Chapter 271: Chapter 272: Unreasonable Troublemaking

After the incident where Princess Longzhu’s marriage proposal was rejected, a tense atmosphere hung over the Xiliang Delegation.

The mood of the entire banquet became strange as a result.

When the banquet ended, the guests dispersed and returned home.

The Emperor spent the night with Consort Liu.

Consort Liu took the opportunity to probe the Emperor’s thoughts, wanting to know what he thought of Princess Longzhu.

The Emperor just gave a casual smile and said nothing more.

Seeing this, Consort Liu knew not to press the matter.

On the way back, Hua Manman kept stealing glances at Prince Zhao.

To be fair, Prince Zhao was indeed very handsome. Whether it was his features, his physique, or his status, he was top-notch in every respect. It was no wonder that Princess Longzhu, the so-called Desert Pearl, had taken a fancy to him.

Li Ji looked at her with a half-smile.

"Why are you sneaking peeks at me?"

Hua Manman blinked. "I wasn’t sneaking peeks at you."

Li Ji leaned back, his smile devilishly charming. "If you want to look, just do it openly. No need to be sneaky."

But Hua Manman stopped looking at him and turned to gaze out the window instead.

Li Ji reached out, twirling a lock of her long hair. "Why don’t you ask me why I refused to marry Princess Longzhu?"

Hua Manman said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Because you don’t like her, of course."

’If Prince Zhao liked Princess Longzhu, he wouldn’t think she looked like a female ghost.’

Li Ji moved closer to her. "Then do you know why I don’t like her?"

Hua Manman replied, "Probably because her looks don’t match your tastes."

Li Ji whispered in her ear.

"It’s because my heart is already taken. There’s no room for anyone else."

Hua Manman’s heart pounded in her chest.

She scooted back a little, raising a hand to rub her tingling ear and muttering under her breath.

"If you want to talk, just talk. Why do you have to be so close?"

Li Ji asked with a smile, "Why don’t you ask who the person in my heart is?"

Hua Manman looked up at the sky, then down at the hem of her dress—anything but at the man in front of her.

Li Ji was still urging her. "Go on, ask."

Hua Manman started playing dumb, dodging the question.

"Aren’t we home yet? I’m so sleepy. I just want to go to bed soon."

Li Ji looked at her, exasperated but amused.

"Is it so hard for you to just play along?"

Hua Manman yawned. "I really am so sleepy."

Out of frustration, he pinched her cheek.

’I’ve made it so obvious, yet she’s still playing dumb.’

’What is she so worried about?’

When they returned to the Prince Mansion, Hua Manman washed up and immediately went to bed.

Suddenly, the system’s voice echoed in her mind. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Don’t you and Li Ji have mutual feelings for each other? Why not just go along with his wishes?"

Hua Manman kept her eyes closed, not moving, as she conversed with the system in her mind.

’You’re a system. Why are you so gossipy?’

The system replied, "This isn’t gossip. This is normal psychological research on the host."

Hua Manman said, ’We need to be fair. Before I answer your question, you have to answer one of mine.’

The system was wary. "A question about what?"

Hua Manman: ’Will I stay in this world forever? Is it possible for me to return to my original world?’

The system gave a stiff reply.

"Host’s authorization level is insufficient. The system cannot provide an answer."

Hua Manman smiled. ’You didn’t deny it outright, which means it’s a possibility.’

The system knew it had fallen for her trick and immediately shut up, saying nothing more.

The reason Hua Manman didn’t respond to Li Ji’s feelings was actually very simple—

There were too many uncertainties surrounding her.

She wasn’t sure what kind of missions the system would issue in the future. She wasn’t sure if she would stay in this world for her entire life. She wasn’t sure if she could change the plot and survive smoothly until the grand finale.

Her future was shrouded in mist, and she couldn’t see anything clearly.

Perhaps she could get together with Prince Zhao today, and tomorrow—WHOOSH—she would be back in the modern world.

How cruel would that be to Li Ji, who would be left behind in this world?

Li Ji wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into his embrace. He rested his chin on the top of her head and nuzzled it gently.

The gesture was natural and intimate.

...

The news of Princess Longzhu’s rejected marriage proposal spread throughout the aristocratic circles of Shangjing City the very next day.

Logically, Princess Longzhu should have been so embarrassed that she wouldn’t dare to have any further contact with Prince Zhao.

But to everyone’s surprise, Princess Longzhu came to the Prince Zhao Mansion in person the very next day.

She was there to see Prince Zhao.

But Li Ji didn’t want to see her and casually told Gao Shan,

"Just find an excuse to send her away."

With a pained expression, Gao Shan said, "But Princess Longzhu said that if you don’t appear, she’ll wait indefinitely until you show yourself."

Li Ji sneered. "Then let her wait."

Hua Manman clicked her tongue. "I didn’t realize the Desert Pearl was so persistent."

Li Ji scoffed, "She’s just spoiled rotten. She really thinks everyone will cater to her whims. This is Great Zhou, not her Xiliang. If she keeps causing a scene like this, it won’t end well for her."

Hua Manman said, "But it’s not good for her to just stay in the Prince Zhao Mansion. How about you let me go meet with her?"

Li Ji raised an eyebrow.

"What kind of mischief are you planning now?"

Hua Manman said shyly, "How can you say that? I just want to help you with your troubles."

Li Ji was actually quite curious to see what Hua Manman was up to, so he agreed.

"I’ll go with you."

In the hall specifically used for receiving guests, Princess Longzhu was examining the room’s furnishings.

When she saw Prince Zhao and his wife enter, she was visibly taken aback.

She hadn’t expected Princess Consort Zhao to be here as well.

Princess Longzhu quickly looked Princess Consort Zhao up and down.

Although she was reluctant to admit it, this Princess Consort Zhao was indeed very beautiful.

But Princess Longzhu felt that, by comparison, the Princess Consort was not as beautiful as she was.

’Anyone with eyes should know who to choose between me and the Princess Consort.’

Hua Manman smiled and said, "What brings Princess Longzhu to our Prince Zhao Mansion for a visit today?"

Princess Longzhu put on an innocent and naive expression, giving a charmingly simple smile.

"I’m here to see Prince Zhao. I have something very important to discuss with him alone. Princess Consort, could you perhaps lend me Prince Zhao for a little while?"

Hua Manman’s smile grew even more gentle and kind.

"Whatever are you thinking, Your Highness? Of course not."

Princess Longzhu was completely taken aback.

’Aren’t the women of the Great Zhou Dynasty supposed to be virtuous, demure, tolerant, and magnanimous?’

’So why does this Princess Consort Zhao completely refuse to play by the rules?’

Princess Longzhu feigned surprise. "I can’t even borrow him for a little while? Why are you so stingy, Princess Consort?"

But Hua Manman acted even more surprised than she was.

"I merely refused your unreasonable request, and you have the audacity to call me stingy? Even if you are a commandery princess, you can’t be so unreasonable, can you?"

Before Princess Longzhu could retort, Hua Manman continued.

"Never mind, never mind. Seeing as you’re young and ignorant, I won’t stoop to your level.

"You should probably hurry home now. Don’t be out too late.

"Seriously, it’s not very safe at night recently. There are dognappers about, and I’d hate for something to happen to you."

Princess Longzhu was speechless.