I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 503 Let's divide the inheritance first.
"Hey! Wait!" Chu Liuzheng lunged forward to grab him. "Explain yourself before you leave!"

His hand grasped at empty air, and the swirling light transformed into a star, flying out of the main hall. Chu Liuzheng wanted to chase after it, but was blocked by an invisible barrier, and could only offer a friendly greeting to the immoral emperor who had cut the melon in half.

Deep within the data stream, a sphinx, entangled in a cocoon of data chains and dragged towards some unknown destination, let out a long sigh.

What a trick of fate.

He tried to exploit a loophole to bind himself to Xiao Qi in the system, but the system chose a more suitable person instead, causing the data stream to become disordered, which allowed Xiao Qi to hear the girl's thoughts.

By a twist of fate, the result was much better than he had expected.

If things continue this way, perhaps the prosperous kingdom can truly last for another hundred years, and he can finally pay off his debts in peace.

Thinking this, the Sphinx closed its eyes, its body enveloped in a colorful halo, like a drop of water merging into a massive data stream.

*
The Hall of Mental Cultivation, the sleeping quarters.

Behind the screen depicting fish playing among golden lotuses, the woman lay flat on the bed, her breathing intermittent, as if she would stop breathing at any moment.

Outside the screen, the imperial physicians knelt on the ground.

The emperor's face was somber, and his voice was as cold as a freezer. "I've had seven or eight bowls of medicine poured down my throat, my fingers are swollen from needling with acupuncture, I've been fumigated with vinegar, and rubbed with wine. Everything has been done according to your instructions, and now you're telling me you're powerless?"

Enraged, he waved his hand, and the teacup beside him smashed to pieces on the ground, startling everyone in the hall into kneeling down.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger." Despite the pressure, Imperial Physician Wu knelt at the front. "We have tried all the usual methods, but Miss Chu's illness is truly rare. We have searched through medical books but have not found a cure. For now, we beg Your Majesty to bring back Doctor Feng. Doctor Feng is skilled in treating difficult and complicated diseases and is quick-witted and clever. Perhaps he has a way to save Miss Chu."

"Do you need to tell me!" Xiao Jingfan glared at him coldly. He had already sent a message to Silver Sand Island by carrier pigeon, and also sent a message to Moon City just in case.

Dean Wu lowered his head, feeling glared at, and thought to himself that he was also actively trying to find a solution.

Chu Liuzheng's coma was so strange. He was alright for the first two days, just unresponsive and seemingly asleep. But things started to go wrong on the third day. His breathing became intermittent, scaring everyone half to death.

After that, he remained like that, breathing intermittently, as if playing a game. Anyone who didn't know better would think that Chu Liuzheng was deliberately playing a prank to scare people.

Xiao Jingfan was afraid that the next time he checked, he would find that the person on the bed was not breathing. He ordered people to move the memorials to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and did not dare to leave for even a moment.

The imperial physicians came and went, trying every method imaginable, but now it's the fourth day and Chu Liuzheng still hasn't woken up.

This situation reminded Mo Xiang and the others of the time when Chu Liuzheng hit the pillar, and they all prayed in their hearts that Chu Liuzheng would suddenly get better, just like that time.

The imperial physicians came too frequently, and the news could not be kept secret. Almost all the concubines in the harem knew that Chu Liuzheng had fallen into a coma, which was probably not good.

Some gloated, while others were worried.

The Empress Dowager sent Granny Zhao to visit. She wasn't worried about Chu Liuzheng, but rather about her own son being troubled by the situation.

Shao Liyi also brought Lu Zhu to visit, but she burst into tears as soon as she saw Chu Liuzheng, which gave Xiao Jingfan a headache. He sent someone to take her back.

Consort Shu and Consort Chun also arrived, but they were sent back by the Emperor before they could even enter the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Other concubines also came, but Zhou Yuande turned them away.

Rumors circulated in the palace that Chu Liuzheng was terminally ill and would not live more than three days.

The emperor was furious when he heard this and had five or six people who had deliberately spread the rumors beaten to death. Immediately, no one dared to discuss Chu Liuzheng's illness anymore.

On the sixth day after Chu Liuzheng fell into a coma, Yi Zhen returned to the palace.

He had originally planned to stay for two more days, even though someone was secretly monitoring... no, protecting him, it was still better than getting moldy in the palace. But the system told him that Chu Liuzheng was probably going to die. Considering that Chu Liuzheng had given him a fish, he decided to end his trip early and come back to check on things, just in case he could be of help.
Zhou Yuande strode into the hall and reported through the screen, "Your Majesty, Lord Yi is outside requesting an audience."

Xiao Jingfan paused in applying the medicine, thought for a moment, and said, "Please come in."

After several days of staying up late, his voice was not as clear as before, and it was a little hoarse. He carefully applied the medicine to each of Chu Liuzheng's fingers, wrapped them with gauze, and then skillfully tied a knot.

"It's been six days already, how long are you going to sleep?" He reached out and stroked the woman's delicate cheek, whispering, "Didn't you want to go to Moonlit Island? We'll go when you wake up, okay?"

No one answered.

The woman tilted her head slightly, sleeping soundly and obliviously, as if she would sleep like that forever.

At this moment, Yi Zhen's voice came from outside the screen, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty be well."

"Get up." Xiao Jingfan reached out and smoothed Chu Liuzheng's hair. He was about to ask Yi Zhen what he wanted when he suddenly noticed the person on the bed's eyelashes tremble and his eyes moved beneath his thin pink eyelids, as if he was about to wake up.

He immediately forgot to talk to Yi Zhen, staring intently at the person on the bed, even holding his breath unconsciously.

[Pah! Why does my mouth taste so bitter? Did the tyrant feed me some bitter melon while I was asleep?]

Chu Liuzheng smacked his lips, opened his eyes, and was caught off guard to meet a pair of eyes that were red from lack of sleep.

[Huh? The tyrant didn't stay up all night reviewing memorials last night, so why do his eyes look like he's been pulling all-nighters? Could it be that he's overused his eyes and gotten an infection? We need to find a royal physician to take a look right away.]

"Your Majesty..." Chu Liuzheng sat up, but before he could finish speaking, he was pulled into a tight embrace, the force so great that it seemed as if the embrace was being woven into his very bones.

Chu Liuzheng: ? ? ?

What triggered this tyrant?

"It hurts, loosen it." She patted the large hand that was wrapped around her waist, thinking, "If you want to strangle me, just say so!"
"You've been unconscious for six days." Xiao Jingfan loosened his grip slightly, buried his face in the crook of her neck, and inhaled the faint jasmine fragrance that seemed to emanate from her skin. His voice was low and sigh-like. "The Imperial Hospital has no way to help you."

Chu Liuzheng: !!!

[Holy crap! I only met with that scoundrel and talked for a bit, how did I end up unconscious for so long?]

Xiao Jingfan was startled. Had this woman met his father?
Where did you meet?
Is it the underworld or the heavenly court?

"Your Majesty, do I have some kind of terminal illness?" Chu Liuzheng poked Xiao Jingfan's back. "Don't hide it from me, I can bear it."

I've managed to save up a little money now, so if I really get a terminal illness, I'll have to divide up my inheritance first.

"...Can't you wish yourself well for once?" Xiao Jingfan released the person helplessly and ordered loudly, "Zhou Yuande, summon the imperial physician."

The two imperial physicians who were waiting in the side hall arrived first, followed by all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy. The physicians took turns examining Chu Liuzheng's pulse, observing, listening, questioning, and palpating, marveling at his abilities.

Chu Liuzheng felt like a monkey in a zoo. If the emperor hadn't been there to keep her in check, the imperial physicians would probably have dissected her to examine her.

In the end, the imperial physicians concluded, "Miss Chu is blessed with good fortune, and her health is no longer a problem."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingfan waved his hand, and the imperial physicians withdrew.

Zhou Yuande, being sensible, led everyone in the hall out.

Having come all this way and accomplished nothing, Yi Zhen felt a bit cheated. If he had known that Chu Liuzheng could wake up on his own, he would have stayed outside the palace for a few more days.

(End of this chapter)