It was true that Wu Wang had chosen to become a eunuch of his own free will.
But it had been a choice made out of desperation.
No man would want to become a eunuch, and Wu Wang was no exception.
Now, Hua Manman kept calling him a eunuch, and each word was like a knife stabbing into his heart.
Seeing Wu Wang’s expression grow darker, Li Ying quietly took a step forward, shielding Hua Manman behind him.
Li Ying said, "Since Princess Consort Zhao says this matter has nothing to do with her, let her go."
Wu Wang replied, "Your Highness must be joking. A case can’t be decided by hearing only one side of the story.
Princess Consort Zhao is a person of interest. Of course she’ll do everything she can to deny involvement and save her own skin.
What she says is not credible.
I will have to investigate this matter further.
Until the truth is brought to light, I must ask Princess Consort Zhao to remain in the palace and not run around."
He spoke the last three words with emphasis, a hint of malice in his voice.
Hua Manman was stunned. "Are you putting me under house arrest?"
Wu Wang no longer wanted to waste his breath on this woman.
He ignored her question and ordered in a deep voice.
"Guards! Escort Princess Consort Zhao to Chaoyang Palace. She is not to take a single step outside without my order."
The two Night Owl Guards behind him immediately stepped forward, preparing to seize her.
But Li Ying firmly shielded Hua Manman behind him, not allowing anyone to touch her.
Wu Wang said, "Your Highness, I know what you’re thinking. Rest assured, I won’t harm a single hair on her head for now. She’ll be perfectly comfortable in Chaoyang Palace."
Li Ying enunciated each word. "She is innocent. Don’t drag her into this."
Wu Wang let out a laugh, his voice tinged with cruelty.
"Wasn’t your mother innocent? But did anyone spare her?"
Li Ying remembered the abuse his mother had endured before her death, and he had no rebuttal.
The world never spares someone just because they’re innocent.
His raised arm slowly lowered.
He said, "Don’t touch her. I will escort her to Chaoyang Palace myself."
Wu Wang stepped aside, clearing a path.
Li Ying didn’t dare to look Manman in the eye. With his gaze lowered, he explained...
"I’ll go with you to Chaoyang Palace. If the conditions there are poor, I’ll find another place for you."
Hua Manman agreed.
「They returned to Chaoyang Palace.」
The place was still old and worn, but it had been tidied up and looked clean enough. Everything necessary was provided.
Wu Wang asked with a smirk, "I wonder if the Princess is satisfied with this place?"
But Hua Manman avoided the question.
"I hear this place is haunted. Have you had anyone perform an exorcism here?"
Wu Wang: "I do not believe in ghosts or gods."
Hua Manman: "Well, I do! Can’t you get a few Daoist priests and monks to come perform a ritual?"
Wu Wang flatly rejected her request.
"As long as the Princess has no ghosts in her heart, she will be immune to all evil."
Hua Manman retorted confidently.
"And who says my heart is free of ghosts?
I’ve accidentally stepped on ants, and I’ve eaten lots of chickens, ducks, and fish.
Now they’ve all become ghosts. What if they team up and come after me for revenge?
You can’t just leave me to my fate!
I’m pregnant! Pregnant women shouldn’t be subjected to stress!"
After speaking, she deliberately puffed out her pregnant belly, looking ready to fake a fall at a moment’s notice.
Wu Wang was beginning to understand. You couldn’t give this woman an opening to speak. Once she started, she’d blabber on endlessly, spouting all sorts of nonsense and twisting the truth.
He didn’t want to waste time on a pointless squabble with her, so he simply turned and walked away.
Even from a distance, he could still hear the woman yelling.
"Remember to get me lots of Daoist priests and monks!"
Wu Wang quickened his pace and was soon out of Chaoyang Palace.
Only when Wu Wang’s figure was completely out of sight did Hua Manman shut her mouth and plop down onto the soft couch.
She looked at Li Ying standing in the room and asked.
"What is Prince Wu Zhang still doing here?"
Li Ying felt guilty and had to muster his courage just to look up at her.
He thought he would see emotions like disappointment, resentment, or grievance on her face.
But there was nothing.
She just looked at him, her beautiful eyes holding nothing but curiosity.
Li Ying asked, stunned.
"Aren’t you angry?"
Hua Manman was completely confused. "Why would I be angry?"
"I failed to protect you," Li Ying said, his voice bitter. "I let them lock you up in here."
Hua Manman grew even more baffled. "What does me being locked up have to do with you? We’re not... anything to each other. Why would I need your protection?"
Li Ying froze.
She said it so casually, so naturally.
He couldn’t find even a hint that she was just putting on a brave face.
’So, in her heart, he was just a stranger.’
’She wasn’t angry that he’d backed down, and she didn’t feel wronged by his apology.’
’She didn’t care about him in the slightest.’
The realization was a knife to the heart, and a chill ran through his entire body.
After a long moment, he finally murmured.
"Have you forgotten? That I once promised to protect you?"
Hua Manman shook her head. "I don’t remember. When did you say something like that?"
Li Ying’s tone became even more pained. "When we were children, we were kidnapped by human traffickers. You were very scared then, so to comfort you, I told you I would always protect you."
’He never imagined she would have completely forgotten something he had cherished his entire life.’
Hua Manman said apologetically.
"I think I told you before, right? I was very sick once, and after I recovered, I forgot everything that happened after I was kidnapped. So, I don’t remember any of the things you’re talking about."
Li Ying forced his numb legs to move, walking step-by-step until he stopped in front of Hua Manman.
He then slowly lowered himself, kneeling on one knee. He looked up slightly, his gaze fixed on Hua Manman.
At this moment, he could see every slight change of emotion in her eyes.
"Even though you’ve forgotten, I am still going to fulfill my promise. I will protect you."
Hua Manman blinked. "Am I supposed to say thank you?"
Li Ying: "You never have to thank me."
Hua Manman: "Then what should I say?"
Li Ying: "Say whatever you want."
Hua Manman mulled it over for a long while before finally uttering a single sentence.
"Actually, I think... you’re quite pitiful."
Li Ying froze, as if he never imagined she would say such a thing.
’Is she pitying me?’
Hua Manman continued, "A small bit of warmth from childhood is enough for you to remember for so long. It shows that you’ve hardly ever been genuinely cared for in your entire life. Isn’t that pitiful?"
Her tone could even be described as gentle.
But to Li Ying’s ears, it was as sharp as a knife.
’The part of himself he was most reluctant to acknowledge had been ripped open and laid bare for her to see.’
’For an instant, he even felt the urge to kill her.’