I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 428 The Empress is Giving Birth
Since returning to the palace, Prince Rui would come to the Imperial Garden every morning to take a walk and practice the health-preserving boxing that Feng Jing taught him.

Chu Liuzheng dared to chase after the little eunuch for two reasons: first, he wanted to lure out the person behind the little eunuch; second, he figured he might as well use such a powerful ally as Prince Rui.

Seeing that Prince Rui seemed quite familiar with Chu Liuzheng, Dou Jingwan secretly clenched her handkerchief. "Does Your Highness intend to protect this lowly servant?"

"So what if I am?" Prince Rui tapped his palm lightly with his landscape fan, tilting his head slightly, his eyes still smiling. "I am biased, so what can you do? Go and complain to my elder brother?"

【puff--】

Chu Liuzheng pursed his lips, suppressing a laugh. He hadn't expected Prince Rui to be like this. The way he said, "I have the Emperor's backing, so I can bully you," sounded so perfectly natural coming from his mouth.

Dou Jingwan was so taken aback by these words that she was speechless for a moment.

Prince Rui has never been so rude to her before. What's wrong with him today? Is it because she's no longer a Consort?
Seeing that she didn't speak, Prince Rui turned his eyes and glanced at Chu Liuzheng, noticing her torn sleeve. "How did it get torn?"

Chu Liuzheng pointed at the little eunuch and complained, "He tore it. I was sweeping the floor peacefully when he came out like a mad dog, barking and biting at me. I couldn't dodge in time and he tore my sleeve."

The young eunuch was so frightened that he kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy.

“Hmm…” Prince Rui rested his chin on the tip of his fan. “Of course, you have to compensate for what you’ve broken. Moonlight satin is priceless; at market price, a single bolt is worth at least three thousand taels. This garment is exquisitely embroidered; it would be worth about seven or eight hundred taels on the market.”

He looked at the kneeling eunuch, his eyes crinkling slightly: "How do you plan to compensate me?"

Young eunuch: “…”

He only wanted to curry favor with a master to be transferred out of the Imperial Garden in exchange for a more lucrative job, but he never expected to run into Chu Liuzheng, a formidable opponent. A single garment was worth seven or eight hundred taels of silver; even if he were sold, he wouldn't be worth that much!
The little eunuch was so frightened that his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

Prince Rui curled his lips slightly, unfolded his fan and fanned himself at Chu Liuzheng, asking, "How do you want him to compensate me?"

Chu Liuzheng was truly stumped by the question. After thinking for a while, he said, "I'll pay whatever amount he has. I'll make him avoid me whenever he sees me in the future. I don't want to see him again."

"Did you hear that?" Prince Rui looked at the head eunuch, who immediately ordered someone to carry the young eunuch away, secretly wiping the sweat from his forehead.

It's fortunate that he stood firmly on Chu Liuzheng's side and spoke up for him just now, otherwise he would be the one being carried off the stage now.

This Miss Liu Zheng has too many advantages. Now that Prince Rui is backing her up, won't she be able to walk sideways in the palace from now on?

Chu Liuzheng also felt that Prince Rui was a very helpful ally. However, while she was happy, Dou Jingwan was not. Her fox-like eyes seemed to freeze over. "Your Highness's willful and disregard for palace rules is quite something. If this were to reach His Majesty's ears, I wonder what His Majesty would think?"

“If you don’t know, you can ask.” Prince Rui shook his fan. “Your Excellency, come with me to see the Emperor. We will explain this matter clearly to him and see if he also thinks that I have disregarded palace rules and acted recklessly.”

Dou Jingwan was speechless again.

Why didn't she realize how shameless Prince Rui was before? Even a fool would know which side the Emperor would side with!

She tried to find an excuse to leave, but Prince Rui didn't give her the chance at all. With just a few words, he forced her to go to the emperor's presence.

Chu Liuzheng watched a good show and felt extremely pleased. He then picked up the broom and continued sweeping his own little plot of land.

This time, no one dared to cause trouble for her again.

An hour later, news spread from Wenhua Hall that the Emperor believed Consort Dou was being unreasonable and unfair, and punished her by making her recite palace rules every day and confining her to the palace for three months to reflect on her actions. Having only been released for three days before being locked up again, Dou Jingwan smashed and broke things in Huaqing Palace, and fell ill from anger.

Chu Liuzheng then received all the belongings of the young eunuch, five taels of silver, delivered by the head eunuch.

The head eunuch smiled broadly: "Don't worry, young lady. I've already sent that brat to the Cold Palace to work. He'll never appear in front of you again and get in your way."

"Thank you for your trouble, sir." Chu Liuzheng handed him two taels of silver and said some polite words with a smile.

The head eunuch pocketed the silver and became even more attentive to Chu Liuzheng, even saving her food in advance to ensure that no one else would steal it.

Chu Liuzheng sweeps the ground for half an hour every morning and half an hour every evening. He has nothing to do the rest of the time, which is much more leisurely than when he was serving in front of the emperor.

She was quite content with herself, but Xia Qiaoru and the others were so worried about her that they kept coming to check on her, not understanding why His Majesty had suddenly sent her to sweep the Imperial Garden.

Chu Liuzheng herself didn't know the reason, so how could she explain it to them? Seeing everyone so anxious and upset, she felt both amused and exasperated.

The emperor's temper was unpredictable; it wasn't uncommon for him to like something one moment and then discard it the next. She was just an ordinary palace maid, with really nothing that the emperor would care about. She had expected things to turn out this way.

The sweeping lasted for more than half a month. Although Chu Liuzheng was still living in the side room of the rear hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he never encountered the emperor. However, he formed a friendship with Prince Rui, who came to the Imperial Garden every day to practice his health-preserving boxing.

She discovered that Prince Rui was a truly remarkable person. Although he appeared gentle and refined, like a true gentleman, he was actually quite independent and had strong likes and dislikes.

Chu Liuzheng enjoys the company of handsome men every day, and even sweeping the Imperial Garden is a rather pleasant experience for her.

That day, Prince Rui brought news to Chu Liuzheng: the imperial envoy had discovered that the naval admiral had lied about military intelligence, and he was dismissed from his post and sentenced to beheading. The new naval admiral took office, and his first task was to find a way to suppress the pirates on Wangyue Island and provide protection for passing merchant ships.

Upon hearing this, Chu Liuzheng suddenly thought of the Huang family and Yi Shusheng, feeling that given Yi Shusheng's personality, this matter might make progress soon.

Prince Rui also brought news: "The two hundred treasure ships that will set sail in search of the three divine artifacts have been completed. Five days from now is an auspicious day, and my elder brother has already left the palace to personally see off all the brave sailors."

Two hundred treasure ships—it must be spectacular to see them in person!

Chu Liuzheng was somewhat disappointed that he couldn't see the scene. He could only silently pray that everyone would return safely and bring back potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes suitable for planting in Dasheng.

Peaceful days passed like flowing water; the emperor returned to the palace, and the empress was about to give birth.

Everyone was on edge, especially the people in Changchun Palace. They were on high alert from top to bottom, and even the mosquitoes that flew by had to be checked to see if they were male or female and whether they were harmful or not.

That day, Chu Liuzheng finished sweeping the floor and was just about to find a place to take a nap when the harem suddenly became agitated. The Empress was about to give birth.

While the emperor was still holding court, Consort Shu and others had already rushed to Changchun Palace. Even the Empress Dowager sent Granny Zhao to oversee the situation, in case anyone caused trouble.

[Finally!]

Please, please, it has to be a prince!!

Chu Liuzheng prayed silently, and, unusually restless, paced back and forth with a broom in hand.

(End of this chapter)