The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

Chapter 380: Chapter 382: This King Did Not Kill Him

To hold her ground, Princess Rouwan sat down opposite Hua Manman.

She glared at Hua Manman, her gaze so intense it seemed she could bore holes into her face.

Hua Manman acted as if she hadn’t noticed.

She unhurriedly ladled a bowl of soup and offered it to Princess Rouwan.

"Princess Rouwan, why don’t you have some white fungus and lotus seed soup? It’s very cooling. Perfect for you."

Princess Rouwan said flatly, "I don’t need it."

Seeing this, Hua Manman immediately placed the bowl in front of Feihua Zhenren and said with a beaming smile.

"Since the Princess doesn’t like it, Feihua Zhenren can have it."

Feihua Zhenren feigned politeness. "Oh, I couldn’t possibly."

But his hands were quite honest, lifting the bowl and gulping it down. GULP, GULP, GULP.

Hua Manman then simply picked up the entire tureen of soup and placed it in front of Feihua Zhenren, letting him drink at his leisure.

Princess Rouwan’s expression soured even further.

Hua Manman picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks and asked with feigned sincerity.

"I suppose the Princess doesn’t like fish, either?"

Before Princess Rouwan could answer, Hua Manman popped the fish into her own mouth and spoke as she chewed.

"I knew you wouldn’t like it. Don’t you worry, Feihua Zhenren and I love fish. We’ll make sure to finish it all."

After saying this, she deliberately shot the other woman a triumphant, smug smile.

A muscle in Princess Rouwan’s jaw twitched. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore and snapped.

"Who said I’m not eating?!"

’That brat is doing this on purpose to provoke me. I absolutely will not let her have her way!’

Princess Rouwan pointed at the platter of steamed sea bass. "Bring it here. I’m eating."

Nanny Zhang immediately moved the sea bass closer to Princess Rouwan and thoughtfully served her a bowl of rice.

Hua Manman and Feihua Zhenren stared in unison at the platter of sea bass, their eyes filled with unconcealed longing.

’We want to eat it, too!’

Seeing their expressions, Princess Rouwan felt a surge of satisfaction.

Her mood improved, and so did her appetite. She finished a whole bowl of rice with the fresh, tender sea bass.

Nanny Zhang was incredibly gratified to see this.

’As expected, only Princess Consort Zhao can improve the Commandery Princess’s appetite.’

After they had eaten their fill, Nanny Zhang suggested.

"It’s still raining outside. Why don’t you rest here for a while, Princess Consort, and head back later?"

She hoped Princess Consort Zhao would spend more time with the Commandery Princess.

Hua Manman looked at Princess Rouwan and asked expectantly.

"Would the Princess be willing to let us stay?"

Princess Rouwan turned her head away and said coldly, "No, I’m not!"

Hua Manman immediately broke into a grin. "I knew you’d be willing, Princess!"

Princess Rouwan: ???

’When did I say I was willing?’

’I clearly said I wasn’t!’

’That brat! Stop putting words in my mouth!’

Hua Manman pulled a deck of playing cards from her sleeve, slapped it on the table, and chuckled mischievously.

"How about a game of Fight the Landlord?"

Princess Rouwan flatly refused. "No. Get out!"

Hua Manman coaxed her. "If you can beat me in three games, I’ll pack my bags and get out of the Duke Zhen Country Mansion immediately. I’ll never appear before you again. How about it?"

The offer was too tempting. Princess Rouwan was swayed.

She asked, half-convinced, "Do you really mean it?"

Hua Manman said, "Everyone in this room can be my witness. If I go back on my word, I’m a puppy."

For the chance to kick the brat out, Princess Rouwan agreed to play Fight the Landlord.

The two of them, plus Feihua Zhenren, made for a perfect table of three.

In the first game, Hua Manman deliberately played her cards very slowly, teaching Princess Rouwan the rules as they went.

Once Princess Rouwan had a firm grasp of the basic rules, the three of them began to play in earnest.

Princess Rouwan was the "landlord" in the first game. She had a good hand, drawing two "bombs," and won easily.

She watched Hua Manman and Feihua Zhenren’s dejected, resentful faces, feeling incredibly vindicated. She immediately called for another game.

...

The Imperial Hospital was in chaos.

Li Yan lay on a bed, covered in blood. Imperial Physicians surrounded him, doing everything in their power to save him.

Prince Dongyang, Li Hao, stood stunned to the side. His clothes were spattered with blood, and his face was as white as a sheet. His eyes were fixed in Li Yan’s direction, but with several Imperial Physicians in the way, he couldn’t see a thing.

Xianfei was in no better state.

Her hair bun had come loose, sending her long hair cascading down her back. The hem of her skirt was stained with blood, and she looked utterly wretched.

She was deeply unsettled but had to force herself to comfort her son.

"Hao’er, don’t be afraid. It’s all right. The Fifth Prince will be fine."

Li Hao’s eyes were red-rimmed as he murmured.

"I didn’t mean to. I really didn’t. I didn’t think the dagger would hit him. I didn’t want to kill him."

Xianfei gripped her son’s hand tightly.

"I know. I know."

Outside, the rain fell harder and harder, a vast and unending torrent.

Inside, panic filled every heart, and the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.

Despite the Imperial Physicians’ every effort, they ultimately failed to save Li Yan’s life.

When he breathed his last, the Imperial Physicians had no choice but to stop. One by one, they ceased their work and turned to face Prince Dongyang and Xianfei.

Seeing this, Li Hao’s heart dropped.

He scrambled forward, shoving aside the Imperial Physicians in his path, and saw Li Yan lying lifeless on the bed.

The Chief Imperial Doctor sighed and announced gravely.

"The Fifth Prince’s heart was pierced. We were unable to save him. He has passed."

The moment the words were spoken, Li Hao’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.

Xianfei also staggered, nearly fainting.

’How did it come to this?’

’How did it end up like this?’

The Imperial Physicians exchanged glances and silently began to file out the door.

But Li Hao scrambled to his feet and bellowed.

"Don’t go! None of you are leaving!"

Startled, the Imperial Physicians all stopped and looked at Prince Dongyang.

His face was ashen, his eyes were bloodshot, and his expression was twisted, as if he had gone mad.

Li Hao pointed at them.

"You will all bear witness for me! Li Yan’s death has nothing to do with me! I did not kill him!"

The Imperial Physicians all lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound.

A prince was dead. This was a major event. The Emperor would surely investigate it to the fullest. How could they dare to conceal the truth?

Li Hao screamed like a madman, "Did you hear me?!"

’I can’t be branded a fratricide.’

’I can’t be despised by my Imperial Father.’

’I won’t let my bright future be ruined just like that.’

When the Imperial Physicians remained silent, Li Hao snatched a sword from a nearby guard and pointed its tip at them.

"Speak!"

Terrified, the Imperial Physicians scrambled backward.

"Prince, please calm down."

Xianfei stepped forward and pressed down on Li Hao’s hand, speaking in a low voice.

"Even if you could kill all these Imperial Physicians, could you kill everyone who knows what happened? This can’t be covered up. The Saint will find out sooner or later."