The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

Chapter 572: Chapter 575: A Highly Profitable Deal

When Hua Manman appeared in a flowing dress, a gold hairpin adorning her hair, the corner of Mr. Du’s eye twitched.

He immediately turned his head to look at Li Yu, who was kneeling beside him.

Sure enough, he saw a look of intense astonishment on Li Yu’s face.

Mr. Du hurriedly explained.

"When our Young Master was a child, a fortune-teller read his fate and said it clashed with his father’s. For this reason, the Young Master has dressed as a girl since he was little. It’s to resolve the clashing destinies between father and son."

Li Yu came to his senses, the realization dawning on him.

’So that’s why!’

He watched the graceful woman walk toward him.

Even though he now knew the other person was a man, he couldn’t help but be struck by his beauty.

He didn’t look out of place in a dress at all.

’In fact, he was damn good-looking!’

Hua Manman sat down with graceful elegance and, looking at the two men before her, asked,

"What can I do for you two?"

Mr. Du deferred to Li Yu, letting him speak first.

"Heir of Prince Qing, please, you first."

Li Yu looked at the beauty with skin like snow and lips of red, and his heart couldn’t help but beat a little faster.

"I came to thank you for saving me. Also, this dagger... you accidentally dropped it. I’m returning it to its rightful owner."

He took the dagger from his robes and presented it with both hands.

However, Hua Manman did not reach out to take it.

She looked at Mr. Du.

"This dagger belongs to the Yu Royal Mansion. You can just give it back to Mr. Du.

From now on, I have nothing to do with the Yu Royal Mansion. Please don’t come to me with their affairs again."

Li Yu froze, utterly bewildered.

’He clearly didn’t understand why things had turned out this way.’

Mr. Du hadn’t expected Lu Man to dare say such things in front of an outsider.

’She really intends to sever all ties with the Yu Royal Mansion!’

The smile vanished from Mr. Du’s face. He said sternly,

"Young Master, you are Prince Yu’s direct grandson. As the saying goes, blood is thicker than water.

Even if you and Prince Yu have had a disagreement, you shouldn’t say something so serious."

Hua Manman said, "It seems you’re still in the dark, Mr. Du."

Mr. Du asked cautiously, "In the dark about what?"

Hua Manman glanced at Li Yu beside them and asked pointedly,

"Are you sure you want me to discuss this in front of an outsider?"

Li Yu was stung by her use of the word "outsider," and his eyes dimmed.

Mr. Du looked at him and asked politely,

"Could you give us a moment to speak alone, Princely Heir?"

Li Yu sullenly walked out.

With a wave of her hand, Hua Manman dismissed everyone else from the room.

Soon, only she and Mr. Du remained.

Mr. Du was the first to act, falling to his knees and pleading.

"I was foolish before. I almost ruined your important plans and even caused you to be injured, Young Master.

It was all my fault. I am willing to accept any punishment.

I only hope that you will stop being angry, Young Master, and stop saying things like you want nothing more to do with the Yu Royal Mansion.

Also, you must keep your true identity a secret.

If outsiders were to learn that you are a woman, it won’t just be you—the entire Yu Royal Mansion will be charged with the crime of deceiving the emperor."

Hua Manman remained seated, unmoving.

Only after he had finished did she speak, her voice unhurried.

"It seems you only know that I’m a woman, but you don’t know that I’m not actually Prince Yu’s biological granddaughter."

Mr. Du thought he had misheard.

He looked up at Hua Manman in disbelief.

"What did you say?"

Hua Manman then told him the truth: that Lu Man was already dead.

"To protect his title and fiefdom, Prince Yu came up with a plan to substitute another in her place.

That’s why I’ve been racking my brains for a way to escape this entire journey.

I have no connection to the Yu Royal Mansion, and I have no intention of being your puppet for the rest of my life.

If you don’t want this to end in mutual destruction, let’s just part ways amicably."

Mr. Du had never imagined this was the truth of the matter!

He had originally thought the Young Master had turned to the Regent King in a fit of pique.

He assumed that once she calmed down, she would realize she could never leave the Yu Royal Mansion.

After all, her blood relatives were still in the Yu Royal Mansion.

It was the place where she was born and raised; she couldn’t possibly sever her ties to it completely.

But the reality was completely different from what he had imagined.

The real Princely Heir had died long ago.

This woman in front of him, who looked identical to the Princely Heir, actually had no relationship with the Yu Royal Mansion whatsoever.

To her, his talk of blood ties was nothing but a joke.

The blow was too much for Mr. Du to bear, so much so that he couldn’t regain his senses for a long while.

Hua Manman felt she had said all that needed to be said.

She had nothing more to say to the people of the Yu Royal Mansion, so she picked up her teacup in a gesture of dismissal.

But Mr. Du suddenly snapped back to his senses.

"I was mistaken before. I misjudged the situation, and I will do better in the future.

You may not be the real Princely Heir, but that doesn’t stop you from continuing to live as the Heir of Prince Yu.

In the future, when you inherit Prince Yu’s title, the vast Yu fiefdom will all belong to you.

For you, this is a deal with enormous returns.

Why wouldn’t you take it?"

Mr. Du had already made his decision in that short time.

Although the woman before him was not the real Heir of Prince Yu, if he allowed her to sever ties with the Yu Royal Mansion, it would mean the end of the mansion’s future.

Without an heir, the Yu Royal Mansion could only face its own decline.

As an advisor under Prince Yu, Mr. Du naturally couldn’t just sit by and watch that happen.

He had to do everything in his power to keep Hua Manman.

Hua Manman let out a small laugh.

"Prince Yu told me something similar back then. I wanted to refuse.

But I was weak and alone at the time, unable to stand against him, so I had no choice but to submit to his arrangements.

Now, I have left the Yu Royal Mansion’s fiefdom.

Not even Prince Yu can exert his influence here.

So now, I can tell you very clearly.

I will not be returning to the Yu Royal Mansion, and I certainly will not accept being manipulated by you.

There’s nothing more to discuss between us!"

...

Li Ji had just returned from handling some matters outside.

When he learned there were guests at home, he headed straight for the reception hall.

Li Yu was standing on the veranda, staring blankly at the flowers and trees in the courtyard.

Seeing the Regent King arrive, Li Yu hurriedly bowed.

"Greetings, Regent Prince."

Li Ji gave him a cool glance. "Why are you here?"

Li Yu briefly explained the reason for his visit.

He said he was there to apologize and offer his thanks, but Li Ji knew perfectly well that the boy was just using it as an excuse to get close to Manman.

Li Ji had never been one to show mercy to love rivals.

He directly ordered his men to drag Li Yu away and forbade him from ever setting foot in the Regent Prince Mansion again.

Then, Li Ji pushed open the door and strode into the reception hall.

He arrived just in time to hear Mr. Du saying urgently,

"I know you now have the Regent King as your backer.

With the Regent King protecting you, you’re naturally full of confidence.

But have you ever considered that the Regent King can’t protect you for a lifetime?

What if he grows tired of you one day? Where will you go then?

Instead of pinning all your hopes on someone else, you should be finding a way to seize greater power for yourself!"

Li Ji: "..."

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