Chapter 261: Chapter 262: Niu Lang and Zhi Nu and the Queen Mother

Li Ji took in every glance exchanged between the two women.

After Miss Lan left, Li Ji sized Hua Manman up and spoke coolly. "I really underestimated you. It’s only been a day, and you’ve already gotten so familiar with her."

Hua Manman grinned. "I’m just trying to help you with your troubles, my Prince!"

Li Ji scoffed, dismissing her sweet talk.

Hua Manman sidled up to him, massaging his shoulders and legs as she coaxed him in a gentle tone.

"Didn’t you tell me you wanted to investigate Miss Lan’s background? Now that I’m on good terms with her, she won’t be as guarded around me. That will make it much more convenient to investigate later on."

This was the excuse she had prepared in advance.

’In reality, she just didn’t want to go to class and had deliberately found an excuse to sneak out to shop and have fun.’

’Turns out skipping class felt amazing!’

’She decided she would skip class again tomorrow!’

Li Ji heard her little scheme loud and clear and immediately sneered.

"You don’t need to worry about Miss Lan. Just worry about yourself. If you dare to skip class again tomorrow, I’ll..."

He leaned over and whispered a few words in her ear.

Hua Manman’s face turned crimson.

She clutched her chest and retreated quickly, stammering in embarrassment and anger, "You—You’re too shameless!"

’He actually wants to do *that* to me! What a shameless bastard!’

Far from being ashamed, Li Ji seemed proud of it. "If you don’t want to see that shameless side of me, you’d best be a little more obedient."

Hua Manman sullenly shrank back, not daring to argue any further.

Seeing that she had quieted down, his expression softened, and he pulled her into his arms.

He asked in a low voice, "Have you had dinner?"

Hua Manman nodded meekly. "I have."

Li Ji: "What did you eat?"

Hua Manman began counting the dishes she had eaten that evening on her fingers.

Li Ji chuckled softly. "Sounds like you had quite a feast."

Hua Manman lifted her chin, saying smugly, "Of course! It’s not every day I get to go out. I had to eat something good."

Li Ji rested his chin on her shoulder, turning his head to ask, his lips brushing her ear.

"Besides eating, what else did you two do?"

Her ear tickled, and she resisted the urge to pull away, replying in a small voice.

"We also bought clothes, jewelry, cosmetics, and things like that."

Li Ji: "Spent a lot of money, did you?"

Hua Manman: "I don’t remember exactly, but it was probably quite a bit."

’It was thrilling to spend it, but thinking back now, her heart ached a little. That was so much money!’

’Still, she didn’t regret it.’

’Money is meant to be spent. Even if it’s all gone, you can always earn more.’

Li Ji led her into the bedroom.

He took a wooden box from a hidden compartment. It was locked.

As if performing a magic trick, he produced a key, unlocked the box, and revealed a neat stack of land deeds and silver notes inside.

"These are my savings. From now on, you’ll be in charge of them."

Hua Manman blinked. Though she hadn’t counted them one by one, she could tell from the thickness of the stack that it was an astonishing sum of money.

It was as if a fortune had fallen from the sky, leaving her completely dazed.

It took her a long moment to come to her senses and tear her eyes away from the deeds and silver notes.

"Maybe it’s better not to. I’m not good at managing money."

Li Ji pressed the key into her hand. "If you run out of money in the future, you can come here and get some yourself."

The key felt scorching hot in her hand.

"What if I accidentally spend all your savings?"

Li Ji smiled nonchalantly. "If you spend it all, you spend it all. I’ll just earn more."

Hua Manman knew these material possessions didn’t mean much to Prince Zhao, but she was still happy. His willingness to give her the key meant that he trusted her.

That trust was far more precious than the land deeds and silver notes in the box.

Hua Manman gripped the key tightly and promised earnestly.

"I will take very good care of this key."

Li Ji was amused by her solemn expression.

He couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss her cheek, smiling as he spoke.

"You’re just too cute like this."

Hua Manman covered her burning cheeks and backed away, glaring at him in frustration.

’Why does this bastard always take advantage of me?’

...

Early the next morning, Prince Zhao hauled Hua Manman off to her lessons.

Her plan to skip class was thwarted.

Li Ji sat nearby, sipping tea and supervising her calligraphy practice.

Jin Shu entered and curtsied respectfully.

"My Prince, Miss Lan is here."

Hua Manman, who had been engrossed in her practice, immediately sat up, her eyes lighting up as she looked toward the door.

Li Ji set down his teacup and said coldly, "What are you looking at? Get back to your practice."

Hua Manman pouted and lowered her head in disappointment.

Li Ji stepped out of the study and saw Miss Lan waiting in the courtyard.

She had deliberately changed into the new dress she bought yesterday. The vibrant red made her shine like the morning sun, her beauty even more striking and delicate than before.

Seeing Prince Zhao emerge, Miss Lan hurriedly curtsied.

"Greetings, my Prince."

Li Ji stood on the steps, looking down on her, and asked coolly, "What are you doing here?"

Miss Lan replied in a soft, quiet voice.

"I came to pay my respects to the Prince and the Princess Consort."

’The Princess Consort bought this dress for me. She even said I looked especially beautiful in it, so I wore it today hoping she’d be happy to see it.’

Li Ji heard her thoughts and snorted in disdain.

"It’s not a holiday, so why are you wearing red? Anyone who didn’t know better would think we’re celebrating the New Year early."

Miss Lan was mortified, her face flushing bright red.

"I... I’ve worn the wrong thing. Please forgive me, my Prince."

Li Ji said with a stony face, "Go back to your room and stay there. Don’t wander about for no reason."

"Yes."

Miss Lan was thoroughly frightened by the Prince’s stern demeanor.

She all but fled in a panic.

Hua Manman, who had been eavesdropping with her ears pricked, heard Prince Zhao deliberately scare Miss Lan away and couldn’t help but mutter.

’Prince Zhao is acting just like the Queen Mother.’

Li Ji heard this the moment he walked back in and raised an eyebrow.

"What Queen Mother?"

Hua Manman immediately acted nonchalant. "Nothing."

’The Queen Mother from the story of Niu Lang and Zhi Nu, of course!’

’The Queen Mother separated Niu Lang and Zhi Nu with the Silver River, and Prince Zhao separated me and Miss Lan with a door.’

’How similar they are!’

Li Ji laughed in exasperation.

’He and she were the married couple here. How had he become the third wheel in her heart?’

’The more he thought about it, the more upset he became.’

That very afternoon, he had Miss Lan packed up and sent to a villa outside the city.

When Hua Manman found out, she stormed over to him to demand an explanation.

"Why did you send Miss Lan away? There was no reason for it!" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Li Ji said lazily, "Because I felt like it. What are you going to do, bite me?"

’Hua Manman and Miss Lan were already acting like the star-crossed lovers, Niu Lang and Zhi Nu. If he didn’t send Miss Lan away soon, there’d be no place left for him in his own home.’