The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 31: New Mission

Princess Rouwan had come up empty and could only return in defeat.

Back home, the more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Her already frail body gave way, and she fell ill.

Upon hearing the news, Princess Ningyang rushed to the Duke Zhen Country Mansion to visit her daughter. She also submitted a request to the palace, asking the Emperor to send an Imperial Physician to treat her.

The Emperor, of course, agreed.

An Imperial Physician soon arrived at the Duke Zhen Country Mansion.

But regardless of how vexed Princess Rouwan was, Li Ji and Hua Manman were both in high spirits.

Hua Manman leaned against the carriage window, poking her head out to gaze at the scene outside. The road was lined with shops and bustling with people coming and going. It was a prosperous sight.

The wound on her arm had already scabbed over. It didn’t hurt much anymore, though it did get a little itchy from time to time.

As they passed the Charity Hall, Hua Manman saw a long line of people queued up at its entrance.

They were the local orphans, widows, sick, and disabled. With no way to support themselves, they relied on the Charity Hall’s relief to survive.

The Charity Hall distributed congee every morning and evening. They had been lining up since early in the morning, waiting to receive their share.

Seeing Hua Manman staring at the people in front of the Charity Hall, Li Ji remarked nonchalantly.

"The things I took from Haiyan Residence have all been exchanged for silver coins and donated to the Charity Hall."

He paused before adding.

"In your name."

Hua Manman turned her head, looking at Prince Zhao in surprise.

"Why in my name? You were the one who donated the money, Your Highness. It should be in your name."

Li Ji replied lazily, "I can’t be bothered with the hassle."

Hua Manman said sheepishly, "But you’re the one who spent the money and effort, Your Highness. For the credit to fall to me... I feel I don’t deserve it."

Li Ji wasn’t particularly interested in such trivial matters, so he simply closed his eyes and pretended to doze off.

The carriage stopped at the main gate of the Zhong’an Bo Mansion.

The butler of the Uncle’s Mansion had been waiting at the gate for some time. When he saw Prince Zhao’s carriage arrive, he hurried forward to greet them.

The butler had assumed that only the Second Miss would be returning for the customary homecoming visit.

He never expected the first person to alight from the carriage would be Prince Zhao himself. Prince Zhao was here!

The butler froze on the spot.

But he recovered in an instant, quickly suppressing his shock and bowing respectfully in greeting.

"This servant greets Your Highness and Nanny."

For her homecoming visit this time, Hua Manman not only brought Prince Zhao himself along but also a huge pile of gifts.

The day before, Princess Ningyang had sent over many fine silks, satins, tonics, and medicinal herbs. Since Hua Manman couldn’t possibly use them all herself, she brought everything back to the Zhong’an Bo Mansion.

Li Ji had also prepared some gifts.

And so, the number of things they brought with them was even greater. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Elder Zhong’an, Hua Dingzong, rushed over when he heard the news. He, too, was shocked and delighted that Prince Zhao had personally accompanied Hua Manman home.

’It seems my second daughter has truly won Prince Zhao’s favor.’

’Otherwise, with Prince Zhao’s temperament, why would he ever deign to personally accompany a mere nanny on her visit home?’

Then, when Hua Dingzong saw the gifts his second daughter had brought back—more than twenty large chests in total—he couldn’t help but beam with joy.

He gave Prince Zhao a deep, formal bow and jubilantly invited him into the Uncle’s Mansion.

The moment Hua Manman stepped through the main gate of the Uncle’s Mansion, a long-absent system notification sounded in her ear—

"Host has triggered an important story mission!"

"Please slap Hua Qingqing hard across the face. Time limit: one hour. Reward for completion: one lucky bag."

"Failure to complete the mission on time will result in the host receiving the heartache punishment."

"Please complete the mission as soon as possible!"

Hua Manman stopped in her tracks. A stampede of ten thousand alpacas galloped through her mind.

’System, you bastard! You’re trying to screw me over again!’