Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 275: One More

Chapter 275: Chapter 275: One More

Prince Duan would not act on his thoughts, not on this particular day, because the very next day was the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration.

The sixtieth birthday celebration of Empress Dowager Yan Ping was the grandest banquet in Nanzheng State in years. Led by Crown Prince Zheng Congyuan, officials had gathered at Hanyuan Hall by midnight, praying for a peaceful and prosperous era for Nanzheng. Master Yu Sheng stood at the top of the Altar of Heaven in his white feathered robe, becoming the most conspicuous white figure between heaven and earth, his resounding and majestic bell-like voice permeating the entire Imperial Palace and spreading throughout Zheng Capital.

As the bell tolled, Zheng Capital resembled a city that never slept. The imperial road was brightly lit, and in nine out of ten households, lights were on, resembling stars scattered across the night sky.

The entire Zheng Capital exuded a tense yet orderly busy atmosphere. Ladies from prominent families had already risen, from bathing and purifying to donning their elaborate attire, which alone took a couple of Shichen. The order of departure for these aristocratic families had been established based on their route and departure time, and their carriages had already been quietly lining up outside the family gates, just waiting for the right moment to depart.

"Where’s the carriage?" Nanny Yun turned her head to send Xue Liu to hurry the coachman. Housekeeper He had already followed Prince Duan to the palace. Now Lin Er managed everything in Prince Duan’s Mansion, where there were few people and not many coachmen. The new ones were not yet proficient, and Lin Er, overwhelmed, had just prepared the carriage and arranged the coachman.

"What about the lanterns?" Nanny Yun was still worried, seeing everything in a chaotic hurry, and moreover, this was their commandery princess’s first departure from Prince Duan’s Mansion, and naturally, there could not be any mistakes.

"Oh, lanterns, the master has ordered to use those fine lanterns," Lin Er hurriedly had someone change the lanterns.

Zheng Nianru could barely keep her eyes open, leaning on Nian Xia, while Fu Dong dressed her and combed her hair.

"Commandery Princess, wake up, you cannot sleep anymore." Fu Dong gently shook Zheng Nianru, while Xing Yu packed some snacks in a bag.

"Commandery Princess, let’s take more things with us on the road, who knows when we will be able to eat."

"Oh come on, you can’t bring that into the palace, are you preparing it for yourself?" Nian Xia said peevishly, "You’ll be accompanying the Commandery Princess into the palace, you can’t only look out for food, make sure to stick close to the Commandery Princess and don’t let her be taken advantage of."

Nian Xia anxiously glanced at Xing Yu, whose eyes were only on the food, but then she decided to let it be, as Xing Yu was the only one who could handle trouble should it arise.

"Understood, don’t worry, I will never leave the Commandery Princess’s side," Xing Yu added two more pastries to the cloth bag.

Fu Dong shook her head. Because of the crowd in the palace, each lady from a prominent family was allowed only two female servants to enter, and that was still for the more notable ones, while the ladies had one nanny and one female servant. Some lesser-known ladies had only one or none.

In the end, Nanny Yun decided to let Fu Dong and Xing Yu accompany Zheng Nianru. Fu Dong had a steady temperament and was more able to persuade the Commandery Princess, and though Xing Yu was somewhat younger, her strength was unmatched. She, along with Nian Xia and Xue Liu, would wait outside the palace gates.

"Young Master, we have more pressing matters to attend to—" Elder Can saw his young master standing at the courtyard entrance, using an old tactic, but entering the palace this time was different from before, so naturally, that tactic wouldn’t work.

But Elder Can knew that discussing these matters with the Young Master would definitely not earn him any favor.

Yin He was uninterested; if she was going out, he just wanted to follow her.

"Young Master, what we need is not to be by the Commandery Princess’s side momentarily, but forever," Elder Can said in a low, ostensibly profound voice.

The young man finally turned around. Now, Elder Can had quickly mastered how to catch his young master’s attention, and it was effective every time.

"You have a method?" Yin He spoke, genuinely puzzled, although Elder Can’s approach indeed had some effect. Prince Duan had sent several groups to investigate Zong Yunqian, obviously growing suspicious.

"If the Young Master would trust me, please be patient and wait. Zong Yunqian is just the first step; what follows is most crucial," Elder Can immediately added.

Yin He frowned, disliking the ambiguous talk, wanting clear and complete sentences. But he held back since, in these past few days, this useless person still proved somewhat useful.

Yin He turned her head again, not going anywhere.

...

The long, complicated, and torturous chant finally reached its conclusion. Prince Duan, kneeling in the front row, wanted to sneakily shift his buttocks to relieve his numb knees, but as soon as he moved, he felt as if hundreds of eyes were staring at him from behind and immediately dared not move again.

Zheng Congyuan saw Prince Duan move, turned his head to look at Prince Duan, who immediately smiled awkwardly at Zheng Congyuan and dared not move anymore, continuing to kneel and lean forward.

After the last strike of the solemn bell, the entire area beneath the altar let out a sigh that seemed to come from the depths of everyone’s hearts, as if everyone had imagined it together. Although the entire scene was silent, it seemed as though everyone had heard it.

When people slowly relaxed their stiff postures, the scene had already returned to a warm exchange of conversations, with some walking toward the front palace and others waiting for friends who had not yet recovered.

Prince Duan had a purpose; he saw Master Yu Sheng descending from the altar and when Zheng Congyuan approached, Prince Duan decided to walk in Zheng Congyuan’s direction.

Naturally, another person walked toward Master Yu Sheng.

"Master, Crown Prince—" Prince Duan greeted as usual, Master Yu Sheng nodded, returned the greeting, and appeared amiable.

Zheng Congyuan glanced at Zheng Boding but said nothing.

"Elder Brother—" Zong Yunqian was much more familiar; at this moment, he smiled and stood beside Master Yu Sheng.

"Younger brother, you have been in Zheng Capital for not a short time," Master Yu Sheng began.

Zheng Boding saw Zong Yunqian arriving and immediately felt somewhat dejected, having just caught an opportunity.

"Elder brother, you are unaware—Prince Duan is now my father-in-law by decree of our grandmother and mother, and I am engaged to Princess Chao Ren."

Master Yu Sheng was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, seemingly in disbelief, then he turned to Prince Duan.

"I have not realized that there is such a connection between the younger brother, Prince, and Commandery Princess. Congratulations, congratulations."

Zheng Congyuan looked at Zong Yunqian; it was just an engagement, did he need to announce it so ostentatiously? They were not yet married, and who knew what changes could still occur.

"Thank you, Master Yu Sheng." Prince Duan also mused internally—after all, they had just gotten engaged; it seemed a bit early to say this.

Master Yu Sheng greeted the group again and then left. Zheng Congyuan saw Prince Duan advancing, assuming he had something to discuss with the Master, but Prince Duan did not seem interested in speaking.

"Crown Prince, please—" Zong Yunqian then greeted Zheng Congyuan.

At this point, it was just Prince Duan and Zong Yunqian left.

"Prince, I, as the junior..." Zong Yunqian felt that what he had to say was not something to be casually mentioned in public, so he moved closer.

This movement caused Prince Duan to reflexively step back a greater distance, and a look of fear involuntarily appeared on his face.