Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 232 Second Update

Chapter 232: Chapter 232 Second Update

Qi Jin and Qi Yu were laughing and making a fuss as they approached from a distance. With a nimble leap, Qi Jin’s palm landed atop Qi Yu’s head, whilst Qi Yu, holding a wooden box in his hands, swung a foot out. Qi Jin’s body was already half-way beyond the corridor, and beneath him lay the glittering emerald waters of Siyan Lake.

"Qi Yu, if you drop the Commandery Princess’s gift, we’re in big trouble..."

Suddenly, Qi Ling turned his head and immediately knelt down.

"Your Highness—" Qi Ling’s voice trembled, his mind going blank.

Qi Zhu couldn’t believe it and spun around, falling to his knees with a thud, his lips quivering and then starting to kowtow non-stop.

"Your Highness, this servant spoke nonsense, all hearsay from others, not necessarily..."

Qi Jin and Qi Yu were taken aback, confused by what was happening but aware that something had gone wrong, and so they too immediately knelt down, unsure whether they should start kowtowing.

Cold sweat trickled down Qi Ling’s back in layers, while Qi Zhu became even more incoherent, slapping his own face.

"Your Highness, I deserve death, I..."

"Go investigate clearly—" Zheng Congyuan’s voice was hoarse as the cold lake breeze pulled him back to a semblance of rationale.

Zheng Congyuan had pondered such questions before and knew that one day they would confront him. He had mentally prepared himself over and over, believing this was the best arrangement for Nian Ru; giving her a sky of her own, as long as he could still see her, as long as he cherished these fleeting moments...

But in the end, these were nothing but delusions. He never imagined this day would come so suddenly, breaking down all his defenses, forcing him to lean on the door frame to stand firmly.

Qi Ling and Qi Zhu didn’t dare to speak and hurriedly retreated, along with the bewildered Qi Jin and Qi Yu, who left just as puzzled as they arrived.

Zheng Congyuan was enveloped in darkness, allowing the words of Qi Zhu to replay in his mind again and again, wrenching his heart repeatedly, the dull pain slowly knocking against his heart, spreading to his every limb.

Why had the Empress Dowager suddenly issued the decree? What was the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family’s purpose in doing so? Clearly, the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family would never... Zheng Congyuan’s hands gripped the door frame tightly as waves of dizziness washed over him. After taking a couple of deep breaths, he steadied himself.

Did Prince Duan know? Prince Duan knew. Certainly, Nian Ru was unaware; naturally, she knew nothing of this, for there was no need to inform her.

Zheng Congyuan scoffed coldly. How had things come to this point without his knowledge, to become what they were now?

He had been too lenient on these Aristocratic Families! That’s why they seized the opportunity!

The only reason Zheng Congyuan could think of for this situation was the encounter between Zong Yunqian at Siyan Lake and Nian Ru on that day; hence, they set their sights on her. The mere thought of someone coveting the face he had kept so closely guarded filled Zheng Congyuan with a furious desire to tear that person apart.

Was Zong Yunqian so reckless as to disregard his own family and status? And the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family, to provide support from behind, even discarding their last shred of dignity?

The investigation was swift; Qi Ling and Qi Zhu didn’t even need to exert much effort to learn everything from the mouths of the Servants at Prince Duan’s Mansion.

The Servants at Prince Duan’s Mansion even detailed the exchange of Birthday Horoscope Cards, the solemn and extremely generous marriage proposal gifts personally delivered by the Duke of Qing, and went so far as to describe in detail to Qi Ling and Qi Zhu how it all began, and the twist of fate that put Heir Zong’s residence merely a wall away from Prince Duan’s Mansion.

Qi Ling and Qi Zhu didn’t dare delay a moment; upon returning, all four of them kneeled with ashen faces before their master, none daring to speak first. They had failed in their duties, having not caught even a whisper of news, and under their very watch, a wedding had been securely arranged.

"Your Highness—" Qi Ling mustered his courage to speak, "It was the Duke of Qing himself who came to propose the marriage."

Zheng Congyuan sat coldly in his chair, the Duke of Qing, indeed, with only the Imperial Uncle at Prince Duan’s Mansion, it was naturally most appropriate for the Duke of Qing to go.

Just a wall away, how had he not thought of that? In the eyes of Prince Duan, Zong Yunqian was indeed an excellent match, one ’hard to find even with a lantern at hand’.

Zheng Congyuan suddenly laughed, picking up the neatly stacked pink papers on the desk, the next moment, he swept them all onto the floor.

The four men on the ground immediately knelt lower, none daring to make a sound.

But, Your Highness, although this matter is beyond their expectations, it would have come one day, nonetheless.

Hasn’t Prince Duan been always looking for a suitable match for the Commandery Princess?

"Your Highness, it’s possible the Commandery Princess is not yet aware of this matter," Qi Ling cautiously said, not sure why he felt compelled to say it, perhaps it would ease Your Highness’s mind somewhat.

Qi Jin looked at Qi Ling disapprovingly, thinking these words were useless. It would be better to cut the Gordian knot and let Your Highness abandon this train of thought. This event might even turn out not to be a bad thing...

Zheng Congyuan suddenly stood up and walked straight into the darkness. Qi Ling snapped back to reality and immediately followed him; Qi Zhu, Qi Jin, and Qi Yu hesitated a moment before hurrying after him.

Zheng Congyuan moved through the darkness, with stars filling his vision and the night breeze continuously brushing past his temples. He remained silent until he reached the familiar, quiet courtyard.

The Hidden Guard silently dropped down from the wall and saluted.

"My lord, this afternoon Prince Duan sent over a letter," the Hidden Guard spoke—the same one who had conveyed the earlier message to Qi Zhu. The news was known by more than a few in Xingqing Hall and had easily reached their ears.

Zheng Congyuan glanced at the Hidden Guard in the darkness and, without saying a word, continued walking into the dark.

The moonlight was hazy, the stars blanketed the ground, and as the man appeared outside the porch holding a lamp, his silhouette was lit by the candlelight, looking as exquisite as jade, without stirring a leaf or blade of grass in the courtyard.

Under the porch, the gauze curtains hung down to the ground, sealing the porch tightly and protecting against insects. Through the dimness, one could make out that the daytime couch in the dark hadn’t been put away—no, there was someone on the couch, and it was impossible to tell whether it was Fu Dong or Nian Xia leaning off to one side.

As the night deepened, Zheng Congyuan stood quietly outside the curtain, gazing at the blurry figure on the couch, the first thing he wanted to know now was.

Did she know? Did she know about this? What would Prince Duan’s letter contain? Praises of Zong Yunqian? Or perhaps, the fact that Zong Yunqian had once saved Nian Ru, even that step could be skipped.

Zheng Congyuan dared not think further. Nian Ru had been in Qishun Building since childhood, what world had she seen? What did she know of right and wrong? The only person she trusted was Prince Duan? So, a single word from Prince Duan...

Nanny Yun, carrying ice, approached, and the sudden sight of someone standing in the dark nearly caused her to drop the ice bucket. The next moment, she was kneeling on the ground.

"Crown Prince, Crown Prince, at this late hour, why have you come?" Nanny Yun panicked instantly, seeing the situation, the Crown Prince must have known? He must have.