Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 117: Tearing Off the Mask

Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Tearing Off the Mask

Duke of Jing Ci took a step forward, his cane discarded as well.

Xing Yu was taken aback and now sensed something amiss, slowly stepping in front of Zheng Nianru to guard her. Fu Dong and Nian Xia turned pale, their fear silencing their screams.

Zheng Nianru sighed inwardly. Her maids were indeed loyal, but they often failed her at critical moments, and cleverness or agility was even further from their grasp. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have repeatedly exposed her plans until things were beyond saving, forcing her to consider suicide as the only way out.

It wasn’t that Zheng Nianru disliked these girls. In fact, everyone who followed her ended up meeting a bad end. The only one left, Fu Dong, would probably not have many good days left after her death either.

What was the point in thinking about this now?

Seeing Zheng Nianru calm down in front of him, the Duke of Jing Ci thought, very good, this was the true face of this woman, wasn’t it?

"What do you want to do?" Nian Xia shouted loudly, her voice cracking, yet her mind refused to believe the old man intended to kill them.

Duke of Jing Ci sneered. In a matter of seconds, he had confirmed that this woman was definitely not as innocent and pure as she pretended to be in front of their Princely Heir.

Zheng Nianru had no desire to shout, especially with Xing Yu still there, whose capability she trusted. Besides, this old man had already crossed her several times.

"Commandery Princess, I’m sorry." Duke of Jing Ci struck out swiftly, his speed a stark contrast to his previously shambling gait and labored breathing. He mustered all his strength and was determined to die if necessary, just to eliminate the stumbling block in the Princely Heir’s path to glory.

Without thinking, Xing Yu raised both hands to block, but the moment she felt the old man’s force, her expression changed and she was involuntarily sent flying. Duke of Jing Ci had indeed underestimated Xing Yu’s strength, and after being blocked by this massive resistance, he also staggered, far from his prime.

Zheng Nianru’s dagger was already plunged deeply into Duke of Jing Ci’s chest.

Nian Xia quickly dragged Zheng Nianru toward the door and out.

"Help—," Fu Dong’s screams had already started when Xing Yu was sent flying, piercing through all the doors and windows like a shrill alarm.

But Nian Xia wasn’t as speedy as Duke of Jing Ci. Just as Zheng Nianru started to step out, a cold gust came sweeping across the doorway. Her dagger in hand, she lunged blindly, while Fu Dong, still screaming, clutched desperately at one of Duke of Jing Ci’s legs. Nian Xia kicked and shoved, only to be thrown aside by the old man’s quick movement.

Xing Yu rushed back, enduring the pain to try to hold back Duke of Jing Ci again. But all of this happened in the blink of an eye, so fast that even Nanmen Yu, who came flying at the sound of Fu Dong’s screams, was too late to intervene.

Duke of Jing Ci’s Short Sword was already thrusting towards Zheng Nianru’s fatal point. He had no intention of living this time and was prepared to die to awaken Nanmen Yu.

"Master—" Realizing what was happening, Nanmen Yu charged over, while Duke of Jing Ci’s sword had already stabbed at Zheng Nianru.

In that critical moment, a dark figure suddenly appeared, like a beam of light, and crashed into Duke of Jing Ci. Before anyone could react, the figure had taken Duke of Jing Ci with it, smashing through the tables and chairs inside the room and sending fragments flying toward the bed.

Crash—

Clatter— A deafening noise erupted, and before the baffled crowd could react, they saw the dark figure carrying Duke of Jing Ci smashing the room’s furnishings, including tables and chairs, hurtling toward the bed along with the debris.

Nian Xia, utterly terrified, clutched Zheng Nianru tightly, not even caring if she was pressing on a wound. Zheng Nianru felt no pain from the injury—her brush with death just now was nothing like suicide, completely different in every sense.

Zheng Nianru was still dazed until the dark figure slowly rose to its feet.

Nanmen Yu, who had burst through the door, stared dumbfounded at the scene before him, while Zheng Nianru was already slowly getting up from the ground.

The dark figure turned its gaze to Zheng Nianru, wearing a blank, innocent expression, unsure if it had done something wrong.

"Yin He?" Xing Yu was the first to recognize who the dark figure was. Dressed as a waiter with a cap wrapped around his head, his distinctive features were hidden; it was easy to overlook such a distinctive face without a closer look.

Zheng Nianru glanced at Duke of Jing Ci, who was tossed onto the bed like a broken doll, his body warped out of shape. Even at a distance, one could see the impact had disfigured him, one leg having fallen off the bed.

Zheng Nianru had no idea that Yin He’s collision possessed such destructive force, but Xing Yu had previously grabbed hold of Duke Jing Ci’s hand, which likely caused the duke’s arm to be brutally torn off.

Even from a distance, Zheng Nianru could smell the pungent stench of blood. Duke Jing Ci lay motionless on the bed, his chances of survival doubtful.

Zheng Nianru quickly assessed everything in front of her. Duke Jing Ci was likely already dead, and no matter the motive, it was her person who had killed Duke Jing Ci, and Yin He had been brought by her as well.

"Master?" As soon as Nanmen Yu entered the room, his first thought was of Zheng Nianru. But upon seeing her standing there, the situation with Duke Jing Ci abruptly confronted him.

Nanmen Yu was struck by the reality, somewhat unwilling to accept what was before his eyes.

What was worse, Zheng Nianru knew what this master meant to Nanmen Yu, holding a very important place in his heart.

So, damn it, no matter how hard she tried, she had ended up with the same outcome as in her previous life.

"Commandery Princess—"

"Commandery Princess—" Nian Xia anxiously supported Zheng Nianru.

It was only then that Nanmen Yu hastily turned around, as more people had already rushed over.

"Uncle Han—"

"Uncle Han—" Uncle Jingmen shouted, lunging towards Duke Jing Ci on the bed, unable to believe that in such a short span of time, "Who killed Uncle Han, who was it?"

Tan Zong’s gaze immediately fell on Zheng Nianru.

Zheng Nianru stood her ground, contending it wasn’t her—after all, the entire issue was Duke Jing Ci wanting to kill her.

Yin He was even more at a loss. He had just wanted to take a glimpse of Zheng Nianru, to protect her more than anything. Who were these people, and why did they want to kill her?

"Uncle Han, Uncle Han, how could you die—" Second Uncle Jing’s cries reverberated.

With a thud, Nanmen Yu knelt down. Although he did not know what had happened, he was starting to guess. The master had sent everyone away, likely with murderous intent. He should’ve suspected earlier; why did he leave?

Zheng Nianru strode out. As the murderer, it wasn’t appropriate for her to stay.

"You can’t leave—" Tan Zong spoke with an icy expression. Duke Jing Ci’s role was self-evident; with someone from Jingmen present, the Princely Heir’s status had an added layer of security.

Zheng Nianru looked up at Tan Zong with cold eyes, disbelieving that he was unaware of Duke Jing Ci’s intentions.

Zheng Nianru then turned her icy gaze to Nanmen Yu, showing no trace of a delicate desire to explain.

"Let her go—" Nanmen Yu said in a low voice, his eyes red with tears, it was all his fault, all...

"Princely Heir, it was her person...

"Princely Heir, Uncle Han’s death can’t be...

"Let her go—" Nanmen Yu shouted hysterically, interrupting everyone else’s words.

Without looking back, Zheng Nianru walked out the door, followed by Xing Yu, Nian Xia, and Fu Dong, limping along; Yin He panicked and rushed out after them in a flurry.

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