Chapter 260: Chapter 261: Vying for Affection

The next morning, just as Hua Manman finished washing up and was about to have breakfast, she was informed that Miss Lan requested an audience.

Si Yun pursed her lips, clearly displeased with this Miss Lan who had appeared out of nowhere.

But she was only a maid. She only dared to grumble internally and didn’t dare show too much of it on her face.

At this point, Prince Zhao had already gone out to practice his swordsmanship and was not in the room.

Hua Manman settled onto the couch. "Let her in."

A moment later, Miss Lan walked in gracefully.

Today, she wore a light-cyan, cinched-waist dress, with a moon-white shawl draped over her arms. Her dark hair was styled into a simple, elegant chignon, with a jade hairpin slanted at her temple. Her earrings and necklace were a matching set; one could tell at a glance that her outfit had been meticulously coordinated.

Her thin, curved eyebrows were like willow leaves, and paired with her beautiful, misty eyes, she had a refined and unearthly air.

In comparison, Hua Manman was dressed much more casually.

She wore an apricot-colored, chest-high dress that she often wore, without a shawl. She had almost no jewelry on, save for a simple white jade bracelet on her wrist.

Miss Lan bent her knees slightly and curtsied.

"I pay my respects to you, Princess."

Hua Manman smiled and asked, "Did you sleep well last night?"

Miss Lan replied, "Thank you for your concern, Princess. I slept very well."

Hua Manman looked her up and down, finding her looks to be truly impeccable.

No wonder the Fifth Prince had taken a liking to her at first sight.

Hua Manman said, "You’ve just arrived, so I don’t know your preferences. If there’s anything you need, you can tell High Housekeeper Gao. Just treat this place as your own home. Don’t feel constrained."

Miss Lan replied meekly with her eyes lowered.

"I understand."

Hua Manman admired the beauty’s looks for another moment before asking abruptly,

"What do you think of the Prince as a person?"

Miss Lan clearly hadn’t expected Princess Consort Zhao to ask such a question. She froze for a second before answering shyly and timidly,

"The Prince has made great contributions to the Great Zhou Dynasty. He is an awe-inspiring and peerless hero."

Hua Manman rested her chin on one hand, watching her with a wide smile. "So, do you like him?"

Miss Lan’s face flushed red, as if she were overcome with shyness, and her voice became very soft and low.

"Of course... of course I do."

But she immediately added, flustered and anxious,

"I know the Prince belongs to you, Princess Consort. I wouldn’t dare compete with you for him."

But Hua Manman replied nonchalantly, "Go ahead and compete if you want."

Miss Lan: ???

Hua Manman instructed her earnestly.

"There are already so many women in the rear courtyard anyway. One more or one less of you makes no difference.

If you’ve got the skills, you’re more than welcome to monopolize the Prince.

If you’re fortunate enough to bear the Prince a son or daughter, I can make the decision to grant you the title of nanny."

This time, Miss Lan was truly stunned.

She had never imagined that Princess Consort Zhao could be so generous. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Hua Manman stood up, circled her, and spoke in the tone of an experienced elder.

"Your outfit won’t do. The Prince likes the glamorous, extravagant type. You look too plain. I’m afraid it’ll be hard for you to win the Prince’s favor."

Miss Lan asked dazedly, "Then... then how do you think I should dress?"

Hua Manman’s lips curved into a smile, her eyes crinkling. "Come on, I’ll take you out shopping for clothes right now and give you a proper makeover."

With that, she pulled Miss Lan and started walking out.

Hua Manman walked with flying steps, afraid that if she were a step too slow, she would miss this golden opportunity to skip her lessons.

Si Yun’s anxious shout came from behind them.

"Princess Consort, it’s windy outside! Put on this cloak!"

When Li Ji finished his sword practice and returned to his room, ready to give his consort her usual lesson, he found the room completely empty.

Upon asking, he learned that his princess consort had actually run off with his newly acquired concubine.

Li Ji: "..."

’According to the standard tropes, the princess consort and the concubine should be fighting over me out of jealousy.’

’Why was I the one who ended up being abandoned?’

’What kind of weird plot development is this?’

...

After leaving the Prince Mansion, Hua Manman took Miss Lan straight to the largest embroidery shop in the city.

When the Shopkeeper learned they were the women of the Prince Zhao Mansion, he didn’t dare to be neglectful. He hurriedly took out all his best, most treasured goods and laid them out in a row for them to choose from.

Hua Manman sat comfortably on a soft couch, swinging her feet and eating pastries. Whenever she saw an outfit she liked, she would point at it and have someone take it for Miss Lan to try on.

There isn’t a girl alive who doesn’t love to look pretty.

Miss Lan was, naturally, no exception.

At first, she was still a bit reserved, feeling very nervous and uneasy while trying on the clothes.

After trying on a few more, she gradually relaxed. Sometimes she would even spin around in front of Hua Manman and ask if it looked good.

Hua Manman studied her seriously. "This one isn’t bad either, but it’s still not as nice as the red one from before. Red complements your skin tone better, making it look fair with a rosy glow."

Miss Lan’s cheeks flushed red from the praise, and she felt very bashful.

"I rarely wear red clothes."

’Only children make choices!’ Hua Manman immediately made a decision. "Shopkeeper, that red dress she tried on earlier, and the one she’s wearing now—I’ll buy them all."

She had earned a lot of money selling peanut oil, so she was full of confidence, projecting the air of a rich big shot.

The Shopkeeper hastily agreed.

Afterward, Hua Manman bought several more outfits for Miss Lan, each one quite expensive.

Miss Lan had never been treated like this before and felt completely dazed.

By the time they finished buying clothes and left the embroidery shop, Miss Lan was gradually coming back to her senses.

She asked cautiously,

"I can’t possibly wear so many clothes. Princess Consort, you don’t have to spend so much money on me. Why don’t we return some of them?"

Hua Manman retorted as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "You look so beautiful in them, why return them?"

Miss Lan’s face grew even redder. "This is too much of an expense for you."

Hua Manman said, "This is nothing! Come on, let’s go browse somewhere else."

After that, they went to a jewelry shop and bought a lot of new-style jewelry that was currently popular in Shangjing City.

Hua Manman hadn’t gone on a shopping spree like this in a long time. Buying things one after another felt incredibly satisfying.

Miss Lan was originally quite anxious, but after seeing how happy Princess Consort Zhao was while shopping, she gradually put her worries aside and would even offer some purchasing advice from time to time.

Nothing brings girls closer than a good shopping spree.

By the time their day of shopping was over, Miss Lan had completely let loose. The two returned to the Prince Mansion, talking and laughing.

When Prince Zhao, Li Ji, saw the two of them return, he raised a long eyebrow and asked with a half-smile,

"So you decided to come back, did you?"

The moment Miss Lan saw Prince Zhao, she hastily lowered her head and curtsied respectfully.

"I pay my respects to the Prince."

Li Ji didn’t even glance at her. He waved his hand, gesturing for her to go cool off somewhere else.

Miss Lan glanced at Princess Consort Zhao with some concern.

She was afraid Prince Zhao would blame the Princess Consort.

Hua Manman gave Miss Lan a look, telling her not to worry.