The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 133: Crisis
The moment Li Ji saw the Crown Prince, he heard his true thoughts.
’So the Crown Prince is afraid of taking responsibility and plans to make me the scapegoat.’
Li Cheng feigned a humble and inquisitive look.
"Before we left, Father Emperor instructed me that Prince Zhao is incredibly experienced in military campaigns. You must have encountered similar problems before. Do you have any brilliant solutions?"
Li Ji watched him with a half-smile, his eyes full of ridicule.
"Crown Prince, you are exceptionally intelligent. If even you can’t think of a solution, what ideas could I possibly have?"
Li Cheng frowned. "Excessive modesty is just another form of arrogance. At a critical time like this, you can’t be playing games. If you have a solution, just say it."
Li Ji sneered.
"I truly have no solution. The rope bridge is right there. If you are afraid, Crown Prince, you can turn back at any time."
Li Cheng’s expression darkened.
’Prince Zhao isn’t giving me any face at all!’
He took a deep breath, suppressing the frustration and resentment in his heart.
"Since Prince Zhao is unwilling to enlighten me, then forget it."
With that, he turned away, refusing to spare Prince Zhao another glance.
Lin Qingzhi gave Prince Zhao an apologetic smile. "The Crown Prince has been working himself to the bone for the disaster relief effort, so he’s bound to be a little on edge. I hope you won’t take it to heart, Prince."
Li Ji gave her a long, hard look.
"You’re Lin Qingzhi?"
His stare made Lin Qingzhi’s skin crawl, and the smile on her face grew a little stiff.
"Yes."
Li Ji’s lips curved into a faint smile, his tone carrying a deep, hidden meaning. "You’re quite something."
When Li Cheng heard this, his anger flared even hotter.
But he couldn’t lash out at Prince Zhao, so he just shot a cold glare at Lin Qingzhi.
"It seems Prince Zhao has taken a liking to you. Why don’t you go with him?"
Lin Qingzhi shook her head in a panic. "No! I belong to the Crown Prince. I won’t go anywhere but by your side!"
Hearing this, Li Cheng’s expression softened slightly.
’At least this woman knows her place.’
He had never seen Prince Zhao take the initiative to show interest in any woman. Lin Qingzhi was the first. He assumed Prince Zhao had that kind of interest in her, which annoyed him, but at the same time, he felt a little smug.
’So what if Prince Zhao has taken a fancy to Lin Qingzhi?’
’She’s already my woman.’
’All Prince Zhao can do is watch with longing, unable to even touch her.’
Just as Li Cheng was about to enjoy the look of disappointment on Prince Zhao’s face, he found that the window of the opposing carriage had already been closed.
He had been snubbed, and his face darkened again.
This time, Lin Qingzhi didn’t dare say another word. She knelt meekly by his side with downcast eyes, quietly becoming part of the scenery.
The Crown Prince ordered them to cross the river via the rope bridge.
Because the rope bridge was so severely dilapidated, not too many people could cross at once.
So, the procession was divided into dozens of small groups.
Only one small group of people and horses could cross at a time.
Li Cheng deliberately placed himself in the second group, which felt the safest.
As for the carriage carrying Prince Zhao, the Crown Prince had intentionally placed it in the very last group.
Li Ji had no objection to this.
Hua Manman had been a little worried at first, but seeing how composed Prince Zhao was, she also began to relax.
’Even though Prince Zhao is a total jerk, he’s still reliable when it comes to serious matters.’
Li Ji, who had accidentally heard her thoughts: "..."
Hua Manman noticed Prince Zhao looking at her and immediately feigned a frightened expression.
"The rope bridge is so high! I’m so scared~"
Li Ji couldn’t help but wonder if this woman had been an actor in her past life.
’How else could she be so good at putting on a show?’
The carriages and horses in front crossed one group after another.
Although the rope bridge looked extremely dilapidated, swaying as if it could snap at any moment, it was surprisingly sturdy. Not a single person had fallen.
The Crown Prince’s carriage had already crossed the bridge and reached the other side of the river.
However, before he could even feel relieved, a sudden cry of battle erupted outside!
Li Cheng’s expression changed, and he immediately pushed open the carriage window to look out.
He saw a large number of mountain bandits suddenly emerge on the other side of the river.
The bandits were all tall and burly. Wielding machetes, axes, spears, and other weapons, they charged toward the convoy transporting the relief funds and grain!
Li Cheng panicked.
If the disaster relief funds were stolen again, how would he answer to the Emperor and the court officials?
He hurriedly shouted to the surrounding guards.
"Hurry and help them!"
Lin Qingzhi quickly reminded him.
"Please calm down, Crown Prince. This rope bridge has a limited weight capacity.
If everyone rushes back at once, I’m afraid the bridge will snap.
It would be better to send a small group over to help, while the rest stay here to provide support."
Li Cheng found her words reasonable and nodded in agreement.
On the other side of the river, the moment the bandits charged out, Chen Wangbei had already organized his men to resist.
Chen Wangbei wanted Prince Zhao to leave first.
But Li Ji didn’t move. He ordered the carriages loaded with the disaster relief funds and grain to cross the river first.
The soldiers of the Tiger Roar Camp were well-trained and had the advantage in numbers. The bandits knew they couldn’t fight them head-on, so they specifically targeted the carriages carrying the funds and grain.
Most of the carriages were sent to the other side, but two carriages loaded with relief supplies were surrounded by the bandits.
It seemed they were determined to seize those two carriages before they would give up.
Chen Wangbei shouted in the direction of Prince Zhao.
"Prince, you go first! I will cover the rear!"
Li Ji glanced at the situation outside through the carriage window.
’The Tiger Roar Camp currently has the upper hand. They probably won’t suffer any losses.’
So, Li Ji said to the servant driving the carriage.
"Let’s go."
The carriage started to move slowly, its wheels rolling through the mud and onto the rope bridge.
Amidst the wind and rain, the rope bridge swayed from side to side. The parts where the wheels passed would let out a CREAKING sound, creating a perilous feeling that it could give way at any moment.
This time, Hua Manman was genuinely a little scared.
She reached out to grip the edge of the window, her body tense.
Li Ji glanced at her.
"If you’re scared, you can hold my hand."
He was only saying it, but to his surprise, Hua Manman actually reached out her hand.
She tightly gripped his right hand, not daring to look outside.
Li Cheng sat in his carriage, watching through the window as Prince Zhao’s carriage drew closer and closer.
A vile thought suddenly sprouted in his mind—
’If the rope bridge were to suddenly break right now, Prince Zhao would surely die.’
’Even if Father Emperor were to investigate in the future, I could just claim it was an accident.’
Once the thought appeared, it could no longer be suppressed.
’Prince Zhao is arrogant and conceited. He acts lawlessly, relying on the Emperor’s favor, and dares to disrespect even me, the Crown Prince.’
’If a man like that stays alive, not only will he be of no help to me, but he might also hinder my path to the throne.’
’In that case, it’s better if Prince Zhao just dies.’
Li Cheng whispered a few words to his trusted confidant.
The confidant’s face changed, and he seemed to hesitate.
But when he met the Crown Prince’s cold, grim gaze, he immediately lost his nerve.
"As you command."
Everyone was focused on the situation on the other side of the river. No one noticed a short figure quietly approaching the head of the bridge.
He sliced at the ropes twice with a dagger.
The rope bridge was already in disrepair from age. Now, with man-made damage added, it soon let out a groan as if under immense strain.
And then, the ropes snapped!
...
