I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 305

【Oh, there's a surprise!】

Chu Liuzheng's eyes lit up as he looked towards the doorway.

A figure in indigo blue walked in.

The person who came was not very tall, but rather thin, with wheat-colored skin, thick eyebrows, bright eyes that seemed to sparkle, a straight nose, and naturally upturned lips, giving him a friendly appearance.

Wow, he's even more handsome than I imagined.

Xiao Jingfan glanced at the newcomer a few times and inexplicably compared him to himself, thinking to himself that this person's appearance was far inferior to his.

Hua Tingke lifted his robe and bowed, saying, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"

"Rise." Xiao Jingfan rarely spoke with such a gentle tone. "Please take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Hua Tingke stood up and suddenly found a burning gaze fixed on him.

He turned his head and saw that the person looking at him was a palace maid standing next to the dragon throne.

Her skin was as white as jade, her eyebrows were arched, her almond-shaped eyes were bright and clear, and her appearance was beautiful.

Hua Tingke frowned slightly, confirming that he did not recognize the palace maid.

In fact, Chu Liuzheng had been very careful, but Hua Tingke was too perceptive of others' gazes.

Although Hua Tingke was suspicious, he did not delve into it and withdrew his gaze to sit down.

Chu Liuzheng continued to stare.

She was mainly looking at Hua Tingke's exposed neck, looking at it from left to right, up to down, very attentively.

Hua Tingke, feeling slightly uncomfortable, raised his hand to straighten his clothes, thinking to himself that this palace maid was far too bold, staring at an official so openly.

"Ahem." Xiao Jingfan suddenly cleared his throat and tapped his finger on the table. "Change the tea."

Today, the palace maid serving tea in the palace was Yu Zhui, but she went to serve tea to Hua Tingke, so the task of changing the tea fell to Chu Liuzheng.

Chu Liuzheng withdrew his gaze, picked up the teacup on the table, and went out.

She deliberately walked past Hua Tingke, glancing at him several times as she went.

Hua Tingke frowned, thinking to himself that this palace maid was quite unruly.

Just as he was thinking this, another gaze fell on him, a bit cold.

Hua Tingke turned his head and met Xiao Jingfan's deep, dark eyes.

Xiao Jingfan smiled slightly: "I have read the memorial submitted by the Ministry of Personnel. Since you took office in Lancheng, your performance evaluation has been excellent for three years. Last year, when there was a flood, you took the lead and built dikes in the rain to protect the people from danger. It is a blessing for the people of Lancheng to have a good official like you."

"As the magistrate of a county, it is my duty to protect the people." Hua Tingke stood up and bowed. "What I have done is merely my duty. I dare not accept Your Majesty's undeserved praise."

Seeing his humility and politeness, without any arrogance, Xiao Jingfan's smile deepened, and he said kindly, "If I remember correctly, my dear minister, you are already twenty-six years old this year, and it seems you are still unmarried?"

Hua Tingke nodded: "I have no interest in this."

Xiao Jingfan asked in confusion, "Why?"

Hua Tingke: "..."

Wasn't the emperor supposed to be decisive and efficient, focused solely on state affairs and never engaging in idle chatter with his ministers? Why are they pressing him for details?
He glanced at the emperor and uttered five words: "Because I failed to perform my duties."

"puff--"

Li Yuwan was so shocked that she spat out all the tea she had just drunk, choking and turning her face red.

Wang Qi patted her back while staring at Hua Tingke in astonishment.

Even if he is young, he knows that impotence is not something to be ashamed of. How can this person talk about it so openly?
Is this a high-ranking official in the imperial court?
The civil and military officials felt their reputations had been damaged. What good official would ever utter the word "impotence"? Xiao Jingfan was also taken aback by Hua Tingke's shocking remark and said with concern, "I will summon the imperial physician to examine you, my dear minister."

"No need, thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty." Hua Tingke said expressionlessly, "My impotence is congenital and cannot be cured."

Chu Liuzheng, who was carrying tea into the hall, happened to hear this, and his foot slipped, almost causing him to drop the tea on the tray.

Xiao Jingfan looked at her and said, "Did you hear that? This person is impotent."

Chu Liuzheng didn't understand the look in his eyes at all, and just thought that he was thirsty, so he quickly took two steps and placed the teacup next to him.

At the same time, Yu Zhui placed the teacup on the table next to Hua Tingke's seat and served two plates of snacks to the young Wang Qi.

Wang Qi immediately felt that the palace was wonderful; the food and snacks were delicious.

While he was eating, he didn't forget to hand a piece to Li Yuwan so that she could have some too.

Li Yuwan was in no mood for snacks at the moment, fearing that this Master Hua might say something unexpected and make her spit out her snacks.

How can someone talk about "impotence" so naturally?

Looking at Hua Tingke's upright profile, and thinking about how the emperor had just praised him as a good official, yet he failed to perform his duties, she inexplicably felt a bit more sympathy for Hua Tingke.

“My dear minister, you should not conceal your illness from medical treatment. Please summon the imperial physician to take a look.” Xiao Jingfan picked up his teacup and said to Hua Tingke, “The disciple of the Ghost Physician is also in the palace. Perhaps he can cure your illness.”

He thoughtfully omitted the word "impotence".

"Over the years, I have sought out countless good doctors, but I have long since given up hope." Hua Tingke sighed, his face showing a somber expression. "I do not wish to go through the cycle of hope turning into despair again."

Now that things have come to this point, it would be unreasonable for Xiao Jingfan to still ask the imperial physician to treat him.

He was about to offer a few words of comfort to let the matter drop when he heard a voice from the heart.

[Oh, you're quite good at making excuses. Of course, we can't summon the imperial physician. If he takes your pulse, your disguise as a man will be exposed, won't it?]

Chu Liuzheng was still looking at Hua Tingke's neck.

How exactly were those fake Adam's apples put on? They look so real! Will they fall off if I pick at them?

Xiao Jingfan's hand trembled, and he almost dropped the teacup on the ground.

Hua Tingke is actually a woman!

No wonder the secret guards couldn't find any surprises after investigating; they were investigating in the wrong direction.

He looked up at Hua Tingke and scrutinized him carefully.

The Great Sheng Dynasty had a rule that when candidates entered the examination hall, not only would their belongings be checked, but all candidates would also be required to enter a room in groups of ten, strip naked to verify their identities. This was to prevent some women from dressing up as men to take the imperial examination after reading too many popular folk tales.

If Hua Tingke were truly a woman, how would she have passed the hurdle of undressing?

Bribery? Disguise?
Xiao Jingfan frowned slightly, completely baffled.

Chu Liuzheng did know.

[Young Master Hua was truly unlucky. After years of diligent study, he finally passed the imperial examination and was granted an official position, only to fall ill and die on his way to his new post.]

[Hua Hanyu and her brother are twins, about the same age, and look about 70-80% alike. If they deliberately disguise themselves, they can look completely alike, and strangers wouldn't be able to tell the difference.]

Chu Liuzheng dug up the gossip he had read before.

Having lost their parents at a young age, the Hua siblings relied on each other from childhood, guarding the family property left by their parents and growing up safely under the care of loyal servants.

Hua Hanyu was intelligent and quick-witted, her talent no less than her brother's. She was also strong-willed, believing that women were no less capable than men. If it weren't for the court's regulations, she would certainly have taken the imperial examinations to try and secure an official position.

[After her brother's death, Hua Hanyu was heartbroken and unwilling to let his efforts go to waste. Furthermore, she harbored ambitions and was unwilling to be confined to the small world of the inner quarters simply because she was a woman.]

After giving her brother a proper burial, she took the official seal issued by the imperial court and, together with her loyal servant, went to Lancheng, where she disguised herself as a man and became the county magistrate.