Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 189: First Update

Chapter 189: Chapter 189: First Update

Zheng Congyuan stepped into the hall, the cascading silk curtains hiding the candlelight, casting shadowy patterns of the carved edges of tables and chairs across the floor. Xue Liu, seeing the newcomer, bowed her head and retreated to the side, while Zheng Congyuan had already seen the person on the bed, turning sideways to move closer, the thin brocade blanket rising in an arc.

"You can leave for now," Zheng Congyuan glanced at Xue Liu, who paused slightly before slowly exiting.

The light and shadows in the Inner Hall grew even darker, with only two corners lit by candles, their fragmented glow scattering across the floor, the man stepping over scattered floral and auspicious bird designs as he approached the bed.

The room was very quiet, and Zheng Congyuan could almost hear his own breathing. The restlessness and anxiety that had been present since he saw the person on the bed slowly dissipated. Soon, another emotion took over his thoughts—guilt and self-blame. It was his selfish plan that had placed her in danger.

If Nian Ru didn’t come, the Imperial Uncle had no intention of coming to Lake Heart Island, then the following plan couldn’t be executed.

So, it was still his fault.

Zheng Congyuan sat slowly by the bed, his gaze falling on the figure beneath the thin blanket. She wasn’t asleep, her irregular breathing betraying her, but it was only right that she didn’t want to speak to him.

"I was worried, so I came to see you," Zheng Congyuan started in a low voice, having spoken, yet unsure what to say next. Was it to comfort her? He had already failed to appear before her when needed, so comfort was out of reach. At this moment, he hadn’t found any useful clues, and couldn’t explain himself before Nian Ru, let alone before Prince Duan.

Zheng Nianru didn’t move but heard everything clearly, guessing what he would choose if he knew that the one trying to kill her was his own sister. Would he seek revenge for her, or would he ask her to endure this grievance?

Zheng Nianru chuckled self-mockingly. At this moment, she truly didn’t know the answer and had no evidence to accuse Zheng Tianxin. Relying on those two female secret guards? Zheng Congyuan, likely unaware of the hidden guards Zheng Tianxin had, were given in secret by Empress Xiao. She shouldn’t know these things now.

"I’ve found that among the people who sneaked onto Lake Heart Island today, there were people from outside the county. These people have some connections with Master Yin He..." The specifics of why they were in the Zheng Capital were still unclear, but the disappearance of Master Yin He was the best evidence, "But you don’t have to worry, Qishun Building has already arranged for my Hidden Guards."

Zheng Nianru’s eyes fell, so that was it. Did that mean it would be even more inconvenient for her to go out now? If it were before, she might not care, perhaps even feel so grateful to Zheng Congyuan for valuing her this much, she might take advantage of this accident to demand many benefits, and even cling to Zheng Congyuan, perhaps becoming increasingly demanding...

Zheng Nianru had never cared about losing face.

Zheng Congyuan, seeing the person on the bed remain silent, sighed softly, his gaze drifting upward slightly. There were many more questions he had, like why Zong Sheng, the Crown Prince, had appeared there.

He didn’t believe Zong Yunqian’s words, and he didn’t believe Prince Duan’s either. If it was by chance that Zong Yunqian found Nian Ru and her two servants already ashore among the reeds, then why were the clothes of Zong Yunqian and the two servants soaking wet?

The only reason Zheng Congyuan didn’t expose the lie was that he didn’t want Nian Ru to have any relationship with that Zong Yunqian.

"Nian Ru—" Zheng Congyuan stretched out his hand, slowly placing it on the girl’s arm revealed outside the thin blanket, the silky cloth warming in Zheng Congyuan’s hand.

He naturally understood Prince Duan’s intentions, he never wanted Nian Ru to marry someone of high status and power. So, he would avoid Zong Yunqian as much as possible.

But if Zong Yunqian really was in the water, what happened then?

Yet, Zheng Nianru thought of another possibility. If she chose Zong Yunqian, would things become simpler? Escaping the Imperial Palace would be smoother with the backing of Qiandao Temple. She wouldn’t have to worry about future necessities of life.

However, my father will not agree. The Northwest Border is too far; he will absolutely not agree.

Zheng Nianru suddenly blinked, instinctively opening her eyes, somewhat surprised by the hand moving slowly on her arm. What surprised her was that Zheng Congyuan never took the initiative to touch her. Zheng Nianru didn’t know what kind of emotion she should feel at the moment, but the hand on her arm was indeed moving, its sensation slowly and infinitely magnifying. Pleasure quickly gained the upper hand, and more than the subtleties of touch, it was the psychological impact that brought Zheng Nianru joy.

Thus, Zheng Nianru felt that if it weren’t for Zheng Congyuan, then all others were indifferent to her; they were all much the same. Like those she met later after becoming Empress Dowager—amused, she would tease them, and if not pleased, she would ignore them.

Zheng Congyuan was spellbound, the silky and warm feeling in his hand addicting him like a drug, eroding all his reason. Suddenly, Zheng Congyuan stopped, took a deep breath, withdrew his hand, and slowly turned his gaze away.

What was he doing?!

What could he offer her? To keep her hidden by his side, forever unseen, forever without the proper status she deserved. Such selfishness, he could not do it; he had no right to ruin her life.

She may be willing now, even content with such an arrangement, but in a few years, once she gradually saw the temptations of the outside world, once she saw everything beyond the Imperial Palace, she would stand at the prow of a ship, giving him the impression of a butterfly ready to spread its wings and soar at any moment.

He could even imagine that years from now, she would stand before him, filling him with resentment, even disgust for the two of them.

Zheng Nianru felt something different. The moment she turned around, she saw the dim light in Zheng Congyuan’s eyes, different from the past. That loneliness almost drowned her.

"Brother Crown Prince," Zheng Nianru sat up, the haze of the previous moment now mixed with more confusion, the emotions beyond her control rushing into her mind.

"Brother Crown Prince—" Zheng Nianru’s voice immediately became plaintive, choked in her throat, her eyes reddened, as if she might cry the next second.

Zheng Congyuan panicked; he hadn’t intended... He had clearly frightened her.

"Brother Crown Prince, you’re not comforting me. I was nearly scared to death today," Zheng Nianru sobbed, seizing the moment of Zheng Congyuan’s disarray and plunging into his arms, scaling his neck like breaching a fortress, carelessly rubbing her tears on the front of Zheng Congyuan’s clothing.

Zheng Congyuan, you’ve brought this upon yourself; you scared me.

That expression was one Zheng Nianru had never seen before; she did not know if this was the look on Zheng Congyuan’s face when he decided to stop living.

"Alright, alright, it’s my fault," Zheng Congyuan coaxed patiently. Hadn’t he said so much just to comfort her?

"You just won’t comfort me, you didn’t come to save me, not rushing over immediately," Zheng Nianru persisted, her warm breath spilling onto the man’s neck, but this was Zheng Congyuan, resisting reluctantly, yet still compelled to console her.

"Right, I’m wrong. What do you want? I’ll find it for you."

See, her Brother Crown Prince was back.

"I just want you," Zheng Nianru said petulantly, leaning in closer, clearly feeling the man’s resistance, his hands beginning to exert force, trying to pry her off himself.