The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

Chapter 372: Chapter 373: Taking Charge

Under Nanny Zhang’s expectant gaze, Hua Manman walked into the room.

The doors and windows were shut tight. The room was dim, stuffy, and hot.

Princess Rouwan sat on the bed, her face pale and her lips drained of all color.

She was clutching a man’s garment, her eyes were dull, and her entire being was shrouded in a deathly stillness.

If not for the occasional blink of her eyelashes, one would have mistaken her for a corpse.

Hua Manman walked over slowly. "Mother, are you feeling any better?"

Princess Rouwan didn’t even spare her a glance, replying icily.

"I am not your mother."

Hua Manman obligingly changed her form of address. "Commandery Princess, even if you are upset, you shouldn’t take it out on your own body."

Princess Rouwan finally deigned to look at her.

But her tone remained just as cold.

"What right do you have to lecture me? Get out."

Hua Manman wasn’t the least bit angry. Instead, she smiled. "Alright."

She turned and left without another word.

The room quickly returned to its deathly silence.

Princess Rouwan retracted her gaze, reverting to her lifeless state.

Waiting outside, Nanny Zhang saw Princess Consort Zhao emerge. She didn’t ask any questions, only sighing helplessly.

She had heard the conversation inside clearly and naturally knew that Princess Consort Zhao’s attempt at persuasion had failed.

But Hua Manman wasn’t ready to give up.

She said to Nanny Zhang.

"I haven’t had breakfast yet. Would you trouble the kitchen to send some food over, Nanny?"

Nanny Zhang asked respectfully, "Do you have any dietary restrictions?"

Hua Manman replied, "I don’t have any, but I have a special craving for grilled fish today. Could you bring me some charcoal and fish?"

Although Nanny Zhang found the idea of eating grilled fish first thing in the morning a bit odd, she didn’t question it and obediently did as she was told.

The things Hua Manman had requested were delivered quickly.

She called Si Yun and Qing Huan over.

The three of them squatted under the window, lit the charcoal, set up the fish to grill, and brushed it with sauce.

As wisps of smoke drifted up, the aroma of grilling fish began to spread.

Nanny Zhang stood by, watching everything unfold, unable to make heads or tails of the situation.

Hua Manman deliberately slid open a part of the bedroom window, allowing the aroma to waft inside.

Just as Princess Rouwan was clutching her late husband’s clothes, immersed in deep despair, she suddenly caught a whiff of a rich, grilled fish aroma.

Having been hungry for a long time, she couldn’t help but swallow her saliva.

Drifting into the room along with the aroma was Hua Manman’s voice.

"Brush on more chili. I like it spicier."

"Time to flip it, or it’ll get burnt."

"Cumin, time for the cumin!"

"Don’t forget the scallions!"

"Wow, this looks so delicious!"

...

Princess Rouwan tried to cover her ears, pretending not to hear the voices.

However, the aroma still uncontrollably wormed its way into her nostrils.

She could block her ears to stop listening, but she couldn’t plug her nose and stop breathing.

Her stomach chose that moment to let out a growl.

It was as if to remind her just how hungry she was.

Princess Rouwan finally couldn’t take it anymore.

She abruptly threw aside the clothes in her arms, cast off the covers, and tried to get out of bed, but because she was too weak, she lost her footing and fell to the floor.

Hearing the commotion, Nanny Zhang, who was guarding the door, hurriedly pushed it open and rushed in.

She called two maids, and together they helped Princess Rouwan up.

"Commandery Princess, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Princess Rouwan completely ignored Nanny Zhang’s question and said through gritted teeth.

"Throw that girl outside! I don’t want to see her again!"

Nanny Zhang was in a difficult position. "That’s not very appropriate, is it? She is Princess Consort Zhao, after all..."

Princess Rouwan shouted furiously.

"I don’t care who she is! I’m ordering you, throw her out right this instant!"

Afraid the Commandery Princess would fall ill from anger, Nanny Zhang quickly complied.

"Yes, yes, this servant will see to it at once."

She hurried out the door and said to Princess Consort Zhao with an embarrassed expression.

"The Commandery Princess asks you to leave the Duke Zhen Country Mansion."

Princess Rouwan thought she could finally have some peace.

But the next moment, she heard Hua Manman’s voice from outside.

"I think the Duke Zhen Country Mansion is quite fun. I don’t feel like going back just yet."

Nanny Zhang said, troubled, "But the Commandery Princess said..."

Hua Manman cut her off.

"If the Commandery Princess has something to say, she can tell me herself."

Princess Rouwan was seething with rage.

’This wretched girl has some nerve!’

"Help me outside!"

The maids hurriedly helped Princess Rouwan up, and the three of them walked toward the door.

The moment they stepped out of the room, the aroma of grilled fish became even stronger.

Princess Rouwan had to use every ounce of her willpower to stop herself from swallowing her saliva.

But while she could control her swallowing, she couldn’t control the sound her stomach made.

GRUMBLE~~

The sound wasn’t loud, but everyone present could hear it.

Princess Rouwan: "..."

It was a scene of epic, cringe-worthy social suicide.

As a bystander, even Hua Manman cringed so hard her toes dug into the ground, as if she could excavate Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum on the spot.

Needless to say, it was far worse for Princess Rouwan herself.

Her expression was frighteningly ugly.

Hua Manman looked at her with a pitying gaze.

"Commandery Princess, if you’re hungry, I wouldn’t mind sharing this grilled fish with you."

Without a second thought, Princess Rouwan refused, "I don’t need it!"

Hua Manman waved the grilled fish in her hand. "Such a delicious grilled fish, are you sure you don’t want a bite? Really, you don’t?"

The aroma grew even stronger, relentlessly drilling into Princess Rouwan’s nostrils.

Princess Rouwan wanted to kill someone.

She roared in exasperation, "I said no, and I meant no! Can’t you understand plain speech?!"

Hua Manman said with exaggeration.

"Oh my, we’re just talking. Why are you shouting so loudly?

If the neighbors heard, they might think the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are fighting."

’This is pretty much a fight already,’ Nanny Zhang thought to herself.

Princess Rouwan was flustered and exasperated.

"Who is your mother-in-law? Stop flattering yourself!"

Hua Manman said, "I was just making a comparison. Why are you so serious? By the way, are you really sure you don’t want any grilled fish? It’s going to get cold if you don’t eat it soon."

Princess Rouwan used all her strength to shout.

"I’m not eating! Get lost!!"

Hua Manman said, "If you won’t eat, I will."

With that, she took a big bite, her mouth glistening with oil as she ate with great satisfaction.

Princess Rouwan pointed a trembling finger. "You..."

The next moment, she staggered, looking as if she was about to faint.

Suddenly, she heard Hua Manman say in an excited tone.

"Oh, if the Commandery Princess faints, then I’ll be in charge of this Duke Zhen Country Mansion. All of you will have to listen to me."

Princess Rouwan: "..."

She took a deep breath and forced herself to stay conscious.

’As long as I’m alive, I will never give this wretched girl the chance to be in charge!’

Hua Manman looked at her with a hint of regret.

"You didn’t even faint from that? Looks like your body is recovering quite well."

Princess Rouwan couldn’t bear it for another second. She ordered all the Protectors to be summoned.

She pointed viciously at Hua Manman and her two companions.

"Throw them out!"

’I refuse to believe that this many grown men can’t handle one wretched girl!’