Chapter 309: Chapter 310: That Won’t Be Necessary

Prince Zhao was quite displeased that he hadn’t gotten to eat the vegetarian food Hua Manman brought back for him that afternoon.

He decided to throw a fit to reassert his position as head of the household.

Yet after fuming in his study for what felt like an eternity, he still hadn’t seen Hua Manman come to placate him.

He suspected the woman hadn’t even noticed he was angry.

So when Jinxiu came to call him for dinner, he decisively announced that he had no appetite and wouldn’t be eating.

’He’s being so obvious! There’s no way Manman still hasn’t noticed he’s angry, right?!’

Just as he expected, Manman finally came looking for him.

Li Ji was about to put on the airs of the head of the household and have Manman properly coax him.

But who would have thought that before he could even start, Manman would just run off!

She left without a moment’s hesitation.

It nearly drove Li Ji mad with rage.

’This is intolerable!’

He tossed the book aside and strode out after her.

Hua Manman hadn’t gotten far before Prince Zhao grabbed her arm from behind.

The next moment, he pushed her against the wall.

Li Ji braced his hands on either side of her, looking down at her as he asked through gritted teeth.

"You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?"

It was a textbook "overbearing CEO pinning the innocent maiden" pose. Even his line sounded just as domineering.

Hua Manman blinked. For a moment, she felt like she was acting in a B-list romance drama.

"What are you talking about, my Prince? I don’t understand."

Li Ji leaned in closer. "Weren’t you here to call me to dinner? Why did you run off so fast?"

Hua Manman looked perfectly innocent. "Didn’t you say you didn’t want to eat?"

Li Ji retorted, "I did say that, but couldn’t you have tried to coax me?"

Hua Manman was speechless.

’It felt ridiculous, but it seemed... it was probably... possibly true—’

’The great and mighty Prince Zhao was actually throwing a childish tantrum!’

At this thought, the corners of her lips curled up involuntarily.

’What should I do? I kind of want to laugh.’

Li Ji heard her thoughts, and his face couldn’t help but grow warm.

He pretended he hadn’t heard a thing, continuing to stare unblinkingly at the woman in his arms.

His posture screamed, ’Don’t even think about leaving until you’ve appeased me,’ and it was quite intimidating!

Hua Manman asked humbly, "How would you like me to coax you?"

Li Ji retorted, "Do I really need to teach you?"

As he spoke, his gaze drifted to her lips.

The hint could not have been more obvious.

Hua Manman glanced around, and after confirming no one else was there...

She stood on tiptoe, leaned in to give him a peck on the lips, and then quickly pulled back.

"Will that do?"

Li Ji was far from satisfied. "Again."

Hua Manman could only lean in again. She kissed him and prepared to pull away.

But Li Ji suddenly cupped the back of her neck, holding her in place.

Hua Manman’s eyes widened in surprise.

Faced with a willing kiss from the woman he adored, how could Li Ji possibly be satisfied with such a light, fleeting touch?

He wanted more.

In a corner untouched by the lantern light, their bodies were pressed tightly together.

Their breathing grew ragged and quick, interspersed with Hua Manman’s soft whimpers.

The kiss was long and deep, lasting for a long time before it finally ended.

Hua Manman’s cheeks were flushed, her lips were rosy and moist, and her eyes were misty.

Her hands clung to Prince Zhao’s shoulders. Her legs had gone so weak that most of her weight was hanging on him.

Li Ji held her still, trying to calm himself.

After a long moment, Li Ji finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse.

"From now on, if I’m unhappy, this is how you’ll coax me. Got it?"

Hua Manman pressed her swollen lips together and answered softly, "I-I’ve got it."

To show he was being fair, Li Ji added.

"And if you’re ever unhappy, I’ll coax you the same way."

Hua Manman was quick to refuse. "There’s really no need."

’If she’s unhappy, a good meal is enough to cheer her up. There’s absolutely no need for this damn man to go sacrificing his good looks.’

Li Ji stared at her, his face devoid of expression.

"I’ll give you one more chance to answer that."

His chilling gaze made Hua Manman’s scalp tingle, and she hurriedly changed her tune.

"Okay! Yes! No problem!"

Only then was Li Ji satisfied.

He took Manman’s hand and led her into the dining hall.

Seeing this, Jinxiu and Si Yun quietly exchanged a knowing glance.

’Looks like the Princess Consort managed to placate the Prince.’

The meal was already set on the table, and Feihua Zhenren was already seated and waiting.

Li Ji hadn’t eaten his fill at lunch and should have been starving, but he ate no more than usual.

Noticing this, Hua Manman couldn’t help but ask.

"Aren’t you going to eat more, my Prince?"

Li Ji rinsed his mouth with some tea and said languidly.

"No. I’m having a late-night snack later."

Hearing the words "late-night snack," Feihua Zhenren’s ears immediately perked up. He asked expectantly.

"There’s a late-night snack tonight? What is it?"

Li Ji replied, "The Princess Consort brought back some vegetarian dishes from Wanshou Temple."

Feihua Zhenren rubbed his chubby little hands together. "I hear the vegetarian food at Wanshou Temple is to die for! It seems this humble Daoist is in for a treat tonight."

Hua Manman, who had planned to eat it all by herself, was speechless.

’Gone! My wonderful plan to enjoy the delicacy all by myself is gone, just like that!’

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace, the Emperor was having dinner with Hua Qingqing.

Due to her pregnancy, Hua Qingqing’s diet had recently become quite light. Fortunately, the Emperor also preferred simple flavors, so their meals together were quite harmonious.

Just then, Zuo Ji hurried in and bowed to the Emperor.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, someone just came from Lingxue Hall. They say Consort Liu has fallen ill." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The Emperor didn’t even raise an eyelid. He said casually, "If she’s ill, summon an Imperial Physician. Do I need to teach you how to handle such a trivial matter?"

Zuo Ji quickly replied, "An Imperial Physician has already seen her. He says Consort Liu’s illness is of the heart. To cure her, medicine alone won’t suffice; her emotional distress must be resolved."

Everyone in the inner palace knew what was causing Consort Liu’s distress.

It was, of course, her son, who was currently imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice’s dungeons.

The Emperor set down his chopsticks and spoke slowly.

"Tell her to rest and recover, and not to overthink things. Once the investigation into the collapse of the Imperial Ancestral Temple is complete, I will naturally release the Fifth Prince, provided he is proven innocent."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zuo Ji withdrew silently.

The Emperor had lost his appetite.

He rose from the table.

Hua Qingqing followed him and said in a soft, gentle voice, "The princes have always held you in high esteem. The collapse of the Imperial Ancestral Temple surely has nothing to do with them. Your Majesty needn’t worry so much."

The Emperor let out a soft sigh.

"I know."

He knew that the collapse of the Imperial Ancestral Temple probably had nothing to do with the Second Prince or the Fifth Prince.

But someone had to take responsibility for this incident.

Yet it was like choosing between the palm and the back of his hand—both were his own flesh and blood, and he was loath to sacrifice either.

For a while afterward, Li Ji was out almost every day, supervising the reconstruction of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The collapsed section of the Imperial Ancestral Temple had been cleared away. The broken beams were piled together, ready to be hauled off and discarded.

It was only then that everyone discovered the insides of these beams had been completely hollowed out by termites.