I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 518 Closing the Net
The palace maid waiting at the top of the stairs said, "Your Highness, just now Her Majesty saw Consort Zhu crying in the bamboo grove over there. She was a little worried, so she went to check on her and will be back in a little while."

"Understood." Princess Huirong nodded, took the initiative to invite Chu Liuzheng to sit down, and even ordered someone to serve tea. Her manners were impeccable, just like a little adult.

Chu Liuzheng found it amusing and was about to tease her when Yan Hui suddenly picked up the little princess and coaxed, "It's time, Princess, we should go back and take our medicine."

Upon hearing the words "drink medicine," Princess Huirong's face fell, and she strongly resisted, saying, "I won't drink it."

"You'll get better after taking the medicine." Yan Hui coaxed Chu Liuzheng while nodding to him, then carried Princess Huirong away.

Before long, the two palace maids waiting at the top of the stairs also left under the pretext of fetching tea and snacks.

Suddenly, only Chu Liuzheng's own people remained in the entire Bilan Pavilion. She leaned against the railing and looked into the distance. She could see the bamboo forest, but there wasn't a single ghost in sight.

[Tsk! Just as I expected.]

She lazily ordered, "Check what surprises await us in this Bilan Pavilion."

Siyue and Chenxing exchanged a glance, one checking the second floor and the other going up to the third floor to check.

As for the first floor, I briefly checked it when I went upstairs, and there was nothing unusual.

Soon, the surprise herself appeared before Chu Liuzheng.

Looking at the disheveled, flushed-cheeked, and utterly lewd young man in white, Chu Liuzheng's eyes twitched violently. "How come it's you?"

After striking a pose for a while, Yi Zhen realized it was someone she knew. "...You stole my lines."

Chu Liuzheng pointed to his abnormally red face, "Don't tell me you've been drugged with aphrodisiacs?"

Yi Zhen: "As you can see."

Chu Liuzheng: "..."

[Frog! I thought Consort Shu had some brilliant plan, but it's just the same old framing and slander. She's trying to pin the blame for causing chaos in the palace on me.]

She instructed Siyue to give Yizhen the antidote and asked, "How did you get infected?"

Yi Zhen waved his hand to indicate that he didn't need it. He was just acting like he was under the influence of an aphrodisiac, but in reality, with the system around, the aphrodisiac had no effect on him. He straightened his clothes and said while tying his belt, "The drug is in the wine."

Chu Liuzheng was speechless: "You knew that, yet you still drank it?"

Yi Zhen: "Bored?"

Chu Liuzheng: "..."

"The incense burning in the burner is 'love incense,' but the recipe has been changed. It tastes just like ordinary spices, so it's hard to detect. You'd better take an antidote." Yi Zhen finished dressing and looked outside, his interest piqued. "When are the adulterers coming?"

"It should be soon." Chu Liuzheng took the antidote handed to him by Siyue and swallowed it. He then watched Chenxing extinguish the incense burner with tea.

Yi Zhen was eager to try and discussed with her, "How should we act later?"

"What, you really want to get arrested?" Chu Liuzheng couldn't understand his thought process at all.

"I'm doing this to help you," Yi Zhen said confidently, "to see how much trust the emperor has in you."

"Thank you, but it's not necessary." After Chu Liuzheng finished speaking, he saw a large group of people coming this way, and the leader was none other than Xiao Jingfan.

"The Emperor is here." Yi Zhen whistled, and, not wanting to miss out on the fun, he ripped open his clothes again, revealing a large expanse of his fair chest. Then he ruffled his hair, and his face showed that bewildered, delirious expression, and he even gave Chu Liuzheng a flirtatious wink.

Holy crap! The Oscars owe you an award!

Chu Liuzheng was greatly shocked and amazed, feeling as if his eyes were about to go blind.

"Please stop this!" She covered her eyes, listening to hurried footsteps coming from the stairs, followed by the rustling of the beaded curtain. Turning her head, she saw that the emperor had arrived.

Not only the emperor, but also Zhou Yuande and his entourage came.

Upon seeing Yi Zhen's appearance, everyone gasped in shock, their eyes darting back and forth between the Emperor, Chu Liuzheng, and Yi Zhen... The Emperor's face was ashen. He strode over, grabbed the seated Chu Liuzheng, covered her eyes, and turned to scold Yi Zhen, "What kind of behavior is this, with your clothes disheveled? Put them on properly!"

Yi Zhen had imagined many possible reactions, but he never expected the emperor to react this way. He instantly felt extremely bored and obediently lowered his head to tidy his clothes.

Chu Liuzheng blinked, her long eyelashes brushing against Xiao Jingfan's palm.

Doesn't the tyrant suspect me at all?

She grabbed the large hand blocking her eyes, looked up, and asked as if she'd lost her mind, "Given this situation, don't you want to ask anything?"

[Looking at Brother Xiaoyao's smug expression, he really does look like someone who's had a failed affair.]

"What are you asking?" Xiao Jingfan said with a sour face, blocking her from looking at Yi Zhen. "I'm not stupid."

Chu Liuzheng: "..."

That makes perfect sense.

She smiled, her eyes crinkling, and pulled the emperor down by the neck in front of everyone, planting three kisses on his handsome face.

Such unrestrained behavior startled everyone, causing some to look up at the sky and others to look down at the ground, wishing they could go blind on the spot.

Only Yi Zhen remained calm, even remembering to complain: "Your Majesty, it was Consort Shu who sent someone to poison me and carry me here, intending to frame Miss Chu and me for causing trouble in the palace."

As soon as this statement came out, everyone was shocked.

With a cold face, Xiao Jingfan ordered Zhou Yuande to investigate and also sent someone to summon Consort Shu.

Chu Liuzheng clicked his tongue inwardly. It's been said that the emperor is using entrapment tactics; now it's time to reel him in.

Consort Shu came with Consort Zhu. The two entered to pay their respects, but the emperor did not call them to rise, so they had no choice but to kneel obediently.

"Why are you here?" Xiao Jingfan looked up, his scrutinizing gaze falling on Zhu Meiren like an icicle.

Consort Zhu's heart skipped a beat, and Consort Shu spoke up at the right moment: "Your Majesty, Sister Zhu came to speak with me. Hearing that Your Majesty had summoned her, she came with me."

Wow, they've even found witnesses!

Xiao Jingfan said, "Minister Yi accused you of sending someone to put aphrodisiacs in his wine, intending to frame him and the Chu family for causing trouble in the palace."

"Your Majesty, I am innocent!" Consort Shu immediately cried out, wanting to defend herself, but the Emperor waved his hand and said, "Think carefully before you speak. I want to hear the truth."

Consort Shu pursed her lips, her hands clenched tightly in her sleeves, and still said, "Your Majesty, I am innocent."

Sigh! They're all the same old stubborn fools who won't learn until they hit a brick wall.

Chu Liuzheng shook his head secretly.

[The tyrant gave her a chance, but Consort Shu thought he was bluffing her. The tyrant knows perfectly well what he's doing! Why isn't Consort Shu seizing the opportunity to confess? Does she really think the tyrant won't find out about her schemes? Don't let things get out of hand and uncover some old secrets... tsk tsk, her life might be in danger!]

An hour later, Zhou Yuande returned with the results.

With Yi Zhen's active cooperation, Zhou Yuande investigated all the details, from when Consort Shu sent someone to drug Yi Zhen's wine, to how the person was carried to Bilan Pavilion, to Yan Hui going back to invite Chu Liuzheng, and Princess Huirong appearing halfway to lead Chu Liuzheng to Bilan Pavilion... All these matters were covered with witnesses and physical evidence.

Xiao Jingfan stared coldly at Consort Shu, "What else do you have to say?"

Consort Shu: !!
They said that after taking that medicine, you wouldn't be able to speak or move, and your mind would be filled with that thing, and you wouldn't know anything else.

Did she buy counterfeit medicine?

Yi Zhen glanced at the Consort Shu, who was trying her best to remain calm, then bowed to the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, besides the matter of the drugging, Eunuch Zhou and I have also found out something else."

Bored as he may be, he wasn't the kind of coward who would stand up for himself when he was outmaneuvered.

Consort Shu was secretly startled. Other? What other?
(End of this chapter)