I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 279 Sliding Hands
Zhou Yuande replied, "It's probably in the Magnolia Hall."

Xiao Jingfan frowned. It had only been a few words, so why were they still in the Magnolia Hall?
Zhou Yuande cautiously inquired, "This servant will immediately send someone to bring Miss Liu Zheng back?"

"No need." Xiao Jingfan picked up his chopsticks, gesturing for him to serve the food.

As Zhou Yuande served the dishes, he sighed inwardly.

She's already become arrogant and neglecting her duties before anything has even happened. She truly has the potential to become a wicked concubine who brings ruin to the country!

Chu Liuzheng, who was drinking bird's nest soup, suddenly felt a tickle in his nose and quickly raised his hand to pinch it.

King Xiao looked at her with a hint of inquiry in his eyes: "His Majesty didn't eat the bird's nest sent by the Imperial Kitchen, yet he still gave it to you?"

"It's not just the servants who are being rewarded, but also Eunuch Zhou," Chu Liuzheng said. "His Majesty doesn't like the taste of donkey-hide gelatin, so he won't eat the steamed bird's nest with donkey-hide gelatin that the Imperial Kitchen sends over every time."

King Xiao looked at her and said, "Does the royal kitchen always send His Majesty things he doesn't like to eat? Are the people in the royal kitchen all stupid?"
Chu Liuzheng was taken aback by his question.

[Right, those people in the imperial kitchen often inquire about the tyrant's food preferences, so why are they repeatedly sending him steamed bird's nest with donkey-hide gelatin, which he doesn't like? Could it be on the Empress Dowager's orders?]

She secretly guessed, but being watched by King Xiao the whole time, she didn't have time to check the system.

Seeing that she seemed unable to answer, King Xiao did not dwell on the topic and chatted with Chu Liuzheng about this and that. Whenever she was about to take her leave, he would stop her and continue chatting about this and that.

If it weren't for King Xiao's clear-eyedness and Chu Liuzheng's knowledge of King Xiao's deep affection for his wife, she might have suspected that King Xiao had taken a liking to her.

As the sun set and darkness fell, Chu Liuzheng once again took his leave.

King Xiao glanced out the window, and as if thinking of something, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, with a hint of regret.

Chu Liuzheng asked in confusion, "Your Highness?"

"No one's coming to find you, why rush off?" King Xiao waved for her to sit down and asked with a smile, "Would you like to come with me to the Imperial Academy to see your brother?"

Of course I want to.

but……

Chu Liuzheng shook his head: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness."

"You..." King Xiao had only uttered one word when a shrill voice suddenly rang out from outside, "His Majesty has arrived!"

King Xiao's eyes lit up slightly. He's come in person.

Chu Liuzheng swore that of all the days she had spent in the Magnolia Palace, this was the moment when Prince Xiao was smiling the most happily.

She couldn't help but sigh.

So King Xiao really likes his tyrant brother that much? He was all smiles when he heard they were coming, like he'd found money on the street.

Xiao Jingfan, who was just about to step over the threshold: !
What nonsense is this woman spouting?

"May Your Majesty be well." The people in the hall all bowed.

"Get up, all of you." Xiao Jingfan waved his hand and said to Prince Xiao, "I'm tired from reviewing memorials, so I came out for a walk."

King Xiao thought to himself that he hadn't asked.

He ordered someone to serve tea: "It's almost time for dinner. Since Your Majesty rarely comes here, why don't you stay and dine with us?"

"Very well." Xiao Jingfan nodded reservedly, then looked at Chu Liuzheng standing behind Prince Xiao and commanded, "Come here." Whose maid are you anyway? Don't you want your monthly allowance anymore?

Just as Chu Liuzheng was about to step forward, Prince Xiao suddenly turned his wheelchair, blocking her way.

Chu Liuzheng: ? ? ?

[King Xiao, what are you going to do?]

King Xiao didn't want to do anything; he just happened to turn his wheelchair around and happened to see that the emperor was unhappy.

It seems the rumors about the imperial harem weren't entirely unfounded.

"It was a slip of the hand." He turned his wheelchair back and innocently made way for him.

Chu Liuzheng: "..."

[It sounds so fake.]

She was full of questions, but she didn't have time to think about it. She quickly walked over and stood next to Xiao Jingfan.

King Xiao turned to Kunqi and ordered, "Serve the meal." Dishes were served one after another. In addition to seasonal vegetables, there was also smoked meat that King Xiao had specially brought from his fiefdom. It was marinated with local spices and tasted absolutely delicious.

Chu Liuzheng washed his hands and was about to serve Xiao Jingfan some food, but Xiao Jingfan asked Zhou Yuande to do it instead.

Chu Liuzheng was happy to have some free time, but unexpectedly King Xiao suddenly said, "Since His Majesty has asked the Duke of Zhou to serve the dishes, Liuzheng, you shall serve the dishes to me."

Chu Liuzheng: "..."

Zhou Yuande: "..."

Xiao Jingfan: "..."

Sigh! I guess I'm just destined to be a beast of burden.

Unable to slack off, Chu Liuzheng stepped forward to serve food to King Xiao.

Since they had eaten lunch together, she knew a little about Prince Xiao's preferences, so the dishes she served were generally to his liking.

King Xiao was originally just teasing his younger brother, since teasing the emperor was quite satisfying. But now, seeing how attentive Chu Liuzheng was, he really started to think about taking him over and training him.

He knew he couldn't rush things and had to proceed gradually.

So, as they chatted, he steered the conversation toward the matter of taking Chu Liuzheng to the Imperial Academy on the way.

Xiao Jingfan paused in his chopsticks, saying, "That's against the rules."

King Xiao smiled and said, "It's only half a day away, it's no big deal." Whether or not one behaves properly is just a matter of the emperor's word.

"You want to go?" Xiao Jingfan looked up at Chu Liuzheng.

【Of course I want to! It's been six or seven years since I last saw you, I've almost forgotten what you look like. But, it's really against the rules to go out of the palace with King Xiao, I still want to stay in the palace, going out with the Emperor is more appropriate.】

Chu Liuzheng was about to give a false answer that he didn't want to when he heard Xiao Jingfan say to Prince Xiao, "The Imperial Academy has built a new library. I haven't been to see it yet. When are you going? I'll go with you and we can watch the excitement."

King Xiao was slightly surprised. They've caught up already?

He glanced at Chu Liuzheng and smiled, "I need to make some preparations tomorrow, let's do it the day after tomorrow."

"Then let's set it for the morning court session the day after tomorrow," Xiao Jingfan decided, then lowered his head and continued eating.

【Ahhh!!! I can see my older brother!!!】

Chu Liuzheng was so happy that the little figure in his heart was dancing wildly.

Xiao Jingfan, whose ears were ringing: "..."

Suddenly I felt a little regretful.

To avoid being deafened by Chu Liuzheng's noise, he said, "Serve me a bowl of soup."

The fish head soup was right in front of Chu Liuzheng. Before Zhou Yuande could even touch it, she quickly and efficiently ladled it out and placed it beside the emperor.

Xiao Jingfan glanced at her, then picked up the bowl and slowly drank the soup.

Zhou Yuande spontaneously and consciously served food to King Xiao, and the first thing he picked up with his chopsticks was stir-fried greens.

At this time of year, fresh vegetables are scarce, but when King Xiao looked at the vegetables in his bowl, the corners of his lips turned down slightly; he didn't like eating vegetables.

After dinner, it was completely dark, with no stars or moon.

As King Xiao saw Xiao Jingfan off, he warmly greeted Chu Liuzheng, saying, "Tomorrow I will have someone prepare your favorite snacks. Come over and visit sometime." He was just like a kind older brother next door.

Chu Liuzheng's heart was pounding, but she smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Highness. However, I have to go on duty tomorrow and dare not leave my post. I will come to pay my respects to Your Highness another day."

King Xiao did not give up: "It's alright. If you really don't have time to come, I will have Kunqi send you some snacks."

Chu Liuzheng: ?

Could King Xiao's clever mind not tell that she was politely declining?
What's the point of rushing to send snacks like this?

King Hyo-wang said that teasing his younger brother was addictive, especially when his brother was still the emperor.

After leaving the Magnolia Hall, Xiao Jingfan did not take a sedan chair, but instead walked slowly towards the Wenhua Hall with his hands behind his back, just in time to digest his food.

Zhou Yuan pulled Chu Liuzheng a few steps behind and asked softly, "Why didn't you come back after going to the Magnolia Palace?"