Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 55 Coaxing

Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Coaxing

Zheng Nianru got into the carriage without showing any emotion and sat down on the soft cushion beside Zheng Congyuan.

Was this anger? Court affairs? What disaster had happened again? Or were the factions within the court too outrageous in their alliances?

Fu Dong glared fiercely at Qi Zhu, what kind of situation was this, making her ride outside the carriage too?

Qi Zhu quickly bowed, Miss, please get on quickly, didn’t you see that they’re angry?

"Drive—" The servant driving the carriage was very experienced, driving fast and steady, and circled around the large troop heading towards the leading group at the forefront.

Zheng Nianru thought for a while but couldn’t figure out what could be troubling Zheng Congyuan at this time, as he was still the Crown Prince revered by the ministers.

Zheng Congyuan was adept at handling the contention between the factions and, under everyone’s watch, gradually nurtured a new force for the imperial court. A group of intellectuals would later become the pillars of Nanzheng State, and this was the cleverness of Zheng Congyuan.

So, what could make him angry?

But Zheng Nianru disliked seeing his silent demeanor, which easily led her to contemplate the future, and besides, considering the care Zheng Congyuan had shown her over the years, Zheng Nianru definitely should coax him a bit.

Zheng Nianru moved closer to Zheng Congyuan and reached out to grab his sleeve, but before her fingers could touch the fabric, Zheng Congyuan withdrew it, leaving the sleeve to fly through the air and Zheng Nianru grasping at nothing.

Zheng Nianru was startled and couldn’t quite remember if she was often faced with such situations at this time.

It seemed, roughly speaking, not worth getting angry about.

"Brother Crown Prince." Since she couldn’t grab hold, she chose to speak up instead.

The carriage was filled with silence and Zheng Nianru felt her spirits wane; she was lazy and not very good at coaxing people, especially as later on, she was more often pampered with tempers by Ju Nanyi.

"Brother Crown Prince, are you angry? Which insolent minister has provoked you? Just kill him—what’s the point of keeping him around for the New Year?" Zheng Nianru finally spoke, her voice sweet, both honeyed and sharp as frost.

Qi Zhu pursed his lips lightly; to speak so casually of killing a high official, the Commandery Princess sure dared to say it.

"Brother Crown Prince—"

"Brother Crown Prince, don’t be angry."

"Brother Crown Prince—" Zheng Nianru couldn’t grasp even a corner of Zheng Congyuan’s robe.

"Zheng Congyuan—"

Fu Dong’s handkerchief was nearly dropped in her anxiety, and with concern, she glanced over.

Zheng Nianru satisfiedly cornered the man in the carriage, who turned his head away from her, cold and indifferent as if he had enclosed himself in ice, casting a frosty layer even on those who approached.

"What are you so angry about?" Zheng Nianru felt something was amiss, as if the anger was directed at her; she decisively caught hold of Zheng Congyuan’s belt, not allowing the man to push her hand away.

Zheng Congyuan was startled by Zheng Nianru’s sudden action and then tried to remove her hand from his wrist. Zheng Nianru wouldn’t let go, and when the man applied force, she suddenly lowered her head and bit down on the back of his hand, defiantly refusing to release her grip.

"Let go—" The man issued a deep, restrained voice.

"I won’t—" Zheng Nianru retorted, muffled, not really biting down hard; her teeth grazed the back of his hand, and suddenly, she stuck out her tongue, licking the patch of flesh in her mouth.

Zheng Congyuan immediately felt it, and before the strange sensation could travel from his palm to his brain and back to his heart, he hastened to strengthen his grip.

"Ah—" Zheng Congyuan felt the pain on the back of his hand and also heard Zheng Nianru’s pained low cry. Zheng Congyuan immediately regretted his impulsiveness and reached out his withdrawn hand as if to stuff it back into the other’s mouth.

The next moment, Zheng Congyuan realized the absurdity of his actions with a wry smile. He was about to speak when the image of Zheng Haoyuan affectionately tugging at her sleeve came to mind.

Zheng Congyuan withdrew his hand, his expression turning ice cold again. He remembered that during this time, she hadn’t visited even once.

Zheng Nianru looked up the next moment, her eyes slightly red. Was she truly angry now? Even in such a state, he wasn’t coaxing her?

Look, just look; it was her who harbored vain hopes, it was always her. His final choice was always the country, tradition, and propriety.

Zheng Nianru slowly straightened her body. It was just as well. Knowing that she was on a path of repeated mistakes, why degrade herself by making the same choice again? Indeed, she didn’t want to have anything to do with Zheng Congyuan any longer. Now that things had blown up, perhaps it was just as well to let them be.

Suddenly, the carriage fell into a quiet calm.

Qi Zhu, on the other hand, was somewhat anxious and looked urgently at Fu Dong. Fu Dong rolled her eyes at Qi Zhu, "You heard it; it has always been my Commandery Princess who has been pampering your master. What now? Do you expect us to kneel and beg you? Let whomever cares do so."

Qi Zhu quickly pleaded, "My lady, at least think of something."

Fu Dong pulled back her sleeve, "Please, you’re the noble ones, don’t rush us."

"Giddy up—" The carriage had already reached the squad in front, and Prince Duan’s carriage had stopped early on and was waiting ahead.

Qi Zhu carefully opened the carriage curtain, and Zheng Nianru, holding up her skirt, stepped out. The curtain flapped loudly, and she didn’t look back as she walked towards Prince Duan’s carriage.

Qi Zhu dared not look at her master; she hadn’t heard any instructions from inside the carriage for quite some time, and Prince Duan’s carriage was now an arrow’s flight away. Biting her lip, Qi Zhu took the initiative to have the servant follow.

...

Zheng Haoyuan sat bored in the spacious carriage, staring blankly at Master Yin He in the iron cage for nearly an hour when he suddenly made a surprising discovery: Master Yin He’s breaths were much slower than his.

It was as if he had taken three breaths in and out, while the mage in the cage had only inhaled once and had yet to exhale. Furthermore, the man had curled up, his thin body twisted into the shape of a shrimp, his head buried deeply in the crook of his arm.

On the return journey, they were accompanied by a hearse, Noble Consort Wen was sick with grief and still insisted on following the hearse, and Eunuch Ho Sheng was repeatedly ill and still not out of danger. Thus, no one paid any attention to him. Only a Little Eunuch timidly followed by the side, neither daring to speak nor leave.

Zheng Haoyuan suddenly sighed and glanced at the Little Eunuch.

He was Eunuch Ho Sheng’s little disciple, the dullest of wits but the most loyal, trained by Eunuch Ho Sheng himself.

"Cang Er, what do you think Prince Duan likes?" Zheng Haoyuan returned to this troubling question; this was his cousin’s father, the Imperial Uncle, who originally had some disagreement with his own father. It would be surprising if he liked him.

"Your Highness, this servant dares not guess irresponsibly, but I can inquire after returning," Cang Er replied earnestly.

"No need; I’ll just ask my cousin personally," Zheng Haoyuan hastily waved his hand. Why ask others when no one knows more than his cousin? "However, do you think it would be strange if I..."

It might be strange since Prince Duan—

"As Your Highness said, Commandery Princess Chao Ren is both intelligent and beautiful, and also kind-hearted, and she genuinely cares for you. Your Highness can use the reason of a life-saving grace to give Prince Duan a gift." The Little Eunuch was, after all, personally trained by Eunuch Ho Sheng; although not much older than Zheng Haoyuan, he was quite astute.

The person in the cage suddenly moved; amidst the conversation between Zheng Haoyuan and the eunuch, the words "Commandery Princess Chao Ren" entered his ears, and Master Yin He suddenly had the desire to live.

That woman.

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