Hua Manman stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief.
’He... he actually agreed?!’
Her dazed, foolish expression pleased Li Ji, slightly improving his mood.
After taking the medicine bottle, he sniffed it casually.
"Mm, its effect is quite good."
Then, he brazenly tucked the bottle of Wind Oil Essence into his sleeve, claiming it as his own.
Hua Manman was dumbfounded.
’What the hell? You can’t just do that!’
’There are still five days left on this journey. My life depends on that bottle of Wind Oil Essence!’
She held back for as long as she could, but finally couldn’t stop herself from asking.
"Regent Prince, that... can you give that back to me?"
Li Ji feigned ignorance. "What ’that’?"
Hua Manman extended a slender, pale finger, pointed at his sleeve, and reminded him in a small voice.
"The Wind Oil Essence."
Li Ji’s thin lips curved into a cold smile.
"I’ve taken quite a liking to this Wind Oil Essence. I can’t return it to you for now."
Hua Manman was speechless with rage.
’She really wanted to grab him by the collar and roar.’
’Could you be any more shameless?’
’That’s my Wind Oil Essence! What gives you the right to take it? What right?!’
But in the end, she could only pretend to be generous, forcing a smile while her heart ached.
"Since you like it, Your Highness, please consider it a gift."
Li Ji replied pretentiously, "Many thanks for the Princely Heir’s generosity."
The effects of the Wind Oil Essence were limited.
Before long, Hua Manman started to feel dizzy and light-headed again.
Just as she was about to pass out from the carriage’s swaying, she suddenly heard the man ask a question.
"Do you really not remember anything from the past?"
Hua Manman was jolted awake.
She looked up and met the Regent King’s dark, deep eyes.
’Ever since they met, this man had been probing into her past without any attempt to conceal it, as if he wasn’t afraid of anyone discovering his intentions at all.’
’Hua Manman didn’t understand what was so special about her that he would investigate her again and again.’
She answered cautiously.
"It’s not that I don’t remember anything at all. At least I still remember how to eat, drink, and get dressed."
She paused, then added in a small voice.
"And how to write."
Li Ji watched her intently. "Has anyone ever told you that your handwriting is somewhat similar to mine?"
Hua Manman nodded honestly. "Yes, someone did say that."
Li Ji: "Haven’t you ever wondered why?"
Of course Hua Manman had wondered about the reason.
’But she just couldn’t come up with a reasonable explanation.’
With a pained expression, she said in a self-deprecating tone.
"Maybe it’s because I’m an unparalleled genius, born with the ability to write beautifully."
Li Ji: "..."
He was so amused by her shamelessness that he let out an exasperated laugh.
"If you’re so amazing, why not take the imperial examination? Perhaps you could even become this year’s top scholar."
Hua Manman retorted as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"But I’m already the Princely Heir of the Yu Royal Mansion!
Even if I don’t take the imperial exam, I can still enjoy a comfortable life of wealth and luxury.
Since I can win effortlessly, why would I want to fight tooth and nail with so many other candidates for a single spot?
It’s not like I have nothing better to do."
Li Ji sneered, "You’re quite ambitious, aren’t you."
Hua Manman wiggled the stray lock of hair on her head and said modestly.
"I do alright, I guess."
Li Ji changed the subject. "I’ve heard that Prince Yu was a formidable figure on the battlefield in his youth, a renowned hero.
As Prince Yu’s eldest legitimate grandson, your skills must be impressive as well, I presume?
We should set a time to spar someday."
Hua Manman gave an awkward yet polite smile.
"I’m afraid not, Your Highness. I have amnesia now. Even if I had learned martial arts before, I’ve certainly forgotten it all. I’m afraid I can’t accompany you for a spar."
’Are you kidding me?!’
’A lazy bum like her—who would lie down rather than sit, and sit rather than stand—could barely pass a gym class. How could she possibly know martial arts?!’
Li Ji heard her inner thoughts, but his expression didn’t change.
"Then before your amnesia, did you have any glorious achievements?
I refuse to believe that the eldest legitimate grandson, personally raised by Prince Yu, has no skills whatsoever.
In his youth, Prince Yu could take on ten men at once without a problem.
You can’t be that much worse than him, can you?"
Hua Manman: "Your Highness, you truly overestimate me. My best record in the past was taking on five at once."
’She remembered that one time in the King’s Canyon, when five opponents were chasing her down to kill her.’
’That could be considered taking on five at once, I guess.’
Li Ji was intrigued. "Then you are quite formidable, to be able to win against five."
Hua Manman’s expression turned world-weary. "No, I lost."
’She’d run a full lap around the canyon, but still couldn’t escape the enemy’s pursuit and was wiped out in one go.’
Li Ji: "..."
Although he didn’t understand what kind of place "King’s Canyon" was.
He had a feeling they weren’t talking about the same thing.
Even though they were talking at cross-purposes, it at least helped distract Hua Manman, making her feel less sick.
Along the way, the convoy stopped to rest.
The horses were led to a stream for water, while the trusted aides inspected the carriages for any safety hazards.
Hua Manman hopped off the carriage, holding a bag of meat jerky.
The moment she steadied herself, Mr. Du and Ban Ren appeared in her line of sight.
’Here they come again, here they come again! The leeches are back!’
Hua Manman tossed a piece of jerky into her mouth and turned to walk in the opposite direction.
Mr. Du called out loudly.
"Young Master, where are you going?"
Without looking back, Hua Manman replied, "To get some fresh air."
The footsteps behind her grew closer.
She didn’t need to turn around to know that Mr. Du and Ban Ren had caught up.
Mr. Du: "Young Master, did you do that on purpose yesterday?"
Chewing on her jerky, Hua Manman asked blankly.
"What?"
Seeing her play dumb, Mr. Du didn’t get angry and kept his smiling expression.
"Prince Yu ordered us to follow you to ensure your safety. I hope you can understand.
I will not tell Prince Yu what happened yesterday.
But please, do not do anything like that again. It’s too dangerous."
Hua Manman understood the threat in his words.
’If she caused any more trouble, he would go and tattle to Prince Yu.’
’Outsiders might not know, but she knew perfectly well.’
’She wasn’t Prince Yu’s biological granddaughter. He had no affection for her whatsoever. To him, killing her would be no different from crushing an ant.’
Hua Manman pretended to be frightened and nodded obediently.
"I understand. I won’t do it again."
’As if!’
’She wasn’t an idiot. She wasn’t going to let this group of people coerce her.’
’The next chance she got, she was still going to run!’
’She desperately wanted to live the lazy life of a freeloader, but that was only on the condition that her own safety was guaranteed.’
’Right now, her life was in someone else’s hands. At any moment, she could go from being a lazy bum to a dead one.’
’She had to fight back, no matter what!’
The rest break ended. Everyone returned to their positions, preparing to set off again.
Hua Manman walked toward the carriage.
But halfway there, the Regent King grabbed her by the back of her collar.
He carried her forward as if she were a little chick.