Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 283: One More

Chapter 283: Chapter 283: One More

"What if not?"

Zheng Nianru suddenly felt like laughing at the ludicrous idea that had suddenly popped into her head.

How could Ju Nanyi possibly... She remembered the first time she seduced him; Ju Nanyi’s naive and excessive reactions, his eyes filled with surprise and panic, as if he had never seen a woman before.

Zheng Nianru suddenly looked towards Ju Nanyi and took a step forward, looking at her silk handkerchief that had fallen from the bridge. She had clutched it in her hand when it dropped, and she had no recollection of how it ended up in Ju Nanyi’s hand. In that critical moment, she had instinctively embraced Ju Nanyi, driven by a desire to survive, and hadn’t paid any attention to Ju Nanyi’s reaction.

So...

Zheng Nianru took another step closer. Fu Dong felt that her commandery princess seemed different somehow but couldn’t quite put her finger on what was different. However, having been with Zheng Nianru for so many years, Fu Dong had reflexively stepped forward to block the view of Tang Wei and her maid behind her, without even knowing why she did it.

"Thank you, Lord Ju, for saving my life." Zheng Nianru pulled her silk handkerchief back from the man’s palm. Her fingers, seemingly unintentional yet deliberately lingering for two extra seconds, could even feel the warmth of his palm before she finally withdrew her hand.

In that instant, even if it was just for a moment, Zheng Nianru could clearly feel the man’s hand tremble violently, a reaction that mirrored the panic and disarray she remembered.

Ju Nanyi’s mind went blank for a moment. He didn’t know, didn’t know what kind of action to display. This unprecedented contact, both through the silk handkerchief and directly skin-to-skin, seemed to unlock all his nerves, like a dredging river, a crystal-clear stream flowing from his limbs to his heart, singing a joyful tune.

By the time he came to his senses, Zheng Nianru had already turned around, preparing to leave with Fu Dong and Xing Yu.

Fu Dong opened her mouth to say something but ended up saying nothing.

The commandery princess’s actions just now had been obvious. Nanny Yun had taught her so many times, and naturally, Fu Dong could see that the princess was seducing Lord Ju. The princess seducing Lord Ju? Why? Why would the princess want to seduce Lord Ju?

Fu Dong felt completely off, her steps a mess, almost stepping on Xing Yu.

"Watch where you’re going—" Fu Dong immediately rolled her eyes at Xing Yu, who was foolishly grinning, clueless.

Xing Yu looked aggrieved, still holding a wooden box in her arms.

What’s wrong with her? She didn’t know. She had only been walking for a while, and trouble had already found the princess.

At this moment, Tang Wei was comforting her maid and was too distracted to pay attention to anything else, even too distracted to talk to Princess Chao Ren. Though her mind was a mess, she managed to clarify some things quickly.

When Zheng Nianru stepped into Hanyuan Hall, the guests had already started to take their seats and were still whispering quietly

In the hall, where whispers continued, one praised the beauty and propriety of his daughter, another extolled the talents of your son. Amidst the chatter, Prince Duan had been watching the entrance, growing anxious as the women had almost all arrived but Zheng Nianru was yet to appear, when finally he saw Zheng Nianru at the entrance.

The banquet suddenly fell silent; many eyes turned toward the person at the door.

"Who is that?"

Not many had seen Princess Chao Ren, and even fewer officials had, so they were taken aback by the sudden appearance of this unfamiliar face, and the next moment, they were dazzled by her.

Thus, the curiosity grew even more.

The ladies of the aristocratic families, seeing this, fully understood the thoughts in their lords’ minds, especially the instinctive expressions that didn’t pass through their brains.

Prince Duan could no longer sit still and immediately went to greet her, wishing he could use a veil to wrap up his own daughter completely.

"Father King—" why did you come out to meet us? It’s unreasonable, and with so many people watching, it’s even more inappropriate.

Prince Duan didn’t care about these things. He glanced at Fu Dong and Xing Yu behind him and said nothing.

"Nian Ru, come with Father King." Prince Duan stood to the side, blocking the view from one side, but he couldn’t block the other side and had to give up.

Suddenly, the people in the hall realized who Prince Duan’s...

At that moment, they noticed even more that the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family was right next to Prince Duan’s position.

At this point, the women’s gazes clearly carried envy and jealousy. How could such a woman become the wife to the Heir of the highest status among the aristocratic families? Unless they married the Crown Prince or a Prince, they wouldn’t have to greet her—why should they?

And what’s more, Heir Zong was sitting there very healthy, now even standing up—why?

"Heir Zong—" Zheng Nianru, seeing Zong Yunqian stand up, had to greet him, though she felt there was no need, as theirs was a marriage of transaction.

Zong Yunqian considerately stepped aside, allowing Zheng Nianru to approach the second row behind him.

Prince Duan was quite pleased with Zong Yunqian’s action, about to nod in acknowledgment when he suddenly remembered the terrifying scenes of that night, eventually withdrawing his gaze. This matter could not be delayed; it had to be thoroughly investigated.

"Take good care of your Commandery Princess." Prince Duan was not reassured.

"Rest assured, Prince." Fu Dong led the bow, and the two knelt beside Zheng Nianru, one to the left and one to the right.

The Eldest Princess’s position was in the second row right in front of the Empress Dowager. At this moment, her neighbors were several Princes and Princesses and a few sisters from the Xiao Family, all trying different ways to keep the Eldest Princess happy.

"Eldest Princess—"

"Eldest Princess—" Jin Luo called again, her gaze complex as she watched Zheng Nianru enter unharmed. She felt uneasy, and moreover, Princess Chao Ren and Tang Wei were perfectly fine, unharmed; was Zhang Linghui a fool not daring to make a move?

"Eldest Princess—" Zheng Tianxin then turned her head, glanced at Jin Luo, and saw Jin Luo cautiously looking in Zheng Nianru’s direction.

Zheng Tianxin looked over and suddenly laughed, "She didn’t die? Seems like she has a strong fate."

Just then, at the banquet hall entrance, Zhang Linghui entered in a panicked and stumbling manner, supported by two maids who were also in a panic but struggling to remain calm.

Zheng Tianxin, seeing this, understood everything—useless, couldn’t handle even a minor task.

The Zhang Family of Hejian also noticed Zhang Linghui; Elder Zhang frowned slightly, questioning the propriety. Eldest Lady Zhang immediately went to receive her at the hall entrance.

"Why are you coming so late? What happened?" Eldest Lady Zhang saw her daughter’s pale face and asked worriedly.

"Mother, I’m fine." Zhang Linghui dared not look at others, shrugged off concern with another topic. "I just got lost, but fortunately, I made it back."

"Come inside quickly." Eldest Lady Zhang glanced around and quickly pulled her daughter to their seats.

At this moment, the entire hall was almost completely filled, except for the high seats. Everyone invariably looked toward the main seat, voices gradually lowering, and almost no one was moving around anymore.

Just then, Ju Nanyi entered from the main entrance. Zhang Linghui gasped, and Eldest Lady Zhang quickly grabbed her daughter’s hand. Fortunately, Zhang Linghui’s voice was not loud, and Eldest Lady Zhang knew this was not the moment to ask questions.

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