Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 402 - 381: First Update

Chapter 402: Chapter 381: First Update

"Not found? Weren’t they supposed to be in the mansion? How could they disappear in just a moment?" Duke of Qing’s expression was displeased, as he walked, he asked his entourage.

"Duke, perhaps they are with Old Madam." The following servant hastened to keep up, carrying something unpleasant in his hand, following Duke of Qing into the gate of Prince Duan’s Mansion.

"Don’t try to comfort me; that kid can’t sit still." Duke of Qing wouldn’t listen; that kid ought to be disciplined properly. And this marriage matter, too, needs to be settled sooner rather than later. That’s decided; he can’t take any shocks. Move quickly, once there’s a grandson, he won’t care where that boy ends up.

Yes, Old Madam is right, the grandson matters most. With Zong Yunqian’s status, Qiandao Temple would hardly agree to let him go. As long as the Zong Sheng family has a descendant, he won’t be able to meddle that much anymore.

"The master is wise, the master is wise—" The entourage didn’t dare to say anything else, following inside the gate.

"The people of Prince Duan’s Mansion also need a good lesson in obedience; leaving the gate ajar like this, not a soul to answer the door." Duke of Qing muttered. Barely taking a few steps, he heard voices coming from inside the mansion and looked questioningly at the person next to him.

"Did you hear something?"

The servant was startled, recognizing the sound. These past few days had been restless in Zong Sheng Residence too. The servant dared not speak and, seeing his master staring at him, braced himself.

"Master, it seems like there is a commotion?"

Duke of Qing immediately recognized it; they were arguing. Their Eldest Madam was hot-tempered and had caused a scene at home. Who could be causing a commotion in Prince Duan’s Mansion?

"Master, should we come back later?" Wouldn’t it be inappropriate to barge in now? Who would invade someone’s home at a time like this?

Duke of Qing was simply curious; aside from Prince Duan, there was the Commandery Princess—no one else would dare to make such a scene.

Duke of Qing followed the sound of the quarrel, hearing Prince Duan’s increasingly crisp and furious voice. He then realized something was amiss; after all, this was someone else’s private affair. Duke of Qing was about to leave when he suddenly heard Prince Duan roar out loud.

Zong Yunqian, get out of here—

Duke of Qing’s face suddenly turned ashen, the servant tried to stop him, but it was too late; the closer they got, the more clearly they heard the sound of a fight, desperate and ruthless, as if trying to kill each other.

Duke of Qing strode quickly, and just as he turned past a courtyard gate, a pair of smelly boots came flying straight at him.

"Duke—" The servant was startled, but that shout was already drowned in the thick, chaotic atmosphere of the courtyard.

A few red-eyed men were right before Duke of Qing’s eyes, several guards encircling three people, including Zong Yunqian, with another figure jumping up and down, trying to squeeze into the fray, unmistakably the weakest in martial arts, Zheng Haoyuan.

Prince Duan didn’t dare to step forward, slapping his thigh, one hand supporting Housekeeper He, frantic as though on fire.

"Duke, Duke, it’s the Princely Heir, the Princely Heir—" The servant pointed anxiously at Zong Yunqian, who was surrounded in the middle, calling out urgently. "The Princely Heir is being bullied, the Princely Heir..."

"What are you shouting for—" Duke of Qing rubbed his forehead, groaning; his head ached. He had taken the trouble to bring a gift as an apology, and now this boy had caused such a scene; there was no other choice but to stabilize the marriage arrangement at hand before anything else, so he had come in person to settle the marriage preparations. Who knew that...

"Stop, stop, all of you stop—" Duke of Qing couldn’t care about anything else and rushed into the melee. Coming from a martial arts practitioner’s family, he was skilled in combat. Seeing that it was Duke of Qing, both Zheng Haoyuan’s men and Zheng Congyuan’s men didn’t dare to be as fierce as before.

"Stop, everyone stop—" Duke of Qing immediately pulled Zong Yunqian back and with a sullen face kicked Gu Dao, who was preparing to make another move. The situation was immediately brought under control.

"Duke of Qing, you’ve arrived just in time—" Prince Duan finally caught his breath and hurried forward. "Duke of Qing, quick, take him away..."

"My apologies, Prince, it’s my son who has been disrespectful—" Duke of Qing began, but was suddenly interrupted by a wailing cry nearby, which was by no means an exaggeration.

"Ouch, ouch, Imperial Uncle, you must seek justice for me, Zong Yunqian has crippled me—" Zheng Haoyuan said, limping towards them while holding onto Prince Duan, his crying punctuated with glances at Cang Er, indicating that this was what he meant.

"Prince, Prince, you must seek justice for our Princely Heir." Seeing his Princely Heir not hitting the mark, Cang Er immediately abandoned all his concerns, dropped everything on the ground, and clung to Prince Duan’s legs.

"Prince, our Princely Heir was just chatting with the Commandery Princess when Zong Yunqian came up and wanted to hit her—it was our Princely Heir who protected the Commandery Princess and took a beating from Zong Yunqian—" What Cang Er said was naturally the truth, but whether Zong Yunqian really intended to hit her was unclear at that moment as the scene had turned into chaos, making it impossible for anyone to defend their actions.

"You’re spouting nonsense—" Zong Yunqian stepped forward, immediately restrained by Duke of Qing.

"Fourth Prince, it’s all my son’s fault—"

"What? He wanted to hit Nian Ru?" Prince Duan’s focus wasn’t on Zheng Haoyuan being beaten. Hit Nian Ru? Why would he hit Nian Ru? That would be outrageous.

Prince Duan immediately looked towards Zong Yunqian, anger slowly rising on his face. He still trusted Zheng Haoyuan’s words—although the boy was unreliable, he was known to be good to Nian Ru.

Naturally, Prince Duan wouldn’t let Nian Ru confront the situation directly. Indeed, how could he expect any better from Zong Yunqian, who was born in the Northwest Border, where the local customs were fierce, and beating women was common place?

"Prince, I fear that this matter..." Duke of Qing was about to speak when Prince Duan raised his hand, signaling not to speak.

Zheng Haoyuan had already begun to speak eagerly.

"Imperial Uncle, he was forcing my cousin to reveal the whereabouts of yesterday’s bandits. When she said she didn’t know, he started cursing and hitting her..." Zheng Haoyuan would not miss this chance and hurried to speak.

"Fourth Prince, there must be some misunderstanding here," Duke of Qing said immediately, perceiving the grim turn of events. "Prince, I will give you an explanation for this matter..."

Prince Duan just looked at Zong Yunqian, wanting an explanation from him. They were still in Prince Duan’s Mansion; if this were the Northwest Border, there would be no peace for Nian Ru.

Zong Yunqian was still burning with anger, and it was difficult to clear things up in a moment, especially because it involved the future of Qiandao Temple.

"Prince Duan, do you not have the slightest doubt that she has no connection whatsoever with the people of Ghoul Ravine?" Zong Yunqian pointed towards the house. If not for him, how could the ’Heavenly Net Earth Trap’ laid by the eldest brother fail to capture the people of Ghoul Ravine? Even if they couldn’t catch them all, at least half should have been apprehended.

But now, not only did the people of Ghoul Ravine escape without a trace, but what was even more concerning to them was that the boy might be...

Upon hearing this, Prince Duan’s complexion turned from red to pale, then from pale to green. Connection? What connection? If he couldn’t understand that, it would be a great disgrace.

"Yunqian—" Duke of Qing shouted loudly.

"Get lost, you brat get out of my sight—" Prince Duan didn’t wait for Duke of Qing to speak and immediately burst out cursing.