I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 403 Fake
"What's wrong?" Chen Xing and the others stared at him intently. Even Zhou Yuande was intrigued and urged, "Dr. Feng, there are no outsiders here. Explain yourself clearly."

Feng Jing shook his head and waved to everyone: "It's almost time. I'll go back and check the brocade pouch, and come back later."

Upon hearing that he wanted to see the brocade pouch, and thinking that the emperor might stay inside for who knows how long, Chenxing immediately chased after him, saying, "I want to see it too."

Lu Fei and Zhou Yuande exchanged a glance, then each stood on one side, guarding the gate.

Inside the tent, Xiao Jingfan helped Chu Liuzheng lie down, frowning and scolding, "If you want perilla leaves, there are dried ones in the military camp. Why go out and pick them yourself?"

With a flicker of her gaze, Chu Liuzheng gently pinched the hem of his robe with two fingers, swaying it playfully, her lips slightly pursed: "It was all my oversight, please punish me."

The last syllable was drawn out, carrying a uniquely feminine charm.

Xiao Jingfan: ?

Xiao Jingfan: ! !
Xiao Jingfan: "..."

He looked down at his fingers, which appeared exceptionally white and slender against the blue fabric, and two words popped into his mind: Fake!

That woman wanted to stay at least ten feet away from him, how could she possibly take the initiative to get close? And even act coquettishly? She'd be out of her mind!

Besides, even if the woman was terrified by the wild boar, she wouldn't take all the blame upon herself; instead, she would come up with countless reasons to exonerate herself.

Most importantly, being outwardly respectful while inwardly cursing him is what that woman always does.

If the one on the bed were real, I would have already cursed him in my heart as a tyrant, as if he didn't know the difference between fresh and dried perilla leaves, as if he took my kindness for granted, and as if I complained that the little palace maid had no rights and had to be scolded even after being injured.

In short, it was impossible for him to have such peace and quiet.

Therefore, the one on the bed is definitely fake.

Even if it looks exactly like the real thing, it's still fake.

"How could I bear to punish you?" He smiled indulgently, decisively taking "Chu Liuzheng's" hand off his sleeve and tucking it into the blanket. Without making a sound, he subtly gestured to someone in the shadows, using the sleeve as cover.

Chu Liuzheng's cheeks flushed slightly as she made a move to lean into Xiao Jingfan's arms. Suddenly, a male voice came from outside: "Your Majesty, there is an urgent report from the capital."

Xiao Jingfan got up and considerately tucked the blanket around the person on the bed, gently instructing, "Rest well, I'll come see you after I finish dealing with the urgent report."

Chu Liuzheng nodded obediently and watched him leave.

As soon as he stepped out of the tent, Xiao Jingfan's smile froze into ice. He instructed Lü Fei, "Send someone to guard the tent. Liu Zheng needs to rest, and no one is allowed to disturb him."

"Yes." Lü Fei beckoned to several guards and gave them detailed instructions.

Xiao Jingfan then gestured for Xiao Shiyi, who had forged the urgent report, to come forward and whispered a few instructions in his ear.

Xiao Shiyi flashed and disappeared into the night.

Zhou Yuande originally thought that the secret guards had really received an urgent report, but Xiao Shiyi neither reported it nor presented any letters or memorials, and Xiao Jingfan did not mention it either, but directly let him go to do his business. It would be strange if there was an urgent report.

Immediately, the head eunuch also sensed that something was amiss and quietly followed Xiao Jingfan back to the main tent.

Lü Fei followed as well.

Xiao Jingfan looked at the two of them and said, "The Chu Liuzheng in the tent is a fake."

"Fake?" Zhou Yuande was shocked. They looked exactly the same and even had the same voice. How could it be fake?

Lü Fei had a feeling that he had expected this.

Zhou Yuande cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, how did you figure that out?"

It's no wonder he asked that question; Xiao Jingfan has a history of such behavior.

During the year of the imperial concubine selection, Xiao Jingfan mistook two new concubines who only had a slight resemblance for a whole year. Not only could he not remember their names, but he could also get their surnames and ranks wrong. When the Empress Dowager pointed it out, he still didn't believe it. He specially summoned the two to Wanshou Palace and then made the same mistake again.

The two new concubines were extremely embarrassed, and the Empress Dowager even gave them many gifts to comfort them.

Now that Xiao Jingfan had only spent a short time with Chu Liuzheng in the tent and was already certain that Chu Liuzheng was an imposter, Eunuch Zhou couldn't help but feel suspicious. "He could tell at a glance." Xiao Jingfan glanced at him, thinking to himself that the difference between the real and the fake was so great, it would be strange if he couldn't recognize him.

Moreover, the eyes are the hardest thing to fake.

That woman's eyes shone like stars, making people happy just by looking at them, unlike the fake one on the bed, whose eyes were dull and dark, making people dislike her.

Although he could barely cover it up by saying he was frightened and listless, Xiao Jingfan felt that Lü Fei's suspicions were probably correct the moment he saw the fake Chu Liuzheng.

Upon hearing his reasoning, Zhou Yuande was speechless, and Lü Fei was also very surprised. Was His Majesty so discerning in judging people?

Xiao Jingfan didn't care what the two were thinking. He put his hand to his forehead, frowned, and pondered how to follow the clues to rescue Zhen.

He actually had some doubts about the fake Chu Liuzheng in the tent.

Since they can disguise their appearance and voice to be exactly the same as the real thing, they must have observed carefully. So why are their personalities so different?
Thinking of how the fake Chu Liuzheng had grabbed his clothes and acted coquettishly just now, Xiao Jingfan couldn't help but shudder, getting goosebumps all over.

Just as the three of them were brainstorming ideas, Chen Xing carried Feng Jing in like a gust of wind, not even waiting for the guards at the door to announce their arrival.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!" Feng Jing exclaimed before he could even regain his footing. "Who is Liu Zheng in the tent—"

“It’s fake,” Xiao Jingfan replied casually, looking at him. “How did you find out?”

Feng Jing blinked.

Shouldn't he be the one asking that?

How did you know that?

"This brocade pouch," Chen Xing presented the crimson brocade pouch to Xiao Jingfan, "is written inside that tonight someone will impersonate someone close to you, deliberately approach you, and overthrow the Great Sheng Dynasty."

Zhou Yuande and Lü Fei were startled and turned to look to their right.

That's where Chu Liuzheng's tent is located.

Xiao Jingfan took the brocade pouch and examined it.

The palm-sized brocade pouch contained only a tiny scroll of paper.

He unfolded the paper roll, and his pupils constricted at a glance. He strained his fingers and almost tore the paper roll apart.

The handwriting on this scroll is exactly the same as the handwriting in the bamboo pouch that the young scholar in front of the restaurant gave him years ago.

Was the fortune teller who gave Feng Jing a reading by that scholar?

He suddenly looked up at Feng Jing and asked sharply, "What does that fortune teller look like?"

Feng Jing was startled by the murderous aura in his eyes and blurted out, "He's an old man with a white beard."

Xiao Jingfan was taken aback: "Not a scholar?"

Feng Jing asked in confusion, "What scholar?"

Xiao Jingfan pursed his lips and did not answer. He put the scroll back into the brocade pouch and ordered Xiao Da to go to the city to find the half-immortal and bring him to the military camp immediately so that he could question him personally.

Feng Jing muttered to himself, "Now that we've caught him, I can have him do another fortune telling for me."

Everyone: "..."

It's not like you can get a wife just by calculating it. You'd be better off writing a love letter to Doctor Qin.

"Ahem." Xiao Jingfan cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention back. "The most urgent thing is to find the person and rescue them."

Chen Xing sighed, "It's a pity we don't have Sister Liu Zheng's blood, otherwise we could have sent the Shadow Chasing Insects to find it."

(End of this chapter)