Chapter 653 - 656: Like Father, Like Son

Chapter 653: Chapter 656: Like Father, Like Son

No matter how Princess Consort Zhen tried to persuade him, Li Xun refused to eat.

It was getting late, and Madam He still hadn’t eaten. Princess Consort Zhen couldn’t let her go hungry, so she rose to her feet and spoke to her.

"Let’s go and eat first. We’ll leave Xun’er alone for a while. Perhaps he’ll come to his senses on his own."

Madam He said reassuringly, "Xun’er is just being childish. Noble Consort, please don’t take it to heart."

Princess Consort Zhen smiled slightly. "Let’s go."

The group walked out of the bedroom.

Princess Consort Zhen instructed the little eunuch guarding the door.

"Take good care of the young prince. If anything happens to him, I will hold you responsible."

The little eunuch hurriedly replied, "Yes!"

Princess Consort Zhen and Madam He went to the dining hall.

The two sat facing each other, the table filled with rare delicacies.

As they ate, they inevitably began to talk about Li Xun again.

Madam He once again proposed taking Li Xun out of the palace.

Princess Consort Zhen still refused.

Madam He: "Xun’er has already started a hunger strike. Are you still going to forcibly keep him in the palace?"

Princess Consort Zhen: "Didn’t you just say it yourself? Xun’er is just being childish. He’ll get over it in a little while."

Madam He: "And what if he doesn’t? Can you bear to watch him starve himself and ruin his health?"

Princess Consort Zhen stirred the chicken soup in her bowl with a silver spoon and said slowly.

"He won’t last long.

When he gets hungry, I will personally simmer a pot of soup and bring it to him.

No matter how big his tantrum is, he’s still just a child. The moment he smells the food, he’s sure to feel famished.

Then I’ll just say a few sweet words to coax him, and he’ll be obedient."

But Madam He said, "That trick of yours might work on an ordinary child, but not necessarily on Xun’er. That child has been strong-willed since he was little. Once he decides on something, he won’t change his mind."

Princess Consort Zhen put down her silver spoon. "Then we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it."

She picked up the serving chopsticks and placed a piece of beef in Madam He’s bowl.

"This beef is very fresh and tender. You should try some."

This was clearly an attempt to change the subject, to stop talking about Li Xun leaving the palace.

Madam He tactfully dropped the subject and ate quietly.

Hua Manman, standing silently in the corner, took in the entire scene.

’She had thought Princess Consort Zhen would back down because of Li Xun’s hunger strike, but now it seemed the Princess Consort was dead set on keeping him in the palace. Even a hunger strike wouldn’t work.’

’Things have come to this. It’s time to initiate the backup plan.’

Hua Manman took a step forward. "Madam, should we bring out the pastries we brought today for the Noble Consort to try?"

Madam He put down her chopsticks. "Of course."

Hua Manman lowered her head and backed out of the room.

Madam He explained to Princess Consort Zhen.

"I know you love the egg-yolk pastries our family cook makes, so I brought some with me to the palace today.

They’re best when served warm.

After we finish our meal, they’ll be perfect for dessert."

Princess Consort Zhen smiled sweetly. "Then I am in for a treat today."

When Hua Manman went to get the food box, she deliberately took a detour.

She approached a surrounding wall and, pinching her throat, let out a meow.

「A moment later.」

A plump, round Three-colored Cat flipped over the wall, fell from the sky, and landed right on Hua Manman’s forehead.

MEOW MEOW MEOW!

’Poop-scooper, catch me!’

Hua Manman, dizzy from the impact, scrambled to catch it.

Her hair was all messed up by this damn fat cat.

She gritted her teeth in anger. "Couldn’t you have just jumped onto the ground?!"

The system was indignant.

"Stupid human, how could you let my little pawsies touch the ground directly?!"

Hua Manman unceremoniously tossed it to the ground. "If your paws can’t touch the ground, then you might as well chop them off."

The Three-colored Cat issued an angry condemnation to its poop-scooper.

’Woman, you’re heartless!’

However, Hua Manman felt not a shred of shame.

She bent down and took the bundle hanging from the Three-colored Cat’s body.

"You wait here. I’ll be right back."

There was a tree right next to them, and with a SWISH SWISH, the Three-colored Cat jumped into it.

The dense leaves and branches hid its body well.

In the bedroom, Li Xun was lying on the bed, one leg crossed over the other, tossing peanuts into his mouth.

These were peanuts from the snacks the Imperial Kitchen had sent over yesterday. He hadn’t finished them, so he’d left some in a drawer, which were now perfect for staving off hunger.

Just then, there was a sudden knock on the window.

KNOCK KNOCK!

Li Xun jumped in fright, quickly hid the peanuts under his blanket, and squeezed his eyes shut, pretending to be asleep.

But the next moment, a familiar voice came through the window.

"Gou Dan, it’s me."

The voice was hushed and a little muffled.

But Li Xun recognized it instantly.

’It’s Mother’s voice!’

Li Xun immediately sprang up and ran to open the window.

Seeing that it was indeed his mother standing outside the window, Li Xun was overjoyed. Just as he was about to speak, Hua Manman covered his mouth.

Hua Manman whispered to him.

"Don’t talk yet. Quickly change into this outfit. I’m taking you out of the palace."

Li Xun was ecstatic. Without a second thought, he took the clothes and ran behind the screen to change.

It was only when he put the clothes on that he realized something was wrong.

’This... this is a girl’s outfit!’

The clothes must have been tailored to his size, as they fit him perfectly.

’But no matter how well it fit, it’s still a dress!’

Li Xun came out from behind the screen, awkwardly holding the hem of the skirt. The expression on his face couldn’t have been more mortified.

His little face flushed as he asked, "Mother, did you make a mistake? These are girl’s clothes."

Hua Manman admired the sight of her son in a skirt as she said with a smile.

"No mistake. I need you to dress up as a girl so we can slip past everyone."

Li Xun had inherited his parents’ good looks. His features were delicate, and with his still-childish face and small, slender frame, he didn’t look out of place in girl’s clothes at all.

He really looked like a cute, doll-like little girl.

Hua Manman couldn’t resist pinching his little cheek.

"Seeing you look this cute makes me want to have a second child."

Li Xun immediately protested, "Don’t have a second child! Don’t!"

’If Mother has another child, she definitely won’t be able to love only me with all her heart anymore.’

’I don’t want that!’

’I have to be the only apple of Mother’s eye!’

Hua Manman couldn’t help but laugh.

’This little brat is quite possessive.’

’He takes after his father in that regard.’

Hua Manman: "Come on out. We need to leave here quickly."

Li Xun: "Wait a moment."

He ran back, stuffed a pillow under the quilt to make a large bulge, creating the illusion that someone was in the bed.

After doing all that, he finally climbed out the window.

Hua Manman carefully closed the window. The mother and son avoided everyone’s line of sight and made their way to the surrounding wall.

The Three-colored Cat poked its head out from the dense foliage and called to them.

MEOW!

’You’re finally here!’

Hua Manman said to the Three-colored Cat.

"Go scout ahead outside."

The Three-colored Cat jumped from the large tree onto the wall, then landed on the ground outside the wall.

After confirming no one was outside, it let out a meow.

Receiving the signal, Hua Manman bent down, hoisted Li Xun onto her back, and used her Qinggong to leap over the wall.