Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 265: One More

Chapter 265: Chapter 265: One More

Yin He was startled, then lowered his head the next moment. It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered it, but he felt that Zheng Nianru wouldn’t like it. He enjoyed seeing her happy, as her anger always frightened him.

"Let’s go to Prince Duan’s Mansion first—"

Seeing this, Elder Can no longer spoke. He had also thought about what kind of feelings his Young Master had for Princess Chao Ren. He even felt that the Young Master was too gentle in dealing with women, lacking any semblance of masculinity, or as described in the language of the Northern Border, a mere lackey to love. However, this was after all the Young Master’s first experience with love. As someone who had been through it, Elder Can knew the critical points and that handling it poorly could ruin his image in the Young Master’s heart.

Zheng Nianru had not expected Zong Yunqian to come along to escort her back to Prince Duan’s Mansion. Standing in front of the carriage, Prince Duan smiled genuinely. Zheng Nianru’s gaze merely swept over Zong Yunqian and then settled on Prince Duan.

"Father, there was no need to come so early," Zheng Nianru walked forward, smiling at Prince Duan. A year earlier than in her previous life, Prince Duan had not yet aged, and she did not have to marry Ju Nanyi in any haste. Even during her days in Prince Duan’s Mansion, Prince Duan was busy with her dowry, afraid she might suffer any disadvantage.

But now, there were no such worries. The Zong family was wealthy, and Prince Duan needn’t fret over such matters.

"How could it not be early? I especially chose the hour after bidding farewell to the Empress Dowager and the Empress."

"My departure left the Empress Dowager and the Empress without seeing me. They only sent Nanny to relay their words, asking me to return to the mansion and show filial piety to you, father." Zheng Nianru indeed went, but just as in her previous life, the Empress Dowager and the Empress did not wish to see her. She even specially bade farewell to Zheng Haoyuan. In a good mood, she had even left a letter for Zheng Congyuan.

"Heir Zong—" Zheng Nianru gave Zong Yunqian a bow. Zong Yunqian returned the gesture, satisfying Prince Duan greatly and enhancing his fondness for Zong Yunqian, who was, after all, a child grateful for having his life saved by Nianru.

Nanny Yun, filled with emotion, had known for a long time that she could leave the Imperial Palace, but it was only when she actually stood outside the palace for the first time, freely observing the sky beyond, that she felt something incomparable to the past.

Nanny Yun longed to cry, "Lady Ru, look, I have not let you down. I have finally gotten Nianru out of that cannibalistic Imperial Palace."

Fu Dong, Nian Xia, Xue Liu, and Xing Yu, as the four senior female servants of Zheng Nianru, stood joyfully behind her at this moment. Besides these four, there were also four young palace maids from Qishun Building who curiously observed the world outside the palace gates. Hearing Nanny Yun directing them to move things, they hurriedly withdrew their gazes and quickly stuffed their belongings into the carriage.

"Are all the belongings packed?" Prince Duan could not get enough of looking at his daughter. Besides joy and excitement, Prince Duan felt a greater sense of poignancy. From today onward, he needed to make up for lost time.

"Yes, Father, there’s not much. I only picked some things I like on regular days," said Zheng Nianru lightly. Having resolved to break with everything in the palace, she naturally wouldn’t take those things with her, unlike in her previous life when she left with nothing.

Zong Yunqian heard this and raised an eyebrow. He had been to Qishun Building. Although it was just a fleeting glance, he knew that every item in Qishun Building was presentable. Yet from the packages on the shoulders of the several female servants, it was clear they had taken hardly anything.

Zong Yunqian speculated that those items were things Prince Duan had secretly prepared, fearing Zheng Nianru might be neglected in the palace. From the rundown front courtyard and the exquisite back courtyard of Qishun Building, it was apparent that it was done to avoid the prying eyes of some people.

Therefore, it couldn’t be from the palace; the only possibility was Prince Duan.

However, when Princess Chao Ren left the Imperial Palace, she didn’t take these things with her. Even Zong Yunqian, the legitimate heir of the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family, found it impossible to simply abandon such a vast fortune. Or could it be that Prince Duan’s power was already great enough to regard such a fortune as mere weeds?

Gu Dao and Xi Feng immediately went to help. The house servants of Prince Duan’s Mansion were indeed mostly old, weak, sick, or disabled, and even the coachman had been hastily arranged.

Steward Hu personally directed several house servants, and with the help of Gu Dao and Xi Feng, it only took a moment to pack all the luggage. Zheng Nianru boarded the carriage, which Xi Feng drove straight to Prince Duan’s Mansion.

"Commandery Princess, are we really out of the palace? Or am I dreaming?" Xue Liu still couldn’t believe her eyes as she watched houses and trees retreating outside the carriage window. Having lived in the Imperial Palace for so many years, suddenly leaving felt like none of it was real.

"Pish-posh, of course we’re out of the palace, don’t talk nonsense." Xing Yu quickly covered Xue Liu’s mouth, and the two burst into laughter, playfully wrestling.

...

Qi Ling tried several times to come forward to mention that matter but Master Yu Sheng was having an enjoyable conversation with Zheng Congyuan at the front and they were walking very slowly. The serene appearance of Zheng Congyuan made Qi Ling feel as if he was hallucinating.

Master Yu Sheng, clad in a moon-white robe, shimmered under the starlight. This light was not harsh on the eyes, even seeming like a mistake in the dark, but as the man walked, the gleam flowed, clearly not just a glint from the robe.

The figures of Master Yu Sheng and Zheng Congyuan walking ahead appeared like gods exiled in the night, eerily making one hesitant to approach them.

"Crown Prince, at this moment, it is because I have penetrated the mysteries of the Star Valley Hexagram that I am granted this encounter with you. Thus, I came," Master Yu Sheng said, satisfied with Zheng Congyuan’s responses from their conversation starting from his arrival, which all pleased him immensely.

"Fu Xun has painstakingly sought wisdom and finally mastered Taoist magic; such an effort is not in vain in this lifetime," Zheng Congyuan felt assured upon meeting Master Yu Sheng, knowing that the matter he had been eagerly awaiting was about to be addressed.

Master Yu Sheng heard this, chuckled softly a few times, but did not speak.

"Crown Prince, there is another matter I came for," Master Yu Sheng slowly began, looking up at the dark night sky, "I have a new interpretation for the Prophetic Trigram."

Zheng Congyuan was slightly startled upon hearing this, even forgetting to step forward. As soon as the Prophetic Trigram had appeared, all of Nanzheng State plunged into heated discussions, only calming once Master Huo Yi provided an answer. With Master Yu Sheng bringing a new interpretation, what could it mean?

Master Yu Sheng’s demeanor remained calm, "My interpretation is: Nanzheng State will soon experience a major upheaval, a shift from the old to the new, and I believe this will threaten the Nanzheng Imperial Clan."

By now, Zheng Congyuan had stopped and was quietly observing Master Yu Sheng. The latter’s words, softly spoken as if drifting like a feather, felt like a massive rock smashing towards Zheng Congyuan.

"A crisis for the Nanzheng Imperial Clan?" Zheng Congyuan repeated Master Yu Sheng’s words, more in inquiry than statement.

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