Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 414 - 393: First Update

Chapter 414: Chapter 393: First Update

Zheng Nianru glanced around slightly, the pervasive stench of blood in the air suppressing the suspicions brewing in her heart.

Before she had met Ju Nanyi in her previous life, she had never paid him any attention. Even their few encounters had not left much of an impression on her; it was not until Prince Duan seriously told her about Ju Nanyi and said that he was someone trustworthy.

At that time, Zheng Nianru was quite disdainful. How could a man with no background, a minor official, be considered a trustworthy person by Prince Duan? Despite his extraordinary talents, he was not the person she would confide in.

Moreover, there were her silent resentments, and the things she had but did not desire.

Therefore, at this moment of distraction, Zheng Nianru thought she might have been too suspicious about her few encounters with Ju Nanyi in this life.

"Lord Ju, your injury—" Fu Dong couldn’t help but speak out. The death of an imperial official from the court could complicate matters, naturally one could not involve the Commandery Princess.

"I, I’m fine. Just leave me at the street corner," Ju Nanyi seemed to muster all his strength; his blood-stained face showed a mix of embarrassment and stubbornness clearly visible to Zheng Nianru. The man’s desire not to be seen in such a disheveled state was evident in his excessively strained body.

Zheng Nianru understood this feeling well; to Ju Nanyi, she was still a stranger, a stranger who knew him, without her malevolent assumptions. No one in such a state would want outsiders to see them.

This, in turn, allowed Zheng Nianru to relax and withdraw her gaze.

"Whoosh"—the cloth bag chose this moment to tear open, and several unevenly sized silver ingots seemed to instantly expose the man’s embarrassment.

The man tried to gather them, but it was too late. His face turned red with embarrassment, and he could do nothing but helplessly pick them up one by one.

Zheng Nianru pretended not to see. Did Ju Nanyi really need money? Zheng Nianru was puzzled. Although his family was poor, it was not to the extent of desperation, unless something had happened.

So, was that why he went to sing at the Riverfood Restaurant?

Fu Dong couldn’t stand by, fearing that forcing himself to move might make Lord Ju’s injuries worse, helped gather the silver Tael, wrapping them in a handkerchief before handing them to the man.

"Lord Ju is an imperial official, receiving wages from the court, why must you regard money as so important?" Zheng Nianru couldn’t help but say. In her previous life, too, he placed too much value on material things. It was fine for her and the children, but he couldn’t bear to part with them for himself.

Ju Nanyi didn’t look at Zheng Nianru. An internal bitter smile was his own assessment of whether all his efforts had been worthwhile. Perhaps, it was the crazed memories in his mind that had influenced him to make such a ludicrous decision.

He did need money, and his mother being ill was true, yet the means he chose to earn it was the most humiliating, making even him feel as if he might have lost his mind.

"I, I earn money through my own abilities, honestly and openly, it is nothing to be ashamed of," Ju Nanyi said with effort, holding on to his consciousness, trying not to pass out.

These people had been watching him for more than a day or two, and he had deliberately exposed his daily earnings at the Riverfood Restaurant in front of them. However, he did not know when she would come, nor when these little guys would make their move.

Today, however, they unusually gathered together. So, who could tell him this wasn’t an arrangement from Heaven? Those vivid memories, deep-seated and unforgettable, occupied every breath he took. For him now, every day, every second was torment.

"Ha—" Zheng Nianru didn’t want to scoff, but she couldn’t help but coldly snap out. Ju Nanyi closed his eyes; this kind of mockery was so familiar that even without seeing her expression, he could intricately trace every minute detail of her demeanor.

No matter what he did, and no matter how great a victory he won, transforming from a civil official to a military general, he still seemed unacknowledged in her eyes, like a child who never received any reward.

However, they once had beautiful days together, and each minute of those wonderful days felt like poison, eroding Ju Nanyi’s sanity.

"Commandery Princess, we have arrived at Yiren Street," Nanny Yun lifted the curtain of the carriage, and the clamor from outside seeped in; Zheng Nianru glanced at Ju Nanyi inside the carriage.

"Let’s go straight in; Xing Yu, find a physician at that clinic on the street corner," Zheng Nianru said, then thought, Leave him here? Let the people of Yiren Street watch him crawl back?

Although Zheng Nianru did not plan to bother with him, Ju Nanyi had saved her life in this lifetime, and helping him now was at least justified—better than gaining a reputation for being ungrateful.

Ju Nanyi was silent but knew his plan had already succeeded in the first step; he had finally made her change her mind, for whatever reason. He did not know why anything in this lifetime was so exceedingly difficult.

The carriage slowly entered a secluded alley. Zheng Nianru was not very familiar with the area, but she had been there before. The coachman, however, was unexpectedly well acquainted with the place and quickly found Ju Nanyi’s home.

"Thank you—Commandery Princess, I can go back by myself—" Ju Nanyi refused Nanny Yun’s offer to help and struggled out of the carriage only to collapse to the ground with a thud.

"Lord Ju—" Nanny Yun panicked.

"Drive in—" Zheng Nianru sighed deeply, her previous suspicions completely dissipated. He insisted on going in by himself, enduring in such a state, and not wanting others to see his desolate condition. Was he trying to attract her attention? By making himself appear so miserable?

Perhaps others might, but Zheng Nianru felt that Ju Nanyi wouldn’t. She even mockingly thought she was being overly suspicious.

"Commandery Princess, we’ve arrived—"

"Quick, give him a hand—" Nanny Yun called to the coachman, struggling to help Ju Nanyi into the courtyard. Fu Dong also looked worried, but he hesitated to get out of the carriage and help, sensing that the Commandery Princess was seemingly reluctant to aid Lord Ju.

Yet, Zheng Nianru was the first to get out of the carriage. The sun unexpectedly broke through the clouds making the small courtyard suddenly much brighter; Zheng Nianru’s memory, however, was fuzzy.

After their marriage, Prince Duan had bought a courtyard. She seldom visited after marrying, and her memories of the few visits she made were nearly faded. Naturally, she didn’t need to serve her in-laws like an ordinary daughter-in-law. Prince Duan had hired several maids and old women to take care of Mother Ju’s daily needs, for which Ju Nanyi was very grateful.

No one here? Zheng Nianru frowned—it couldn’t be; Mother Ju should still be here.

"Let’s get him inside first—" Nanny Yun suggested, already supporting Ju Nanyi and walking him towards the house.

"Cough, cough, cough—" A violent cough erupted from inside the house as if they had startled someone. The cough sounded like it ripped from the chest of someone who had been ill for a long time.

Zheng Nianru was slightly startled—was Mother Ju sick? Was that why he was so desperate to earn money? To earn money without dignity?

Certainly there was nothing intentional about appearing in front of her, and he didn’t even want to see her, nor had he exploited the debt of saving his life.

Just as the man himself had said, he’d earn money based on his own abilities.

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