Free Web NovelChapter 373: Chapter 374: You Wish
As it turned out, so many grown men really couldn’t handle one troublesome girl.
Seeing the Protectors rush over, Hua Manman was about to tell Si Yun and Qing Huan to move aside so they wouldn’t get caught in the crossfire.
But before she could even say a word, Qing Huan shot forward with the speed of a thunderclap, and with a few swift moves—SWISH, SWISH, SWISH—she knocked the nearest Protectors to the ground.
Hua Manman and Si Yun were both stunned.
’Th-that was so cool!’
As a trusted aide, Qing Huan’s greatest skill was naturally protecting her master.
With her blocking the way, not a single Protector could get near Hua Manman. She stood like one person guarding a pass against ten thousand men.
The Protectors had initially planned to use their superior numbers to surround her, but with a single leg sweep, she instantly took down another group of them.
After that, the remaining Protectors didn’t dare to make a move, all of them hesitating to advance.
Princess Rouwan was so angry she trembled all over.
"This is rebellion! Utter rebellion!"
Hua Manman waved the half-eaten grilled fish in her hand and said with a beaming smile.
"Don’t be angry, Commandery Princess. If you ruin your health over this, I’ll be heartbroken."
However, judging by her triumphant expression, she didn’t seem heartbroken in the slightest.
Princess Rouwan pointed at the group of Protectors and cursed.
"You useless freeloaders! You can’t even beat a single wretched girl! The Duke Zhen Country Mansion has fed you all for nothing!"
The Protectors all hung their heads, not daring to talk back.
They couldn’t win a fight, and they couldn’t scare her off with insults.
Princess Rouwan was at her wit’s end.
Even though she was furious enough to die, she could only watch helplessly as Hua Manman continued to swagger around victoriously.
Hua Manman finished a grilled fish, but it wasn’t enough, so she had someone grill her a cob of corn.
Before long, the aroma of grilled corn filled the entire courtyard.
Princess Rouwan’s mouth began to water involuntarily.
Nanny Zhang noticed the Commandery Princess make a subtle swallowing motion.
She tactfully chose not to point it out and instead asked cautiously.
"The kitchen has prepared some fish fillet congee. Would you like to have some?"
Princess Rouwan didn’t respond.
Usually, when she didn’t want to eat, she would say so directly.
Her silence now was a sign of tacit approval.
Nanny Zhang was delighted and hurriedly instructed a nearby maidservant.
"Quickly, go bring the fish fillet congee."
The maidservant hurried off.
A short while later, she returned with a tray carrying a purple clay pot.
Nanny Zhang helped the Commandery Princess sit down inside the room, then ladled a bowl of fish fillet congee and placed it beside her.
"Please try it and see how it tastes. If it’s not to your liking, I will have them make it again."
Princess Rouwan lowered her gaze to the bowl of fish fillet congee before her.
The anger in her heart gradually subsided, and the light in her eyes dimmed once more.
’In truth, from the moment she learned of Duke Zhen’s death, she had wanted to die and end it all.’
’But she still clung to one last sliver of hope.’
’She hoped Duke Zhen wasn’t dead. She hoped he could still come back for her.’
’So she had barely clung to life, muddling through in a daze for six long years.’
’Now, she was finally reaching her breaking point.’
’After six years, Duke Zhen still hadn’t returned. Perhaps he really was dead.’
’Her last sliver of hope was about to be extinguished.’
’She wanted to leave this world, to be reunited with Duke Zhen in the afterlife.’
’Princess Rouwan had thought that cup of poisoned wine would take her life.’
’But unexpectedly, she had been forcefully dragged back from the gates of hell.’
’She couldn’t help but remember when she had been pregnant. She had tried to end the pregnancy with a bowl of abortifacient herbs, but to her surprise, it hadn’t worked. The child in her womb was still alive.’
’It seemed the heavens always delighted in thwarting her.’
’Whatever she wanted to do, she would never succeed in the end.’
’It was true back then, and it was true now.’
Princess Rouwan raised her right hand and picked up the spoon.
The spoon stirred slowly through the fish fillet congee a couple of times.
The aroma of the congee wafted into her nostrils. Her stomach ached with hunger, but her heart felt no desire to eat.
Finally, her fingers loosened their grip on the spoon.
"I have no appetite. Take it away."
With that, she made to stand and leave.
Nanny Zhang quickly tried to dissuade her, hoping the Commandery Princess would change her mind.
However, Princess Rouwan wouldn’t listen to a word.
’She had no attachments left in this world. She just wanted to end her life quickly.’
"This congee smells amazing!" Hua Manman had slipped in at some point.
She followed the scent to the dining table, plopped herself down on the couch, and stared intently at the purple clay pot.
"I ate so much barbecue just now that I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed. Some congee would be perfect to balance it out."
With that, she reached for a bowl.
The moment Princess Rouwan saw her, her anger flared up again, bringing an almost sickly flush to her pale face.
"Who let you in? Get out!"
Hua Manman deftly ladled a bowl of fish fillet congee for herself and said with a beaming smile.
"Hey now, why so hostile? You’re not going to eat this congee anyway. It would be a waste to throw it out, so why not let me have it?"
Princess Rouwan said angrily, "I’d rather pour it out than let you eat it!"
Hua Manman lectured her in a grave and earnest tone.
"Wastefulness is a disgrace, you know?!"
With that, she took a big mouthful of the fish fillet congee.
Her eyes lit up instantly, and she exclaimed with exaggeration.
"The fish is tender, the congee is rich and fragrant! This is so delicious!"
Princess Rouwan was flustered and exasperated. "I told you to get out, didn’t you hear me?!"
Hua Manman lifted the bowl and finished the congee in just a few gulps.
She put down the bowl and licked her lips, clearly wanting more.
"So good! I want another bowl!"
As she reached out again, Princess Rouwan grabbed her by the wrist.
Princess Rouwan had never met such a brazen, shameless person. Rage shot to her head, and she opened her mouth to curse.
"This is my food! To take without asking is to steal!"
Hua Manman looked aggrieved. "But you weren’t eating it."
Princess Rouwan shot back, "Who said I wasn’t going to eat it?"
Hua Manman said skeptically, "But I heard you from outside the door saying you had no appetite..."
Princess Rouwan forcefully shook her hand off.
"That was then, this is now. I have an appetite again. Is that a problem?"
With that, she picked up the porcelain bowl and took a sip of the congee.
Nanny Zhang’s eyes went wide.
’Th-that actually worked?!’
’She couldn’t help but turn to look at Princess Consort Zhao, filled with sincere admiration. ’Amazing!’’
Hua Manman paid no mind to Nanny Zhang’s gaze. She kept her eyes fixed on Princess Rouwan across the table and asked expectantly.
"You don’t look like you can eat much. Can I have the rest of the congee?"
Princess Rouwan sneered, "In your dreams!"
’Why should she let this wretched girl have her things for free?!’
Hua Manman put on a wronged expression.
"But I want to eat fish fillet congee, too."
Seeing her thwarted, Princess Rouwan felt a surge of delight, and even her appetite improved considerably.
In the blink of an eye, Princess Rouwan had finished the congee in her bowl.
