Hua Manman finally managed to calm Madam He down. Then, she pulled Qing Huan and Si Yun aside and gave them quiet instructions.
"If I’m not back before dark, take the family letter hidden under my pillow and deliver it to Bian Ziming."
"Tell Bian Ziming to have someone deliver that letter to Prince Zhao."
"Also, he must send men here to escort my parents and family, and Princess Rouwan, to the Tiger Roar Camp."
"You must remind Bian Ziming that if anything happens to my family or Prince Zhao’s, he won’t just lose his future—he’ll lose his life."
"Got it?"
Si Yun wiped her tears and nodded. "I understand."
Qing Huan said, "Let me... accompany... the Princess Consort... to... the palace."
Hearing this, Si Yun quickly added, "I want to go with the Princess Consort to the palace too!"
Hua Manman said, "If you both go to the palace with me, who will deliver my message? You’re the only ones I can trust right now."
Si Yun struggled with the decision, but finally gritted her teeth and made a choice.
"I’ll deliver the letter for you. Let Qing Huan accompany you to the palace. She knows martial arts. If you run into danger, she can help you."
Qing Huan gazed at the Princess Consort, her eyes full of pleading.
Hua Manman thought for a moment before finally nodding.
"Alright, we’ll do that."
Yan Zhi’s impatient voice came from outside the door.
"Is the Princess Consort not ready yet? We don’t have much time."
"I’m ready." With Qing Huan’s support, Hua Manman stepped over the threshold.
Madam He’s voice followed her. "Be careful. You must protect yourself. We’ll be waiting for you at home."
Hua Manman looked back and smiled at her. "Yes, I’ll be back as soon as I can."
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Hua Manman left the estate with the Night Owl Guard and boarded the carriage.
The carriage entered Shangjing and stopped at the palace gates.
Qing Huan helped the Princess Consort out of the carriage.
A palanquin was already waiting near the palace gates.
The eunuch standing beside the palanquin said politely, "Princess, please be seated."
Hua Manman sat down in the palanquin.
The palanquin moved forward slowly, passing through long palace corridors and making several turns before finally stopping in front of Chaoyang Palace.
Hua Manman looked up at the plaque hanging above the main gate. She had been here three times, and not once had it been for anything good.
’This place really does have a sinister air about it.’
’No wonder everyone in the palace speaks of it in hushed, fearful tones.’
The eunuch said to her.
"The Supervisor is still busy. Please go inside and wait for a moment."
Qing Huan said indignantly, "He’s actually... making... our... Princess Consort... wait for him? Who does... he think... he is?!"
The eunuch’s expression changed, his attitude taking a complete one-eighty.
He said coldly, "Little girl, don’t blame me for not warning you. Watch your mouth and remember where you are. If you say the wrong thing, you’ll be the one to suffer."
Hua Manman said with disdain.
"Don’t you throw your weight around here!"
"I am Prince Zhao’s lawfully wedded Princess Consort. Wu Wang is nothing but a eunuch."
"The fact that I’ve deigned to grant him an audience is already a great honor, and he dares to put on airs with me?"
"In that case, I don’t want to see him anymore. It’ll save me the misfortune of looking at him."
"Qing Huan, we’re leaving!"
The two prepared to turn and leave.
This frightened the eunuch, whose face instantly paled. He hurriedly begged for mercy.
"Princess, please forgive me! It was my fault for speaking out of turn."
"I didn’t mean it. I beg you, don’t lower yourself to my level!"
"Please, go inside. I’ll go inform the Supervisor right now. He will come to see you very soon."
Hua Manman put on a condescending air and said arrogantly.
"Where is that scoundrel Wu Wang? Just take me directly to him."
The eunuch waved his hands frantically. "I can’t do that! The Supervisor is busy interrogating a prisoner. The scene is very bloody. You would certainly be frightened if you saw it. It’s better for you to wait here peacefully."
Hua Manman raised an eyebrow and sneered.
"What kind of prisoner could he be interrogating?"
"It’s nothing more than him having eavesdropped on some noble family and now wanting to fabricate a major case."
"But since he has no evidence, all he can do is use torture to force a confession."
"Tsk tsk, how shameless!"
The eunuch broke out in a cold sweat listening to her but didn’t dare to talk back. He was terrified that this difficult lady would get upset and storm off again.
In the end, he could only force a smile. "You must be tired standing here with your large belly. It’s better to go inside and rest for a while. I have already had tea and refreshments prepared for you."
Hua Manman glanced at Chaoyang Palace behind her and said with a half-smile.
"So they serve refreshments in the Cold Palace now? I didn’t realize the accommodations in the Cold Palace had gotten so good."
The eunuch gave a sheepish laugh. "There is much going on in the palace right now, and we couldn’t free up another place to receive you. We can only trouble you to sit here for a short while."
Hua Manman knew perfectly well.
’This eunuch’s words sounded pleasant, just saying he was letting her sit in Chaoyang Palace for a while.’
’In reality, once she stepped into Chaoyang Palace, getting out again would be as difficult as climbing to heaven.’
She said deliberately, "But I’m not very tired right now. Since that eunuch Wu Wang is busy and has no time for me, why don’t you let me wander around the palace for a bit? It won’t be too late for him to find me after he’s finished his business."
She called him a "eunuch" with every other word, the term rolling off her tongue with ease. The eunuch, however, was breaking out in a cold sweat and looked about to cry.
"Y-You can’t do this!"
"The Supervisor ordered me to bring you to Chaoyang Palace. If you go somewhere else, I won’t be able to bear the consequences when he questions me!"
"I beg you, have mercy! Please don’t make things difficult for me! I’ll kowtow to you!"
With that, he dropped to his knees and began to kowtow forcefully, his head hitting the ground with loud THUDS.
Hua Manman took a step back.
"I just want to take a little walk. Why are you being so serious? If you’re determined not to let me wander around, then I’ll just have to..."
The eunuch thought Princess Consort Zhao had changed her mind and felt a surge of joy.
’It seems my tactic of playing the victim worked.’
’As expected, you have to use this kind of soft approach to deal with women.’
However, in the next moment, he heard the Princess Consort continue.
"...then I’ll just have to ignore you. Kneel for as long as you like. They’re your knees, after all. If you ruin them, you’ll be the one in pain. What does it have to do with me? Hehe~"
The eunuch was speechless.
’What the hell? Are those even the words of a human being?!’
Hua Manman said to Qing Huan, "Let’s go. We’ll take a look around."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Qing Huan supported the Princess Consort as they walked away.
The eunuch shouted several times but couldn’t stop them. He had to scramble to his feet and hurry after them, blocking their path.
"Princess, the palace has its rules. You cannot run around freely."
Hua Manman said, "I’m not running around freely. I’m just taking a casual stroll."
The eunuch really wanted to curse at her.
’Isn’t a casual stroll the same as running around freely?!’
’Do you think changing the words changes the meaning?!’
Just as they were caught in this tangle, a group of people approached from the distance.
The man in the lead wore a dark, ink-colored brocade robe and a Jade Crown. He was tall and stood as straight as a statue, with cold, chiseled features. His deep-set eyes were like bottomless, icy pools, inspiring awe and fear in all who met his gaze.
The eunuch hastily knelt. "This servant greets His Highness, Prince Wu Zhang!"
...
P.S. Manman and the little bun will be fine. This story has a happy ending, so please don’t yell at me. QAQ