Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 121 Stay

Chapter 121: Chapter 121 Stay

"We need to hurry—" Nanny Yun urged, giving Cang Er another look.

"Come with me, the palace gates are closing. If we don’t leave now, we’ll miss our chance," Cang Er said. Though not very familiar with the Loyal Warriors of the Wen Family, how could he dare refuse the Commandery Princess’s orders?

Yin He was reluctant but didn’t feel like he could refuse. He could tell that the Commandery Princess didn’t like him very much. As for why she didn’t, Yin He himself couldn’t articulate it. Perhaps, he couldn’t please the Commandery Princess as Fu Dong or Sister Nian Xia could. Moreover, because he had damaged his head in a fall, he was clumsy in his actions. In short, even he himself felt his status was quite miserable.

Just as Yin He reached the grand gates of Qishun Building, Xing Yu rushed over like a gust of wind, gasping for breath as she grabbed hold of Yin He.

"Thank goodness, thank goodness, I’ve just caught you."

"Xing Yu, you girl, what are you doing?" Nanny Yun, who had caught up, was panting hard. Hadn’t the Commandery Princess given instructions? What whims was this girl acting on now?

"Yin He, the Commandery Princess has summoned you inside," Xing Yu said impatiently, and in her panic, she let go of Yin He somewhat fearfully and pointed towards Qishun Building.

Filled with delight, Yin He immediately stood still. Even though they all said it was just a trip outside the palace for some errands, he always felt that once he went out, he wouldn’t be able to return.

Nanny Yun opened her mouth to say something but remained silent, knowing even if Xing Yu was acting on her own, she couldn’t use it as an excuse.

Yin He stood nervously in the spacious and comfortable side hall of Qishun Building. The hall connected directly to a veranda, and the square wooden doors were now all removed, leaving only the thin bamboo screens hanging down to half a person’s height. Outside the veranda, beautiful flowers swayed gently in the wind—pink, bright red, dark red, white, purple, light green—fluttering lazily and seductively, much like the woman lying askew on the Arhat bed inside the hall.

Unaccustomed to everyone’s gaze centered on him, Yin He looked down at the deep red wooden floor beneath his feet. The two-zhang-long planks used for making cabinets had a deep red, almost black color, and one could tell they were not ordinary just by sight—smooth and hard. Yet, there they were, spread across the ground, and the entire side hall was floored in such wood.

Yin He gazed at the floor and felt an awkwardness washing over him. Lifting his head slightly, he saw the nearest ebony wood short-legged tea table, with fresh fruit and delicate pastries casually placed upon it. Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, Yin He felt the eyes of Fu Dong, kneeling at the side of the tea table, and Nian Xia, sitting on the footstool of the Arhat bed, both staring at him.

Yin He became even more nervous, daring not to look around carelessly anymore. The furnishings of this side hall weren’t excessive, and even though Yin He had been there only once, he knew that lying on the single-plank Arhat bed in the center was Zheng Nianru; and beside her on a slanted couch was another person, dressed in light purple brocade silk, the edges rolled in bright purple. His face was fair and youthful, shining gorgeously like the flowers outside, privileged and well-cared-for.

The cold from a bucket of ice near Yin He began to encroach, causing him to involuntarily shuffle his feet. Then he heard the young man on the slanted couch sigh.

"Cousin, are you serious?" Zheng Haoyuan found the notion incredulous but didn’t dare question Zheng Nianru directly, scrutinizing the situation before speaking.

Zheng Nianru didn’t respond, somewhat disbelieving herself. Had she really saved someone extraordinary?

If she could enlist him for herself, would she then possess a highly formidable guard in the future?

"Yin He, what did the creature you saw look like?" Zheng Nianru pondered. Yin He hadn’t seen that creature before, so if he could describe it, it would serve as proof.

"The creature? It’s like a shadow that could flit through the air, very strong, with a body of only bones," Yin He spoke slowly, without a hint of hesitation. As his voice fell, the hall descended into silence, nobody speaking.

Yin He hesitated slightly. Had he said something wrong? Or was his description inaccurate?

"Not real bones but a person, flesh covering those bones, and those fingers..."

Zheng Nianru raised her hand; she didn’t want to hear about the monstrous aspects of that creature.

"So it was you who killed him with a stone?" Zheng Nianru said, making a motion as if holding a stone to smash the back of her own skull.

"Not there, it was here." Yin He pointed at his own forehead.

Zheng Haoyuan took a sharp intake of breath; at this point, disbelief was difficult.

"How did you do it?" Zheng Haoyuan found it unbelievable.

Yin He took a step forward, ready to grab Zheng Haoyuan’s clothes to demonstrate, but Zheng Haoyuan immediately shrank back.

"You don’t have to demonstrate, just say it." Zheng Haoyuan, having witnessed the prowess of Mage Yin He, was still feeling the aftereffects, even though he wasn’t currently carrying those poisonous items on him.

"All I need is something he has touched, and I can kill him with it." Yin He didn’t like the young man before him, not one bit, even feeling the urge to kill him outright, but circumstances suggested he couldn’t do so. A sense of fear permeated the air, seemingly emanating from him.

Zheng Nianru had never heard of such a miraculous method of murder, but the man before her had truly achieved it, prompting Zheng Nianru to examine Yin He with a degree of astonishment. Rather than fear, Zheng Nianru was contemplating whether such a person could be of use.

In the days that followed, when Zheng Nianru became the Empress Dowager, many eccentrics were recommended to her presence. In her view, no matter how terrifying the power, in her eyes, it was nothing more than a tool that could be used effectively.

"You may leave now. There’s no need to go out today; let Nanny Yun arrange a place for you to sleep," Zheng Nianru spoke, her thoughts primarily on resurrection. Hence, Zheng Nianru was somewhat disappointed, having hoped that someone with such abilities might possess even greater skills, which now seemed unlikely.

"Cousin intends to keep him?" Zheng Haoyuan asked uneasily. He had suggested that it would be better if that shadow had just died; why would his cousin guess at it? Having Yin He by his cousin’s side was like a fly buzzing in his heart.

One fly was chased away only to be replaced by another; moreover, this one was admitted by his own hand.

"Why not keep him?" Zheng Nianru turned her gaze to Zheng Haoyuan. Was it because your Mother Consort is looking for Mage Yin He?

Zheng Haoyuan averted her gaze, feeling guilty; he had no intention of tattling to his mother consort.

"I think he looks like he’s lost his mind," Zheng Haoyuan said earnestly.

"Actually, being foolish might not be entirely bad," Zheng Nianru pondered seriously. Fearing the times when he wasn’t foolish, it was almost impossible for her to acquire such a formidable guard. "Fu Gong, I remember you telling me that Mage Yin He’s spells are exceptionally powerful. Now, it seems he may be a fool, but apparently, he hasn’t lost his magic; he should be usable."

Zheng Haoyuan opened his mouth but couldn’t speak. Why had he bothered telling his cousin about Mage Yin He’s abilities? This fly was not only let in by himself but also pressed directly onto his own heart.

"For now, I can’t discern anything else." Zheng Haoyuan looked around, trying hard to find evidence that Mage Yin He wasn’t formidable. "Cousin, Mage Yin He has a peculiar status. Keeping him by your side might invite trouble. My mother consort is also searching for him, as are the people from Qiandao Temple. Given his capabilities, he might become a potential threat in the future. Wouldn’t it be better if..."

Zheng Nianru quirked an eyebrow. She had never noticed before how in tune Fu Gong’s thoughts were with her own. She shared the same belief—use him if he proved useful; otherwise, if someone else gets hold of him, he would become a weapon aimed at herself.

She had learned this lesson the hard way before.

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