Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 134 Yin He’s Attempt

Chapter 134: Chapter 134 Yin He’s Attempt

The heat began to intensify, and the coolness of early summer mornings was gradually swallowed by the rising sun.

In the wide and narrow corridors of the Imperial Palace, little eunuchs, carrying wooden buckets, busied themselves. They kept pouring freshly drawn, icy well-water over the stone stairways and brick paths, which had been permeated by the heat. The freshly poured water quickly seeped into the parched paths, and a hint of coolness, shining with the morning light, twinkled in the air.

Small-scale renovations and decorations at Xingqing Hall had been gradually underway since last month, as the emperor’s illness showed little improvement. Moreover, a sudden rainstorm at the beginning of summer had left Empress Dowager Yan Ping feeling unwell for several days, and even today, she didn’t quite feel spirited. Noble Consort Wen wanted to use the Empress Dowager’s birthday to uplift the somber mood throughout the Imperial Palace.

However, due to the death of the Second Prince, Empress Dowager Yan Ping did not want to make grand preparations, agreeing only to the court officials’ birthday felicitations and a combined palace banquet.

Such festivity did not extend to the remote corners of the Imperial Palace; hidden behind a whole expanse of lake gardens, Qishun Building seemed almost forgotten by the palace, its corners concealed by lush trees.

Early in the morning inside Qishun Building, two narrow Arhat beds were set up, cushioned with soft pads topped with transparent, cool water buffalo horn mats. The craftsmanship of lake boats was involved, where the water buffalo horns were soaked in medicine to soften, then cut into strips resembling bamboo mats. These horn mats were naturally cooling, soft in texture, and more importantly, beautiful.

The ice blocks under the corridor were placed a bit farther away because it was early morning and the heat had not fully set in. Nanny Yun didn’t dare to use ice, but since the two masters under the eave insisted on it, she had it brought over.

"Cousin, what do you think of this fabric?" Zheng Haoyuan was adept at pleasing others, and because of the hot weather and Noble Consort Wen being preoccupied with the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration, she couldn’t manage Zheng Haoyuan’s affairs at Chenhe Hall. Zheng Haoyuan had completely changed the personnel inside and out, with a simple and effective principle in selecting people: those not loyal were killed outright, and those whose loyalty was uncertain were also killed.

After several rounds, the staff at Chenhe Hall underwent a major overhaul. People trained by Ho Sheng, who were industrious and blindly loyal, dominated the scene. Zheng Haoyuan’s days became much more relaxed; he could do whatever he wanted without obstruction or fear of spies.

In front of the veranda, a space was cleared where a palace maid held a piece of thin, gossamer-like silver fabric. She carefully displayed the shimmer of the silver fabric in the morning light with her hands spread flat.

Zheng Nianru, propping herself up with her arm, reached out, and the respectful maid stepped forward to present the fabric to the young lady on the bed, while another maid at her side unfolded one end of the fabric and handed it to Zheng Nianru.

"The texture isn’t silky smooth, but it is cool," touched Zheng Nianru, "but the color is monotonous. What kind of floral design should I embroider on it?"

While Zheng Nianru was thinking, Zheng Haoyuan glanced at a little eunuch nearby; the eunuch respectfully knelt down and began slowly massaging Zheng Haoyuan’s calves. Meanwhile, Zheng Haoyuan watched as Zheng Nianru admired several pieces of fabric. Cang Er carefully peeled lychees and placed them in a crystal small bowl separated by ice water.

Fu Dong peeled somewhat carelessly, not as visually appealing as Cang Er’s, but another little eunuch adeptly helped Fu Dong; their specially maintained hands were even whiter and greener than a young lady’s, like a pair of fine artworks.

Zheng Nianru rather liked these eunuchs and praised them. Afterwards, whenever Zheng Haoyuan came, he would keep them by his side—well-mannered and sensible, trained by the palace generation by generation to serve, with every movement careful and pleasing to their lords.

Fu Dong began to massage, his fingers gentle, picking the gestures Zheng Nianru liked and slowly beginning the motion. He glanced at the kneeling eunuch on the footstool holding a glazed bowl, feeding a perfectly peeled lychee into Zheng Nianru’s mouth.

Decadent and indulgent...

Fu Dong inwardly scoffed. Since these eunuchs had arrived, he distinctly felt that their Commandery Princess was like someone drowsy finding a pillow, greatly enjoying it.

The Fourth Prince was even more complicit. As long as the Commandery Princess was pleased, he would stop at nothing.

"Cousin, this red chalcedony necklace is incredibly radiant. Its texture is also good..."

"Too dazzling for summer—"

Zheng Haoyuan waved his hand, and the palace maid holding the item immediately left; he waved several times. Zheng Haoyuan then turned his head, looking at Zheng Nianru with a somewhat impatient expression.

"Cousin, haven’t you thought of something yet?"

"Mmm, although the fabric is fine, if the pattern isn’t fresh or elegant, it would be somewhat wasted," Zheng Nianru was not in a hurry; the fabric was too special, she hadn’t yet decided.

"Cousin, take your time, no rush." Zheng Haoyuan held a fan, personally fanning Zheng Nianru while a little eunuch seamlessly took over. The fanning was slow and steady, even the act of fanning was done with a method.

Nanny Yun brought some freshly made pastries. That morning, the ground had accumulated many fabrics and jewels—if it weren’t for Zheng Haoyuan and the Crown Prince being cousins, Nanny Yun might have been tempted to take action.

Nian Xia excitedly looked at the pile of floral designs, picking out the prettier ones to bring to Zheng Nianru. Zheng Nianru glanced at them and shook her head...

Nanny Yun glanced at Yin He, who was standing aside, doing nothing, not helping. Was he just here to pad the numbers?

Yin He didn’t respond. The eunuch’s attire on him neatly outlined his slender waist, the youth tilted his head down, his peripheral vision lingering on Zheng Nianru on the arhat bed and the little eunuch still feeding lychees below.

Eunuch, wearing the exact same clothes as him. He had been standing there almost for an entire Shichen Chinese Time, without moving a step or making a motion, while the other eunuchs were ceaselessly busy.

"Cousin, I got a fun item, sent from Jingnan—a rare find, said to have been raised from a young age and used as an exotic spectacle for the higher-ups. A loyalist saw it with his own eyes, truly extraordinary, it has three ru heads, you’ve likely never seen it before," Zheng Haoyuan said.

Zheng Nianru showed mild interest—indeed, she had seen it before, it looked nice, but in pursuit of novelty, it had a head of white hair. She thought black hair looked better.

"Fu Dong, go get my paintbrushes," Zheng Nianru thought for a moment and spoke.

Fu Dong responded and turned to go inside; to get the paintbrushes also meant getting the paper, and seeing that the Commandery Princess did not seem inclined to get up, the easel was also naturally needed.

Xue Liu went to help.

Zheng Nianru turned her body and switched to a different position, feeling some soreness in her previously pressured waist.

"Rise and help me rub it out—the eunuchs kneeling on the footstool promptly stood up, but Yin He’s figure was faster. His slender form leaped over, and, before everyone else could react, his hands were already on Zheng Nianru’s waist.

The touch was soft and smooth, causing the youth’s heart to suddenly surge with nervousness, yet his fingers steadily applied the pressure.

In an instant, the atmosphere tensed up, the eunuch who had just stood up paused briefly, then immediately lowered his gaze and kneeled down again submissively and humbly. It seemed that the eunuch from Qishun Building didn’t quite understand the rules.

Zheng Haoyuan, surprised, nearly sat up straight, his eyes instantly darkening.

Do you really think you are an eunuch?

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