Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 460 - 439: One More Update

Chapter 460: Chapter 439: One More Update

"Go fetch Ju Nanyi—" Zheng Congyuan regained some sanity; naturally, he couldn’t directly stop Ju Nanyi, what good would that do? He couldn’t even openly stop him at this moment.

Qi Ling was slightly startled, instinctively wanting to persuade, his first thought being what the Crown Prince would say to stop Ju Nanyi, and on what grounds he would prevent Ju Nanyi’s enrollment.

Qi Zhu felt it’d be better to simply take action directly—at least that way...

"Aren’t you going yet—" Seeing Qi Zhu standing there dazed and not moving, Zheng Congyuan turned his head and looked at Qi Zhu coldly.

What did they think he was going to do? Was he going to kill Ju Nanyi?

It had to be said that even the heavens were on Ju Nanyi’s side, at such a crucial time, he couldn’t lay a finger on Ju Nanyi, and even for some time to come, he wouldn’t be able to do anything to him. In the whole plan, he had placed Ju Nanyi in a very important position.

A person with no background but exceptional abilities, someone Zheng Congyuan had taken notice of early on and diligently cultivated.

Qi Zhu hurried off without daring to think further, unable to stop whatever his master, the Crown Prince, would do next.

"The Crown Prince has summoned me?" Ju Nanyi turned around in surprise; if it weren’t for the Crown Prince’s close official to personally make the trip, then something urgent must’ve happened.

Sitting beside him, Lord Lin, the government matchmaker from Heyun County of the Zheng Capital City, together with Madam Lin the matchmaker, stood up as well.

"Lord Ju, if you are busy, please go ahead. I am available at any time," Madam Lin said politely. Lord Ju was a favorite in front of the Crown Prince; she was naturally willing to do him this favor.

Originally, Lord Ju’s visit had surprised her, and although they had only just sat down and had yet to exchange a few words, Madam Lin had already roughly guessed why Lord Ju had come.

Since it was the Crown Prince who sent for him, why did Lord Ju seem somewhat reluctant?

Madam Lin naturally did not dare to speculate about the Crown Prince. She could only think that Lord Ju had sought her out naturally for that matter. Although Lord Ju was a bit older, with his appearance and character, Madam Lin certainly wouldn’t refuse.

Yet before Lord Ju had mentioned which family, an envoy from the Crown Prince arrived; though Madam Lin was also curious about which family it was, this wasn’t the time to speak.

Although Ju Nanyi maintained a calm expression, he first exchanged a few words with Madam Lin, then hurried along with Qi Zhu to the Crown Prince’s Mansion.

All was calm within the Crown Prince’s Mansion, seemingly no different from any other day, but Ju Nanyi still sharply sensed something was amiss—be it the welcoming Qi Jin and Qi Yu at the gate, or Qi Ling waiting in the study, they all carried an air of tension. It seemed there really was trouble.

Zheng Congyuan was still sitting at the desk. As he turned his head, his somewhat weary expression caused Ju Nanyi to instantly put away his suspicions—it indeed seemed there was a serious matter.

"Nanyi, you’re just in time. There’s been some trouble, and his highness doesn’t trust anyone else to attend to it," Zheng Congyuan stood up, his voice hoarse, handing Ju Nanyi a sealed missive.

Seeing the seal on the missive, Ju Nanyi’s heart skipped a beat; such secrets were not for someone of his level to view.

Although he was now the Crown Prince’s trusted aide, Ju Nanyi knew all too well how complicated relationships were within the imperial court and that dealings between the Crown Prince and court factions were far from as simple as they appeared on the surface.

What he had done before had never involved the deeper affairs of the imperial court.

Yet Ju Nanyi did not hesitate to take the missive; he had no choice, and Zheng Congyuan had not given him one. Ju Nanyi knew that to marry Zheng Nianru, he must rely on the Crown Prince’s power, and moreover, the Crown Prince and Prince Duan were in very good terms. Perhaps, without the Crown Prince in his previous life, he would not have married Zheng Nianru so easily. Therefore, he had to carry out Zheng Congyuan’s command now.

Ju Nanyi gathered his thoughts and retracted his musings, swiftly finishing the letter’s contents.

The Wen Family colluding with the forces beyond the Northwest Border was expected; in his previous life, the Wen Family revolted after Emperor Jingzhi’s death, which by his calculations, meant that the Wen Family was acting earlier than before.

However, this life differed from the last in several ways, such as the emergence of the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family, the Hostage of Nanmen State, so the likelihood of the Wen Family making an early move was indeed high.

"Does Your Highness mean to dispatch the Fire Order Squad to the Northwest Border?" Ju Nanyi did not wish to go at this time; he preferred to finalize the matter with Zheng Nianru first.

Zheng Congyuan turned his head.

"The day I entrusted the Fire Order Squad to you was in anticipation of this very moment. Qiandao Temple’s people are already at the Northern Border, and now several dozen more have been dispatched. Your journey this time has another purpose." Zheng Congyuan spoke.

Ju Nanyi fell silent; he understood Zheng Congyuan’s intentions well—Zheng Congyuan never felt at ease about Qiandao Temple. Despite outward reverence, the temple’s growing power was indeed worrisome.

Seeing Ju Nanyi’s silence, Zheng Congyuan knew what was on his mind.

"Rest assured, I will personally handle matters with Prince Duan. Go with peace of mind, and when you return, I will make your marriage to Princess Chao Ren even more justifiable." Zheng Congyuan slowly said.

Qi Ling momentarily stunned, quickly lowered his head, unable to discern how much truth or falsehood lay in his own Crown Prince’s statement. But was the Crown Prince really going to allow Lord Ju to marry the Commandery Princess?

Impossible, it was impossible.

Upon hearing this, Ju Nanyi indeed lifted his head, his gaze subtly shifting. The next moment, he resolutely paid his respects to Zheng Congyuan.

He had been worried that the Crown Prince might be wary of him, but it seemed he had wrongly accused His Highness.

"Please rest assured, Your Highness, your servant will certainly complete..."

"I will issue a decree tomorrow sending you to Zhen Nan County, you shall depart tonight, taking a different route from the Fire Order Squad."

Ju Nanyi hesitated slightly; departing this evening left him no time to prepare, but remembering what Zheng Congyuan had just promised, Ju Nanyi still accepted the task.

Zheng Congyuan watched Ju Nanyi depart and remained silent for a long time, leaving Qi Ling not daring to guess what his own Crown Prince was thinking. But Qi Ling knew well that the Crown Prince would never discuss this matter with Prince Duan, nor visit Prince Duan’s Mansion.

The day passed at the Crown Prince’s Mansion with everyone in a state of anxiety. Come evening, Qi Ling grew restless; this back and forth was worse than simply being stabbed with a knife.

"Big Brother Qi Ling—" Qi Zhu came running in a rush. Qi Ling, lacking energy and intending to rest awhile considering tomorrow might be even more difficult...

"His Highness is going out—" Qi Zhu blurted out, not waiting for Qi Ling. Qi Ling was startled, going out, but where to?

Without further thought, Qi Ling rushed out, indeed seeing Zheng Congyuan already heading towards the corridor. Qi Ling quickly composed his panic and followed.

Without anyone asking, they reached the entrance where Qi Yu had prepared the horses. A deep black unmarked carriage stood there, and Qi Ling heaved a sigh of relief. They only used that carriage when going to Prince Duan’s Mansion.

Ordinarily, when the Crown Prince needed to leave, he would ride in a carriage bearing the insignia of the Crown Prince’s Mansion.