The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

Chapter 339: Chapter 340: Marrying Someone Else

Under Xiao Hong’s arrangement, Ah Qi was subsequently given several more opportunities to take Hua Manman down the mountain.

But all were abandoned due to Hua Manman’s repeated refusals.

After several consecutive failures, Xiao Hong’s patience had completely run out.

On top of that, the men he had sent to gather information had yet to return, and he had a growing, uneasy feeling.

He didn’t want to stay here any longer and decided to return to Xiliang ahead of schedule.

Thus, the West Liang people in the village immediately sprang into action, starting to pack their belongings and preparing to evacuate that very night.

Ah Qi told Hua Manman.

"You have to come with us, too."

Hua Manman pressed her lips together and said nothing.

Ah Qi knew she didn’t want to go with them. After all, she was from Great Zhou, and the pain of leaving one’s homeland was hard to bear.

"I’ll try to think of another way for you."

After leaving her with those words, Ah Qi departed.

In truth, he was out of ideas. In the end, he went straight to the Young General.

Xiao Hong sheathed his polished scimitar, raised an eyebrow at the kneeling Ah Qi, and asked.

"You want to beg me to spare Princess Consort Zhao?"

Ah Qi prostrated himself, his forehead touching the ground, and gave an affirmative reply.

"Yes."

Xiao Hong sneered as if he had just heard a hilarious joke.

"And you think that’s possible?"

Ah Qi knew it was nearly impossible, but he clung to a last shred of hope and decided to try. ’What if? What if the Young General has a sudden burst of kindness and agrees?’

"As long as the Young General spares her, I will do anything."

Xiao Hong placed the blade on the table and asked unhurriedly.

"Really, anything?"

Ah Qi replied without the slightest hesitation, "Yes."

A malicious smirk touched Xiao Hong’s lips. "Then you should marry her."

Ah Qi thought he had misheard. He subconsciously raised his head and looked at the tall man sitting before him.

Xiao Hong looked down on him condescendingly and said at a measured pace.

"You’d do anything for her. It seems you really like her. In that case, you should take her as your wife. That would be a fine way to fulfill your devotion, wouldn’t it?"

Ah Qi stammered, "N-no, I can’t."

’Even though I like Hua Manman a lot, she might not like me back.’

Xiao Hong pressed, "And why not?"

Ah Qi lowered his head. "I... I’m not good enough for her."

Xiao Hong said contemptuously, "She’s just a married woman. In the words of the Great Zhou, she’s ’used goods.’ Your willingness to marry her is a blessing. What right does she have to be picky?"

Ah Qi didn’t like hearing anyone speak of Hua Manman that way, not even the Young General.

He mustered his courage and retorted.

"She’s not the kind of woman you say she is. She’s a good person."

Xiao Hong mocked, "You’re truly bewitched by her, aren’t you? Forget it. I can’t get through to you."

"Someone, bring Princess Consort Zhao here. Say that I have something to ask her in person."

Ah Qi’s head shot up. He asked in alarm, "Young General, what are you going to do?"

Xiao Hong said, "You’ll find out soon enough."

Soon, Hua Manman was brought in.

She asked with graceful composure, "For what reason has the Young General summoned me?"

Xiao Hong raised his right hand, pointed at the kneeling Ah Qi, and said with a smirk.

"This lad came here specifically to beg me for your sake. He said that as long as I spared you, he would do anything I asked."

Hua Manman’s gaze followed to Ah Qi.

Embarrassed, Ah Qi lowered his head, not daring to meet her eyes.

Xiao Hong said, "You must be well aware of Ah Qi’s feelings for you by now. I wish to play matchmaker and have you two married. What do you think?"

Hua Manman pursed her lips. "But I’m already married."

Xiao Hong said dismissively.

"So what? You don’t like Prince Zhao at all anyway.

If you marry Ah Qi, you can finally be rid of Prince Zhao. After that, you’ll have nothing more to do with him.

Isn’t that exactly what you want?" ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Seeing her remain silent, his gaze gradually turned dangerous.

"What? You’re unwilling? Don’t tell me everything you said before was a lie. Do you actually like Prince Zhao?"

Hua Manman replied, "How could that be? I don’t like Prince Zhao in the slightest."

Xiao Hong pressed relentlessly, "If that’s the case, why are you still unwilling to marry Ah Qi? Hasn’t he been good enough to you?"

Hua Manman remained silent.

Xiao Hong continued, "I know Ah Qi has been trying to help you escape these past few days.

Although I don’t know why he gave up in the end, his heart has clearly tilted in your favor. Who knows, one day he might betray me for you.

Rather than letting a tiger grow into a menace, I might as well kill him right now."

With that, he drew his scimitar and placed the blade against Ah Qi’s neck.

But his eyes remained fixed on Hua Manman the entire time.

Ah Qi remained kneeling, his body tensed, as cold sweat slowly trickled down his cheeks.

’So... so the Young General knew what I’ve been doing all this time!’

’It’s a good thing Hua Manman insisted on not leaving with me, or we both would have been caught red-handed.’

Hua Manman said quickly, "It has nothing to do with him! If you’re going to kill someone, kill me!"

Xiao Hong said, "I’ll spare him on one condition: you marry him.

Once you two are married, you’ll be family.

From then on, you’ll also become a member of our Western Liang Country.

I’ve always been very lenient with my own people."

Hua Manman thought of Ai Zhi, whose head he had lopped off with a single strike, and felt his words were utter bullshit.

’He’s not lenient with anyone but himself.’

Hua Manman knew she had to make a decision today, or Xiao Hong wouldn’t let the matter rest.

This man was truly ruthless. If he said he would kill Ah Qi, he would really cut him down with a single blow.

Hua Manman took a deep breath, then slowly spoke.

"Fine. I agree."

Ah Qi’s head snapped up.

Because of this movement, the blade sliced a cut into his neck, and blood slowly began to seep out.

But he seemed oblivious to the pain, his eyes fixed tightly on Hua Manman.

His gaze was filled with disbelief.

’Sh-she actually agreed?!’

Then, they heard Hua Manman continue.

"Although I have been married once, I am not the kind of woman who would casually be intimate with a man.

And I certainly won’t demean myself by becoming someone’s concubine.

I know that under the current circumstances, the full formal betrothal rituals are impossible.

But the most basic wedding ceremony and feast cannot be skipped.

Even if I am to marry, I must do it openly and with dignity."

Xiao Hong thought for a moment and finally agreed.

"I had originally planned to leave tonight. Since you two are getting married, we’ll stay one more night. We’ll leave after your wedding feast."

Hua Manman returned to her quarters and told Si Yun about her impending marriage ceremony with Ah Qi.

Si Yun was terrified.

"Are you really going to marry Ah Qi? What about the Prince?"

Although Hua Manman had publicly claimed that she and Prince Zhao did not get along, Si Yun actually knew that the couple was very much in love.

If Prince Zhao found out that his Princess Consort was remarrying, he would absolutely explode on the spot!