Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 85: Who is Behind the Curtain?

Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Who is Behind the Curtain?

Zheng Haoyuan was caught off guard by this slap, staggering back one step before returning to his senses and looking at Noble Consort Wen incredulously.

Noble Consort Wen was resolute, her trembling fingers hidden in her voluminous sleeves. If she hadn’t taken the initiative, the Empress, who already had an unfavorable impression of Fu Gong, would have suspected her even more because of the previous assassination attempt on the Crown Prince.

Seeing this, Zheng Haoyuan’s eyes reddened instantly, and in the next moment, he decisively ran out.

Noble Consort Wen let out a sigh of relief, turned around firmly, and respectfully knelt on the ground.

"Empress, Fu Gong has been obstinate since childhood. It’s my negligence in discipline," Noble Consort Wen said earnestly. "I have already lost one son, for the remaining one, I dare not hope for much greatness, only for him to grow up safely and happily."

Empress Xiao looked at Noble Consort Wen on the ground. Empress Xiao was extremely tall; Zheng Congyuan must have inherited her height. Standing there, she commanded authority effortlessly. At that moment, she scrutinized Noble Consort Wen, as if trying to discern the sincerity in her words.

Zheng Nianru stood to one side, showing no intention of speaking. In her view, she did not exist in the eyes of these power holders in the Harem. Moreover, Noble Consort Wen was indeed a very astute person. Her humble yet dignified demeanor would greatly reduce any suspicions the Empress might have.

Zheng Nianru had once studied Empress Xiao, calculating how likely it was that she could remain undiscovered in the Crown Prince’s Mansion, and if recognized, how much chance she had of staying.

The air was quiet, with Empress Xiao surrounded by a host of attendants and palace maids, standing densely around. Everyone from Noble Consort Wen kneeled quietly, their silence exerting immense pressure.

After the last bit of oppressive force was exerted, and Noble Consort Wen still motionless on the ground seemed somewhat uneasy, Empress Xiao finally spoke.

"Rise," she said.

"Thank you, Empress," they responded.

"Empress, I still have duties unattended, I shall take my leave now," Master Ling Yi spoke softly as always.

"Please, Master," Empress Xiao’s voice was very gentle, as she personally had her attendants see Master Ling Yi off.

Zheng Nianru had also wanted to leave when Zheng Haoyuan left, but doing so abruptly would have drawn attention. Just as Master Ling Yi started moving, Zheng Nianru followed right behind, without any hint of awkwardness or impropriety.

"Noble Consort Wen, at another time, I will choose another suitable tutor for Fu Gong. As a Prince, he must not neglect his studies," said Empress Xiao, her gaze already shifting to the retreating figure of Master Ling Yi.

Who is that next to Master Ling Yi? Why does that figure seem familiar to her, yet appears to be someone brought by Master Ling Yi?

Noble Consort Wen followed Empress Xiao’s gaze, her heart sinking. Princess Chao Ren, always seemingly everywhere.

Zheng Nianru walked a distance, making sure she was out of Empress Xiao and Noble Consort Wen’s sight, then at the next junction in the garden, she decisively turned and headed straight for her Qishun Building.

"Your Highness, please wait," Master Ling Yi couldn’t help but speak, Zheng Nianru stopped, turned around, her gaze tranquil as the moon, ethereal, devoid of any emotion, and indifferent, as if she had seen through everything, unlike any other lady he had seen in the palace.

Master Ling Yi withdrew his gaze, suddenly not understanding why he had spoken; that look had instantly rendered his words meaningless.

Zheng Nianru initially scoffed, thinking that calling her back must mean there was something to be said. Why then was there silence? Could it be that some truths were too perilous to speak, lest they reveal too much of destiny?

"Your Royal Highness the Princess, there is something..." Master Ling Yi hesitated but eventually spoke. He seldom took the initiative to offer prophecies, but when insights sprang to his mind unbidden, it had occurred only on rare occasions over the years.

"What does the master wish to tell this commandery princess?" Zheng Nianru suddenly interrupted Master Ling Yi, her eyes coldly fixed on him, though she found him more pleasing to look at than Master Huo Yi.

Master Ling Yi was taken aback, and the attendant following him became somewhat anxious. This girl was unknowingly treating the situation far too lightly; Master Ling Yi was not one to initiate conversation lightly.

Zheng Nianru gave a faint smile, and her previous indifference seemed to dissipate in a breeze, immediately making the atmosphere feel warm and breezy, as if her chilling demeanor had never existed.

"The master may say what he wishes, but this commandery princess can choose not to listen." Zheng Nianru turned and walked away, leaving no opportunity for a response. Why allow them to speak nonsense and foolishness, which many somehow believe as truth?

...

Tan Zong spent three days determining the current situation of their master, feeling even more distressed. It was hard to believe that after all these years, their master, held hostage in Nanmen State, had faced such hardships in Zheng State.

But Tan Zong did not see these hardships as purely disadvantageous. These trials endowed their young master with a resilience uncommon in others, allowing him to accomplish in mere months what typically took years for the descendants of the Nanmen Royal Family.

During these three days, Tan Zong also rapidly organized the long-concealed Nanmen Death Warriors. Nearly half of the arriving Death Warriors had already infiltrated every corner of Nanzheng Capital so silently that not even a whiff of dust was stirred by the breeze.

"Princely Heir, the living expenses of these brothers are all on your servant," declared Second Uncle Jing and Uncle Jingmen, though they only saw Tan Zong and a few dozen others, they immediately assured vehemently.

Tan Zong glanced at these two, astonished that the only members of the Jing Family who had escaped were these two ineffectual ones. Not only were they incapable, but they had also burdened the Princely Heir with looking after so many people for such a long time. However, upon reflection, he noted that the important members of the Jing Family were likely closely watched and primarily targeted for elimination, so how could they have escaped?

Support them with just these two shops?

"Princely Heir, my men can take care of themselves, which will not alert the enemy nor cause disturbance, and they do not contact each other for the safety of the princely heir," they said.

Nanmen Yu nodded and led Tan Zong into a guest room.

"You can stay here for now; have you found any leads about that day’s incident?" Nanmen Yu asked.

The assassins from that day were very strange and highly peculiar.

"Master, the clues were not difficult to find." Or rather, the assailants seemed initially disdainful of concealing their clues. Assassinating their master seemed a certain victory to them, unlikely to fail. Indeed, had they not arrived in time and secretly protected the Princely Heir, waiting for the three leaders to gather for a meeting with their master, the master would have been saved.

Otherwise, once the assailants began to be cautious, their investigation would have become much more challenging, as evidenced by the assailants’ orderly retreat.

"When did the master offend the Fourth Prince of Nanzheng State?" Tan Zong found it strange, for their master should not have had any dealings with the Fourth Prince of Nanzheng.