I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 455 Let Me Prepare

The story of Chu Liuzheng causing a scene at Yihe Palace, hitting Xie Jieyu, and escaping unscathed spread throughout the harem. Also spreading was the news that the emperor had Chu Liuzheng sit in the main seat and the empress in the lower seat. Everyone suddenly had a new understanding of Chu Liuzheng's position in the emperor's heart.

Another batch of porcelain was replaced in the harem, and many people were waiting to see if the Empress Dowager would support Consort Xie.

Although the Empress Dowager usually doesn't interfere in palace affairs, she still protects her niece. Now that Chu Liuzheng is riding high on Consort Xie, the Empress Dowager can't possibly turn a blind eye.

The Empress Dowager did not pretend to be deaf and dumb; she sent someone to invite the Emperor that very day.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has sent someone to invite you to have dinner at the Wanshou Palace." As evening approached, Zhou Yuande entered to report.

Xiao Jingfan put down his pen, raised his hand to rub his aching brow, pondered for a moment, then turned to Chu Liuzheng, who was sitting to the side reading a travelogue, and said, "Let's have dinner at the Empress Dowager's palace."

Chu Liuzheng put down his book, pointed to himself, and asked, "Me too?"

Xiao Jingfan nodded.

Chu Liuzheng: "Can I not go?"

Xiao Jingfan: "Reason."

The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law has always been a major problem. I just caused such a scene in the harem, and it was against Consort Xie, who is from the Empress Dowager's family. It would be strange if the Empress Dowager liked me. I'm not going to go looking for trouble.

Chu Liuzheng made an excuse, "I have already promised Mother that I would go to Qingliang Palace to have dinner with her and Xin'er. Mother just woke up, and I want to spend more time with her."

Xiao Jingfan looked at her for a moment, then beckoned, "Come here."

Chu Liuzheng did as he was told and sat down beside him.

Xiao Jingfan reached out and put his arm around her, saying gently, "Mother is a reasonable person. We will have a long time to get to know each other in the future, so we can't keep avoiding each other forever."

He liked Chu Liuzheng and treated Chu Liuzheng's family well, so naturally he hoped that Chu Liuzheng would treat him the same way.

Chu Liuzheng knew she couldn't keep avoiding him. She thought for a moment, looked at the handsome, thin face in front of her, and said, "Let me prepare."

Xiao Jingfan asked curiously, "What are you preparing?"

Chu Liuzheng raised his hand and pinched his cheek, "Let you gain five pounds first."

[A niece is never as close as a son. The Empress Dowager has a motherly heart for the tyrant and always wants him to gain some weight. If I could do that, perhaps the Empress Dowager would find me more agreeable?]

Xiao Jingfan was speechless. Couldn't this woman think of some other way?

Chu Liuzheng could indeed think of other ways, but the Empress Dowager's current favorability towards her was estimated to be negative, so no matter how many methods she came up with, they wouldn't work. It would be faster to start with the Emperor.

In the end, Xiao Jingfan went to Wanshou Palace alone. It is unknown what he talked about with the Empress Dowager, but the Emperor's expression was not good when he came out.

Chu Liuzheng had no time to care about these things. When she arrived at Qingliang Palace, she found Chu Yuxin sitting on the steps outside, crying.

It wasn't the kind of loud, ear-splitting crying you usually hear; it was more like curling up in a ball, hugging your knees, sobbing and shedding tears.

"Xin'er." Chu Liuzheng hurried over, and Chu Yuxin rushed into her arms upon hearing the sound, hugging her waist tightly, her voice trembling with tears, "Sister."

"What's wrong?" Chu Liuzheng gently patted her back, looked up at the main hall, and asked with concern, "Did Mother faint again?"

"No." Chu Yuxin sniffed, raised her head, revealing two red and swollen eyes, "Sister Xuancao just served Mother her medicine, and Mother has fallen asleep."

Xuancao was a palace maid sent by the emperor to serve the mother and daughter. She was gentle and considerate, and got along well with both Bai Shi and Chu Yuxin. Today, she stayed in the palace to tidy up her things and did not go to the Imperial Garden. Otherwise, someone would not have taken the opportunity to let Bai Shi hear those unpleasant words, causing her old illness to flare up.

"Then why are you crying?" Chu Liuzheng found it strange and put her arm around her younger sister to sit down on the steps. "Who wronged you? Tell your older sister, and I'll teach him a lesson for you."

"It was Mother who scolded me." Chu Yuxin puffed out her cheeks, took the handkerchief Chu Liuzheng handed her to wipe her nose, and said in a very aggrieved tone.

Chu Liuzheng asked softly, "Why did Mother scold you?"

"I don't know." Chu Yuxin pouted and wiped her eyes. "My mother is unreasonable."

Chu Liuzheng took another handkerchief and wiped her eyes, saying, "There's always a reason why your mother scolds you. Did you do or say something that upset her?"

"No, I just want to make Mother happy." Chu Yuxin pouted. "I told Mother that after we move into the big house, she can be a rich lady, she won't have to do anything, she won't have to worry, she'll have good food and fun things to do, she can eat meat and snacks as she pleases, and every day will be like New Year's Day."

Chu Liuzheng listened and thought there was nothing wrong with it, so he asked, "And then?"

"Then my mother scolded me, calling me a heartless ingrate, and even threatened to hit me with a carrying pole..." Chu Yuxin became more and more aggrieved as she spoke, and tears fell again. "How am I heartless? I just wanted to make my mother happy, why did she scold me? What did I say wrong?"

She turned her head and asked earnestly, "Sister, did my parents pick me up from outside? Doesn't Mother want me anymore?"

"Silly girl, how could your mother not want you?" Chu Liuzheng understood the crux of the matter. She rubbed her little sister's head and smiled gently, "I saw you being carried out of the delivery room with my own eyes, and I even fed you your first bowl of rice porridge. You are definitely my own child."

Chu Yuxin felt a little better, rested her chin on her knees, and muttered, "Then why did Mother scold me?"

There's no need for children to worry about adult matters. Chu Liuzheng thought for a moment and said, "Mother is sick and dizzy when she sees anything. Wouldn't you feel bad if you were in her shoes? Would you be in a better mood?"

"I don't know." Chu Yuxin had never had this disease before, and muttered softly, "It must be uncomfortable, but I definitely won't curse people casually."

Chu Liuzheng chuckled, "Are you blaming your mother now?"

"No." Chu Yuxin shook her head. It wasn't that she was heartless; she remembered how good her mother had been to her. She was just upset because she had suddenly been scolded without even knowing why.

Now, after being comforted by her older sister, she felt it was nothing.

"Sister, I want to leave the palace." Chu Yuxin leaned against Chu Liuzheng's shoulder, her eyes looking at the twinkling stars in the sky. "Mother is unhappy in the palace, and I don't want Mother to be unhappy."

Seeing that she was in a better mood, Chu Liuzheng deliberately frowned and pretended to be pitiful, "Waaah, Xin'er only wants her mother and not her older sister, leaving me all alone in the palace. How cruel of her heart."

"I want my sister." Chu Yuxin hugged her anxiously. "Then...then I won't leave the palace. I'll stay in the palace with my sister."

Chu Liuzheng looked at her: "Then what about Mother?"

Chu Yuxin: "I'll accompany my mother too, so I can travel between the two places."

Chu Liuzheng chuckled and pinched her upturned nose. "Alright, I was just teasing you. Once Mother recovers, I'll send someone to escort you out of the palace. We can't leave Father alone at home."

"And what about my older sister?" Chu Yuxin looked up at her.

Chu Liuzheng hugged her and rubbed her gently, smiling as he said, "Of course I'll stay in the palace and enjoy the good life."

Chu Yuxin didn't move even though her hair was ruffled by her. She snuggled against her and asked in a muffled voice, "Are you happy, sister?"

(End of this chapter)