The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 118: Glutinous Rice Ball

With Yichongyuan’s death, the Sixth Prince, Li Yi, lost his mother.

But he was still young and couldn’t be without an elder to look after him.

So the Emperor issued a decree, ordering the Sixth Prince to be sent to Lady. From then on, Lady would be responsible for his upbringing.

Lady was just over twenty years old. She was the legitimate daughter of the current Left Minister. Not only was her family background illustrious, but she was also exceptionally beautiful. Her temperament was proud but not spoiled, and she was greatly favored by the Emperor.

She was made a consort as soon as she entered the palace and was promoted to Lady the following year.

This splendid record was practically unrivaled in the entire harem; even the Empress had to show her some deference.

If there was one thing in her life that was not going as she wished, it was the matter of heirs.

She had been pregnant twice, but both pregnancies ended in miscarriage due to accidents.

After that, she never conceived again.

Although the Chief Imperial Doctor never said it outright, she knew in her heart that it would likely be very difficult for her to ever conceive again.

It was precisely for this reason that the Emperor pitied her all the more, and he specially placed the Sixth Prince in her care.

He held Lady’s hand and said gently,

"Haven’t you always wanted a child?

From now on, Yi’er will be your child, and you will be his mother.

Raise him well, and when he grows up, he will surely be a filial son to you."

In her heart, Lady didn’t really want to take in the Sixth Prince.

She did indeed want a child, but she wanted one of her own flesh and blood, not to raise someone else’s.

However, the Emperor’s word was law.

Lady could not refuse and could only smile and express her gratitude.

The Sixth Prince, Li Yi, was soon sent to Lady’s residence.

Lady had already ordered a room to be tidied up, and everything necessary was prepared perfectly.

She treated Li Yi with the utmost gentleness, hoping to win him over.

However, Li Yi was not the least bit receptive.

He had been crying his heart out from the moment he walked through the door.

No matter how anyone tried to console him, it was no use.

Lady’s head began to throb from his crying. Unable to bear it any longer, she had the nanny take him away.

That night, it began to rain again.

The rain beat against the doors and windows, making a pattering sound.

The rain continued for three days with no sign of stopping. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Hua Manman was slumped over her desk, watching the rain outside the window. She couldn’t help but yawn.

"Weather like this is perfect for curling up in bed and sleeping."

The words had barely left her lips when a ruler shot out from the side and rapped sharply on the desk in front of her with a sharp CRACK.

"Sit up straight. Continue with your calligraphy," Li Ji said.

Startled, Hua Manman’s sleepiness vanished. She immediately sat up straight and miserably resumed her calligraphy practice.

After practicing for some time, her handwriting had improved significantly.

However, Mr. Li’s standards were exceedingly strict. He remained very dissatisfied with her current skill and pushed her to practice every day.

Jin Shu entered and curtsied respectfully.

"Your Highness, Eunuch Wu Wang is here. He says he has something to ask your help with."

Li Ji said to Hua Manman, "Keep practicing. I’ll be right back."

"Okay!" Hua Manman replied obediently.

Jin Shu pushed Prince Zhao out of the study.

The moment they were gone, Hua Manman tossed her brush aside. Like a wild horse breaking free, she leaped to her feet and bolted excitedly from the study.

She made a beeline for the small kitchen.

She had slept in this morning and gotten up a little late.

By the time she had washed up and gone for breakfast, she found Prince Zhao was already nearly finished.

As punishment for sleeping in, Prince Zhao had deliberately ordered the breakfast to be cleared away, leaving her with only a single bowl of plain rice porridge.

How could one small bowl of porridge possibly be enough?

She was hungry again in no time, but with Prince Zhao watching her, she didn’t dare say a word and could only practice her calligraphy obediently.

Now that Prince Zhao was finally gone,

she no longer had to hold back. She dashed to the small kitchen and searched everywhere for something to eat.

In the end, she found two large meat buns in a steamer basket.

She ate as she walked back.

She had to get back to the study before Prince Zhao returned.

But just as she stepped out of the small kitchen, she spotted a familiar, slender figure.

A frail-looking boy stood in a corner of the courtyard. He wore a blue brocade robe, his back pressed tightly against the wall. His head swiveled back and forth as he scanned his surroundings.

Because of the downpour, he was soaked from head to toe. Rain dripped down his cheeks, and he looked utterly wretched.

Hua Manman had seen him before. It was the Sixth Prince, Li Yi.

’What is he doing here?’

Hua Manman glanced around but saw no one else.

After a moment’s hesitation, she called out to him.

"Your Highness, the Sixth Prince!"

Li Yi jumped in fright.

He instinctively tried to run, but in his haste on the slippery, rain-slicked path, he lost his footing and fell heavily to the ground.

Seeing this, Hua Manman quickly stuffed her meat bun into her robes, ran through the rain, and helped Li Yi to his feet.

Li Yi had twisted his ankle. Now he couldn’t run even if he wanted to, so he had no choice but to let her help him into the small kitchen.

Hua Manman had him sit near the stove.

She lit the firewood in the furnace.

The flames caught, giving off a steady warmth.

As Li Yi felt the warmth, the slight trembling in his cold body finally subsided, and he felt a little more comfortable.

Hua Manman looked him up and down.

Li Yi resembled his mother, Yichongyuan, giving him a gentle and harmless appearance.

He looked as if he had just been crying; his eyes were red and swollen.

From his fall, his clothes were now covered in mud and water, making him look filthy.

Right now, he didn’t look like a prince at all. He looked more like a little beggar.

Li Yi sensed her gaze.

He pressed his lips together, lowered his head, and stared at the muddy tips of his shoes so intently it was as if he could make a flower bloom from them.

Hua Manman asked, "Your Highness, what are you doing here? Where are your attendants? Why aren’t they with you?"

Li Yi kept his head down, not saying a word.

His posture was a clear refusal to communicate.

Helpless, Hua Manman gave up on conversation for the time being and went back to eating her meat bun.

When Li Yi smelled the fragrant meat bun, his mouth began to water uncontrollably.

He had only eaten a few pastries yesterday and nothing at all today. He was starving.

The aroma of the meat bun was an overwhelming temptation.

But he refused to ask for any, enduring the craving with all his might.

But the next moment...

A loud GROWL echoed from his stomach.

Even the sound of the downpour outside couldn’t drown out the rumble.

Hua Manman paused mid-bite.

She looked at Li Yi.

The boy buried his head even lower, as if trying to stuff it into his stomach.

He looked just like a little ostrich.

Wincing with the pain of her sacrifice, Hua Manman offered him her other, untouched meat bun.

"Want it?"

Li Yi glanced at the fragrant meat bun, and his mouth watered even more.

He couldn’t help but swallow, but he said,

"I don’t eat buns."

Hua Manman asked good-naturedly, "Then what would you like to eat?"

Li Yi said quietly, "Glutinous rice balls. I want to eat glutinous rice balls."