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The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 68: He Finally Felt Fear
Hua Manman dropped her feigned, ferocious act and spoke with genuine feeling.
"What right do you have to speak ill of my mother? Even if she has a thousand faults, at least she’s better than a father who would sell his own daughter for glory."
The moment the words left her mouth, she was struck by Hua Dingzong’s cane.
"Shut your mouth!"
The rattan cane struck Hua Manman’s arm, and she immediately hissed in pain.
Outside the ancestral hall, Madam He saw this and, like an enraged lioness with bloodshot eyes, tried to charge inside.
"Don’t hit Manman! If you have to hit someone, hit me! I failed to raise her well, it’s all my fault. Direct all your anger at me!"
The Old Madam hadn’t expected things to escalate this far.
She quickly had people restrain Madam He to prevent her from fighting with Hua Dingzong.
The Old Madam frowned at Hua Dingzong and chided him with displeasure.
"Why did you hit Manman?
She belongs to the Prince Zhao Mansion now. If you injure her, how will you answer to Prince Zhao later?
Besides, Manman is your daughter, too. Doesn’t it hurt you to hit her?"
Hua Dingzong came to his senses, a hint of regret in his heart.
’But the deed was done. What else could he do? He couldn’t possibly be expected to apologize to his daughter, could he? He was the father!’
So he could only stiffen his neck and wait for Hua Manman to admit she was wrong.
As long as she was willing to admit her mistake, he could take the graceful way out, and they could put this whole incident behind them.
Hua Qingqing tugged on her younger sister’s sleeve and urged in a low voice.
"Hurry back to the Prince Mansion. Don’t clash with Father head-on."
This was simply the way of the world. Regardless of whether the parents were at fault, it was always the children who had to admit they were wrong.
Especially in a family like theirs, filial piety and reputation were more important than anything else.
Hua Qingqing didn’t want her younger sister to clash head-on with their father, as it would only end with her sister getting hurt.
But Hua Manman’s temper was now flared, and she wouldn’t listen to anyone’s advice.
She looked directly at Hua Dingzong and asked, her voice neither servile nor overbearing.
"Why are you angry, Father? Is it because I’ve hit upon your faults?"
Hearing this, Hua Qingqing cursed inwardly.
Sure enough, the anger Hua Dingzong had just managed to suppress flared up again.
He had always been hot-tempered and irritable, and he was used to being the master of the house, intolerant of the slightest defiance.
Faced with his second daughter’s repeated provocations, his emotions were now on the verge of spiraling out of control.
He pointed the rattan cane at Hua Manman and said through gritted teeth.
"Say one more word. I dare you."
Seeing the situation was dire, Hua Qingqing quickly stood up, wanting to pull Hua Manman back.
But Hua Manman refused to retreat a single step.
"That day, I would have rather drowned myself in the lake than become Prince Zhao’s concubine.
But what happened in the end?
You still forced me to marry Prince Zhao.
You don’t care about my feelings at all. All you have in your heart is wealth, glory, profit, and power.
Compared to my mother, you are the one who is truly an unfit father!"
Enraged, Hua Dingzong raised the cane again with a WHOOSH, ready to strike!
Hua Qingqing scrambled to her feet and lunged forward to shield her younger sister.
However, Hua Manman was a step ahead, and she took out the Qilin Jade Pendant.
The moment he saw the Qilin Jade Pendant, Hua Dingzong abruptly froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief. "This is the Qilin Jade Pendant that the Saint bestowed upon Prince Zhao! How do you have it?"
Hua Manman endured the stinging pain from her wound and said slowly.
"Prince Zhao gave it to me. Father, surely you understand the meaning behind this?"
’Prince Zhao gave her something so important... it was a clear sign of his immense favor. And he, Hua Dingzong, had just struck her. If Prince Zhao were to call him to account for this, how could he possibly explain himself?’
Hua Dingzong’s senses instantly returned.
He finally felt fear.
It was as if the heavens were deliberately toying with him.
Whatever he feared most was exactly what would happen.
A servant rushed in, flustered, and shouted.
"Reporting to Mr. Bo, Prince Zhao has arrived!"
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