Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 398 - 377: First Update

Chapter 398: Chapter 377: First Update

Ju Nanyi closed his eyes, the noise was too loud, making it impossible for him to focus. He had no idea why he was here, what had happened, and whether he was alive or dead was starting to blur.

He should be dead.

The tangled memories in his mind were intermittent, almost shattering all his nerves, driving him mad. Those memories seemed not his own, yet the very real memories that were his own destroyed all his cognition.

He needed time, he...

Just as Prince Duan was about to speak again, he saw Ju Nanyi’s pale face and closed eyes, and he immediately shut his mouth, instantly regretting his impatience. After all, Master Yu Sheng had declared the situation extremely dangerous yesterday, and the fact that Nanyi had awakened now was a stroke of luck.

"Imperial Uncle, let Nanyi rest for now. Once his injuries are better, we’ll come again," Zheng Congyuan advised upon seeing this. He was well aware of the kind of person Ju Nanyi was, respectful and very determined. If Nanyi were truly able not to, he wouldn’t be like this.

"Right, right, the Crown Prince is correct," Prince Duan agreed, nodding and walking out with Zheng Congyuan.

"Imperial Uncle, thank you for your hospitality last night. I shall take my leave first and send someone later to take care of Ju Nanyi," Zheng Congyuan said, his demeanor calm and composed. There was no trace of last night’s fierce battle on the man’s face or body, his aura as clear and serene as ever, with an undeniable sense of weariness in his eyes that gave a comforting presence.

Prince Duan nodded in agreement. Yes, resolving such a major issue that troubled Zheng Capital naturally lifted a great weight off the Crown Prince’s shoulders. Prince Duan could understand the feeling of accomplishment Zheng Congyuan must have at this moment, despite the fact that Zheng Congyuan had not informed him beforehand and had even exploited Nian Ru. After all, the people from Ghoul Ravine were cunning; he himself had almost been deceived by their close approaches that nearly swayed him.

Only last night did Zheng Congyuan reveal some truths to him. The people from Ghoul Ravine aimed for Yin He, a follower of the Second Prince, a fact Zheng Nianru had also shared with him.

Even now, Prince Duan felt waves of fear thinking of how close he had come to falling into the clutches of those villains. He naturally couldn’t blame Zheng Congyuan for not revealing the truth to him earlier and was even more grateful for saving Nian Ru at a critical moment, regardless of the risk to his own life. Although Zheng Congyuan showed no regret, only stating that Ghoul Ravine recognizes strength and a direct confrontation would likely bring no benefit. It was best for each to stay on their own turf, with the Ghoul returning to the Northwest Border.

Prince Duan believed that the main reason the people from Ghoul Ravine had slipped away was to save Nian Ru.

Thinking of this, Prince Duan felt a twinge of shame and even deeper guilt for Ju Nanyi, who had nearly died trying to save Nian Ru.

"Lord Ju doesn’t need to return; I am fairly aware of his situation. His family isn’t wealthy, with only a mother to his name. Naturally, there’s no one to take care of him. Crown Prince, rest assured that I will take good care of Lord Ju, consider it a token of my gratitude," Prince Duan immediately added with determination and an expression filled with guilt.

Zheng Congyuan also knew of Ju Nanyi’s family situation and had thought to take him back with the Fire Order Squad to care for him, but the squad was full of men who might not provide the most attentive care.

"That’s good. Then Lord Ju can stay at the Imperial Uncle’s Mansion for now," Zheng Congyuan agreed without insistence, understanding Zheng Boding’s reasons, and nodded before leaving with his entourage.

There was much he had to do next, ensuring the group from Ghoul Ravine had indeed left Zheng Capital and returned to the Northwest Border was his first priority. And beyond that...

"Qi Ling, why does the Crown Prince look so happy?" Zheng Congyuan boarded the carriage, and Qi Jin stealthily asked Qi Ling. The Crown Prince was usually a man who did not let his emotions show, and even for those who served him closely, it was nearly imperceptible.

How should one put it? It wasn’t that the Crown Prince was typically very stern, on the contrary, he was always gentle. But today’s gentleness was even more "heartfelt".

Qi Ling glared fiercely at Qi Jin, rebuking ’you talk too much.’

At that, Qi Jin pursed his lips. What was there to hide? He had seen Xing Yu this morning, and who knows, perhaps the Commandery Princess had visited last night. The only person who could make the Crown Prince this refreshed and radiant could only be Her Royal Highness the Princess...

"Aren’t you leaving yet?—" Qi Ling slapped him, putting a lot of strength into it, causing Qi Jin almost to cry out before he scurried away, dejected.

...

Ju Nanyi still had his eyes closed, all around him everything became quiet and still, and he could clearly hear Yu Yuan tiptoeing away before he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The most important thing for him now was to sort out his thoughts, first to confirm he was still alive.

He was indeed alive, the pinch on his flesh was real and hurt.

So when did he meet Yu Yuan? Ju Nanyi pondered for a shichen and slowly untangled a fact.

His mind held two sets of memories, intermingling, both with gaps, but fortunately, one set of memories only covered a brief early part of his life, maybe not even begun.

Ju Nanyi gradually realized that perhaps due to his risky act of rescuing someone, a memory had intruded into his mind that didn’t belong yet somehow did.

During the time he was unconscious, these memories had been clashing wildly in his mind, occupying all his mental capacity. He constantly reflected and considered and, from the brief comments by Yu Yuan and the conversations between Prince Duan and the Crown Prince, he clearly distinguished which part of the memories was truly his own.

After Ju Nanyi finished all this, he took a long breath.

So now, he was the leader of the Fire Order Squad; because of the incidents at the Ghoul Ravine, he disrupted the Crown Prince’s original plans and was not appointed as the Minister of Communication.

And he had saved Zheng Nianru? As to why he would willingly give up his future prospects to save her, Ju Nanyi smirked bitterly. In that set of memories, this woman occupied the majority of his thoughts, and despite the gaps and imperfections, he managed to piece together a complete story.

He had married her, Ju Nanyi smirked again, had the current him not thought about it as well?

Not only had he married her, but what he did afterward also shocked the current him greatly. Rebelling was one thing he, Ju Nanyi, had never considered; the Crown Prince was virtuous and benevolent, possessing the character fitting of a monarch, why then would he rebel? A large part of his memory was missing, he vaguely remembered, the cause started when the Princely Heir of Nanmen State came to court.

What Ju Nanyi couldn’t remember was what happened to Zheng Congyuan afterward, during that time of chaos and war, the people of the Second Prince rebelled first, and then the Wen Family took up arms. He joined the rebellion, not without opportunistic intentions, only remembering that Zheng Congyuan died, but how and when he couldn’t recall.

...

"You should go see him—" Prince Duan earnestly advised, "He saved your life, and now he’s gravely injured."

Zheng Nianru glanced at Prince Duan.

"If father says so, then I shall make the visit," Zheng Nianru didn’t insist her point. Not wanting to see him was instinctual, but in this life, it seemed she had no significant connection with Ju Nanyi. She believed that if she didn’t want to marry, of course, she wouldn’t marry Ju Nanyi.

Moreover, she was curious why Ju Nanyi had gone to such lengths to save her recklessly.

"Prince, Lord Ju is rewarded for being a good man," Fu Dong and Nian Xia chimed in, seizing on Prince Duan’s words.

But Zheng Nianru didn’t see it that way; naturally, he had wanted to kill her in his past life, so in this life, saving her was to even the score, not so much good reaping good, but rather evil begetting evil.