The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

Chapter 385: Chapter 387: Nine Deaths, One Life

At the same time, Princess Rouwan was also awakened.

Nanny Zhang said urgently, "Commandery Princess, people from the palace have come. They say they’re here to take Princess Consort Zhao to the palace."

Princess Rouwan frowned slightly. "Why are they taking that girl to the palace in the middle of the night?"

Nanny Zhang replied, "They didn’t say, but judging by their menacing posture, it’s definitely nothing good. Shouldn’t you go out and take a look?"

Princess Rouwan pursed her lips and coldly spat out two words.

"I won’t."

’Ever since that girl arrived, I haven’t had a single day of peace.’

’Now that girl was finally being taken away. I was overjoyed—why would I bother meddling?’

Nanny Zhang wanted to persuade her further, but Princess Rouwan had no intention of listening and simply closed her eyes.

"I’m going back to sleep. You may leave."

Helpless, Nanny Zhang could only let out a long sigh and quietly withdraw.

Once the room fell silent again, Princess Rouwan, who should have already been asleep, quietly opened her eyes.

She stared at the exquisitely crafted bed canopy, sleep far from her mind.

...

Although the rain had stopped, the ground was still damp.

Hua Manman hurried across the stone path, kicking up muddy water that splattered the hem of her skirt.

But she paid no mind to such a trivial matter.

When she arrived at the front courtyard, she immediately saw the dozens of Yulin Guards standing there.

One of their hands rested on the hilts of their swords, the other held a torch.

The flames blazed, illuminating the spacious courtyard as if it were day.

Upon seeing Hua Manman, the leading Yulin Guard immediately locked his gaze on her.

"This official greets the Princess."

Hua Manman’s gaze swept over them quickly.

’These men are all fully armed. It’s clear they came prepared.’

Qing Huan and Si Yun stood behind Hua Manman, their bodies instinctively tensing as they went on high alert.

Hua Manman said, "I hear you’re here to arrest me and take me to the palace?"

The leading Yulin Guard said loudly, "The Princess Consort jests. This official is acting on the Empress Dowager’s decree to summon Princess Consort Zhao to the palace."

Hua Manman asked suspiciously, "The Empress Dowager should be asleep by now. Why would she suddenly want to see me?"

’I’ve only met the Empress Dowager a few times. We’re complete strangers. Even if the Empress Dowager truly had an urgent matter, I wouldn’t be the one she’d call for.’

The Yulin Guard said stiffly, "This official is only responsible for bringing you to the palace. I know nothing of any other matters."

Hua Manman sensed that something was wrong.

"Were you really sent by the Empress Dowager?"

The Yulin Guard took out a Token.

It was the unique Token of the Empress Dowager of Biquan Palace.

This was enough to prove that the man was telling the truth and that they had indeed been sent by the Empress Dowager.

Still, Hua Manman felt something was amiss.

She tried to stall for time. "I need to change my clothes. Please wait a moment."

But unexpectedly, the man wouldn’t even give her that much time and said directly,

"There’s no need to change. Time is of the essence. Please, Princess Consort, come with us to the palace now."

His response made Hua Manman laugh in anger.

"My hair isn’t combed and I haven’t washed my face, yet you expect me to see the Empress Dowager like this? Do you have any concept of court etiquette and rules?"

The Yulin Guard replied, "The Empress Dowager is in a hurry to see you. All those tedious formalities can be set aside for now."

Hua Manman lifted her chin. "And what if I insist on changing my clothes?"

"Then you’ll have to forgive our disrespect!"

The moment he finished speaking, every Yulin Guard present drew their saber, the blades aimed in unison at Hua Manman.

The sharp blades glinted coldly in the firelight.

The air crackled with danger.

Hua Manman’s expression immediately darkened.

Qing Huan immediately stepped forward, shielding Princess Consort Zhao behind her.

Though Si Yun knew no martial arts, she also clenched her small fists and, fighting back her fear, stood protectively behind the Princess Consort.

Hua Manman said coldly, "Even if you were truly sent by the Empress Dowager, there is no rule that allows you to draw your blades at the slightest disagreement. Are you showing me, Princess Consort Zhao, no respect at all?"

"Our apologies. We are merely acting on orders. We hope the Princess Consort will forgive any offense."

Although the leading Yulin Guard spoke apologetically, his face showed not a hint of remorse.

He made a hand signal, and dozens of Yulin Guards immediately surrounded Hua Manman.

It seemed they were preparing to take her by force.

Qing Huan struck without hesitation, felling the nearest Yulin Guard.

The other Yulin Guards immediately charged, sabers swinging.

As Qing Huan struggled to fend them off, she yelled to Hua Manman,

"Princess Consort, run!"

Si Yun grabbed Hua Manman’s sleeve and said urgently,

"It’s dangerous here! You have to get away!"

Neither Si Yun nor Qing Huan knew what had possessed these Yulin Guards or why they wanted to seize Princess Consort Zhao. But it was clear from their behavior that if the Princess Consort went with them, her chances of survival were slim to none.

Of course, Hua Manman knew this as well.

But she knew with even greater clarity that if she abandoned Si Yun and Qing Huan, these two loyal girls would surely be killed.

Just then, a wide net fell from the sky!

Hua Manman shoved Si Yun away with all her might.

Caught off guard, Si Yun stumbled and fell heavily into a nearby flowerbed.

When she scrambled back to her feet, she saw that Princess Consort Zhao was completely trapped beneath the net.

Hua Manman tugged frantically at the net.

She didn’t know what the thing was made of, but it was not only extremely tough but also slippery. She couldn’t tear it open at all.

The Yulin Guards gave a hard tug on the ends of the net.

Hua Manman was pulled to the ground and dragged, net and all, before the Yulin Guards.

Qing Huan tried to rescue her, but she was surrounded by seven or eight men. She could barely protect herself, let alone break free to help.

"Let go of the Princess Consort!" Si Yun charged recklessly toward Hua Manman, only to be grabbed by the back of her collar by a Yulin Guard.

The Yulin Guard struck the back of Si Yun’s neck with the side of his hand. Si Yun’s vision went black, and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

The commotion they caused was so great that everyone in the Duke Zhen Country Mansion was awakened.

The Protectors roared menacingly, "This is the Duke Zhen Country Mansion! How dare you act so brazenly? Release Princess Consort Zhao at once!"

The leading Yulin Guard demanded in a grim voice, "We are acting on the Empress Dowager’s decree to escort Princess Consort Zhao to the palace. Do you people of the Duke Zhen Country Mansion intend to openly defy Her Majesty’s decree?"

The Protectors immediately froze, not daring to act rashly.

They were only guards. Their own lives were expendable, but they could not implicate the Duke Zhen Country Mansion in the crime of defying an imperial decree.

Seeing this, Feihua Zhenren was overcome with anxiety.

He desperately wanted to rush over and help, but he was utterly powerless. Charging in would only make him an easy target.

Feihua Zhenren turned and left.

He ran as fast as he could to the door of Princess Rouwan’s bedroom and pounded on it with all his might.

"Commandery Princess, wake up! Princess Consort Zhao has been captured by those men!"