The plot was now deviating from the original novel.

Hua Qingqing, who was supposed to enter the palace through the imperial selection, had instead entered after an unexpected encounter with the Emperor.

But Hua Qingqing still became friends with Liu Seward.

From the looks of it, they were clearly getting along very well.

Even if their relationship hadn’t yet reached the stage of telling each other everything, as it did later in the novel, it seemed that day wouldn’t be far off if things continued this way.

Hua Manman couldn’t help but sigh internally at the formidable power of the plot once again.

Even if the story strayed a little from the main path, it could still forcibly drag itself back on track.

Hua Qingqing briefly introduced Liu Seward. Hua Manman, still maintaining her persona as the brainless side character, deliberately put on an arrogant and prideful act.

"I’m about to return to the Prince Mansion. I hope you’ll behave yourself in the palace from now on and not bring shame upon our Zhong’an Bo Mansion."

Hua Qingqing noticed a strand of hair sticking up on her head and smoothed it down for her, replying with a smile.

"Alright, I understand."

Like a cat with its fur on end, Hua Manman’s eyes went wide. "Why are you touching my head?"

If you were to make a meme of her right now, it would probably be a squawking orange cat with the caption: "Audacious peasant! How dare you try to harm Us?!"

Hua Qingqing pointed to her hair and explained softly.

"A strand of your hair was sticking up. I was just patting it down for you."

Realizing she had misunderstood, Hua Manman’s face flushed bright red. Though clearly embarrassed, she insisted stubbornly.

"My business is none of your concern."

With that, she bolted as if escaping.

Hua Qingqing stood where she was, watching as Prince Zhao and his wife rode away in their carriage.

Liu Seward said with a smile, "I finally see why you always say your younger sister is cute. She really is."

Especially when she bristles like that. It makes you want to pat her on the head.

Hua Qingqing looked away and said helplessly, "She’s just too contrary. She always says the opposite of what she means."

Liu Seward knew she was just being modest.

If anyone else had agreed and said something bad about her sister, she would have gotten angry immediately.

Of course, Liu Seward was not that tactless. She smiled and said.

"Being contrary is better than hiding a dagger behind a smile."

Hua Qingqing laughed as well. "That’s true."

’This palace is filled with people who have honeyed words and a sword in their belly, isn’t it?’

The two of them chatted as they walked back.

「Inside the carriage.」

Hua Manman noticed that Li Ji was staring at her.

She couldn’t help but touch her cheek.

"Your Highness, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"

Li Ji didn’t answer.

He suddenly reached out and vigorously ruffled Hua Manman’s hair.

Although he hadn’t been standing next to Hua Manman earlier, he had seen from a distance that Hua Qingqing had openly touched Hua Manman’s head.

As her lawful husband, how could he let himself be one-upped like that? Of course, he had to touch her head too before he’d be satisfied.

Hua Manman was completely baffled.

’What is this damn man freaking out about today?’

Everyone from the Prince Zhao Mansion had been released and sent back.

The entire household was overjoyed to learn that Prince Zhao had returned safely.

Gao Shan was so moved his eyes turned red.

He had specially arranged for a brazier and pomelo leaves to be prepared.

After Prince Zhao stepped over the brazier and washed his hands with pomelo leaf water, Gao Shan bowed in each of the four cardinal directions, muttering under his breath.

"Thank you, Bodhisattva, for blessing the Prince and allowing him to return safely."

Seeing how happy everyone was, Hua Manman took the initiative to double everyone’s monthly wages.

Just for this month, of course.

Everyone was, naturally, overcome with joy. They knelt and kowtowed one after another, thanking the Princess for her generosity.

’So when other people call me ’Princess Consort,’ it sounds perfectly normal,’ Hua Manman thought. ’Only Prince Zhao makes it sound so improper.’

’It seems it’s because he’s an improper person himself.’

Li Ji, who had inadvertently heard his wife’s inner thoughts: "..."

’I’m a perfectly decent, upstanding man. How am I improper?’

’This is absolute slander!’

An ordinary person, when faced with slander, would certainly do their best to defend themselves.

But Li Ji was no ordinary person.

He felt that since he had already been slandered, he couldn’t just bear the infamy for nothing. He had to do something improper to live up to Hua Manman’s assessment of him.

So, once the two of them were back in their room, Li Ji swept Hua Manman up into his arms.

Hua Manman was startled and cried out, "What are you doing?"

Li Ji grinned mischievously.

"It’s the middle of the day. What do you think I could possibly be doing?"

He carried Hua Manman over to the bed with large strides and placed her down on it.

Having been teased and flirted with so many times, Hua Manman was very experienced.

The moment she landed on the bed, she rolled nimbly to the very back, against the wall.

She grabbed a nearby pillow and held it in front of her like a shield, shouting.

"Don’t you dare do anything reckless!"

Li Ji reached for the hem of her skirt and asked, "What if I do? What can you do about it?"

Hua Manman hurriedly reached out to hold her skirt down.

Li Ji seized the opportunity to snatch the pillow she was holding in her other hand.

He casually tossed the meddlesome pillow aside and leaned in closer.

With the wall behind her, Hua Manman had nowhere left to retreat.

She was trapped in the man’s arms.

’He’s pinning me to the wall again!’

This time, Hua Manman couldn’t slip out from under his arm.

She could only press her hands against the man’s chest and turn her head forcefully to the side.

"You’re supposed to be a gentleman! You can’t force someone against their will."

Li Ji leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, saying with a laugh, "I’ve never been a gentleman. I love forcing people against their will, and I especially love forcing *you* against your will."

Hua Manman cursed him inwardly.

’This damn man is acting like a beast again!’

She pretended to be scared, pleading with a tearful whimper.

"I’m scared, Your Highness... Please don’t be like this, okay?"

Li Ji looked down at her, his gaze falling on her reddened eyes. She looked so pitiful, as if she might burst into tears from grievance at any moment. His heart instantly softened.

Even though he knew full well the woman was acting, he still softened his tone.

"What are you afraid of? It’s not like I’m going to eat you."

He kissed her on the cheek again, then pulled back, letting her go just like that.

Seeing him be so reasonable, Hua Manman breathed a silent sigh of relief.

’Looks like the damn man still has a shred of humanity left in him.’

However, she then heard Prince Zhao say.

"So much has happened recently that I haven’t had a chance to give you your lessons. We’ll have to spend some extra time over the next few days to help you catch up on everything you’ve missed."

The breath Hua Manman had just let out caught in her throat again.

She stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Why do I need make-up lessons?"

Li Ji retorted, "You’ve fallen so far behind on your lessons. Shouldn’t you catch up?"

Hua Manman protested.

"But you promised me you wouldn’t assign me any more homework!"

Li Ji said, "I only promised not to assign you homework. I never promised not to give you make-up lessons."

Hua Manman: "..."

’Fuck! That damn man tricked me again!’