The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 58: Who Wants You to Die?

Fortunately, Prince Zhao still retained a basic shred of humanity and didn’t make Hua Manman do her copying all night.

"Go to sleep for now. You can do the copying tomorrow morning."

Afraid he might change his mind, Hua Manman quickly washed up, scrambled onto the bamboo cot, and went to sleep.

Perhaps because the academic pressure was too much, Hua Manman had a nightmare that night.

She dreamed she was sitting in a classroom, with an exam paper laid out before her.

A bright red "3" was scrawled on the paper.

The teacher sat in front of her, pointing at the exam and scolding her loudly.

That wasn’t even the most terrifying part.

The most terrifying part was that the teacher looked exactly like Prince Zhao!

"You actually scored a three on this language arts exam!

You could’ve gotten a better score taking this test with your toes!

Look at this question! How could you get such a simple problem wrong?

Is your brain in your ass?

Didn’t you even stop to consider what the test maker was thinking before you answered?"

Hua Manman clutched her head and cried out in anguish.

"The test maker is trying to kill me!"

With that shout, she woke up.

She opened her eyes to see Prince Zhao sitting in his wheelchair, looking at her with astonishment.

Li Ji asked, "What did you just say? Who wants you to die?"

The mere sight of him now made Hua Manman flinch, giving her the unease of a grade-schooler facing the principal.

She gave a sheepish laugh. "I was just having a nightmare and talking in my sleep. Please don’t take it seriously, Your Highness."

After breakfast, just as Hua Manman was looking for a chance to slip away, Prince Zhao stopped her.

"Don’t forget the homework I assigned you last night."

Hua Manman cautiously reminded him.

"Tomorrow is the day the lady from the Han Family arrives. Shouldn’t you prepare in advance?"

Li Ji retorted, "What would you have me prepare?"

Hua Manman began counting on her fingers.

"For example, where will the lady from the Han Family live? Which maids will be assigned to her? And her food, clothing, and living expenses... don’t all those things need to be prepared ahead of time?"

Li Ji said, "Gao Shan will handle such trivial matters. There’s no need for me to trouble myself with them."

Seeing that he was completely unmoved, Hua Manman started to get anxious.

"Tomorrow is your big day, Your Highness. Aren’t you the least bit excited? I’ve seen Han Zhenzhen with my own eyes. She’s gorgeous—a true Beauty."

Li Ji asked leisurely, "Is she more beautiful than you?"

Hua Manman denied it without a moment’s hesitation.

"Of course not!"

’Among women, you can lose at anything except for beauty!’

Li Ji chuckled. "Then never mind. If she can’t even compare to you, what is there for me to look forward to?"

Hua Manman opened her mouth to say something else, but Prince Zhao cut her off.

"If you haven’t finished the homework I assigned by Noon, you can forget about lunch today."

Hua Manman immediately snapped her mouth shut and slunk off to the study.

「Meanwhile, at the Zhong’an Bo Mansion」

A fierce argument had broken out.

Hua Qingqing had told her parents and grandmother that she wanted to break off her engagement.

All three of them refused outright, almost without a second thought.

Hua Dingzong’s reaction was particularly vehement.

He pointed at Hua Qingqing and launched into a tirade, scolding her for being willful and reckless. How could something as important as marriage be treated like a game? It was preposterous!

Yet, no matter how much he berated her, Hua Qingqing refused to change her mind, insisting on calling off her engagement to Song Ding.

The Old Madam and the lady from the He Family also tried to mediate, but to no avail.

In a fit of rage, Hua Dingzong punished Hua Qingqing by making her kneel in the ancestral hall.

"You will stay here and reflect on what you’ve done. You’re not to come out until you’ve thought it through."

...