Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 378 - 357: First Update

Chapter 378: Chapter 357: First Update

Zheng Nianru looked at the youth, having encountered such situations more than a few times. Among the young men sent her way, some could and some couldn’t resist temptation, seeking fame, status, or, like fools, nothing at all.

Just like Yin He before her eyes.

"What am I willing to do?" Zheng Nianru knew what the youth meant, but still deliberately asked, tilting her head up, her chin and neck forming an elegant curve, her skin translucent and lit by candlelight.

The youth’s lips trembled, red as flames, bright and dripping.

"Are you willing to marry him?" The youth dared not ask anything else; this wasn’t what he wanted to ask, but he was afraid any other question wouldn’t yield the answer he sought.

The matter with Old Man Can wasn’t settled yet, and even if it were, he didn’t have much confidence.

"Does willingness make any difference? After all, this is not something I can decide on my own." Zheng Nianru’s tone was playful, yet she noticed a flash of light in the youth’s eyes, as if he had received a remarkable answer.

"So, you are unwilling, right?" That meant she didn’t like Zong Yunqian; how could he be so foolish, unable to see this for so many days?

Zheng Nianru watched the youth, much like one might amuse themselves with a hamster in a cage, enjoying the pleasure of control. She didn’t respond but continued to look at the youth with meaningful eyes.

Whether to keep the youth by her side, she wasn’t so adamant. It was like the casually placed treasures and antiques in the room, played with when in the mood, left quietly lying there otherwise.

The youth seemed to take her silence for affirmation; even his tone was hasty.

"Don’t worry, I won’t make things difficult for you. With your word, I am reassured." He squatted down in urgency, seemingly clueless about how to express his excited feelings, hastily grabbing the girl’s hand before him, planting a firm kiss on it, then dashed out like a whirlwind.

Nanny Yun had just come in and nearly collided with Yin He as he burst out.

"Crazy, rampaging around the master’s room..." Nanny Yun said, glancing at Fu Dong, wondering what had happened.

Fu Dong bowed her head in silence, somewhat unsure of what her Commandery Princess was thinking.

Yin He? What exactly does the Commandery Princess intend? Does she like Yin He? But Fu Dong felt that the way the Commandery Princess looked at Yin He wasn’t that of fondness. When the Commandery Princess saw the Crown Prince, there was a light in her eyes that she didn’t have when looking at anyone else, including Yin He.

But then, why wouldn’t the Commandery Princess reject Yin He?

"Young Master—" Elder Can, panting, caught up with his Young Master, having seen him charge out fiercely. He thought his plan was ruined and was ready to accompany the Young Master to assassinate Zong Yunqian.

"That matter, see to it quickly, the sooner the better." Yin He grabbed Elder Can by the shoulders, his gaze earnest as he looked into the eyes of Elder Can, who was right; he had almost misunderstood her. As long as she was unwilling, what did Zong Yunqian matter?

If he could persuade Prince Duan, then Elder Can’s plan would naturally succeed.

Elder Can felt touched at that moment. This was the first time the Young Master had shown such regard for him, the first time he spoke with such expressions and gestures. Elder Can almost guessed that the Young Master had received the answer he desired.

Come to think of it, it made sense. Where was their Young Master lacking? Strong in abilities and with a true heart, the Commandery Princess would have to be blind to choose Zong Yunqian over him.

"Don’t worry, Young Master, I will see to it at once, right away," Elder Can quickly nodded in agreement.

"Young Master, you stay here, as the play still needs your cooperation, working together from within and without. Rumors have already been spread by me, just waiting for everything to fall into place," Elder Can worriedly added, his young master must absolutely not act rashly.

"Furthermore, Young Master, in these days you should try not to wander around the inner court, lest Prince Duan becomes suspicious," Elder Can advised again, his worry unabated.

Yin He had come to trust Elder Can quite a lot by now, and unusually, he wasn’t annoyed by the latter’s nagging.

"Understood, go on and get it done," he replied.

...

In the past few days, Prince Duan had noticed that many fine items had appeared in the Imperial City. Lord Zuo, who had always adored collecting Cloud Dragon Pattern Rice Paper, recently acquired a batch of excellent pink Cloud Dragon Pattern Paper. Chancellor Qian, a fan of Seal Paste, actually managed to purchase the rare Dragon Spring Seal Paste, and was as pleased as could be. Lord Sima had the most unique taste, favoring fans, and had recently obtained a silky-smooth fan made with bamboo slats as warp and weft; even now in deep autumn, he still carried it with him at all times.

"Prince Duan—" On the way back from court, the previously snubbed Prince Duan, thanks to his marriage alliance with the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family and attention from the Crown Prince, was now greeted by throngs of officials—a stark change from being previously disregarded.

"Lord Sima," Prince Duan merely nodded in acknowledgment, assuming it would be like any other day—just a simple greeting before each went their separate ways, nothing more than a nodding acquaintance.

But Lord Sima couldn’t help showing off the fine fan he’d recently acquired, wishing others would notice it.

Just then, an official eager to curry favor with Lord Sima hurried over from behind. Prince Duan, with his back turned, hadn’t seen whom Lord Sima was speaking with.

"Lord Sima, if I’m not mistaken, the fan in your hand must be a Gong Fan. Such fans are exceedingly hard to come by, a rarity bought only if one is destined to—Lord Sima, you..."

Lord Sima immediately burst into laughter, but in Prince Duan’s presence, he wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to laugh so freely.

"You’ve caught me, my Lord. This little hobby of mine—indeed this fan took me a great deal of time to find," said Lord Sima, then immediately turned to the official who had spoken. "When it comes to hunting down such treasures, who can surpass Chancellor Qian? Just look at that box of Dragon Spring Seal Paste he’s found—the color..."

Upon hearing this, Prince Duan’s interest was piqued, and he glanced at Lord Sima.

"Oh? I’ve heard that Chancellor Qian spent years looking for a piece of Dragon Spring Seal Paste, how come he’s been so fortunate all of a sudden?" Among scholars, it was common to search for an item for years, but recently, it seemed that many had made significant discoveries.

Lord Sima glanced around, then lowered his voice and spoke with a touch of mystery.

"Has the Prince not heard?"

Prince Duan looked puzzledly at Lord Sima, the man of Aristocratic Family origin, but with ancestors from the Western Border, had a distinct and strong scent about him. Despite being masked by heavy perfume, Prince Duan’s sensitive nose could still detect it.

"I haven’t heard," said Prince Duan without much expectation and was already preparing to leave, truly disliking the smell emanating from Lord Sima.

However, Lord Sima, oblivious to this, leaned in even closer.

"Prince, I’m telling you this because I consider you one of us. A wealthy merchant from Nanyu has recently arrived in Zheng Capital and brought with him many fine objects. This Gong Fan and the Dragon Spring Seal Paste are both from his collection. I heard he brought plenty of exquisite items to open up the market in Zheng Capital. Just the other day, I personally saw him take out a Duanxi Inkstone, claiming it to be the genuine article from that worn-out mountain..."

"Really?" Prince Duan suddenly found Lord Sima’s strong scent not so intrusive anymore, and when mixed with the incense, it was almost fragrant.