The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

Chapter 552: Chapter 555: Probing

A vein throbbed in Hua Manman’s temple.

She spoke up before Li Xun could say anything.

"I don’t believe you’ve been introduced. This is the Heir of the Regent King."

Li Yu was not distracted by her words and pressed on.

"But he just called you his mother, didn’t he?"

Hua Manman gave a helpless smile. "The boy hasn’t seen his mother in a long time and misses her dearly. He saw that I bear some resemblance to her, so he’s taken to clinging to me and calling me ’Mother.’ Children speak without thinking. I hope none of you will take it to heart."

Li Yu was skeptical. "Is that all there is to it?"

Hua Manman retorted, "What else could it be? You don’t actually think I’m the biological mother of the Heir of the Regent King, do you? If that were true, wouldn’t that make me the Regent Queen? Do you all think that’s possible?"

Li Yu was at a loss for words.

The others were also left speechless.

Not to mention the Heir of Prince Yu was a man. Even if he were a woman, it would be impossible for him to have any connection to the Regent King.

After all, everyone in the Great Zhou Dynasty knew that the biological mother of the Heir of the Regent King was the Regent Queen, and the Regent Queen had passed away many years ago.

For all these years, the Regent King had never had another woman by his side. His heart had always belonged to his late wife alone.

A look of sudden realization dawned on Li Qi.

"No wonder the Regent King personally left the city to welcome the Heir of Prince Yu and even entrusted his own son to his care."

"It’s because the Heir of Prince Yu bears some resemblance to the late Regent Queen!"

He said this with a smile, as if he were joking.

But everyone present heard the underlying implication.

Li Yu’s expression was the darkest of all.

’Although the Regent King only had his late wife in his heart, he had been alone for so many years. It was inevitable he’d feel lonely. Upon suddenly seeing someone who resembled his late wife, it was only natural for other thoughts to stir in his heart.’

’If one really thought about it, who knew how many sordid secrets were hidden beneath the surface!’

The smile on Hua Manman’s face faded quickly.

She looked directly at Li Qi and asked frankly.

"Heir of Prince Zheng, what are you trying to say? Do you think the Regent King sees me as a substitute for the Princess Consort?"

Li Qi quickly waved his hands. "No, no, I would never dare to imply such a thing."

Hua Manman could feel it. ’This guy is testing me.’

’If I really did have some sort of ambiguous relationship with the Regent King, hearing something like this would surely make me fly into a rage out of humiliation.’

’After all, given my status, I could never allow myself to be reduced to someone else’s stand-in.’

But in reality, nothing had ever happened between Hua Manman and the Regent King. Even though the Regent King had occasionally shown some behavior or said things that crossed the line, she had always managed to sidestep them.

Therefore, the suggestion of being a substitute didn’t faze Hua Manman in the slightest. In fact, she almost wanted to laugh.

She had originally planned to retort with sarcasm, but then she remembered what the Regent King had said to her yesterday.

An idea sparked in her mind—a bold one.

’Since he dares to test me, why can’t I test him right back?’

The next moment, Hua Manman’s expression changed, her eyes filled with fury.

She reached out, grabbed Li Qi by the collar, and yanked him fiercely toward her.

Li Qi was tall and fat, more than twice her size, yet her pull made him stumble.

Hua Manman’s other hand pressed down on the back of his neck. Using both hands, she slammed him hard onto the low dining table.

All the cups, saucers, and plates on the table were knocked over with a tremendous crash.

In an instant, everyone present whipped their heads around to look.

At this point, no one was talking anymore. Only the music of strings and bamboo continued to play.

In fact, the musicians were also looking over, but as long as the Regent King didn’t say a word, they dared not stop playing.

Hua Manman’s hand was pressing on Li Qi’s face, pinning him so he couldn’t lift his head. His once fair, chubby face instantly flushed bright red.

She leaned down and whispered in his ear.

"You fat bastard, if you dare spout any more nonsense in front of me, I’ll expose everything you’ve ever done."

Her voice was like a demon’s whisper, boring into Li Qi’s ears.

His portly body involuntarily stiffened. Then, he spoke with difficulty.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Hua Manman said, "Playing dumb won’t work on me. The Regent King might not be able to do anything to you."

"But that doesn’t mean I can’t."

"Even if I were to ’accidentally’ kill you."

"Do you think your father, the Prince, would declare war on Prince Yu just to avenge you?"

Li Qi was rendered speechless, the expression on his chubby face gradually twisting.

The Regent King didn’t dare to act against him because he feared the various Vassal Kings would use it as a pretext to launch a joint attack against him.

But the Heir of Prince Yu had no such scruples.

Prince Zheng would never declare war on Prince Yu, because he couldn’t let the Regent King and the other Vassal Kings reap the benefits of their conflict.

Even if he were actually killed by the Heir of Prince Yu, Prince Zheng would most likely just swallow his anger and endure it. After all, Prince Zheng had more than just one son; he wouldn’t have to worry about an heir to his throne.

By now, the other Princely Heirs had reacted and rushed forward to pull them apart.

When Li Xun saw so many people ganging up on his mother, he refused to stand for it.

He jumped directly onto the low dining table, shoving people away while shouting.

"Don’t you touch my mother! Get lost, all of you!"

The commotion grew louder and louder, and the Crown Prince, Li Qiong, kept glancing in their direction.

He wasn’t very familiar with those Princes, but he knew Li Xun.

When they were children, Li Xun had followed the Regent King into the palace before.

His mother had always been very fond of Li Xun. Every time Li Xun came to the palace, he would get to see him with his mother, and she would have them play together.

They were cousins and close in age, so they got along well enough.

But as they grew older, they gradually drifted apart.

As for why they drifted apart?

It was probably because people were constantly whispering in Li Qiong’s ear, saying that Li Xun was the Regent King’s son, that the Regent King would one day ascend the throne, and that Li Xun would then take his place as Crown Prince.

Hearing such things over and over inevitably made Li Qiong feel uneasy.

Just as Li Qiong was about to order his men to separate the brawling Princes, the Regent King beside him suddenly stood up.

Under the watchful eyes of all present, Li Ji slowly walked toward the group of Princes.

When Li Xun saw his father approaching, he immediately shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Father! They’re bullying me!"

The Princes froze.

They scrambled to turn around, and upon seeing the Regent King, they all went pale with fright and hastily knelt in salute.

"Greetings, Your Highness, the Regent Prince!"

Hua Manman relaxed her grip.

Li Qi was able to break free. He pushed himself up from the dining table with both hands, struggling to his feet.

His face and clothes were splattered with food and wine, his collar was pulled askew, and he looked utterly wretched.

Li Ji stared at them, his gaze heavy.

"What’s going on?"

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