The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 17: The More You Know, the Faster You Die

Hua Manman hadn’t been poisoned to death, but she was close to eating herself to death.

She had simply eaten far too much for breakfast.

So much so that she was still hiccuping incessantly when she sat down in the carriage.

The interior of the Prince Zhao Mansion’s carriage was quite spacious. Fruits and refreshments were arranged on a low table, and tendrils of smoke drifted from an incense burner.

Li Ji leaned back against a soft pillow, his wide sleeves draped at his sides. His long, narrow eyes were slightly narrowed, giving him a lazy air.

He watched Hua Manman’s incessant hiccuping, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"You could have eaten a bit more, you know. Just enough to eat yourself to death. Then you could have fulfilled your wish of dying on a full stomach."

Hua Manman asked between hiccups, "How did Your Highness know I wanted to die on a full stomach?"

Instead of answering, Li Ji retorted, "Isn’t it obvious?"

Hua Manman: "..."

’She suspected he was mocking her.’

And yet, she couldn’t resist asking another question.

"How did Your Highness know the medicine was poisoned? And if you knew, why did you drink it?"

The smile on Li Ji’s face slowly vanished. His tone became cold and deep. "Has no one ever taught you? The more you know, the faster you die."

Hua Manman immediately shut her mouth, not daring to ask any more questions.

But a moment later, she couldn’t stop another hiccup from escaping, her body trembling with the force of it.

Li Ji found this rather amusing. His gaze lingered on her, never wavering.

Only when the carriage halted and Chen Wangbei announced from outside that they had arrived at the State Duke Mansion did Li Ji sit up a little straighter. He crooked a finger at Hua Manman.

"Come here."

Hua Manman didn’t know what he wanted, but she obediently moved closer.

"What are your orders, Your Highness?"

Li Ji’s right hand reached around her and quickly pressed two points on her back.

Before Hua Manman could figure out what he was doing, he was already being helped out of the carriage.

It wasn’t until she had also alighted from the carriage that she belatedly realized—she wasn’t hiccuping anymore!

She finally understood. Prince Zhao had pressed those two points on her back to help her stop hiccuping.

Duke Zhen had died in battle five years ago. Logically, the ducal title should have been inherited by Li Ji, his only legitimate son. However, Princess Rouwan had yet to petition the Emperor to officially instate Li Ji as the new Duke Zhen, and so the title remained vacant.

The reason for this was unknown to outsiders.

The descriptions of the State Duke Mansion in *Palace Intrigue* were sparse, so Hua Manman knew very little about the grievances and disputes within Li Ji’s family.

She pushed Li Ji’s wheelchair into the State Duke Mansion.

One massive gate opened after another. Maids and servants knelt in rows on either side of the path, calling out in unison.

"Welcome, Prince Zhao!"

The mansion’s interior was magnificent, with intricately carved beams and painted rafters.

Perhaps because Duke Zhen had been a martial practitioner, the entire State Duke Mansion was built in a simple, sturdy style. Compared to the homes of other nobles in Shangjing City, it was less extravagant and opulent, possessing instead a solemn, dignified air.

Hua Manman and Li Ji were ushered into the main hall and seated.

The butler said with the utmost respect, "Please, Your Highness and nanny, have some refreshments. I will go inform Her Highness, the Commandery Princess."

With that, he excused himself and left.

Hua Manman first glanced around. The furnishings were naturally of the highest quality, but she knew nothing about antiques or calligraphy, so she quickly lost interest in her surroundings. Her gaze drifted to the refreshments laid out on the table.

’Those refreshments look delicious.’

’Too bad I ate so much this morning. I’m still stuffed. I couldn’t possibly eat another bite.’

Li Ji noticed her gaze. He reached out, picked up an almond cookie, and asked slowly. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Want one?"