Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 329 - 319: One More Update

Chapter 329: Chapter 319: One More Update

Prince Duan finally caught up with Zheng Haoyuan an hour later. Zheng Haoyuan held up the hem of his robe himself, not needing Cang Er’s support, and walked at the forefront. His pair of brocade boots were already covered in mud, and his outer robe had long been discarded. The sleeves of his single garment had also been rolled up to the crook of his arms, his face was a sheet of contusion, with only two lines washed by tears still showing his fair skin.

"Imperial Uncle——" Upon hearing Lu Hu’s words, Zheng Haoyuan went directly to receive Prince Duan. Before he even approached, he knelt down with a plop on the muddy bank of the river.

"Imperial Uncle, it’s all my fault, I deserve to die——" Zheng Haoyuan truly wished to die, his mind was filled with the thought that he had caused his cousin’s death.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Boding looked at Zheng Haoyuan’s current state, and his anger dissipated by half. Although he was angry at Zheng Haoyuan for taking Nian Ru out, which led to this incident, the accident was not caused by Zheng Haoyuan, but by Zong Yunqian who fell down with her.

"Get up, we’ll talk after finding the person——" Zheng Boding couldn’t say anything else. If they couldn’t find Nian Ru, he wouldn’t forgive Zheng Haoyuan either.

"Yes, yes——" Zheng Haoyuan wiped his tears, his arms were equally dirty, but he didn’t care and continued walking forward. More and more torches were lit.

"Imperial Uncle, don’t worry, Lord Ben and Lord Chen who manage the river have already been captured by me. They say that the riverbed is all silt, which means there’s a high chance of my cousin surviving. However, the river is rapid, and my cousin might have been washed downstream." Zheng Haoyuan said while supporting Zheng Boding as they continued looking downstream.

Along the way, faint lights stretched increasingly farther from the foot of Golden Spirit Mountain.

...

Wen Ling’s body was sent back on the third day. It was the Loyal Warriors of Wen Family who remembered the kindness of past days, and since Wen Ling didn’t sully others, his colleagues didn’t want him to be without a proper burial after death. Thus, it was secretly arranged by Lu Hu that the body be sent back.

Wen Gongliang had already passed away, and his only son, Wen Yongzhi, was a simple and timid man. He was a yes-man all his life, doing odd jobs for the Wen Residence.

Having waited at home for two days, Wen Yongzhi had asked a few friends who were close to Wen Ling but didn’t find out any useful information. However, his wife heard some news from the Wen Family, saying that Wen Ling had an audience with the Fourth Prince in the palace.

This old woman was originally a young lady from a fallen official’s family, somewhat resourceful and good at dealing with people. She had finally managed to secure such a position for her son, but being at the lower rungs of society, she had no idea whether Wen Ling’s palace visit was good or bad. Since the incident at Riverfood Restaurant, Wen Ying’s eyelids had been twitching incessantly, and with her brother missing for two days, she felt increasingly uneasy.

However, Wen Ying kept comforting herself. Her brother was now a Loyalist of the Wen Family. Those people, for the sake of the Wen Family’s face, wouldn’t dare touch her brother, and if they had wanted to act, how could she still be at home?

On the third morning, Wen Ling’s body lay across the courtyard beside Wen Yongzhi’s house on the street belonging to the Wen Residence. Before Wen Yongzhi had time to grieve, Wen Ling’s mother let out a wail and immediately fainted.

"My Lords, how could a man who left in good health be gone now?" Wen Yongzhi cried out, grabbing the guard who once served with Wen Ling.

The guard felt pity, after all, they had worked together. Not wanting Wen Yongzhi to be too heartbroken, he handed over a bag of silver tael to Wen Yongzhi.

"Uncle, don’t be too sad, Captain Wen... alas, it’s just bad luck..." The guard shook his head. Indeed, Captain Wen was at fault to begin with, whether the Fourth Prince was making an example of him or Wen Ling was just unlucky, it had already happened.

Upon hearing the commotion, Wen Ying rushed out and stared blankly at the scene before her. How could her perfectly fine brother suddenly have died? Her mind was filled with memories of her brother taking care of her. The reason those young ladies were willing to spend time with her was partly due to their admiration for her brother.

Wen Ying felt as if the earth and mountains were shaking, and she vaguely sensed that the timing of these events was too coincidental, happening right after that incident, and she threw herself onto Wen Ling’s body, weeping.

"His hand, his hand, where’s my brother’s hand?" Wen Ying immediately looked at the guards who delivered the body with furious rage, clutching Wen Ling’s already stiff arm tightly, "What terrible crime did my brother commit to have lost his hand?"

The words of the guards wanting to say more choked off, and they couldn’t bear to add more, preparing to leave.

That old woman, Mother Wen, woke up again, and two coarse servant women immediately came to help her up. The old woman, with a burst of strength from who knows where, rushed straight to the side of Wen Ling’s body.

"My son, who is so cruel to kill you? I will go to the Wen Family. I must personally see Eldest Madam Wen. What did my son do to deserve such treatment?"

Hearing this, the guard knew that the Loyal Warriors were of the Wen Family, and although the Fourth Prince was their current master, the foundation was still the Wen Family, with Eldest Madam Wen being Old Master Wen Kang’s wife. He glanced at the old woman.

"Auntie, Wen Ling worked with us for many years. There are some things that we must now speak about. Wen Ling’s death is tied to our little sister, and shouldn’t be blamed on others. If Auntie doesn’t want to escalate matters, just ask about what happened that day at Riverfood Restaurant with the little sister," the guard said, leaving Wen Yongzhi’s family of three stunned, then turned around and left with his men.

Mother Wen instantly cast a vicious glance at Wen Ying, almost wishing she could dig out her daughter’s brain. Although the guard’s words were cryptic, Mother Wen still understood that it all started because of Wen Ling’s sister.

Mother Wen immediately remembered that when Wen Ying came back the other day, her clothes seemed to have oil stains. She had wanted to ask about it, but had been evaded by Wen Ling.

Mother Wen knew her son was very protective of his biological sister, and her daughter was very prideful. How could she not know?

In an instant, Mother Wen slapped Wen Ying’s face, striking her so hard that Wen Ying saw stars and her head hit the wooden floor.