The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 108: If You Don’t Want People to Know, Don’t Do It

Chapter 108: Chapter 108: If You Don’t Want People to Know, Don’t Do It

It suddenly began to pour, and the rain continued for days before finally letting up.

The Emperor was a little worried about the floods in the south.

Almost every year during the rainy season, the south would suffer from floods. The court would allocate funds for disaster relief and organize artisans to reinforce the dams, but it was no use.

The floods appeared annually as a matter of course. No matter how much manpower or resources were spent, they could not be prevented.

As a result, the Emperor’s mood would sour around this time every year.

The Empress noticed the Emperor was in a bad mood and wanted to help distract him to lift his spirits.

"I recently heard that Yichongyuan has been practicing her painting and has become quite good. How about we ask her to paint a portrait for Your Majesty?"

After speaking, she had someone bring a scroll, which was unrolled and presented to the Emperor for his viewing.

The Emperor nodded slightly. "It is indeed well-painted."

The Empress thought he had agreed and was about to send for Yichongyuan when she heard the Emperor suddenly speak.

"Since we’re having portraits done, why not have one painted of you as well? And Hao’er, Yi’er, Mo’er, and Yingying. Oh, and Prince Zhao. Let’s summon them all. Have a portrait painted for each of them as a keepsake."

The Empress hesitated. "Yichongyuan is only one person. I’m afraid she won’t be able to paint so many."

The Emperor smiled. "Of course she won’t be painting alone. Go summon a few painters to help her."

The Empress smiled as well. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Soon, Li Ji received word that the Emperor had summoned him to Mingxiu Pavilion.

Li Ji asked what it was about.

The little eunuch responsible for delivering the message answered respectfully.

"The Saint is preparing to have portraits painted of himself and the Empress. He has also summoned the princes and princesses from Yuqing Palace. You are to be included as well."

Li Ji said he needed to change his clothes and had the little eunuch wait outside.

The moment the eunuch left, his expression darkened. It was obvious he was in a very bad mood.

Seeing this, Hua Manman couldn’t help but feel anxious.

"You don’t wish to go, my Prince?"

Li Ji sneered. "They’re having a happy family gathering. What are they calling me, an outsider, over for? It’s completely unnecessary."

Hua Manman recalled what Li Zhaoyuan had said before—that Prince Zhao was the Emperor’s illegitimate son.

If that was true, then the Emperor’s reason for specifically summoning Prince Zhao was clear.

In the Emperor’s eyes, Prince Zhao was also his child, so of course he wanted to treat him equally.

Hua Manman didn’t know if Prince Zhao was aware of this.

She didn’t dare to ask and could only pretend to know nothing, offering comfort with a placid smile.

"The Saint specially summoned you, which shows he holds you in high regard. This is a blessing others couldn’t even pray for."

"Just think of it as doing him a favor and go sit at Mingxiu Pavilion for a little while."

"You can come back once the painting is done."

"Then I can also see if the palace painters can truly capture the Prince’s magnificent bearing."

Li Ji heard her thoughts but had no intention of explaining.

He said leisurely, "If you’re interested in painting, I can teach you."

Hua Manman’s scalp tightened.

Her coursework was already overwhelming. She had academic lessons in the morning and physical training in the afternoon, and recently she’d even had to work overtime on makeup lessons at night. She simply had no time or energy to learn painting.

She immediately started acting cute and whiny, saying in a syrupy voice.

"I only want to watch the Prince paint. I certainly don’t want to paint myself."

Li Ji deliberately teased her. "If you learn to paint, you can paint me in the future. That way, you can remember what I look like forever. Wouldn’t that be nice?"

Hua Manman said shyly.

"The Prince’s magnificent figure is already deeply engraved in my heart. I don’t need a painting to remember what you look like for the rest of my life."

However, what she was actually thinking was—

’Yes, I’ve already firmly memorized you, you damn dog of a man. I won’t forget you for the rest of my life.’

Li Ji chuckled. "Heh."

Hua Manman was bewildered. "What are you laughing at, my Prince?"

Li Ji said, still laughing, "I don’t know why either. I just feel like laughing whenever I see you."

Hua Manman covered her face, feigning embarrassment, but her mind was racing with sarcastic retorts.

’Is this dog of a man deliberately implying I look ridiculous?!’

Hearing her thoughts, the smile on Li Ji’s face deepened.

"Do you want to accompany me to Mingxiu Pavilion?"

Hua Manman put on her best customer-service smile.

"I can’t, I’m afraid. I still have a lot of coursework to finish and don’t have time to go out right now. The Prince should just go by himself."

’He dared to imply I looked ridiculous, didn’t he? Fine, he can go handle his social obligations by himself. I’m done waiting on him!’

Seeing her throwing a small tantrum, Li Ji wasn’t angry at all. On the contrary, he found it amusing.

He reached out with his long fingers and pinched her soft, fair cheek.

"In that case, be a good girl and finish your coursework at home. I’ll check it when I get back."

Hua Manman was speechless.

’She had just casually made up an excuse not to go out. Why did that dog of a man have to take it seriously?! Was it too late to take it back now? I don’t want to do my assignments! Aaaah!’

But Li Ji gave her no chance to back out. He immediately ordered someone to come in and help him change into an outer robe.

Then, he left in his wheelchair.

Leaving Hua Manman alone, filled with a regret so deep she wanted to cry but had no tears.

’Why did I have to open my big mouth!’

Meanwhile, Li Zhaoyuan also received the news that Prince Zhao had been summoned by the Emperor to Mingxiu Pavilion for a portrait session.

Having a portrait painted would take a considerable amount of time. For Li Zhaoyuan, this was a rare opportunity.

She immediately gathered all the palace maids and eunuchs in her residence—a grand procession of seventeen or eighteen people—and stormed menacingly toward Prince Zhao’s quarters.

Prince Zhao was at Mingxiu Pavilion and not in his rooms. Feeling emboldened, Li Zhaoyuan ignored the resistance from his trusted aides and forced her way inside.

Hua Manman was engrossed in her assignments when she suddenly heard a commotion outside.

She immediately put down her brush pen, stood up, and walked to the door, where she saw a large group of people standing in the courtyard.

The person leading them was none other than Li Zhaoyuan.

Li Zhaoyuan did not look well. She had dark circles under her eyes, a clear sign she hadn’t been resting properly lately.

The hatred in her eyes made her once-delicate and beautiful face appear grim and quite frightening.

She was being supported by someone, and the moment her eyes landed on Hua Manman, they blazed with fury.

"You’re the one who ruined me!"

Hua Manman’s heart skipped a beat.

’Could it be? Has my use of the Truth Elixir been exposed?’

On the surface, however, she acted as if nothing was wrong, asking back in feigned confusion.

"What are you talking about? I don’t understand what you mean."

Li Zhaoyuan gritted her teeth. "You’re still playing dumb at a time like this!"

Hua Manman replied, "I really don’t understand what you’re talking about."

Li Zhaoyuan accused her furiously.

"You know perfectly well what you’ve done."

"If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have fallen to this state!"

"If you don’t want anyone to know, don’t do it in the first place."

"Don’t think that no one knows about the shady things you’ve been up to."

"Today, I will find the evidence and expose your true colors!"