Chapter 277: Chapter 278: Entering the Palace as a Consort

After the attack on Madam Zhong’an, the loafer was scared out of his wits.

But he was still thinking about the final payment his employer had promised and wanted to find her to get the money. As it turned out, he searched everywhere but couldn’t find a trace of the woman.

Left with no choice, the loafer accepted his bad luck and prepared to leave Shangjing as soon as possible to lay low elsewhere.

With a guilty conscience, he looked particularly panicked as he was leaving the city, appearing shifty and suspicious.

This caught the attention of the soldiers guarding the gate.

The soldiers stopped the loafer and began questioning him about who he was and where he was from.

The loafer nearly wet himself in fear. His mind went blank, and he stammered through his answers.

Seeing him in this state, the soldiers were certain he was trouble. They arrested him on the spot and found two pieces of silver on him. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

How could a man as wretched and destitute as him possibly have so much money?

The soldiers guessed the silver had most likely been stolen.

The loafer cried out, proclaiming his innocence and begging for mercy.

Just then, Chen Wangbei arrived with his men. After revealing his identity, he took the loafer away.

The loafer was trussed up and thrown before Prince Zhao and Elder Zhong’an.

He wept and begged for mercy.

"I was wrong! I’ll never do it again! I beg you, Your Highness, Mr. Bo, please be merciful and spare my life!"

The thought that this bastard was the one who had seriously injured his wife made Hua Dingzong seethe with uncontrollable rage. He lifted his foot and kicked the loafer viciously in the chest.

The loafer yelped in pain and collapsed on the ground.

Hua Dingzong was filled with pent-up fury, and he vented it all on the loafer, landing several more vicious kicks.

Unable to fight back, the loafer could only howl in agony.

Li Ji stood quietly to the side, watching. Only when Hua Dingzong had tired himself out did Li Ji finally speak.

"You have no quarrel with Madam Zhong’an. Why did you attack her?"

The loafer had been beaten into submission and didn’t dare hide a thing. He immediately poured out the entire story of how he had been hired.

Though a door separated them, Hua Manman could still clearly hear the voices from outside the room.

After hearing the loafer’s description, anger flared within her. She immediately rushed out and demanded,

"Who was the person who hired you?"

The loafer stammered,

"I-I’ve never seen her before. I don’t know her, but she doesn’t look like one of us. H-her hair is curly, and her eyes are green. She had guards with her, too. She seemed... she seemed like someone of high status."

Hearing his description, Hua Manman and Li Ji both thought of the same person—

The Desert Pearl of Xiliang, Princess Longzhu!

Hua Manman had always thought of Princess Longzhu as just a spoiled little girl. Even when the princess tried to steal Prince Zhao, Hua Manman hadn’t taken her seriously, content to just tease her with a few words.

She never imagined the woman could be so vicious, willing to harm the innocent Madam Zhong’an just for revenge.

If one were to ask who Hua Manman valued most in the entire Zhong’an Bo Mansion,

the answer would undoubtedly be her mother, Madam Zhong’an.

Madam Zhong’an treated her exceptionally well, doting on her as if she were the apple of her eye.

Hua Manman did not have a heart of stone; she couldn’t help but be moved by such affection.

The fact that her mother had been hurt because of her made her heart ache terribly.

Li Ji reached out and stroked her head.

"Don’t dwell on it. This isn’t your fault."

Hua Manman took a deep breath, struggling to remain calm.

"Of course it’s not my fault. I’m going to find the real culprit and demand an explanation."

Li Ji didn’t try to dissuade her. Instead, he said gently, "I’ll go with you."

Hua Dingzong was utterly confused.

Seeing them about to leave, he hurriedly asked,

"Where are you going? Who exactly was it that hired someone to injure my wife?"

Hua Manman didn’t answer his question, only saying, "Please take good care of Mother. We’ll be back soon."

She and Li Ji left the Zhong’an Bo Mansion and took a carriage to Honglu Temple.

However, when they arrived at Honglu Temple, they learned that Princess Longzhu wasn’t there. She had been summoned to the palace by the Emperor and had not yet returned.

Li Ji had an imperial Token that allowed him to enter the palace and seek an audience with the Emperor without being announced.

He took Hua Manman with him into the palace.

Meanwhile, Princess Longzhu was filled with resentment.

The Emperor of Great Zhou had summoned her to ask if she was willing to enter the palace and become one of his Concubines.

To be fair, the Emperor of Great Zhou was handsome, with a graceful and composed temperament. Combined with the allure of his power and status, he was the kind of husband many women dreamed of. Had she not met Prince Zhao, Princess Longzhu would have been willing to enter the palace as a concubine.

But as fate would have it, Princess Longzhu had met Prince Zhao first—that powerful, untamable man.

Between the Emperor and Prince Zhao, Princess Longzhu was clearly more smitten with the latter.

Unfortunately, Prince Zhao had no interest in her.

The thought only made Princess Longzhu more bitter.

’Prince Zhao must be blind to give me up for that useless Princess Consort Zhao!’

’He’ll regret it sooner or later!’

Seeing her silence, the Emperor asked,

"Are you unwilling?"

Princess Longzhu pressed her lips together, her mind a whirlwind of indecision.

The warmth in the Emperor’s eyes slowly faded, and his tone grew cold.

"Since you are unwilling, then forget it. When the Xiliang Delegation returns home, you will go with them."

Princess Longzhu froze.

She couldn’t help but ask, "What about the marriage alliance?"

The Emperor replied casually, "We’ll discuss it later."

’He’s rejecting the marriage alliance.’

Panic instantly seized Princess Longzhu’s heart.

She had come to Shangjing with the mission of securing a marriage alliance. If the Emperor of Great Zhou refused, how could she face her uncle back home?

And all her friends back home... when they heard she’d been sent packing by the Emperor of Great Zhou, they would laugh her to scorn.

’No, I absolutely cannot go back!’

Princess Longzhu suddenly made up her mind and said quickly, "I am not unwilling! It is my honor to become one of Your Majesty’s Concubines!"

’Since Prince Zhao won’t have me, why should I be fixated on him alone?’

’Once I marry the Emperor and become his favorite concubine, we’ll see if Prince Zhao doesn’t regret this to his dying day!’

Seeing that she had changed her mind, the Emperor’s expression finally softened slightly.

He immediately issued a decree, bestowing upon Princess Longzhu the rank of consort with the title "Liang," and ordered Ningxiang Palace to be prepared for her residence.

And so, Princess Longzhu of Xiliang was transformed into Lady Liang of Great Zhou.

After giving her thanks, Lady Liang expressed her desire to return to Honglu Temple to retrieve her belongings and bid farewell to the Xiliang Delegation.

The Emperor granted her request.

Lady Liang left Hanzhang Hall and headed for the palace gates.

On the way, she happened to run into Prince Zhao and his wife.

Hua Manman and Li Ji had been on their way to Hanzhang Hall to find Princess Longzhu. Not expecting to meet her on the path, they immediately stopped and blocked her way.

When Lady Liang saw Princess Consort Zhao, her heart couldn’t help but pound nervously.

But she feigned nonchalance, put on an arrogant air, and demanded,

"Why are you blocking my path?"