I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 9: Damn Imperial Power

The guards immediately dragged up a palace maid with her mouth gagged and hands tied.

Seeing that familiar face, Concubine Yun's heart skipped a beat, but her expression was even more puzzled, "What does Eunuch Zhou mean by this?"

Zhou Yuande took the handkerchief out of Xiulan's mouth.

"My Majesty, save me!" Tears flowed down her cheeks with clear marks of slaps, and Xiulan pleaded, "I am only doing things for you, my Majesty. It was you who asked me to put oleander in the beauty cream of Concubine Rong..."

"You bastard!" Concubine Yun interrupted angrily, "I have never seen you before. Everyone in the palace can testify to this. Who sent you to frame me?"

She looked at Zhou Yuande with just the right amount of indignation and grievance on her face.

"Eunuch Zhou, don't trust this lowly maid's words. I have always respected Sister Rong Guifei, how could I allow anyone to harm her? This lowly maid must have accepted benefits from others and deliberately framed me."

"Your Majesty will make your own judgment on whether it is a frame-up or not." Zhou Yuande winked at the guards, who blocked Xiulan's mouth again and dragged her away.

Zhou Yuande had a sneer on his face, and he leaned over to Concubine Yun and said, "Your Majesty has ordered me to help Wanyi move to the back hall. In the future, please ask Xu Wanyi to copy scriptures and worship Buddha in the Buddhist hall in the back hall, and pray for His Majesty and the Queen Mother."

"Wanyi?" Upon hearing this name, Xu Rushuang felt as if struck by lightning, with a look of shock and disbelief.

Not only was his rank demoted, but he also lost his title?
She swayed and fell onto the head maid, looking like she was about to faint.

Zhou Yuande snorted coldly: "Wanyi, be careful. If you get hurt or sick, how can you pray for His Majesty and the Queen Mother in the future?"

After these words were spoken, Xu Rushuang dared not faint.

Who knows if she really fainted, what will this damn eunuch say in front of His Majesty?
What if she was said to be dissatisfied with His Majesty, wouldn't she be sent directly to the cold palace, or even lose her life?

After clarifying the pros and cons, Xu Rushuang stood firm.

She smiled at Zhou Yuande, "I felt a little dizzy after the wind blew in the afternoon. I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Eunuch Zhou. How can I trouble you to do such a small thing as moving? Eunuch Zhou, just stay by the side and give instructions. Let the people in my palace do the moving."

She winked at the head maid Chunlian, who immediately stepped forward and handed Zhou Yuande a purse, "Thank you for taking this trip, eunuch. It's cold now. Please have a pot of hot tea."

Zhou Yuande didn't answer the call, but he didn't continue to make things difficult for Xu Rushuang. He let her own people move the things.

She sent the person away with a fake smile. After the person disappeared, Xu Rushuang returned to the back hall and threw a lot of things in anger.

Chunlian and others knelt on the ground, not daring to say a word.

"Dou Jingwan, you bitch!" Xu Rushuang smashed a vase and stared at the broken pieces of porcelain on the ground, saying angrily, "We'll see!"

"Chunlian!"

Chunlian immediately stood up, helped Xu Rushuang sit down on the couch, and comforted her softly: "Master, calm down and don't get sick from anger. The master will receive the news soon, and will certainly plead for you in front of His Majesty."

Xu Rushuang snorted softly, and her mood became more relaxed.

She said in a hateful voice: "Dou Bitch is always showing off in front of Your Majesty. She must have coaxed Your Majesty into not even giving me a chance to defend myself!"

"Your Majesty is angry now. When he calms down, he will definitely remember your kindness."

Chunlian poured a cup of hot tea and offered it: "Master, please be patient. The Queen Mother has always valued you more. You might as well copy two volumes of Buddhist scriptures and send them to the Queen Mother. First, it will show that you have listened to His Majesty's words, and second, it will also let His Majesty see your filial piety to the Queen Mother."

Xu Rushuang thought it made sense, and immediately ordered people to clean up the mess in the hall, spread out paper and ink, and stayed up all night to copy Buddhist scriptures.

On the other side, Chu Liuzheng and Xiao Xia Zi, who didn't know that the Imperial Concubine had taken the blame for them, stood at the door of the Ministry of Punishment for a while and saw Nanny Qian from the Huaqing Palace leading Xia Qiaoru out.

Xia Qiaoru looked pale and seemed to have no strength, so she had to be supported by two palace maids.

Seeing Chu Liuzheng and Xiao Xiazi waiting at the door, a smile immediately appeared on her face: "Liuzheng, Xiao Xiazi, you are here." Chu Liuzheng and Xiao Xiazi walked over quickly and took Xia Qiaoru from the two palace maids.

"Are you injured?"

Xia Qiaoru shook her head and gently squeezed Chu Liuzheng's hand.

Chu Liuzheng's heart trembled, realizing that he had said the wrong thing in his haste.

I am just too concerned. How can I ask these questions in front of the people in Huaqing Palace?

"Is this Miss Liu Zheng who served tea in front of the emperor?" Nanny Qian took the initiative to greet Chu Liu Zheng with a smile on her face.

"Hello, Madam." Chu Liuzheng bowed to her.

Nanny Qian turned sideways and returned a half-salute, her shrewd eyes scanning Chu Liuzheng.

Her manners are impeccable, but her face is far inferior to that of her master. How could she catch the eyes of His Majesty?
I heard that Your Majesty treats this person somewhat specially, but I guess it's just a rumor.

She felt more confident and her expression became more friendly. She looked at Xia Qiaoru and sighed softly.

"That lowly maidservant was cunning and caused Miss Qiaoru to suffer. The queen was also deceived by that lowly maidservant. After finding out the truth, she immediately ordered the old servant to take the girl out, fearing that the girl would suffer in there."

Xia Qiaoru bowed with reluctance and said softly, "Empress Rong is kind and merciful. I am grateful for your kindness."

——Dou Jingwan, the daughter of the Minister of War, was given the title “Rong” when she was promoted to Imperial Concubine last year.

[The victim has to thank the perpetrator, what a fucking imperial power! ]

Chu Liuzheng cursed inwardly, but with a hint of smile on his lips, he continued, "Everyone in the palace knows that Concubine Rong is a soft-hearted person. She has always been considerate of us servants and will definitely not let Qiaoru suffer this in vain."

Xiao Xiazi chimed in: "Yes, I often hear the imperial doctors say that."

Nanny Qian's smile froze. She was the one who said it, so why did she feel so awkward when the two of them praised her?

Are you asking her for something?

Nanny Qian glanced at Chu Liuzheng and thought she would take advantage of the opportunity to climb up, but she was so short-sighted. If she could close her eyes, wouldn't she be able to be the Queen's spy in front of His Majesty?

After some thought, Nanny Qian decided to go back and report to her queen before making any decision.

She took Xia Qiaoru's hand and patted it affectionately: "The Queen Mother thought of the suffering you had endured and gave you some nourishing things. I left in a hurry just now and forgot to take them. I will send someone to bring them to you later."

"If you feel uncomfortable, please ask the Imperial Physician Liu from the Imperial Hospital to take a look at you. The money for the medicine will be paid by Huaqing Palace. You have to take good care of yourself, young lady, and don't let the root of the disease develop."

[Tsk tsk, you are saying nice things, aren't you just trying to build a good reputation for Concubine Rong? You want people to praise Concubine Rong by giving her a few beatings and a few sweet dates? Haha, you are making it sound like Qiao Ru's entry into the Ministry of Punishment was not Concubine Rong's order! ]

Xia Qiaoru said obediently: "When I am well again, I will go to Huaqing Palace to kowtow to Concubine Rong and thank her for her kindness."

Seeing that the little palace maid was tactful, Nanny Qian was satisfied. She said a few more words of concern before taking her away.

Xiao Xia Zi quietly spat at her back, and together with Chu Liuzheng, helped Xia Qiaoru back to her residence.

"Xia Zi, you go back first. I'm here."

Xiao Xiazi was also thinking about her work in the pharmacy, so she prepared some hot water and left.

Xia Qiaoru worked in the pharmacy of the Imperial Hospital and lived in a six-person room.

Compared to the two-person room where Chu Liuzheng lives, this six-person room seems much more cramped.