The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

Chapter 554: Chapter 557: A Great Opportunity

Li Xun refused to be separated from his mommy.

When Hua Manman set him down at the entrance of the Regent Prince Mansion, he clung to his mommy’s arm and wouldn’t let go.

"Mommy, don’t go! Don’t abandon Gou Dan!"

Hua Manman knelt and soothed him in a soft voice.

"I’m not abandoning you. I’m just going back to my own place. We’ll see each other again tomorrow, and I’ll make you some liangfen. How does that sound?"

Li Xun pouted. "Can’t you live with me, Mommy? There are lots of rooms here. You can live wherever you want."

Hua Manman was helpless. "But this isn’t my home. I can’t live here."

Li Xun said anxiously, "You already admitted we’re a family, so of course this is your home too!"

Hua Manman was bewildered.

"When did I admit that?"

Li Xun started to bring up the past.

"Just yesterday! You said there were some things I could say in front of you, but not in front of outsiders."

"If you round up, doesn’t that mean we’re family?!"

Hua Manman couldn’t help but laugh.

"Is that how you use the term ’rounding up’?"

Li Xun blushed, embarrassed by her laughter.

He stomped his foot, flustered and exasperated, and yelled, "I say that’s how it’s used, so that’s how it’s used!"

Hua Manman pinched his little cheek and coaxed him.

"Be a good boy, and tomorrow, the liangfen I make will be just for you. I won’t give any to your Royal Father."

Li Xun imagined the scene—

He would be holding the liangfen his mommy made for him, eating it with relish, while his Royal Father could only squat by the side and watch with longing, unable to have a single bite.

’That would feel amazing!’

Li Xun was tempted!

Hua Manman added, "After we finish the liangfen tomorrow, we can go stroll around the city. We can stay out and play all day."

Li Xun immediately added a condition.

"Without Royal Father. Just the two of us!"

Hua Manman suppressed a laugh and nodded. "Alright."

Li Xun’s face lit up with a grin.

He let go of his mommy’s arm and followed Gao Shan into the Prince Mansion.

He kept looking back every few steps, full of reluctance.

"Mommy, remember to come early tomorrow!"

Hua Manman waved at him. "Mhm, I will."

The Regent Prince Mansion and the Yu Royal Mansion were both located in Danyang Square, not too far from each other.

By carriage, the journey took about the time to drink a cup of tea.

Tonight was the important day of the ceremony for moving the capital. The Regent King had specially ordered the curfew to be lifted, and the city’s commoners gathered in Dingkang Square and Zhongming Square, celebrating the move all night long.

Trouble brewed easily in large crowds.

To prevent any incidents, the Jingzhao Mansion had dispatched most of its manpower to Dingkang Square and Zhongming Square.

The other districts seemed rather deserted in comparison.

This was especially true for Danyang Square.

As the area where the city’s nobles were concentrated, the streets were lined with one magnificent residence after another. Unauthorized people were not allowed to enter, and the streets were silent, without a single pedestrian.

The carriage wheels rolled over the road, making a RUMBLE RUMBLE sound.

It was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

Hua Manman sat in the carriage, her hand pressing on a hidden compartment beside her.

The compartment slid open, and she took out a dagger.

She removed the sheath, revealing a sharp, gleaming blade.

The blade reflected her eyes.

Tonight, she had deliberately provoked Li Qi and revealed that she knew his secret.

Whether for revenge or self-preservation, Li Qi was very likely to make a move on her.

With only a driver and two trusted aides by her side, now was the perfect opportunity for him to strike.

Moreover, there was no curfew tonight.

After killing her, the assassins could blend into the crowds in Dingkang Square and Zhongming Square to evade capture.

’The time, place, and people are all in his favor. How could Li Qi possibly resist?’

Just then, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Hua Manman tightened her grip on the dagger and asked in a low voice.

"What’s wrong?"

The driver replied, "Young Master, someone is blocking the road ahead. Judging from the emblem on the carriage, it should be people from the Prince Qing Mansion."

Hua Manman didn’t understand. Why would people from the Prince Qing Mansion appear at a time like this?

She pushed open the carriage window to look outside.

Sure enough, she saw a carriage not far ahead.

Li Yu emerged from that carriage.

He stepped down to the ground, his eyes fixed on Hua Manman’s carriage.

Their gazes met.

Both of them were stunned for a moment.

Hua Manman was surprised. It really was someone from the Prince Qing Mansion!

Li Yu walked over to her carriage.

He looked like he had had a lot to drink. His face was redder than usual, and his steps were a bit unsteady.

A servant beside him tried to support him, but he was shoved away.

"Get away from me! I can walk on my own!"

Hua Manman was still hoping to lure out that fat-headed fish Li Qi tonight; she had no time to waste on Li Yu.

Before he could get any closer, she spoke first.

"Shouldn’t the Heir of Prince Qing be at the Imperial Palace banquet right now? What are you doing here?"

Li Yu reached the side of the carriage, placed a hand on the shaft, and tried to climb up.

But because he was drunk, his limbs lacked strength, and he couldn’t manage to get up no matter how he tried.

Finally, the driver couldn’t bear to watch any longer and brought over a stool, allowing Li Yu to climb into the carriage.

As soon as Li Yu scrambled into the carriage, the reek of alcohol immediately filled Hua Manman’s nostrils.

Hua Manman hid the dagger behind her back and frowned.

"Just how much did you drink?"

Li Yu sat in the empty seat across from her.

He pulled the corners of his mouth into a smile. "Not much. Just two jugs."

Tonight, he had seen the interaction between the Heir of Prince Yu and the Regent King. No matter how much he wanted to deny it, he had to admit the reality: there was definitely something ambiguous going on between them.

This made him extremely uncomfortable.

This uncomfortable feeling had been tormenting him, making him drink cup after cup.

Drowning one’s sorrows in wine only makes them worse.

Under the influence of alcohol, the unwillingness and frustration in his heart grew stronger.

He couldn’t stop himself from leaving the banquet early, leaving the Imperial Palace alone to find the Heir of Prince Yu.

He stared at the person before him with reddened eyes and said hoarsely.

"I just want to ask you something."

Hua Manman: "Go ahead."

Li Yu: "Between you and the Regent King..."

Before he could finish, Hua Manman heard the sound of something slicing through the air outside.

It was immediately followed by a scream.

It was the driver’s voice!

Hua Manman’s heart clenched.

’They’re here!’

She pushed open the carriage door and saw the driver lying in a pool of blood, an arrow lodged in his chest.

Dozens of black-clad, masked assassins sprang out from the shadows.

Wielding swords and sabers, they charged toward Hua Manman, ready to kill!

Hua Manman grabbed the reins and cracked the whip.

"HYA!"

The horses, stung by the pain, immediately reared up and began to gallop frantically.

Li Yu grabbed the carriage doorframe to steady himself.

Seeing the murderous, black-clad assassins, he was so frightened that his body went limp and he sobered up instantly.

The next moment, he started shouting at the top of his lungs.

"A-Assassins! Someone, help!"

However, there was no one nearby.

Even if he screamed his throat raw, no one would come to his rescue.

Just then, assassins up ahead pulled a rope taut.

The rope stretched across the road.

If the carriage charged forward, it would definitely be tripped.

Hua Manman couldn’t help but curse.

"Shit!"

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