Chapter 632 - 635: The Truth

Chapter 632: Chapter 635: The Truth

Li Liao wanted to pat his son’s shoulder when he was upset, just as he had when he was a child, to help him pull himself together.

However, before his fingers could even touch Li Ji, they were violently swatted away.

"Don’t touch me!"

His tone was filled with undisguised loathing.

Li Liao said bitterly, "You may not believe it, but I truly did see you as my own son."

He had even considered hiding the secret forever, letting Li Ji remain his son for all time.

But he owed the Crown Prince a great debt for his patronage. He couldn’t let the Crown Prince be wrongly accused, so he had to make Li Ji learn the truth.

When Li Ji heard the words "my own son," he felt they were dripping with mockery.

He laughed in self-mockery.

"If I were really your son, would you have deceived and toyed with me like a fool?"

Li Liao explained earnestly, "I didn’t deceive you on purpose. It’s just that it would have done you no good to know those things too soon."

Li Ji’s hands clenched into fists as he questioned him through gritted teeth.

"If you were going to lie to me, you should have lied to the very end!

Why tell me the truth?

Why make me realize what a fool I’ve been my whole life?!"

He had faced death on the battlefield time and again, surviving only by clinging to the belief that he had to avenge his father.

Only now was someone telling him.

Even that belief was a lie.

At this thought, Li Ji couldn’t help but laugh again.

"Heh, a lie. It’s all a fucking lie!"

Li Liao wanted to say more.

But Li Ji no longer wanted to hear it.

Now, just looking at Li Liao for another second made him sick to his stomach.

Watching Li Ji walk away without a backward glance, Xu Yi was very worried.

"General, do you think the Regent Prince will be able to handle this blow? What if he does something foolish?"

Li Liao sighed. "Let’s give him some time to process all this. Once he’s calmed down, I’ll talk to him about the future."

Bian Ziming was leading his men in a search for the Regent King. When he suddenly saw him returning, Bian Ziming was overjoyed and hurried to greet him.

"Where did you go? We couldn’t find you anywhere. We were worried sick, thinking something might have happened to you."

It was only then that he finally noticed something was wrong with the Regent King’s expression and hurriedly asked.

"You look terrible. Did something happen?"

Li Ji’s face was pale, the corners of his eyes were red, and his gaze was cold and vicious.

He had no idea how terrifying he looked, nor did he have any intention of answering Bian Ziming. He asked in a hoarse voice.

"Where’s Manman?"

At the mention of Hua Manman, Bian Ziming immediately grew anxious again.

"The lady fainted just now. She’s been taken back to the carriage. You..."

Before he could finish, he saw the Regent King sprinting toward the carriage.

Yue Niang had just jumped down from the carriage.

Seeing the Regent King approach, she said frantically.

"My lady is gone!"

Li Ji’s gaze grew even darker. "What do you mean, gone? Explain yourself. What happened?"

Yue Niang was on the verge of tears from anxiety.

She quickly explained everything from beginning to end.

"That Prince Xiliang promised to bring my lady back to the carriage, but by the time I finished speaking with General Bian and returned, I couldn’t find her. My lady... she’s gone!"

Li Ji shoved her aside, strode forward, and looked inside the carriage.

It was, indeed, completely empty. Not a soul was inside.

Li Ji’s heart sank.

He immediately ordered his men to find Ah Qi.

However, the Xiliang Delegation was long gone, leaving behind nothing but an extinguished campfire.

...

When Hua Manman awoke, she found herself lying in an unfamiliar room.

She sat up, rubbing the back of her neck, which ached dully.

There was no one else in the room.

She threw off the covers and got out of bed, noticing a gentle rocking motion under her feet and the sound of water outside the window.

A suspicion immediately formed in her mind—

’Could I be on a boat right now?’

At this thought, Hua Manman hurried to the side of the bed and threw open the window.

Her eyes were met with the sight of a glittering river.

She was, indeed, on a large ship.

The sound of a door opening came from behind her.

Hua Manman turned to see Ah Qi walk in through the door.

Ah Qi was dressed in the distinctive attire of the West Liang people: a round-collared robe with narrow sleeves, his waist cinched tightly by a leather belt that accentuated his taut waistline.

His long, dark-brown hair was tied back with a feathered band, the slightly curled ends resting casually on his shoulder. An extravagant earring hung from each of his ears.

He had a high-bridged nose, deep-set eyes, and strong facial features. His irises were a beautiful azure blue.

The very picture of a typical Xiliang man.

They say clothes make the man.

Dressed like this, Ah Qi no longer showed any trace of his past as a slave.

Hua Manman watched him warily.

"Where is this place? Why did you bring me here?"

Ah Qi first waved his hand, stopping his attendants from following him in, then spoke to Manman.

"There’s no need to be nervous. I mean you no harm. I only brought you here to ask you a few questions."

Hua Manman didn’t dare to relax in the slightest. "What do you want to ask?"

Ah Qi stopped a step away from her.

"What is your relationship with Li Ji?"

Before Hua Manman could try to play dumb and bluff her way through, he continued.

"Don’t even think about lying. I know the owner of the Cloud Crane Opera Troupe is the Regent King, Li Ji. You’ve been with him all this time, and he’s been at your beck and call. Your relationship is anything but ordinary."

Hua Manman couldn’t help but ask, "How did you know he’s the Regent King?"

Ah Qi replied, "The Regent King may have disguised his face, but both he and his trusted aides have calluses on their hands from years of wielding swords. Those calluses don’t lie."

He had heard long ago that the Great Zhou Court had issued a warrant for the Regent King’s arrest.

So when he encountered the Cloud Crane Opera Troupe, Ah Qi was extra vigilant.

And sure enough, he noticed something was amiss.

Hua Manman bit her lip and asked, "Since you know our identities, why don’t you just report us to the court?"

Ah Qi retorted with a question of his own, "I’m not from Great Zhou. Why should I help the Great Zhou Court?"

From his perspective, he would be delighted if the court and the Regent King went to war. The more vicious the fight, the better, as it would create an opportunity for Xiliang Country to profit.

Ah Qi was like a hunter who had his prey cornered. He looked at the woman before him and said unhurriedly.

"Now, you just need to answer my question. Who are you to the Regent King?"

Hua Manman said, "I am his wife."

Ah Qi said, "But as far as I know, his main wife is someone else."

Hua Manman forced an awkward smile and said drily, "Isn’t it normal for a man to have multiple wives and concubines?"

’Normal, my foot!’

’If that bastard so much as dared to have other wives and concubines, I’d break all three of his legs!’

Ah Qi said, "In other words, you’re the Regent King’s favored concubine?"

Hua Manman’s expression was complicated. "I suppose so."

’A concubine, then, so be it.’

’In any case, I’m both the wife and the concubine.’