Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 180: Before Dawn

Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Before Dawn

Zheng Nianru stopped in her tracks, her eyes thoughtfully fixed on Nanmen Yuyan, who had suddenly appeared before her. To Zheng Nianru, this person was all too familiar; she had secretly observed her standing in the limelight in front of others numerous times.

In a previous life, she was the one who had the right to stand openly by Zheng Congyuan’s side. Educated and intelligent, graceful and wise, she was the candidate for Crown Princess Consort ardently advocated for by the Empress Dowager and the Empress, the one prophesied by Qiandao Temple.

So what?

"Commandery Princess Chao Ren," Nanmen Yuyan caught up and, after chasing after her, couldn’t help but pant for breath. Once her breathing steadied, she finally gave a bow.

"I greet Commandery Princess Chao Ren," Nanmen Yuyan said, bowing respectfully.

"By rights, you shouldn’t know me." And I also don’t wish to know you.

Zheng Nianru looked at the woman who had appeared before her, carrying too much of her own emotions in a previous life to ever seriously and objectively evaluate her. But now, she looked earnestly.

Yes, even now, Zheng Nianru didn’t feel she was inferior to her in any way, at least, she was more beautiful than her counterpart. Zheng Nianru had always been confident in her beauty, even now, before reaching the state she would achieve in a few years.

"Commandery Princess Chao Ren, my mistress is the eldest daughter of the Shiping Aristocratic Family, Nanmen Yuyan," replied a maid respectfully at her side.

"So what?" Zheng Nianru started slowly, So what? There seemed to be no reason for Nanmen Yuyan to appear before her.

Nanmen Yuyan was taken aback, her gaze falling on Zheng Nianru before her, recalling those words.

"It was presumptuous of me; I just wanted to tell the princess that you should not take the idle chatter of others to heart. Things that are merely conjectures shouldn’t be trusted," Nanmen Yuyan offered comfortingly.

She knew the current predicament of Commandery Princess Chao Ren; in the palace, she was likely isolated and without support. By consoling her now, she could be considered to be aiding the Crown Prince in secret.

Zheng Nianru looked toward Nanmen Yuyan, her heart sneering silently.

"Miss Nanmen, please keep your kindness to yourself, it’s not needed," Zheng Nianru turned and walked away.

"Why are you like this?" Xin Qu couldn’t help but speak up, but Nanmen Yuyan immediately interrupted her.

"Commandery Princess Chao Ren, I mean no harm, I just wanted to comfort you, to tell you that not everyone sees things the same way," said Nanmen Yuyan sincerely, her honesty making even Fu Dong glance at the lady from the prominent family.

Zheng Nianru had intended to leave but now turned back.

"Alright, Miss Nanmen, if you truly disapproved, you could have well stepped forward to stop them while they were speaking ill of me. Why wait until now, when no one else is around, to offer consolation? To curry favor at the smallest cost, or perhaps with a hidden agenda?"

"You—"

Zheng Nianru turned and walked away.

"Why are you like this?" Xin Qu could no longer hold back.

"Let it be, Xin Qu, let’s go."

...

"Princess, you can actually see Siyan Mountain from here," Xing Yu exclaimed joyfully as she looked toward the distant mountain range shrouded in misty rain.

A gentle breeze wafted over the lake, considerably soothing Zheng Nianru’s mood. She nodded and started walking along the lakeside.

This was a small indentation on Lake Heart Island, where the water’s impact had flattened the lakeshore, and reeds as tall as a person concealed the small path by the lake, with a plateau one person tall not far behind. Therefore, looking down from above, it would be hard to spot the lakeshore below without careful observation.

"Xing Yu, go see if there is a shortcut ahead that goes directly to Listening Maple Pavilion," Zheng Nianru glanced at the lake surface, for the first time somewhat missing Qishun Building, the place she always wanted to escape from.

Xing Yu heard the words and immediately ran forward along the lake surface.

Seeing Xing Yu walk away, Fu Dong wanted to speak but, seeing Zheng Nianru’s mood wasn’t good, she obediently closed her mouth and watched as Xing Yu vanished from sight.

"Commandery Princess, let’s go too." The cold wind blowing over the lake sent a chill through Fu Dong, and she glanced around uneasily.

Zheng Nianru seemed as if she hadn’t heard, gazing at the lake surface, lost in thought. Some distant memories were stirred by those words. She now felt more at peace. Nanny Yun had once told her this so she would abandon those unreal fantasies and properly marry Ju Nanyi.

Zheng Nianru always wondered whether Zheng Congyuan was aware of the situation, and if he knew, whether he would feel it unworthy, having wasted his life entangled with someone like her.

Or perhaps, if he knew, it might be possible to easily unravel such a predicament. She always wanted to leave, to stop being entangled, yet every time they met, she would become dispirited and couldn’t resist drawing closer.

Thus, when Ju Nanyi scolded her for being indecisive, fickle-hearted, lacking firm opinions and resilience, not even knowing what she was doing, Zheng Nianru felt it was all true—she was indeed just that kind of person.

...

Zheng Tianxin’s people also found Zheng Nianru and immediately returned to report.

Zheng Tianxin smiled faintly; by the lakeside—perfect. She had already considered how to make the other party die, but it appeared that the other party had already chosen the place for her.

"Princess, that Zheng Tianxin is truly Prince Duan’s offspring." Yan Xia blurted out her concerns desperately. If they were found out, the Empress Dowager would be afraid...

Zheng Tianxin sneered.

"Who said that I would do it myself?" Zheng Tianxin glanced at the two Female Secret Guards following her and quietly gave a few instructions. The two guards accepted the order and immediately headed towards the lakeside.

...

"Princely Heir, look, isn’t that your admirer coming after you?" Through the dense reeds, Gu Dao still couldn’t believe that someone could actually follow them here—they were practically ready to hide in the river.

Zong Yunqian had no intention of even opening his eyes as he lay amidst a thicket of reeds, pulling Gu Dao’s body down.

"What are you looking at? Are you afraid that others won’t discover you?"

"Ah, I’m saying, Princely Heir, you should hurry up and settle your marriage, then we won’t have to hide like this when we go out." Gu Dao sighed. While others enjoyed themselves, they had to hide here. If he knew this would happen, he wouldn’t have come.

"Isn’t this quite nice?" Zong Yunqian opened one eye and looked at the sky. If given the choice, he’d prefer to be like Eldest Senior Brother Yu Sheng, never entangled in romantic affairs, and just practicing Mystical Arts for a lifetime.

But for him, that was nearly impossible, being the only direct bloodline of the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family, such a wish was a luxury, an utter impossibility. Otherwise, ten years ago, he would have been a novice at Qiandao Temple.

"Ouch—" Gu Dao suddenly grimaced in pain, clutching his head. The next moment, before he could even speak,

"Who’s sneaking around here?" A head popped out from the reeds, warily eyeing Zong Yunqian and Gu Dao within the reeds.

"Was it you who hit me just now?" Gu Dao pointed at the girl who had suddenly appeared and began to interrogate her.

Xing Yu did not answer. Dressed in brocade, she didn’t look like a bad person, but that couldn’t confirm she was a good person either. Xing Yu was ready to leave.

"Hey, I’m talking to you," Gu Dao said, attempting to grab Xing Yu; however, with a wave of her hand, she directly flung him aside.

Zong Yunqian immediately turned his attention to the Xing Yu before him, but Xing Yu didn’t want to become excessively entangled. The Commandery Princess was still waiting for her response, so she quickly turned and walked away.

"Let’s go, follow her." Zong Yunqian watched as Xing Yu was about to leave, pulled his Servant along, and quickly followed after her.

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