The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 83: A State-Funded Trip

The weather was getting hotter, so the Emperor planned to travel to Yuqing Mountain for a summer retreat.

In previous years, the Emperor would always take many people with him on his summer retreats, and this year was no exception.

Besides the Empress Dowager and the Empress, there were also some Concubines, princes and princesses, and various dukes and ministers.

The Crown Prince, however, was left behind in Shangjing to oversee the palace.

Prince Zhao Li Ji’s name was also on the list of attendees.

The Emperor, considerate of Li Ji’s disabled legs and the inconvenience of travel, specially commissioned a luxurious, oversized carriage to be built.

The interior was incredibly spacious and fully equipped with all the necessities of life, each item a rare treasure.

Ordinary horses couldn’t pull a carriage this large.

The Emperor also bestowed eight Ferghana Horses specifically to pull Li Ji’s carriage.

When the eight Ferghana Horses pulled the grand, luxurious carriage toward the Prince Zhao Mansion, it caused quite a stir along the way. People were once again filled with envy and jealousy at the Emperor’s favor toward Prince Zhao.

The people of the Prince Zhao Mansion were also overjoyed. Gao Shan personally supervised the servants as they led the horses to the stables, repeatedly reminding them to take excellent care of the eight Ferghana Horses.

Li Ji himself, however, had a muted reaction.

When the imperial edict was delivered, he merely glanced at the carriage before turning his wheelchair and leaving.

Hua Manman was still practicing her calligraphy.

When she saw Prince Zhao arrive, she quickly put down her brush.

"Your Highness, I heard the palace sent a reward?"

Li Ji replied faintly, "Yes."

Seeing his lack of enthusiasm, Hua Manman had to suppress her curiosity and tactfully refrained from asking further.

She returned to the desk and continued writing.

Li Ji stared at her for a long moment, then suddenly spoke.

"In two days, I will accompany the Emperor to Yuqing Mountain for the summer retreat. You will come with me."

Hua Manman’s movements froze.

She looked up, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise.

Although she didn’t understand why Prince Zhao had suddenly made such a decision, she still happily agreed.

’Being cooped up in the Prince Mansion every day is pretty boring. Now that Prince Zhao is offering an all-expenses-paid trip, I certainly can’t miss it.’

After finishing her calligraphy and sword practice, Hua Manman excitedly went to pack her luggage.

She didn’t know what to bring for ancient-era travel, but luckily, with Si Yun’s help, they quickly finished packing.

「Two days later.」

Li Ji and Hua Manman boarded the luxurious carriage and met up with the Emperor’s procession at the palace gates.

The Emperor was inside the imperial carriage and did not show himself.

Therefore, Hua Manman didn’t get to see what the monarch from "Palace Intrigue"—the one with three thousand beauties in his harem—actually looked like.

She did, however, unexpectedly see Hua Qingqing.

Hua Qingqing had come with the Empress Dowager.

Hua Manman immediately remembered that in "Palace Intrigue," Hua Qingqing was indeed very well-liked by the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager would often summon her to the palace to chat and would occasionally take her along to offer incense and pray.

But it was precisely because of this favor from the Empress Dowager that Hua Qingqing became a public enemy the moment she entered the palace, suffering a great deal in private.

The convoy soon departed, leaving Shangjing in a grand procession and heading toward Yuqing Mountain.

Sitting in the carriage, Hua Manman touched this and examined that, secretly marveling at it all.

’As expected of the Emperor. Even a random cup is worth a fortune!’

Li Ji tapped on the tabletop.

"Come here. Practice your calligraphy."

The moment Hua Manman saw the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the table, she felt a headache coming on.

She wailed internally.

’Why do I have to bring homework on vacation?!’

Li Ji heard her inner thoughts and a pleased smile appeared on his face.

"Why aren’t you coming over? Are you perhaps unwilling to practice your calligraphy?"

Hua Manman forced a smile. "How could that be? Whatever Your Highness asks of me, I am more than willing."

After speaking, she sat down at the desk with the somber feeling of someone visiting a grave.

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