Chapter 257: Chapter 258: It’s So Hard on the Eyes

Li Ji stared at the pouch, speechless for a long moment.

Hua Manman asked gleefully, "Surprised? Didn’t expect this, did you?"

Li Ji took a deep breath and reached out to pick up the pouch.

"It certainly is a surprise."

The words seemed to have been squeezed through gritted teeth, tinged with a biting sort of surprise.

He desperately wanted to ask the little one, ’Didn’t we agree you were going to make me a cloak?’

’Why did it turn into a pouch in the end?’

’The difference between a cloak and a pouch is just too vast.’

Hua Manman blinked. "You don’t like it?"

’This is the first pouch I’ve ever made.’

’It might not be perfect, but for a beginner like me, it’s already pretty good.’

Hua Manman sighed. "If you don’t like it, then forget it."

In all honesty, the pouch she made wasn’t particularly attractive.

The pouches the embroideresses usually made for her were embroidered with patterns, the stitches fine and meticulous, and they would even be decorated with pearls and tassels.

But the pouch she made was completely bare, with no decorations at all.

It looked rather plain.

Hua Manman reached out, wanting to take the pouch back from Prince Zhao’s hand.

However, Li Ji dodged her hand.

"I never said I didn’t like it."

With that, he stuffed the pouch into his sleeve, refusing to let Hua Manman touch it again.

Seeing this, Hua Manman was quite pleased.

’Looks like Prince Zhao really likes the pouch I made!’

’My skills are really quite good, after all.’

When they returned to the Prince Zhao Mansion, Feihua Zhenren presented his own birthday gift before taking his leave.

He gave Prince Zhao a prescription.

Before Hua Manman could get a clear look at its contents, Li Ji had already put the prescription away.

Hua Manman asked curiously.

"What’s that prescription for?"

Li Ji gave a mysterious smile. "You’ll find out in due time."

Seeing him being mysterious again, Hua Manman huffed in dissatisfaction.

During the days they were away, Gao Shan had managed the entire Prince Mansion and kept it in perfect order.

Hua Manman asked casually.

"Has anyone visited the Prince Mansion recently?"

Gao Shan answered truthfully, "Only Princess Ningyang sent someone over once. Other than that, there has been no one."

Hua Manman understood. Prince Zhao’s fearsome reputation was so intimidating that no one in Shangjing City dared to associate with him.

The only person still willing to interact with him was his maternal grandmother, Princess Ningyang.

Hua Manman asked, "Did the Eldest Princess have something she needed?"

Gao Shan smiled and said, "Isn’t the Prince’s birthday approaching? The Eldest Princess wanted to ask how the Prince plans to celebrate his birthday so she could arrange her schedule in advance."

Now that Prince Zhao would be celebrating his birthday in the palace, the Eldest Princess wouldn’t have to come to the Prince Mansion; she could just go directly to the Imperial Palace.

Hua Manman nodded, indicating she understood.

Tonight’s birthday banquet was prepared especially for Prince Zhao, so of course, Li Ji, the man of the hour, had to dress up properly.

As his main wife, Hua Manman also had to dress up with care.

The Princess Consort Zhao’s formal robes had been ready for some time. There were several layers, inside and out, and after putting them all on, she felt like she had gained a whole size.

Fortunately, it was late autumn, and the temperature had dropped, so it didn’t matter if she wore something thick.

If it were summer, wearing something so thick would definitely give a person heatstroke.

Not only were the clothes thick and heavy, but the hair ornaments and the jewelry on her neck and wrists were also very heavy.

Hua Manman looked at the tall coiffure on her head in the mirror, a little worried it might fall over. She couldn’t help but raise a hand to steady it.

Si Yun smiled, pressing her lips together. "Don’t worry, Your Highness. I tied it very tightly. It won’t fall."

This made Hua Manman even more uncomfortable.

It was because her hair was tied so tightly that her scalp was aching faintly.

She was worried that if this kept up, she would go prematurely bald.

Si Yun helped her walk out, where she saw Prince Zhao, who was already fully dressed.

Li Ji was wearing a red, wide-sleeved crown robe.

Few men could pull off this color, as it could easily give off a demonic or ghoulish impression.

But Li Ji was different.

The murderous aura he had cultivated on countless battlefields merged with the rich, vibrant crimson. Far from looking demonic, it created a chilling presence that made people shrink back in fear.

Paired with his deep, narrow eyes and well-defined features, it added a touch of mysterious beauty.

However, at this moment, all of that beauty was ruined by the green pouch hanging at his waist.

Hua Manman covered her eyes.

’Red and green... a fatal combination!’

As if deliberately trying to torment her, Li Ji made a point of placing the pouch in the most conspicuous position and asked with a beaming smile.

"This is the pouch you made with your own hands. Do I look good wearing it?"

Hua Manman truly couldn’t bear to look any longer and sincerely suggested.

"That pouch doesn’t really match your clothes today. Why don’t you change to a different one?"

But Li Ji was insistent. "This is the pouch you made for me with your own hands. It’s your birthday gift to me. Of course I have to wear it today."

Hua Manman had never imagined that the pouch she had sewn with her own hands could possess such destructive power.

’It’s such an eyesore!’

Li Ji took her hand. "Let’s go."

Hua Manman made a last-ditch effort. "Are you sure you won’t consider changing the pouch?"

Li Ji gently but firmly refused her suggestion.

"I think this pouch is very special. Later, when we get to the palace, if anyone asks me where it came from, I’ll tell them you made it by hand."

Hua Manman: "..."

’I suspect you’re deliberately trying to humiliate me.’

The two took a carriage to the Imperial Palace.

The Emperor had ordered the birthday banquet to be held in the Tangli Building. He had invited only family, so there weren’t as many rules and restrictions, and the atmosphere was quite relaxed.

Hua Manman and Li Ji were seated closest to the head of the hall.

With just a turn of their heads, they could see the Emperor and the Empress Dowager seated in the place of honor.

Originally, the Empress should have been seated next to the Emperor.

However, the Empress had been sent to the Imperial Mausoleum, and it was unknown if she would have any hope of returning in this lifetime.

Now, the seat representing the Empress’s status was empty.

This naturally gave many of the concubines present ideas.

They would occasionally glance at the empty seat beside the Emperor, each with their own schemes in mind.

The Emperor did not notice the undercurrents flowing among the concubines. He ordered the birthday gift for Prince Zhao to be brought forward.

It was a red coral ornament, as tall as a man.

The quality and color of the coral were superb; one look was enough to know it was a rare treasure.

Following that, the other princes presented their gifts one after another.

The Second Prince, Li Hao, presented a treasure sword inlaid with many precious stones.

He said he had bought it at a high price from a Hu Shang merchant and was quite fond of it himself.

"A fine sword is a gift for a hero. Prince Zhao, you have rendered great service to our Great Zhou. This treasure sword rightfully belongs to you."

Li Ji accepted the treasure sword and said his thanks.

He casually handed the sword to Chen Wangbei, who was standing beside him.

The sword looked beautiful and dazzlingly colorful, but it was actually useless.

No one would take a sword that could blind a man into battle.

Its only fate was to be put on display at home as a decoration.