The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

A troop of men on horseback stopped at the entrance of the Regent Prince Mansion.

Ah Qi swung himself off his horse and casually tossed the reins to an attendant beside him.

He strode up the steps but was blocked by the Yulin Guards standing watch at the entrance.

"This is the Regent Prince Mansion. Unauthorized personnel are forbidden to approach!"

Ah Qi glanced at the official behind him.

The official immediately stepped forward, produced a document signed by the Empress Dowager, and said to the two Yulin Guards,

"This is the young prince of Xiliang Country. He has heard of the Regent King’s prestigious name and wishes to see the place where the Regent King once lived. The Empress Dowager has already approved this matter."

After inspecting the document, the Yulin Guards stepped aside.

The official bowed to Ah Qi and made a welcoming gesture.

Ah Qi strode into the Prince Mansion.

"Where are the Regent King’s study and bedroom?"

The official replied, "They should be just ahead. Please follow me."

The group headed straight for the rear courtyard.

In the bedroom, Hua Manman was still flipping through the journal in her hands.

She was so engrossed that she had completely lost track of time.

Until the system’s voice reminded her.

"Someone’s coming!"

Only then did Hua Manman snap back to her senses.

She stuffed the journal into her robes and ran toward the door.

But just as she reached the door, she saw a group of people walking toward her.

If she went out, she would run right into them.

She immediately retreated, shut the door behind her, ran to the window, and climbed out.

Almost as soon as she was gone, Ah Qi arrived at the bedroom door.

He pushed the door open and walked in, his eyes meeting a scene of disarray.

After looking around, Ah Qi pointed to the window and asked,

"Why is the window open?"

The official quickly said, "Perhaps when the house was raided last time, they left in such a hurry that they forgot to close it."

Ah Qi walked to the window.

Through the window, he could see the courtyard outside.

Due to long-term neglect, the flowers and plants had all withered, and the ground was covered in weeds.

Ah Qi’s gaze fell on the patch of grass directly below the window.

In the middle of the grass was an indentation, as if someone had stepped there.

For some reason, Ah Qi’s expression changed slightly.

He placed one hand on the windowsill, vaulted easily outside, and crouched down to examine the patch of grass closely.

The official hurried over. "Is something wrong?"

Ah Qi pointed to the patch of grass and said in a low voice,

"Someone was here."

The official was stunned. "Who was here?"

Ah Qi stood up and looked at him coldly.

"Are you asking me?"

The official said hastily, "This subordinate will have someone investigate immediately."

Ah Qi searched the courtyard and found a footprint.

Judging by the size of the footprint, it must have belonged to a woman.

An image immediately flashed in his mind—

On the merchant ship, the woman had shouted at him.

"Ah Qi, let me go!"

Then she leaped, her long hair flying in the night wind, her skirt billowing in the air.

Like a moth to a flame, she had thrown herself recklessly into the river.

Ah Qi stared at the footprint on the ground and murmured softly,

’So you’ve come to Tianjing as well.’

...

Yue Niang waited for a long time, but Hua Manman did not come out.

Just as she, frantic with worry, was about to send someone into the Prince Mansion to check, Hua Manman suddenly appeared.

Hua Manman jumped into the carriage, holding the cat, and said while panting heavily,

"Quick, let’s go!"

The trusted aide driving the carriage cracked his whip, urging the horse-drawn carriage away from the area.

She had run so fast that she was breathless and her forehead was covered in sweat.

Yue Niang poured her a cup of water.

After drinking the water, Hua Manman felt a little better and began to recount what had just happened in the Prince Mansion.

"The young prince of Xiliang Country was there too. I almost ran right into him."

Yue Niang was alarmed. "Why would he go to the Regent Prince Mansion?"

Hua Manman guessed that Ah Qi must have come for her body, but she couldn’t say this to Yue Niang and could only give a vague reply.

"Who knows."

Yue Niang asked again, "Did you get your things?"

Hua Manman patted her chest. "Got them."

The trusted aide driving the carriage turned back and asked,

"Ma’am, where are we going now?"

Now that she had what she came for, it was time to pick someone up.

Hua Manman replied, "Out of the city."

The carriage left the Celestial Capital and found an inconspicuous little inn outside the city walls.

This inn was run by one of Li Liao’s men. According to the plan, after rescuing Li Xun and Princess Rouwan, they would be brought to the inn, and then Hua Manman would pick them up.

However, when Hua Manman arrived at the inn, she only saw Princess Rouwan; Li Xun was nowhere to be seen.

A bad feeling welled up inside her, and she asked urgently,

"Where’s Gou Dan?"

Princess Rouwan didn’t recognize her, and frowned when the first thing she asked about was Gou Dan.

"Who are you? How do you know Xun’er’s nickname?"

Even though Hua Manman was burning with anxiety, she had no choice but to patiently explain her identity to Princess Rouwan.

Princess Rouwan looked at her in disbelief.

"You’re saying you’re Manman? How is that possible?"

Hua Manman said, "If you don’t believe me, you can ask Gou Dan and Ji. They can both vouch for me."

Princess Rouwan replied, "Neither of them is here."

Hua Manman said, "That’s why we have to find Gou Dan as soon as possible. Do you know where he went?"

Princess Rouwan looked at her, half-believing, half-doubting.

Hua Manman was getting desperate. "Don’t worry about who I am for now. You just need to know that we’re on the same side. My goal is the same as yours: to rescue Gou Dan and get him back to his father."

Princess Rouwan still had many doubts, but out of concern for her grandson’s safety, she decided to trust the young woman before her this one time.

"Gou Dan was taken away by people from the palace."

Hua Manman pressed urgently, "Who from the palace took him?"

Princess Rouwan looked at her with a complicated expression.

"If you really are Manman, you should know Princess Consort Zhen, right? She was the one who sent people to take Gou Dan."

Of course Hua Manman knew Princess Consort Zhen. She was the female lead of *Palace Intrigue*, the ultimate winner of the entire palace-struggle novel.

"Why did she take Gou Dan?"

Princess Rouwan explained what had happened.

"It was right after the Regent King was convicted.

I was worried about Gou Dan’s safety and was about to send someone to bring him here, but I was one step too late.

By the time my people arrived at the Regent Prince Mansion, Gou Dan had already been taken away by Princess Consort Zhen’s people.

He is still in the palace now.

If you want to rescue him, you have to get into the palace first."

Hua Manman said without hesitation, "Then let’s go to the palace right now!"

Princess Rouwan said, "The Empress Dowager is watching me very closely. I’ve tried to enter the palace to see Gou Dan several times, but she has turned me away at the gates every time."

It wasn’t just her; even Princess Ningyang couldn’t get into the Imperial Palace.

If Hua Manman wanted to enter the palace, she would have to find someone else to help.

Princess Rouwan pointed her in the right direction.

"Go ask Madam Zhong’an for help. She is Princess Consort Zhen’s mother and the Crown Prince’s maternal grandmother. She can often enter the palace."