Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 258 Second Update

Chapter 258: Chapter 258 Second Update

Even at night, Zheng Capital remained the most bustling city of Nanzheng State, lively and vibrant, especially as the Seventh Eve approached, both of its most bustling streets and the newly constructed river landscape teemed with merchants.

Usually, this had nothing to do with Prince Duan, but recently, the Governor of Zheng Capital had suddenly been stricken by his old illness. With the Empress Dowager’s birthday drawing near, preparations everywhere were in full swing, and there were simply no available hands to stand in for Governor Lin for a few days.

Zheng Congyuan thought of Prince Duan, who was the only one capable of taking charge swiftly at such a time.

Without any refusal, Prince Duan had personally taken his men for a tour around the two most prosperous streets on the first day. On the second day, after inspecting the riverside, and noticing the night was still young, Prince Duan suddenly glanced at the Goat Horn Lamp in his Attendant’s hand, pondering that an estate was near the South City River, and now having reached the southern side of the river, thought of those two people.

Although Prince Duan did not wish to go, he still felt some discomfort in his heart. After all, Nian Ru’s matters had been settled, and Prince Duan saw hope.

Nanmen Yu never really offended him from the beginning until now; after all that had happened, it was not simply a matter of avoiding meeting at all costs.

Therefore, Prince Duan intended to form an alliance with these two, considering that Nanmen Yu was in a neighboring country with an uncertain fate, not worth worrying about, but these two were different. If they were around and spread any harmful rumors about Nian Ru, wouldn’t all his efforts come to naught?

After sharing a word with his Attendant, Prince Duan sat in the palanquin and leisurely headed towards his estate.

In the cover of night, Prince Duan was not in a hurry, leisurely observing the passersby on the road. Although he was nearing the southernmost part of Zheng Capital, there were still pedestrians and carriages, with no sign of decay.

"My Lord, do you want to rest a while?" Housekeeper He came forward to ask. Suddenly interested, the Prince couldn’t be too restricted, even though it was late, and they would return quite late.

"This Prince sitting in a palanquin, rest for what?" Prince Duan said. However, his mood was rather good. Though he understood the implication in Housekeeper He’s words, Housekeeper He had followed him for many years. Was he going there just on a whim now? No, he was making preparations ahead of time.

Housekeeper He closed his mouth, not daring to speak more, and busily scurried to keep up.

The estate was indeed remote, a place Prince Duan had neglected for over a decade and never visited. Had it not been to deal with those two people, Prince Duan would hardly have remembered owning this land.

The palanquin of Prince Duan slowly moved, still at a distance from the estate, when he could vaguely see at the foot of the mountain a stretch of barren, impoverished soil that even the darkness couldn’t conceal. And yet, just a few steps further, there were crops knee-high growing faintly.

Prince Duan was puzzled, crops don’t grow that fast; Housekeeper He was puzzled too, moving closer and plucked a handful.

"My Lord, it’s all grass, seems like we’re really raising sheep." Housekeeper He commented, the grass was thriving, particularly in summer, and felt lush in hand.

Prince Duan said nothing but saw lights in the distance and was about to question this when the other party slowly made their way towards him.

Zheng Boding couldn’t help marveling, these two actively volunteering servants were more dedicated than those in his own mansion, still bustling about the estate at such a late hour.

"This official greets Your Highness—" Ju Nanyi did not expect to encounter Zheng Boding here, more puzzled than the Prince but didn’t show it on his face.

"Is it Lord Ju?" Zheng Boding couldn’t see very clearly, but why would Ju Nanyi be at this place at this time? Moreover, Ju Nanyi was presently not at the Hanlin Academy, and although the Crown Prince had given him an appointment, what exactly he was assigned to was something Boding had not paid much attention to.

"Your Highness, this official was passing by and wondered what brings Your Highness here..." Ju Nanyi was even more suspicious as his investigated leads had ended here, yet in this wild and open area, unlikely to be the trail of those creatures.

"Oh, oh, I see, so it was a chance encounter. This place is my estate. I was inspecting the city river on the Crown Prince’s orders and happened to walk up to here, so I thought I might as well have a look at my estate," Zheng Boding said, seemingly no longer suspicious. Just as he was about to say goodbye, Ju Nanyi spoke up.

"Prince, if that’s the case, may I trouble you for a cup of tea at your place? My men have been on the move all day..."

"Of course, certainly." Prince Duan wanted to refuse, but wouldn’t refusing at this moment make him seem even more guilty? What did he have to feel guilty about? Zheng Boding thought it over and confirmed that the two men in question would definitely not recognize each other.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Ju Nanyi thanked him without revealing what he thought, his suspicions deepening. Could he have guessed wrong? It seemed that Prince Duan wasn’t involved. If he wasn’t involved, and now that their own clues had been intercepted here, Prince Duan wasn’t safe, and following along could provide some protection.

"Does the Prince’s estate only grow grass?" Ju Nanyi had noticed the large expanse of grassland early on, and now he spoke both to make conversation and because he was genuinely puzzled by it.

"Nanyi, come here, look at this," Zheng Boding called over to Ju Nanyi. He very much liked Ju Nanyi’s temperament—calm, without the impatience of the young, courageous and resourceful. Even though Ju was a civil officer, he seemed capable of leading troops as well.

Housekeeper He immediately handed over a Goat Horn Lamp, which Zheng Boding held in his hands, showing it to Ju Nanyi.

"Feel this lampshade."

Ju Nanyi reached out to touch it; it wasn’t ordinary rice paper or colored glaze but was exceptionally light and translucent. He could faintly smell the scent of pine resin but was unable to guess what it was.

"I would be grateful for Your Highness’s instruction." Ju Nanyi was not surprised by the existence of such a rare object in the Imperial Palace.

"This is a Goat Horn Lamp. The horns of an adult goat are taken, soaked and boiled in medicated water, then slowly expanded to become both translucent and hard. Then, they are made into these Goat Horn Lamps, which are waterproof, windproof, and durable," Prince Duan said, generously praising the lamp.

"Your Highness is ingenious. I am impressed," Ju Nanyi realized at that moment that Prince Duan had likely made this object himself, or at the very least, it was related to him.

"That’s why I use this barren land to grow weeds and raise hundreds of goats. When the goats mature, I make these Goat Horn Lamps," Prince Duan said, pointing to the dark expanse of grassland, looking quite content.

"I’ve heard that once in Nanmen State, there was a craft to make rhinoceros horn palace lamps. Your Highness, being well-read, has replaced the expensive rhino horn with goat horn, which I find most admirable," Ju Nanyi said, and his words were not entirely flattery. There was a moment when the shadow of Prince Duan in front of the lamp seemed to conjure up a face he had seen before—a memory locked away in his mind now vividly alive.

But what of it? Ju Nanyi gave a bitter smile. What was the use of talking about such things now? Heir Zong was a match for the Commandery Princess—given the choice between him and Prince Duan in this marriage alliance, he would choose Heir Zong.

"Here we are, please, Lord Ju." Prince Duan was in high spirits, especially since these days, everything had been going smoothly, and the courtyard of his mansion was almost cleaned up.

"Your Highness, it seems more people are coming," said a Royal Attendant who was walking at the back.

The newcomer halted, and upon seeing Ju Nanyi, quickened his pace significantly.

"Your Highness—" Zong Yunqian paused briefly, but still performed his greeting first.

Prince Duan was taken aback, looking at the suddenly appearing Zong Yunqian, then back at Ju Nanyi.

"Heir Zong, did you also happen to come to my estate by chance?" Zheng Boding spoke openly, no longer hiding his thoughts. If he still believed this was a coincidence, he’d be a fool.

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