I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 288 A Kind Heart

Under everyone's gaze, Chu Liuzheng stiffly reached out and hugged the little princess, then stared wide-eyed at her.

She's only ever held one baby this big in both of her lives—her own Xin'er—and that was many years ago. She doesn't dare touch her now.

It's so small and soft, what if it falls?

Princess Huirong was uncomfortable being held in such a stiff position. She wrapped her little arms around her neck, whimpering and squirming. It took her a while to find a comfortable spot and settle down. She then fiddled with the tassels on her buttons.

Seeing that she wasn't crying or making a fuss, Chu Liuzheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief and hugged her tighter.

Consort Shu wanted to bring her daughter back, but Yan Hui tugged at her sleeve and gently shook her head.

His Majesty's actions clearly indicate some dissatisfaction with his own concubine, and we must not rashly provoke him further.

Xiao Jingfan strode into the hall, and upon first glance at Consort Bao's strange headband, he couldn't help but take a second look.

Everyone then looked over as well.

Consort Bao was so ashamed and indignant that she reached out and grabbed her headscarf, afraid that it would fall off.

Consort Shu roused herself and reported softly, "Your Majesty, Consort Yu dug out a purse from the flower bed under the window. A young eunuch tried to run to Luomei Residence to report the news, but was caught by Granny Duan and confessed to identifying Consort Bao."

Consort Yu, enraged, dragged the young eunuch to Consort Bao's door to confront her. Consort Bao denied everything, and the two argued until they started fighting. In a moment of carelessness, Consort Yu accidentally pulled out a lock of Consort Bao's hair…

“It’s a wig,” Aidar interjected, shaking the wig in his hand as he did so.

Consort Shu readily agreed: "They pulled off the wig, and the two of them were arguing so fiercely that they were only separated by the time I arrived."

“I wasn’t making a fuss, she was,” Aidar explained. “I just held her down with one hand, I didn’t hit her, and she started crying and screaming.” It made her ears hurt.

Everyone: "..."

Try being pinned down like that yourself. Would you make a scene?
Dewdrop brought the tray forward for the emperor to inspect.

Everything in the purse had been taken out: two yellow talismans and a strand of hair. Blood was still dripping from the talismans, a sight that sent chills down one's spine.

[Wow, Bao Guiren is self-taught! His talisman drawing is so realistic he could pass for a wandering Taoist priest and swindle money.]

Chu Liuzheng turned slightly to the side to prevent the little princess from seeing anything she shouldn't and being frightened.

I also secretly opened the system and ate some melon seeds.

[Consort Shen's tactic is like Jiang Taigong fishing—fools take the bait. That naive, innocent princess with sorcery who single-handedly stole the fortune of the entire harem, hence the tyrant's exclusive favor—and people actually believe that nonsense? With that kind of intelligence, Consort Bao's sacrifice was well-deserved.]

Xiao Jingfan frowned slightly; this matter was actually related to Consort Shen.

He looked at Consort Bao: "Did you really have someone bury this purse in the flower bed?"

Consort Bao said weakly, "Your Majesty, please understand. I truly had no intention of harming Consort Shaoli. This talisman is not a bad thing; on the contrary, it has the effect of prolonging life and preserving youth. I was only trying to be kind."

"Kindness?" Aidar scoffed. "If it were truly out of kindness, why would it need to be done so secretly?"

“I…” Consort Bao couldn’t answer, and glared at her angrily.

"If this talisman is truly as miraculous as you claim, why don't you keep it for yourself?" Aidaar pointed to the items on the tray, his tone increasingly sarcastic. "With such a flawed explanation, do you think we're fools or His Majesty is..."

Before she could finish speaking, Wei Mingyu pulled her forcefully and continued, "The palace rules state that anyone who practices witchcraft in the inner palace shall be stripped of their rank and banished to the Cold Palace, never to leave again. If they have already taken a life, regardless of their rank, they shall be beaten to death."

[She recited the palace rules quite well; Granny Duan's teaching wasn't in vain.]

Chu Liuzheng looked at Consort Bao's pale face and secretly shook his head.

[Now you know fear? Where were you when you were drawing the talisman? And it was a talisman to cut off your offspring! Is this cursing the naive princess or the tyrant?] Wei Mingyu bowed to Xiao Jingfan: "Please make your judgment, Your Majesty."

"The ground is cold, why are you kneeling?" Xiao Jingfan's expression softened, and his voice became warmer. "Dewdrop, help your master up."

He looked at Bao Guiren: "As for you—"

"Your Majesty, I was just confused for a moment, I will never dare to do it again." Consort Bao hurriedly pleaded, "Please forgive me this time, Your Majesty."

She didn't want to go to that awful place, the Cold Palace.

Xiao Jingfan remained unmoved and coldly ordered, "Dispose of it according to palace rules."

Two old women stepped forward, gagged Consort Bao, and dragged her away, not giving her a chance to beg for mercy.

"Wait." Aidar caught up and stuffed the wig into Bao Guiren's arms.

Consort Bao glared at her fiercely.

If it weren't for that damned woman, how could my purse have been discovered?
Aidar smiled and waved to her: "Farewell."

Bao Guiren: "..."

After finally getting angry at Bao Guiren, Aidaer felt completely refreshed. She ran back into the palace, winked at Weiming Yujin, and said, "I've avenged you."

Wei Mingyu Jin felt helpless and amused. If she hadn't stopped this person, he would have publicly cursed the emperor as a fool.

Even if it was intentional, you shouldn't insult people like that.

The emperor was really fierce.

She never dared to speak to him when he came.

Xiao Jingfan looked at Wei Mingyujin and said gently, "You don't look well. Summon the imperial physician to take a look. I'll come to see you later."

Wei Mingyu nodded obediently.

Seeing this, everyone secretly thought that Shao Liyi was indeed very favored.

Consort Shu lowered her eyes, her heart filled with mixed emotions, when she suddenly heard Xiao Jingfan say, "I haven't been to Zhaoyang Palace for some time. Prepare to visit Zhaoyang Palace."

He took the little princess from Zhou Yuande and carried her out.

"Farewell to Your Majesty."

The imperial carriage stopped at the entrance of Zhaoyang Palace, and Xiao Jingfan carried his daughter down.

Consort Shu, who was in the sedan chair behind, was initially pleased that the emperor was willing to be close to the princess. Suddenly, she noticed that Physician Wu and Physician Zhuang were waiting at the door, as if they had been there for some time.

She frowned slightly, wondering if Xie Jieyu was up to her old tricks again.

Originally, Consort Xie was supposed to rest after breaking her arm, but that day she insisted on going to the Imperial Garden to watch the princess fly kites. As a result, she caught a cold and developed a fever when she returned.

This further aggravated her illness, alarming the Empress Dowager, who worried that she might develop a chronic condition and ordered her not to leave the Yihe Palace until she recovered.

In order to recover quickly, she summoned the imperial physicians every day, and it wouldn't be over until they had treated her three or four times a day.

Today, Qin Shu was also invited. Consort Shu thought that with the doctor Qin, who was said to have superb medical skills, there would be no need for Consort Xie to summon the imperial physician again and again. Unexpectedly, the imperial physician was summoned again.

But as the two imperial physicians bowed and greeted the emperor, Consort Shu realized she was wrong; these physicians were not summoned by Consort Xie, but by the emperor himself.

Xiao Jingfan coldly ordered, "The princess has had a poor appetite lately, perhaps she has come into contact with something unclean. Inspect everything the princess eats and uses, and do not miss anything."