Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 24: Eccentricity

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Eccentricity

"You, you killed him—" Zheng Haoyuan screamed, his eyes bloodshot. Eunuch Ho Sheng stiffened abruptly, not even bothering to pick up the horsetail whisk that had fallen to the ground as he lunged towards Zheng Haoyuan.

But it was too late. With a burst of strength, Zheng Haoyuan broke free from several eunuchs and charged at Noble Consort Wen, who was about to leave. He grabbed the seal belt around her waist, his voice hoarse.

"You killed my Yellow Dragon, give me back my Yellow Dragon." Zheng Haoyuan cried as he spoke. He had finally, finally...

"Your Highness—"

"My Lady—" Suddenly, the scene turned chaotic. Some tried to pull the Fourth Prince away, others rushed to aid Noble Consort Wen. Amidst the pushing and shoving, many fell, with Zheng Haoyuan’s hands still tightly clutching Noble Consort Wen’s waist belt.

"Why did you have to kill my Yellow Dragon? He was well-behaved, why did you have to..." Zheng Haoyuan began shouting, his voice gradually turning into sobbing, sounding like a child who had been greatly wronged.

Noble Consort Wen suddenly panicked, her hardened heart losing its support.

"Gonggong, Mother Consort did it for your own good." These would become evidence that the powerful officials could use against you in the court. Mother Consort was laying the groundwork for you.

"I want Yellow Dragon, why did you have to kill him—" Zheng Haoyuan wouldn’t listen.

"My Lady, please calm your anger, Your Highness is still young. He was just being playful. He has a good heart," Eunuch Ho Sheng immediately kowtowed, his hat falling aside, his forehead touching the ground covered with grass, looking ridiculous yet no one dared to laugh.

Finally, the eunuchs pulled the Fourth Prince away, and Eunuch Ho Sheng immediately hugged his master’s legs.

Noble Consort Wen stood up flusteredly with a mix of confusion and regret. Why had she allowed things to escalate to such an uncontrollable point right from the start, if only she had been a bit softer.

"Send the Fourth Prince back." Noble Consort Wen spoke coldly, her earlier anger gone as if a peacock had fought a lose-lose battle and though unwilling to bow, she was already regretting and wishing she could turn back time.

"My Lady, please calm your anger—" Eunuch Ho Sheng wiped his tears and dragged himself to help his master, followed by Eunuch Shun Zi, who also came over to assist Zheng Haoyuan.

Noble Consort Wen could no longer stay put at this moment, so she turned and walked away. Eunuch Kang Ning hurriedly waved his hand and fiercely glared at the eunuchs who had acted earlier. If we tell you to kill, you just kill. Don’t you know to slow down a bit?

Zheng Haoyuan stared at the retreating figure of Noble Consort Wen, crying spasmodically, but the image of Yellow Dragon’s tragic death had not yet dissipated from his pupils.

"Second Brother gets away with these things and you just let him, but I can’t, you’re biased, you’re totally biased."

Noble Consort Wen momentarily stiffened, her heart missing a beat. Eunuch Ho Sheng panicked all at once, hurriedly covering his master’s mouth.

Ancestors, my little ancestor, daring to say anything. The Second Prince is someone even The Emperor and the Empress Dowager wouldn’t dare to mention in front of you.

Noble Consort Wen’s pace became firm and rapid, no longer hesitating as she left.

...

Nanmen Yu, disheveled, emerged from the chaotic burial pits at the southwest corner of the Imperial Palace, having escaped the palace through a collapsed hole left by last year’s flood, and walked onto the street resembling a little begging street urchin, pale and thin with a frail figure, his fourteen-year-old form appearing no different from Zheng Haoyuan’s recently ten-year-old physique.

Now, Nanmen Yu was "free to come and go" within the Imperial Palace, naturally, the main gate was not meant for him. Aside from that, no one cared what he did.

Nanmen Yu walked unhurriedly forward, nodding knowingly to a few little beggars he encountered until he reached a dilapidated temple where several similarly ragged adult beggars immediately surrounded him.

"His Highness the Crown Prince, you’ve arrived." The leader, his hair like a bird’s nest and leaning on a stripped tree branch, had a beard covering half his face connected to his hair, obscuring most of his face, even the visible eyes were murky and yellowish.

At first, Nanmen Yu didn’t believe they were descendants of the Jing Family from Nanmen State. He had little information: his mother was the legitimate daughter of the Jing Family and the Noble Consort He Pu of Nanmen State. While his mother was still alive, he had received messages from her, telling him to be patient as she would find a way to get him back to Nanmen State. Afterward, it had been half a year without any news from her, and having slipped out of the palace, he then received the news of his mother’s death.

These people had fled from Nanmen State over the course of a year. After their mother died, the Jing Family was almost annihilated. The survivors had escaped only by becoming refugees through extreme hardship and suffering, and after another year of grueling journey, they finally arrived in Nanzheng State.

Nanmen Yu took out two ordinary-looking jade pendants from his bosom and gave them to the man leading the group. The man’s eyes lit up, and he immediately handed the pendants to a middle-aged man beside him, who then rushed out heading straight to the pawnshop.

"Second Uncle Jing, where is the master?" Nanmen Yu finally asked.

"Inside." Second Uncle Jing led Nanmen Yu toward the dilapidated temple. Before reaching it, they heard severe coughing sounds. Nanmen Yu quickened his steps and saw an old man lying on a straw bed in the temple, struggling to get up.

"Princely Heir—"

"Master, please don’t get up," Nanmen Yu immediately went to support the old man on the ground, who insisted on getting up.

"Princely Heir, we don’t have much time, there’s no time to delay anymore."

Nanmen Yu nodded at his words and helped the old man sit up comfortably.

"Master, the skills you taught, I practice day and night, I dare not neglect them."

"Very well, I know you are diligent. This past year, although your progress has been slow, you had no foundation and started training too late; that you’ve attained this level is due to your diligence. My only wish is to pass on all my knowledge to you while I am still alive."

"Master, rest assured, I dare not forget the ancestral teachings of the Jing Family, nor fail you," said Nanmen Yu, word by word.

"Come here," the old man nodded reassuringly.

The doors of the temple were quietly closed, and outside the temple was a scene of disarray and destruction. Under a few crooked trees hung tattered cotton-padded jackets, already in pieces. Fortunately, spring had arrived, and the colder days were becoming fewer.

The middle-aged beggar who had just left hurried back, with a large half-bag of rice and flour and a rabbit with snow-white fur.

"Brother Han, did you buy a rabbit today?" The people sunbathing in the corridor clustered around, their mouths nearly watering.

"Who bought it, how could we afford it? I found it," Han Ge grinned. They were all descendants of the Jing Family, but few direct descendants of the Jing Clan managed to escape. Uncle Han was from the same lineage as the Noble Consort’s maternal cousin; even they didn’t know the true identity of the master.

When Nanmen Yu opened the door, he saw the rabbit hopping on the ground, especially vibrant amidst the decay of the temple.

"Princely Heir, thanks to you, Uncle Han found a rabbit today, just what we needed..."

Nanmen Yu looked at the rabbit, an idea forming in his mind.

"I’ll take the rabbit. It’s useful."

The crowd was stunned.

"Princely Heir, what do you need the rabbit for?" Could it be returned to them after its use so they could eat it?

"If the Princely Heir says it’s useful, then it’s useful. What are you hesitating for, tie it up," Second Uncle Jing emerged from behind, wiping the drool from the corner of his mouth.

Those still sharpening their knives were somewhat dumbfounded. Would they now go hungry?

...

"Commandery Princess, there’s a rabbit." Early in the morning, Fu Dong called out excitedly, and Zheng Nianru saw on the floor of the sleeping chamber a fluffy, snow-white little rabbit, the sunlight turning its twitching ears translucent.

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