I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 446 Both Fierce and Vicious
Half a month later, King Xiao and his entourage returned to the capital. Chu Shangming and the other three went home first to report their safety, while King Xiao, Xie Hui, and others went to the palace to meet the emperor.

Xiao Jingfan summoned everyone to the Wenhua Hall.

Now that his status was different, Chu Liuzheng could not stay in the main hall to listen in, so he went to the side hall to wait and watch the live broadcast using the system.

[Oh ho, Prince Li is quite good at playing the victim and feigning innocence, but unfortunately, the tyrant doesn't fall for it. With the evidence of his crimes laid bare, no matter how much Prince Li cries, he can't remain a prince.]

She had just seen this place when she heard a commotion outside the hall.

Chen Xing ran out to see what was happening and returned to say, "His Majesty was furious. He demoted Prince Li to a commoner and placed him under house arrest for life. The entire Prince Li's household was exiled, including the Prince Li's wife."

[He actually survived.]

Chu Liuzheng was somewhat surprised, after all, what Prince Li had done was tantamount to rebellion. According to the emperor's temperament, he was only imprisoned and exiled, without any bloodshed, which was truly a show of mercy.

“His Highness Prince Xiao pleaded on his behalf,” Chen Xing said in a low voice, “which is why His Majesty changed his mind.”

That makes sense.

Chu Liuzheng forked a piece of watermelon and ate it before restarting the system.

After dealing with Prince Li, it's time to deal with the fourth prince of the Tatars. I wonder what the tyrant will do?

What will Xiao Jingfan do?

Of course, it's time to demand an explanation and hold them accountable.

As a prince of the Tatars, he dared to trespass into Dasheng without reporting his arrival, and even sent people to kidnap innocent people, causing trouble and trying to damage the friendly relations between Dasheng and Guiyun City. It is simply despicable. The Tatars must give Dasheng an explanation!
Huk himself was of little value to Xiao Jingfan. After a moment's thought, he ordered that Huk be temporarily imprisoned in the Dali Temple prison.

Xie Hui took the man to be detained.

The emperor was in a bad mood, so Prince Xiao naturally wouldn't stay any longer, lest he be conscripted by his younger brother as free labor again.

Kunqi pushed him out of the hall. King Xiao looked around. He hadn't seen Chu Liuzheng in the hall, so why was he not seen outside either? Had he gone elsewhere on business?
Zhou Yuande saw him out and noticed that he seemed to be looking for someone, so he considerately asked, "Does Your Highness have something to instruct you on?"

King Xiao smiled: "I brought some snacks for Liu Zheng. Why isn't she serving me? Is she ill?"

Zhou Yuande bowed and replied, "Your Highness may not know, but Miss Chu is currently accompanying you in the side hall."

The meaning of this statement couldn't be clearer.

King Xiao was slightly taken aback. That was it?
He asked in surprise, "Why haven't I heard any news?"

Zhou Yuande truthfully replied, "His Majesty has not yet promoted Miss Chu."

Not yet promoted?
King Xiao frowned briefly, but said nothing. He ordered Kunqi to hand the box containing the pastries to Zhou Yuande, who would then pass it on to Chu Liuzheng.

Zhou Yuande smiled and agreed, "His Majesty has already ordered people to renovate the Magnolia Palace. Your Highness must be tired from your journey, please go back and rest."

King Xiao nodded to him, and Kunqi pushed him away.

Zhou Yuande stood there watching the master and servant leave, and then had Xiao Anzi deliver the snacks to Chu Liuzheng.

A moment later, Chu Liuzheng received a large box of pastries.

She opened the box and found that the pastries were divided into two portions, one from King Xiao and the other from Chu Shangming.

She couldn't help but smile, a warm feeling washing over her.

Now that my elder brother has returned safely, I should mention to the tyrant the matter of bringing Mother and the others to the palace for a visit.

She pondered for a while, then took out some of the snacks and handed the rest to Siyue, telling her to share them with Moxiang and the others.

That night, a gentle breeze blew, and the temperature was much lower than during the day.

The stars twinkled in the sky, and the moon was only a faint crescent, as pale as a cloud. Many exquisitely designed lanterns had been added to the Imperial Garden.

A pair of figures, hand in hand, are taking their usual after-dinner stroll.

Zhou Yuande and the others followed at a distance, their footsteps so light they were almost inaudible.

"Your Majesty, I would like to see my family tomorrow." Chu Liuzheng tilted his head to look at the person beside him. "Is that convenient?"

She had intended to speak to the emperor that afternoon, but he had summoned his ministers to discuss state affairs and was busy until sunset. Only now did she finally have some free time.

"If you wish to see them, that's perfectly convenient," Xiao Jingfan said. "I will send someone to bring them into the palace tomorrow. You can wait in the side hall."

The next morning, a carriage slowly drove out of the palace gate and headed south of the city.

"Xin'er, is your brother up yet?"

Bai's shouts came from the kitchen in the backyard of the grocery store.

"No." Chu Yuxin tightened the red ribbon in her hair and skipped over to bang on her older brother's door, "Bang bang bang!"

"Big brother! Big brother! Get up! We'll be late for the Ministry of Revenue!"

A loud "bang" came from inside the house, like something heavy had fallen to the ground.

Chu Yuxin immediately turned her head and shouted towards the kitchen, "Mother, my eldest brother has fallen off the bed again!"

"It's good that you're awake." Bai Shi came out of the kitchen carrying a basin and called to her youngest daughter, "Hurry up and sit down to eat. You can open the shop and do business after you finish eating."

“Dad hasn’t come back from buying supplies yet, so don’t worry.” Chu Yuxin ran over and sat down, craning her neck to look at the basin. When she saw that it contained white porridge, her face immediately fell. “Why is it porridge? We agreed yesterday that we would have big wontons this morning.”

She had been waiting all night, and Bai Qi was here so early.

"What do you mean by wontons?" Bai placed the bowl of porridge in front of her, her eyes widening. "If you want some, make it yourself!"

"So fierce." Chu Yuxin muttered softly, her little mouth pouting so much it could hold an oil bottle.

"Why are you making that face so early in the morning?" Chu Shangming got ready, opened the door, patted his little sister on the head, and went to the well to fetch water to wash up.

Chu Yuxin glanced at Bai Shi, who was drinking porridge, got up and ran to her older brother, whispering a complaint: "Big brother, Mother has been really mean to me and Father lately."

"Did you make Mother angry?" Chu Shangming wrung out a handkerchief to wipe his face. The well water was cool and refreshing, very comfortable in the midsummer weather.

"No." Chu Yuxin puffed out her cheeks and chattered, "Mother keeps dreaming about my older sister lately. She keeps saying that my older sister has something going on in the palace. Since my older sister hasn't sent any letters home, Mother made Father go to the inn three times a day. The innkeeper got annoyed by all the questions."

"Is that all?" Chu Shangming hung the washcloth on the line and pulled his younger sister to eat. "His Highness Prince Xiao will also be visiting the Ministry of Revenue today. I'll ask him and find out. If Youmiao really has something to say, His Highness will definitely tell me."

Upon hearing this, Bai paused in her porridge-drinking motion and placed a piece of pickled vegetable into each of her eldest son's and youngest daughter's bowls. "Eat quickly. I'll go to the market to buy some meat later. We'll have wontons tomorrow."

"Really want to eat it?" Chu Yuxin tilted her head to look at her mother.

Bai: "Eat it or not, it's up to you."

"Eat!" Chu Yuxin grinned, deliberately trying to be charming, "My mother's wontons are the best!"

"You talk too much." Mrs. Bai glanced at her daughter. She knew she'd been short-tempered lately, but she was just worried, especially since her two children were always causing her trouble. She couldn't hold back any longer...

Thinking of this, she put another piece of pickled vegetables on her little girl's plate.

Chu Yuxin had no objections at this point and obediently buried her head in her food.

(End of this chapter)