Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 423 - 402: Second Update

Chapter 423: Chapter 402: Second Update

Zheng Nianru was utterly bored and regretted stepping out of the Crown Prince’s Mansion. At her age, even getting angry over such things seemed unconvincing and lacked vigor.

Fu Dong and Nian Xia followed their Commandery Princess, not daring to even breathe loudly until they boarded the carriage, only to discover that their Commandery Princess seemed as calm as if she hadn’t been angry at all.

Zheng Nianru felt she hadn’t been very angry, not even as interested as in her past life. Zheng Nianru thought that if, in her previous life, Zheng Congyuan had agreed to her, and Empress Xiao had sent the palace maid, she might have persuaded Zheng Congyuan to keep her, to ease tensions with Empress Xiao so they could at least meet and stand together calmly. Wasn’t she always sacrificing something?

But now, she felt that she might not have such temperament. The habits formed in her previous life weren’t things she could change just because she was reasonable.

Nanny Yun also glanced suspiciously at Fu Dong, wondering what was going on. They hadn’t even had lunch, and rushing back now would mean missing the meal, something Fu Dong and Nian Xia naturally didn’t dare to question.

"Commandery Princess, I’ve heard that Riverfood Restaurant has introduced some new dishes recently—the names sound quite fresh."

"Then let’s go—" Zheng Nianru suddenly felt like listening to that song, but she knew that by going like this, it was merely a matter of facing it; whenever she was agitated, the song had a magical power that calmed her down.

However, as Zheng Nianru had guessed, Nanyi, now having silver, naturally wouldn’t do such things again. He took his reputation very seriously and even later, when he held significant military power and could truly look her in the eye, Nanyi still valued his moral conduct highly, not having a mother who might butt in on a whim.

So, Zheng Nianru didn’t meet Ju Nanyi, nor did she get to hear the music as she wished, but it didn’t matter. Zheng Nianru’s disposition was unusually good, although she found no interest in anything and instructed to head straight back after leaving the Riverfood Restaurant.

Nanny Yun, Fu Dong, and Nian Xia thought the Commandery Princess was still upset about the earlier incident at the Crown Prince’s Mansion, didn’t dare persuade much further, and gently tried to cheer her up as they quietly had the coachman drive them back.

"Nian Ru, Nian Ru, you’re finally back." The carriage had just arrived at Prince Duan’s Mansion, and Prince Duan had already come out to greet her, followed by a panting Housekeeper He, who, even in his old age, couldn’t match the physical strength of his lord.

"Father, what’s the matter?" Zheng Nianru asked as she got out of the carriage, her expression already normal. Perhaps, one always had to try things to know the outcome. At least in her past life, she hadn’t waited for Zheng Congyuan’s promise, but in this life she had. So, no matter how difficult Empress Xiao might be, for the sake of Zheng Congyuan, she was willing to take things one step at a time.

"Nian Ru, you’re back just in time, help your father with something." Prince Duan, full of enthusiasm, was pulling Zheng Nianru towards the study room. Zheng Nianru hadn’t been to Zheng Boding’s study for a few days, and now she saw that the room had completely changed, with all sorts of strange instruments and rocks laid out on a table and the floor.

"Father, what are all these?" Upon closer examination, Zheng Nianru realized these were no ordinary rocks. Though not exceedingly precious, they were all pieces of jade, large and small, of various strange shapes. Zheng Nianru suddenly remembered Prince Duan’s new hobby.

"They are treasures, Nian Ru, you have a good eye, come and see, which of these pieces is most suitable for your father." Prince Duan, unconcerned with the stones, pulled Zheng Nianru further inside, only to see several palm-sized pieces of smooth, round jade on the table—rare fine material all.

"Father, these jades, what treasures did you exchange for them?" Zheng Nianru felt a headache coming, as it seemed Prince Duan’s condition was more serious than in her last life.

"No, no, I bought them," said Prince Duan, "Lord Ju is quite knowledgeable about jade, and the purchase was very worthwhile."

Prince Duan spoke, and only then did Zheng Nianru notice another person in the study. Previously, the person had been hidden by those oddly-shaped stones. When Zheng Nianru looked over, Ju Nanyi was turning around to greet her with a bow, neither servile nor overbearing. He did not act superior because he had once saved her, nor overly grateful for a bag of silver he was given. That was just Ju Nanyi’s nature.

Or rather, this was how Ju Nanyi treated a stranger, seemingly an exception from someone elusive in her past life.

"Lord Ju," Zheng Nianru greeted calmly. Before the man had turned around, she had already shifted her gaze towards the jade stone that Prince Duan had picked up.

Slightly thicker than the man’s thumb, the jade stone was an exquisite piece of mutton-fat jade, naturally formed into the shape of an official seal, a rare find.

"What will father use it for?" Zheng Nianru asked casually. She was not an expert on jade stones, but its shape was naturally perfect, and she had a good eye, much like Ju Nanyi’s taste—understated yet luxurious.

"How about using it to make an official seal?" Prince Duan suggested, turning it over in his hands.

Ju Nanyi felt her gaze linger on him for just a moment, too brief for him to react. But being extremely intelligent, he quickly grasped the distance between him and the woman before him. Any closer would arouse her suspicions. Why she would be suspicious, he could not fathom, yet he was acutely aware of her every emotion, able even to sense her happiness or displeasure without looking.

Therefore, at this moment, he needed to maintain such a distance. A slight bow was the closest he could approach without causing her displeasure, a comfortable distance.

Ju Nanyi inwardly laughed bitterly. In his memory, they had been so close, yet now he had to make such an effort just to speak a word.

"Quite good," Zheng Nianru nodded, looking around, "Did you buy all these?"

"Yes, how are they? Your father really found a bargain," Prince Duan responded excitedly.

Zheng Nianru glanced suspiciously around. If she were not so familiar with Ju Nanyi’s character, she would definitely suspect his intentions, or at least suspect that he was colluding with the jade shop’s owner to swindle money.

"What about this piece? What do you think?" Prince Duan, engrossed in the piece of jade in his hand, asked.

"Not bad, but father, have you decided on the style of script yet?" Zheng Nianru asked casually. Prince Duan paused, indeed, the style of engraving was important, and he immediately went to look for a book.

"Has the medicine been stopped recently?" Zheng Nianru asked Housekeeper He. Housekeeper He was momentarily stunned; out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Lord Ju remained in his place, not curiously looking up at the Commandery Princess’s words.

Housekeeper He helplessly nodded. That kind of medicine should not be consumed frequently. Although there was no longer a threat to life, the health had been improving over the years through treatment, but as the saying goes, all medicines carry some toxicity, and the health of the Prince...

"Recently, the Prince has had sleepless nights, so the medicine has been paused for some days, waiting for the Prince to improve a bit," Zheng Nianru nodded, understanding. Indeed, Empress Dowager Yan Ping had never intended to kill Prince Duan; the effect was just what she wanted.