I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 280 Receiving the Influence of Knowledge

Chu Liuzheng felt wronged.

She had always wanted to leave, but King Xiao wouldn't allow it, so there was nothing she could do.

She quickly admitted her mistake and promised it would never happen again.

"You're just relying on His Majesty's favor." Zhou Yuande tapped her arm with the handle of his whisk, gestured towards the black-clad figure, and lowered his voice, "That's the proper master." Why are you fawning over Prince Xiao?
It's just that Chu Liuzheng didn't know what he was thinking, otherwise he would have argued with him at least a bit.

It's just serving King Xiao some dishes, isn't it?

She was just doing her job properly; she wasn't trying to curry favor with anyone.

However, she didn't know this, so she obediently listened and said, "I understand, thank you for your guidance, Father-in-law."

Zhou Yuande snorted and couldn't help but remind him again: "So many people are envious of your position. If you don't take it seriously, plenty of people will be vying to push you out."

Chu Liuzheng nodded repeatedly: "I will definitely serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly in the future."

Seeing that she was so receptive to instruction, Zhou Yuande didn't nitpick anymore and let her off the hook this time.

Seeing that he had calmed down, Chu Liuzheng breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the emperor walking in front.

Just looking at his back, he exudes an extraordinary and imposing presence, radiating power and charisma.

It was pleasing to the eye, but, Chu Liuzheng thought to himself, "it's pleasing to the eye, but..."

[Eunuch Zhou's eyes must be malfunctioning. Where has the tyrant shown me any favoritism? He's always giving me the cold shoulder, his moods are unpredictable, it's terrifying!]

*
The Imperial Medical Academy distributed pills for three consecutive days.

The pills on this last day were different from those on the previous two days; they tasted sweet, like candy pills, and some people even wanted to eat a few more.

Inside the secret guard camp, Instructor Li burned Consort Gao's body to ashes, burying them under a tree.

With the combined efforts of the Imperial Hospital, the Dark Guard, Qin Shu, and Feng Jing, the Gu worm crisis meticulously planned by the Fifth Prince's Consort was quietly and without warning.

The Empress had been losing her appetite for the past few days. Hearing that Qin Shu was not only a divine physician but also only treated women, she became curious and specially sent Qiu Sui to invite her over.

After hearing about this, the other concubines also took turns asking people to see the doctor, keeping Qin Shu extremely busy.

Feng Jing wandered around the Imperial Hospital for a while, but having nothing to do, he simply went out of the palace and set up a table outside the charity hall to provide free medical consultations.

The people, seeing that he was young and had no beard, did not believe that he was a skilled doctor. However, after witnessing him save an old man who had collapsed and was convulsing with just a couple of pats, they immediately regarded him as a miracle doctor and rushed to have Feng Jing treat them.

A long line formed in front of the table, and patrolling soldiers helped maintain order.

Feng Jing not only had to see a doctor, but also had to politely decline the matchmaking attempts made by enthusiastic aunts and grandmothers. He was so busy that he didn't even have time to drink water.

[Dr. Feng is quite kind-hearted.]

Inside the carriage, Chu Liuzheng lowered the curtain, his eyes crinkling with a smile, clearly in a very good mood.

I'll be able to see my older brother soon!

Xiao Jingfan and Prince Xiao sat opposite each other, each holding a book and reading intently.

The difference is that Xiao Jingfan was reading records about the Dayong Dynasty, while Prince Xiao was reading a storybook he had just bought from a bookstore, with candied fruit and melon seeds beside him, looking quite content.

Chu Liuzheng poured tea for the two of them, and Xiao Wang grabbed a handful of melon seeds and handed them to her: "These are spiced melon seeds from Baihezhai. They taste pretty good. Try them."

"Thank you for the reward, Your Highness." Chu Liuzheng took it and peeled the kernels one by one.

Without showing favoritism, King Xiao grabbed another handful of melon seeds and handed them to Xiao Jingfan.

Xiao Jingfan merely raised his eyelids and glanced at it, his lips barely moving: "I won't eat."

King Xiao regretfully withdrew his hand, secretly lamenting that his younger brother was unlucky in love.

A short while later, a small round plate was handed to Xiao Jingfan, filled with large, whole, peeled melon seeds.

Xiao Jingfan hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took it, eating and glancing at it simultaneously. [Tsk, as expected, too lazy to peel it.]

Chu Liuzheng wiped his hands clean and began to crack the remaining melon seeds on his own.

Sunflower seeds that aren't cracked open have no soul!
Seeing that she seemed to like it, King Xiao handed her another handful.

Chu Liuzheng didn't stand on ceremony with him, thanked him, and accepted the gift with a smile.

The two of them ate sunflower seeds together.

When Xiao Jingfan came back to his senses from the book, he found that all he could hear was the rhythmic "crunch, crunch" of people cracking sunflower seeds.

Xiao Jingfan: "..."

The carriage stopped at the gate of the Imperial College. The young man Kunqi, who was driving the carriage, first put the wheelchair down, then turned back and carried his master down.

Chu Liuzheng put the uneaten melon seeds into his purse and followed Xiao Jingfan out of the carriage.

This is the Imperial Academy! No wonder it's a place for scholars; it exudes a scholarly atmosphere.

Chu Liuzheng looked up at the gate of the Imperial Academy. In a good mood, everything seemed pleasing to the eye.

Xiao Jingfan's lips twitched. What kind of scholarly atmosphere could be seen from just two doors?

Zhou Yuande took out the sign and waved it in front of the guard, who was so frightened that he almost fell down and scrambled inside to report.

Before long, a thin, white-bearded old man ran out with a middle-aged man and a young man. Just as they were about to kneel down to Xiao Jingfan, he waved his hand and said, "No need for formalities. I and Prince Xiao were just passing by and thought we'd drop by."

Yun Jijiu: "..."

Anyone who believes that is a fool.

As he ushered the people inside, he was filled with unease. What were these two important figures doing at the Imperial College all of a sudden?

The group took their seats in the flower hall, and the servants served tea before leaving.

After chatting with the Emperor for a while, the Grand Master Yun couldn't help but ask, "May I ask what brings Your Majesty here?"

"I'm feeling bored in the palace, so I'm coming out for a walk with Prince Xiao." Xiao Jingfan looked around the flower hall and tapped a black folding fan lightly in his palm.

Hearing him take all the blame, King Xiao couldn't help but laugh and said to Chief Scholar Yun, "Could you take me to see the various schools?"

It's class time now, so we should be able to see something interesting.

Yun Jijiu naturally agreed, telling the two directors to go about their business while he personally led the way for Xiao Jingfan and his party.

Although Chu Liuzheng was eager to see his elder brother, he knew he had to take care of important matters first.

The sound of reading filled the air as Yun Jijiu led the group on a quick tour of the Imperial Academy. Chu Liuzheng spotted his elder brother; although they hadn't seen each other in a long time, it was definitely his older brother.

She was so excited that her eyes welled up with tears, and she really wanted to rush out and recognize her relatives on the spot.

Zhou Yuande pulled her back in time, and she had no choice but to obediently follow behind Xiao Jingfan and the others, taking the opportunity to visit the library and immerse herself in knowledge.

This stroll lasted for nearly two hours, and it was time for lunch.

Yun Jijiu naturally couldn't neglect the Emperor and Prince Xiao, so he specially sent someone to book a table at a restaurant. However, Xiao Jingfan suggested that they eat in the Imperial Academy's dining hall.

The food in the dining hall was quite good; at least Chu Liuzheng enjoyed his meal.

The chief priest and the two vice-directors found the food tasteless and couldn't swallow it, unable to figure out why the emperor and the prince had suddenly come.

The students glanced overtly or covertly at the group, their curious eyes constantly falling on Prince Xiao, who was in a wheelchair, and Xiao Jingfan, who remained expressionless, as they secretly speculated about their identities.

Chu Shangming stared blankly at the table where the chief priest was sitting. He didn't look at the two noble young men; his gaze was fixed on the girl who was eating with her head down.

Why did he feel that the girl looked so much like his own daughter, Youmiao?
Not only did her movements when picking vegetables resemble his, but her fair profile was also similar, and even her water-red dress looked just like the one her mother had made and sent to the palace.

"What are you looking at?" Ren Qingxia sat down with her bowl in hand. Following his gaze, she was immediately shocked and her eyes widened. What was the Emperor doing here?!