Celestial Capital will find a way to rescue Princess Rouwan and Gou Dan together. We’ll just need to send people to rendezvous with them outside the city gates."

Hua Manman said eagerly.

"I’ll be the one to meet them!"

Li Ji frowned in opposition. "Absolutely not! You’re staying by my side. Let Bian Ziming handle the rendezvous."

Hua Manman grabbed his sleeve and earnestly reasoned with him, laying out the pros and cons.

"General Bian is so capable; sending him to pick someone up is a waste of his talents.

You can assign him to more important matters.

Leave a simple task like this rendezvous to me. It doesn’t require any special skills.

Besides, Gou Dan is a very wary child.

If you send General Bian, Gou Dan might not be willing to go with him.

But if I go, it’s a sure thing."

Li Ji still refused.

Hua Manman squeezed his hand. "You have to trust me. I’ll definitely bring Princess Rouwan and Gou Dan back safe and sound."

It wasn’t that Li Ji didn’t trust her; he just didn’t want to be separated from her.

His voice was low and serious. "You just need to stay by my side. You don’t have to worry about anything else."

Seeing that he was still adamant, Hua Manman couldn’t help but feel a little exasperated.

"I can help too! Why can’t you show me a little trust?!"

Seeing how much she wanted to go, Li Ji relented slightly. "Then I’ll go with you."

Li Liao quickly interjected, "No, you can’t. You have to come with me to see General Xuanwei. We need you there to take command and stabilize morale."

Li Ji said, "I learned everything I know from you. Having you there to take command is enough."

Li Liao insisted, "It’s not the same! You’re the Crown Prince’s sole heir, the one to whom we all pledge our loyalty. Your mere presence, even if you do nothing, is enough to boost morale."

Li Ji frowned, his expression showing his impatience.

"What a hassle!"

Li Liao tried to persuade him. "I’ve already arranged everything in the Celestial Capital. Manman just has to wait outside the city for a couple of days to meet them. Generally, there shouldn’t be any problems. Why not just let her go?"

Hua Manman quickly chimed in, "Yeah, yeah! Let me go!"

Li Ji gazed down at her.

"Do you really want to go?"

Hua Manman nodded vigorously. "Yes!"

She hugged Li Ji’s arm and pleaded with puppy-dog eyes.

"I don’t want to always be a burden to you. I want to help you, too. Please, give me this chance."

Li Ji said, "I’ve never thought of you as a burden."

Hua Manman replied, "I know, but I really have slowed you all down on this journey. Without me, your group would have definitely traveled much faster."

Li Ji placed his hand on her head and gently ruffled her hair.

"Without you, I’d still be a cripple riddled with poison."

Hua Manman sighed. "Okay, I’ll be honest with you. I just miss Gou Dan, and I want to see him as soon as possible."

Li Ji said sourly.

"You’re willing to leave me just to see Gou Dan sooner. It seems he’s much more important to you than I am."

Hua Manman quickly tried to soothe his ruffled feathers.

"How could that be? In my heart, Ji will always be number one. The only reason I love Gou Dan is because he’s our son! It all comes back to you. You are the lightning, you are the light, you are the one and only legend in my heart..."

Seeing that she was about to break into song, Li Ji hurriedly cut her off.

"Don’t sing! Friendly fire!"

Hua Manman barely managed to swallow the rest of the lyrics and continued to gaze at him with her pleading, puppy-dog eyes.

"Pleeeease, just let me go. I promise I’ll be back before you know it and I absolutely won’t cause any trouble."

Li Ji said, "I’m not worried about the trouble. I’m worried about your safety."

Hua Manman countered, "Didn’t the Lord Duke just say he’s arranged everything? There won’t be any danger, so you can relax!"

Li Ji replied, "He was only talking about a typical scenario. What if something unexpected happens...?"

Hua Manman said, "I’m not an idiot. If something unexpected really does happen, I’ll figure out a way to solve it. If I can’t, I’ll come back to you for help. In any case, I won’t pick a fight I can’t win. My own safety will be my top priority."

It wasn’t as if Li Ji didn’t already know all this.

But he still couldn’t bring himself to let her go.

He was afraid that if she left, she wouldn’t come back.

Hua Manman pulled him aside and whispered in his ear.

"While I’m picking them up, I can also make a quick trip to the Regent Prince Mansion.

I need to get the Mystic Armor Order.

I’m the only one who has ever seen it, so I’m the only one who can find it."

Li Ji frowned, his disapproval clear.

"No. You can’t go back. It’s too dangerous."

He would rather give up the Mystic Armor Order than put Manman in danger.

Seeing that he absolutely refused to change his mind, Hua Manman was finally starting to get agitated.

She huffed indignantly.

"Do you really think you can stop me?

Even if you forbid me, I can just sneak off on my own.

But I didn’t. I chose to discuss this with you properly.

That shows that I respect your opinion.

So shouldn’t you respect my wishes, too?"

Li Ji’s face darkened. "If you dare to sneak off, I’ll break your legs."

A threat like that might have scared other people, but it didn’t work on Hua Manman.

She put her hands on her hips and, as if she had nothing left to lose, retorted.

"Go on, do it! You might as well just kill me now, because otherwise, I will definitely find a chance to sneak away!"