Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 170, Second Update

Chapter 170: Chapter 170, Second Update

On the second day at dawn at the entrance of Hanlin Academy, Ju Nanyi ran into Zheng Haoyuan, who was waiting at the main gate. Eunuch Shun Zi very politely invited Ju Nanyi to come over for a talk.

Ju Nanyi considered himself not very familiar with Zheng Haoyuan. The reason the Fourth Prince came to find him at this moment could only be one thing.

"This official pays respects to Fourth Prince," Ju Nanyi respectfully bowed down, obviously Zheng Haoyuan had no intention of getting out of his sedan. Eunuch Cang Er lifted the sedan’s curtain, and Zheng Haoyuan’s eyes were fixed on Ju Nanyi on the ground.

Ju Nanyi, what Zheng Haoyuan was thinking, when exactly had he started taking notice of this Ju Nanyi.

Yes, it was because his cousin especially liked the Floral Designs painted by Ju Nanyi.

"Scholar Ju, I hear you are the host for tomorrow’s poetry contest?" Zheng Haoyuan began to speak, his tone old and contemptuous, carrying the arrogance of someone superior.

"To respond to Fourth Prince, indeed I am." Ju Nanyi’s voice was calm. Did Fourth Prince want that Jade Bracelet? However, anyone with clear sight could see that this Jade Bracelet was specifically prepared for the Crown Princess Consort.

"Then please, Scholar Ju, ponder well tomorrow on whom the poetry contest prize should go to," Zheng Haoyuan suddenly leaned forward, his young age not diminishing the cruelty and threat in his tone.

"Fourth Prince, I am merely hosting. The final adjudication of the poetry contest will still be sent to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, and who ultimately receives the prize will also be decided by Her Majesty," Ju Nanyi replied unyieldingly, his voice still calm.

But he couldn’t comprehend why Zheng Haoyuan would want that Jade Bracelet.

Although the Purple Jade Bracelet was indeed a rare treasure, within the Imperial Palace, such rare treasures were not limited to this one. One could say that any of them could count as a rare treasure.

"Good, what Scholar Ju said is not wrong either." Zheng Haoyuan snorted coldly, "I specifically made a trip to tell Scholar Ju that tomorrow, whatever this Prince does, Scholar Ju should act as if he saw nothing."

Having said his piece, Zheng Haoyuan let the curtain fall, his purpose in coming being to warn Ju Nanyi; yet upon reflection, he felt it was superfluous. His cousin had never even met Ju Nanyi, and even if they had met, she wouldn’t recognize him. So, what was he doubting?

Following sorrowfully behind, Eunuch Cang Er walked in small steps behind the sedan until they reached the palace gates, where Zheng Haoyuan impatiently glanced at Cang Er.

"Spit it out quickly, I’m losing patience."

"Your Highness, Your Highness, this servant fears that doing so might reach the Crown Prince’s ears—" On the way here, had they not agreed on seduction? Otherwise, he wouldn’t have suggested his Highness to connect through Scholar Ju.

Looking at Cang Er once more, Zheng Haoyuan snorted again. Whether he’s likable or not, it doesn’t matter. Tall and well-mannered, why shouldn’t he just stick to painting Floral Designs quietly? There’s no need to send him to the palace, to tell of his arrival, right?

Cang Er felt that he must have made a terrible suggestion, wondering if tomorrow the Highness would fail to receive the prize and how he would unleash his fury then.

...

The aristocratic families of Zong Sheng, Shiping, Wuxing, and Nanan in Zheng Capital had estates granted by the Former King, their status no less than that of the Princely Kin, located at the southwest corner of Siyan Mountain, adjacent to the bustling Imperial City, across from Siyan Lake, and facing the Crown Prince’s Mansion from afar.

This shows the significant influence these four aristocratic families have in Nanzheng.

The people from the Shiping and Wuxing aristocratic families were the first to arrive at the Imperial City, Duke of Weiying of Nanmen personally leading his eldest son Nanmen Hong and his wife, his second son Nanmen Qi, and his grandson Nanmen Qishan in a grand procession, among which the most notable was none other than Nanmen Yuyan, who had once been presaged by Master Huo Yi.

The matter was known by quite a few people; the older generation of ministers all knew of Master Huo Yi’s foretelling. However, once the prophecy was made, Duke Weiying of Nanmen fathered five sons in a row without producing a daughter, which disappointed everyone. The Former King had waited a whole ten years. Since Duke Weiying could not father a daughter, Emperor Jingzhi married Miss Xiao Huayue from the Xiao family, and gradually, people forgot about this affair.

It was not until his grandchildren’s generation that he finally had a granddaughter—Nanmen Yuyan, causing quite an uproar in Nanzheng State. Initially, Master Huo Yi’s prophecy mentioned only that a woman in power would emerge from the Nanmen Family, not explicitly stating she would be Emperor Jingzhi’s Empress. Additionally, Nanmen Yuyan was about the same age as the present Crown Prince, Zheng Congyuan.

In fact, Empress Dowager Yan Ping had long intended for Nanmen Yuyan to become the Crown Princess Consort. However, three years ago, when Emperor Jingzhi suddenly fell ill, Master Yu Sheng, the mage who intervened, foretold that Zheng Congyuan should not marry early but should wait until after his sixteenth birthday.

Now, Zheng Congyuan had nearly passed the age mentioned by Master Yu Sheng. Therefore, this time, when Zheng Congyuan brought up the request for a betrothal gift in front of Empress Dowager Yan Ping, she was thrilled, and the first thing she thought of was this purple jade bracelet as the betrothal gift.

The implication was quite obvious. Moreover, Empress Dowager Yan Ping personally spread the news that the betrothal gift was personally requested by Crown Prince Zheng Congyuan.

Duke Weiying, although he had not been in Zheng Capital for many days, the doorstep of the Shiping mansion was nearly worn out by visitors.

"Miss, the lady requests you try on the headdress you will wear tomorrow," the female servant Xin Qu said, walking in with a smile. The headdress was truly beautiful, adorned with sea pearls each the size of a thumb. Tomorrow, the Miss would surely be the center of attention at the lake tour.

"No need to try it on, just bring it," Nanmen Yuyan replied, continuing to read her book, her slim figure carrying a touch of the heroic spirit characteristic of men from the Nanmen family.

"Oh, my dear Miss, please take a rest. The headdress is truly beautiful; just try it on to see if it fits. It can still be modified," pleaded Xin Qu, tugging at her Miss’s arm.

Nanmen Yuyan reluctantly put down her book.

"You can’t behave like this outside; it doesn’t show proper manners," said Nanmen Yuyan, tapping on Xin Qu’s head. Xin Qu, being the daughter of Lady Geng who managed her mother’s affairs and having grown up with her, shared a close relationship.

"I understand," Xin Qu stuck out her tongue and pulled Nanmen Yuyan along with her.

Just as they arrived at her mother’s courtyard, Nanmen Yuyan heard laughter coming from inside, which included her mother, her aunt, and her sister-in-law. Nanmen Yuyan’s face turned red, and she suddenly did not want to go inside.

She knew that once inside, they would surely tease her, and with this thought, Nanmen Yuyan shyly bowed her head and considered leaving.

"Miss, why won’t you come in," called out Lady Geng’s joyful voice, immediately catching onto Nanmen Yuyan’s hesitation and coming out to pull her in.

"Xin Qu, why didn’t you bring your Miss in," chided Lady Geng, her face brimming with a smile.

The laughter inside the room lightened even more upon hearing the voices, affirming Nanmen Yuyan’s suspicions that they were laughing at her.

"Daughter pays respects to Mother, Aunt, Sister-in-law—"

"Oh, look, our Yuyan has learned to be shy," teased the aunt immediately.

"Aunt—" Nanmen Yuyan protested, pulling at her aunt’s sleeve, her face turning even redder.

This time in the Imperial City, her mother had already informed her that he was the Crown Prince, whom she had only seen in portraits. But she had long been familiar with the stories of the Crown Prince’s noble character enough to make her ears grow calluses.

Moreover, she had also secretly glimpsed the Crown Prince once. As she thought of this, Nanmen Yuyan couldn’t hide the joy tugging at her lips, contemplating for the first time the man she was to marry with anticipation.

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