Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 183: First Update

Chapter 183: Chapter 183: First Update

"Commandery Princess, someone is coming," Fu Dong pointed at the two figures drawing closer, her voice tainted with fear. Zheng Nianru, upon hearing this, strained to turn her head and looked through the gaps in the reeds toward the lake, indeed seeing two black spots gradually approaching.

"Commandery Princess, we..." Xing Yu climbed up, exhausted yet aware of the danger now.

Zheng Nianru nodded slightly but didn’t move; she didn’t even want to twitch a finger. In the water, she had exhausted all her strength. Eventually, it had been Xing Yu who, carrying them both, swam half the distance before finding this patch of reeds.

Xing Yu gritted her teeth, prepared to carry her own Commandery Princess. She just got her onto her back when she staggered and fell, her limbs trembling from weakness.

Zheng Nianru waved her hand.

"Let’s not go, just hide here, leave it to fate," Zheng Nianru’s deepest desire was to just lie down, think of nothing, her body drenched, feeling so exhausted that she could faint; she definitely would rather die than move again.

Fu Dong struggled to rise but her arms gave in as soon as she propped herself up. She glanced at the tall reeds around them — they shouldn’t be seen hidden among the reeds, should they?

Soon, the three heard voices coming from the lakeside. Zheng Nianru sighed in her heart, thinking how unlucky she was to still be found after hiding here.

The splashing of water drew nearer to the reeds, along with the sounds of rustling reeds, broken stems, and panting.

Zheng Nianru looked suspiciously at Fu Dong, who shook her head. They couldn’t see the approaching people, just discerning two shadows vaguely, but the two figures’ movements were odd.

They weren’t here to capture them? They rather seemed, just like them, exhausted to the point of collapsing on the reeds. Time passed, and there was no slightest movement, only the breaths slowing into a steady rhythm.

Zheng Nianru glanced at Xing Yu, who slightly shook her head; two people, too risky, better to wait until they left.

Yet, more time passed, and those two had no intentions to get up.

Seeing this, Zheng Nianru had no other option but to close her eyes, planning to rest a bit.

Fu Dong grew anxious. Although it was summer, being all drenched, the Commandery Princess mustn’t sleep, she would catch a cold that way.

Yet, Zheng Nianru could no longer hold up. Ever since she survived, this was the most miserable day she had, yet she didn’t even have a suspect in mind. Zheng Nianru wasn’t good at pondering these things, nor had she ever learned the art of observation.

However, this assassination was very strange, and a second party had appeared midway. Amidst the chaos, Zheng Nianru hadn’t thought much; now considering it, they didn’t seem to be from the same group. If those that appeared later weren’t there to kill them, then they were incredibly foolish.

"Princely Heir," Gu Dao sat up and helped Zong Yunqian.

Zong Yunqian gradually regained his strength, instinctively scanning his surroundings.

"Let’s go — such a distance, even if they freed themselves, they wouldn’t have managed to swim here." Zong Yunqian, dragging his legs, smiled helplessly at himself, finding the events of the half day both strange and perplexing, fearing it might turn into a lifelong joke if spoken out loud.

Gu Dao’s face turned pale, having been kicked twice by that strange woman. His chest felt tight and painful, and swimming in the lake for so long made each step dizzying and blurry for Gu Dao.

Zong Yunqian suddenly grabbed Gu Dao, his gaze falling on the reeds on the ground. Following his Princely Heir’s look, Gu Dao only saw a white silken ribbon twined around a reed stalk. Zong Yunqian immediately placed a finger on his lips, motioning for Gu Dao to keep quiet.

Only then did Zong Yunqian notice the bent reeds, realizing they hadn’t been watchful when they landed ashore. The two slowed down and cautiously approached the reeds.

Fu Dong closed her eyes, resolved to sleep and think about how to get back once she woke up.

Xing Yu had her eyes closed, her lips pallid; beyond exhaustion, she was more so drained, a feeling she had never encountered before. She never knew she could ever run out of strength, yet today, she had dealt with two people in the lake, carrying the Commandery Princess and Fu Dong for such a long time.

Zong Yunqian carefully stepped towards the reeds, hearing only the rustling of wind through the reeds and occasionally the flapping of birds’ wings.

Zong Yunqian halted instantly as three figures lying sideways appeared among the reeds. Their clothes were already soaked, outlining the young women’s curves. Zong Yunqian averted his eyes and stepped back, letting the reeds block his line of sight.

Gu Dao stepped back, tripping over the reeds behind him, causing Xing Yu to immediately sit up, alert and watching her surroundings.

"Who’s there?" Fu Dong sat up and moved toward Zheng Nianru’s direction.

Zong Yunqian was unsure whether to leave or to step forward, but clearly, these three were the master and servant duo chased in the lake.

Yet, it clearly wasn’t the time to reveal himself, as their clothing was disheveled, just out of the water, which certainly wasn’t suitable for a man like him to witness.

"Ladies, I didn’t mean to intrude. If there is nothing amiss, I will take my leave now," Zong Yunqian deliberated and said without revealing himself.

Zheng Nianru looked toward the direction of the voice, where the reeds swayed white faces were unrecognizable, and the identity of the speaker was unknown.

Moreover, amidst the hurry, Zheng Nianru could only see the hem of a robe and the soaked shoes and stockings, definitely not someone who was just passing by. Hence, she gave Fu Dong a look to clarify his identity.

"May I know how to address the young master, and could you possibly help us?" Fu Dong asked. She intuitively believed that these people were not here to kill them, otherwise, considering their current helpless situation, why bother with pretenses when direct action would suffice?

Gu Dao came to his senses, immediately grabbing Princely Heir, quickly shaking his head.

Princely Heir, you have a special status, and given the current situation, his identity is unknown. Going out together could lead to misunderstandings that couldn’t be clarified.

Zong Yunqian hesitated for a moment; he naturally understood what Gu Dao was worried about.

Zheng Nianru, seeing that the other party didn’t respond, immediately looked toward Xing Yu, concluding that these two, even if they spared their lives, were absolutely no good fellows.

Xing Yu immediately let out an "ouch," at which Fu Dong quickly spoke.

"Kind sirs, our mistress is injured and cannot walk by herself; please carry a token to her family for us, and we will be eternally grateful," Fu Dong’s voice softened immediately, sounding utterly pitiful with a hint of a sob.

Gu Dao pulled at Princely Heir’s fingers, feeling somewhat ashamed of his previous thoughts.

"This task is not difficult; we shall do our utmost." Zong Yunqian finally spoke, and Gu Dao slowly walked in.

Zheng Nianru took off a jade pendant from her body and passed it on; Gu Dao didn’t dare to look up, reaching for the jade pendant with his head bowed.

"This young master, please deliver it to..."

"Bang—" Simultaneously, a dull sound echoed; Gu Dao fell to the ground in response, and Xing Yu immediately threw the rock she was holding.

Zong Yunqian’s expression changed, and he immediately rushed in.