The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 141 - 142: Not Worth It

Li Ji was noncommittal.

A playful smile touched his lips as he said languidly,

"What I’m more interested in now is what the Crown Prince will think when he arrives in Fu’an County and sees those refugees outside the city."

Hua Manman guessed, "County Magistrate Gao and the others will probably find a way to move the refugees elsewhere, right?"

But Li Ji said, "With so many refugees, I doubt they can all be moved in such a short time.

And there’s the matter of reinforcing the embankments. The Crown Prince is sure to ask about it.

Once he learns the embankments in Fu’an County were never reinforced, the embezzlement will be impossible to hide. How will they clean up their mess then?"

Hua Manman had a very bad feeling.

"Don’t tell me they’re planning to make County Magistrate Luo the scapegoat?"

Li Ji yawned and said nonchalantly,

"Who knows?"

With that, he stood up and walked toward the bed.

Hua Manman hurried after him and asked,

"If our guess is right, isn’t County Magistrate Luo in great danger? Shouldn’t we find a way to warn him?"

If County Magistrate Luo were a corrupt official, it wouldn’t matter. But from the clerk’s description, he was a rare, good official.

A good official like him shouldn’t suffer such a miserable end, his reputation in ruins.

But Li Ji turned a deaf ear to her words.

He lay down on the bed, pulled the blanket over himself, and said lazily,

"What do the lives and deaths of others have to do with me?"

Hua Manman retorted, "If County Magistrate Gao gets away with his scheme, there will be one less good official in this world. Eventually, as good officials dwindle and corrupt ones multiply, the entire court—even the whole of Great Zhou—will be doomed!"

One County Magistrate Gao wasn’t what was frightening. What was frightening was that there were likely many more parasites like him in other places.

They were constantly feeding on the flesh and blood of the common people.

Even ants can make a great levee collapse!

Li Ji scoffed, dismissing her words.

"So what?"

He looked straight at Hua Manman, his ink-black eyes filled with coldness.

"Corrupt officials, good officials—it has nothing to do with me. Why should I be the one to stick my neck out?"

Hua Manman frowned at him. "If you don’t care about these things, why did you take the initiative to ask about the situation in Fu’an County?"

Li Ji didn’t answer, instead retorting with a question of his own.

"Because I was bored to death and wanted something to pass the time. Is that not allowed?"

Hua Manman was speechless.

This was the first time since she had known Prince Zhao that she had sensed such complete apathy from him.

It wasn’t just indifference toward others, but also toward himself.

It was as if the entire world could collapse, and it would have nothing to do with him.

He didn’t care if others lived or died, nor did he care about his own life or death.

His coldness made her very uncomfortable.

Hua Manman murmured, "Why?"

Li Ji heard her and knew exactly what she was asking.

Had anyone else asked such a question, he would have ignored them.

But this was Hua Manman.

The Hua Manman who was trying to cure his leg. The Hua Manman who helped him forget his nightmares. The Hua Manman who had stood with him through life and death.

In his heart, she was already different from everyone else.

She was special.

She was someone who could be treated as an exception.

After a moment of silence, Li Ji finally spoke, his voice distant and ethereal.

"Back then, my father was betrayed and trapped in Ghost Wind Castle. He risked his life to get me out.

When I left Ghost Wind Castle, I had one hundred trusted aides with me. By the time I reached Shangjing, only twelve remained.

The other eighty-eight died along the way.

They were killed protecting me.

Because someone didn’t want me to return. Someone wanted me dead on the road back to the capital.

But I’m hard to kill. I survived several life-or-death situations.

I gritted my teeth, covered in wounds, and stumbled back to Shangjing. I knelt at the gates of the Imperial Palace and begged the Saint to send troops to support my father.

And what did I get in return?

Impeachments from the officials.

They impeached my father for treason, claiming he colluded with the enemy, deliberately led an army of one hundred thousand into a trap, and caused its annihilation.

While my soldiers were trapped in Ghost Wind Castle, fighting for their last breath, while my father was being slandered for treason, while I was kneeling before the palace gates, begging desperately... did anyone help me?

No.

Not a single person was willing to stand up and speak for us.

We shed our blood and sacrificed our lives to protect our home and country. But when we needed help the most, no one was willing to protect us.

They gave me indifference, so I give them indifference in return.

You ask me why I’m unwilling to lend a hand to others?

Because this world isn’t worth it."

Hua Manman stared at him, stunned.

Li Ji asked with a cold laugh, "Are you satisfied with that answer?"

Without waiting for her reply, he turned over, showing her the back of his head.

The Li Ji she read about in *Palace Intrigue* was treacherous, cruel, and vindictive—a Regent King who would kill without blinking.

The original novel never mentioned Li Ji’s past, and the description of Duke Zhen was brief and glossed over.

Because they weren’t the main characters of the story, their affairs were irrelevant to the main plot.

The author was unwilling to waste ink on them.

But their lives were real.

Everything they had experienced was deeply seared into their memories, shaping their personalities and the course of their lives.

Hua Manman only knew that Li Ji was cold and ruthless, but she never knew why.

Only now did she understand the reason.

Hua Manman sighed softly. "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked."

Her only answer was a cold silence.

Hua Manman knew he was in a bad mood. To avoid making him angrier, she said tactfully,

"You should rest well. I’ll go get another room."

She turned and walked toward the door.

Just as she reached the door and was about to open it, Li Ji’s voice suddenly came from behind her.

"Who said you could leave?"

Hua Manman stopped and turned to look at him.

Li Ji had turned back around at some point.

In the candlelight, his handsome face seemed to be plated in a soft, warm glow, making him exceptionally attractive.

He patted the empty space beside him and said matter-of-factly, like a lord giving a command,

"Come here and warm the bed for me."

Hua Manman: "..."

’You’ve been lying in the quilt for this long, and only now do you remember you need someone to warm your bed?’

As if he hadn’t heard her silent complaint, Li Ji urged impatiently,

"Hurry up!"

Hua Manman shuffled over slowly, took off her outer robe, shoes, and socks, then lifted a corner of the quilt and slipped in.

As expected, the spot was already toasty warm from Prince Zhao.

Hua Manman reaped the benefits.

Surrounded by the warmth, she quickly relaxed and began to feel drowsy.

She yawned and said softly to the man beside her,

"I was once very disappointed with the world, too. But then I met some very good people who helped me get back on my feet. I believe you’ll be able to meet good people like them, too."

Li Ji responded coldly, "Is that so? How come I haven’t met any yet?"

Hua Manman mumbled,

"That just means your fated connection isn’t strong enough yet.

Just wait a little longer. Maybe you’ll soon meet that person who can understand and cherish you.

You’ll be able to see the hidden gentleness deep inside each other’s hearts.

She’ll also understand your vast ambitions and respect your different choices."

Li Ji was silent.

After a long time, he finally asked in a low voice,

"Are you her?"

There was no response.

He looked down to find the little sleepyhead had already closed her eyes and fallen asleep.

...

Ah, well, I hope all of you can also find someone who understands and cherishes you. Good morning, loves~