When Hua Manman saw Li Ying appear, she couldn’t help but freeze.
His appearance hadn’t changed much, but the aura about him was drastically different.
It was as if a beast that had long restrained itself had finally unsheathed its claws, all its former composure replaced by unbridled ferocity.
Just a single glance was enough to make one’s heart pound with fear. He was exceedingly dangerous.
Li Ying’s gaze lingered on Hua Manman’s belly for a moment before moving to her face.
He asked calmly, "How did you end up in the Imperial Palace?"
Hua Manman’s attitude was quite frank.
"The Night Owl Guard insisted on bringing me here. They said they found prohibited items in the Prince Zhao Mansion and that I had to come to the Imperial Palace to explain things clearly to Wu Wang."
In truth, Li Ying had already heard that Hua Manman had been brought into the Imperial Palace by the Night Owl Guard.
It was precisely because he knew of this that he had dropped everything and rushed over.
But he didn’t mention any of this, simply saying with a deadpan expression,
"Wu Wang must have made a mistake. I’ll have someone escort you out of the palace."
Hua Manman was surprised. "Out of the palace?"
Li Ying said, "You’re pregnant right now. It’s not good for you to be running around. Go home and rest peacefully."
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be with Manman. He knew very well that if he let her stay in the palace, it would be tantamount to making her a hostage.
And that was precisely Wu Wang’s goal.
Wu Wang, wary of the military power Prince Zhao held, had deliberately brought Hua Manman into the palace. He planned to use her and the child in her womb as bargaining chips to force Prince Zhao to make concessions.
Li Ying didn’t want to see Manman fall into danger, so his only option was to get her out of the Imperial Palace as soon as possible.
But Hua Manman was unwilling to leave.
She hadn’t seen Hua Qingqing and the Empress Dowager yet. Her goal was unfulfilled. If she left now, wouldn’t this whole trip have been for nothing?
Hua Manman pretended not to understand anything and said naively,
"I’ve only come to the palace for a visit. Why do you make it sound like I’ve walked into a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair? I think it’s quite safe here. Don’t try to scare me."
Li Ying was about to say more, but just then, Wu Wang appeared.
He was draped in a black cloak, his ink-black hair making his skin seem as pale as snow, giving him a nearly morbid, effeminate beauty.
His eyes were particularly deep and dark, like bottomless abysses that sunlight could never reach.
It was an unsettling sight.
Behind Wu Wang followed two Night Owl Guards, both with imposing presences.
They cupped their fists and bowed to Li Ying.
"Greetings, Your Highness, Prince Wu Zhang."
Li Ying’s heart grew heavy. He knew Manman wouldn’t be able to leave today.
Sure enough, the next moment, he heard Wu Wang say to Hua Manman,
"You must have been waiting for a while, Your Highness. Things have been rather busy lately. This servant was just occupied with a case, which caused a bit of a delay. I hope the Princess will not take offense.
Let’s not stand around here. We should all go inside and sit."
Wu Wang turned to the side and made an inviting gesture.
But Hua Manman refused to move.
"I heard that Chaoyang Palace used to be haunted.
This place is awfully sinister. Who knows what kinds of ghosts and goblins are hiding inside.
I’m pregnant now, and it would be terrible if I were to be afflicted by some evil spirit.
I think we should find another place, don’t you?
What does Your Highness, Prince Wu Zhang, think?"
She turned her head to look at Li Ying, his reflection visible in her beautiful eyes.
This gave Li Ying the illusion that he was the only person she could see.
He nodded involuntarily. "Yes, let’s find another place."
Wu Wang’s gaze cooled instantly. "Does the Prince also believe Chaoyang Palace isn’t clean?"
Li Ying met his gaze, and his mind cleared in an instant.
But he didn’t change his mind and insisted,
"Chaoyang Palace is indeed an unsuitable place for a pregnant woman. This Prince sees that the flowers in the Imperial Garden are blooming nicely. Why don’t we go sit there instead?"
Hua Manman immediately nodded in agreement. "Yes, yes!"
Wu Wang narrowed his eyes, concealing the viciousness deep within them, and replied with a placid expression,
"Since the Prince has spoken, let’s go sit in the Imperial Garden."
’He knew Li Ying had always been fond of Hua Manman, but this was the first time he had seen with his own eyes how easily she could sway Li Ying’s thoughts.’
’This woman was Li Ying’s fatal weakness.’
’If not for the fact that she still had some use, he would eliminate her right now to prevent Li Ying from being bewitched by her.’
It was springtime, and the flowers in the Imperial Garden were in vibrant bloom. Butterflies flapped their wings, dancing among the blossoms. The whole place was brimming with vitality, a joyous sight to behold.
With her large belly, Hua Manman was already walking slowly, yet she insisted on stopping from time to time to look around.
From the looks of it, she really might as well have been strolling through a park.
Wu Wang couldn’t help but speak up.
"This servant still has matters to attend to. Could I trouble the Princess Consort to walk a little faster?"
Hua Manman, who was fiddling with a peony, looked up at his words and smiled at him.
"Since Duzhu Wu is so busy, you should go attend to your business. Don’t mind me. I know the way back."
Her words made Wu Wang laugh in exasperation.
"Why must you play dumb, Princess?
This servant invited you to the palace, not to admire flowers and stroll through gardens.
Since you can’t seem to walk, let’s just clear things up right here.
Prohibited items were found in your mansion. How do you explain this matter?"
He had expected Hua Manman to at least offer a few words of defense, but to his surprise, the woman simply threw up her hands and said, almost like a rogue,
"The Prince brought all that stuff here. What does it have to do with me?
I don’t know anything. If you want to hold someone accountable, go find Prince Zhao. He’s a man who takes responsibility for his own actions."
Wu Wang was speechless.
’What the hell does she mean, "a man who takes responsibility for his own actions"?!’
’Is that even how you use that phrase?!’
Wu Wang’s tone grew heavy. "You and Prince Zhao are husband and wife. How could you possibly not know about his affairs?"
Hua Manman planted her hands on her hips.
"Heh, I can tell just by looking at you that you’re not married. You don’t even understand something this simple.
Even married couples have their little secrets, like hiding away some private savings or something.
Maybe those prohibited items are just Prince Zhao’s hidden savings?"
At this, she seemed to remember something, immediately dropping her hands and looking a little embarrassed.
"Oh, my apologies. I forgot you’re a eunuch. Eunuchs don’t need to get married, so of course you wouldn’t know about the things that go on between a husband and wife."
Wu Wang was speechless.
He suspected the woman was deliberately humiliating him.
Hua Manman blinked. "You wouldn’t hold such trivial matters against a little woman like me, would you?"
Wu Wang gave a cold laugh. "The Princess Consort exaggerates. This servant is merely a castrated man of humble status. How would I dare to hold anything against you?"
Hua Manman hurriedly tried to console him.
"Oh dear, even if you’re speaking the truth, you shouldn’t say it in front of everyone.
As the saying goes, a hero’s origins are not questioned!
Even if you’re a castrated man, you must be independent and strong. You must never look down on yourself.
You have to believe that you’re the best!"
As she finished, she even pumped her little fist in a cheering gesture.
You could say she was overflowing with positive energy.
However, Wu Wang didn’t feel any of that positive energy. In fact, he felt like killing someone.