The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

Chapter 545: Chapter 548: Ladder

When Hua Manman returned to the Yu Royal Mansion, she happened to see an old doctor leaving the mansion with a medicine box on his back.

The steward watched the old doctor leave, then turned to see the Young Master.

He hurriedly bowed with his hands clasped. "Greetings, Young Master."

Hua Manman asked as she walked inside.

"Why was a doctor called? Is someone in the mansion sick?"

The steward answered truthfully, "Mr. Du suffered some minor injuries."

Normally, a Prince Mansion should have a household doctor on staff. But since the real Prince Yu didn’t live here, this place was just an empty shell, more symbolic than practical. Naturally, they hadn’t bothered to hire a doctor to be in residence. Now, they could only temporarily summon a doctor from outside to treat Mr. Du’s injuries.

Hua Manman went directly to Mr. Du’s residence.

"I heard you were injured, so I came to see you."

Mr. Du’s forehead was wrapped in gauze, and his fingers were red and swollen. When he stood up, his posture was very awkward, looking as though his shoulder and leg were injured.

Even though he tried his best to appear composed, his movements still seemed rather comical.

"Young Master, you’ve finally returned. I have something to report to you."

Honestly, seeing him in such a miserable state really made Hua Manman want to laugh.

But to maintain a friendly facade, Hua Manman had to force down the corners of her mouth, which were itching to curve upward.

She asked with a deliberately serious expression, "What did you want to say, Mr. Du?"

Mr. Du said, "I heard that the Princely Heir of the Prince Qing Mansion had an accident and nearly lost his life.

I don’t know if this was targeted at the Prince Qing Mansion or at all the Princes of the Vassal Kings.

In any case, to be on the safe side, you should not go out for the time being to avoid any mishaps."

Hua Manman replied obediently, "Okay."

Mr. Du asked, "How have you been getting along with the Regent King these past two days, Young Master?"

Hua Manman revealed a rather surprised expression.

"I never would have thought that a man as dignified as you would be such a gossip in private."

The corner of Mr. Du’s mouth twitched.

"It’s not that I like to gossip. I just wanted to show my concern for you, Young Master."

Hua Manman said, "Is that so? We’re getting along very well. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Du."

Mr. Du had wanted to ask for more details about their interactions, but he was afraid the Young Master would again accuse him of being a gossip. He could only suppress his questions and switched to other, more trivial matters.

"The family letter has been sent back. It should reach Prince Yu before long."

"The day after tomorrow is the capital relocation ceremony. There will be many things to attend to then, so it would be best for you to rest well these next two days and build up your energy."

"After the capital relocation ceremony, there should be some personnel changes in the royal court. If possible, I hope you can strive for an opportunity to serve in an official capacity."

Hearing this, Hua Manman couldn’t help but ask, "Aren’t we supposed to go back right after the ceremony?"

Mr. Du dodged the question. "There’s no need to be in such a hurry. Let’s wait and see."

...

When Hua Manman returned to her own residence, she found that the ladder next to the courtyard wall was still there.

"Why is this ladder still here?"

Jiao Gui answered honestly, "You brought this ladder here yourself, Young Master. Since you didn’t say to take it away, none of us dared to move it."

She paused, then asked in a low voice.

"Should we take the ladder away?"

Hua Manman thought about it seriously.

’Although I’ve explicitly forbidden wall-climbing, knowing that father and son, getting them to completely change their ways is nearly impossible.’

’What if the child tries to sneak over the wall again in the future? If there’s no one here to help him, wouldn’t that be very dangerous?’

"Forget it, let’s just leave it."

Hearing this, Jiao Gui’s expression became a little strange.

Though she was just a little maid, she had experienced the ways of the world and had her own standards for judging matters.

Usually, when she saw the Young Master and the Regent King’s family laughing and joking, she had a faint feeling, as if they were a real family of three.

She had been telling herself that it was just her imagination.

The Young Master could never fall for the Regent King.

But now, the Young Master was leaving the wooden ladder.

To others, it was just an ordinary wooden ladder. But for someone like the Young Master, leaving the ladder was equivalent to leaving a path open for someone to walk into her heart at any time.

Jiao Gui followed the Young Master into the room and asked quietly.

"Young Master, do you like the Regent King’s..."

Hua Manman stopped in her tracks and turned to look at her.

Jiao Gui also stopped and finished her sentence.

"...young prince?"

Hua Manman was silent for a moment, then offered a sincere piece of advice.

"In the future, don’t speak with such dramatic pauses."

’That’s an easy way to scare someone to death!’

Jiao Gui didn’t understand why, but she still nodded obediently. "Yes!"

Hua Manman sat down on the low couch. "I do like that child. He’s sensible and well-behaved, and most importantly, he’s very beautiful. He’s especially endearing."

As she recalled her time with Li Xun, the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up in a joyful smile.

Jiao Gui hesitated again and again, but she couldn’t help but voice the words that had been weighing on her heart.

"I also think the Regent Prince Mansion’s young prince is very cute, but he is someone else’s son, after all. No matter how much you like him, you must never... never..."

Hua Manman looked at her and asked with a faint smile.

"Never what? Never fall in love with the Regent King?"

Jiao Gui’s heart leaped.

In that instant, she felt that the Young Master before her bore a striking resemblance to the Regent King.

When they smiled, they both gave off a very dangerous and terrifying feeling.

Her legs went weak, and she involuntarily knelt.

"I should not have spoken out of turn about your affairs, Young Master. I deserve to die. Please punish me, Young Master!"

Hua Manman did not tell her to get up.

It hadn’t been long since she had transmigrated into this world, but Hua Manman had already adapted quickly to its rules.

’She even had a vague, illusory feeling, as if she had once lived in this world before.’

’Of course, that was just an illusion.’

Hua Manman spoke unhurriedly.

"Let’s not even mention that I have no such feelings for the Regent King.

Even if I did have some idea about him, that would be my business, and it’s not for others to interfere."

Jiao Gui kept her head bowed and said nothing.

Hua Manman continued, "I know you’re afraid I’ll neglect my duties for the sake of romance.

You all want me to give up the normal human emotions and desires and wholeheartedly become a tool that lives only for the Yu Royal Mansion.

I can understand your feelings.

But I’m sorry, I can’t do that."

Both she and the deceased Lu Man were living, breathing people.

They should have the right to choose their own lives, not be like chess pieces, forever living under the control of others.

Jiao Gui raised her head, her eyes red.

She spoke through sobs.

"I never thought of wanting you to be a tool! I’m scared!

Your identity is a secret.

The moment anyone finds out you’re a woman, you’ll be charged with the crime of deceiving the emperor.

I don’t want you to die. I want you to live a good life."

Hua Manman looked down at her.

Their eyes met.

Jiao Gui heard the Young Master ask softly.

"Have you heard the saying? ’Give me liberty, or give me death.’"

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