Chapter 286: Chapter 287: Do You Have the Heart to Hurt Her?

The plan to consummate their marriage had fallen through again.

Li Ji was very disappointed, but he quickly recovered.

Anyway, they had a long future ahead of them. Even if he couldn’t have a taste today, there was always tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that.

’He had all the time in the world to wait her out!’

The next morning, Feihua Zhenren came trotting over bright and early to have breakfast with Prince Zhao and his wife.

Meeting Feihua Zhenren’s small, eager eyes, Hua Manman understood completely.

She had someone prepare three cups of milk tea, one for each of them.

After finishing the warm milk tea, Feihua Zhenren let out a contented sigh.

"I’ve lived a long time, but this is the first time I’ve ever had such a delicious drink."

Hua Manman said with a grin, "You’re still young, Zhenren. You have plenty of time to eat many more delicious things in the future."

Feihua Zhenren’s face immediately bloomed into a wide smile.

"I certainly hope you’re right."

Li Ji took a sip of his milk tea and sighed meaningfully.

"Indeed. There’s still plenty of time."

’He didn’t need to be in such a rush.’

After breakfast, Hua Manman took a carriage to the Imperial Palace.

As soon as she was gone, Li Ji called Chen Wangbei in and asked.

"How is the investigation going on that matter?"

Chen Wangbei answered truthfully, "I followed your orders, Your Highness, and carefully examined the site of Lin Liangyuan’s accident. For now, I haven’t found any clues."

Li Ji had been having men secretly watch Lin Qingzhi.

After learning of Lin Qingzhi’s accident, Li Ji had immediately sent men to investigate the scene, but they came up with nothing.

The lack of clues only made Li Ji more suspicious that Lin Qingzhi wasn’t dead.

She had likely been hidden away by someone.

The only person who could have hidden her was the Fourth Prince, Li Ying.

As for his motive, it was naturally to better exploit Lin Qingzhi’s precognitive abilities.

Li Ji wasn’t interested in Lin Qingzhi’s precognitive abilities, but he was extremely wary of Li Ying.

Li Ying might seem quiet and unassuming, often bullied and living a life worse than a eunuch’s, but as the saying goes, it’s the quiet dogs that bite. No one knew when he might suddenly make his move.

The Emperor was currently in his prime and would likely live for a long time, but he would grow old eventually.

And sooner or later, he would have to relinquish the Dragon Throne.

Li Ying, no doubt, had his sights set on that very throne.

In the past, Li Ji wouldn’t have cared in the slightest who ultimately ascended the throne. To him, one emperor was the same as another.

But things were different now.

Li Ying clearly had designs on Manman.

If he ended up on the throne, he would undoubtedly try to take Manman away.

Li Ji could not allow that to happen.

Therefore, he had to watch Li Ying like a hawk to prevent him from making a play for the position of Crown Prince.

But Li Ying lived in the palace. If Li Ji wanted to monitor him, he would have to extend his reach into the palace itself.

Doing so would easily attract the Emperor’s attention.

The slightest misstep could backfire.

Li Ji propped his cheek on one hand, pondering for a moment.

"It seems I’ll have to find a way to make him move out."

...

「In the Plum Garden of the Imperial Palace.」

The concubines and other noblewomen had all arrived.

As the highest-ranking woman present, Consort Liu accepted everyone’s curtsies with a smile.

Ever since the Empress had been sent to the Imperial Mausoleum to reflect on her transgressions, the Phoenix Seal had been temporarily entrusted to the Empress Dowager. As for the power to manage the harem’s daily affairs, it had been taken over by Consort Liu, with Xianfei, Lady, and Princess Consort De assisting her.

With the Empress no longer there to hold her down, Consort Liu was enjoying a life of boundless glory.

Many whispered in private that given Consort Liu’s current favor with the Emperor, her son, Li Yan, would very likely be named Crown Prince.

Hua Manman, who was among the noblewomen, let her gaze sweep past the elegant Consort Liu before it came to rest on Hua Jieyu.

Hua Qingqing was already five months pregnant, and her belly was beginning to show.

But since she was wearing a loose, high-waisted gown, her pregnancy wasn’t obvious.

She noticed her younger sister looking at her and gave her a small smile.

The system’s voice echoed in Hua Manman’s mind.

"The female lead is smiling at you. She’s so nice to you. Do you have the heart to hurt her?"

Hua Manman replied, "Don’t worry, I won’t hurt her."

The system was skeptical. "But just yesterday you said you were going to use her for an experiment."

Hua Manman smiled. "I said I wanted to use her for an experiment, but I never said I was going to hurt her."

She was sitting at the same table as Princess Anshun.

It had been a while since they last met. Princess Anshun had lost some weight and didn’t look well.

Hua Manman asked in a low voice, "Are you ill? You don’t seem to be in high spirits."

Princess Anshun patted her stomach and smiled wryly.

"It’s this pregnancy. The morning sickness has been awful lately. I throw up everything I eat."

Hua Manman suggested, "You can’t go on like this. I’ll have Feihua Zhenren take a look at you later."

Princess Anshun quickly thanked her. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Oh, that would be too much trouble."

Hua Manman waved her hand dismissively. "It’s nothing."

Princess Anshun sighed. "When I couldn’t get pregnant, all I dreamed of was having a child. Now that I’m finally pregnant, I wish I could just give birth to him right away. This feeling is just awful."

Hua Manman comforted her in a soft, gentle voice, telling her not to get too anxious, lest she develop prenatal depression.

Some of the concubines and noblewomen got up from their seats, gathering in small groups to admire the plum blossoms in the Plum Garden.

’This is a good opportunity,’ Hua Manman thought.

She excused herself to Princess Anshun, then got up to find Hua Qingqing.

As it happened, Hua Qingqing was looking for her too. After the two sisters met, they walked together deeper into the Plum Garden.

In contrast to Princess Anshun’s haggard and weary state, Hua Qingqing was having a rather comfortable pregnancy. Not only had she not lost weight, she had even become a little rounder and was full of energy.

Hua Manman mused to herself, ’As expected of the female lead. Even her pregnancy comes with a protagonist’s halo.’

Hua Qingqing asked with a smile, "It’s been a while. Have you been well, little sister?"

In the past, Hua Manman would have certainly put on a disdainful air and retorted, "What’s it to you whether I’m doing well or not?"

But now, she acted completely out of character, revealing a gloomy expression.

"I’ve run into some serious trouble recently."

Hua Qingqing quickly asked, "What happened? Tell me. Maybe I can help."

Hua Manman glanced around, hesitating to speak.

Hua Qingqing took the hint. She told the palace maids following her to stay put, while she and Hua Manman walked toward a nearby pavilion.

They planned to talk in the privacy of the pavilion.

But as they were walking up the steps to the pavilion, a fluffy little white lion dog darted out from the side and leaped directly at Hua Qingqing!

Hua Qingqing turned pale with fright. Her foot slipped, and she fell straight backward!

The accident happened so suddenly that the system didn’t even have time to issue a temporary mission.

It could only scream in Hua Manman’s mind.

"Save the female lead!"

Hua Manman grabbed Hua Qingqing’s arm, but instead of pulling her to safety, she was dragged down with her.

At the critical moment, Hua Manman twisted her body to cushion the fall.

In the end, Hua Qingqing fell on top of her.

Hua Manman’s forehead struck a stone, and the pain made her see stars.