The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 66: You Can’t Control Me

Hua Dingzong was utterly astonished. ’Why would Hua Manman suddenly come back?’

He was just about to question further when he heard a flurry of hurried footsteps.

In the next moment, Hua Manman came into Hua Dingzong’s view.

She was still wearing the same red, wide-sleeved gown embroidered with gold thread. Her waist was cinched to a delicate thinness, her dark hair coiled high. As she walked, her skirt billowed and her pendants chimed. She looked like a goddess descended to the mortal realm, dazzling to behold.

For a moment, Hua Dingzong was completely captivated.

’The second daughter I remember also loved vibrant dresses, but she never managed to look so brilliantly radiant.’

In just a few moments, Hua Manman had reached the entrance of the ancestral hall.

She first curtsied to the Old Madam and Madam He before stepping into the ancestral hall and calling out in a clear, crisp voice.

"Father."

Hua Dingzong still held the rattan cane in his hand, but his expression had softened considerably.

"Why did you suddenly come back?"

Hua Qingqing knelt on the cold, hard floor. Her slender, delicate body was held ramrod straight. Her pretty face was haggard and her lips were pale, but her gaze remained firm.

Like a pine tree in a blizzard, she remained evergreen and unyielding.

She seemed surprised by her Second Sister’s sudden return and couldn’t help but look over at her.

Hua Manman, however, did not look at her.

Hua Manman pouted and grumbled in discontent.

"Prince Zhao is marrying Han Ruren today. I’m upset about it, so I thought I’d come back home to clear my head and avoid being miserable at the Prince Mansion."

Hua Dingzong frowned and said with disapproval.

"You’re a married woman now, how can you still be so willful?

It’s perfectly normal for a man to have multiple wives and concubines. You should conduct yourself with the grace befitting the Second Miss of the Zhong’an Bo Mansion. Don’t be so petty."

Hua Manman retorted, "I don’t care. I’m just not happy."

Hua Dingzong was exasperated by her insolence and willfulness, but he was also helpless.

In the past, he could have asserted his authority as her father and given her a stern lecture.

But now she was one of Prince Zhao’s Ruren, and he had to consider the prince’s reputation. He couldn’t be too harsh with his words.

He suppressed his anger and said.

"Go outside for now. I still have matters to attend to here. We can talk later."

Hua Manman acted as if she had only just noticed Hua Qingqing kneeling beside them, and she spoke in a deliberately exaggerated tone.

"Sister, what’s wrong? Why do you look so awful?"

Hua Qingqing pressed her lips together and said nothing.

Hua Dingzong snapped, "Your sister’s affairs are none of your business. Go wait somewhere else."

Hua Manman’s eyes darted, and she asked in a tone that suggested she was enjoying the drama.

"Father, you’re so angry. It couldn’t be because Sister wants to break off her engagement with Song Ding, could it?"

Hua Dingzong’s expression changed. "How do you know about this?"

Hua Manman said smugly, "Not only do I know she wants to call off the engagement, I also know *why* she wants to call it off."

Hearing this, Hua Qingqing hurriedly tried to stop her.

"Second Sister, don’t speak nonsense! This is between Song Ding and me. Don’t get involved!"

’My younger sister is a married woman now. If word got out that she had a secret relationship with Song Ding, her reputation would be ruined.’

’That was precisely why, no matter how their father pressed and threatened her, she had only insisted that she no longer liked Song Ding. From start to finish, she hadn’t said a single word about her younger sister.’

’She didn’t want to drag her younger sister into this mess.’

But Hua Manman refused to let her have her way.

Hua Manman deliberately lifted her chin and said haughtily.

"I’ll say whatever I want. You can’t control me!"