[{"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-259":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},925226,1214,"Chapter 259 - 260: Finding a New Love","the-side-character-wants-to-lie-flat-chapter-259",259,"\u003Cp>Hua Manman mumbled under her breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is it really that ugly?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of answering, Li Ji asked, \"What do you think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman turned away awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I’ve decided I’m never making anything for Prince Zhao again.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the birthday banquet ended, Prince Zhao and his wife left the Imperial Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way there, it was just the two of them in the carriage. On the way back, however, they were joined by a Miss Lan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman tried to suppress the awkward feeling in her heart and asked in a gentle voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Miss Lan, do you have any family?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was thinking that if the other woman had family, she could have her sent home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miss Lan shook her head. \"My parents are both deceased. I have no family left.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she said this, she couldn’t help but glance at Prince Zhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even someone as dense as Hua Manman could see that Miss Lan’s gaze held a wealth of emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t the kind of emotion one would have at a first meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman blurted out, \"Have you met Prince Zhao before?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miss Lan bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before finally nodding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After getting this answer, Hua Manman said no more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they returned to the Prince Mansion, Li Ji took Miss Lan to the study. The two of them clearly had something to discuss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman didn’t follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sat before her dressing table, letting Si Yun remove the ornaments from her hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Si Yun carefully observed the Princess Consort’s expression. After much hesitation, she couldn’t stop herself from speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard that Prince Zhao brought a woman back tonight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman didn’t respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was trying hard to recall the plot of *Palace Intrigue*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Li Ji was just a villain in the novel, there wasn’t much description of his past or personal life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she didn’t know if the original Li Ji had ever married, nor did she know what the relationship was between him and the Miss Lan who had appeared tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time she had washed up and was ready for bed, Prince Zhao still hadn’t returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Si Yun asked cautiously, \"Should I go to the study and see?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman said there was no need.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had someone leave an oil lamp lit and went to bed herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After everyone had left, just as Hua Manman closed her eyes, the system’s voice sounded in her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You worked yourself to the bone to save Li Ji’s life, and in the end, doesn’t he just cast you aside for someone new?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite being a mechanical voice, it now held a hint of schadenfreude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman: \"What does it have to do with me whether he’s found someone new or not?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>System: \"Still playing tough, I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman was genuinely confused. \"You’re just a system. How are you so good at being sarcastic?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system sneered. \"Who are you looking down on?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman lay quietly in bed for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just when the system thought she wouldn’t speak again, it suddenly heard her say out of the blue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is actually for the best.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system was baffled. \"Li Ji doesn’t want you anymore, and you think that’s a good thing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman: \"If he’d taken a liking to another woman after I’d already fallen for him, I would have been heartbroken. But it’s fine now. I haven’t dived in headfirst yet. I still have a chance to cut my losses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system sounded pleasantly surprised. \"Are you planning to turn back from the brink?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman mercilessly poured cold water on its hopes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Turning back is impossible. I’m already married to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We were already bound together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he dies, my life won’t be easy either. So I still have to find a way to keep him alive for a bit longer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system couldn’t understand. \"He’s gone off to sleep with another woman, and you’re still thinking about helping him?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not helping him. I’m helping myself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CREAK.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door was pushed open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman followed the sound with her eyes and saw Prince Zhao walk in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed quite surprised to see her still awake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s so late. Why aren’t you asleep yet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman was even more surprised than he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you back?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji found her question baffling. \"It’s the middle of the night. If I don’t come back here to sleep, where else would I go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping with Miss Lan?’ Hua Manman thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her reason stopped her from saying it out loud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She said vaguely, \"I just thought you might not be coming back tonight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji heard her inner thoughts and couldn’t help but chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’The little thing is jealous.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman was confused. \"What are you laughing at?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji sat on the bed and leaned in close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The distance between them instantly vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled, Hua Manman quickly shrank back. \"What are you doing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji said with a grin, \"Letting you check if I smell like any other woman.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman subconsciously sniffed, then immediately caught herself. ’I don’t care who he’s been intimate with, so why should I check his scent? This is completely unnecessary!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She immediately pulled the blanket up to cover her nose and mouth, leaving only her eyes exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s no need for that, Prince. It is your right to be close with whomever you wish. I don’t mind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji looked into her eyes, his smile full of amusement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You disingenuous little thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She clearly cared a great deal about him, yet she still had to pretend to be indifferent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kissed her through the blanket and said with a laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest assured, I’m not interested in anyone but you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman didn’t speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’As if I’d believe the sweet nothings of a scummy man.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji explained, \"The reason I kept Miss Lan here is because her father was once one of my father’s subordinates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I met her before when I was hanging around the military camps with my father. I have a vague impression of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, the hundred-thousand-strong army led by my father was completely annihilated, and Miss Lan’s father also died in that battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For her father’s sake, I have to find a proper place for her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman had a realization. ’So that’s what this is all about!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then she grew confused again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why is it that the woman the Fifth Prince gave you just happens to be the daughter of one of Duke Zhen’s former subordinates?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And you just happen to have met before and know each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is all a little too coincidental.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was no wonder she was thinking in terms of conspiracies; the whole thing was unbelievably coincidental.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji: \"It is indeed very coincidental. I took Miss Lan to the study just now to ask about her experiences and find out whether this is a coincidence or deliberate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman: \"And did you find out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji explained slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She said that after her father passed away, her mother remarried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her stepfather was a gambling addict and sold her because he couldn’t pay his debts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being passed around, she ended up in the Fifth Prince’s hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounds like there’s nothing wrong with her story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for whether she’s telling the truth, I’ll have to have someone else investigate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the doubts in Hua Manman’s mind were now resolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She replied obediently, \"I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji looked at her with a half-smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, my original plan was to keep Miss Lan in the Prince Mansion to carefully investigate her background.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since you don’t like her, tomorrow I’ll have someone send her away so she’ll never be an eyesore to you again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman said in a muffled voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now that you’ve put it that way, if I still insist on her leaving, wouldn’t that make me seem too petty?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ji chuckled. \"It’s fine. I’m not exactly magnanimous myself. We make a good pair.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman was amused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Are we forming a petty couple now?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her smile, Li Ji immediately lifted the blanket, slipped in, and pulled her into his arms, asking in a low voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still angry?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Manman: \"I was never angry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1388,"2026-06-03T06:42:34.636Z","2026-06-03T06:42:37.770Z",1,"novelbin.me","3304b6b9d48790a9e944ac74087a74cc68e600e5bdad1541d171a0dfcf92199e","the-side-character-wants-to-lie-flat-chapter-226","the-side-character-wants-to-lie-flat-chapter-225",293,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-side-character-wants-to-lie-flat-cover.jpg"]