I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 489 No If
When Yi Zhen entered the palace, he was still a commoner. After he came out, he became an unofficial member of the Imperial Observatory and was granted residence in the Chongshan Hall by the emperor, who ordered him to be treated with special favor.

Looking up at the plaque of Chongshan Hall, Yi Zhen silently lamented his freedom that was gone forever.

If we don't give the emperor what he wants, he'll probably die of old age in this palace.

The system, however, was celebrating wildly in his mind. Although things had deviated somewhat from expectations, if its host could really help Emperor Shunguang rectify the chaos, it could still gain some credit.

Congratulations! This is definitely worth having a couple of data-related snacks.

Meanwhile, Chu Liuzheng was debating whether or not to acknowledge his fellow townsman, who was also a time traveler.

[The tyrant has kept Yi Xiaoyao in the palace as an official, so shouldn't Yi Xiaoyao be considered an ally?]

Chu Liuzheng rolled around on the bed twice, wrapped in the blanket.

[Was what Yi Xiaoyao told that system true? Would the Empress Dowager really poison the tyrant for the sake of the Xie family? What kind of world am I reborn into? Is it some kind of overpowered protagonist story where he conquers the world?]

[Ugh, I hate that feeling of being halfway through eating gossip!!]

When Xiao Jingfan returned from his shower, he saw a little silkworm rolling around on the bed. He skillfully pulled the person out of the blanket, hugged them, and kissed them. "What are you thinking about?"

"Yi Xiaoyao." Chu Liuzheng buried her face in his bare chest. "Is he really some kind of master divination expert?"

Xiao Jingfan said, "He does have some skills."

"Can I ask him to tell my fortune?" Chu Liuzheng raised his head, a strand of hair falling on his eyelashes. "I want to have my elder brother's marriage fortune told."

Brother, may I borrow your marriage prospects?

Xiao Jingfan: "...It would be faster for you to find a matchmaker for your elder brother's marriage."

"Then I'll ask him to calculate the marriage between Doctor Feng and Doctor Qin," Chu Liuzheng said, "to see if there's a red thread connecting them, and whether they can eventually get married."

"You sure know how to worry about others." Xiao Jingfan flicked her forehead with his finger, then pulled her down into his arms, covered her with the blanket, and said, "Go to sleep."

In the darkness, Chu Liuzheng blinked and poked the emperor, saying, "We don't need to calculate ours."

After a long silence, just when Chu Liuzheng thought he had fallen asleep, Xiao Jingfan asked in a low voice, "Why?"

Chu Liuzheng: "Because I am magnanimous."

[I guess you could say I was forcibly taken from by a tyrant? Luckily, I'm optimistic, otherwise I would have definitely fought him to the death.]

It's a matter of life and death?

Xiao Jingfan thought to himself, "He's going to be the one who dies anyway."

He tightened his grip and asked, "What if it wasn't me?"

[Not a tyrant? Then it depends on looks and character. I've only seen Prince Rui and Prince Pingxuan whose looks rival those of a tyrant so far; I wonder if there are any others...]

As Chu Liuzheng was pondering this, she was suddenly bitten on the right cheek. She made a "Ugh" sound and her eyes widened: "What are you doing?"

How childish!

"My teeth itch." Xiao Jingfan gritted his teeth and asked again, "What if it weren't me?"

Chu Liuzheng thought for a moment, "Could we add some conditions?"

Xiao Jingfan raised an eyebrow, "For example?"

Chu Liuzheng began to list: "For example, how good-looking she is, how tall she is, whether she has money, whether she owns a house, whether her family background is clean, what her character is like, whether she has a good temper, what her special skills are, and... um!"

Before she could finish speaking, her mouth was covered.

The air is filled with the refreshing scent of mint.

[I'll have the Imperial Pharmacy research this sometime and make a peach-flavored tooth powder.]

When their lips were released, Chu Liuzheng was slightly out of breath and asked, "Do you still want to ask?" Xiao Jingfan hugged him tightly, feeling annoyed, deciding not to make things difficult for himself. After all, he was his now, and he would be in the future.

With the strong sound of a heartbeat in his ears, Chu Liuzheng leaned against the warm chest, and drowsiness gradually crept in.

[Tsk tsk, even tyrants can make foolish mistakes. There are no "what ifs" in this world.]

She could still assume she had never been to the palace, but what would that mean in reality?

The important thing is to live in the present moment.

Chu Liuzheng closed his eyes without any worries and went to sleep.

Hearing the person in his arms breathe evenly, Xiao Jingfan lowered his head and kissed her forehead, then closed his eyes and fell asleep while holding her.

*
After careful consideration in his sleep, Chu Liuzheng decided to remain still and see what Yi Zhen would do.

On the first day, Yi Zhen strolled around the palace.

The next day, Yi Zhen strolled around the palace.

On the third day, Yi Zhen was still strolling around the palace.

The fourth day, the fifth day, the sixth day... almost half a month passed, and Yi Zhen seemed to have had enough of wandering around. He finally stopped this behavior of wandering aimlessly in the palace and began to stay at home in Chongshan Hall, tinkering with some small items.

On this day, the sky was clear and the air was fresh. The emperor went out to inspect the troops stationed in the capital region. Chu Liuzheng did not go with him, but instead asked Chenxing and Siyue to go fishing at the Moon Pond.

The spring sun is not strong; it feels warm and comfortable on the skin.

The woman by the Moon Pond held a fishing rod in one hand and a piece of golden apricot in the other. Her delicate pink dress made her look just like a rose twining around a bamboo fence.

Yi Zhen raised his hand and threw two peanuts into the water, startling away the carp that was about to bite the hook.

The woman fishing looked up and ordered her maid to toss her a green rice dumpling for him to eat.

The green rice dumpling flew towards him like a ball. Yi Zhen couldn't dodge in time and was hit on the bridge of his nose. He immediately cried out "Ouch!" and almost cried out in pain.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose, stepped over, and complained, "It was just letting the fish live, but Miss Chu's temper is too much."

“There are six green rice dumplings in a plate, and I still have four left.” Chu Liuzheng grinned, his white teeth dazzling.

Yi Zhen, whose nose was still sore, said, "...I was wrong."

Since he admitted his mistake, Chu Liuzheng was not a petty person. Seeing that he was also holding a fishing rod, he asked, "Why doesn't Lord Yi go fishing in the Imperial Garden?"

Yi Zhen said, "The koi in the lake are too stupid; they bite at any bait they see. It's no fun." If he could choose, he would prefer to go fishing in a mountain gully.

Upon hearing this, Chu Liuzheng asked Chen Xing to bring him a small stool.

Yi Zhen didn't stand on ceremony. He sat down with a thud, skillfully baited the hook, and cast the rod out.

With a "pop," the bait, pulling the transparent fishing line, fell into the water.

Yi Zhen stared at the pole and said, "These days, I've heard many rumors in the palace."

"There are always a lot of rumors in the palace." Chu Liuzheng handed him a piece of dried apricot, which Yi Zhen took and tasted. "It's not as good as the ones Aunt Zhang makes on Beauty Island."

"Beauty Island?" Chu Liuzheng had never heard of this island before and asked curiously, "Is the island full of beauties?"

"You could say that," Yi Zhen said, chewing on apricot preserves, his voice slightly muffled, "but this beauty is not that beauty."

Chu Liuzheng: "What do you mean?"

“Beauty Island is a porcelain doll business. Even three-year-old children on the island can draw eyebrows and eyes on porcelain dolls. The island owner’s craftsmanship is also superb.” Yi Zhen glanced at her. “The so-called beauties refer to those porcelain dolls that are fired to be lifelike and vivid, both male and female, with a variety of postures.”

"I'll have to go see it when I have the chance." Chu Liuzheng smacked his lips. "Or let's talk about the rumors."

(End of this chapter)