I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 391: Usable but Not Reliable

[As expected of the ruthless person who managed to oust the second junior brother and take the throne of senior brother, he knows how to read people. Given the tyrant's high regard for Prince Rui and the Grand Tutor, he will definitely agree to cooperate with Pingxuan.]

Chu Liuzheng had just thought that when he heard Xiao Jingfan ask, "You only have that one condition from before?"

Pingxuan nodded.

Xiao Jingfan said he needed to think about it for a moment.

This matter is of great importance and cannot be taken lightly. Ping Xuan understood perfectly, and as Lü Fei was about to take him out, he made a request: "Can I see Ping Yu?"

Xiao Jingfan agreed and ordered Lü Fei to take him there.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ping Xuan obediently followed Lü Fei out.

He was not worried about whether the emperor would agree to cooperate with him.

For the emperor, cooperation is entirely beneficial; anyone with a brain knows which option to choose.

Thinking of this, a pleased smile appeared on his lips, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

Inside the main tent, Xiao Jingfan offered seats to everyone. Chu Liuzheng brought a teapot and poured water for everyone, then sat down in the empty seat next to Feng Jing.

Xiao Jingfan took a sip from his cup and asked Huang Xin, "Have things been arranged properly at Thousand Feet Cliff?"

"Your Majesty, my uncle has already stationed troops at the foot of Thousand-Foot Cliff and is ready to attack at any time. However..." Huang Xin looked at the emperor with worry, "If Thousand-Foot Cliff is indeed as dangerous as Pingxuan said, a rash attack may result in heavy casualties."

"Hmm." Xiao Jingfan nodded, reassuring him, "I also cannot bear to see my soldiers lose their lives in vain. If there were no other way, I would not have ordered a strong attack."

Upon hearing this, Huang Xin breathed a sigh of relief, clasped his hands, and knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty is wise."

Xiao Jingfan waved for him to rise, then glanced at everyone in the tent: "What do you all think of what Pingxuan just said?"

Let's all look at each other.

Feng Jing spoke first; he disliked Ping Xuan intensely and said, holding his cup:
"I don't think this person can be trusted. He can betray Yin Lanci today, and he could betray us tomorrow. Who knows what he's up to? What if he's plotting something like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind? We should be more careful and not trust him too easily."

“Dr. Feng is right,” Huang Xin agreed, adding, “Judging from this person’s appearance alone, he is not a man of great loyalty and righteousness.”

"General, you can read faces?" Feng Jing looked at him in surprise, brushed his hair back, and craned his neck to get closer. "Could you read my face too, and tell me when I'll be able to get married?"

Huang Shen: "..."

Is this the point?
[If Doctor Feng wants to marry Doctor Qin, it's as difficult as ascending to heaven unless Doctor Qin's mother comes back to life.]

Chu Liuzheng couldn't help but shed a tear of sympathy for his friend's destined arduous journey to win back his wife.

"Ahem." Zhou Yuande cleared his throat to help Huang Xin out of the predicament. "I've heard that there's a half-immortal in the city who's extremely accurate at predicting marriages. When we go to the city another day, Doctor Feng might as well have him do a reading."

Feng Jing hurriedly asked, "Where does that fortune teller usually set up his stall?"

Zhou Yuande said, "It is said to be at the head of the Eight Immortals Bridge."

Feng Jing secretly made a note of it, determined to find some free time to have his fortune told another day.

Seeing that the topic had veered off course, Xiao Jingfan put his cup on the table and turned to look at Chu Liuzheng: "What do you think?"

Chu Liuzheng was taken aback and blinked.

Is it appropriate for me, a mere palace maid, to ask about such a matter?

She declined, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, this servant does not understand these things."

"It's alright." Xiao Jingfan said gently. "Just speak your mind. Whether you're right or wrong, I won't blame you."

Hey, you said it yourself!

Chu Liuzheng felt as if the credit was beckoning to him.

She took a deep breath, quietly opened the system, and said while glancing at it, "This servant thinks this person is either usable or untrustworthy."

"Be more specific," Xiao Jingfan said, resting his chin on his hand and looking at her with great interest.

Chu Liuzheng said, "This person..."

*
Upon receiving the summons, Lü Fei brought Ping Xuan out of the tent where Ping Yu was imprisoned, took him to the main tent, and cut the ropes binding him with his sword. "His Majesty wishes to see you. Go in."

This move is tantamount to sending a favorable signal.

Pingxuan bowed to him and said, "Thank you, sir."

Lu Fei didn't give him a friendly look, only giving a curt "hmm" with a straight face.

Pingxuan didn't mind and stepped into the main tent. He lifted his robe and knelt down before Xiao Jingfan: "Your Majesty, may you be well."

"Rise," Xiao Jingfan waved his hand, offering a seat.

Zhou Yuande brought over a stool.

Ping Xuan sat down, a confident smile playing on his usually indifferent face: "It seems Your Majesty has made your decision."

Xiao Jingfan remained noncommittal and asked, "Where is Yin Lanci now?"

"It's on the third floor of Laifu Inn." Pingxuan answered readily, reaching out to take the tea offered by Chu Liuzheng. While thanking him, he glanced up and down, thinking to himself that this must be the maid surnamed Chu that Huang Ting had mentioned.

Chu Liuzheng was also observing him discreetly.

Wow, it looks even better up close!

[They're born to the same parents, yet the beautiful Ping and her younger brother Ping look so different, like night and day. Is raising a Gu poison somehow having some kind of beauty-enhancing effect?]

After admiring the beautiful woman up close for a while, Chu Liuzheng withdrew his gaze, casually replaced the emperor's tea with calming tea, and stepped aside to stand still.

Xiao Jingfan glanced at her.

It's just a pretty face, is it really worth this woman praising it again and again?
He's quite handsome, so why doesn't this woman praise him all the time?

Chu Liuzheng simply assumed that he didn't like the taste of the calming tea.

There are many other options in the palace, but when you're out and about, you don't have that many choices. You just have to make do.

So she pretended not to notice the emperor's gaze, lowered her head to look at her nails, and felt that she should get them trimmed.

Pingxuan held the tea and waited for the emperor to speak. He knew that if the emperor summoned him again, he would definitely ask more detailed questions.

But why does the emperor always look at that maid?
Zhou Yuande covered his mouth and coughed softly.

Your Majesty, the person is just standing there, they won't run away. Let's get down to business first!

The chief eunuch had endless worries every day.

At this moment, Feng Jing brought in a plate of steamed buns, saying it was a late-night snack from the kitchen.

The large white steamed buns were round and plump, warm, and exuded an enticing aroma of wheat.

But the Emperor, who was a complete glutton, had no appreciation for food. He was full after just one glance and had no appetite.

Feng Jing guessed he wouldn't eat it; after all, he hadn't come in to deliver steamed buns in the first place.

Lu Fei was worried that Pingxuan might use underhanded methods against his emperor, so he specially pulled Feng Jing, who was looking for a late-night snack, from the kitchen and asked him to keep an eye on things.

Feng Jing stepped back to stand next to Chu Liuzheng and handed her a steamed bun.

Chu Liuzheng glanced at the emperor, and seeing that the emperor wasn't looking this way, he reached out and took the food, eating it quietly.

Xiao Jingfan, who saw it clearly out of the corner of his eye: "..."

That's fine, as long as it doesn't make too much noise.

He looked at Ping Xuan: "Since Yin Lanci already knows that I have come to Sishui Town, she probably won't just be preparing an escape route for herself. How does she plan to deal with me?"

Pingxuan was not surprised by this question. He asked, "Does Your Majesty know a Miss Huang?"

黄？
Xiao Jingfan thought for a moment: "The Huang family residence in Tancheng?"

(End of this chapter)