Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 499 - 478 Second Update

Chapter 499: Chapter 478 Second Update

Zheng Nianru frowned as she looked at the young boy before her. Why was he crying? She hadn’t blamed him for sneaking in, and now he couldn’t leave because Zheng Congyuan’s men were outside. Going out like this would only cause trouble.

"Don’t cry. Do you want to go back to the palace?" Zheng Nianru speculated that Zheng Haoyuan was afraid of Zheng Congyuan, so he had sneaked in but hadn’t dared to come out because of her argument with Zheng Congyuan. Now unable to leave, and fearing her scolding, he was in this state.

Zheng Nianru reached out and touched Zheng Haoyuan’s head.

"I didn’t mean to blame you. Yesterday, your timing was simply unfortunate. Did you want to come and play with me?" said Zheng Nianru. Xing Yu had already let the boy down. Zheng Haoyuan stood there, bewildered; he was still angry, not wanting to deal with anyone, not even wanting to be here.

"You cannot be with him," Zheng Haoyuan suddenly said, tossing out a phrase without preface. Only if she agreed, could he feel alive again, could he breathe without thinking about how Zheng Congyuan was better than him in everything.

Zheng Nianru slightly started, and in the next moment, she understood the meaning behind Zheng Haoyuan’s words.

Zheng Nianru glanced at Nanny Yun. Nanny Yun promptly led Xing Yu and Nian Xia down.

"Fu Gong, come with me—" Zheng Nianru walked back without looking at Zheng Haoyuan, who hesitated briefly, then subconsciously followed her steps.

Fu Dong carefully placed a foot pad down. Although the floor was already warmed by a heater and there wasn’t a trace of coldness, the Commandery Princess was barefoot and he worried it might still feel cool.

Fu Dong also carefully added a soft cushion for the Fourth Prince, who stubbornly refused it, demanding answers instead.

"Why do you think so?" Zheng Nianru looked up at the boy. From the looks of it, Zheng Haoyuan had heard everything yesterday. Zheng Nianru had no fear, knowing that this matter would come to light sooner or later—she would inevitably have to stand before everyone if she wished to pursue this outcome.

"Cousin, do you not know about the ancestral teachings of the Zheng Imperial Family?" Zheng Haoyuan suddenly thought of this issue, blurting out hurriedly. His cousin, always at Qishun Building, naturally wouldn’t have been told. It should be Zheng Congyuan who was to die; he had known yet...

"I know—" Zheng Nianru’s voice sounded like a cold arrow that shattered the bubble of Zheng Haoyuan’s hope. He stared blankly at Zheng Nianru, the woman who in his eyes, and heart, was worth everything in the world.

Therefore, it was all his wishful thinking; everything was just excuses he made for her...

The young boy’s slight dissatisfaction was not sufficient to bear the weight of her words. She knew, so she still unhesitatingly chose to be with Zheng Congyuan...

Zheng Haoyuan staggered back two steps, unable to believe that these were the words that Zheng Nianru had spoken; he refused to believe the deeper implications behind them. So, even if it violated the ancestral teachings, she was willing...

Zheng Haoyuan found no words to refute. As he bound himself to his fantastical thoughts, his foolish imaginations, he never considered that all of this could be broken.

In an instant, Zheng Haoyuan seemed to understand something. Even though they had argued last night, Zheng Nianru firmly reiterated that she knew.

Zheng Haoyuan, heart as cold as ashes, turned to leave as Fu Dong anxiously watched his princess, concerned that the Fourth Prince shouldn’t just leave like this.

"There are Zheng Congyuan’s men outside. If you want to avoid trouble, follow Nian Xia out," said Zheng Nianru as she slowly spoke, glancing at Zheng Haoyuan’s retreating figure.

Zheng Haoyuan paused briefly, momentarily unsure of the meaning behind Zheng Nianru’s words, as Nanny Yun swiftly came up.

"Fourth Prince, the Princess is worried about you," whispered Nanny Yun. As per usual, the Fourth Prince had a good relationship with the Princess. If he were to leave through the main gate, the Crown Prince would undoubtedly suspect Zheng Haoyuan knew about this matter, and that would indeed be dangerous for the Fourth Prince.

Zheng Haoyuan didn’t respond but silently acknowledged Nanny Yun’s words. She still cared about him, and he didn’t want to think deeply anymore, preferring to aimlessly seek out a place where no one else was.

Nian Xia nodded her head and pulled Zheng Haoyuan directly into a secure kitchen where a chef handed over a serving cart. She shoved Zheng Haoyuan into the cart to sneak him out of Prince Duan’s Mansion and, still uneasy, she personally went shopping for the Commandery Princess and accompanied the delivery out.

"Fourth Prince, can you get back by yourself?" Nian Xia had escorted him to a secluded place, glanced around nervously, and asked yet again.

Zheng Haoyuan hung his head in silence. Just then, a hurried and grateful Cang Er approached from behind, almost on the verge of kneeling before Nian Xia.

"Miss Xia, thank you—" Nian Xia finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your Highness, shall we return to the palace?" Cang Er anxiously looked at his own prince. They had waited outdoors all night, enduring the bitter cold, but the Crown Prince had not emerged. Cang Er had been desperate to storm in, but Lu Hu, who had arrived swiftly, stopped him just in time. Prince Duan’s Mansion had, unbeknownst to them, been filled with skilful guards.

Cang Er, who had spent a night in worry and fear, finally relaxed when he saw his prince appear at the back door.

"Back to the palace—" Zheng Haoyuan said coldly, casting a glance at the now distant Nian Xia, as if in that moment, the youth before him had grown up, shedding his timidity and impatience.

Cang Er shared a glance with Lu Hu, who subtly shook his head, sensing something amiss with their prince. It was clearly a serious change, but it wasn’t the time to ask questions; it was better to return and discuss it later.

Cang Er also nodded, gestured quietly, and the carriage moved forward. Zheng Haoyuan didn’t resist; he silently boarded the carriage, and didn’t speak another word all the way back to the palace.

Yet upon returning to the palace, Zheng Haoyuan didn’t go to his own chambers. Instead, he headed straight to Noble Consort Wen’s residence, leaving Cang Er and the others utterly confused.

...

"Drive!" In the darkness, a group of horsemen sped along the road, not daring to stop as two groups of pursuers steadily closed in on them.

"Princely Heir, this is the fourth batch," said one of the black-clothed people, his voice weary yet cautious and fearful.

"Haha, let’s see if they can catch up—" Nanmen Yu laughed heartily, whipping his horse. Despite being pursued, he was determined to let Zheng Congyuan know that he absolutely must marry Nian Ru.

"Whoosh—" An arrow flew swiftly, striking the hindquarters of the horse beneath Nanmen Yu, who tumbled through the air before landing. Followed by a barrage of arrows, Nanmen Yu evaded them, shocked by the relentlessness of the Crown Prince of Nanzheng. The relentless pursuit and deadly tactics seemed aimed at ensuring his death.

Nanmen Yu dodged the incoming arrows.

"Brothers, let’s go for it—" Leading from the front, Nanmen Yu charged towards his pursuers, a cold smile playing on his lips. It seemed that marrying Nian Ru was going to be more difficult than he had imagined.

However, before Nanmen Yu’s men could engage, suddenly, another group of horsemen caught up to their pursuers.

"His Highness commands you to return."

The group hesitated.

"The Emperor has passed away—" With those words, everyone quickly turned their horses around and vanished without a trace.

The oncoming Nanmen Yu, stunned, watched the guards retreating even faster than they had pursued him, a rare smile crossing his lips. It seemed he had just cleared a significant hurdle set by his formidable brother-in-law.

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