Once everyone was gone, Hua Manman frantically called out to the system in her mind.
'According to the original plot, Prince Zhao should have already asked to cancel the engagement by now.'
'So why is my so-called father still making me marry Prince Zhao on the third of next month?'
'What in the world is going on?'
But no matter how she called, the system remained silent, as if it had crashed.
Now that the plot had deviated from the main storyline, Hua Manman was panicking.
The supporting female role she was playing might be a moron, but she was a crucial character in the early to mid-stages of *Palace Intrigue*. Her entire purpose was to serve as a foil for the female lead—who was also her biological older sister.
The more foolish, moronic, greedy, and selfish she was, the more her sister's intelligence, wit, kindness, and generosity would stand out.
In short, she was just a tool.
Back when she was reading the novel from the perspective of the female lead, Hua Qingqing, she had felt a thrill every time Hua Qingqing ruthlessly put the supporting female character in her place. But now that she *was* that character getting humiliated, the feeling could be summed up in one word—
Fury!
She was a living, breathing person of flesh and blood, so why should she be treated like a human punching bag?!
When she first transmigrated, she learned that she was fated to die a miserable death. Unwilling to accept this, she decided to fight back.
She wanted to break free from her predestined fate and live a life of freedom and happiness.
But in the end, she was met with the plot system's merciless punishment.
Anytime she dared to do anything that violated the main plot, she would be struck by a pain so intense it felt like a knife twisting in her heart.
Not only that, but the system would also randomly assign her plot-related tasks.
She had to complete these tasks exactly as instructed, or she would face the system's punishment again.
After paying the price of that heart-wrenching agony once, Hua Manman gave up the struggle. She decided to stop fighting and just go with the flow.
She would do whatever the system told her to do. She'd just try to survive one day at a time. As for everything else, whatever would be, would be.
Now that the plot had deviated from the main storyline, would the system make her take the fall and punish her again?
Hua Manman's heart was filled with anxiety.
She waited for a long time, all the way until the next day, but the heart-wrenching pain that made life feel worse than death never came.
She secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
'Looks like the system is reasonable after all,' she thought. 'It didn't try to force the blame on me.'
The moment she realized she wouldn't have to enter the palace and share one old cucumber with so many other women, Hua Manman's mood instantly brightened.
At breakfast, she ate two more bowls of porridge than usual.
Seeing that the Second Miss was in a good mood, Si Yun spoke cautiously.
"Second Miss, Mr. Bo just had the ceremonial gown delivered. When would you like to try it on?"
What woman doesn't love a beautiful dress?
Hua Manman was certainly no exception.
"Let's try it on now."
Seeing that she didn't resist, Si Yun breathed a silent sigh of relief, but at the same time, her heart couldn't help but ache for her. 'The Second Miss is so pitiful. She already has someone she loves, yet she's being forced to marry another man. She nearly died because of it, and now she has to put on a brave face.'
Because she would only hold a lesser rank, her ceremonial gown couldn't be true red, only a silvery red.
Large peonies were embroidered on the bodice, and wide sleeves draped down her sides. The waist was cinched to a delicate handspan, while the long skirt trailed gracefully behind her.
The body Hua Manman inhabited was already stunningly beautiful to begin with.
Dressed like this, she was even more radiant, a beauty beyond compare.
The only thing marring the picture was the scar on her face.
As this thought crossed her mind, she suddenly remembered the lucky bag the system had rewarded her with.
It was called a lucky bag, and that's exactly what it was: a simple red pouch, plain-looking and of average make.
She opened the lucky bag. Inside was a box of medicinal ointment.