Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 263: One More

Chapter 263: Chapter 263: One More

In the wee hours, another matter was fervently underway. Master Yu Sheng’s arrival at Zheng Capital was carried out in utter silence, known only to Zheng Congyuan, who had already arrived outside Zheng Capital City. Zheng Congyuan personally went to meet him.

Master Yu Sheng did not require an escort, but since it was Zheng Congyuan, he did not insist too much. He gave an address, and by the dead of night, Zheng Congyuan, accompanied by Qi Ling, Qi Zhu, four others, and a group of Hidden Guards, stood in the darkness. An hour passed, yet there was no sign of Master Yu Sheng.

"Your Highness, could we have missed him?" Qi Jin had gone ahead to scout the area, only to find neither man nor ghost shadow. Moreover, the location offered a clear view, and looking down from the slope could span half a day’s walk. Therefore, even if Master Yu Sheng had been riding a horse, he should have appeared in their line of sight by now.

Zheng Congyuan did not respond to Qi Jin’s words, but simply stared quietly into the distance, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor. However, Qi Ling suspected that his lord was lost in thought again.

The last few days, the Crown Prince had often been lost in thought, as if he had suddenly become a different person.

Although Qi Ling vaguely guessed what had happened in the room that day, he was more meticulous than Qi Zhu and Qi Jin. He had specifically checked the Prince’s clothes from that day and found nothing, which was a relief yet also a concern. Considering the short interval, he probably worried too much. But, shouldn’t he be pleased with this result? Qi Ling felt somewhat insane for feeling a bit...

Indescribable.

Qi Jin and Qi Yu grew impatient. Although they had never met Master Yu Sheng, they had heard that his identity was formidable, and he seldom met with others easily, which only added to the mystery surrounding him.

Some said that Master Yu Sheng was truly a Heavenly God reincarnated, possessing a transcendent face unmatched in both Heaven and Earth, an ethereal beauty. There were various accounts, some saying he had a human form with feathered wings, capable of soaring to the heavens and burrowing into the earth.

There were also rumors that Master Yu Sheng had a celestial crane as a mount, immortal and ever-young, that could travel thousands of miles in a day and drank Jadescent Nectar from the Nine Heavens Spring, which, with a mere wave of his hand, would bring all birds to homage.

Naturally, that wasn’t the most outrageous claim; the most far-fetched was that Master Yu Sheng had the secret to eternal life.

Qi Jin and Qi Yu chatted aimlessly, while Zheng Congyuan remained silent.

"Your Highness, have you ever personally seen Master Yu Sheng?" Seeing that Zheng Congyuan had been lost in thought for too long, and overhearing the discussions between Qi Jin and Qi Yu, Qi Ling took the initiative to ask.

Qi Jin and Qi Yu gave Qi Ling a strange look, as if to say, are you really asking that?

"I have not. Master Yu Sheng mentioned that our destinies have not yet aligned, therefore we cannot meet," Zheng Congyuan said calmly. Destiny, what is destiny, how does destiny arise? Some people are doomed from the start to have no destiny with one another; how much simpler it would be if there were only desire and lack thereof.

"Your Highness, do we continue to wait here?" Qi Jin and Qi Yu were startled. Qiandao Temple had very strict rules. Although they had accompanied the Crown Prince to Qiandao Temple twice, they never even entered the main gate — not to mention seeing Master Yu Sheng, they hadn’t even seen a single Junior Mage of the temple.

So, who knew what Master Yu Sheng looked like? What if he truly arrived as the rumors suggested, by flying?

"Be patient," Zheng Congyuan said, gazing into the distance. The cold night wind whistled from all directions, and just then, the direction of this chilling wind suddenly changed. Qi Jin and Qi Yu immediately noticed that the air, empty a moment before, felt different.

Qi Jin and Qi Yu took a step forward, their expressions turning solemn as they prepared to take action. Suddenly, golden light spilled into the dark night. Qi Jin and Qi Yu immediately stepped in front of Zheng Congyuan, but he remained motionless, pulling them aside. The golden light kept swirling as the wind grew fiercer, eventually sounding like the cry of a crane mixed with flying sand and stones.

Standing in the front, Qi Jin and Qi Yu found it difficult to maintain their footing as an immense force pushed them backward uncontrollably, and in the next moment, it felt as though they were being sucked forward, their skin almost detaching from their bones.

Just when Qi Jin, Qi Yu, and the Hidden Guards were about to lose their strength, the golden light flashed and then vanished, followed by a soft light that brightened everyone’s view, and suddenly, a group of people appeared before them.

As the wind stilled, so did everyone, their gazes fixed on a man dressed in white at the center of the group, unable to look away.

It seemed as though time had stopped in that instant. With the arrival of the man, all trivial thoughts in their minds were cleared instantly, leaving only his figure, without any desires or demands. The mundane sorrows of the world seemed merely dirt of the earth, and only his pure white presence was real.

All Qi Ling could think of was, could there really be such a man in the world...

In Qi Ling’s heart, his own Crown Prince represented the epitome of all admirable qualities in men. However, the appearance of this man easily shook that belief; his features transcended the ordinary definitions of beauty and ugliness, existing as a cleanser of the soul.

At that moment, nobody needed to guess who the newly appeared man was, as it seemed as though the answer was already known in everyone’s hearts, beyond any doubt.

Following that, the soft light also vanished, although it had only been a brief flicker. In those few short seconds, however, the man’s face had been deeply etched in everyone’s minds.

Zheng Congyuan looked calm, and even though he was prepared, the pressure surged uncontrollably as the man slowly approached. That pressure felt like unmanageable desires in his heart tearing open before everyone, each step sinking Zheng Congyuan’s heart deeper.

"Crown Prince—" the man who seemed could ascend to immortality at any moment began, his voice as clear and pure as the clearest water, devoid of joy, sorrow, or any worldly distraction.

"Master Yu Sheng—" Zheng Congyuan, struggling to gather his drifting thoughts, responded in kind.

"Crown Prince, it’s finally nice to meet you in person. I hope you have been well," the man said with a slight smile, his voice infused with sweetness, instantly dispersing all alertness around. Qi Jin and Qi Yu’s gazes softened, falling back on Master Yu Sheng, filled with utmost worship and belief.

Zheng Congyuan immediately stepped aside, the carriage prepared behind him was of the highest standard from Nanzheng State.

Master Yu Sheng expressed his thanks and walked towards the carriage. Only then did people notice the attendees with Master Yu Sheng—six disciples of Qiandao Temple in white robes, who followed him, two handling the carriage and the other four settling at each corner of the carriage, entering a meditative trance as the carriage slowly moved.

When Housekeeper He received the news, it was a bit late, and he became somewhat anxious because the Crown Prince was absent. Yet, keeping this from the Crown Prince would likely cause much trouble later on.

After much thought, Housekeeper He sent a Hidden Guard, Qi Zhen, who was staying at home. By the time Qi Zhen caught up, he had already encountered Zheng Congyuan returning to the city. Not daring to delay, he immediately relayed the message to Zheng Congyuan.

The Commandery Princess left the palace and returned to Prince Duan’s Mansion? Why so suddenly?