Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 164 Two more

Chapter 164: Chapter 164 Two more

Steward Hu walked out of the study with the midday meal and sighed as he saw Qi Ling waiting at the door, shoulders slumped, shaking his head.

Qi Ling didn’t know what to say, feeling despondent, as if even breathing was a waste of energy.

Ever since the Crown Prince had returned from the Qishun Building that day, he had been like this, silent. For two consecutive days, he had stayed in the study, ceaselessly reading Memorials to the Throne, without sleep or rest. He hardly ate unless reminded to do so, and he didn’t ask for tea; he drank whether it was cold or hot.

Steward Hu carefully asked Qi Zhu several times what had happened that night. However, except for sighing in despair, Qi Zhu couldn’t give any clear explanations. Steward Hu clearly felt that this time it was different—was it because of Prince Duan’s interest in arranging a marriage for the Commandery Princess?

From Steward Hu’s perspective, this matter was bound to happen eventually. Unlike the younger ones like Qi Ling and Qi Zhu, having spent decades in service, he knew to let nature take its course. He had discerned the Commandery Princess’s feelings for the Crown Prince, and if the Crown Prince had not reciprocated those feelings, he would not have allowed her so much freedom in the Crown Prince’s Mansion over the years.

Steward Hu felt that the Crown Prince, since childhood, had borne all the hopes of Nanzheng State. With Emperor Jingzhi critically ill, ready to leave Nanzheng at any moment, the three Grand Tutors competed to facilitate the Crown Prince’s rapid assumption of Nanzheng State’s great responsibilities. The Crown Prince had never enjoyed the carefree times of childhood, always diligently studying poetry and the strategies of statecraft. Compared to the Empress and Emperor Jingzhi, Steward Hu seemed more like a senior to the Crown Prince, having witnessed every small change in him and all the hardships he had endured.

Only in these recent years, with the Commandery Princess’s intrusion, did the Crown Prince finally show a smile, bringing genuine warmth to his gentle face.

Steward Hu didn’t think too far ahead or have grand visions, just like all short-sighted and fiercely protective parents, he simply wanted the Crown Prince to be happy.

Could it be because Prince Duan looked favorably at her, that Her Royal Highness the Princess wanted to sever ties with the Crown Prince? This was what Steward Hu could think of, and looking at Qi Ling and Qi Zhu’s expressions, what else could it be?

However, Steward Hu also recognized that the Crown Prince wasn’t necessarily pursuing a specific outcome. The Crown Prince knew his boundaries and, even if he had such thoughts, kept his emotions controlled within the confines of decorum. As long as the Princess could occasionally visit the Crown Prince, he would be content.

Steward Hu thought it over and decided to take a trip in person since Qi Ling and Qi Zhu didn’t understand the crux of the matter.

After giving a few instructions to Qi Ling and Qi Zhu, Steward Hu prepared to go out himself. Just as he stepped out of the Crown Prince’s Mansion, the Empress’s palanquin had hastily stopped before him. Steward Hu didn’t have time to go up to greet her; Empress Xiao had already hurriedly disembarked and, without needing the aid of female servants, headed directly toward the Crown Prince’s Mansion.

"This old servant pays his respects to Empress..." Steward Hu had just knelt down, and there was no one in front of him, nor anyone to bid him rise; Steward Hu was startled and quickly got up by himself.

Why had the Empress come? It was unusual for the Empress to visit twice in half a year.

Steward Hu immediately stopped Qi Jin who was about to close the door and murmured some instructions in his ear before rushing toward the study.

"This servant greets Empress—"

Qi Ling was startled, hearing Qi Zhu’s voice at the doorway; glancing at the Crown Prince whose head had not been lifted, he put down his tea tray. Before he could turn around, Empress Xiao had already entered by lifting the curtain herself.

"Esteemed Mother, your son pays his respects." Zheng Congyuan put down the document in his hand and stood up to bow.

"Fu Xun, Your Imperial Sister is ill, what are we to do?" Empress Xiao asked in a worried tone, only then noticing the pile of memorials on the desk and even more on the floor.

Zheng Congyuan looked up, his weary eyes meeting those of Empress Xiao.

"What did the Imperial Physician say?" If Mother was able to come here now, it must mean the situation had stabilized, probably nothing too serious.

"The Imperial Physician said it was due to cold exposure," Empress Xiao replied, yet that was not the main reason for her visit. Still, her gaze landed on the stack of memorials that piled up like a mountain, and seeing Zheng Congyuan’s exhausted demeanor, she knew he must have been up all night reading them, without any news reaching him.

"Fu Xun, these memorials come every day, and there are so many, when will you ever finish them? I think we should throw away half of them here, and just look at the important ones; your health is what matters most." Ultimately, he was her son, and Empress Xiao spoke with a heart full of pain.

"Yes, thank you for your concern, Mother," Zheng Congyuan slowly began, "But should your son go and see the Imperial Sister?"

"There’s no need, the Imperial Physician said she just needs to rest well. I am here for another matter." Empress Xiao remembered her real concern, and disliking the excessive number of memorials in the study, she got up and moved to the inner chamber behind the study.

Qi Ling and Qi Zhu hurriedly came forward with tea.

"Fu Xun, did you meet Master Yu Sheng in person during your visit to Qiandao Temple?"

"Your son did not, I only met a disciple of Master Yu Sheng. The disciple mentioned that Master Yu Sheng divined a divination last night and said it was auspicious to proceed."

"Does that mean Master Yu Sheng will come in person?" Empress Xiao grew a bit excited. "Do you remember, the last time Master Yu Sheng entered the palace was over a decade ago?"

"Yes, Mother," Zheng Congyuan did not ask further, knowing that his mother wouldn’t have made the trip just for this reason; there must be other matters.

"That’s good. During the past six months, with you having mishaps and your sister falling ill, I have been thinking whether we could meet Master Yu Sheng once again."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Congyuan immediately looked up at Empress Xiao, lacking much recollection of the events from over a decade ago.

"Mother worries too much. Your son has turned danger into safety, and the Imperial Sister merely caught a cold; it’s not a serious illness worth the great effort of personally meeting Master Yu Sheng," said Zheng Congyuan.

"You don’t understand, I heard from a female servant by your sister’s side that she had a nightmare last night, one of those previous nightmares," Empress Xiao said.

Zheng Congyuan sighed slightly, for he was not very well-informed about this matter, and few knew the details. However, he knew that Master Huo Yi’s appearance had led Emperor Jingzhi to vigorously endorse the faith of Qiandao throughout Nanzheng State; thus the appearance of Master Yu Sheng was another climax. Outsiders only knew it was Master Huo Yi who helped the emperor regain his health, but Zheng Congyuan knew it was Master Yu Sheng who had countered the backlash of the Mystical Arts on Emperor Jingzhi, allowing him to successfully give birth to princes and princesses and survive to this day.

Moreover, those nightmares of the Imperial Sister seemed to be connected with Master Yu Sheng as well.

"Your son shall do his best," Zheng Congyuan said.

After receiving the answer, Empress Xiao then walked out satisfied.

"Empress, the Crown Prince is too exhausted, and the people around him don’t seem to advise him well," Nanny Deng hinted; the girl from the Art House had already been staying in the Crown Prince’s Mansion for a while but was reportedly not much favored.

Men are like that, after all, once something is obtained, it loses its novelty, and it might be time to act.

Empress Xiao had no interest in meddling with these matters but still paused briefly. She suddenly remembered the extra pillow on the bed and the floral designs on the canopy mostly associated with women.

"Humph, such audacity—"