I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 514 Performing a Stroke on the Spot
This sound, like a spark thrown into boiling oil, instantly ignited everyone in front of the Star-Picking Tower.

"Phoenix Maiden above! I beg you to bless my Great Sheng Dynasty with abundant harvests, favorable weather, and peace and prosperity!" The white-haired old man kowtowed repeatedly, tears streaming down his face.

"May the Phoenix Goddess appear! Bless my son to pass the imperial examination with flying colors and bring glory to our family!" The simply dressed woman held her young child, her forehead pressed tightly to the ground.

"Please, Phoenix Maiden, grant me your blessing and rid me of my illness! Let my father, who has been paralyzed for many years, stand up again!" A man's voice choked with sobs as he kowtowed repeatedly.

"Please, Phoenix Maiden, have mercy and grant my family a few acres of barren land with a good harvest, so that my whole family can have enough to eat and wear!"

"I beg the Phoenix Goddess to grant me a good marriage and help me find my ideal husband!"

"May the Phoenix Maiden bless my journey on this business trip, so that I may make a little money to support my wife and children!"

"Please, Phoenix Maiden, appear and save my terminally ill wife! I am willing to shorten my lifespan by ten years to bring her health!" The mournful cry was particularly piercing.

"Seeking the Phoenix Maiden..."

In an instant, a chorus of people knelt down. The excited people, like wheat fields blown down by a strong wind, prostrated themselves in layers from near to far, worshipping the woman beside the carriage with the utmost devotion.

This wave surged and spread rapidly. Not only ordinary people, but also civil and military officials in their official robes and their families, no longer had any restraint or hesitation. They all knelt down and kowtowed in shock and awe.

The entire world was filled with the rising and falling cries of prayer, some choked with sobs and others trembling.

Chu Liuzheng, who was worshipped by the crowd and regarded as a god: ? ? ? !!! !
[Holy crap! What the hell is going on?!]

She stood frozen in place, as if under a spell, like a frozen popsicle. Beneath her wide sleeves, her fingers were tightly curled, her nails almost digging into her palms.

[It's fake! I'm fake, folks! Those are all 3D projections!]

She tried her best to remain calm, but the corners of her lips twitched uncontrollably, as if she were about to have a stroke on the spot.

Praying to me is useless, absolutely useless! I have no magic, I can't heal, and I certainly can't ward off disasters!

[Oh Goddess! This will shorten your lifespan! This will definitely shorten your lifespan! Uncle, your beard is all white, stop kowtowing! Auntie, your forehead is all red from kowtowing, get up quickly!]

【Aaaaaah!! Help! My lifespan is definitely evaporating at the speed of light! Am I going to suddenly die on the spot?!】

[Father, Mother, what are you two doing getting involved?! Get up! I can't accept this bow from you! Is this some kind of divine punishment?! Oh no, I don't want to be struck by lightning!!]

[Brother Xiaoyao, you're always stirring up trouble! What's with this Phoenix Girl's script? Are you trying to kill me? Come out and clean this up! I don't have your talent for playing the charlatan!!]

[Stop praying! Please stop! If you keep praying, I'll have to perform an ascension on the spot!]

[Phoenix! Where's that phoenix? Come back and clean up this mess!]

[Help! Someone save me!!! Even a death scene isn't this terrifying!!! This is practically a massive human sacrifice!!!]

Chu Liuzheng felt as if his soul was screaming, and his toes had already dug out a whole capital city from inside his embroidered shoes.

【Ah, I have no choice but to use my ultimate move!】

She held her breath, her cheeks gradually turning red, and successfully suffocated herself under the watchful eyes of everyone.

Goodbye!

Let whoever wants to clean up this mess do it; I'm not going to play along!

"Ah!! Feng Nu has fainted!" The crowd exclaimed and pushed forward. The Imperial Guards tried their best to stop them. Just as they were about to break through the defenses, a figure in black walked over quickly, took the unconscious Chu Liuzheng from Chen Xing's hands, scooped him up by his knees, and carried him horizontally.

He glanced up and swept his gaze across the room. Under his cold, sharp gaze, everyone unconsciously stopped pushing and shoving.

Xiao Jingfan then carried Chu Liuzheng into the carriage.

A cold voice came from inside the carriage: "Return to the palace."

With the Imperial Guards clearing the way, the black carriage smoothly drove out of the crowd and headed towards the palace.

*
As the imperial carriage returned to the palace, the news that Chu Liuzheng was a phoenix maiden spread throughout the palace.

Upon hearing the report in Zhaoyang Palace, Consort Shu's hand trembled, and she mistakenly cut off the most beautiful peony on the branch.

She disregarded her heartache for the flowers and ordered the young eunuch to explain in detail.

The young eunuch only knew from hearsay that when the emperor offered sacrifices to heaven, a large phoenix flew out from Chu Liuzheng's body, attracting hundreds of birds, and many people saw it.

Upon hearing this, Consort Shu gripped the scissors tightly, her eyes darkening.

Is there any woman in this world more suited to be the mother of the nation than Feng Nu?

Maohua Palace also received the news.

Consort Chun did not believe that there really was a phoenix in this world, but the news was delivered to the palace by the Grand Tutor's wife, who claimed that everyone who went to participate in the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven had seen it. She described it so vividly that Consort Chun had no choice but to believe it.

"Your Majesty, what should we do now?" Qingyi paced back and forth anxiously. That Chu woman had inexplicably become some kind of Phoenix Maiden. With His Majesty's favor towards Chu woman, wouldn't Chu woman become Empress next?
"What's the rush?" Consort Chun stared at the half-finished bamboo painting and said calmly, "If Lady Chu is truly the Phoenix Maiden, who else but her deserves the Empress's position? If she is a fake Phoenix Maiden, the Empress's position is still hers for the taking."

Qingyi didn't understand. How could someone from the Chu family become empress, whether it was real or fake?

Consort Chun said, "If she is real, then today's performance can be considered a divine manifestation, and the Phoenix Maiden should naturally fall into the royal family. If she is fake, then today's performance must have been deliberately arranged. How many people in this world can put on such a grand show during His Majesty's sacrificial ceremony?"

After considering these words, Qingyi was startled and exclaimed in a low voice, "It's His Majesty!"

Consort Chun Zhao nodded. Who would dare to act so recklessly during the sacrificial ceremony if not authorized by the Emperor? Was it an attempt to rebel, or did they think their entire clan was too large?
Qingyi became even more anxious. His Majesty actually favored that Chu woman as Empress. Chu was just a peasant girl, inferior to her mistress in both talent, virtue, and appearance. She had been the sole favorite for several years but hadn't even given His Majesty a single child. Why was she so favored?

She couldn't help but feel indignant on behalf of Consort Chun, but Consort Chun was not as anxious as she was and was in the mood to continue painting.

Qingyi was so anxious she wanted to snatch her paintbrush. "Master, why aren't you worried at all? Hurry up and think of a way to deal with that Chu family!"
Seeing that she was sweating profusely, Consort Chun Zhao chuckled, "I've figured something out these past few days."

Qingyi: "What is it?"

Consort Chunzhao said nothing, but only instructed her to change the water.

Qingyi: "..."

*
Wanshou Palace.

Consort Xie hurriedly delivered the message, intending to ask the Empress Dowager for advice. However, the Empress Dowager sent someone to take her back and told her to stay at home and rest for the time being, without having to come to Wanshou Palace to pay her respects.

Consort Xie was stunned. Shouldn't her aunt be on her side to bring down that little bitch surnamed Chu? Things weren't going as she expected.

(End of this chapter)