I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 313 Eunuch Zhou is such a good person!
[Heh, so the imposter didn't escape on his own merit, but was deliberately released by the tyrant to see what he'd do after getting away.]

With Brother Xiao Er with me, I wouldn't have been in any trouble even if I hadn't run.

Chu Liuzheng was annoyed; she should have had Prince Xiao send someone to deliver it earlier.

I will never walk alone at night again!
The tyrant was in high spirits; he even went for a walk late at night, despite the rain.

Chu Liuzheng tilted his head and tucked the umbrella handle to the side of his neck, reaching into his sleeve, only to find nothing.

【Huh? Where's my steamed bun?】

She looked around with her head down, but couldn't see it. She quickly took a few steps and reached out to tug at Zhou Yuande's sleeve: "Eunuch Zhou, I've lost something. I want to go back and look for it."

Zhou Yuande stopped, turned around and asked, "What did you lose?"

"It's important," Chu Liuzheng said. "If His Majesty asks about it later, please give him a message for me. I'll be back soon."

She ran back as soon as she finished speaking, without waiting for Zhou Yuande's reply.

Zhou Yuande frowned and instructed Xiao Anzi to take two people with him to help search.

Xiao Jingfan, who was walking in front, turned around when he heard the commotion behind him and asked, "What's wrong?"

Zhou Yuande hurriedly stepped forward and replied, "Miss Liu Zheng just lost something important and needs to go back to look for it. This servant sent Xiao Anzi with her."

Xiao Jingfan: "..."

What's so important about steamed buns?

Is it particularly delicious?

Zhou Yuande glanced at his expression and asked, "Your Majesty, shall we wait for Miss Liu Zheng?"

Xiao Jingfan thought about it seriously for a moment, then shook his head: "Send a few more people to help."

He took two steps forward and said, "I want to eat steamed buns tomorrow morning. Make several kinds of fillings."

Even the most delicious steamed buns are probably inedible after being soaked in rainwater. The ones made by the imperial kitchen should be just as good, right?
Although he didn't know how the topic had turned to steamed buns, Zhou Yuande immediately agreed and ordered someone to do it.

On the other side, a dozen or so people, each holding an umbrella in one hand and a lantern in the other, bent over and helped Chu Liuzheng find her important things in the drizzling rain.

The thought that these so-called "important things" were just two steamed buns made Chu Liuzheng feel a little embarrassed.

She really didn't expect to go to such lengths.

It's likely that what she said caused the Duke of Zhou to misunderstand, thinking that she had lost something valuable.

They actually sent so many people to help her; Eunuch Zhou is such a kind person.

The group searched the path Chu Liuzheng had just taken twice, but in the end they only found a piece of oil paper soaked by rain and a few bits of mushy debris.

I don't know whether it's the cat or the mouse that benefits.

Chu Liuzheng sighed, picked up the oil paper and held it in his palm, saying to everyone, "No need to look anymore, thank you all for your help, let's go back."

Back at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Chu Liuzheng's wet clothes had been partially dried by the cloak and her body heat. Not wanting to linger in front of the emperor in her current state, she went straight back to the side room of the rear hall.

"You're finally back." Xia Qiaoru handed over a bowl of ginger soup. "Drink this quickly to warm yourself up."

Chu Liuzheng took it and drank it all in one gulp, feeling a warm sensation rise from his stomach and gradually spread throughout his body.

Before long, beads of sweat began to appear on his forehead.

Xia Qiaoru then reached out to help her take off her cloak, saying as she did so, "There's hot water behind the screen, go soak in it first, and I'll go get some more."

Chu Liuzheng nodded and went behind the screen to take a bath as instructed.

Xia Qiaoru found a change of clothes, hung them on the screen, and then carried the bucket out.

When she returned, Chu Liuzheng had already fainted in the bathtub.

Xia Qiaoru was terrified and tried to push her, but she couldn't wake her up at all.

She tried to lift the person out, but the water was slippery and she wasn't strong enough, so she had to go out to find someone to help, almost colliding with Qin Shu, who had been ordered to come and treat the patient. Qin Shu grabbed the person and frowned, asking, "What happened?"

Xia Qiaoru recognized her and quickly grabbed her hand to pull her into the house: "Dr. Qin, you've come at the right time. Liu Zheng has fainted, and I can't carry her. Please help me."

After a flurry of activity, the two finally managed to move Chu Liuzheng to the bed.

Qin Shu sat by the bed to take Chu Liuzheng's pulse, then touched her forehead with the back of her hand and said, "She caught a cold from being caught in the rain and has a fever. She also seems to have been frightened."

Xia Qiaoru was taken aback. Why was she frightened?
"Light a few more candles." Qin Shu took out her acupuncture kit. "I'll give her a couple of acupuncture needles."

It rained all night and only stopped at dawn.

The bird perched on a branch, gently shaking the water droplets off its feathers and chirping sweetly.

Xia Qiaoru carried the food box and lifted the curtain to enter the room. Seeing that the person on the bed had already sat up, she was overjoyed: "You're awake?"

Chu Liuzheng's head was still spinning. He raised his hand to his forehead and asked, "What's wrong with me?"

"You passed out from taking a bath last night." Xia Qiaoru poured her a glass of water and handed it to her. "Drink this to soothe your throat."

Chu Liuzheng took it and drank it.

Xia Qiaoru reached out and touched her forehead, saying, "Dr. Qin gave you acupuncture and prescribed medicine. I've already prepared the medicine, and you'll drink it after breakfast."

Upon hearing that he had to take medicine, Chu Liuzheng's face scrunched up: "I don't feel unwell anywhere, so whether I take medicine or not doesn't matter..."

Under Xia Qiaoru's glare, her voice grew softer and softer, and finally she pursed her lips and said, "Okay, I'll drink it."

Xia Qiaoru smiled and first brought her some salt to rinse her mouth, then brought her hot water to wash up.

Chu Liuzheng was dizzy and let her do whatever she wanted until he smelled the aroma of wheat.

She opened her eyes and saw Xia Qiaoru taking the steamed buns out of the food box.

She asked in confusion, "Why are they all steamed buns?"

"There's also porridge." Xia Qiaoru brought out two bowls of white porridge. "It's said that His Majesty specially ordered it. The Imperial Kitchen, to save trouble, also sent us steamed buns, but with different fillings."

She took out the chopsticks: "His Majesty has eight kinds of fillings, but we only have two: bamboo shoot and pork filling and braised pork filling. I took three of each. Come and eat."

Chu Liuzheng put on his clothes and got out of bed. He was still a little dizzy and his legs were sore, probably a side effect of running wildly last night.

I should try to practice running more in the future, so I can run faster if I encounter danger.

She sat down at the table, and sighed inwardly as she thought of the two bamboo shoot and pork buns she hadn't been able to eat the night before.

We can't eat the steamed buns my mother made, but the ones from the imperial kitchen will have to do.

Even rounding down, I guess I got to eat.

At the wonton stall at the city gate, Pei Yunjian and Chu Shangming each ate a bowl of fish skin wontons, with bundles beside them, waiting for the carriage to pick them up.

Ren Qingxia paid for the wontons and bought a bowl of noodles with soybean paste from the noodle stall next door. She brought it over and sat opposite Pei Yunjian, mixing the noodles as she asked, "Where is His Highness Prince Xiao taking you?"

“He didn’t say anything.” Chu Shangming took a sip of wonton soup. “He only said he was going to take us on a long trip and told us to pack our bags and wait for him at the city gate.”

Pei Yunjian dipped his chopsticks into the bowl of noodles and ate a mouthful of noodles.

Ren Qingxia looked at him: "Shall I buy you a bowl?"

"It's not tasty." Pei Yunjian lowered his head and continued eating his wontons.

Seeing this, Ren Qingxia tasted it herself and said, "I put in too much vinegar. I forgot you don't eat vinegar."

Pei Yunjian paused in his hand as he scooped up the wontons, put the spoon down, and peered into the intersection: "It's already this late, why hasn't Brother Yan arrived yet?"

Seeing his reddened ears, Ren Qingxia quickly raised the corners of her lips.

"Yes, it'll be too late if we don't come soon." Chu Shangming put down his bowl and looked towards the intersection.

As Ren Qingxia added chili oil to the noodles, she said, "He probably won't come."