The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 107: Possessed

On account of Hua Manman, when Hua Qingqing came to visit for the second time, Li Ji started paying attention to the people around her.

He had the Mind Reading Technique; he only needed to look into someone’s eyes to hear their true thoughts.

With almost no effort, he noticed something was off about Jin Zhi.

Li Ji didn’t care whether Hua Qingqing lived or died. But since Hua Qingqing frequently visited Hua Manman, Li Ji didn’t want Hua Manman to get dragged into trouble again on her account. Therefore, he secretly ordered his men to keep an eye on Jin Zhi.

The moment she made any unusual move, his subordinates would immediately notify him.

「Time passed day by day.」

The wound on Hua Manman’s back gradually healed and scabbed over.

After she recovered, she once again began massaging Prince Zhao’s legs every day to help him recover as quickly as possible.

Li Zhaoyuan’s leg injury had also healed a lot. She could finally get out of bed and walk, though not quickly, and she still needed someone to support her.

The Imperial Physician prescribed her medicine, saying she still needed to continue recuperating slowly.

But Li Zhaoyuan knew in her heart that her leg would likely never fully recover.

What was worse, ever since the day she was demoted to Zhaoyuan, the Emperor had never come to see her again. Even when she took the initiative to request an audience, she was coldly turned away.

She had truly fallen out of favor.

Every time Li Zhaoyuan thought about the nonsense she had spouted that day, she was filled with hatred.

She hated herself. ’Why couldn’t I keep my big mouth shut?’

She hated Prince Zhao and Hua Manman even more. If it weren’t for those two, she wouldn’t have fallen to her current state.

Just then, the palace maid Zilan hurried in with a food box, calling out for the Zhaoyuan in a panic.

"When I went to the kitchens to get dinner, I happened to see Wen Zhaorong and Yichongyuan chatting.

I heard them mention you, so I hid nearby to eavesdrop."

Li Zhaoyuan gave a self-deprecating smile. "They must be laughing at my current situation."

But Zilan shook her head, her expression growing more troubled. "No, they were suspecting... suspecting that you..."

Seeing her hesitation, Li Zhaoyuan grew impatient and frowned.

"Whatever it is, just say it!"

Zilan plucked up her courage and said,

"They suspect that the reason you spoke nonsense in front of the Saint and the Empress was because you were possessed."

Li Zhaoyuan froze.

Zilan carefully watched her expression as she continued.

"They said that while you might not be the cleverest on a normal day, you’re not stupid enough to blurt out just anything. It could only be because you were possessed.

There was a nanny with them who said someone from her hometown was once possessed. The symptoms were that they would suddenly start spouting nonsense, as if they’d become a different person, which was very similar to how you were that day."

It was as if a bolt of lightning flashed through Li Zhaoyuan’s mind.

She suddenly understood.

’That’s right, I was possessed!’

’At that time, my mind was perfectly clear, but my mouth was out of my control.’

’It was as if some invisible force was controlling my body, forcing me to say that nonsense.’ 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Li Zhaoyuan hurriedly asked, "And then? What else did they say?"

Seeing that she wasn’t angry, Zilan dared to continue.

"The nanny said that under normal circumstances, people don’t get possessed.

Because the human body has its own yang energy, and unclean things fear yang energy and don’t dare to approach.

Especially here in Yuqing Palace, a rare and blessed land. And with the True Emperor presiding here, it’s even more impossible for people in the palace to become possessed.

Unless... unless someone was secretly playing tricks and put a curse on you."

Li Zhaoyuan’s gaze suddenly turned sinister.

"You mean someone did this to me?"

Zilan nodded. "That’s what the nanny said, but after hearing her, Yichongyuan scolded her for talking nonsense and ordered her never to mention it again. Then they left."

She swallowed and asked cautiously,

"Do you think what they said is true?"

Li Zhaoyuan said without hesitation, "Of course it’s true!"

Others might not understand, but she herself knew very well. That feeling of her body being beyond her control was simply too bizarre.

Only being possessed could explain it.

Zilan said hesitantly, "But... but Yichongyuan said the nanny was talking nonsense."

Li Zhaoyuan snorted coldly. "Yichongyuan is deliberately trying to keep the truth from me. Don’t be fooled by her well-read, gentle, and considerate appearance. Her schemes run deeper than anyone’s. I won’t fall for her trick!"

Zilan didn’t dare to argue and could only agree.

"You’re right."

Now that Li Zhaoyuan knew she had been possessed, she certainly couldn’t just sit back and wait for doom.

She had to find the real culprit who cursed her as soon as possible!

She carefully replayed the events before and after her "possession" and realized that Hua Manman was the most likely suspect.

It was only after drinking the tea Hua Manman handed her that she had suddenly lost control of herself.

Afterwards, the tea was gone, leaving only an empty cup.

It was all too coincidental.

’There must have been something wrong with that tea.’

Li Zhaoyuan suspected that Hua Manman had put a curse in the tea.

But she had no proof.

Words were no proof, and the Saint wouldn’t believe her.

Li Zhaoyuan felt the best solution was to search Hua Manman’s residence. She was sure she could find evidence of the curse there.

But Hua Manman lived with Prince Zhao.

Li Zhaoyuan didn’t dare provoke that Evil God, Prince Zhao. He had already left an indelible shadow in her mind.

Just as she was racking her brains for a solution, Hua Qingqing came to visit Hua Manman again.

This time, Hua Qingqing was still accompanied by many people, including Aunt Jinzhi.

Hua Manman said, feigning impatience,

"Why are you all here again?"

Hua Qingqing smiled gently. "I specially made some pickled radish and old duck soup. Have a taste and see if you like it."

Aunt Jinzhi placed a heavy food box on the table.

She opened the food box and took out a clay urn filled with the old duck soup.

Hua Manman smelled the enticing aroma and couldn’t help but swallow secretly.

But she still put on a look of disdain.

"I don’t like your soup at all. Take it away."

Hua Qingqing knew her younger sister had a difficult personality. With so many people watching, her sister definitely wouldn’t be willing to drink the soup.

So Hua Qingqing made an excuse and led everyone outside.

Sure enough.

Once Hua Manman was alone in the room, she immediately and eagerly picked up the bowl and began to gulp down the soup in big mouthfuls.

Hua Qingqing stood waiting under the covered corridor.

The cicadas in the trees chirped incessantly.

When she thought of her younger sister drinking the soup she had made, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but turn up.

Just then, Aunt Jinzhi suddenly clutched her stomach and frowned.

"I think I ate something bad. My stomach feels a little upset. I need to go to the latrine."

Hua Qingqing waved her hand, signaling for her to go quickly.

Clutching her stomach, Aunt Jinzhi hurried away.

She returned quickly.

Hua Qingqing asked with concern,

"Are you feeling better?"

Aunt Jinzhi said cheerfully, "I’m fine now. Thank you for your concern, Concubine."

...

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