The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 23: Reward
Li Ji didn’t even spare Nanny Zhang a glance.
Ever since Hua Manman was injured, his eyes had been fixed on her.
Hua Manman thought he was worried about her and said quickly,
"The wound isn’t deep. It’s nothing serious. I’ll be fine once I get back and apply some medicine."
Li Ji stared into her eyes and clearly heard her true thoughts—
’HISS! It hurts so much! That hairpin wasn’t even sterilized. I wonder if I’ll get tetanus? Am I going to die? Waaah!’
Li Ji said coldly, "I don’t need you to save me. Don’t do something so foolish again."
Hua Manman fell silent, feeling wronged.
’I’m not really some great saint. My brain just short-circuited. My body moved before I could even think.’
’If I’d known I wouldn’t get a single kind word for saving him, I wouldn’t have bothered.’
’Waaah, my wound really hurts!’
Li Ji ignored Nanny Zhang’s pleas for mercy and coldly gave an order.
"We’re leaving."
Since Hua Manman’s arm was injured, the task of pushing the wheelchair fell to Chen Wangbei.
Before leaving, Li Ji looked back one last time at the two words, ’Hai Yan,’ inscribed on the archway.
His father had once told him earnestly, back when he had first written these two words.
"Jie’er, as subjects of the throne, our most important duty is to assist the Saint and bring peace to the realm, so that the seas may be calm and the rivers clear."
The words remained, but the man who wrote them was now but a pile of bones.
The warmth that once lingered in this courtyard had also vanished into thin air.
...
Once they were back at the Prince Zhao Mansion, Hua Manman rolled up her sleeve, revealing the wound on her arm.
The wound wasn’t deep, but it was long. It had bled a fair amount, and the skin at the edges was peeled back, making it look quite frightening.
The household doctor carefully treated her wound and wrapped it in gauze.
Si Yun saw the household doctor out, then went to fetch the medicine.
Hua Manman pulled her sleeve down, and when she looked up, she saw Prince Zhao was still watching her.
She stood up. "I’m going to change my clothes. Please make yourself at home, Your Highness."
Li Ji didn’t move. He quietly watched her go around the screen and enter the inner chamber.
Her silhouette was faintly visible through the screen.
Her clothes came off, one piece at a time, the curves of her body growing more distinct.
But Li Ji’s thoughts were far from amorous.
His mind was filled with the image of Hua Manman protecting him earlier.
’This woman was clearly so weak she could hardly protect herself, yet she’d dared to step forward to protect him at a time like that.’
’She really had no self-awareness at all.’
’An idiot like her would probably help count the money if she were sold off.’
He muttered a curse in the direction of the screen.
"So foolish..."
Dressed in a clean set of clothes, Hua Manman walked out from behind the screen. She thought she’d heard Prince Zhao say something, but his voice had been too quiet for her to make it out.
She couldn’t help but ask.
"What were you saying, Your Highness?"
Li Ji leaned back and said languidly, "You may be a fool, but I am always fair with rewards and punishments. You took a blow for me. Tell me what you want as a reward."
Hua Manman hadn’t expected to receive a reward.
She chose to ignore Prince Zhao’s preceding insult and immediately started to think. ’What would be a good reward to ask for?’
Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the nearby bamboo couch, and an idea immediately sparked.
"Your Highness, may I ask for a set of soft bedding? This bamboo couch is too hard, and it’s very uncomfortable to sleep on."
Li Ji was genuinely surprised that her request was so modest.
He stared into Hua Manman’s eyes, wondering if this was her true desire. Was she feigning modesty as a ploy to angle for a greater prize?
Yet, after staring at her for a long time, he couldn’t hear a single scheming thought emerge from her mind.
All she really wanted was a set of bedding.
When he remained silent, Hua Manman grew anxious.
"Is that... not allowed?"
