Chapter 305

【Ah, surprise is coming! 】

Chu Liuzheng's eyes lit up and he looked towards the door.

I saw an indigo figure walking in.

The man was not tall and thin, with wheat-colored skin. He had eyes like stars under a pair of thick eyebrows, a straight nose, and naturally upturned corners of his lips. He looked very friendly.

[Wow, you're more handsome than I thought.]

Xiao Jingfan looked at the person who came for a few times, and inexplicably compared himself with him, thinking that this person's appearance was far inferior to his.

Hua Ting Ke lifted his robe and bowed: "Your Majesty, your humble servant greets you. Long live your Majesty."

"Stand up." Xiao Jingfan's expression was unusually friendly. "Please take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Hua Tingke stood up and suddenly found a burning gaze falling on him.

He turned his eyes and found that the person looking at him was a palace maid standing beside the dragon throne.

She has a complexion like jade, curved eyebrows, watery almond eyes, and a beautiful appearance.

Hua Tingke frowned slightly, confirming that he did not know this palace maid.

In fact, Chu Liuzheng had been watching very carefully, but he couldn't resist Hua Tingke's keen observation of others.

Although Hua Tingke was suspicious, he did not delve into it. He withdrew his gaze and sat down.

Chu Liuzheng continued to stare.

She was mainly looking at Huatingke's exposed neck, looking left and right, up and down, very seriously.

It was so serious that Huating Ke raised her hand to straighten her clothes a little uncomfortably, thinking that this palace maid was too bold. How could she stare at an official so bluntly?

"Ahem." Xiao Jingfan suddenly cleared his throat and tapped his fingers on the table. "Change the tea."

The palace maid serving tea in the palace today was Yuzhui, but she went to serve tea to Huating Ke, so the job of changing the tea fell on Chu Liuzheng.

Chu Liuzheng turned his gaze away, picked up the teacup on the table and walked out.

She deliberately walked past Hua Tingke, and couldn't help but look at Hua Tingke several times as she walked.

Huatingke frowned, thinking that this palace maid was so unruly.

Just as he was thinking about it, another pair of cold eyes fell on him.

Hua Tingke turned his head and met Xiao Jingfan's deep eyes.

Xiao Jingfan raised a faint smile. "I have read the memorial submitted by the Ministry of Personnel. Since you took office in Lancheng, your performance evaluations have all been excellent for the past three years. During last year's flood, you led the troops, braved the rain to build dikes, and protected the people in times of crisis. The people of Lancheng are blessed to have an official like you."

"As a county official, I should protect the people." Hua Tingke stood up and bowed. "I am only doing my duty. I do not deserve your praise."

Seeing him so humble and polite, without any arrogance, Xiao Jingfan's smile widened a bit, and he said kindly, "If I remember correctly, you are already twenty-six years old this year, and it seems you haven't got married yet?"

Hua Tingke nodded: "I have no intention of doing this."

Xiao Jingfan asked in confusion: "Why?"

Hua Tingke: "..."

Isn't it said that the emperor was decisive and focused on government affairs, never chatting with his ministers? Why are you still asking about this?

He glanced at the emperor and uttered five words: "Because I am not able to raise my head."

"puff--"

Li Yuwan was so frightened that she spat out all the tea she had just drunk, and her face turned red from choking.

Wang Qi patted her on the back while staring at Hua Tingke in astonishment.

Even though he was still young, he knew that it was not glorious not to raise a child. How could this person say it so frankly?

Is this the high-ranking official of the court?

Civil and military officials said that their reputation was damaged. Which good official would always talk about "impotence"?

Xiao Jingfan was also choked by Hua Tingke's shocking words and said with concern, "I will send the imperial physician to see you, my dear."

"No need for that. Thank you very much for your kindness, Your Majesty." Hua Tingke said expressionlessly, "My impotence is congenital and cannot be cured."

Chu Liuzheng, who was serving tea into the hall, happened to hear these words and slipped, almost dropping the tea on the tray.

Xiao Jingfan looked at her and said, "Did you hear that? This man is impotent."

Chu Liuzheng didn't understand the look at all. He just thought that he was thirsty, so he took two quick steps and put the teacup next to him.

At the same time, Yuzhui also placed the teacup on the table next to Ke's seat in the flower garden, and served two plates of snacks to the young man Wang Qi.

Wang Qi suddenly felt that the palace was really great, the food was delicious, and the snacks were delicious too.

While he was eating, he did not forget to pass a piece to Li Yuwan so that she could eat too.

Li Yuwan was not in the mood to eat snacks at the moment. She was afraid that Mr. Hua would say something and ask her to spit out the snacks.

How can someone speak of "impotence" so naturally?

She looked at Huating Ke Liting's profile, thinking about how the emperor had just praised him as a good official, but good officials don't do anything, and she inexplicably felt a little more sympathy for Huating Ke.

"My dear, you shouldn't be afraid to seek medical treatment. It's better to call the imperial physician to take a look." Xiao Jingfan picked up the teacup and said to Hua Tingke, "The ghost doctor's disciples are also in the palace. Perhaps they can cure your illness."

He was considerate enough to omit the word "impotent".

"I have searched for countless good doctors over the years, but I have long since given up hope." Hua Tingke sighed, his face gloomy. "I don't want to go through the same cycle of hope and disappointment again."

Now that things have come to this, it would be a bit unreasonable for Xiao Jingfan to ask the imperial physician to treat him.

He was just about to say a few words of comfort to put the matter behind him, but he heard a voice from his heart.

"Wow, you're quite good at making excuses. Of course, we can't call the imperial physician. If he takes my pulse, wouldn't my disguise be exposed?"

Chu Liuzheng still looked at Hua Tingke's neck.

How did they get this fake Adam's apple? It looks so real. Will it fall off if I pick at it?

Xiao Jingfan's hand trembled and he almost dropped the teacup on the ground.

Hua Tingke is actually a woman!

No wonder the secret guards didn't find any surprises after investigating. It turned out that they were searching in the wrong direction.

He raised his eyes to look at Hua Tingke and looked at him carefully.

Dasheng had a regulation that when entering the examination hall, not only would the items carried by the examinees be checked, but all examinees would also be required to enter the room in groups of ten and take off all their clothes to verify their identities. This was to prevent some women from reading too many popular stories and disguising themselves as men to take the imperial examinations.

If Huating Ke is really a woman, how did she get through the undressing stage?

Bribery? Disguise?

Xiao Jingfan frowned slightly, puzzled.

Chu Liuzheng knew.

Brother Hua was also unlucky. After years of studying, he finally passed the imperial examination and was appointed an official. However, he fell ill and died on the way to his new post.

Hua Hanyu and her brother are twins, a boy and a girl. They are about the same age and look about 70% alike. If they were to disguise themselves, they could look so much alike that people who don't know them wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Chu Liuzheng dug out the gossip he had read before.

[After their parents passed away at a young age, the Hua siblings depended on each other for survival, guarding the family property left by their parents and growing up safely under the care of loyal servants.]

Hua Hanyu was intelligent and clever, her talent and learning rivaling her brother's. She also had a strong personality and believed that women were no less capable than men. If it weren't for the court's regulations, she would have taken the examination and earned herself an official position.

Hua Hanyu was heartbroken upon her brother's passing, but she didn't want his efforts to go to waste. Furthermore, she harbored ambitions and was unwilling to be trapped in the confines of the inner courtyard simply because she was born a woman.

After giving her brother a proper burial, she took the imperial seal and, along with her loyal servant, rushed to Lancheng, disguising herself as a man and becoming the county magistrate.