Chapter 285: Chapter 286: Sorry to Bother You

Li Ji was in high spirits tonight because he was finally going to get to eat some meat.

Hua Manman was also in high spirits tonight, as she was on the verge of discovering the system’s weakness.

The cheerful couple had excellent appetites, both eating an extra bowl of rice at dinner.

After eating and drinking her fill, Hua Manman decided to take a bath to freshen up for the tea party the next day.

As she skipped merrily to the bathing chamber, she found someone already soaking in the tub: Prince Zhao, Li Ji.

Seeing her, Li Ji assumed she wanted to join him for a couple’s bath, and the corners of his mouth curled up uncontrollably.

He was about to speak, but before he could get a word out, he saw Hua Manman cover her eyes and say quickly.

"Sorry to interrupt!"

With that, she spun around and fled with all the dramatic haste of a cannonball.

Li Ji’s smile froze, his lips slowly turning down into a frown.

’Why is she running?’

’It’s not like I’m going to eat her.’

Hua Manman thought, ’The way Prince Zhao looked just now... he looked like he was going to swallow me whole. So scary!’

After escaping the bathing chamber, she made a beeline for the kitchen.

She rolled up her sleeves, expertly lit a fire to brew some tea, and sent someone to the backyard cowshed to get a cup of fresh milk.

The Prince Mansion’s backyard had not only dairy cows but also a few goats, so there was never a shortage of goat’s or cow’s milk.

By the time Prince Zhao had finished his bath and found Hua Manman, she was busy talking with Feihua Zhenren.

From a distance, he couldn’t hear what she was saying, but Feihua Zhenren’s brow was deeply furrowed, and he looked extremely conflicted.

The moment they saw Prince Zhao approach, Hua Manman let go of Feihua Zhenren, who promptly took two quick steps to the side.

Their actions practically screamed, "Nothing to see here!"

Hua Manman feigned innocence, batting her eyelashes as she asked.

"What brings you here, Prince?"

Li Ji sneered, retorting, "What do you think?"

Hua Manman put on an innocent expression. "You are a man of great importance, my Prince. How could I possibly know what’s on your mind?"

Li Ji took a step forward, his hand coming to rest on the back of her neck. He leaned in close, stared into her eyes, and enunciated each word clearly.

"You know perfectly well what I’m thinking."

Hua Manman looked like a startled rabbit. Her gaze flickered away as she said softly.

"I’m not feeling well tonight. I don’t think I can... attend to you."

Li Ji said, "If you’re not feeling well, then we’ll have Feihua Zhenren examine you."

With that, he turned to face Feihua Zhenren, his gaze sharp and menacing.

Hua Manman also looked at Feihua Zhenren, blinking frantically.

Feihua Zhenren, who had been about to sneak away, was speechless.

’Don’t look at me! I’m just an innocent bystander!’

On the verge of tears, Feihua Zhenren was forced to step up and begin taking Princess Consort Zhao’s pulse.

The entire time, Li Ji stared at Feihua Zhenren without blinking, scrutinizing every minute change in his expression. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Hua Manman was also staring at Feihua Zhenren, desperately trying to signal him with her eyes to back up her lie.

Feihua Zhenren tried to pretend he hadn’t seen a thing.

He lowered his head, further and further...

Just as his forehead was about to touch the back of Hua Manman’s hand, Li Ji finally lost his patience and demanded.

"Is the Princess Consort sick or not? Give me a straight answer."

Hua Manman seized the opportunity to give him a hint. "I do believe I’m sick."

Li Ji eyed her up and down. "You’re rosy-cheeked and full of energy. How do you look sick in any way?"

Hua Manman said vaguely, "Some... women’s problems... aren’t obvious on the surface."

She made sure to involve Feihua Zhenren.

"Isn’t that right, Zhenren?"

Feihua Zhenren forced out a single word.

"Yes."

Li Ji immediately rounded on Feihua Zhenren, demanding.

"Then tell me, is the Princess Consort really sick?

If you dare lie to me, I’ll have someone pull out your beard, one hair at a time."

Feihua Zhenren reflexively clutched his goatee, his face a mask of terror.

’That punishment is way too brutal!’

’He really is the legendary Prince Zhao, who can kill without batting an eye!’

Under Prince Zhao’s death glare, a terrified Feihua Zhenren began to speak.

"Actually... actually, the Princess Consort isn’t..."

Hua Manman cleared her throat softly and tapped the cup beside her.

The cup had been filled to the brim with milk tea she’d made from milk, honey, and black tea. She had even added sweet Hongdou and soft taro paste.

The moment she had brought out the milk tea, Feihua Zhenren had eagerly drunk every last drop.

Now, only an empty cup remained.

The thought of the delicious milk tea made Feihua Zhenren swallow the words on the tip of his tongue.

"...The Princess Consort isn’t lying. She really is sick. For now, she can’t engage in any strenuous activity and needs to rest well."

Hua Manman silently drew back her hand. She pressed a hand to her forehead, her brow furrowed, doing her best to look unwell.

"I feel so dizzy... and sleepy. I really want to go to bed."

Feihua Zhenren played along. "Go get some sleep. You should feel much better."

Hua Manman seized the chance to stand. "Then I’ll be heading back. You should get some rest too, Zhenren."

Feihua Zhenren said, "Remember to rest well. Nothing is more important than your health."

Hua Manman replied, "See you tomorrow."

’See you tomorrow means I get to drink more of that delicious milk tea tomorrow!’

Feihua Zhenren’s face broke into a wide grin. "See you tomorrow!"

Li Ji was speechless.

’If I didn’t have my Mind Reading Technique, I might have actually fallen for your little act.’

He followed Hua Manman out without a word.

They returned to the bedchamber, one walking after the other.

Maids brought hot water and began helping the Princess Consort wash up and change for the night.

Li Ji sat on a soft couch, watching with a cold expression.

When Hua Manman, now in a loose nightgown with her hair unbound, walked to the side of the bed, Li Ji finally spoke.

"Do you really want to avoid consummating our marriage this badly?"

Hua Manman paused, her hand on the covers.

Her back was to Prince Zhao, so he couldn’t see her eyes, nor could she see his expression.

Hua Manman stared at the corner of the blanket she was clutching and felt a pang of guilt.

She knew what Prince Zhao was thinking, and she knew she had developed feelings for him. But there was still no clear solution to the problem with the system.

As long as she couldn’t be sure she could stay in this world forever, she couldn’t take that final step.

Her fingers tightened on the blanket, then loosened, then tightened again.

Finally, she let go.

She straightened up and turned to face Prince Zhao.

"I’ve run into a problem. If I can solve it, I can stay by your side forever."

Li Ji pressed, "And if you can’t?"

Hua Manman replied, "Then I can only hope you’ll forget me as quickly as possible."

Li Ji froze.

After a long moment, he finally spoke.

"Can you tell me what this problem is?"

Hua Manman shook her head.

Li Ji stared at her. "Is it that you can’t tell me? Or that you won’t?"

Hua Manman said, "I can’t."

Li Ji frowned, deep in thought.

He was with Manman nearly every day. On top of that, he had his Mind Reading Technique. There was almost nothing about her he didn’t know.

But everything Manman was saying right now was the truth. She wasn’t intentionally lying to him.

’So what kind of trouble could she possibly be in?’