Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 277: One More

Chapter 277: Chapter 277: One More

"Commandery Princess, we must endure," Qin Xin grabbed her princess’s arm and cautiously leaned close to the girl’s ear, "Today, we have plenty of opportunities, and the princess must pretend to be on very good terms with Princess Chao Ren to rid herself of suspicion."

Upon hearing this, Princess Helin immediately understood what Qin Xin meant.

The carriage moved slowly, like a snail, wearing down everyone’s patience.

In Zheng Nianru’s carriage, a small block of ice kept the air from being too stifling. With Nian Xia and Xing Yu keeping things light-hearted, Zheng Nianru, who disliked the Imperial Palace and had no expectations, was, therefore, more relaxed than anyone else, as well as all the servants, amidst the increasingly tense and oppressive atmosphere in the air.

As Xin Qu stepped down from the carriage to fetch a handkerchief, she noticed not far behind, a pert little girl jumped down from another carriage—it was precisely this nimble action that caught Xin Qu’s attention towards Xing Yu. Xin Qu’s eyes followed the young girl who was holding a box of pastries and trying to stuff them into the hands of a hesitant servant, who, instead of accepting, seemed intent on scolding Xing Yu, causing her to hurriedly duck and cover her head.

Xin Qu laughed at the scene and instantly became curious—whose daughter was this? Everyone else dared not breathe too loudly, for fear of making a fool of themselves and bringing shame to their prestigious families.

"Sister Xin Qu, what does the young mistress desire?" the female servant walking beside the carriage asked, noticing Xin Qu had paused.

"Is there any water?" Xin Qu diverted her gaze, remembering the task at hand.

The female servant shook her head.

"Sister Xin Qu, the lady has said the palace is different from outside; taking even one extra step is not advisable."

"They won’t even allow us to drink water?" Xin Qu sighed inwardly and returned to the carriage.

Seeing Xin Qu return empty-handed, Nanmen Yuyan knew there was no water brought, yet she was not annoyed; it was merely a day’s ordeal. From entering the palace to greet the Empress Dowager, then proceeding to a banquet, even if slow, it would only be half a day at most. She could endure. Moreover, Nanmen Yuyan believed that among the many ladies from aristocratic families who had begun fasting water and food since midnight, many were afraid of losing control and causing a scene at a critical moment.

"Miss, I saw that the second carriage from the back had water; perhaps we could..." Despite herself, Xin Qu couldn’t help but speak up.

"Never mind, let’s not bother others. Is it the second carriage, Princess Helin’s carriage?" Nanmen Yuyan slightly turned her head and asked—it could be possible that Princess Helin had brought it.

"It doesn’t seem so; I’ve seen Princess Helin’s female servant a few times before, and that one..." Xin Qu furrowed her brows, the servant looked unfamiliar, and Xin Qu felt as though she had seen her somewhere but couldn’t recall where.

"Not Princess Helin?" Nanmen Yuyan was surprised—unlikely, since the Zhang Family of Hejian had pulled strings through their acquaintance with the Eldest Princess and even got involved with the Fourth Prince’s affairs, and had become incredibly popular in recent years, pushing their way in front of Princess Helin. But who else could have such influence?

Nanmen Yuyan looked doubtfully at her own maid.

"Shall I go check if that female servant might not be closely associated with Princess Helin?" Xin Qu immediately suggested.

"No need, I know who it is," Nanmen Yuyan suddenly thought of someone—it was true, the queue of women entering the palace was managed by the Eldest Princess, who naturally shared interests with the Crown Prince, thus naturally promoting Prince Duan’s lineage.

Moreover, because of Princess Chao Ren’s good fate, tying up with Zong Sheng Residence during this time, many envied such luck.

As for the talks of celestial compatibility and saving the Heir Zong, Nanmen Yuyan wasn’t entirely convinced. The political landscape of the court was treacherously unpredictable, with countless dealings and strategies under a facade of calm—all tied closely to the dynamics at court, which outsiders found hard to understand.

"Xin Qu—" Nanmen Yuyan glanced at her female servant, Xin Qu immediately leaned in, and Nanmen Yuyan whispered something in Xin Qu’s ear. After listening, Xin Qu nodded and then quietly sat back down.

The long procession moved forward slowly, and an hour later, the front of the line finally slowly entered the square outside the Southern Palace Gate of the Imperial Palace, followed by the rest of the procession which stopped smoothly at their designated spots.

Xing Yu, what are you doing? You’re sitting on my clothes." Nian Xia dragged out a corner of her robe from beneath Xing Yu.

Zheng Nianru flipped through the picture book, engrossed in the story.

"Commandery Princess, would you like some fruit dew?" Fu Dong brought over some fruit dew and Zheng Nianru, not looking, drank a few sips from Fu Dong’s hand.

The carriage continued to move forward slowly.

By this time, the carriage became slower and slower, waiting for the carriages ahead to stop and for the crowd to approach the palace gate. The Eldest Princess had already entered the palace gate, and the general convoy had yet to catch a glimpse of the Southern Palace Gate.

Zheng Nianru’s carriage finally came to a stop, but Zheng Nianru had not yet finished her picture book, being at an exciting part, so she did not immediately get down even though the carriage had stopped.

"Commandery Princess, let’s get down first. We’ll take the picture book with us, and you can continue reading it in a secluded spot, okay?" Fu Dong patiently coaxed.

Seeing no one alighting from the waiting carriage, Princess Helin impatiently lifted a corner of the carriage curtain; her mood, already quite irritable, grew even more furious due to the delay from the carriage ahead.

"So inconsiderate." Princess Helin threw down the curtain, and her maid Qin Xin, who was beside her, dared not advise her and could only signal Dui Yun outside the carriage.

"Why aren’t we moving yet?" Dui Yun asked the coachman.

"Commandery Princess," Fu Dong called Zheng Nianru again with patience. Zheng Nianru finished the page and then handed the book to Fu Dong. Fu Dong and Xing Yu immediately got out of the carriage, assisting Zheng Nianru to alight.

Unable to restrain herself, Princess Helin lifted the curtain again and, unable to vent her anger on bystanders, impulsively grabbed a horsewhip from the carriage and threw it at the coachman.

"Why aren’t we moving?" The coachman was struck in the head by the horsewhip, causing him to suddenly tighten the reins in his hand; the horse neighed loudly and, lifting its front hooves, charged forward.

Princess Helin was instantly petrified.

The crowd too was startled by the horse’s neigh and, right before the stunned eyes of Zhang Linghui, the horse charged towards Zheng Nianru and the two others.

"Quick, move away!" the coachman was panic-stricken, yet he was a reliable coachman who didn’t lose his composure and tried to control the horse, but the distance was too close, and the carriage was already about to collide with the three of them.

"Ah—" Numerous maids waiting beside the carriages screamed sharply.

Princess Helin, aboard the carriage, was by then utterly blank-minded; she hadn’t intended...

Nanmen Yuyan was already nearing the palace gate and, looking back, she quickly motioned to her two maids standing by the carriage to rescue them.

The two rushed swiftly towards Zheng Nianru’s direction, but it was clear to everyone that they were too late.

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