Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 25 Rabbits

Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Rabbits

"How can there be a rabbit?" Lady Yu muttered to herself, as they had never seen a rabbit in their courtyard before.

"Did it come by itself?" Nian Xia went to catch the rabbit, which was dazed and docile, allowing Nian Xia to pick it up. As she petted the soft rabbit, she went to look for a box.

"Perhaps this rabbit has an owner." Fu Dong looked at the clean rabbit, carrying her breakfast over, while Nanny Yun was holding a stack of silk threads inside the bamboo sieve under the eave corridor.

"Your Royal Highness, Princess, look at how well-behaved this little creature is." Nian Xia held the rabbit and walked toward Zheng Nianru. Therefore, it should stay, as anything that enters Qishun Building naturally becomes theirs.

Only then did Zheng Nianru lift her gaze and glance at the rabbit. It was just an ordinary rabbit, but such creatures were stupidly cute when small. Moreover, the timing of its appearance was perfect due to the warm sunshine and spring breeze.

"Find a cage and keep it under the corridor," she said.

"Alright, Your Highness," Nian Xia replied cheerfully, holding the rabbit and leaving.

Nanny Yun, upon seeing this, curled her lip in scorn, wondering why they were not so enthusiastic about practicing their skills.

"Your Highness, I’ve gathered all the silk threads. You can choose them after they’ve been aired out. Why don’t we practice first? If your waist gets softer, your movements will improve," urged Nanny Yun anxiously. The Princess was already so grown up, and being confined in Qishun Building with no proper instructing nannies, what would she do when it came time to marry?

"And the two of you, don’t even think about slacking off." Nanny Yun watched Fu Dong and Nian Xia intently. The Princess would need them in the future.

"Nanny Yun is right, we shouldn’t delay practicing," Zheng Nianru agreed heartily. Practice had proven that Nanny Yun’s methods from the Art Workshop had their advantages. Although she didn’t know any other uses for those techniques, they certainly offered numerous benefits after marriage. She managed to keep Ju Nanyi firmly in the palm of her hand, without even a casual consort in the house, which played a significant role.

"Then Your Highness should have your breakfast first while I go prepare," Nanny Yun said, not expecting the Princess to be so eager. The Princess usually feared pain, falling, and fatigue, but she seemed to have changed, which was unexpected but a pleasant surprise—finally knowing what was good for her.

"Your Highness, Eunuch Shun Zi from the Fourth Prince’s palace has been standing outside the courtyard gate for quite some time," Xing Yu said as she waited outside for Zheng Nianru, who was coming out for practice.

"Xing Yu, go ask him," she instructed. Was he bringing a gift? Usually, Zheng Haoyuan would come in person for such matters.

Eunuch Shun Zi hurried along, trying to keep up with Xing Yu’s pace, entering Qishun Building for the second time. Although Shun Zi was curious about why such a grand building appeared so dilapidated and left unrepaired, with the main structure in ruins, and one could only pass through a side building to reach the actual residence of the Commandery Princess.

But once inside the Princess’s living quarters, Eunuch Shun Zi realized that some of his guesses were wrong.

The chief eunuchs might not notice the smaller details, but he was different; he was valued by the Fourth Prince for his ability to tend peculiar animals, and in the palace, he spent more time looking down than up. That’s why he noticed more of the details, such as the pattern of the floorboards, the material of the tables and chairs, and the texture of the fabrics.

There was a hint of astonishment in Eunuch Shun Zi’s eyes as it seemed the Commandery Princess was not favored, secluded in this desolate palace. However, everything inside was...

Beyond what was customary—indeed, even the interiors of the Fourth Prince’s palace might not compare. The grain of the wooden planks seemed to come from one whole tree trunk, which must have been many years old, and the patterns were remarkably consistent.

"Her Royal Highness the Princess, this servant begs Your Highness to come see my master, the Fourth Prince," spoke Eunuch Shun Zi as soon as he saw the corner of a cyan-feathered blue robe, immediately kneeling and knocking his head on the floor repeatedly.

Zheng Nianru gestured, and Xue Liu helped Eunuch Shun Zi up from the floor.

"Speak properly; what has happened to your master?" she asked.

Incoherently, Eunuch Shun Zi related how Noble Consort Wen had killed the Yellow Dragon and scolded the Prince.

Zheng Nianru frowned; she didn’t want to get involved in this kind of thing. As far as she knew, Noble Consort Wen was very protective of Zheng Haoyuan, and a mother being strict with her children, even if overly so, was a sign of her deep love for them.

"Shun Zi, it’s not that our mistress isn’t helping you. Our princess is confined to her quarters and cannot leave Qishun Building without an order from the Empress Dowager," Nanny Yun spoke up first, somewhat troubled. That child was quite good, though a bit young, with rosy lips and white teeth. When he grows up...

"Your Royal Highness the Princess, what you do not know is that our master neither eats nor drinks, nor speaks at all. You will understand once you see him," Eunuch Shun Zi was about to kneel as he spoke.

"Oh dear, it’s not that we are unwilling to help you. Get up first; our princess really can’t leave," Xing Yu went to pull Shun Zi, who was about to kneel.

"But what should we do?"

"You could ask the Fourth Prince to come here," Zheng Nianru spoke up. Though Zheng Haoyuan wasn’t her target, they had gotten along quite well these days and could have fun together. Helping him would certainly be possible.

"Your Royal Highness the Princess, you may not be aware, our young master..." Eunuch Shun Zi hesitated, as if unsure how to describe Zheng Haoyuan’s current condition, and growing anxious that he couldn’t articulate it, "Eunuch Ho Sheng, the chief steward, is nearly frantic, yet he doesn’t dare to report to Noble Consort."

Zheng Nianru listened to the underlying message in Eunuch Shun Zi’s words and pondered for a moment.

"Send that flower basket over and tell him I’m thinking of him. When he has time, he should come to see me, can you do that?" Zheng Nianru indicated the flower basket that Lang Nianxia had just finished weaving from willow twigs.

Seeing this, Eunuch Shun Zi had no other choice but to leave with the flower basket.

Eunuch Ho Sheng was pacing frantically, not daring to let the Fourth Prince out of his sight for even a moment. He hadn’t slept for an entire day and night, and the few little eunuchs following him weren’t having an easy time either; two of them were injured on the head and arms, while another limped, collecting shards of porcelain from the floor with a hobble.

There was a gash about an inch long on the back of Eunuch Ho Sheng’s hand that was still open. It had been caused by the Fourth Prince hurling a small bronze cauldron and was tugging at his whole arm with throbbing pain.

But Eunuch Ho Sheng didn’t dare leave; he waved his hand and called for two eunuchs to replace the injured ones and sat down under the bed.

By this time, Zheng Haoyuan, exhausted from his outbursts, had fallen asleep but would occasionally wake up in a fright.

As Eunuch Shun Zi entered with the flower basket, Eunuch Ho Sheng immediately opened his eyes and got up.

"Where’s the princess?" Eunuch Ho Sheng could tell that the Fourth Prince was truly happy with Her Royal Highness, and it was like...

"Chief Steward, the princess said she couldn’t leave Qishun Building and had me bring the flower basket back," Eunuch Shun Zi stated.

Eunuch Ho Sheng took another look at the flower basket, which indeed was quite unique. He knew a bit more about the situation of the princess than Shun Zi did and could only sigh.

Only to wait like this...

"Ah—," Zheng Haoyuan screamed from the bed, sitting up abruptly, and Eunuch Ho Sheng hurried over to him.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, this old servant is here; you’re not in the water," Eunuch Ho Sheng patted the young man’s chest while speaking, "Your Highness, we are safe, that tiger has long been dead, there’s nothing at all, we are very safe."

Zheng Haoyuan’s eyes opened slowly in Eunuch Ho Sheng’s embrace, cold sweat dripping from his forehead, as his tense head uncontrollably trembled.