I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 274 can be thought about slowly.

“Yes, yes, I don’t understand. If you want to cry, then keep crying. As long as you’re happy.” Aidar turned to look at the dewdrop. “I want braised pork knuckle for lunch. Choose a big one.”

Dewdrop nodded obediently and went to the small kitchen to give instructions.

Mianmian followed, telling the people in the small kitchen to add more vinegar, as her princess liked the sour and spicy flavor.

Inside the room, Wei Mingyu Jin cried for a while, then stopped, drank some tea, and continued crying.

Aidar found it amusing and laughed, "You know you're thirsty when you cry?"

Wei Mingyu glanced at her, then sobbed, "Why...why do you come every...every day?"

They weren't very familiar with each other.

“I was worried you were feeling bored, so I came to keep you company.” Aidar filled her teacup, rested his chin on his hand, and smiled. “If you want to cry, keep crying. I’ll refill your teacup.”

Weiming Yujin: "..."

After being interrupted so many times, she couldn't cry anymore, no matter how sad she was.

She wiped away her tears and said in a nasal voice, "You started eating snacks as soon as you arrived and didn't talk to me."

"I'm just keeping you company," Aidar said, seeing that she didn't seem to be planning to continue crying. "Can I ask you a question?"

Wei Mingyu nodded; anyway, even if she disagreed, the person in front of her would ask anyway.

Aidar blinked and uttered four words: "Would the emperor be suitable?"

"What do you mean..." Wei Mingyu Jin asked, only realizing halfway through what she was asking. Her pretty face immediately turned bright red, her neck also turning red. She was truly stunningly beautiful.

She covered her face with her hands and slammed them on the table; she felt so hot she was practically steaming.

She would definitely crawl into any crack in the ground.

“We’re all women, what’s there to be shy about?” Aidar reached out and poked her. “Tell me.”

Wei Mingyu Jin was almost crying with embarrassment.

What kind of princess is she anyway?

Upon returning to the palace, Xiao Jingfan suddenly looked up at the sky and sneezed twice.

Zhou Yuande immediately ordered someone to prepare ginger soup, thinking that he must have caught a chill from riding back to the palace in the wind.

Xiao Jingfan changed into casual clothes and asked, "Is he awake yet?"

Zhou Yuande quickly replied, "I'm awake. I heard I caught a cold and have a fever."

Upon hearing the words "cold," Xiao Jingfan's vision blurred with an inexplicable white light—truly white.

He asked, "Has the imperial physician been summoned to examine you?"

Zhou Yuande shook his head: "No."

Xiao Jingfan frowned and walked out, saying as he went, "Summon Dean Wu."

Zhou Yuande hurriedly grabbed the cloak and chased after him.

At the same time, Xia Qiaoru heard the news that Cai Baolin had passed away.

Chu Liuzheng asked in surprise, "How come it's gone?"

Thirty strokes of the cane shouldn't be enough to kill someone, right?

"I heard that after being punished, no one took care of him, and he caught a cold, developed a high fever, and didn't make it. He was found dead this morning." Xia Qiaoru felt a sense of satisfaction and spat on the ground, "This is what they call wicked people getting their just desserts."

Chu Liuzheng's feelings were complicated.

She didn't understand why Cai Luoyu hated her so much. They had clearly had a period of mutual care and affection, a fake friendship where they called each other "sister" and "brother." They were closer than other people, so how did it end up like this?

"Don't think about it anymore." Xia Qiaoru poked her forehead. "She tried to harm you several times. If she's gone, she's gone. It's not worth getting upset over someone like that."

Chu Liuzheng sighed softly, "I'm not upset, I just have some things I don't understand."

"What's there to not understand?" Xia Qiaoru said as she opened the cabinet to get a medicine box. "Jealousy breeds hatred. Do you think everyone can become His Majesty's favorite like you?"

Chu Liuzheng felt that these words were strange. She was just a palace maid and Cai Luoyu was not on the same path to advancement. No matter how popular she became, it wouldn't affect Cai Luoyu.

Could it be that Cai Luoyu is worried that if she becomes a favorite of the emperor, he will slander her in front of the emperor and prevent her from being promoted?

Honestly, Chu Liuzheng never intended to do that. Besides, even as a half-confidante, she didn't have that much influence; it would be more like Zhou Yuande. "Don't think about it," Xia Qiaoru gently lifted her chin as she applied medicine. "You're already dizzy; thinking about these things will only make you dizzier."

Just then, a loud shout came from outside: "His Majesty has arrived!"

Xia Qiaoru was so startled that she almost smeared the ointment on Chu Liuzheng's lips.

She quickly wiped her hands and went to open the door, kneeling down to pay her respects: "This servant greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be well."

"Get up," Xiao Jingfan waved his hand at her, "Go wait outside."

Xia Qiaoru got up and went out.

Chu Liuzheng struggled to get out of bed and bent his knees to bow, but Xiao Jingfan said, "No need for formalities, go back to your bed."

Chu Liuzheng felt dizzy and nauseous if he made any sudden movements. If he were to vomit in front of the emperor, his life would probably be in danger.

She obediently went back to bed and lay down.

Zhou Yuande brought over a chair, and Xiao Jingfan sat down, looking at the person leaning against the bed, and asked, "How are you feeling?"

Chu Liuzheng replied truthfully, "I'm dizzy."

"The injury is on the back of your neck, so dizziness is normal. You'll recover in a few days." Xiao Jingfan looked at her. "You risked your life to save me last night, what reward do you want?"

Oh dear, so I really did save the day.

Last night, the incident happened so suddenly that she didn't have time to think before she lunged at it.

If the emperor were to die in front of her, she would definitely be buried with him.

I actually made it in time.

Since the tyrant has brought it up himself, can I ask him to let me leave the palace?

Chu Liu glanced at the emperor, silently calculating the likelihood of success.

Xiao Jingfan, who heard the thought, was speechless.

"No rush, you can think about it slowly." He changed the subject. "Last night you said you had something important to report to me. What was it?"

[Oh right, I was going to expose the imposter's disguise.]

[The counterfeiters are now...]

Chu Liuzheng browsed the system, and then...

[Funny! The tyrant already knows that the Prince Rui in the palace is an imposter, and he even beat the imposter up while his face was covered, then placed him under house arrest in Jingming Palace.]

"No, how did the tyrant know?"

Chu Liuzheng was a little dumbfounded. Just as he was about to look up the answer in the system, Xiao Jingfan coughed at the right moment.

Chu Liuzheng's dizzy mind then remembered that the emperor was still waiting for her answer, so she didn't bother to check the system and hurriedly said, "Last night, when I was half asleep, I heard Consort Cai and Granny Qi talking. Granny Qi is a remnant of the Fifth Prince."

Zhou Yuande was surprised that there were still remnants of the Fifth Prince in the palace. This Granny Qi was really good at hiding.

Xiao Jingfan remained calm and asked, "Anything else?"

"And..." Chu Liuzheng glanced at him, "This servant heard from Granny Qi that the Fifth Prince's Consort is a descendant of the previous dynasty, and that saving the Fifth Prince was a carefully planned scheme."

[Anyway, the dead can't talk, so I can make things up. Thanks to Granny Qi's double agent identity, she's been a huge help!]

Zhou Yuande's eyelids twitched upon hearing this.

The Great Yong Dynasty has been gone for over two hundred years. Where did this remnant of the previous dynasty come from?

She actually became the Fifth Prince's concubine! Isn't this ridiculous?!

He couldn't help but glance cautiously at Xiao Jingfan.

Xiao Jingfan's expression remained unchanged, and he gestured for Chu Liuzheng to continue.

Seeing that he didn't seem angry, Chu Liuzheng felt puzzled but also thought that the emperor's composure had reached a new level.

She continued, "I didn't hear very clearly, but I heard something about White Chariot Valley, Dragon Shadow Guards, garrison troops, Smoke City, Yang Family Village, and..."

Zhou Yuande thought to himself, "Don't even think about it. The Dragon Shadow Guards and the garrison are terrifying enough!"