[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-side-character-wants-to-lie-flat":3,"chapter-the-side-character-wants-to-lie-flat-the-side-character-wants-to-lie-flat-chapter-229":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},925233,1214,"Chapter 229 - 230: It’s You Who Ruined Me","the-side-character-wants-to-lie-flat-chapter-229",229,"\u003Cp>Due to the angle, the Empress almost completely blocked Hua Manman from view, so no one else saw what she had done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress, however, saw everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Alarms blared in her mind.’ She was just about to spit out the object in her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the Truth Elixir dissolved the instant it touched her tongue, making it impossible to spit out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress’s expression instantly turned grim. \"You...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman cut her off, pleading with tears in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know the Prince offended you in the past, and that you greatly dislike him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Prince is already dead. Can’t you just be merciful and let him rest in peace?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could what Feihua Zhenren said be true? Did you really murder the Prince?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress wanted to say she was talking nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, her mouth moved against her will, speaking her true thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what if I was the one who killed Prince Zhao?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment she spoke, the entire hall was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor stared at the Empress in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What did you say? Was it really you who poisoned Jie’er?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress was in a panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’How could I have said the truth?!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shook her head frantically, wanting to take back her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the words that came out were—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, I was the one who had him poisoned. To avoid detection, I deliberately kept the dose to a minimum. A little bit each day, enough to take Li Ji’s life without anyone noticing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the words left her mouth, the Empress wanted to bite off her tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’How did I tell the truth again?!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation reminded her of how Lady Li and Yichongyuan had spouted nonsense in public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Could Lady Li and Yichongyuan have also been victims of Hua Manman’s schemes?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’But where did Hua Manman learn such a bizarre technique that could force people to speak the truth against their will?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only then that the Empress realized she had underestimated the woman before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terrified, she instinctively took a step back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman, feigning extreme shock, asked with a pale face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why would you commit such a heinous act against the Prince?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress clamped her mouth shut, not daring to utter another word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feihua Zhenren declared loudly, \"It is the spirit of Prince Zhao making its presence known!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd had already noticed the Empress’s odd behavior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was clearly shaking her head, yet her words were affirmative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This contradiction between her words and actions was obviously not normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Feihua Zhenren’s words, everyone suddenly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Of course, it must be Prince Zhao’s spirit! That’s why the Empress is acting so strangely, even daring to reveal such a top-secret matter in front of everyone.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, even the Emperor was beginning to waver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He murmured, \"Can there really be ghosts in this world?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress lowered her hands and shouted anxiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are no ghosts in this world!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor stared at her. \"Ghost or no ghost, you were the one who poisoned Jie’er. Is that right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress wanted to say no, but her mouth, still beyond her control, gave another affirmative reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, it was I who killed Li Ji!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was nothing but a bastard, yet you favored him so much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I hadn’t killed him, you would have eventually had him replace Cheng’er as the Crown Prince.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor was completely taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had favored Li Ji because he felt he owed him a great deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were all his children, yet the others grew up in the palace, enjoying the treatment befitting a prince and princess. Only Li Ji had to follow Duke Zhen everywhere, enduring countless hardships.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combined with Duke Zhen’s death, the Emperor was filled with guilt and naturally wanted to treat Li Ji better as a way to make amends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was especially true after Li Ji was severely injured and left crippled in both legs, reduced to a man who could no longer walk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course the Emperor would be more attentive to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for having Li Ji replace Li Cheng as the Crown Prince, the thought had never once crossed the Emperor’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t even understand why the Empress would suspect he intended to depose Li Cheng as Crown Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was something that would simply never happen!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A minute passed quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effects of the Truth Elixir wore off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress could finally speak her own mind again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hurriedly tried to defend herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, I was just spouting nonsense just now! You mustn’t take it seriously!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the more she denied it, the more certain the Emperor became that her earlier words had been the absolute truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave a self-deprecating laugh. \"So you stopped trusting me long ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress shook her head. \"It’s not what you think! Please, let me explain! I’ve never harmed anyone! I’ve been framed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor said, \"You’ve already confessed your crime in public.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress pointed at Hua Manman and retorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was her! She gave me something to eat just now, and my mouth immediately stopped obeying me! Everything I said was a lie!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman’s eyes widened. \"What does this have to do with me? How could I possibly have such an incredible ability? Empress, you’ve wrongly accused me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress glared at her, her venomous gaze looking as if it could tear Hua Manman to shreds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if frightened, Hua Manman hastily shrank back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor had no desire to hear the Empress’s excuses any longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rubbed his temples and said wearily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For the sake of our many years as husband and wife, I will not do anything to you. But Jie’er cannot have died in vain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting today, you will move to the Imperial Mausoleum and pay respects to the imperial ancestors on my behalf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From now on, you are forbidden to return to the palace without my permission.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was, in effect, a form of house arrest for the Empress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress was incredulous. \"Your Majesty is banishing me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor replied, \"You must take responsibility for your actions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress stared at him, then suddenly began to laugh. Her smile was bleak and pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After so many years as husband and wife, you’re actually casting me out for that spawn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor turned his face away, unwilling to look at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress was filled with grief and indignation. Despair welled up in her chest with nowhere to go, until she finally turned her rage on Hua Manman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You did this to me! Why don’t you just die?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a madwoman, the Empress lunged at Hua Manman, trying to claw at her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman scrambled to dodge back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feihua Zhenren swung his Peach Wood Sword, blocking the Empress’s path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor ordered his attendants to escort the Empress back to Fengyi Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two strong nannies stepped forward, grabbed the Empress by her left and right arms, and began to drag her out by force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress continued to scream curses, as if trying to vent all of her pent-up resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after the Empress was taken away and her curses could no longer be heard did the Emperor manage to compose himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked toward Feihua Zhenren.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had originally thought Feihua Zhenren was just a charlatan, but he never expected the man to have some real ability. He had actually found Prince Zhao’s true murderer and even made her confess her crimes in public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor’s attitude became much more respectful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he didn’t believe in ghosts and gods, he did believe that masters with special abilities existed in the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor asked, \"Now that the true culprit has been caught, Prince Zhao should be able to rest in peace, shouldn’t he?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feihua Zhenren first nodded, then spoke in a slow, measured tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is something Your Majesty may not know. Prince Zhao’s life was not fated to end yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is precisely because this humble Daoist calculated this that I made a special trip to the palace to perform rites for Prince Zhao, hoping I could help him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1359,"2026-06-03T06:42:34.636Z","2026-06-03T06:42:37.770Z",1,"novelbin.me","c73ed3554fc43d68fad9b3f9b10d46c3796090b71010c00ab9c594a8a8df16c1","the-side-character-wants-to-lie-flat-chapter-263","the-side-character-wants-to-lie-flat-chapter-262",293,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-side-character-wants-to-lie-flat-cover.jpg"]