Chapter 611 - 614: I Won’t Accept It

Chapter 611: Chapter 614: I Won’t Accept It

Lu Wanqing froze when she saw Hua Manman and couldn’t help but ask.

"What are you doing with that bowl?"

Hua Manman wiped her mouth, casually placed the empty bowl on the table, and countered with a question of her own. "What do you want with me?"

Her attention diverted, Lu Wanqing answered.

"It’s about the Yu Royal Mansion, of course."

Hua Manman sat cross-legged on a nearby low couch and got straight to the point.

"Are you afraid I’ll fight you for the Yu Royal Mansion?"

Lu Wanqing said nothing.

Her silence was a tacit admission.

She had fought too hard to win control of the Yu Royal Mansion. There was no way she would ever give it up.

But her brother was the official Heir of Prince Yu. Moreover, he had orchestrated Lu Kai’s death. He would not necessarily cede the Yu Royal Mansion to her.

If the two of them were to truly fight for it, it would surely cause a huge commotion.

Hua Manman guessed what was on her mind and asked leisurely.

"You want me to renounce my status as the Princely Heir and not fight you for anything in the Yu Royal Mansion, don’t you?"

Lu Wanqing pursed her lips. "Though I disapprove of your past actions, you are still my brother. I don’t want us to kill each other unless it’s an absolute last resort."

Hua Manman said, "Fine, I’ll renounce my claim. But you have to answer a question for me first."

Lu Wanqing’s eyes widened slightly. She clearly hadn’t expected him to give up his inheritance so easily.

She couldn’t help but sit up straight, asking cautiously.

"What’s your question?"

Hua Manman asked, "Why were you willing to help find the antidote?"

’Although Lu Wanqing talked about not wanting them to kill each other, she wasn’t the one who poisoned me. She could have easily just watched from the sidelines instead of being so proactive about finding an antidote.’

’After all, their relationship as brother and sister had never been good.’

’I can’t help but wonder, why did Lu Wanqing help save me?’

’Is there something fishy going on here?’

Lu Wanqing hesitated for a long moment before speaking.

"You should ask the Regent King about this matter."

"So you already know?"

Lu Wanqing replied, "I didn’t know at first. But yesterday, when you were gravely poisoned and on the verge of death, he revealed his identity as the Regent King to me. He asked me to help find the antidote and said he would grant me any request if I could find it."

Hua Manman’s expression turned serious. "What did you ask for?"

Lu Wanqing clearly felt that taking advantage of someone’s dire situation was not very honorable.

She rubbed her nose sheepishly and said in a low voice, "I said I wanted to inherit everything in the Yu Royal Mansion."

"And he agreed?"

Lu Wanqing nodded. "Yes."

When she made the request, the Regent King agreed instantly, without a moment’s hesitation.

His willingness to risk everything to save a person was truly moving.

Lu Wanqing couldn’t help but ask.

"I don’t understand. What is it about you that would make the Regent King go to such lengths for you?"

She had long heard the rumors that the Regent King wanted to reduce the power of the vassal princes.

With the Yu Royal Mansion in its current state, the Regent King could have easily seized the opportunity to revoke Prince Yu’s title and fiefdom, taking the first step in his plan to reduce the vassals’ power.

Once that first step was taken, the rest would have been much easier.

But Li Ji had disregarded his entire plan just to save one person.

It was no small sacrifice.

Hua Manman laughed. "Probably because I’m just so naturally gorgeous that the Regent King was smitten at first sight."

Lu Wanqing’s expression grew complicated.

’She shouldn’t have asked.’

Lu Wanqing forced a change of subject.

"I’ve told you everything. Shouldn’t you fulfill your promise now?"

Hua Manman stated frankly, "Don’t worry. I have no interest in inheriting the Yu Royal Mansion."

’She thought Lu Wanqing would be relieved to hear that.’

But unexpectedly, Lu Wanqing’s expression soured even more.

Lu Wanqing said, holding back her anger, "You’ve always been like this."

Hua Manman was completely baffled. "Like what?"

Lu Wanqing said resentfully.

"Whether it was our second uncle or me, we’ve all been racking our brains trying to get control of the Yu Royal Mansion."

"But you can give it all up so easily."

"And the only reason is that you’ve had too much handed to you your entire life."

Hua Manman scratched her head. "Maybe you’re right."

Thinking of her years of frustration, Lu Wanqing couldn’t stop herself from pouring it all out.

"Your talent, whether in martial arts or academics, is average at best."

"But Grandmother and Mother only ever had eyes for you."

"Even when I studied all night until I could recite entire books from memory, they still wouldn’t give me a second glance."

"They would certainly never consider letting me inherit the Yu Royal Mansion."

"All because you were born a boy, and I was born a girl. I won’t accept it!"

’She expected her brother to be angry and confused after her outburst.’

But not only was Hua Manman not angry, she even nodded in agreement.

"You’re right. It’s incredibly unfair to you."

Lu Wanqing thought she had misheard and stared at him, stunned.

Hua Manman continued, "Girls aren’t any worse than boys. Look how capable you are. You’re a woman who can stand up to any man. It’s only right that you inherit the Yu Royal Mansion."

Lu Wanqing began to wonder if her ears were deceiving her.

"Do... do you really think so?"

Hua Manman nodded without hesitation.

"Of course. I fully support you inheriting the Yu Royal Mansion."

His reaction was so far beyond her expectations that she couldn’t help but ask.

"But you’re a man, too. Don’t you think my way of thinking is outrageous?"

Hua Manman then remembered she hadn’t revealed her true identity to her yet. She beckoned to Lu Wanqing with her finger.

"Come here. I’ll tell you a secret."

After much hesitation, Lu Wanqing finally moved closer, not forgetting to mutter.

"If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t keep me in suspense."

Hua Manman leaned in and whispered in her ear.

"Actually... I’m a woman too."

Lu Wanqing: "..."

The corner of her mouth twitched. "That’s not a funny joke."

Hua Manman knew words alone wouldn’t be enough. She grabbed Lu Wanqing’s hand and pressed it to her chest, letting her feel for herself.

Even though Hua Manman’s chest was bound with gauze, a soft curve could still be felt upon careful touch.

As Lu Wanqing felt it, her mind was thrown into turmoil.

’Her brother... was actually a woman!’

’No, that’s not right.’

’Since Lu Man is a woman, she’s my older sister, not my older brother.’

Hua Manman released her hand and sat back down, saying lazily.

"Now you must believe me."

Lu Wanqing’s entire worldview had been shattered. She was so shocked her tongue felt tied.

"How... how can you be a woman?"

"I’ve always been a woman. Prince Yu knows this very well."

Lu Wanqing couldn’t help but raise her voice. "If Grandfather knew you were a woman, why would he make you the Heir of the Yu Royal Mansion?!"

Hua Manman thought for a moment and decided to reveal her final secret.

"The truth is, I’m not the real Lu Man. We’re not related by blood."

Lu Wanqing: "..."

The information overload was about to make her brain crash.