The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

It was only after Hua Manman spoke that she realized she had been too presumptuous, which could easily make others suspicious.

She quickly tried to backpedal.

"I mean, I can also think of a way to help you. You absolutely must not give up."

Li Ji heard her inner thoughts, and his gaze grew profound.

’This little thing seems to be hiding quite a few secrets.’

He said slowly, "I’d like some noodles. The kind with broth."

Hua Manman immediately said, "I’ll go make them for you right away."

But Li Ji said, "No rush. You eat first."

Hua Manman quickly finished eating, asked someone for directions to the small kitchen, and then trotted off to get busy.

There was already kneaded dough in the small kitchen, which she could use directly.

She cut the dough, stretched it into long, thin noodles, cooked them in a rich broth, then blanched two small bok choy, sprinkled on some chopped green onions, and added a few drops of soy sauce and sesame oil.

A fragrant bowl of Yangchun Noodles was ready!

It was already very late, and there was no one else in the small kitchen besides Hua Manman.

She took out the small sachet she carried with her and tipped out a Life Reviving Pill.

When she was reading "Palace Intrigue," Hua Manman only knew that Prince Zhao had a cruel personality and was in poor health.

She had originally thought his bloodthirsty nature was due to some strange illness.

But after spending some time with Prince Zhao, she learned that the people he killed were all trying to harm him. If he didn’t kill them, they would kill him.

As for his poor health, it was probably because of the poison wreaking havoc in his body.

He couldn’t completely neutralize the poison and could only rely on medicine to get by.

It was precisely because of this that his character in "Palace Intrigue" died an early death.

After his death, the new emperor slaughtered every last one of the Regent King’s followers. Even his tomb was dug up, and his body was dragged out to be flogged.

In life, he had wielded immense power at court, with no one daring to challenge him. Yet in death, he met a desolate end, unable to even keep his body intact.

While reading "Palace Intrigue," Hua Manman had simply felt that Li Ji got what he deserved.

But now, she didn’t want him to suffer such a miserable fate again.

She wanted him to live a good, long life.

Hua Manman was about to put the Life Reviving Pill into the Yangchun Noodles when the system’s cold voice suddenly rang in her ear.

"Warning! Host detected attempting to alter the main storyline!"

"Three warnings have been accumulated. Initiating Heart Pain Punishment on the host!"

Hua Manman froze and cursed, "System, you son of a bitch! I just want to save Li Ji’s life! What does that have to do with the main plot? He’s just a villain!"

The system retorted, "If the villain doesn’t die, how can the new emperor assume personal rule?"

Hua Manman was so angry she laughed. "If the new emperor were truly capable, he could assume personal rule even if the villain didn’t die!"

But the system didn’t care about any of that.

In its view, the main plot was set: only after the Regent King’s death would the new emperor have the chance to rule personally.

If the Regent King lived to a ripe old age, the entire court would be shrouded in his oppressive presence, and the new emperor’s chances of ruling personally would be virtually nil.

In that case, the ending of "Palace Intrigue" would be forcibly changed.

This was something the system would absolutely not allow to happen!

The system issued continuous warnings.

"Host must immediately cease all actions that alter the plot! Otherwise, the Heart Pain Punishment will be doubled!"

Hua Manman was probably so furious that she became even calmer than usual.

’If Prince Zhao dies an early death as per the original plot, then I, his favored concubine, will definitely not meet a good end either.’

’After all, in the original story, the entire Prince Zhao Mansion was slaughtered to the last person. Not a single soul was left alive.’

’If I don’t want to die, I have to save Prince Zhao’s life.’

’Since the system is already determined to punish me, there’s no real difference between the regular Heart Pain Punishment and a doubled one.’

’I’ll take the gamble!’

Gritting her teeth, Hua Manman ignored the system’s protests and dropped the Life Reviving Pill into the Yangchun Noodles.

She stirred with her chopsticks until the elixir dissolved, then called a little eunuch and asked him to help deliver the Yangchun Noodles to Prince Zhao.

The little eunuch didn’t think much of it, simply picked up the bowl of Yangchun Noodles and left.

The system was clearly enraged by Hua Manman, its voice becoming even more grating than usual.

"Heart Pain Punishment commencing!"

Hua Manman ignored it.

She followed the little eunuch from a short distance until she saw him personally deliver the Yangchun Noodles to Prince Zhao’s room. Only then did she relax.

The very next moment, however, her heart seized with a violent, wrenching pain!

It felt as if ten thousand needles were viciously stabbing her heart, the pain so intense she could hardly breathe.

Hua Manman leaned against the wall, her hand pressed to her chest, her face as white as a sheet.

The intensity of the pain was far worse than last time.

A normal person facing such agony would have long since passed out.

But the system seemed to be deliberately keeping her from fainting, forcing her to remain conscious through it all.

People passed by here from time to time, and Hua Manman didn’t want anyone to see her in this state.

She supported herself against the wall and staggered forward.

She didn’t know where she could go now, nor how much longer she could hold on.

She just wanted to find a quiet, deserted place to hide and silently endure this living hell.

Perhaps she was lucky, as she didn’t run into anyone along the way.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Hua Manman couldn’t take it anymore. Her body slid down the wall, and she collapsed to the ground.

She clutched her chest tightly as beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks.

Involuntary tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision.

She desperately wanted to pass out. If she could just pass out, she wouldn’t feel the pain anymore.

Yet her mind remained stubbornly, cruelly clear.

The pain became unbearable. Hua Manman started banging her head against the wall, trying to knock herself unconscious through self-harm.

At this moment, the system spoke.

"If you just promise to never again try to change the plot, I can lessen your punishment."

Hua Manman’s forehead was already bleeding from the impact, but her mind was still damnably clear, showing no signs of fainting.

Enduring the excruciating pain, she forced a single word through her gritted teeth.

"No."

’Why can’t I change the plot?’

’Why can’t I let myself live a good life?’

’Is it just because I’m a cannon fodder supporting character?’

’I refuse to believe it!’

The system coldly spat out two words.

"Utterly incorrigible."

Hua Manman bit back through clenched teeth.

"Fuck you!"

Another wave of heart-piercing, bone-chilling pain washed over her, and she couldn’t help but let out a blood-curdling scream.

The Fourth Prince, Li Ying, who happened to be passing by, heard the scream and paused.

He followed the sound and, a few steps later, discovered Hua Manman behind the wall.

She looked to be in extreme agony, as if enduring a fate worse than death.

If it were an ordinary person, they would have certainly tried to help upon seeing such a scene.

But Li Ying merely watched her for a moment before turning and walking away, showing no intention of helping her at all.