Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 276: Second Update

Chapter 276: Chapter 276: Second Update

Prince Duan immediately gave way a body’s distance, but the next moment he awkwardly shrank back a little.

"Heir Zong, you were startled, I did not sleep well the night before last, and knelt here all through the night." Prince Duan said while stretching his hand to his face and letting out a yawn.

"Your Highness, just calling me Yunqian will do. Your Highness, last night was urgent, and I did not get a chance to explain the Ghost Shadow to you. Do not fear, Your Highness, that Ghost Shadow will not appear again anytime soon." Zong Yunqian spoke up. Although he found Prince Duan’s behavior somewhat strange today, he did not think much of it.

"What exactly is the origin of that Ghost Shadow?" Upon hearing Zong Yunqian’s words, Prince Duan first froze, and then followed up with a question, scrutinizing Zong Yunqian’s expression as he asked.

Zong Yunqian felt slightly embarrassed, thinking it would be somewhat embarrassing to admit that he had not yet figured out the origin of the Ghost Shadow. He hesitated for a brief moment.

"Your Highness, that Ghost Shadow is likely an accomplice of the one from last time. Given our residences are close to Weixing Mountain, it’s probable that they accidentally intruded." Zong Yuanqian’s analysis was not without reason; the Ghost Shadow’s energy seemed more powerful, but it was unlikely that two separate groups of Ghost Shadows would appear at the same time.

Prince Duan sneered inwardly, thinking if that was the case, what was there to hesitate about, but outwardly he nodded as if he had just realized something.

"Then I must thank you, Heir, for arriving in time to save both myself and my daughter." Prince Duan said this with a smile on his face. To outsiders, the two appeared to be having a cheerful conversation.

"Your Highness is too polite, it is my duty." Zong Yunqian said somewhat awkwardly.

The walk together of Prince Duan and Heir Zong immediately drew the attention of others, especially those walking behind. The hottest topic at the moment was the marriage alliance between Prince Duan and the Zong Sheng Residence.

Those who had yet to understand were still puzzled about how Prince Duan had formed a marriage alliance with the Heir of the Zong Sheng Residence, while those with quicker minds had already turned the alliance between the two residences into a political alliance for mutual interests, with changes in the imperial court’s situation, and a subtle balance of benefits being exchanged amidst the officials’ hypocritical and courteous conversations.

...

And on the ladies’ side of the Aristocratic Families, their tactful but more direct and confrontational approach was far more so than that of the men.

Carriages adorned with the crests of the Aristocratic Families lined up in a row, slowly making their way towards the Imperial Palace.

Princess Helin’s carriage, which had always been at the front, halted as it was about to turn into the main entrance towards the palace gates, puzzling Princess Helin. She lifted the carriage curtain to see a seemingly endless line of carriages ahead, and a dense crowd adorned in colorful attire flanking them.

Princess Helin frowned slightly, checking her own position, only to find that there were unexpectedly many carriages lined up before hers.

"Go and check, which Aristocratic Families have carriages in front?" Princess Helin ordered Dui Yun, the female servant following by the carriage. The maid received the order and headed towards the front. The main road was crowded with carriages and people, but there was a lack of loud conversations, as if a tension was being suppressed. The closer the carriages got to the Imperial Palace, the more apparent it became.

Dui Yun did not ask anyone and went directly to inspect the carriages in front of her mistress. She then proceeded straight to the front of the line and quickly returned, walking briskly but steadily, cautiously hurrying back to her mistress.

"Princess."

Princess Helin lifted the carriage curtain, and a gentle breeze blew past, carrying a tantalizingly elusive fragrance that intoxicated her heart. For a moment, the young girl was entranced, but then she was struck by the thought: why was this fragrance so unique, and moreover, she could not guess what incense it was?

"Commandery Princess, I have counted. There are sixteen carriages in front of our mansion," Dui Yun said cautiously.

"Sixteen? Are you sure you counted correctly?" Princess Helin frowned. How could she be the seventeenth? She had thought it over at home, and even if their Nanan Aristocratic Family could not be among the top ten, they should at least have been in the fifteenth or sixteenth spot. Furthermore, she did not like the number seventeen. Princess Helin clutched her sleeve tightly, immediately thinking that the Fu Feng, Ma Family must be enjoying the limelight now. With their family’s dwindling numbers and her father gone, it was natural for them to bully her Nanan Aristocratic Family; those who were dead were dead, and those who were sick were sick. No one would stand up for them.

Dui Yun did not dare to speak. Ever since Heir Zong became engaged to Princess Chao Ren, the princess’s temper had changed from her previously quiet and introverted nature to an increasingly unconcealed hatred.

"Perhaps I miscounted," Dui Yun did not dare to argue and was ready to kneel down.

"Do you not have a brain? With so many people around, are you intentionally trying to disgrace our Nanan Family?" The maid by Princess Helin’s side spoke up as she saw Dui Yun about to kneel.

Princess Helin snorted coldly. This remark did serve as a reminder that on this day, she couldn’t even scold her servants to her satisfaction.

"Just tell me, which aristocratic families’ carriages are there?" Princess Helin slowly asked. She wanted to see which aristocratic family dared to rank ahead of their Nanan Family.

"Resp-responding to the Commandery Princess, there aren’t many families. Leading is the Eldest Princess’s carriage, followed by the twelve carriages of the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family’s elderly ladies and Eldest Madams, then Miss Nanmen’s carriage, Miss Zhang of the Zhang Family of Hejian, and another one, another one... is Prince Duan’s Mansion’s carriage," Dui Yun dared not lie and just after she had spoken, she saw the Princess’s chief female servant staring at her fiercely, as if to say she had touched upon a sore point.

Princess Helin did not react at first but then realized why she had miscalculated. Even the carriage of Princess Chao Ren was ahead of them?

Princess Helin snorted coldly. Nanmen Yuyan was ranked in front of her because she had been designated as the Crown Princess Consort by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. And since Miss Zhang was favored by Noble Consort Wen, she was likely being considered as the Fourth Prince’s Princess Consort. That was tolerable, but as a Commandery Princess, just because that woman got engaged to Heir Zong, she was ranked before her.

In the past, that lowly person would not have had a place at such a banquet.

Princess Helin’s gaze turned fierce. That despicable woman was ranked right in front of her, which was a blatant slap to her face. Those daughters of aristocratic families at this moment could well be sitting in their boring carriages, scheming against her.

"Foolish girl, go and fetch the Commandery Princess a water jug," Qin Xin, Princess Helin’s chief female servant, immediately said, approaching her.

"Commandery Princess, today is the Empress Dowager’s birthday. We mustn’t make any mistakes. If something goes wrong, it would be a slight against the Empress Dowager herself," Qin Xin said with a frightened expression.

"I am well aware," Princess Helin responded with a cold snort, struggling to swallow her indignation.

Just then, a burst of laughter like the tinkling of silver bells came from ahead. In this cautiously respectful procession, it was very evident and eye-catching. Princess Helin then saw through the carriage curtain a plump little girl in fresh and dainty clothes, her face full of baby fat and brimming with laughter, as if she were the embodiment of April’s efflorescence, fragrant and lovely.

That faint yet unmistakable scent appeared intermittently once again.

The expression on Princess Helin’s face changed as she tightened her grip on the handkerchief in her hand.

She did not seek trouble, yet the other party had brought trouble upon her. She could not swallow this indignation.

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