Chapter 430 Leaving the Palace
"Of course." Zhou Yuande didn't even bother to hit his apprentice with the whisk, and hurriedly took a step to catch up.
Xiao Jingfan walked quickly with a sullen face. He had decided to go back to Wenhua Palace, change into court robes, and then go find that woman. He couldn't be the only one upset.
"Your Majesty." Zhou Yuande ran a few steps quickly, his voice filled with anxiety.
Xiao Jingfan paused and turned to look at him, "What's the matter?"
Zhou Yuande saw the utter impatience in his eyes and was unsure whether he should tell the emperor about Chu Liuzheng and further upset him. But if he didn't tell the emperor and Chu Liuzheng was expelled from the palace, he couldn't ask the emperor to take back a good woman, could he?
That reputation won’t be good if it gets out!
"Your Majesty, I just received news that Miss Liu Zheng is on the list of those leaving the palace today. She should have already gone to Xihua Gate by now."
Xiao Jingfan:!!
That woman actually dared to leave!
He hurriedly ordered: "Bring the horses!"
The clatter of horse hooves approached Xihua Gate. Everyone was curious about who this person was, daring to ride a horse in the palace. They turned their heads to look, and the moment they saw the person's face clearly, their knees buckled and they knelt, shouting, "Your Majesty, may you be well!"
"Whoa!" Xiao Jingfan stopped Wu Shuang, his dark eyes seemed to fall into flames, and he ordered coldly, "Everyone raise your heads!"
Everyone looked up as instructed, exposing their faces to the emperor's gaze.
Xiao Jingfan looked at them one by one.
No, no, no... none of them! That woman is not here!
His eyelids twitched, his expression grew even colder, and he asked the guard in charge of roll call verification, "Among the palace maids just released, is there one named Chu Liuzheng?"
The guard was startled when the emperor suddenly called his name, and hurriedly looked down on the list.
Xiao Jingfan thought he was too slow, so he snatched the list and looked at it himself.
Chu Liuzheng was not among the names crossed out.
She hasn't left the palace, and she's not among the people in the queue. Could it be that the woman hasn't reached here yet?
But there was only one road to Xihuamen, and he rode all the way there without seeing anyone.
He frowned and asked, "Are all the palace maids released from the palace today here?"
The guard replied, "Your Majesty, those queuing here are palace maids aged 25 or above, as recorded in the Yellow Book. Those under 25 must go through the Donghua Gate."
Donghuamen!
Throwing the list aside, Xiao Jingfan turned his horse around and headed straight for Donghua Gate.
The number of palace servants queuing at Donghua Gate was no greater than at Xihua Gate. They all looked very young, the oldest being only twenty-one or twenty-two. Some had been granted leave by their masters, while others had paid their way out. Chu Liuzheng and Xia Qiaoru blended in unnoticeably.
The first step before leaving the palace was to check the Yellow Book and the White Book. The Yellow Book recorded the maid's age, place of origin, and where she worked. The White Book recorded any rewards or punishments she had received, whether she had contracted any serious illnesses, etc. After verification, it was destroyed.
The second step is to go into the physical examination room, undress and be searched, even the hair bun must be undone to see if there are any secret items of the palace hidden, and then change into the cloth clothes that you have prepared.
If you pass this step, you just need to line up in order and wait for your name to be called to check the yellow book one last time before you can leave the palace.
Within three days of leaving the palace, they must obtain a replacement certificate from the government, and from then on they would be considered free and no longer connected to the palace. If they failed to do so in time, they would be charged with desertion if discovered.
Chu Liuzheng and Xia Qiaoru passed the first two levels smoothly. With the care of King Rui, the nanny in the physical examination room did not make things difficult for them. She just gave them a simple search and let them change clothes.
Chu Liuzheng changed into the light red clothes that his mother had made for him, while Xia Qiaoru changed into the clothes she had sewn herself.
The two arrived late and were at the end of the line when their names were called. Xia Qiaoru was in front of Chu Liuzheng.
Both of them looked up at the palace gate that was so close, their hearts already flying away.
Xia Qiaoru turned around to look at Chu Liuzheng and asked quietly, "Have you notified your family to pick you up?"
Chu Liuzheng shook his head.
There was a secret guard living next door to her house, so she didn't dare inform her family to avoid the news leaking.
Her plan was to hire a car to go to the government office to exchange her official documents after leaving the palace, and then return home after regaining her freedom. Even if the secret guards saw her, they would not be able to arrest her, an innocent citizen, without reason.
As for Xiao Jingfan's reaction... after not seeing her for over twenty days, Chu Liuzheng felt that the emperor had probably forgotten about her. Even if he knew she had left the palace, it wouldn't matter. He might even feel that he had gained something. After all, now that she was out of the palace, she would never have the chance to see the emperor again, and the title issue was likely to be ruined.
A stingy tyrant would be happy to save a title.
Besides, the queen had just given birth to a little prince, and the emperor was currently immersed in the joy of having a prince, so he might not even remember her.
No matter how Chu Liuzheng thought about it, she felt that her plan was perfect. As long as she stepped out of the palace, she would be free!
Seeing the people in front of them leaving one by one, Xia Qiaoru's name was soon called.
Xia Qiaoru came forward with the yellow book and handed it to the guard for verification. She turned back to Chu Liuzheng and said, "I'll go out first. When you come out, we'll go to the government office together to exchange the certificate."
"Okay." Chu Liuzheng responded with a smile and watched her walk quickly towards Donghua Gate with her bag on her shoulder.
The warm sunlight gave her back a golden edge. Chu Liuzheng narrowed his eyes, and his bright almond-shaped eyes were filled with smiles.
【It’s great, we can all leave the palace now! 】
“Da da!”
The sound of galloping horses came from afar.
Chu Liuzheng handed the yellow book to the guard while muttering to himself.
What second-generation rich kid has the audacity to ride a horse in the palace? Don't you know that Donghua Gate needs to be cautious when letting the palace maids out today? If this gets to the tyrant's ears, he'll get at least forty lashes.
"Verification passed, let's go." The guard picked up the pen and crossed out the last name on the list, then handed the yellow book back to Chu Liuzheng.
"Thank you." Chu Liuzheng smiled back and walked towards Donghua Gate with his bag.
The palace maids lined up thirty meters away from Donghua Gate to prevent anyone who had committed a crime from taking the opportunity to escape by opening the palace gate.
Chu Liuzheng walked forward happily. If no one was watching, she would have wanted to jump with every step.
The sound of horse hooves behind him became louder and louder, and Chu Liuzheng was really curious.
[Which second-generation rich kid is this? ]
She wanted to look back, but there was a rule in the palace that palace maids who were released from the palace could only keep walking forward and were not allowed to look back.
Under the watchful eyes of the guards, she quietly opened the system and started looking through it.
[Who is this guy… Holy shit! It’s the tyrant!!!]
Chu Liuzheng felt a chill on the back of his neck and immediately grabbed his bag and ran towards Donghuamen.
[Ahhhhh!!! Why is the tyrant here?!]
Chu Liuzheng's feet were about to burst into flames.
Although theoretically the tyrant should not be here to arrest her, she cannot take the chance!
What if???
Hearing the familiar voice in his ears, Xiao Jingfan's dark eyes lit up, and a sneer curled up at the corner of his lips. He squeezed the horse's belly hard, and the four snow-white hooves of the steed chased after the figure running wildly towards Donghua Gate.
"Da da, da da, da da..."
The sound of horse hooves was getting closer and closer, as if it was right behind my head.
Chu Liuzheng's face turned red from running.
[Help! Why was I taking a walk just now?!?!]
(End of this chapter)
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