Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 28 Leaving the Palace

Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Leaving the Palace

Nanny Du immediately stepped forward and knelt down.

"This servant deserves death, this servant has spoken out of turn." Nanny Du was an old nanny from the palace, and even more so, the most capable right-hand person beside Empress Dowager Yan Ping. As she knelt, the entire room followed suit.

Empress Dowager Yan Ping did not, as usual, tell everyone to rise, but instead looked at Prince Duan.

In his forties, still personifying distinguished grace, isn’t there a single girl from the many respectable families within Nanzheng State that you find suitable?.

Empress Dowager Yan Ping took a deep breath, angry, but what use was there in anger? If it had been of any use, it wouldn’t have come to this point today.

"Boding, the legitimate second young miss of the Founding County Duke’s Family has delayed her marriage due to the old duke’s passing. I see that the girl is quite exceptional, possessing the valor of the Fu Feng, Ma Family." After all these years, how many times has it been now? A prince, cannot possibly stay a widower for that lowly woman, can he?

"Mother, I have no such plans at the moment." Were these the conditions for allowing Nian Ru to stay for a while?

Empress Dowager Yan Ping wished she could hurl the tea in her hand, Nanny Du scurried forward on her knees to block in front of Prince Duan.

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, as the Prince has not yet seen the second young miss of the duke’s family, why not meet her first? Once he sees this second miss, he will surely know that you are sincerely considering for Prince Duan," Nanny Du quickly said, trying to prevent another argument.

Prince Duan looked up, silently glancing at Empress Dowager Yan Ping, weighing the pros and cons, a own son was also a pawn in hand.

"Mother, your son has matters to attend to and must take his leave." Having said that, he left Xingqing Hall without looking back.

"You—" Empress Dowager Yan Ping clanged the teacup in her hand to the floor, and the servants kneeling on the ground dared not get up. Nanny Du, distressed, went to wipe the water off the Empress Dowager’s hand.

"Your Majesty, it’s not for this servant to overstep, but the child and grandchild have their own fortunes. Prince Duan is a kind-hearted child, if you would just speak to him properly..."

"You just spoil him—" Empress Dowager Yan Ping shook off her hand.

Nanny Du did not dare to say more, carefully cleaned up the teacup, and retired with a sense of helplessness.

...

Qishun Building was almost the last to receive the notice to go to the Traveling Palace; Nanny Yun incredulously asked the eunuch who delivered the message several times before she believed it.

Zheng Nianru was not surprised, because in her previous life they had also gone to the Traveling Palace. The only change was the location of their lodging; what didn’t change was that she was still prohibited from going out, still confined to a courtyard.

"What’s the difference?" Zheng Nianru bent over, her sinuous waistline arching into a curve. Fu Dong kept the rhythm with the clapper, watching Nian Xia carry in items while she beat the time.

"Was this sent by the Crown Prince?" Nanny Yun glanced at the food box, containing flaky cheese cakes, milk dates, and another sweet treat, not worrying at all that their Commandery Princess would eat too much.

"At this time it should be Steward Hu," Nian Xia spoke as she walked. However, haven’t these deliveries been too frequent lately, three meals a day?

Nanny Yun glanced at her own Commandery Princess, somewhat puzzled what she was thinking. Even the servants from the Crown Prince’s Mansion had noticed it. Nanny Yun sighed internally, had it not been a desperate situation back then, who would have chosen this path?

In those years, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager explicitly aimed to kill the Commandery Princess, because as the Commandery Princess grew older, Prince Duan’s desire for her return to his mansion became more urgent.

Therefore, an accident happening to the Commandery Princess, where the blame couldn’t fall on Her Majesty, was simply the best solution to the problem.

The Commandery Princess had been seriously ill, unable to leave her bed for a month, and even now she suffered from a condition where her legs ached whenever it rained.

Later, she spared no effort in everything she did, and it was during one of those near-death moments that they encountered the Crown Prince.

Nanny Yun felt as if she had seen the light, just like a drowning person glimpsing hope.

With the Crown Prince’s care, their lives became much easier, and he skillfully resolved the escalating struggle for power between the Empress Dowager and Prince Duan, leading to the status quo.

So, what was the use of discussing what should or should not be done with them, a group who originally had no future? The furthest they could reach was the Crown Prince, and it was he who had given them their current peace and security.

"Commandery Princess, should we inform the Crown Prince that we are going to the traveling palace?"

Zheng Nianru slowly arched her back, collapsing bonelessly onto a low couch beside her, with only her bright, moon-like eyes open, staring at Nanny Yun.

"Of course we should tell him." She was aware of the abilities of the people on Qishun Road, with simple minds and even simpler perspectives, who, despite everything, never changed their ways and were repeatedly outwitted by Ju Nanyi.

Although her previous life at the traveling palace hadn’t led to any major accidents, what if something happened this time? What if she died out there?

"Shall we go to the Crown Prince’s Mansion today?" Nanny Yun gently persuaded, counting the days since their last visit.

Zheng Nianru was momentarily startled, her suppressed and uncontrollable emotions easily coaxed out as if a child was tempted by a devil’s candy, naively ready to step forward.

Zheng Nianru lowered her head to hide the fleeting emotions in her eyes and stepped down from the soft bed, barefoot, to sit at the desk.

Zheng Nianru was not good at writing, and even her reading had been uncompromisingly taught by a nanny, who had not put in much effort. As for painting, she hardly met even the most basic standards for decency.

Zheng Nianru painted a rabbit but found it unsatisfactory and discarded it. She tried again but was still not content, and even less so with the subsequent attempts, although her hand was already sore. Placing the brush down, she carefully blew the ink dry.

"Are you really going to send this?" Nanny Yun disapproved. Who would want to see your rabbit? If Qishun Building didn’t house rabbits, she could hardly recognize it as one.

"Let Xing Yu deliver it, quickly there and back." Zheng Nianru confidently nodded, feeling she was very clever. It’s better to start by not seeing him and to lower his guard gradually.

As night fell, Zheng Nianru went to sleep early, and everyone was busy packing, exhausted. The whole Qishun Building turned off its lights, as if hidden in the night, lifeless.

The young man’s footsteps were very light. He glanced at the rabbit curled up in the corridor, dazed for a moment before slowly entering the building.

The moonlight, aided by the breeze, spilled in, elongating the shadow of the youth, resembling a nocturnal cat. The next moment, he paused his step, as if he had stepped on something, and bent down to pick it up.

The paper made an exaggerated rustling in the darkness. Even by moonlight, the youth could make out the drawing’s content, feeling a desire to laugh, yet also...

"Who’s there?" Before the young man could look up, a sudden light burst from the darkness, and although it could not illuminate his figure, it was enough to reveal his presence.

As Nanny Yun screamed, two figures rapidly lunged towards the young man, who grew cold and turned to flee. However, they caught his shoulder faster, and the force was so strong that it made the young man’s legs buckle in pain.

"Who’s there?" Nanny Yun hurried forward, holding up a lantern.