I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 512 Decides to Bear the Humiliation for a While

There were some things that Chu Liuzheng couldn't say outright, so he could only say tactfully, "Empress Dowager, why don't you summon the eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department to ask them some questions?"

Queen Mother:?
She glanced at Chu Liuzheng suspiciously and ordered someone to carry it out.

Chu Liuzheng continued drinking his tea. To be honest, the tea here at the Empress Dowager's place was really delicious.

Before long, Zhang An, the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department, arrived, knelt down and said, "This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesty be well."

"Get up and answer." The Empress Dowager waved her hand, and Zhang An quickly stood up and handed the thick book he was holding to Granny Zhao.

Granny Zhao presented it to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager glanced at Chu Liuzheng, then opened the booklet and began to read. As she looked, a strange expression appeared on her well-maintained face. She looked up at Chu Liuzheng, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

After thinking for a moment, she waved her hand and ordered all the servants in the hall to leave, leaving only Granny Zhao behind.

Siyue stood behind Chu Liuzheng without moving.

The Empress Dowager glanced at her, thinking that she was someone close to Chu Liuzheng and probably knew the truth, so she did not insist on letting her leave.

She pointed to the booklet in her hand and asked Chu Liuzheng, "My son... his hidden illness has not yet healed?"

Having shared a bed with the woman he loved for almost four years, yet not even once, the Empress Dowager couldn't think of any other reason besides an unresolved ailment.

Chu Liuzheng recalled the handicrafts he had made and truthfully replied, "The imperial physician said that His Majesty has fully recovered."

The Empress Dowager's eyes widened in surprise; she would rather believe it was a misdiagnosis by an incompetent doctor than accept this answer. She asked urgently, "But the imperial physicians are inaccurate?"

"Doctor Feng has also examined him." Chu Liuzheng, unaware that the Empress Dowager had already misunderstood the situation, truthfully replied, "Doctor Feng said that His Majesty's health is fine."

Queen Mother: "..."

Her vision blurred for a moment, unable to accept that her son had suddenly become a eunuch.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager seemed about to faint, Chu Liuzheng quickly instructed Siyue to go and check on her.

Thanks to the emergency treatment in the fourth month, the Empress Dowager didn't faint, but it would have been better if she had.

She was a perfectly healthy prince, yet he became a eunuch. No wonder he only wanted to stay with one woman and didn't even glance at the other women in the harem.

It's not that he doesn't want to, it's that he can't!

My son must be suffering terribly; I wonder how he's managed to get through these past few years.

Fortunately, there was someone who knew the truth by his side; no wonder the prince was willing to protect and pamper him.

Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager turned to look at Chu Liuzheng, as if she had suddenly aged ten years, and her trembling lips let out a sigh: "You've worked hard."

Chu Liuzheng: Huh?
What's so hard about her?
The Empress Dowager seems to have misunderstood something very serious.

The Empress Dowager, deeply affected, had no desire to keep Chu Liuzheng talking. She ordered Zhao Mama to escort her out and bestowed upon her many gifts.

Chu Liuzheng walked out of the Wanshou Palace, completely bewildered. She turned to look at the rewards on the tray.

Although it's unclear what the Empress Dowager misunderstood, it seems to be a good thing for her.
Upon hearing that the Empress Dowager not only did not punish Chu Liuzheng, but also rewarded him with many things, Consort Xie was so angry that she almost vomited blood and ran to find the Empress Dowager in tears.

Granny Zhao blocked the entrance to the bedchamber: "Your Highness Consort Xie, the Empress Dowager is not feeling well and has already gone to bed."

"I don't believe it! I want to see my aunt!" Consort Xie sobbed, clutching her handkerchief. "My aunt said she would avenge me, so why did she reward that vile woman and give her face? I..."

The tightly closed bedroom door was suddenly pulled open, revealing the Empress Dowager's gloomy and tired face.

Consort Xie, like a mouse seeing a cat, swallowed the rest of her words and, while crying, reached out to tug at the Empress Dowager's sleeve, "Aunt, you mustn't..."

"Get out!" Before she could finish speaking, the Empress Dowager slapped her hand away in annoyance and slammed the palace door shut.

Her fair hand quickly turned red. Consort Xie stood there, her eyes wide like a frog's, unable to believe that her own aunt would tell her to get out. "Your Majesty, please go back first." Granny Zhao glanced at the door of the bedchamber and sighed softly. "The Empress Dowager is in a bad mood. Please come back another day."

Consort Xie burst into tears, "Granny, does my aunt not like me anymore?"

"Your Highness, please don't overthink it." Granny Zhao ordered someone to escort her back, curtsied, and said, "This old servant must attend to the Empress Dowager, so I will not see Your Highness off."

Consort Xie bit her lip and, supported by two palace maids, left in shock and fear.

Meanwhile, Chu Liuzheng strolled to the Imperial Kitchen, packed two plates of fresh flower cakes in a food box, and carried them to the Wenhua Hall.

Although she didn't know what the Empress Dowager had misunderstood, she thought it best to talk to the Emperor first.

After hearing Chu Liuzheng's words, Xiao Jingfan suddenly felt that the flower cake in his mouth no longer tasted good.

No one knows a child better than their mother, and vice versa. Xiao Jingfan almost immediately understood what the Empress Dowager had misunderstood. His eye twitched; no wonder he had been sneezing incessantly and his right eyelid had been twitching—it was all because of this.

Chu Liuzheng broke open a flower cake, picked up the crispy crust that had fallen onto the plate, and ate it while saying, "I think the Empress Dowager has probably misunderstood."

Xiao Jingfan: "...You didn't explain?"

"Explain what?" Chu Liuzheng blinked. She had no idea what the Empress Dowager had misunderstood. How could she explain it?
Besides, judging from the rewards, it's clear that the Empress Dowager's misunderstanding is in her best interest, so why would she turn away the benefits?
Xiao Jingfan took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down...

Upon closer reflection, this is actually a good thing.

At least for the time being, his mother would not help those ministers urge him to select new concubines to enter the palace, nor would she have any objections to his exclusive favor towards Chu Liuzheng.

For the sake of the gamble, His Majesty the Emperor decided to endure the humiliation.

*
With the emperor's strong support, the tax reform proceeded relatively smoothly. Although there were some unpleasant incidents, they were all resolved by those in charge.

The Western Xia originally intended to take advantage of the chaos to gain some benefits, but Li Ze led the Xuanjia Army to fight them off. Seeing this, the surrounding smaller states dared not show their faces again.

On this day, the emperor suddenly proposed to offer sacrifices to Heaven at the court assembly. He and the people prayed to Heaven together at the Star-Picking Pavilion in the northwest corner of the capital, hoping that this year would bring favorable weather and abundant harvests, and that they would be spared from natural disasters.

The ministers couldn't help but wonder, "We just offered sacrifices to Heaven during the New Year, why do we need to offer sacrifices again? What if there are frequent disasters this year? Wouldn't that be a slap in the face to ourselves?"

A minister stepped forward and tactfully expressed this concern.

Some ministers also felt that the Zhaixing Pavilion had been unused for a long time, and if it were to be used for sacrificial rites to heaven, it would definitely need to be repaired, which would be another large expense.

Many ministers also supported this, believing that the emperor's move showed his concern for the people and would garner him praise.

After some discussion, the majority of the participants agreed.

The minority obeys the majority, and the emperor ordered the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to calculate an auspicious day. The day for the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven was set for the eighth day of the fifth month.

Chu Liuzheng asked curiously, "Your Majesty, why did you suddenly decide to offer sacrifices to Heaven?"

[Didn't the tyrant not believe in these things? Why waste money like this?]

Xiao Jingfan gave her a deep look, "You'll find out when the time comes."

Chu Liuzheng: ?

In the evening, the emperor went to the Chongshan Hall and stayed there for an hour. When he came out, he had a smile on his face, as if he had put a worry to rest.

At the emperor's command, the long-abandoned Zhaixing Pavilion was surrounded by a group of craftsmen, and the repairs were progressing well, with completion scheduled for April 26.

The Ministry of Works withdrew, and the Ministry of Rites took over, giving the Zhaixing Pavilion a fresh makeover inside and out, restoring its splendor.

Everything is ready, and we are just waiting for the eighth day of the fifth lunar month.

(End of this chapter)