The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 56: Will Lady Hua Also Repeat the Same Mistake?

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Will Lady Hua Also Repeat the Same Mistake?

After eating her fill, Hua Manman let out a satisfied burp.

The maids came in to clear the dishes.

Li Ji picked up the book on military strategy he hadn’t finished and handed it to Jin Shu, the maid in charge of the study.

"Put this book back."

"Yes."

Jin Shu took the book and turned to leave.

An idea suddenly struck Hua Manman. "Prince," she asked, "may I go see the study?"

The study was where Prince Zhao handled official business. It held many confidential documents and was one of the most important places in the Prince’s Mansion. Normally, besides the Prince himself, only a few of his most trusted people were allowed inside.

Anyone else would be warned for simply getting close, let alone entering.

Once, someone with ill intentions had tried to sneak into the study to steal something. They were caught by the Royal Guard and beaten to death on the spot. So much blood spilled that it took the servants a long time to wash it all away.

Hua Manman’s sudden, audacious request made everyone present freeze.

The scene of the blood-soaked floor was still vivid in their minds. ’Is Lady Hua going to meet the same fate today?’

Li Ji paid no mind to the reactions of those around him.

He asked casually, "What do you want to do in the study?"

Hua Manman answered without hesitation.

"Read."

Li Ji looked her straight in the eye and saw that she wasn’t lying.

This discovery piqued his interest.

"Let’s go. I’ll go with you."

Overjoyed, Hua Manman immediately began to push his wheelchair, and they left the dining hall together.

Naturally, the study was filled with books.

Most were on military strategy, followed by various local chronicles and travelogues, as well as a hodgepodge of other texts.

Hua Manman had no interest in books on military strategy.

She made a beeline for the shelf holding the miscellaneous books.

Li Ji sat in his wheelchair, quietly watching her back.

She was tall with graceful curves. Even from behind, it was clear she was a rare beauty.

She, however, seemed completely unaware of her own beauty.

After finding a book that interested her, she plopped right down on the floor and began to read intently, her posture completely unselfconscious.

Jin Shu gently placed an oil lamp beside her.

Noticing the sudden brightness, Hua Manman looked up to see Jin Shu smiling at her.

Jin Shu reminded her softly, "Reading at night strains the eyes. A lamp will make it more comfortable."

Hua Manman said sincerely, "Thank you."

But Jin Shu said, "You needn’t thank me, Lady Hua. I am merely following orders."

Like Jinxiu, Jin Shu was one of the highest-ranking maids in the Prince’s Mansion.

The only person who could give them orders was Prince Zhao.

Hua Manman turned to look toward Prince Zhao and saw him sitting in his wheelchair, a book resting on the desk before him.

He was leaning on one hand, his gaze lowered to the book’s pages. A strand of long hair had fallen alongside his cheek.

The warm yellow candlelight bathed him in a soft glow.

It softened his usual gloom, lending him an air of tranquility.

Noticing her stare, Li Ji looked up, and their eyes met.

He arched an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Hua Manman immediately scrambled to her feet and hurried over, book in hand. She asked eagerly,

"Prince, there are a few characters I don’t recognize. Could you teach me?"

This wasn’t just an excuse—she genuinely didn’t recognize some of the characters.

Most of the writing in the Great Zhou Dynasty was similar to the traditional characters she knew, but a small number were different from the ones she’d encountered before she traveled to this world.