I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 365 Get Out

【But Zhou Gonggong is here too, so I haven't been idle either.】

Chu Liuzheng inwardly grimaced, but outwardly obediently admitted his mistake.

As long as the truth isn't revealed, everything will be fine... Before this thought could even finish, Xiao Jingfan said, "Why were you being so stubborn with me in the kitchen just now? Taking advantage of my favor?"

Chu Liuzheng: ! ?
What makes you so arrogant?

What kind of pampering leads to what kind of arrogance?

Don't talk nonsense!

Seeing her silence, and the tension visibly etched on her hair, Xiao Jingfan frowned, his tone and expression darkening: "Speak!"

[Shut up! You don't want to hear the truth anyway.]

Chu Liuzheng felt utterly exhausted, as if she were facing a knife no matter what, and as she struggled to decide which knife would hurt less, she heard a question: "You really don't want to?"

Five seemingly random words sent a chill down Chu Liuzheng's spine, making him feel as if his soul had left his body.

I could almost hear the sound of the window paper tearing, which immediately gave me goosebumps.

Indeed, some things cannot be avoided simply by hiding.

But what does it mean to really not want to?

Does she really not want to live like this?

She was puzzled, but the knife that had been hanging over her head finally came down, and after the initial shock, she actually felt a sense of relief.

Now that the truth has been revealed, there's no point in pretending to be stupid anymore.

Well, the main problem is that I can't fool them.

Chu Liuzheng pinched his palm hard, then stood up and knelt down.

This action doesn't seem like it was voluntary.

Xiao Jingfan's face had turned completely cold. He had a feeling that Chu Liuzheng was about to say something infuriating, and not just in his mind.

“This humble servant is neither beautiful as Diao Chan nor talented as Zuo Fen. If I were to be placed in the Empress’s quarters, I fear it would impair Your Majesty’s ability to judge people. I am truly unworthy of Your Majesty’s favor.”

Chu Liuzheng held his breath, trying his best not to stutter due to nervousness.

"This servant only asks to serve Your Majesty diligently and abide by the palace rules. When I reach the age for which I am pardoned by the palace rules, I will be granted permission to return to my hometown. I have no other desires. I beg Your Majesty to grant my request."

She bowed down, touching her forehead to the ground in a submissive posture.

Zhou Yuande, who was guarding the door, did not hear any movement inside. Puzzled, he pressed his ear to the door to listen, but still heard nothing.

He couldn't help but wonder to himself, did it work out or not?
Just then, a servant brought hot water over. Zhou Yuande felt that the room didn't need hot water for the time being, so he waved his hand at them and ordered, "Send it to the bathhouse first."

The main courtyard's bathhouse was located in the west wing, and the servants carried the hot water in as instructed.

Chenxing skipped over, tilted her head to look at the tightly closed door, and leaned in to ask Eunuch Zhou in a low voice, "Are the Lord and Sister Liuzheng inside?"

Zhou Yuande nodded, and gave her a look that said, "Go somewhere cool and don't bother me."

Chenxing pouted and ran to find Siyue to see if the woman named Hongying had given in.

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Chu Liuzheng remained in the kowtow position, reliving the oppressive feeling he had when he first met the emperor.

No, it's even worse than before.

She wouldn't be surprised if she heard Xiao Jingfan order her to be dragged away and executed the next second.

Emperors are creatures who believe in the principle of "those who obey me prosper, those who defy me perish." To even have someone take a liking to you is a blessing beyond measure; not eagerly serving them is considered disrespectful, and daring to refuse is even more ungrateful. Furthermore, if you happen to encounter a foolish and incompetent emperor, it could even bring disaster upon your family. Thinking about his possible fate, Chu Liuzheng felt a little breathless.

[Sigh! This life should end here. With that tyrant's temper, how could he accept being rejected by a mere palace maid? I hope the tyrant will remember how diligently I served him in the past and give me a quick death.]

She lamented inwardly, trying to find a bittersweet moment.

At least the tyrant isn't a foolish ruler, so he probably won't harm his family.

[Rounding it up, Xiancheng can be considered my hometown, so being buried here can be considered a homecoming. I hope I can be reborn into a better family in my next life.]

Thinking of being reborn into a good family, Chu Liuzheng had a sudden inspiration and immediately made a sincere wish in his heart.

[Gods above, I have served you as a beast of burden in two lifetimes, enduring hardship and toil without complaint against heaven, earth, or my parents. Though I have not always done good, I have never committed any heinous acts. I only ask to exchange the remaining lifespan of this life for a chance to be born in Rome and live a life of wealth and honor in my next life! I beg you, gods, to grant my wish!]

She kowtowed silently in her heart, far more sincerely than she kowtowed to Xiao Jingfan.

Hearing this, Xiao Jingfan's pupils contracted sharply as he stared at Chu Liuzheng's round, bulging head.

He has been reborn twice!
No wonder this woman possesses such a divine object as a system.

He had never believed in reincarnation before, but now he couldn't help but wonder if the Meng Po soup had been diluted with too much water.

Chu Liuzheng had no idea how much her heartfelt words had shaken Xiao Jingfan, even altering his worldview. She earnestly made the same wish three times in her heart, making sure the gods wouldn't overlook her, before calmly awaiting her death.

But all I heard were three angry words: "Get out!"

【okay! 】

Chu Liuzheng didn't even dare to raise his head, and ran out the door as fast as he could, for fear that Xiao Jingfan would change his mind.

She doesn't want to die, she'd rather live one more day than die!
"boom!"

The sound of the door closing startled Zhou Yuande. He looked closely and saw that Chu Liuzheng had darted out like a rabbit with its tail burned off.

"You—" He tried to see something with his sharp eyes, but Chu Liuzheng ignored him and ran back to the east wing in one breath, slamming the door shut behind her. Exhausted, she slid down the door and collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

We survived a catastrophe.

My heart was beating wildly.

She stared blankly ahead, then suddenly remembered something and quickly clasped her hands together in a devout prayer: "Dear gods above, I am not in a hurry to be reincarnated. Please take back my wish for now!"

Just like when making a wish, she recited it three times and bowed in all directions.

After she finished praying, she collapsed again.

It's a good thing that she survived, but she can't be happy.

The saying goes, "A death sentence may be avoided, but a living punishment is hard to escape." The emperor was so angry; who knows how he will punish her?

After mentally reviewing all the torturous punishments in the palace, Chu Liuzheng successfully snapped out of his daze. Patting his chest, he murmured to himself, "Punishments always come to an end. At least I don't have to go to the harem anymore. That's good, that's good. Don't be afraid."

After sitting on the ground for an unknown amount of time, Chu Liuzheng finally regained some strength.

She propped herself up against the door, washed her face and combed her hair, intending to change out of the dress that smelled of cooking oil. But when she opened the suitcase containing her clothes, she froze.

The styles of clothing outside the palace are naturally different from those inside. These clothes were all prepared for her by Zhou Yuande at Xiao Jingfan's request after she left the palace. Although they were all ready-made clothes and could not be as well-fitting as tailor-made ones, they were all made of good materials and each piece was presentable.

Back then, she only thought the big boss was a good person and didn't think much of it, but now she can't bear to look at him.

【Chu Liuzheng, how could you be so stupid!】

She raised her hand and slapped her forehead hard, stared at the box of clothes for a while to calm herself down, and then took out the clothes that were kept at the bottom of the box and changed into them.

She was reluctant to wear the clothes her mother had made by hand, intending to save them for the day she left the palace to wear home. She had only brought them along as a precaution, but now they actually came in handy.

Thank you, Mother!