Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 281: One More

Chapter 281: Chapter 281: One More

Ju Nanyi hurried back to the Imperial Palace from outside the palace, and Qi Lin, the newly appointed Deputy Commander of the Imperial Forest Guard, was guarding the gate and immediately greeted him upon arrival.

"Lord Ju, you’ve finally arrived—the Crown Prince has been waiting for you." Ju Nanyi nodded, and Qi Lin immediately led him towards the interior of the palace.

At that moment, with the urgency of the situation, when the carriage charged towards Zheng Nianru, Ju Nanyi felt as if his heart was about to fly out. Fortunately, he knew Xing Yu was strong and also knew that the carriage’s charge had been deliberate.

Ju Nanyi did not know how to describe his feelings at that time. The things that had been suppressed within him erupted in that instant. He had insisted on standing at the palace gate just in case those monsters took the opportunity to strike, and perhaps he had a personal reason—to openly see that figure during such moments.

So, when the guards rushed out, he frantically followed without any regard for the consequences. Ju Nanyi wished he could have killed everyone on the carriage, but reason told him that he couldn’t do that at the moment. His presence here was already hard to explain. On the surface, he simply scared Princess Helin, but there was no urgency in this matter; there would be other opportunities in the future to clear any connections.

Ju Nanyi regained a bit of calm and had his people return to the palace first to report to Zheng Congyuan about his following the carriage.

With calm steps, Ju Nanyi thought of a very reasonable excuse on his way from the gate to this location. Even if what he did was excessive, it was something the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family’s power had to take seriously.

"Crown Prince—" Even if the Crown Prince thought his actions were overboard, he was willing to...

"Nanyi, your timing is impeccable." Zheng Congyuan didn’t wait for Ju Nanyi to speak. Even with his calm demeanor, he could not control his anxious emotions. The thought of what nearly happened, of Nian Ru being trampled to death by the horse hooves, or even injured, filled him with a murderous rage, "Was it intentional?"

Zheng Congyuan looked at Ju Nanyi. He was aware of Ju Nanyi’s character. If Ju Nanyi followed the carriage out, then the incident was not as simple as an accident, and the carriage’s sudden change in direction was likely not a fortunate mishap.

"Your Highness’s insight is like that of a deity, indeed it was intentional." Regardless of whether Princess Helin’s thrown riding crop would have spooked the horses, it was thrown by Princess Helin herself.

"I worried that Princess Helin might say something else, so I took the initiative to act in advance. I would ask for your understanding, Your Highness..." The Crown Prince valued Prince Duan, and now that Prince Duan’s connections with the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family had become intertwined, it was only natural for the Crown Prince to take it seriously.

"You did well. I feel very assured with you handling the matter. But remember one thing: do not encourage this kind of behavior." Zheng Congyuan’s voice was icy. If he had been there, if he had been present, he would not have let Princess Helin get so far.

"Yes." Ju Nanyi bowed his head, burying his private desires beneath his gaze, ready to withdraw.

"Nanyi—" Zheng Congyuan suddenly called out to Ju Nanyi. He couldn’t feel at ease entrusting this to anyone else.

"You personally take a few guards from the Imperial Forest Guard and check on Xingqing Hall." Zheng Congyuan didn’t know what he was worried about. Within the palace, Zheng Tianxin wouldn’t dare to be so brazen, and Empress Dowager Yan Ping was also there.

But would the incident outside the palace gate...

"Yes—" Ju Nanyi glanced at Zheng Congyuan and quickly turned to leave. Ju Nanyi could feel Zheng Congyuan’s worry. From Zheng Congyuan’s perspective, nothing could go wrong with Princess Chao Ren at this moment. Any mishap would be most disadvantageous for the Crown Prince.

As for the interests of others, that was less certain.

...

Zheng Nianru did not fail to notice Zhang Linghui; however, Zheng Nianru had not thought it related to him in any way. Fu Dong felt a bit fearful upon looking at Lingqu Bridge, despite the warm surroundings, and involuntarily shivered.

"Commandery Princess, shall we take that path over there?" Fu Dong pointed to a slightly circuitous route not far away.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Nianru couldn’t help but want to laugh. What was it, was she now afraid of a bridge? In her past life, she hadn’t been afraid. After she had become the Empress Dowager, she had even thought about demolishing it but could never bring herself to do so in the end.

The bridge afforded a view of the entire garden, a place that Zheng Nianru would come to favor.

Trailing behind her, Zhang Linghui looked up slightly. How could this be acceptable? Tang Wei seemed to sense something off about Zhang Linghui and wanted to speak out when Zhang Linghui suddenly grabbed her arm.

"Miss Tang, the person up ahead..." Zhang Linghui frowned slightly, as if not quite recognizing the individual, "Could it be Princess Chao Ren?"

Tang Wei did not respond. Zhang Linghui knew of Princess Chao Ren; Tang Wei had been aware of this since their time at Siyan Lake. Now that she spoke in this manner, Tang Wei could only assume that the other party wanted to make a jest at her expense.

So let them look— as long as she didn’t see it as a joke, it was all right.

"Miss Zhang, I am not acquainted with Commandery Princess Chao Ren." Tang Wei’s refusal was straightforward as she tried to free her wrist, but Zhang Linghui simply smiled.

"Once you have seen each other, are you not acquainted?" How could she let such a good opportunity slip by?

Zhang Linghui led Tang Wei forward.

"There’s no need; Xing Yu will be unable to find us." Zheng Nianru didn’t want to dwell on her past life anymore. What was the point of thinking about it? She was merely living a second life, not having become wiser, nor able to command the wind or summon the rain. The things she couldn’t obtain before, she still couldn’t obtain now.

Zheng Nianru walked towards the bridge. In the years after Zheng Congyuan was gone, she would often stand on the bridge, reminiscing about the time when Zheng Congyuan had rescued her from the river. Even though his body was as cold as a lump of ice, it was the warmest embrace Zheng Nianru had ever felt.

"Commandery Princess, it’s so like Xing Yu, how come she hasn’t come yet—" Such a short distance, given Xing Yu’s speed, she should have arrived.

"Princess Chao Ren—" Zhang Linghui suddenly called out, prompting Zheng Nianru to notice that Zhang Linghui, who was some distance away, had already closed in behind her, alongside Tang Wei, who had not given Zheng Nianru as much as a glance, but bowed in greeting.

"Miss Zhang, Miss Tang—" In her previous life, Zheng Nianru had no memory of any young lady from an aristocratic family, nor did she know what Zhang Linghui and Tang Wei had done during that time.

"Let’s walk together—" Zhang Linghui was tall and, at this moment, felt even bolder, possessing a certain rugged strength.

Zheng Nianru neither agreed nor refused. The road didn’t belong to her; she naturally couldn’t refuse.

Then, as Zhang Linghui slowly approached the peak of the bridge, she turned to her female servant, who immediately stepped forward. Tang Wei had already found Zhang Linghui’s behavior strange today, so she was on her guard. When Zhang Linghui’s female servant suddenly stepped forward, she immediately took a stance.

In haste, Zhang Linghui pushed towards Tang Wei’s female servant. Seeing this, her two female servants moved quickly towards Zheng Nianru and Fu Dong, exerting their greatest force to push them.

Tang Wei watched, dumbfounded, as her protest of "What are you trying to do?" came out too late.

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