The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

Chapter 551: Chapter 554: Written Off

The capital relocation ceremony was incredibly tedious.

At first, Hua Manman was still looking around with interest, but she eventually grew so tired that she started to slack off, hiding within the crowd.

High-ranking monks performed a blessing ritual at the front, while the civil and military officials and the nobles knelt in neat rows.

Everyone knelt upright, listening intently to the Buddhist teachings.

Only Hua Manman’s body sank lower and lower.

Finally, she simply sat back on her heels and closed her eyes, dozing off.

Li Xun was actually quite tired too.

But he could still bear it, his eyes darting around.

Whenever someone looked toward his mother, he would glare back ferociously.

Everyone knew he was the Regent King’s only son.

Cowed by the Regent King’s authority, they all meekly averted their gazes, not daring to sneak another look.

The blessing ritual lasted until sunset.

Li Xun tugged on his mother’s sleeve, waking her.

"We should go."

Hua Manman let out a small yawn.

She got up and moved forward with Li Xun, blending into the crowd.

The capital relocation ceremony was more or less over. Next up was the banquet.

The moment she heard there would be good food, Hua Manman instantly perked up.

The seats at the banquet had all been arranged in advance.

Originally, Hua Manman and Li Xun were not seated together, but Li Xun insisted on sitting with his mother.

He stubbornly planted himself at Hua Manman’s table and refused to leave. No one could do anything about it, so they had to find a spot for him at the last minute.

Palace maids filed in, carrying fine wine and delicacies.

The melodious sound of strings and flutes arose as the Dancing Girls entered gracefully, stepping to the rhythm.

They danced gracefully on the stage.

The Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince sat at the head of the hall. The Regent King’s seat was very close to theirs, their tables nearly level with each other.

When the officials rose to offer toasts, they faced the Regent King.

The Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince were like a pair of mascots. Everyone knew they were there, yet they were deliberately or subconsciously ignored.

The Crown Prince had evidently grown accustomed to this atmosphere and showed little reaction.

Only the Empress Dowager’s expression was grim.

She didn’t touch her chopsticks the entire time, her lips pressed into a thin line.

’Her son was still recuperating in the Old Imperial Palace, yet the Regent King was here, feasting with the civil and military officials in the New Imperial Palace. How could she possibly feel at ease?!’

But the Empress Dowager could not say a word.

The Regent King held all the power of the court firmly in his grasp. Even as the esteemed Empress Dowager, she was powerless to challenge him.

The only thing she could do now was feign compliance.

Li Ji sat high up and could see far.

With a single glance, he spotted Hua Manman and Li Xun, who were completely engrossed in their food.

From time to time, Hua Manman would place a piece of food in Li Xun’s bowl, telling him it was delicious and that he should try it.

Li Xun was usually a very picky eater.

Tonight, however, he ate everything. No matter what his mother gave him, he devoured it with relish.

After three rounds of drinks, everyone was a bit tipsy.

The Empress Dowager excused herself, claiming she couldn’t hold her liquor, and left the banquet early.

Before leaving, she made a point to ask the Crown Prince a question.

"Qiong’er, would you like to leave with me?"

Li Qiong first glanced at his mother. Seeing no reaction from her, it was as if she had left the decision entirely up to him.

He hesitated for a moment before shaking his head, declining the Empress Dowager’s kind offer.

At that, the Empress Dowager’s expression darkened further.

’Even the Crown Prince isn’t on my side!’

With a sullen face, she left the banquet.

Once the Empress Dowager was gone, only the Crown Prince remained at the head table.

He sat perfectly still in the heavy crown robe that signified his status, which only made his frame seem slighter and his whole person smaller.

Fine wine and delicacies were spread out before him.

But he could not eat as he pleased.

As the Crown Prince, he had to maintain his dignity and avoid leaving a bad impression of being a glutton.

Even though he was actually very hungry, he had to endure it.

’His mother had taught him: a little impatience can spoil a great plan.’

...

After eating and drinking their fill, Hua Manman and Li Xun let out a burp in unison.

The two looked at each other and burst out laughing.

Hua Manman sighed with heartfelt emotion. "This meal tonight made all the suffering during the day worth it!"

Li Xun seized the chance to be clever and charming.

"I’ll learn how to cook in the future and make you delicious food every day!"

Hua Manman asked in surprise, "Are you planning to become a chef when you grow up?"

Li Xun replied, "I don’t want to be a chef. A chef has to cook for a lot of people, but I only want to cook for you, Mother."

Hua Manman’s heart warmed at his sweet words.

She reached out and pinched the boy’s cheek.

"You little sweet-talker. You’re going to be a real heartbreaker when you grow up."

Just then, egged on by several other princely heirs, Li Yu shuffled reluctantly toward Hua Manman’s table.

Hua Manman and Li Xun stopped and looked over at them.

Li Qi, the Princely Heir of Prince Zheng, chuckled.

"Heir of Prince Yu, we were out of line last time. We really thought you were a girl. We had no idea you were the Princely Heir of the Yu Royal Mansion. We’ve come specially to apologize. We hope you can be the bigger person and not hold it against us."

The other princely heirs chimed in with their agreement.

Finally, it was Li Yu’s turn to speak, albeit unwillingly.

"I was offensive before. I hope you won’t hold it against me. I’ll drink this cup as a token of my apology."

With that, he took the wine pot and cup from Li Qi and poured himself a drink on the spot.

Hua Manman stopped him. "Don’t. You look ill. You probably shouldn’t be drinking, should you?"

Li Yu’s face was indeed pale, and he was thinner than before. Even his voice lacked strength, a clear sign that he hadn’t fully recovered.

’I can’t just let a sick person drink. If something were to happen to him, I couldn’t bear the responsibility.’

However, Li Yu mistakenly thought she was concerned for his well-being.

He felt a flicker of pleasure, but it was quickly overshadowed by conflict and irritation.

Thus, his tone became impatient.

"I’ll drink if I want to! It’s none of your business!"

With that, he raised his cup and downed it in one go.

He drank too quickly and choked, breaking into a fit of coughs. His pale face flushed a deep red.

Hua Manman was speechless.

’Is there something wrong with this guy’s head?’

’I kindly tell him not to drink, and he insists on courting disaster.’

Li Yu caught his breath and looked at Hua Manman again, his voice hoarse.

"Now we’re even."

Hua Manman gave a perfunctory, "Mm."

Li Yu stared at her. "Then why aren’t you drinking?"

Beside them, Li Qi immediately offered the wine pot, saying cheerfully.

"Here, let me pour you a drink."

Li Xun snatched the wine cup from in front of his mother.

Like a wolf pup protecting its food, he snarled at Li Qi.

"My mother doesn’t drink wine poured by others!"

As soon as he said this, everyone present was stunned.

Li Qi, thinking he must have misheard, asked in disbelief.

"What did you just say? Who’s your mother?"

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