The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

Chapter 607: Chapter 610: Prisoner

Although Hua Manman was in disguise, the sharp-eyed Lu Wanqing still recognized her.

Lu Wanqing stopped involuntarily, her gaze fixed on her.

Hua Manman’s heart began to race.

’During her time at the Yu Royal Mansion, she’d had almost no contact with the young woman before her. But she could sense that this "sister" held no fondness for her—in fact, she seemed to downright loathe her.’

’Given their awful relationship, Hua Manman worried Lu Wanqing would expose her on the spot.’

’If that happened, their entire plan would be for naught.’

A guard shoved Lu Wanqing hard, his voice rough as he berated her.

"Why’d you stop moving? You expect us to carry you?"

If she were still the second young lady of the Yu Royal Mansion, she could certainly have people carry her. But now she was a prisoner, and the mansion staff naturally paid her no mind.

Lu Wanqing silently averted her gaze and started walking again.

’It seemed she had no intention of exposing her.’

Hua Manman breathed a silent sigh of relief.

She looked at the tightly bound Lu Wanqing, and an idea struck her. She deliberately loosened her grip.

The heavy wooden box came crashing down.

She immediately hopped back with a pained cry. "My foot! It hurts!"

She’d jumped back so hastily that her foot slipped, and she stumbled right into Lu Wanqing!

In the past, the guards would have rushed to protect Lu Wanqing, preventing this scrawny, foul-smelling boy from touching her and sullying her honor.

But now she was a mere prisoner. Who cared if she lived or died?

Far from helping Lu Wanqing, the guards all took a step back in unison.

They let Hua Manman crash right into Lu Wanqing.

Unable to take the impact, Lu Wanqing went down, and the two of them fell to the ground in a heap.

For the second young lady of the Yu Royal Mansion to be pinned to the ground in public by some boy in coarse rags was a complete and utter humiliation.

Lu Wanqing’s face flushed crimson, her expression a mixture of shame and fury.

"Get off me!"

Hua Manman scrambled to her feet and limped backward. "I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to."

Yue Niang chimed in with an apology as well. "This boy is so clumsy. Please, my lady, don’t stoop to his level."

With that, she reached out to help Lu Wanqing up.

But the guards blocked Yue Niang, preventing her from getting near Lu Wanqing.

One of the guards sneered.

"She’s no noble lady anymore. Don’t you go making that mistake."

The guards roughly hauled Lu Wanqing to her feet and shoved her forward.

A flush still lingered on Lu Wanqing’s face and her eyes burned with indignation, clearly still fuming over the incident.

What no one knew was that a dagger was now hidden in her sleeve.

Hua Manman had silently slipped it into her hand during the collision.

In that instant, the two had reached a tacit understanding.

They played their parts perfectly, arousing no suspicion.

Hua Manman hoisted the wooden box again. She, Li Liao, and Li Ji followed Yue Niang through a circular archway.

Guards and a personal attendant stood watch outside the door.

The attendant first sized Yue Niang up, then spoke.

"You may enter, but the men you brought must remain outside."

Yue Niang glanced back at the three of them.

"Wait here. I’ll be right back."

Hua Manman nodded. "Okay."

Yue Niang stepped over the threshold into the room.

She immediately saw Lu Kai sitting on a low daybed.

Lu Kai was clutching the Jade Pendant, his eyes fixed on the corner of a table. He seemed to be lost in thought, his mind clearly elsewhere.

Hearing footsteps, he glanced sideways at the newcomer.

"You’re Yue Niang?"

Yue Niang curtsied. "I am."

Lu Kai looked her up and down. "You look familiar."

Yue Niang replied, "My grandmother’s surname is Hang. She was a nanny who served you. I myself came to the mansion not long ago to perform for you."

Her explanation jogged his memory.

"Oh, it’s you!"

Yue Niang said, "Second Master, you once asked my grandmother and I to keep an eye out for new faces in the city. Recently, I did find two suspicious individuals. I imagine you’ve already noticed them as well—the two outsiders staying at the Penglai Inn."

The moment she mentioned the Penglai Inn, Lu Kai knew who she was talking about.

He had learned two days ago that a pair of outsiders had checked into the Penglai Inn.

Although they claimed to be traveling merchants on business, they had been secretly asking about the Yu Royal Mansion, which was highly suspicious.

Lu Kai had sent men to arrest and interrogate them, but both groups he dispatched had vanished without a trace.

The matter had infuriated Lu Kai.

He was planning to find some pretext to dispatch soldiers, surround the Penglai Inn, and catch them like fish in a barrel.

He hadn’t expected Yue Niang to show up at this very moment, bringing up the Penglai Inn herself.

This piqued Lu Kai’s interest even more.

"What is it you’re trying to say?"

Yue Niang said, "I have not disappointed you, Second Master. I devised a plan to poison those two men, and I’ve brought their heads as proof, hoping to earn your approval."

Lu Kai was stunned.

He had sent so many elite assassins after those two, and all of them had failed.

’How could this delicate-looking young woman possibly have killed them?’

Sensing his skepticism, Yue Niang offered an explanation.

"I used my feminine charms to make the two men lower their guard and secretly poisoned their food. I also hired three Rangers to cut off their heads and bring them here to the Yu Royal Mansion."

In this day and age, most so-called Rangers were little more than idle thugs.

For the right price, they’d do anything.

Seeing her answer so fluently and without hesitation, Lu Kai was about thirty percent convinced.

Yue Niang continued, "If you don’t believe me, Second Master, you can see the heads for yourself. You can also question the three Rangers."

She paused, then shot the Second Master a coy glance and suggested softly.

"What you may not know, Second Master, is that those three Rangers are quite skilled and very courageous. If you were to take them under your wing, you might find yourself with three new, formidable warriors at your command."

Her words struck a chord with Lu Kai.

He was preparing to make a big move and was in desperate need of capable men.

He was willing to take anyone under his command, regardless of their origins, as long as they could be of use to him.

"Let them in," Lu Kai said immediately.

As was customary, Hua Manman, Li Ji, and Li Liao had to be searched before entering.

Before the guards could move, Hua Manman took the initiative, pulling open her collar and rolling up her sleeves and pant legs. She openly presented herself for inspection, showing them with her actions that she carried no weapons.

Li Ji and Li Liao followed her lead.

Once they confirmed the three were not carrying anything dangerous, the guards opened the door and let them pass.

The three of them walked in, carrying the wooden box.

Their heads were bowed low, a picture of utmost respect.

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