I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 430 Leaving the Palace
"Of course I will." Zhou Yuande didn't even bother to tap his apprentice with his whisk, and hurriedly strode after him.

Xiao Jingfan walked quickly with a sullen face. He had made up his mind. He would go back to Wenhua Hall, change into his court robes, and then go find that woman. He couldn't let himself be the only one troubled.

"Your Majesty." Zhou Yuande ran a few steps quickly, his voice filled with urgency.

Xiao Jingfan paused, turned to look at him, and asked, "What is it?"

Zhou Yuande saw the emperor's utter impatience in that look and was momentarily unsure whether he should mention Chu Liuzheng's matter now and make the emperor even more annoyed. But if he didn't speak up and Chu Liuzheng really left the palace, he couldn't very well have the emperor snatch a virtuous woman back, could he?
That kind of reputation wouldn't sound good if it got out!
"Your Majesty, I just received news that Miss Liu Zheng is on the list of those leaving the palace today, and she should already be heading towards Xihua Gate."

Xiao Jingfan: ! !
That woman actually dared to leave!
He shouted urgently, "Bring the horse here!"

The clatter of hooves approached the Xihua Gate. Everyone was curious about who dared to ride a horse so boldly in the palace. They all turned to look, and the moment they saw the face clearly, their knees buckled and they knelt down, shouting, "Your Majesty, may you be well!"

"Whoa!" Xiao Jingfan reined in Wu Shuang, his dark eyes seeming to be filled with flames, and coldly commanded, "All of you, raise your heads!"

The crowd did as instructed, raising their heads and exposing their faces to the emperor's gaze.

Xiao Jingfan looked at them one by one.

No, no, no...none of those! That woman isn't here!

His eyelids twitched, his expression grew even colder, and he asked the guard in charge of calling out names, "Among the palace maids released from the palace just now, was there one named Chu Liuzheng?"

The guard was startled when the emperor suddenly called his name and hurriedly looked down to search for it on the list.

Xiao Jingfan thought he was too slow, so he snatched the list and looked at it himself.

Chu Liuzheng was not among the crossed-out names.

She hadn't left the palace, and she wasn't in the queue either. Could it be that the woman hadn't reached this point yet?

There was only one road to Xihua Gate, and he rode his horse all the way there without seeing anyone.

He frowned and asked, "Are all the palace maids who were released from the palace today here?"

The guard replied, "Your Majesty, those queuing here are all palace maids who are 25 years of age or older according to the Yellow Register. Those under 25 should go through the Donghua Gate."

Donghua Gate!
With the list tossed aside, Xiao Jingfan turned his horse around and headed straight for Donghua Gate.

The number of palace servants queuing at Donghua Gate was not as large as at Xihua Gate, and they all looked very young, the oldest being only twenty-one or twenty-two. Some had been granted permission to leave the palace by their masters, while others had paid money to use connections to do so. Chu Liuzheng and Xia Qiaoru blended in without drawing attention.

The first step before leaving the palace was to verify the Yellow Register and the White Register. The Yellow Register recorded the palace maid's age, place of origin, and where she worked. The White Register recorded the rewards and punishments she had received, whether she had contracted any serious illnesses, etc. After verification, the registers were destroyed.

The second step was to go into the examination room to undress and be searched, even their hair buns had to be taken apart to see if they were carrying any secret palace items, and then they would change into the plain clothes they had prepared.

If you pass this step, you can simply line up in order and wait for the final verification of the Yellow Register when your name is called, and then you can leave the palace.

Within three days of leaving the palace, one must obtain a new official document from the government to regain freedom and have no further connection with the palace. Failure to do so in time will be considered a crime of desertion.

Chu Liuzheng and Xia Qiaoru passed the first two tests smoothly. With the care of Prince Rui, the nanny in the examination room did not make things difficult for them. She only did a simple search and then let them change their clothes.

Chu Liuzheng changed into the light red dress her mother had made for her, while Xia Qiaoru changed into a dress she had sewn herself.

The two arrived late and were at the very end of the line when their names were called. Xia Qiaoru was in front of Chu Liuzheng.

Both of them looked up at the palace gates so close at hand, their hearts already soaring beyond.

Xia Qiaoru turned to look at Chu Liuzheng and asked softly, "Did you notify your family to come and pick you up?"

Chu Liuzheng shook his head.

She had a bodyguard living next door, and to avoid the news leaking out, she didn't dare to inform her family.

Her plan was to immediately hire a carriage to the government office to change her travel documents after leaving the palace, regaining her freedom before returning home. Even if the secret guards saw her then, they couldn't arrest a law-abiding citizen like herself without cause. As for Xiao Jingfan's reaction… after not seeing him for over twenty days, Chu Liuzheng figured the emperor had probably forgotten about her. Even if he knew she had left the palace, he wouldn't do anything; he might even feel he'd gained something. After all, now that she was out of the palace, she wouldn't have another chance to meet the emperor, and the title was likely off the table.

Saving a title would be something a stingy tyrant would be happy to see.

Besides, the Empress just gave birth to a prince, and the Emperor is currently immersed in the joy of having a son. He might not even remember her.

No matter how Chu Liuzheng thought about it, she felt that her plan was perfect. As long as she stepped out of the palace gate, she would be free!
As the people in front of them left one by one, Xia Qiaoru's name was soon called.

Xia Qiaoru took the yellow book and handed it to the guard for verification. She turned to Chu Liuzheng and said, "I'll go out first and wait for you to come out. Then we'll go to the government office together to exchange the official documents."

"Okay." Chu Liuzheng replied with a smile, watching her carry her bundle and walk quickly toward Donghua Gate.

The intense sunlight cast a golden glow on her silhouette. Chu Liuzheng squinted, her bright almond-shaped eyes brimming with laughter.

[That's great! We can all leave the palace now!]

"Da da!"

The sound of galloping hooves drifted from afar.

Chu Liuzheng handed the yellow book to the guard while muttering to himself.

[Which spoiled brat is so idle as to dare ride a horse in the palace? Don't they know that there's a taboo surrounding the release of palace maids from the Donghua Gate today? If this gets back to the tyrant, they'll get at least forty strokes of the cane.]

"Verification passed, let's go." The guard crossed out the last name on the list and handed the yellow book back to Chu Liuzheng.

"Thank you." Chu Liuzheng smiled back and walked towards Donghua Gate with his bundle slung over his shoulder.

The palace maids lined up 30 meters away from the Donghua Gate, also to prevent anyone who had committed a crime from escaping when the palace gates were opened.

Chu Liuzheng happily strolled forward; if no one had been watching, she would have hopped along.

The sound of horses' hooves behind him grew louder and louder, and Chu Liuzheng became genuinely curious.

Which spoiled brat is it?

She wanted to look back, but there was a rule in the palace that palace maids who were released from the palace could only walk forward and were not allowed to look back.

Under the watchful eyes of the guards, she quietly opened the system and started browsing.

[Who is it... Holy crap! It's the tyrant!!!]

Chu Liuzheng felt a chill run down his neck and immediately grabbed his bundle, sprinting towards Donghua Gate.

【Aaaaaah!!! Why did the tyrant come?!】

Chu Liuzheng's feet were practically spitting fire.

Although theoretically the tyrant shouldn't be coming to arrest her, she couldn't afford to gamble!
What if?
Hearing the familiar voice in his ear, Xiao Jingfan's dark eyes lit up, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips. He spurred his horse, and the snow-white steed chased after the figure galloping towards Donghua Gate.

"Da da, da da, da da..."

The sound of horses' hooves grew closer and closer, as if it were right behind him.

Chu Liuzheng ran until his face turned red.

[Help!! Why did I just go for a walk?!]

(End of this chapter)