Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 246 Second Update

Chapter 246: Chapter 246 Second Update

Zong Yunqian walked slowly towards them. Zheng Nianru could even sense the intense sourness filling the air. Although she was past this age of petty quarrels, the inadvertent counterattack from Zong Yunqian was still somewhat pleasing to her inner self.

Zong Yunqian handed the item to Nanny Yun who was next to Zheng Nianru. Nanny Yun did not want to take it, fearing the jewelry might be coated with poison. However, seeing the envious glances from everyone around, Nanny Yun thought that even if it were poison, she would accept it just to spite them.

Nanny Yun glanced at her own commandery princess. At this moment, the princess should at least thank the Princely Heir of the Zong family.

Zheng Nianru did not move. Her gaze, which had initially scrutinized him briefly, had now dropped, displaying an indifferent expression void of any joy.

Zong Yunqian smiled faintly and did not take offense. Instead, he respectfully made the first move to greet her.

"Greetings, Commandery Princess—" since she was Prince Duan’s daughter, she naturally warranted this bow.

However, the onlookers were taken aback. The Heir Zong, the sole successor of the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family, a direct disciple of Master Huo Yi from Qiandao Temple. What virtues or abilities did Princess Chao Ren possess to deserve such a bow from him?

Empress Dowager Yan Ping had not anticipated Zong Yunqian’s move, and even Old Lady Zong had a livid expression at this moment. She was too late to feel the anger when Zheng Nianru calmly accepted the bow and nearly choked on her own outrage.

Zheng Nianru, accustomed to receiving bows from others, found nothing unusual about this one, merely feeling puzzled. Since it was all an act agreed upon by both, why take it so seriously? Now that the marriage was set and everything was decided, why bother adding such excessive niceties?

Clearly, he wanted her to play along with the act. Zong Yunqian still held his bowing posture, while Nanny Yun quickly passed the item to Nian Xia and hurriedly tugged at her own commandery princess.

"Heir Zong—" Zheng Nianru stood up and returned the gesture, managing to maintain the decorum of the potentially explosive situation.

"Look at these two—" Empress Dowager Yan Ping suddenly spoke up, pointing at the distant pair and spoke tauntingly.

"Hahaha, such young people, all shy," Lady Zou laughed first, taking the opportunity to continue with Empress Dowager’s statement, while Old Lady Zong’s face had returned to normal, but she refrained from extending the conversation.

This Princess Chao Ren... she truly lacked experience. It seemed the courtesies and rituals still needed some grooming.

"Commandery Princess, the Empress Dowager invites you to sit up front," Zong Yunqian looked at Zheng Nianru, speaking gently, his eyes subtly gleaming on the pink spring silk dress, not dazzling but distinctively charming.

Zheng Nianru looked back at Zong Yunqian. Why bother? Now she was simply waiting to leave the palace to move to Prince Duan’s Mansion. After the marriage, she would remain in Zheng Capital, and Empress Dowager Yan Ping certainly would have no reason to summon her to the palace anymore. Then he would go to Qiandao Temple, looking for an opportunity to divorce.

"Commandery Princess—" Nanny Yun hurriedly supported her own commandery princess. At this moment, they had no choice but to follow; with so many witnesses around, what could the Empress Dowager possibly do to the commandery princess?

The customs of Nanzheng State were already quite progressive. Men and women who were affianced were permitted to sit together at social occasions and could even plan outings together.

At this moment, Princess Helin’s face turned livid. Was this the explanation given by Zong Sheng Residence, stating he was gravely ill and beyond recovery, yet now he stood perfectly well before her?

Princess Helin’s fingers tightly clutched the corners of her dress. Even though her face maintained a smile, it had a somewhat fierce quality. The ladies from prominent families around her wanted to offer words of comfort, but they now hesitated to speak.

Tang Wei did not think so. All the events of today seemed to suggest that the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family was quite satisfied with Princess Chao Ren. If it were merely because Heir Zong took a fancy to Princess Chao Ren, Old Lady Zong would not have personally approached Her Majesty the Empress Dowager to request the match; she could have simply sent a matchmaker directly to Prince Duan’s Mansion. Thus, Tang Wei did not believe that Heir Zong’s illness was feigned. On the contrary, it was precisely because of Heir Zong’s illness that this marriage arrangement might have been proposed.

Tang Wei was indifferent from the start, and remained so now. However, she felt that Princess Chao Ren indeed had the beauty to captivate Heir Zong at first sight and even thought that if she were a man, she might be enticed by such appearance alone.

"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager naturally granted her consent," came the laughter and jovial conversation from the main seat. Tang Wei glanced over and saw that it was Lady Zou speaking, urging Heir Zong to invite the Commandery Princess out for a stroll. Sitting even closer to her, Miss Zhang from the Zhang Family of Hejian was quietly talking with Miss Nanmen, although Miss Zhang’s voice was naturally loud and even her whispers carried quite far. They were indeed discussing the matter of the Crown Prince personally going to welcome Mage Yu Sheng.

Nanmen Yuyan quietly listened without much comment, but her gaze frequently shifted towards the main seat where Empress Dowager Yan Ping sat, observing her every move. Yet, up till now, Empress Dowager Yan Ping hadn’t brought up the matter, which puzzled her. However, as it was not appropriate for Lady Zou to initiate the topic and appear unreserved.

After the small feast, the delighted Empress Dowager Yan Ping personally led everyone to the garden to view the flowers.

Zheng Nianru took the opportunity while the crowd surrounded Empress Dowager Yan Ping to prepare to leave, with Nanny Yun closely following behind, anxious yet not daring to stop her.

"Commandery Princess, is it really appropriate to leave at this time?" Nanny Yun looked back at Heir Zong who was following them. "Commandery Princess, Heir Zong is coming along."

Zheng Nianru suddenly stopped and gave Nanny Yun a look. That look, as if a superior gazing at her servant, commanded irrefutable authority, and also resembled a predator eyeing the prey in its trap.

Nanny Yun involuntarily closed her mouth, inexplicably feeling the stark awareness of her own status laid bare in front of her.

"I am tired," Zheng Nianru simply said three words and the next moment, walked forward. Nian Xia glanced at Nanny Yun but did not dare to speak.

"Commandery Princess —" Zong Yunqian followed for a distance, and seeing that Zheng Nianru had no intention of stopping, he had to call out.

Zheng Nianru turned around, stood still, and looked somewhat puzzled at the coming Zong Yunqian. The man’s appearance was as splendid as the moon, endowed with his own capital and pride, not seeming like someone who would be infatuated with mere beauty.

Therefore, Zheng Nianru felt that her actions that day in the reed fields had served primarily to make Zong Yunqian think of her first when choosing someone to cooperate in a pretense, and nothing more.

"Commandery Princess, I will come personally to the Southern Palace Gate to pick up the Commandery Princess tomorrow," Zong Yunqian said, seeing that Zheng Nianru was still looking at him with a questioning gaze. "Commandery Princess, do not misunderstand, everything done today was merely to facilitate our plan," Zong Yunqian explained, recognizing that even his grandmother’s deep-rooted views on family status would not have let him "marry" the lady before him if it weren’t for his "threat on his life."

"Of course," Zheng Nianru said, bowed her head, and no longer harbored any doubts. She naturally detected that Old Lady Zong did not like her and naturally, among the noble ladies, there were likely none who did.

Zheng Nianru turned and walked away. Zong Yuanqian did not pursue further but instead watched her retreating back thoughtfully. Why he suddenly chose Princess Chao Ren initially, even he could not say; perhaps, it was just too coincidental that the Commandery Princess appeared at that time.

Zong Yunqian watched the receding figure walk away before turning to head back himself; his grandmother was still there, and he naturally had to accompany her back.

Zheng Haoyuan stepped out from behind a tree. He came looking for Zheng Nianru but did not expect to overhear such baffling conversation. What plan? What was his cousin hiding from him?

"Did you know?" Zheng Haoyuan turned to ask Cang Er, who was watching Zong Yunqian’s departing figure, impatiently.