Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 41 Eavesdropping

Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Eavesdropping

Ju Nanyi was slightly startled upon hearing Ho Sheng’s words.

The Fourth Prince slipped out of the palace to the Traveling Palace? The reason was understandable, Noble Consort Wen and the Second Prince were at the Traveling Palace, and given the Fourth Prince’s young age, it was plausible he would do something like this. However, it seemed somewhat illogical and indefensible.

"Steward Ho, are you saying that the Fourth Prince came to the Traveling Palace alone?" This was not right, as it was impossible for the Fourth Prince to reach the Traveling Palace by himself, and moreover, Ho Sheng had chased after him three times without success.

"It must be the loyal warriors of the Wen Family, definitely the loyal warriors of the Wen Family," Eunuch Ho Sheng anxiously shook his horsetail whisk, which was already half bald, not worrying about its state anymore.

"Steward Ho, don’t be anxious. If you’re certain that the Fourth Prince is at the Traveling Palace, then I will first quietly send someone to check Noble Consort Wen and the Second Prince’s courtyards. If the Fourth Prince is found, they will immediately report to you, and then you can go in, how about that?" Ju Nanyi was not in a hurry, as he trusted the abilities of the Wen Family’s loyal warriors.

Moreover, since the Fourth Prince left the palace abruptly and few knew about it, the chances of encountering those assassins were very low. Even if he were to meet ordinary bandits, the two loyal warriors from the Wen Family would be able to handle them.

"No, no, there’s no need to go to Her Majesty’s palace, but it might be worth checking the Second Prince’s place. And there’s another place that we must definitely check." Ho Sheng quickly leaned close to Ju Nanyi’s ear and whispered something.

"I understand. Steward Ho, please wait a moment, I will be right back," Ju Nanyi immediately called over one of his guards to head directly to the Second Prince’s courtyard, while he decided to personally visit the other location.

Firstly, since Eunuch Ho Sheng told him in such secrecy, it was surely something he did not want others to know about. Secondly, this Commandery Princess Chao Ren— he had also heard about her, the offspring of Prince Duan.

Eunuch Ho Sheng was profusely grateful, thinking more highly of Scholar Ju for his generous demeanor, prudent actions, and orderly conduct. It was no wonder he had earned the Crown Prince’s appreciation.

Ju Nanyi walked briskly, his head lowered in thought about all the possibilities that could have led to this incident. Even if the likelihood was extremely small, he couldn’t dismiss the chance that the Fourth Prince might have encountered some other misfortune. If this entire scheme was plotted from within the Traveling Palace, then who was being targeted?

Suddenly, Ju Nanyi halted his steps behind a sturdy tree. Being an external official, he naturally could not walk alongside the women of the Traveling Palace.

"Is everything you said really true?" Ju Nanyi heard a petulant and charming voice filled with indignation.

Ju Nanyi remained expressionless, simply waiting for the people opposite to pass by.

"Of course it’s true. Although the Commandery Princess does not show herself, it’s said that the bones of Eunuch Yu were found in the dry well behind her courtyard. Moreover, she even turned the tables on Aunt, causing Aunt to suffer a silent loss." Wen Mengxin typically went unnoticed, as the second daughter of the fourth household. She wasn’t the daughter of the principal wife and her mother was an adoptive lady of the household, constantly overshadowed by the previous principal wife’s son and daughter. Furthermore, the Old Duke’s Lady also favored the eldest son and daughter from the fourth household since they lost their birth mother, worried that they would be bullied by a succeeding wife.

Ju Nanyi hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, but he heard "Commandery Princess" in their conversation. There weren’t many Commandery Princesses in the palace, only two, and one of them was only six or seven years old, so Ju Nanyi was almost certain that they were referring to Prince Duan’s daughter, Commandery Princess Chao Ren.

Ju Nanyi had never paid much attention to matters concerning Commandery Princess Chao Ren. The only reason he knew of her existence was because of Prince Duan’s inconspicuous yet significant influence.

He had heard many rumors about Prince Duan, but palace gossip was not to be trusted. People twisted words and took things out of context, believing a single word was too credulous.

"How could Aunt tolerate such a detestable person causing trouble in the palace?" Wen Mengyue pouted, "I don’t know what’s happened to my brother, he must be the target of the Commandery Princess’s revenge. If I ever run into this Commandery Princess, I must ask her why she’s scheming against people in secret?"

"Yes, yes, she’s here in the Traveling Palace right now, let’s go ask her," Wen Mengxin immediately nodded while Wen Mengrong was lost and had no opinion of her own.

"I’m afraid it’s not a good idea," Wen Mengshu was still hesitant. "These are all our guesses, which can’t be taken seriously. Besides, I’ve heard that Princess Chao Ren never leaves Xingqing Hall and is watched by two nannies, so she should..."

"Shu Sister, how do you know what she’s really planning? Maybe she deliberately hurt someone. Otherwise, why would Brother Wen go to her place for no reason?" Wen Mengxin immediately said.

Ju Nanyi was somewhat anxious, but fortunately, the group of ladies took a few more steps forward. With a few more steps, he should be able to pass by. However, just at this moment, Ju Nanyi heard footsteps again, followed by a voice as light and sweet as blossoming flowers.

"You ladies needn’t have troubled yourselves, as it happens, this Commandery Princess is right here. It’s just perfect for you to share with me how you’ve framed Second Young Master Wen." Zheng Nianru felt she was being far too kind, actually intending to go inform Noble Consort Wen in person about the Fourth Prince’s matter. It seems there was no need for that now.

Zheng Nianru looked at the few Wen family young ladies in front of her. She wasn’t very angry, but with others gossiping about her, she naturally had no reason to suffer in silence.

Fu Dong and Nian Xia’s chests heaved with anger, regretting why they hadn’t brought Xing Yu with them. If they had her, they could have denied everything and let them taste the flavor of a dry well too.

"I’m talking to you. You dare to speak ill of others behind their backs; why can’t you admit it now?" Nian Xia stepped forward and pointed at the Wen family’s young ladies.

Having been caught red-handed, those young ladies were first very embarrassed, then some became annoyedly angry, especially as there laid Wen Zan with a broken leg.

"What nonsense are we talking? Dare you say that Second Young Master Wen’s matter has nothing to do with you?" Wen Mengxin shouted angrily at Zheng Nianru.

Ju Nanyi’s foot, which was stepping out, shrank back. He couldn’t leave now, especially having unexpectedly encountered Princess Chao Ren.

"You’re talking nonsense; our Commandery Princess hasn’t even met any Young Master Wen," Fu Dong immediately retorted.

Ju Nanyi inexplicably wanted to hear that voice again, as gentle and warm as a spring breeze.

"Shu Sister, look at her, flaunting her finery, she is obviously..." Wen Mengxin, having been scolded, suddenly pointed at Zheng Nianru’s overly attractive clothes. How could there be clothes so beautiful, even the most fastidious Second Brother had never been willing to use gold and silver threads to embroider an ordinary piece of clothing. The Fairy Gazing Dress she wore was embroidered with Thousand Leaves Ocean of Clustered Branches and Perched Branch Flying Oriole in gold and silver threads, using a generous amount, so lifelike. Standing there, her face looked even more beautiful as if she were the embodiment of spring—itself the most eye-catching, causing the whole garden’s flowers to pale in comparison.

With the Wen family’s current influence, the young ladies naturally had high standards, and the embroidery work surpassed even gold and silver threads. The value of that dress could not just be measured by price alone.

"Let it be, since the Commandery Princess says she hasn’t seen him, let’s leave," Wen Mengshu said, wanting to keep the peace, sensing that the person before her was not to be trifled with.

Wen Mengyue refused to go. The four of them weren’t afraid of just her, after all.

Zheng Nianru did not want to let them go either. At her age, she might have tolerated it. But after becoming the Empress Dowager, she couldn’t bear to hear any of those words cursing her, becoming too pampered and sensitive.

"Hold on, who says I haven’t seen Second Young Master Wen? Or perhaps, I should tell you all about the matter with the corpse in the dry well?" Zheng Nianru took a step forward.

Fu Dong immediately checked Nian Xia’s reaction—this was going to turn ugly. The old rules: you take two, I take two? But what about those remaining servants?