I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 472 Lovesickness
“I was punished, but my aunt didn’t punish that Chu woman. Isn’t that favoritism?” Xie Jieyu bit her lip. “My aunt always thinks I’m stupid and don’t know how to please my cousin. Now that Chu woman knows how to please my cousin, my aunt naturally likes her.”

Liuli and Chu Liuzheng were both imprisoned in Yihe Palace, and it was unclear why the Empress Dowager hadn't punished Chu Liuzheng. Now, hearing Xie Jieyu's words, she couldn't help but have some doubts. Could it be that the Empress Dowager really didn't care about her own concubine?
"See, you think the same way I do." Xie Jieyu looked at her, slowly loosening her clenched hand, a cold glint in her eyes. "Only when that little bitch dies will my cousin return to normal."

Liuli still felt it was inappropriate to act rashly. Even the Empress had suffered at the hands of that Chu family, let alone her own Lady. If things went well, all would be well, but what if things came to light… Liuli dared not think of the future and advised, “Your Majesty, you will be able to leave in a few days. Let’s wait…”

"Waiting for what?" Xie Jieyu interrupted her. "Waiting for His Majesty to forget me, or waiting for the Empress Dowager to forget me?"

Liuli: "But..." At least send someone to Wanshou Palace to ask first.

Xie Jieyu's eyes flashed sharply, "I can't order you around anymore?"

"This servant wouldn't dare." Liuli knelt down with a thud. "Please calm your anger, Your Highness. This servant will definitely handle things properly for Your Highness."

"Go out." Xie Jieyu waved her hand.

Liuli hurriedly got up and left the hall, glancing up at the sky.

Against the dark blue sky, the moon was hidden behind thick clouds, with only a few stars twinkling.

She sighed softly and walked out.

The next day was a rainy day.

When Chu Liuzheng woke up, the seat next to her was empty. She sat for a while, hugging her blanket, and the sound of rain pattering on the glazed tiles seeped in through the cracks in the window, making her yawn.

Just as she was about to go back to sleep, the dark curtains were lifted, and Chenxing poked her head in, grinning, "Sister's awake."

Chu Liuzheng yawned again and asked, "What time is it?"

"It's just past 9 AM." Chen Xing brought over the clothes. "His Majesty said that since it's raining, if you don't want to go out, you can stay in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. You can also have lunch there."

"What about Your Majesty?"

"The court assembly hasn't ended yet. His Majesty left a message that we should have lunch at the Hall of Mental Cultivation today." Chen Xing clapped his hands, and the palace servants filed in to serve Chu Liuzheng as he washed up.

Chu Liuzheng went from feeling uncomfortable at first to getting used to it now. While opening the system to browse the morning gossip, she skillfully cooperated and finished dressing up in no time.

She looked at herself in the mirror.

Not bad, pleasing to the eye.

Siyue brought in breakfast with his men, and Chu Liuzheng ate while continuing to browse gossip, multitasking with great skill.

[The gossip from Korea is as plentiful as ever! As expected of the princess, she's both physically and emotionally tormenting him. That's how you deal with scumbags who constantly throw women into the dark! Miss Zhu's fishpond is huge; she's even expanded into new businesses.]

[Tsk tsk, these two are having so much fun in Korea, are they not planning to go back to Dasheng?]

Chu Liuzheng continued scrolling down, and was startled by the news that came into view.

[Funny news! Gaochang and the Tatars have gone to war, which is different from the agreed time. Why did it happen earlier?]

She hurriedly searched for the reason.

[Heh, you useless flower butterfly, you couldn't even buy yourself a little time. Just as the tyrant said, you harbored treacherous intentions and weren't sincere in cooperating with Dasheng at all. The tyrant is definitely going to rip you off.]

[Battle situation... well, because we were prepared, although the Tatar attack was sudden, Gaochang is managing to hold out and should be able to hold out until Dasheng sends troops.]

[Let me check, the battle report is here... it should arrive in the capital this afternoon, so it won't delay things.]

Chu Liuzheng felt relieved and continued eating his breakfast.

In the afternoon, a report delivered by express messenger was presented to the emperor.

The emperor immediately summoned his ministers to discuss the matter.

The rain stopped, and a rainbow appeared in the sky. When Chu Liuzheng arrived, the main gate of the Wenhua Hall was tightly closed, indicating that the matter had not yet been discussed.

Eunuch Zhou was waiting at the door. When he saw her coming, he immediately greeted her with a smile and said softly, "His Majesty has summoned his ministers for a meeting. Miss, please go to the side hall to rest. I have ordered someone to prepare osmanthus honey according to your method. Please taste it and see if it tastes right. If it doesn't, have your servants make something else."

"Alright, thank you for your trouble, Eunuch." Chu Liuzheng turned and went to the side hall. She had just sat down when Moxiang brought her a cup of water mixed with osmanthus honey. "Try it quickly."

Chu Liuzheng took a sip as instructed, finding it sweet and warm, with the fragrance of osmanthus filling her mouth. She smiled and said, "Sister's cooking is as good as ever."

"Thanks to your recipe." Mo Xiang placed a plate of golden thread rolls and a plate of peeled pomegranates on the table. "I added a few kumquats in case you found it too sweet."

"Kumquats can relieve coughs and asthma, relieve depression and aid digestion. They're perfect for autumn weather," Chu Liuzheng said. "Sister is so thoughtful; this combination is better than my recipe."

"I dare not take credit; it was all taught by Doctor Qin," Mo Xiang said. "It's a pity that Doctor Qin is about to leave the palace."

Chu Liuzheng was startled: "The Li Palace?"

Jasmine asked in surprise, "You don't know?"

Chu Liuzheng shook his head.

She was so engrossed in analyzing the romantic relationship between Feng Jing and Qin Shu that she didn't pay attention to anything else.

She pulled Moxiang down to sit and asked, "Why is Doctor Qin suddenly leaving?"

"Doctor Qin came to the palace to exchange acupuncture techniques with Imperial Physician Wu. Now that the exchange is over, and since Doctor Qin's ambitions are not in becoming a royal physician, she will naturally leave sooner or later," Mo Xiang said. "Besides, Doctor Qin still has family members at home. She has been in the palace for almost half a year without going home, and she also wants to go back and visit them."

Chu Liuzheng asked, "When is she leaving?"

“It should be in the next day or two,” Mo Xiang said. “I caught a cold the other day and went to the Imperial Hospital to ask her to take a look at me. She said she was already packing her things. She’s taking all the medicinal herbs His Majesty gave her, as well as some odds and ends. It will take some time.”

Chu Liuzheng lowered his voice, "Does Doctor Feng know about this?"

Jasmine lowered her voice as well, "They probably don't know."

"Then I'll have to tell Dr. Feng."

Chu Liuzheng hurriedly led his men to the Imperial Hospital.

Feng Jing's residence was in Guangren Garden, not far from the Imperial Hospital. When Chu Liuzheng arrived, Feng Jing was taking Tang Ge'er to identify medicinal herbs in the courtyard.

Tang Ge'er smiled as soon as he saw Chu Liuzheng, his chubby little face pink and chubby, and called out in a soft voice, "Aunt Chu".

"Good boy." Chu Liuzheng gave him the snacks he had brought and asked Chen Xing to take him to swing on the swing under the tree next to them.

Feng Jing placed the medicine basket on the table, took a medicine pillow, and said, "Hold out your hand."

Chu Liuzheng raised his hand and placed it on the medicine pillow.

"Switch hands."

Chu Liuzheng switched hands.

Feng Jing glanced at her: "You're not injured or sick, why aren't you with His Majesty at this hour? What are you doing here?"

“I’m not sick, but you’ll be soon,” Chu Liuzheng said as he picked up the small teapot on the table and poured himself a cup of water.

Feng Jing: "When did you learn to read faces? What illness could I possibly have?"

"Lovesickness." Chu Liuzheng shook his head. "The kind that's incurable."

(End of this chapter)