The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

Chapter 561: Chapter 564: No Meeting

Hua Manman stared at the jet-black medicinal soup before her. ’How I miss Western medicine from the modern world.’

Li Xun scooped up the medicine with a spoon, brought it to his mother’s lips, and coaxed her as if she were a child.

"Be good, Mother. Open your mouth and take your medicine."

Hua Manman tried to resist. "Can I eat first and drink the medicine later?"

Li Ji was leaning against the bed, holding a plate of candied fruits.

He casually picked one up, tossed it into his mouth, and settled in with the leisurely air of someone watching a good show.

"No. Feihua Zhenren said you must drink the medicine first, then eat."

Hua Manman looked at the candied fruits in his hand, her gaze resentful.

’Weren’t those candied fruits meant for me?’

Li Xun spoke up to remind her, "Mother, don’t just stare. Hurry and drink the medicine while it’s still warm."

Li Ji said with a grin, still munching on the candied fruits.

"That’s right. It’ll be even more bitter if it gets cold."

Hua Manman was so angry her chest hurt.

’She began to wonder if that scoundrel had been telling the truth earlier.’

’She couldn’t believe she would ever fall for such a scoundrel!’

Under Li Xun’s repeated urging, Hua Manman reluctantly opened her mouth. When the medicinal liquid entered, it wasn’t as bitter as she had expected.

Just then, Li Ji spoke slowly.

"I had someone add licorice and brown sugar to the medicine."

Hua Manman didn’t say anything, but the frustration in her heart quietly dissipated.

After she finished the medicine, Li Ji fed her the last two candied fruits on the plate, then ordered someone to prepare breakfast.

Because of the medicine, Hua Manman wasn’t very hungry. She was full after just a few bites.

At that moment, Gao Shan walked in and bowed respectfully.

"Your Highness, someone from the palace has arrived."

Li Ji didn’t stop eating as he casually replied, "What for?"

Gao Shan said, "It’s someone sent by Princess Consort Zhen. They said the Crown Prince hasn’t seen the young prince in a long time and would like to invite him to the palace for a visit."

Li Ji glanced at his son beside him and asked.

"Do you want to go?"

Without a second thought, Li Xun refused outright.

"I’m not going."

Li Ji didn’t ask for a reason and said directly to Gao Shan.

"Did you hear what the Princely Heir said?"

Gao Shan understood. "I understand."

He bowed and withdrew.

Hua Manman couldn’t help but ask.

"You’re just sending them away like that?"

’That’s Princess Consort Zhen and the Crown Prince, not some stray cat or dog off the street.’

Li Ji retorted, "What else?"

Li Xun also retorted, "What else?"

Hua Manman stared at them, stunned.

It was probably because the father and son’s reaction was so matter-of-fact that it made her seem like she was overreacting.

At that moment, she felt like a frog in a well, completely unable to understand the thinking of the people outside.

Adopting the spirit of an explorer, Hua Manman humbly inquired.

"Why doesn’t Gou Dan want to see the Crown Prince?"

Li Xun pouted. "The Crown Prince is always trying to control me. No matter what I do, he says it’s wrong and I shouldn’t do it. It’s so annoying."

’Even his own father doesn’t manage him that much. What right does the Crown Prince have to meddle in his affairs?!’

Hua Manman tried to look at it from another angle.

"Maybe he just means well?"

Li Xun’s expression grew even more disdainful.

"He doesn’t mean well at all. He just plain doesn’t like me."

Hua Manman was surprised. "What makes you say that?"

Li Xun replied, "The people around him are always badmouthing me behind my back. I’ve caught them several times. I don’t believe he’s completely unaware, but he does nothing about it. Doesn’t that show his attitude?"

Although the child was young, his perception was exceptionally sharp, and he had his own understanding of people’s hearts.

Even if the Crown Prince never said anything to his face, Li Xun could still sense that the other boy didn’t really like him.

Li Xun’s response to this was very simple and direct—

"If he doesn’t like me, then I just won’t like him back."

After speaking, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of unease. He glanced cautiously at his mother, afraid she would scold him for being willful.

But Hua Manman just patted his little head.

"In that case, we just won’t associate with him anymore."

’Even if he was the noble Crown Prince, she couldn’t let her child suffer just to appease him.’

’A child is a child. Why bind him with the rules and restrictions of adults?’

Li Xun relaxed, a wide smile spreading across his face. "Yeah!"

But before long, Gao Shan returned.

Li Ji looked at him and asked with a frown.

"Didn’t I tell you to send them away?"

Gao Shan hurriedly said, "The people from the palace have left, but people from the Yu Royal Mansion have arrived. They say they wish to see the Heir of Prince Yu."

Everyone in the room turned to look at Hua Manman.

Li Xun grabbed his mother’s sleeve, afraid she would leave.

The knuckles of the hand Li Ji used to hold his chopsticks turned white. He stared at Hua Manman with a dark gaze.

From his posture, it seemed as if Hua Manman had only to nod, and he would immediately rush over, knock her unconscious, and lock her away.

Hua Manman calmly replied with two words.

"I refuse."

’She was almost sold off by the people from the Yu Royal Mansion last night. She’d have to be an idiot to go back.’

Li Xun’s eyes lit up in an instant, and a huge smile appeared on his small face.

Li Ji’s body relaxed.

He picked up a soup dumpling with his chopsticks and placed it in his bowl. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and the gloom that had clouded his features was swept away.

Without asking another word, Gao Shan silently withdrew from the dining hall.

「Outside the gates of the Regent Prince Mansion.」

Ban Ren’s brows were knitted with worry, and he was filled with anxiety.

He had tried several times to rush in and see the Princely Heir but was stopped each time by the trusted aides guarding the entrance.

In the end, he could only turn his head to look at Mr. Du standing beside him.

"Sir, will the Princely Heir really agree to see us?"

Mr. Du was dressed in blue-green robes, with one hand clasped behind his back. His posture was ramrod straight, making him look as tall and handsome as a green bamboo stalk.

He spoke the truth. "I’m not certain either."

’Judging from the Princely Heir’s attitude last night, she must have grown completely cold toward the Yu Royal Mansion.’

’If I were in the Princely Heir’s position, I wouldn’t easily forgive the people of the Yu Royal Mansion either.’

’Even so, we must come to see the Princely Heir.’

’Whether the Princely Heir is willing to see us is one thing, but whether we come to see her is another.’

A servant hurried out.

He bowed to Mr. Du and Ban Ren.

"Apologies, the Heir of Prince Yu’s injuries have not yet healed. It is not convenient to receive guests at this time."

Mr. Du was not surprised by this result.

He glanced at the guard beside him.

The guard understood, quickly ran down the steps, and retrieved a bundle from the carriage.

Mr. Du took the bundle from the guard’s hands and presented it to the servant.

"Our Princely Heir was injured last night, and we are very worried about her. Inside here is some wound medicine we prepared for her, as well as two sets of clean clothes and some of her daily necessities. Please trouble yourself to pass them on to her."

"Very well." The servant accepted the heavy bundle with both hands.

Mr. Du said, "We will come to visit the Young Master again in two days. We hope everyone in the mansion will take good care of our Princely Heir. Farewell."

As the two turned to leave, Ban Ren couldn’t help but ask.

"Are we just leaving like this?"

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