I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 492 Treasure Hunt
Chu Liuzheng also lost interest in fishing.

[Tsk, so many people died in the original timeline. Judging from what Brother Xiaoyao said, the Great Sheng Kingdom might have even been destroyed in the end. Tsk tsk, how tragic!]

[Which butterfly fairy is so amazing? I really want to worship her!]

She reviewed what Yi Zhen had just said in her mind, then beckoned to Chen Xing and Si Yue and asked with a smile, "Did you remember what I told Lord Yi just now?"

The two nodded.

Chen Xing said, "Lord Yi is quite particular about eating fish; he must be a gourmand."

Siyue said, "After hearing his description, I want to eat it too."

[So what those two heard really was a recipe! Brother Xiaoyao's system is amazing.]

Chu Liuzheng was relieved and smiled, "If you want to eat, just tell the imperial kitchen to make it. With me around, how could you possibly go hungry?"

"Then I'll run to the Imperial Kitchen later and ask Chef Qiao to cook it," Siyue said. "Today is Xiaxia's birthday, and we've been discussing with Sister Moxiang and the others about pooling our money to prepare a good meal for Xiaxia. This fish is what Sister Moxiang contributed."

She had forgotten about Chu Liuzheng if she hadn't mentioned it. She raised her hand and patted her forehead. "Look at my memory. I was just thinking about it a few days ago. I remember there's a pair of jadeite and gold-inlaid 'Fu' pendants in the storeroom. Could you take them to him and wish him a happy birthday?"

“Those jade pendants were designed by His Majesty himself. I’m afraid Xiazi wouldn’t dare accept such a generous gift from you, sister,” Chenxing said. “How about giving me those jade orchid buckles instead? They’re practical and not flashy. Xiazi would probably be happier with them.”

Chu Liu received so many rewards that he couldn't remember many of the small items. Hearing Chen Xing say this, he nodded and said, "Okay, remember to find a nice box to put them in."

"Leave it to me," Chen Xing replied with a smile.

Chu Liuzheng looked up at the sky and said, "It's getting late, let's go back."

What a fruitful day!

As night falls, starlight illuminates the dark blue night sky.

After dinner, Chu Liuzheng had a rattan chair brought out and lay down in the courtyard to look at the stars.

Not long after, Xiao Jingfan, who had finished his work, also came over and lay down on the rattan chair next to him to look at the stars together.

Two rattan chairs rocked back and forth, and the fresh aroma of melons and fruits wafted from the small table in the middle.

[The Empress Dowager will later sacrifice the tyrant to promote a prince with Xie family blood to the throne, even poisoning him. If the tyrant keeps his bet, Consort Xie will never be able to give birth to a prince.]

[But the Empress Dowager still has the eldest prince, born to the Empress, by her side. Now that the Duke of Zhong's mansion has fallen, it can no longer provide assistance to the eldest prince in court. He will surely rely on the Xie family, wouldn't that put the situation back where there is a prince?]

Chu Liuzheng idly waved his round fan, trying to sort out his thoughts.

[Now the tyrant respects his adoptive mother, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager genuinely loves her adopted son, the tyrant. It's unknown what happened during those ten years or so that this close mother-son relationship deteriorated to the point where one side wanted the other dead.]

[Hmm... To prevent this tragedy, we must cut it off at its source. We can't let the Empress Dowager raise a prince, thus depriving the Xie family of any hope. That way, we shouldn't see a tyrant in a fit of rage wipe out the entire Xie family, and then cause the Empress Dowager to die of anger, right?]

Lost in her own thoughts, she didn't notice the unusual silence of the emperor beside her.

The words of the heart entered his ears and his heart. In fact, Xiao Jingfan already knew last night that his beloved mother, who would coax him to take his medicine, patiently pat him to sleep, and softly tell him stories, would one day, several years later, poison him.

His eyes were half-closed, and an invisible chill, like an icicle, pierced his blood vessels along with his thoughts, flowing to his heart and drilling a small hole at the tip of his heart that let in the cold wind.

There were gusts of cold wind.

A night breeze was blowing.

The night breeze ruffled my hair, carrying a wisp of peach blossom fragrance.

Chu Liuzheng's nose twitched as she suddenly remembered a piece of gossip she had seen before dinner. She turned to the emperor, her eyes crinkling with a smile, "Your Majesty, I've heard that there's a peach grove behind Xiangguo Temple, and it's currently in full bloom, with peach blossoms covering the entire mountain. Since we have a day off tomorrow and don't have to attend court, let's go out for a spring outing."

The starlight falling into her eyes seemed to transform into stars themselves. The woman's almond-shaped eyes shone like stars, radiating a warm and gentle light.

Xiao Jingfan looked up for a long time, then smiled faintly and replied softly, "Okay."
In the warm spring of March, the flowers are in full bloom and tourists flock to the area.

A carriage slowly drove out of the palace and headed towards Xiangguo Temple.

Behind Xiangguo Temple, peach trees are in full bloom, their pink petals dancing in the wind, creating a scene of breathtaking beauty.

[I remember the system said it was here, why isn't it here?]

Chu Liuzheng, lifting her skirt, strolled through the peach blossom grove. With almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, her slender figure was outlined in a light green spring dress, which was elegant and graceful, attracting countless gazes.

Xiao Jingfan frowned slightly, took two quick steps to take her hand, reached out to remove a peach petal from her hair, and gently reminded her, "Walk slowly and watch your step."

“Okay.” Chu Liuzheng grabbed his hand and pointed to a less crowded area. “I think the flowers over there are even better. Let’s go take a look.”

Xiao Jingfan let her lead him, coldly glancing at those who had dared to show covetousness earlier, which frightened several young masters into turning pale.

[Stones, markers—this seems to be the place.]

Chu Liuzheng stomped his foot on the ground and commanded the two guards, "Dig."

Xiao Jingfan asked in confusion, "Dig for what?"

“I had a dream during my afternoon nap yesterday,” Chu Liuzheng said, pointing to the ground beneath his feet. “There’s treasure here.”

Xiao Jingfan chuckled: "So you want me... cough, to take you out for a spring outing?"

"correct."

[A lack of enthusiasm for treasure hunting indicates a problem with one's mindset.]

Chu Liuzheng pulled him to sit down on a large rock nearby, watching the guards dig for treasure.

Zhou Yuande handed over the water pouch, which Xiao Jingfan took and drank a couple of sips, noticing a slightly bitter taste. He forced it down and glared at Zhou Yuande.

Eunuch Zhou was wronged.

"Don't glare at me, it was my order. Leave the lotus seeds whole, boil them in water to cool the heart." Chu Liuzheng took the water pouch, took a sip, and tasted it. "It's alright, sweet."

Xiao Jingfan stared at the water pouch, suspecting that Chu Liuzheng had a problem with his sense of taste.

“The imperial physician said this morning when he came to check your pulse that you have a lot of internal heat.” Chu Liuzheng handed the water pouch back, staring at him. “I had it specially boiled.”

She emphasized the word "deliberately".

What else can Xiao Jingfan do?
He reached out and took the water pouch, then drank two mouthfuls.

It seems... to be sweet?

His Majesty the Emperor was unsure, so he decided to take two more sips.

"It really comes down to one thing over another," Zhou Yuande secretly gave Chu Liuzheng a thumbs up.

The guards dug down more than four feet before they found anything.

Lu Fei jumped down and soon came back up carrying a small, well-wrapped box.

The box, made of sandalwood, was very heavy and had a copper lock hanging on it.

Everyone looked at the box and then at Chu Liuzheng. There really was treasure inside. Why didn't the God of Wealth appear in their dreams?

Chu Liuzheng grinned. This was the entire fortune that a certain fellow had accumulated over most of his life.

(End of this chapter)