Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 278: Second Update

Chapter 278: Chapter 278: Second Update

Just as the carriage was about to collide with Zheng Nianru in the blink of an eye, there was a hush over the crowd, everyone was so startled that they even forgot to scream, with the more faint-hearted involuntarily covering their eyes.

And in that instant, Xing Yu had already slapped the body of the horse with one hand, and in the eyes of the onlookers, Xing Yu’s move was like a hit from a Tang Dynasty jade disk, the next moment, Zheng Nianru and the other two would be trampled under the hooves and ground into mud.

But at this moment, a miracle occurred—the horse suddenly twisted in mid-air into an exaggerated arc and was flung sideways, while the coachman, clutching the reins, was thrown off by the horse. As the carriage, along with the horses, made a grating noise scraping against the stone pavement, the guards who had run over only saw the carriage, whose windows had been flung out, and everyone present was left gaping at the scene.

Even though it had all happened right before their eyes, nobody could understand what had just happened. It was crystal clear to see, yet the outcome was completely opposite to what they had anticipated.

This bewildering sensation left everyone stunned on the spot. The only rational explanation was that the coachman at the last moment had heroically pulled back the horse, which uncontrollably flung itself in the opposite direction.

Even the guards who rushed over were stunned.

The Guard Commander, the moment the carriage tipped over, charged at the horse and with one swift cut, pierced the horse’s heart. Two other guards firmly controlled the horse.

"Quick, save them—" The Guard Commander shouted, snapping everyone back to attention. The groans and screams from inside the carriage were becoming audible.

"Help us, please help—"

The guards quickly dragged out a bloodied female servant from the carriage; she had been outside the carriage and couldn’t dodge in time, getting struck squarely by it, her injuries very serious.

Following her came Princess Helin and her personal female servant, both in a disheveled state.

"Princess, Princess, how are you?" Qin Xin cried out as she yelled. Princess Helin, initially stunned by fright, now came to her senses, only to feel an excruciating pain in her leg.

"My leg—"

"Quickly arrange a carriage to take her back," the Guard Commander ordered upon seeing this. Two guards, not waiting for further instructions, had already picked up the coachman and the carriage and began quickly clearing the scene.

"No, I don’t want to go back, I still have to..."

"Princess..." While the cries and calls continued, they couldn’t match the speed of the guards, and a carriage, unmarked and swift, was already arriving. The guard made a split-second decision and shoved the people into the carriage.

"Princess Helin, this is Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration. With this kind of incident, if it were to reach Her Majesty’s ears, I am afraid that neither you nor I could fulfill our duties," said the Guard Commander as he personally entered the carriage and spoke coldly.

Frightened into silence, Princess Helin dared not cry anymore. How could she have forgotten... How could she have...

"Hurry and take her back," the Guard Commander ordered decisively. It was naturally out of the question to call for the Imperial Physician, as causing an uproar in the palace would only make things worse.

The carriage sped away from the gates of the Imperial Palace. The ladies from prominent families at the scene quickly regained their composure. The events of today would only cause trouble if even spoken of.

Zheng Nianru, still shaken, then pulled Xing Yu to one side to check on her.

"Princess, I’m fine. It didn’t touch me," said Xing Yu, who was also somewhat frightened. She had only given a light push, thinking that if she had killed the horse with one palm, it might have caused trouble for the Princess. The Prince had repeatedly instructed her not to draw attention or let others know about her immense strength. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to protect the Princess.

Zheng Nianru nodded, knowing the incident nor the startled horse was Xing Yu’s fault.

"Commandery Princess, let’s go in--" Fu Dong looked back at the distant carriage that dared not approach, speaking in a still shaken voice.

The procession quickly returned to normal, and the traces on the ground were erased with the utmost speed. Zheng Nianru entered the palace gates, and only then did Fu Dong cling closely to her side.

"Commandery Princess, I personally saw Princess Helin throw the whip at the coachman, causing the horses to be startled," Fu Dong whispered, glancing surreptitiously about. "Could it be that--"

Could it be that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager still refuses to let the Commandery Princess go, and moreover, since the Commandery Princess has taken Heir Zong away, could Princess Helin have done it on purpose?

Zheng Nianru didn’t speak, only feeling it strange. After she married that year, Empress Dowager Yan Ping seemed to have completely disappeared from her world. Was it because, in this life, she left the palace two years earlier than in her previous life, so Empress Dowager Yan Ping had not yet moved on from her hatred?

Zheng Nianru felt that perhaps she was overthinking things.

"Let’s go--" Zheng Nianru didn’t want to stir up trouble, and felt that the Imperial Palace had not yet been marched over and bloodied by her troops, so her confidence in walking in was not as solid.

Inside the palace, the earlier festive atmosphere had been restored. All the female guests were being led by the palace attendants towards the direction of the Harem.

...

Within the front palace, the officials and ministers had already arrived at Hanyuan Hall one after another, where a palace banquet was being held by the Crown Prince in place of Emperor Jingzhi. Rows of banquet tables filled both sides of the great hall, with officials already taking their seats. At the moment, only fruits and fruit wines were on the tables in front of them. The real feast would not begin until the female guests arrived from Xingqing Hall.

Prince Duan didn’t arrive particularly early because the Empress Dowager Yan Ping, due to the multitude of people entering the palace today, had exempted them from greeting her and directed them to go straight to Hanyuan Hall with their entourages.

"Prince Consort, it has been quite some days since we’ve seen each other," Prince Duan only heard a voice, stopping the person walking by him.

He Jin stopped and first bowed to Prince Duan.

"Imperial Uncle--" Prince Duan nodded. He had some connections with the Prince Consort; indeed, before He Jin became a Prince Consort, he had greatly admired He Jin’s talent. What a pity, that such talent had been buried for so many years in the Eldest Princess Mansion.

He Jin did not show an inclination to chat and turned again to pay respects to the official who had just spoken.

"Prince Duan, Prince Consort--" That person did not see Prince Duan at first, and now they made their courtesy before looking towards He Jin, their face full of the desire to converse.

Prince Duan, however, recognized the newcomer. The man held a low-ranking office and had no significant background, one of the colleagues who had left with He Jin, always lukewarm in status.

"Prince Consort, are you in good health?"

Whatever that person was saying, Prince Duan had no interest in listening. He was only concerned that Zheng Congyuan and Mage Yu Sheng had not yet arrived. Prince Duan thought that if he couldn’t seize the opportunity of the banquet, it would be even more difficult to encounter Mage Yu Sheng in the future.

"Brother Gulin has been well, I hope." He Jin glanced at his former friend, before him, who he had once engaged in hearty discussions with, feeling as though it were all part of a distant past.

The man was somewhat anxious, yet this was not the place for a conversation. His question was met with a polite, perfunctory response.

"Prince Consort, may I have a word with you--" Kan Gulin couldn’t bear it. He had heard some rumors, but most were tumultuous and taunting, entertaining like a play on stage, greatly discounted in their truthfulness.

He Jin looked at the other man, whose letters came one after another. He had received them all, but now he had lost interest and did not know in what capacity to converse with the man.

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