Chapter 656 - 659: Who Exactly Are You?

Chapter 656: Chapter 659: Who Exactly Are You?

Madam He was aghast, completely thrown into a panic.

In that critical moment, thinking fast, Hua Manman yanked Madam He in front of her. She drew a dagger from her sleeve, pressed the blade to Madam He’s neck, and whispered.

"When I say go, you take Gou Dan and leave the palace."

Madam He instantly understood her intentions and was stunned.

’She’s gambling with her own life!’

In the blink of an eye, the Yulin Guards had rushed up to them.

The palace gate behind them was shut.

Hua Manman was trapped, but she wasn’t the least bit panicked. She said coldly.

"If you dare take another step, I’ll kill the Madam!"

Madam He was not only Elder Zhong’an’s first wife but also Princess Consort Zhen’s mother, and even the current Crown Prince’s maternal grandmother.

Her status was extraordinary, so the Yulin Guards dared not risk her life and could only stop where they were.

The leader of the Yulin Guards shouted.

"As long as you release the Madam, we won’t make things difficult for you."

While he said this, his hand behind his back was making signals, motioning for the other Yulin Guards to ambush Hua Manman from different directions.

Hua Manman deliberately put on an unyielding front and said forcefully.

"Since I dared to threaten the Madam to get into the palace, I’m already prepared to die. I’ll count to three. If you don’t open the palace gates and let us go by then, I’ll kill the Madam immediately!"

Before they could try to talk her down, she began to count.

"One, two..."

Seeing a cut appear on Madam He’s neck, with blood seeping from the thin wound, all the Yulin Guards paled and dared not make another rash move.

The leader of the Yulin Guards immediately shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Quick, open the palace gates!"

If they merely let the assassin escape, it would only be a dereliction of duty.

But if the Madam lost her life, they would have utterly offended Princess Consort Zhen and the Crown Prince.

How could things possibly end well for them after that?

The palace gates were opened once more.

Hua Manman walked step by step toward the palace gates, holding Madam He hostage, with Li Xun following closely behind.

Just as the three of them were about to exit the palace gates, an arrow suddenly shot toward them from a distance!

Hua Manman hastily sidestepped to dodge it.

Her movement gave Madam He a chance to break free.

Madam He heard Hua Manman say in a low voice.

"Run!"

The situation was urgent, and Madam He had no time to think. She scooped up Li Xun and took off running.

At the same time, the Yulin Guards seized the opportunity, swarming forward and surrounding Hua Manman.

Hua Manman took one last look in the direction Madam He and Li Xun had fled, praying silently, ’I hope they get away safely.’

Relying on their superior numbers, the Yulin Guards quickly captured Hua Manman.

Her dagger was taken away, and she was tightly bound and escorted to Yufu Palace.

When Princess Consort Zhen heard that Madam He and Li Xun had already left the palace, her expression soured.

A Yulin Guard knelt on one knee.

"I have failed in my duty. Please punish me, Noble Consort!"

Princess Consort Zhen said coldly, "You do deserve to be punished, but there is a more urgent matter for you to handle right now. I want you to leave the palace immediately and order the City Defense Office to strictly investigate everyone leaving the city. If you can bring back the Heir of the Regent King, you will have atoned for your failure, and I can let this matter go. But if you fail to bring him back, your punishment will be doubled."

"As you command!"

The Yulin Guard secretly breathed a sigh of relief, bowed his head, and withdrew.

Li Qiong sized up Hua Manman as he asked.

"Why did you let Li Xun go? What is your relationship with him?"

Hua Manman lifted her head and looked at the young Crown Prince before her.

When she had seen Li Qiong all those years ago, he was just an infant in swaddling clothes. Now he was all grown up.

’It just goes to show how much things can change.’

Hua Manman said, "I let Li Xun go, of course, so he could return home."

Princess Consort Zhen said icily, "This *is* his home."

Hua Manman replied, "No, this is not his home."

Princess Consort Zhen declared emphatically, "Do you have any idea what kind of situation the Regent King is in right now? If I hadn’t been protecting Li Xun, he would have long since been implicated because of the Regent King! Right now, the only safe place for him is by my side!"

Hua Manman replied, "I am very grateful for everything you’ve done for Li Xun. But for him, the safest place is with his parents."

’No matter how much Princess Consort Zhen doted on Li Xun, she could never love him as selflessly as a mother loves her own son.’

’That was only human nature.’

Princess Consort Zhen said, "Xun’er’s birth mother died long ago."

"But he still has a father," Hua Manman said.

Princess Consort Zhen sneered. "Li Ji can barely fend for himself right now. How could he possibly protect Xun’er?!"

"You underestimate Li Ji," Hua Manman said. "He’s not as weak as you think."

Princess Consort Zhen stared at her.

"Listening to your tone, you seem to be very familiar with Li Ji. Who are you, really?"

Hua Manman didn’t answer.

Li Qiong threatened, "I advise you to confess. Otherwise, you will suffer the consequences."

Hua Manman remained silent.

Li Qiong’s patience was wearing thin.

Just as he was about to order his men to take Hua Manman away for interrogation under torture, he suddenly heard her speak.

"I want to speak with Princess Consort Zhen alone."

Li Qiong frowned, his tone dismissive. "You don’t have the right!"

Hua Manman said, "Don’t you want to know who I am? I can tell you the truth, but I can only tell it to Princess Consort Zhen alone."

He thought she was just being mysterious to stall for time and wanted to have her dragged away immediately.

But Princess Consort Zhen said.

"Very well."

Li Qiong couldn’t understand. "Mother Consort, why would you want to be alone with such a lowly person? What if she tries to harm you?"

Princess Consort Zhen said calmly, "Her hands and feet are bound. How could she possibly harm me? Besides, you’ll be waiting right outside the door. I only need to say the word, and you can rush in immediately. There’s nothing to worry about."

Li Qiong still felt it was a bad idea.

But he knew his Mother Consort’s temperament. Once she made a decision, no one could change her mind.

He had no choice but to withdraw reluctantly.

Princess Consort Zhen looked down at Hua Manman and said coolly.

"It’s just the two of us now. You can finally tell the truth, can’t you?"

Hua Manman tilted her head up and answered with a question of her own.

"Years ago, I took a great risk to steal the Jade Seal and help make Li Qiong the Crown Prince. You and the Crown Prince both owe me a favor. May I call in that favor now?"

Princess Consort Zhen froze, unable to process what she had just heard.

After a long moment, she finally gathered her thoughts and spoke in disbelief.

"Who in the world are you?"

Hua Manman smiled. "Have you forgotten your own second younger sister?"

Princess Consort Zhen retorted instinctively.

"My second younger sister died long ago."

"Actually, I didn’t die," Hua Manman said. "I just changed my identity and appearance, and now I’m back."