[{"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-241":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},925257,1214,"Chapter 241 - 242: What a Pity","the-side-character-wants-to-lie-flat-chapter-241",241,"\u003Cp>Feihua Zhenren first gave Hua Manman a comprehensive physical examination, and his findings were consistent with the Imperial Physician’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Princess Consort’s body shows no abnormalities. She is quite healthy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji watched Hua Manman, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she was unconscious before, she had been clutching her chest, crying out in pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Fourth Prince had also seen with his own eyes how she’d been tormented by the pain in her chest, looking like she was on the verge of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’She must have some kind of heart condition.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’But why can’t the Imperial Physician and Feihua Zhenren find any trace of it?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman had no idea what Prince Zhao was thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had Feihua Zhenren give Prince Zhao a physical examination as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, the results showed he was in perfect health, with not a single thing wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feihua Zhenren remarked with heartfelt admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Highness is truly blessed. Not only have your legs recovered, but even the poison in your body has vanished without a trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wonder which master physician Your Highness hired for the treatment?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Might I trouble Your Highness for an introduction? This humble Taoist would be eternally grateful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a student of medicine himself, he was naturally fascinated by talented physicians and hoped to meet this person to exchange medical knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji glanced at Hua Manman with a faint, enigmatic smile before slowly replying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She has an eccentric personality and doesn’t care for socializing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’You’re the eccentric one!’ Hua Manman silently retorted. ’Your whole family is eccentric!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feihua Zhenren persisted, \"Even if we cannot meet, corresponding by letter would be acceptable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji glanced at Hua Manman again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman turned to look out the window, feigning indifference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feihua Zhenren was still watching Prince Zhao eagerly, awaiting his reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji gave a helpless smile. \"Her handwriting is atrocious. She doesn’t like to write.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’This damn man is just unbelievably mean.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feihua Zhenren said quickly, \"Poor handwriting is no issue. I do not mind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji pretended to consider it seriously. \"How about this: I will pass on your request to her. As for whether she is willing to correspond with you, that will be her decision.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feihua Zhenren’s face immediately lit up. He stood and bowed with his hands clasped before Prince Zhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Many thanks, Your Highness!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the sun was about to set, Li Ji invited Feihua Zhenren to stay for dinner at the Prince Mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To host Feihua Zhenren, Hua Manman personally went to the kitchen and prepared a steaming hot pot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Zhou Dynasty also had hot pot, which they called ’Stirring the Rosy Mist.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But its flavor was nowhere near as savory, fragrant, and spicy as the version Hua Manman made.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afraid that Feihua Zhenren couldn’t handle spicy food, Hua Manman specially prepared a divided pot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One side held a spicy red broth, while the other had a mild mushroom broth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feihua Zhenren indeed couldn’t handle much spice, yet he found the hot pot’s heat to be exceptionally fragrant and rich. It made his mouth water uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the spice made him break out in a sweat, he couldn’t resist dipping his food into the red broth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time the meal was over, his mouth was bright red from the spice, his forehead was covered in sweat, and his face was flushed and beaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman had prepared a cooling mung bean soup in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feihua Zhenren had been so preoccupied with the hot pot that he only just remembered the mung bean soup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He picked up the bowl and GULP, GULP, GULPED down the mung bean soup, letting out a satisfied sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, that hits the spot!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hot pot dinner had gone on for quite some time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman glanced at the dark sky outside and tentatively suggested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s gotten so late. Master, why don’t you stay the night at the mansion and leave in the morning?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feihua Zhenren readily agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shan led Feihua Zhenren to a guest room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the hot pot, both Hua Manman and Li Ji smelled of their meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was impossible to sleep with that lingering aroma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them decided to take a bath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Prince Mansion had a bathhouse, but Hua Manman rarely used it. She preferred to have a wooden tub brought to her room and bathe there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had someone heat water, intending to take a hot bath before bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as she began to undress, Prince Zhao arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled, she hastily put her clothes back on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Weren’t you taking a bath, Your Highness? Why have you come here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji circled the wooden tub and said disdainfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This tub is so small. It must be uncomfortable. Why don’t you come soak in the bathhouse with me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’That’s exactly why I don’t go,’ Hua Manman thought. ’I know that damn man uses the bathhouse often, so I avoid it to prevent any awkward encounters.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She feigned shyness, blushing as she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness, but I’m quite used to the tub.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, a meaningful smile played on Li Ji’s lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since you like using the tub so much, I suppose I can make do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’The tub might be small, but small has its advantages.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman was shocked and blurted out, \"You can’t possibly be thinking of sharing this tub with me, are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji retorted, \"Why not?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he began to untie his sash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman frantically covered her eyes, not daring to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Highness, this tub can’t fit two people! You should go back to your bathhouse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Ji said languidly, \"We won’t know if it fits until we try, will we?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the jerk’s determined attitude, Hua Manman knew words alone wouldn’t change his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had no choice but to temporarily abandon the idea of a bath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My stomach feels a little upset. I need to... relieve myself. Please, go ahead and bathe first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, she bolted out of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye, she was gone without a trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji looked at the steaming water in the tub and clicked his tongue. TSK.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’So much for a romantic soak.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’What a shame!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman ran to the latrine to hide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hid there until Si Yun came looking for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Si Yun asked in confusion, \"Why were you in the latrine for so long? Did you have an upset stomach?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman answered vaguely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I’m fine. Has the Prince gone to sleep?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Si Yun replied, \"Not yet. The Prince said he’s waiting for you so you can sleep together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman thought for a moment and decided to take her bath after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Prince Zhao has probably finished his bath by now, so I don’t have to worry about running into him at the bathhouse.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, she went to the bathhouse with her mind at ease and enjoyed a comfortable, hot bath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time she returned to the bedroom, shrouded in steam, it was already very late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji, however, was still awake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was lying in bed, reading a book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman leaned over for a look and was surprised to see he was reading a popular novella titled *Xun Xiangji*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing she had finally returned, Li Ji casually tossed the novella aside and patted the empty space next to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hurry and get in. I’m exhausted.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman obediently went and lay down beside him, whispering, \"You should have just gone to sleep if you were tired. You didn’t have to wait for me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji pulled the blanket over her, leaned in to kiss her forehead, and said with a gentle smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can’t sleep when you’re not here beside me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman’s heart skipped a beat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Am I really that important to him?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the man beside her fell asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman snuggled closer, pressing her cheek against his chest. Listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat, her own heart couldn’t help but settle into a peaceful rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>",1350,"2026-06-03T06:42:34.636Z","2026-06-03T06:42:37.770Z",1,"novelbin.me","41455b247d19b6f1c77fb32c21d5c82997ba8fa609ead70562ecafa21c3c0e22","the-side-character-wants-to-lie-flat-chapter-275","the-side-character-wants-to-lie-flat-chapter-274",293,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-side-character-wants-to-lie-flat-cover.jpg"]