Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 435 - 414: Second Update

Chapter 435: Chapter 414: Second Update

Prince Duan’s expression immediately turned cold. He knew Emperor Jingzhi’s character better than anyone. If it weren’t for the fear that Lady Ru would die at the hands of that pervert sooner or later, Prince Duan would never resort to such a desperate strategy so hastily.

Zheng Nianru stood still, seemingly not understanding the Emperor’s intention to the outsiders, as if she was confused. Seeing that the Emperor showed no sign of lowering his hand, Prince Duan’s face darkened immediately, and he was about to speak when a figure suddenly stood by his side.

Zheng Congyuan immediately grasped Zheng Boding’s other hand and then the Emperor’s.

"Father, Imperial Uncle, it’s truly wonderful that you can put aside your past grievances," Zheng Congyuan said, standing by Prince Duan’s side and blocking the Emperor’s entire line of sight with his tall figure.

"Yes, yes, yes..." Prince Duan nodded. He didn’t care for Emperor Jingzhi’s face, but he did trust Zheng Congyuan, who would be the one Nian Ru could rely on in the future.

"Fu Xun speaks very well; let’s all leave," Empress Dowager Yan Ping said, standing up with a smile and looking at her grandson appreciatively. This grandson of hers gave her the least worry, able to see through everything without showing his thoughts on the surface.

"Imperial Grandmother, Father, Imperial Uncle, please—" Zheng Congyuan continued, determined to go all the way.

Emperor Jingzhi frowned but ultimately was somewhat intimidated by Zheng Congyuan. Knowing how protective Zheng Congyuan was of Zheng Boding, he understood the implications.

Back when Zheng Boding rebelled, he had an extremely secretive squadron under him. When Zheng Boding’s forces were defeated, that group of men mysteriously disappeared. Despite several years of searching, he found not a trace, and every spy he placed in Prince Duan’s Mansion disappeared one after another without yielding any results.

After that, Prince Duan became what he was now, and Emperor Jingzhi had given up on the matter.

But now it was different; these people of Prince Duan’s were crucial to Zheng Congyuan.

As Zheng Congyuan and others were about to leave, Zheng Nianru took two steps forward before she began to move, seemingly unintentionally walking in front of Zheng Nianru. Zheng Nianru knew that Zheng Congyuan was doing it on purpose. The eunuchs and palace maids following them were silent, and though Fu Dong didn’t realize what had just happened, she sensed the preceding tension and clung closely to Zheng Nianru, not daring to fall behind.

However, Zheng Nianru smiled slightly and quickened her pace. Amidst the sound of rustling skirts, her fingers swiftly poked at the hand Zheng Congyuan was holding out behind him.

Zheng Congyuan’s figure remained tall and unyielding, like a pine, walking through the main hall. Seeing this, Zheng Nianru smiled faintly.

Fu Dong looked around nervously. Commandery Princess, have you lost your mind? There are so many people here. Fortunately, the palace maids and eunuchs all bowed their heads, and no one noticed, but Fu Dong’s heart leapt to her throat.

Zheng Nianru reached out again, using the amplitude of the swaying skirts and the closeness of their walk to poke Zheng Congyuan again. Zheng Nianru knew very well that such provocation...

But before Zheng Nianru could succeed, the hand in front of her suddenly turned, and before she realized what was happening, that pair of elegantly boned and jade-like hands wrapped around hers and curled it into his palm.

Fu Dong’s legs went soft; her heart was about to leap out with such fluctuations. Zheng Nianru was already struggling to retract her hand, but the other party wouldn’t allow it. During the tussle, the girl’s cold purple dress overlapped with the man’s crimson robe, their wide sleeves swaying together.

Zheng Nianru became a bit anxious. If they reached the side hall, the Empress Dowager would stop, and by then...

Moreover, this was Empress Dowager Yan Ping’s domain, full of her informants.

Just as Zheng Nianru was preparing to struggle again, the hand in front of her suddenly let go. After walking past a few steps and turning around in front of a huge, intricately carved screen, a dark red round table already appeared in Zheng Nianru’s line of sight.

"Please, have a seat. Now that winter has set in, there aren’t many fresh dishes available. Thinking that lamb is most warming, I prepared some. Your Majesty, would you like to add anything?" Empress Dowager Yan Ping, supported by Emperor Jingzhi, took her seat. Emperor Jingzhi sat to her left, and upon seeing this, Prince Duan took his seat on the right. The remaining two seats naturally belonged to Zheng Congyuan and Zheng Nianru.

The dishes on the table were exquisite, and the warm, fragrant aroma of lamb stew wafted through the air. As Zheng Nianru sat down beside Prince Duan, the palace maids carefully opened the windows. It was only then that Zheng Nianru realized the entire window of this side room could be opened, revealing a small but extremely delicate stage outside.

"Today’s family banquet isn’t commemorating any special occasion, so I thought we’d simply enjoy a few musical pieces." Empress Dowager Yan Ping gave a meaningful glance at her Momomomo, who walked to the window and clapped her hands. Slowly, the sound of a guzheng began to play, cheerful and celebratory, matching the mood Empress Dowager Yan Ping hoped to convey.

"Your Majesty, do the dishes suit your taste?" the Empress Dowager asked.

Emperor Jingzhi withdrew his gaze, and it was unclear whether he had heard Empress Dowager Yan Ping’s question, but he nodded nonetheless.

"Mother, the music is lovely—" he said.

Empress Dowager Yan Ping nodded her head.

"What do you think, Boding?" Empress Dowager Yan Ping asked further.

"Thank you, Mother, the dishes are very good." Prince Duan picked up some food from his plate and placed it in front of Empress Dowager Yan Ping, catching Emperor Jingzhi’s gaze in the process.

"Your Majesty, this cup is to honor you," Prince Duan raised his wine cup.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingzhi looked away.

"Younger brother, I shall honor you with tea instead of wine," Emperor Jingzhi raised his cup, looking towards Prince Duan, as those long-buried memories began to resurface, and the memory of Lady Ru became sharply clear again in his mind.

Even among the many great beauties of his palace, Lady Ru’s every gesture and smile possessed a bewitching power, as if ensnaring one’s soul.

Just as Emperor Jingzhi was about to drink, he suddenly set down his cup and turned to look outside.

"Come here, drag that musician out and behead her—she played two notes wrong just now." No sooner had these words fallen than He Ling, who stood by the door, paused. Without a second thought, he looked to his men, and instantly two eunuchs rushed out and dragged away the guzheng-playing palace maid.

"Empress Dowager, spare my life, Empress Dowager, spare my life—" The palace maid had no idea who was present that day; she thought it was just another day where the Empress Dowager listened to music.

No one at the table spoke a word. Zheng Nianru glanced outside to see the palace maid in her thin water-green dress, ill-equipped to ward off the chill of early winter, her head knocking against the floor relentlessly in bows.

Finally, Emperor Jingzhi looked outside, his eyebrows raised with a mix of impatience and a hint of amusement.

"Don’t drag her out to behead her; just chop off that hand right here," Emperor Jingzhi said indifferently. The guards immediately reached out and pulled the girl’s arm forward. The girl shook uncontrollably, violently shaking her head. The next moment, her scream pierced through Zheng Nianru’s ears.

Zheng Congyuan’s hands clenched twice, but he made no move.

In contrast, Empress Dowager Yan Ping’s gaze swept over the table. She had underestimated Commandery Princess Chao Ren; hmm, she does have some courage.