Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 241: First Update

Chapter 241: Chapter 241: First Update

On the day Yunqian was finally able to get out of bed, the entire Zong Sheng Residence could at last ease their minds, radiating with joy from inside out.

Old Lady Zong’s courtyard, situated in the best part of Zong Sheng Residence, was bustling with servants coming and going. A group of maids carried various soups and broths, busily moving in and out. Eldest Madam Zong, not completely reassured, personally checked the dishes before allowing them to be served.

"That’s enough, enough, how much can he eat? Moreover, he’s just awakened; we must gradually increase his intake." Old Lady Zong watched the maids and old women bustling in and out, Eldest Madam Zong working tirelessly, her courtyard’s staff seemingly wishing they could all be stationed here permanently.

"Yes, yes, what Old Madam says is right. This is for him to choose at his leisure; whatever he likes, he may eat. We must not let him overeat." Eldest Madam Zong found a moment to bow hurriedly, her face beaming with a smile.

Now that he was awake, Old Lady Zong felt somewhat worried again. The status of Commandery Princess Chao Ren was clear for all to see, well-known by everyone.

Under the dire circumstances at the time, there had been no room for discussion. But now that Yunqian had recovered, Old Lady Zong suddenly felt that the princess was unworthy of her grandson. Despite the fact they were both of Commandery Princess rank, she knew the background of this princess better than anyone. Moreover, as it was she who had requested this marriage, Old Lady Zong inevitably felt the need to make inquiries once more.

Yunqian finally made the slow and somewhat strenuous effort to rise from the bed. He had improved greatly since the moment he awoke and now, with Gu Dao’s assistance, he insisted on getting up.

"Grandmother—" Yunqian struggled to come out from inside the house, respectfully performed a bow, interrupting Old Lady Zong’s thoughts.

"Quick, help him up, help him up at once." Seeing a healthy-looking Yunqian standing before her, Old Lady Zong felt an acute pang in her heart, lamenting that her precious grandson might become a laughingstock in the future.

"Grandmother, my carelessness has caused you worry. I have been unfilial," Yunqian said as he stopped Nanny Du from assisting him, insisting on kneeling down instead. Old Lady Zong had felt a moment of sorrow earlier, but now her heart ached even more. She immediately moved to help him up herself.

"What are you talking about? As long as you’re well, that’s all that matters." Yunqian would not allow Old Lady Zong to help him up personally, and instead he quickly stepped forward to support her as they both sat down together on the chairs.

Eldest Madam Zong, wiping away tears, felt truly joyful, although she still felt a bit queasy thinking of the marriage.

"Yunqian, have you really thought it through?" Old Lady Zong caressed her grandson’s head, looking at the thin Yunqian, pitying him more than anything else. She sighed in her heart, opting not to broach the subject, content with having her grandson healthy and before her.

Yunqian held his grandmother’s hand, feeling guilty himself, but if there had been any other possible solution, he would have never chosen this path.

"Grandmother, rest assured, I am well aware of what’s in my heart. The matters of this world are mere appearances, and many are deceived by them. Having been fortunate enough to discover the truth, how could I dare to defy it?"

Hearing this, Old Lady Zong could only nod helplessly.

"Yunqian, let’s not talk about other things for now. This favor was personally bestowed by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, and since you’ve awakened, you must personally go to the palace to express your gratitude tomorrow."

"Grandmother, rest assured, I understand," Yunqian nodded in agreement.

Eldest Madam Zong at the side hesitated, wanting to speak but fearing her own mother might misunderstand, she just watched Yunqian.

"You’ve also been fussing around me these past days; it’s time to move back," Old Lady Zong knew exactly what Eldest Madam Zong intended. Being here was restraining for her; naturally, she preferred Yunqian to move back.

"Mother, don’t worry, your daughter-in-law will take good care of Yunqian," Eldest Madam Zong couldn’t hide her elated expression on her candid face, which made Old Lady Zong even less fond of her.

"Grandmother, there’s no place like yours, but I can’t bear to see you overexert yourself. I’ll move back for now, and once I’m better, I’ll come to bother you every day," Yunqian said with a weak smile.

Eldest Madam Zong had already hurriedly ordered people to move things, while Zong Yunqian, followed by Gu Dao and Xi Feng, returned to his own courtyard.

"We haven’t found anything. I chased for three streets and still didn’t catch them," Xi Feng reported, keeping up with his master while speaking as they walked.

Zong Yunqian frowned. The defenses in his courtyard were quite relaxed, allowing nearly everyone from Zong Sheng Residence to come and go, indicating that the intruder was not from Zong Sheng Residence.

But who would want to break into his courtyard, and for what purpose? Especially since there was nothing of interest there, what could the intruder’s objective possibly be?

"Princely Heir, could it be those things?" Gu Dao stepped forward, proposing the only possibility he could think of. If he had been there at the time, perhaps he and Xi Feng could have caught those things together.

"Are there any other suspicious clues?" Zong Yunqian did not jump to any conclusions and turned to ask Xi Feng.

Xi Feng’s mind flashed with the image of the two suspicious figures, but the next moment he shook his head.

"I am incompetent," Xi Feng said, bowing his head.

"It’s not your fault. If they were indeed from Ghoul Ravine, it’s a lucky thing that you didn’t catch up to them," Zong Yunqian remarked as he glanced at his courtyard. The defensive array had clearly been attacked. Still, if those were the creatures in question, how could they have found his location with such precision, completely different from the behavior of the two he had encountered before?

Zong Yunqian suddenly thought of those higher beings from Ghoul Ravine; after all, not all those in Ghoul Ravine were Ghost Shadows with incomplete intelligence.

...

Nanny Yun hurried along, her expression indecisive. Seeing Nian Xia and Xue Liu playing together at the doorway, she did not scold them as usual but walked straight in.

Nanny Yun glanced at Zheng Nianru, who was looking at a newly arrived rouge. Fu Dong handed her a silver round box.

"Commandery Princess," Nanny Yun said in a low voice, approaching until the scent of the rouge filled her nostrils, a subtle and sweet fragrance, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s envoy has delivered a message that there will be a flower viewing event at the palace tomorrow, and Nanny Du, who serves Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, said that the Empress Dowager would like the Commandery Princess to attend."

Zheng Nianru turned to look at Nanny Yun. What did she want her to do?

Though Nanny Yun herself did not understand.

"Commandery Princess, perhaps Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has had a change of heart. Now that she has granted your marriage, it seems she intends to reconcile with Prince Duan. After all, the Prince is her own flesh and blood," suggested Nanny Yun.

Zheng Nianru did not respond. As for what Empress Dowager Yan Ping’s true feelings were towards her father, in her previous life, she couldn’t discern anything as she was blinded by hate. But in this life, she wasn’t the person consumed by hatred anymore. Since things had proceeded smoothly, reconciliation was not out of the question.

After all, Empress Dowager Yan Ping truly grieved at the time of her death in the previous life, which Zheng Nianru could see.

"Are you suggesting that I should go?" Zheng Nianru didn’t sulk. Over the years, whether through sheer luck or coincidence, she had managed to survive all kinds of incidents. And here she was, still alive—yes, she was alive.

"Commandery Princess, naturally, you’re the one to decide," Nanny Yun said. The Commandery Princess before her was no longer the one who would ask her about everything. As for when the change occurred, Nanny Yun couldn’t pinpoint it either.

But having a decisive Commandery Princess, even if it was a sudden change, seemed like everything was under control, and Nanny Yun felt relieved.