The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

Chapter 388: Chapter 390: A Blessing and a Curse

When the carriage reached the palace gates, it didn’t stop, instead driving straight into the Imperial Palace.

It was now the early hours of the morning.

But because it was an overcast day, the sky remained dark and gloomy.

It looked no different from the dead of night.

Once the carriage stopped, the door was pulled open from the outside.

A member of the Yulin Guards standing beside the carriage spoke.

"Princess Consort, please exit the carriage."

Hua Manman bent down and stepped out of the carriage.

Holding up the hem of her skirt, she placed a foot on the stool and slowly descended from the carriage.

In the dim, yellow glow of a lantern, Hua Manman could clearly see the plaque hanging above the main gate. On it were the three large words: Yu Hua Hall.

Yu Hua Hall was Xianfei’s residence.

A palace maid was already waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Princess Consort Zhao, she immediately raised her lantern and hurried forward to greet her.

"Princess, please follow me."

Hua Manman stepped over the high threshold and followed the palace maid into Yu Hua Hall.

The area illuminated by the lantern was very limited.

Aside from the small patch of ground at their feet, everything else was pitch-black and impossible to make out.

It wasn’t until they reached the entrance of the main hall, warm yellow light spilling from the doors and windows, that their surroundings became clear.

Having been awake all night, Xianfei looked somewhat weary.

She had a pot of strong tea prepared to keep herself awake and alert.

Seeing Princess Consort Zhao walk in, Xianfei set down her teacup and smiled faintly. "You’re finally here. I’ve been waiting a long time for you."

Hua Manman asked, "But wasn’t it the Empress Dowager who summoned me?"

"The Empress Dowager is unwell, so I will receive you in her stead for the time being," Xianfei said unhurriedly. "Please, have a seat."

’Hua Manman knew perfectly well that the so-called summons from the Empress Dowager was nothing more than a lie concocted by Xianfei and Prince Dongyang.’

But she didn’t expose the charade.

She silently sat down opposite Xianfei. ’What on earth is she planning to do to me?’

Xianfei poured her a cup of tea with her own hands.

"My apologies for calling you here in the middle of the night and disturbing your rest. Have some tea, it will help you feel more awake."

Hua Manman didn’t touch the cup.

Xianfei said gently, "Rest assured, there’s nothing in the tea."

With that, she took a sip of her own tea right in front of Hua Manman.

"Your Ladyship misunderstands," Hua Manman said. "I had no intention of doubting you."

Xianfei gently set down her cup. "You’re a clever woman. There are some things you should be able to guess, even if I don’t say them outright."

’So, we’re finally getting to the point,’ Hua Manman thought.

Her expression remained unchanged, but she pricked up her ears.

Xianfei began, "Many things have happened in the palace recently. First, Consort Liu passed away, and not long after, the Fifth Prince also died..."

Hua Manman was stunned.

’The Fifth Prince is dead? When did that happen? How did I not know anything about it?’

Xianfei seemed to read her mind and offered an explanation.

"The Fifth Prince, incited by who knows what, became convinced that Prince Dongyang was responsible for Consort Liu’s death. He insisted on seeking revenge against Prince Dongyang and me. In order to protect me, Prince Dongyang killed him by mistake."

She let out a soft, helpless sigh.

"I truly never imagined things would escalate to this point."

’And this is your reason for starting a rebellion?’ Hua Manman wanted to ask.

But her rational mind suppressed the urge.

She said nothing, simply listening in silence.

Xianfei continued, "The Saint wants to execute Prince Dongyang to atone for the Fifth Prince’s life. But Prince Dongyang is my son, the child I carried in my womb and risked my life to birth. How can I just stand by and watch him die? You’re a woman, too. Surely you can understand how I feel?"

Hua Manman remained silent.

Xianfei slowly revealed her plan.

"The Saint should be rushing back from Yuqing Mountain tomorrow. We must seize control of the entire Shangjing City before he returns.

I have already secured the Patrol Department. All that’s left is the Tiger Roar Camp.

And that is where you come in, Princess Consort Zhao."

Hua Manman’s lips twisted into a smile. "You overestimate me. Prince Zhao won’t hand over the Tiger Roar Camp for a mere woman."

"I wouldn’t be so sure."

Xianfei said unhurriedly, her voice calm and confident.

"You are special to Prince Zhao.

He went to great lengths to make you his main wife. He even sent away all the other women in the Prince Mansion, keeping only you by his side.

When you were abducted, Prince Zhao nearly went mad trying to find you.

When he learned you’d been taken by the West Liang people, Prince Zhao braved the dangers to leave the city that very night and rescue you.

He would even give up his own life for you.

What is the mere Tiger Roar Camp compared to that?"

Hua Manman fell silent.

Xianfei looked at her, her gaze complex. "You are luckier than most women in this world, for you have won a man’s complete devotion."

’They were both men, yet the Emperor had his Three Palaces and Six Courtyards teeming with concubines, while Prince Zhao was devoted to his Princess Consort alone.’

’As one of those women in the Three Palaces and Six Courtyards, Xianfei couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.’

’If only she could have been like Princess Consort Zhao and married a good man who was completely devoted to her, she wouldn’t have been forced down this path of no return.’

’If she were truly lucky,’ Hua Manman thought, ’she wouldn’t have inexplicably transmigrated into a book and been forced by this shitty system to constantly court death.’

The shitty system: "..."

’I’m definitely going to apply to have the word ’shitty’ added to the censorship list later!’

Xianfei gave another light laugh.

"But then again, it is precisely Prince Zhao’s deep affection for you that makes you his greatest weakness.

What was once your good fortune has now become your misfortune.

This is probably what the saying describes: ’In misfortune lies fortune, in fortune lurks misfortune.’"

The other party had made herself perfectly clear. Hua Manman knew she couldn’t feign ignorance to get through this, so she decided to be direct as well.

"So what if you control the Imperial Palace and Shangjing? Do you and Prince Dongyang really plan to hole up in Shangjing City for the rest of your lives?"

The smile vanished from Xianfei’s face.

’How could she not understand this?’

’Once the Saint returns and orders his men to surround Shangjing City, even if they defend the gates to their last breath, they will only be prolonging the inevitable.’

’This rebellion was doomed to fail from the start.’

’But Xianfei had no other choice.’

She said coolly, "That is no concern of yours."

Hua Manman tried to persuade her to reconsider.

"While things haven’t blown up yet, you should hurry and have Prince Dongyang admit his wrongs to the Saint. For the sake of their bond as father and son, the Saint might show leniency and spare his life."

Xianfei sighed mournfully. "It’s too late."

’An arrow, once loosed, cannot be recalled.’

’The moment they placed the Empress Dowager under house arrest and killed the Commander of the Feather Forest Guard, there was no turning back.’

Hua Manman wanted to say more, but Xianfei cut her off.

"Don’t try to persuade me. I have already prepared for the worst."

Just then, a eunuch rushed in.

"Reporting, Lady Xianfei! The Seventh Prince has fallen ill!"