Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 99: Not Letting Go

Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Not Letting Go

"Prince Duan," Ju Nanyi greeted respectfully as he stepped forward. He had arrived early, and not many officials from the Hanlin Academy were present yet. A few, upon spotting Prince Duan, looked surprised and then proceeded to offer their respects.

Prince Duan, seemingly indifferent to the others, thought to himself that even though Ju Nanyi was handling matters for the Crown Prince, what did a mere inn have to do with the Crown Prince?

"Let’s speak over here," Prince Duan stabilized his emotions. The anger he had felt while coming here had also abated somewhat. Ju Nanyi was a very cautious person. If he suddenly engaged in such actions, there must be a compelling reason for it.

Hurriedly, Ju Nanyi led Prince Duan toward a study room nearby. Yong Ning, a new attendant chosen from the Hanlin Academy, followed Ju Nanyi closely, skillfully serving tea and water.

Prince Duan sat down immediately, deliberately maintaining a stern expression.

Ju Nanyi stood by his side, also remaining silent, as Prince Duan’s stern expression gradually turned into a genuine coldness. Prince Duan glanced at Ju Nanyi with his handsome but frosty eyes, thinking, what now? Have you learned to play hardball? Are you waiting for me to speak first?

"May I know what orders Prince Duan has?" Ju Nanyi immediately asked respectfully, "Is it about the assassins I captured yesterday?"

"Assassins? How could there be assassins in my territory?" Prince Duan snorted coldly, then furrowed his brow. The people captured last night were assassins? Impossible. He had thoroughly investigated everyone in the inn, and there hadn’t been any issues.

Ju Nanyi glanced at Prince Duan. The Crown Prince had tasked him with investigating the affairs of the residents of Pinghu Village, without specifying the reasons. However, the matter was not difficult to uncover. Although tightly sealed, anyone with a bit of sense could connect the dots and come very close to guessing the truth.

Furthermore, Ju Nanyi was aware of the disappearance of young men and women from Pinghu Village, which had caused quite a stir in Zejun County. It was only that Governor Pei handled matters in a rather simplistic way, driving the people out and then assuming all was well. He hadn’t expected this group, masquerading as refugees, had fled all the way to Zheng Capital. Thus, the subsequent events could easily be linked to the days when the Crown Prince was missing.

At that moment, Prince Duan’s anger also paused momentarily. Were there really assassins?

"What do you mean?"

"My lord should be aware of the trouble in Pinghu Village. The people from the inn are actually from Pinghu Village. These people, disguised as refugees, reached Zheng Capital and waited for an opportunity to strike. The Crown Prince has commanded an investigation into the whereabouts of this group," Ju Nanyi clarified.

Prince Duan stood up from his seat, shocked. His first thought was how this could be happening; such dangerous people should not be around Nian Ru.

"Are you certain?" How could Nian Ru encounter these people?

"My lord, this investigation isn’t difficult. These individuals might have coincidentally hidden inside the inn. As long as no one deliberately planned this, it’s fortunate," Ju Nanyi spoke calmly.

Prince Duan was taken aback, quickly grasping the implications of Ju Nanyi’s words. What could Nian Ru know about this? The matter was handled by Nanmen Yu, what was his relation to Nian Ru? It must be that young man.

What was he planning to do?

"How do you plan to deal with these people?"

...

Nanmen Yu waited inside the inn, slowly realizing that there was indeed something off about that refugee family. Initially, it was Zheng Nianru who wanted to find them; he hadn’t thought much of it. Besides, hiding someone, he had thought they were simply refugees who couldn’t bear to see their fellow villagers wander and suffer. Moreover, that person had been extremely cautious and hadn’t caused any trouble, allowing Nanmen Yu to turn a blind eye.

But now, Nanmen Yu felt that things were not so simple.

Yet, how could Nian Ru know the identity of these people?

Having Prince Duan step in was best at this moment. In Nanmen Yu’s view, initially rescuing this family was an impulsive act of compassion. Even later, he had never inquired about their identities, similar to other people who were also added later on.

Zheng Nianru’s sudden appearance at the side gate of the Crown Prince’s Mansion startled Qi Jin. Early in the morning, as he was about to move forward, Zheng Nianru had already instructed someone to prepare the carriage.

"Where does the Commandery Princess wish to go?" Aren’t you here to see His Highness? His Highness has just finished washing up and there is still time before he attends court.

"I need to step out—" Zheng Nianru was indifferent, not wanting to relive her past life. Why had Ju Nanyi decided to capture that family? Could it be that he too had foreseen this? As she spoke, she had already boarded the carriage. Qi Jin wanted to stop her but didn’t dare, helplessly watching the carriage pull away, before hurriedly turning around to report back.

Zheng Congyuan, who had just returned the night before, listened and then looked at Qi Jin. Leaving in a hurry? What had happened?

"I presume it must be..." The Commandery Princess going out definitely wasn’t to visit Prince Duan’s Mansion, right? The Empress Dowager naturally wouldn’t allow it, so the only place left was that inn.

Qi Jin dared not speak, fearing his words might displease his lord.

Zheng Congyuan had guessed it as well. So, had Prince Duan already made his move?

Zheng Congyuan remained silent; since action had been taken, there was no need for his intervention now.

Zheng Congyuan stood up; his robes shimmered in the morning light, solemn and majestic.

"Enter the palace—"

Qi Jin did not dare to speak further. Was his lord not going to intervene?

Zheng Nianru arrived directly at the inn, where Nanmen Yu was somewhat surprised, not having anticipated the significance of these few individuals to Zheng Nianru.

"Prince Duan has already gone to the Hanlin Academy," Nanmen Yu said.

Zheng Nianru nodded. This matter would indeed be better handled by Prince Duan than by herself; she wondered why she hadn’t thought of that.

"Don’t worry, with Prince Duan intervening, there should be no problem," Nanmen Yu reassured, though he harbored some doubts about the identity of this family. However, Ju Nanyi’s side could not find out anything, and his people couldn’t be too exposed, thus facing many restrictions in Zheng Capital.

However, upon Prince Duan’s arrival at the inn, seeing Zheng Nianru there made him stumble, nearly falling off the carriage.

What had he just said yesterday? Had it all been ignored?

Prince Duan was completely upset now. Why was Nianru here again? He immediately looked towards Nanmen Yu.

Zheng Nianru couldn’t care less about anything else. After a busy half-day, being caught off guard by Ju Nanyi felt like a curse from her past life.

"Father, where are they?" Not brought back? Ju Nanyi refused to release them? Why?

"Nianru, you need not be involved. Come with me," Prince Duan intended to interrogate Nanmen Yu first, but with Zheng Nianru present, that could not be done; he had to take Zheng Nianru back with him first.

Moreover, what Scholar Ju had said was not wrong. If there indeed were ulterior motives, he needed to thoroughly investigate.

"Father, I asked for them to be brought back—they are just refugees I saw outside the city. Why did the official government’s men take them away?" Zheng Nianru spoke up. A problem? Then this matter could not be delayed. If there was a problem, then it should be swiftly dealt with decisively, leaving no trouble behind.

"You need not worry. Scholar Ju will handle it. If there was indeed a mistake, they will be released," Prince Duan did not want Zheng Nianru involved further and did not want her to know more about the matter.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Nianru calmed down, realizing that Prince Duan no longer wanted her involved in this matter. She slightly smiled.

"Yes," Zheng Nianru nodded, obediently responding.

She would have to find another way to deal with the situation.

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