I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 371 Chance Encounter
This voice sounds familiar.

Chu Liuzheng looked in the direction of the sound and saw a person with a light veil covering their face and beautiful eyes like water. It was none other than Huang Ting.

Seeing that she recognized her, Huang Ting smiled slightly: "I thought it looked like her when I saw her profile, but I didn't expect it to be you. What a coincidence."

Unfortunately, it's all been a shame that you've been with me all this way.

Chu Liuzheng smiled and said, "I came out to buy breakfast. Miss Huang, are you here to visit Xiancheng?"

"Mm." Huang Ting nodded gently. "I'm getting bored staying at home. Let's take advantage of the good weather and go out for a walk with Ying'er."

She glanced at the pile of food Chu Liuzheng had laid out on the table and offered, "I'll have the maid take it to you, Miss."

"I was just worried I wouldn't be able to carry it all, thank you." Chu Liuzheng handed some of the food to the maid who came forward, took the rest for herself, and said to the two of them, "It's not far ahead."

The maid was worried about leaving Huang Ting alone there, so Huang Ting said, "I'll go with you."

Seeing the two of them working together, Chu Liuzheng's eyes flickered slightly, wondering what else this Miss Huang would do.

The three of them headed to the Du residence.

On the way, Huang Ting took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Chu Liuzheng, subtly trying to find out their identities.

Having spent so long in the palace, how could Chu Liuzheng be so easily tricked into revealing information?

However, you can't say the truth, but you can just make up lies without thinking.
So, when they arrived at the Du residence, Chu Liuzheng had already fully explained Wang Shaoye's identity to Huang Ting.

The pampered young master of a wealthy family, unable to bear the discipline of his father and brothers, took advantage of the beautiful spring weather and led a group of people on a trip south to relax and unwind, returning home whenever they were done having fun.

He sounded like a typical idle and good-for-nothing playboy common in Beijing, but Huang Ting couldn't resist her preconceived notions and her own biased perspective, and still thought that Young Master Wang was excellent.

The maid noticed her sparkling eyes and suddenly asked Chu Liuzheng, "With someone as distinguished as Young Master Wang, I suppose his family has already arranged a marriage for him?"

The intention behind this question shouldn't be too obvious.

Chu Liuzheng's eyes darted around, and he was about to reply when Huang Ting shouted urgently, "Dong'er, don't be rude!"

If an unmarried girl inquires about another man's marriage without permission, even if it's her maid asking, people will only say she's being presumptuous.

"There are many rules in the families of the powerful and wealthy. If this gets back to Young Master Wang, what will he think of her?"

She was planning for the long term, not just for a fleeting feeling.

Dong'er pouted, looking somewhat aggrieved after being scolded by her young mistress.

Seeing that the girl had carried a lot of food for her, Chu Liuzheng spoke up to smooth things over and hinted that his young master not only had a wife but also concubines, so many that they could fill several tables for playing cards.

Whether she was being too subtle or Huang Ting didn't understand, Huang Ting didn't react much to it.

Dong'er was still quietly apologizing for her slip of the tongue, saying she would never dare to say such a thing again.

Huang Ting was annoyed, but she knew that Dong'er had asked the question for her sake, so she couldn't bear to punish her and only scolded her a couple of times before letting it go.

Chu Liuzheng ignored the dispute between the master and servant and beckoned the servants to come and get the food.

According to etiquette, she should have invited Huang Ting and her maid in for a cup of tea, since they had helped her. But Chu Liuzheng seemed to have forgotten, and only smiled at the two of them, standing with them at the door talking.

Huang Ting was anxious. She had followed him for so long and finally got this opportunity, but she was going back without even seeing Young Master Wang. She was somewhat unwilling.

But no matter how unwilling she was, she wasn't shameless enough to ask to come inside for a visit. Chu Liuzheng watched coldly, shaking his head inwardly.

It seems that Ms. Huang is determined to join the big family to play cards, and there's no way to persuade her otherwise.

After chatting for a while longer, Huang Ting finally said goodbye when they started making small talk: "Look at me, I got along so well with you, Miss, that I forgot the time. If I don't go back soon, Ying'er will worry. I'll be going now."

Chu Liuzheng politely saw her off for a couple of steps. Huang Ting said casually, "I've heard there's a Hundred Flowers Garden in the west of the city with beautiful scenery. I'd like to invite you to the garden tomorrow to enjoy the view and listen to music. Would you be so kind as to join me?"

[Tsk, this is quite a roundabout way.]

"Thank you for your kind offer, Miss, but unfortunately I cannot go." Chu Liuzheng sighed softly, her tone somewhat helpless. "Young Master heard that a magic troupe has come to Sishui Town and is quite skilled. He was just planning to go to Sishui Town to take a look after breakfast."

Huang Ting: "..."

She had just recovered from the bumpy journey, and now she had to leave again. Couldn't she stay in Xiancheng for a few more days?

"What a coincidence." Regardless of what she was thinking, her voice remained gentle and her eyes were smiling. "Ying'er loves excitement, and she'll definitely go see the magic troupe if she hears there's one. We might even run into each other in Sishui Town, and then I'll invite you to join me."

"Okay." Chu Liuzheng readily agreed, watching the two leave before turning around and going inside once they were out of sight.

Over here, Dong'er whispered, "Miss, judging from what Miss Chu said, that young master Wang already has a wife and concubines at home, so he is not a good man."

Huang Ting stared straight ahead, walking slowly without saying a word.

Her face was covered by a light veil, so her expression was not visible.

Looking at her, Dong'er thought that there were no outsiders present, and couldn't help but whisper to her, "Master loves you dearly, so he certainly wouldn't agree to let you marry such a playboy, and Madam wouldn't agree either."

Huang Ting: "I've met quite a few spoiled brats, but he doesn't seem like one."

Sensing something amiss in her tone, Dong'er quickly asked, "Miss, are we still going to Sishui Town?"

Huang Ting nodded without hesitation.

“Miss, there are countless handsome men in the world, not just him.” Dong’er didn’t know what kind of spell her mistress had fallen under; the man already had a wife and was still not willing to give up. She said anxiously, “Let’s go back to Tan City. Madam will surely find you someone even better…”

"Dong'er." Huang Ting suddenly stopped, turned around, her eyes burning. "Father always says that good things are always won by force. I want to give it a try."

She can divorce her wife and sell her concubine; as long as the young master Wang likes her, she has plenty of ways to get him to like her!

Dong'er: "..."

No, that young master Wang doesn't sound like a good person either!
Our young lady is beautiful and talented, and the family is wealthy enough to hire a son-in-law. Why should she go out of her way to suffer this humiliation?
But Huang Ting was clearly not listening to advice now, and Dong'er didn't want to upset her any further, so she had no choice but to go along with it and say, "Since you still want to go, why didn't you just tell that girl that we could go with them?"

Wouldn't that give me a chance to meet that young master Wang?

"It's not the right time." Huang Ting had indeed considered going with them, but quickly dismissed the idea.

Taking the initiative is one thing, but being eager is another. A woman should be more reserved; she didn't want to leave a bad impression on Young Master Wang.

Besides, how could Chu Liuzheng, a mere maid, possibly make such a decision?
Moreover… Huang Ting pursed her lips, a dark light flashing in her eyes.

Sishui Town isn't exactly a pleasant place. If Young Master Wang really goes there for sightseeing, the opportunity she's been waiting for will arrive. It would be more convenient if they didn't go together.

Dong'er had no idea what she was plotting. She frowned, worried about how to explain things to her husband and wife when she got back.