Chapter 652 - 655: I Want to Go Home

Chapter 652: Chapter 655: I Want to Go Home

The mother and son were overjoyed at their reunion.

Both of them had a million things to say to each other, but the situation was delicate. Hua Manman had to keep it brief.

"Your father is fine for now. I’m here to get you out of the Imperial Palace."

Although Li Xun always liked to bicker and argue with his father, they were still father and son, connected by blood.

When he learned his father had been condemned, he had been terribly worried, afraid he would be captured.

Now that he knew his father was safe, Li Xun could finally let go of the weight on his heart.

He gripped his mother’s sleeve tightly.

"Then let’s go now!"

’I can’t stand another minute in this wretched place!’

Hua Manman quickly pulled him back. "If we just walk out of the palace like this, we’ll definitely be stopped. In a little while, I want you to pretend you’re sick with homesickness and have your grandmother take you home."

Li Xun mumbled.

"I’ve tried faking sick before. It’s useless. Princess Consort Zhen will just call an Imperial Physician to examine me."

No matter how convincingly he acted, the moment an Imperial Physician got involved, they would immediately see whether he was truly sick or faking it.

Hua Manman said, "I’m telling you to fake a sickness of the heart. A sickness of the heart is a psychological illness. It can’t be diagnosed through observation, listening, questioning, or pulse-taking. Even an Imperial Physician won’t be able to tell if it’s real or fake."

Li Xun scratched his head.

’I think I get what a "sickness of the heart" is, but that sounds really hard to act out!’

’Can I really pull it off?’

After they had settled on a detailed plan, Li Xun went back the way he came.

Hua Manman returned to the side hall carrying the hot tea.

She placed the teacup by Matriarch He’s hand and then retreated silently to the side.

Princess Consort Zhen’s gaze fell upon her, and she asked casually, as if making small talk.

"Is this a new maid you’ve bought, Mother? I don’t recall ever seeing her before."

Matriarch He replied, "We’ve had a lot going on at home lately and were a bit short-staffed, so I had a human trafficker send over a few clever and obedient girls to the mansion. To be honest, I took a liking to this girl the moment I saw her. I feel she bears some resemblance to Manman, so I kept her by my side as my personal attendant."

Princess Consort Zhen looked Hua Manman up and down, her gaze lingering on her face for a moment.

In all honesty, she didn’t think this maid looked anything like Manman.

Their physical appearances were practically polar opposites, with no connection at all.

But there was an inexplicable similarity in the spirit between their brows.

The thought of her younger sister, who had passed away too soon, made Princess Consort Zhen’s smile fade, and a touch of sorrow welled up in her heart.

Matriarch He said quickly, "I’ve spoken out of turn. Manman has been gone for so long, I shouldn’t have brought her up. I’ve dampened your spirits, Noble Consort."

Princess Consort Zhen said earnestly.

"Manman was my sister. No matter how long she’s been gone, I will never forget her.

The entire reason I brought Xun’er into the palace to care for him was to look after him well in Manman’s place.

Xun’er is the only blood relative Manman left behind. No matter what, I will protect him and not let him suffer the slightest harm."

Matriarch He observed the consort’s changing expression and said cautiously.

"Forgive my bluntness, but I don’t think Xun’er wants to stay in the palace. I believe he’d much rather go home."

Princess Consort Zhen frowned, disagreeing.

"The Regent Prince Mansion has been seized, and the Regent King’s fate is unknown. If I were to let Xun’er go back, who would take care of him? If anything were to happen to him, how could I ever face Manman?"

Matriarch He: "Your considerations are certainly reasonable, but you must also consider Xun’er’s own wishes."

Princess Consort Zhen: "He’s just a child. He doesn’t understand many things."

At this point in the conversation, Matriarch He could see that Princess Consort Zhen had no intention of letting Li Xun go back.

’Further words are useless. I’ll have to find another way.’

Matriarch He glanced out of the corner of her eye at Hua Manman, who was standing behind her. Seeing her give a slight nod, she knew that Hua Manman had made contact with Li Xun.

Now, they just needed to proceed with the plan.

Princess Consort Zhen invited Matriarch He to stay for lunch.

Matriarch He readily agreed.

However, when Noon arrived and the dishes were served, Li Xun was still nowhere to be seen.

Worried, Princess Consort Zhen sent people to look for Li Xun.

But the servants she sent all came back empty-handed.

"Reporting to the Noble Consort, the Young Master says he isn’t hungry and doesn’t want to eat."

Princess Consort Zhen frowned. "He barely ate anything this morning. How could he not be hungry at this hour? I must go see him."

Matriarch He immediately stood up. "I’ll accompany you."

The group proceeded in a grand procession to Li Xun’s bedroom.

As soon as they entered, they saw a large lump under the quilt on the bed.

Li Xun was hiding under the covers.

Princess Consort Zhen walked over and called out gently.

"Xun’er, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you?"

There was no response.

Princess Consort Zhen tried to pull back the quilt but found that Li Xun was holding it so tightly it was hard to move.

Helpless, she could only sit on the edge of the bed and try to persuade him earnestly.

"If something is bothering you, just tell me. Don’t bottle it up inside, and especially don’t refuse to eat. If you make yourself sick from hunger, you’ll be the one to suffer in the end."

After a long while, Li Xun’s voice finally came out.

Muffled by the thick quilt, his voice sounded dull.

"I want to go home."

Princess Consort Zhen said, "I’ve told you many times, this is your home."

Li Xun didn’t argue with her. He just repeated the same five words over and over—

"I want to go home."

Unable to watch any longer, Matriarch He stepped forward to persuade her.

"Xun’er truly wants to go home. Please, just let him go back."

Princess Consort Zhen said grimly, "You’re not unaware of the current situation at the Regent Prince Mansion. The moment Xun’er leaves the Imperial Palace, he will be taken away by the men from the Ministry of Justice. At that point, even I might not be able to protect him."

Matriarch He said, "He can stay at the Zhong’an Bo Mansion temporarily. Once this blows over, I’ll send him back to the Regent Prince Mansion."

Princess Consort Zhen: "The Zhong’an Bo Mansion isn’t his home either. Sending him to the Uncle’s Mansion won’t solve anything. Besides, the Zhong’an Bo Mansion isn’t necessarily safe. For now, the most secure place for him is by my side."

Matriarch He walked over, placed her hand gently on the quilt, and asked in a warm voice.

"Xun’er, do you want to stay in the palace? Or do you want to come with me to the Zhong’an Bo Mansion?"

Li Xun immediately threw off the quilt, grabbed Matriarch He’s hand, and said quickly.

"I’ll go back with you to the Zhong’an Bo Mansion!"

Matriarch He looked at Princess Consort Zhen.

The expression on Princess Consort Zhen’s face changed slightly.

She didn’t understand. "What’s so bad about the palace?"

Li Xun retorted, "What’s so good about it?"

Princess Consort Zhen: "You have me here, and your Crown Prince Cousin. We will both protect you."

Li Xun rejected her without a second thought.

"I don’t need it!"

Princess Consort Zhen: "This is no time for you to be throwing a child’s tantrum. You will stay in the palace and go nowhere."

Li Xun pulled the quilt over his head again, his voice muffled.

"Then I won’t eat! I’ll never eat again! I’ll just starve to death for all I care!"