Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved-Chapter 512 - 491: First Update

"Hmm, it’s not Zheng Congyuan." Zheng Haoyuan lowered his head, knowing that this news was not widely known; the Mother Consort wanted him to believe that the Wen Family’s rebellion was in accord with divine will, and that he was the true Child of Heavenly Selection.

Zheng Nianru looked at Zheng Haoyuan, who spoke with certainty, as though this was already a fact.

Perhaps there were some things Zheng Nianru had never really thought about; she had never spent much effort on these matters. But she had already experienced it once, and there were some coincidences or unintentional events that, upon experiencing a second time, if one did not learn, would truly be foolish.

So, in her previous life, did the Wen Family rebel for the same reason?

If the Child of Heavenly Selection was not Zheng Congyuan, then who could it be?

Zheng Nianru did not want to connect these to the later event when Nanmen Yu had all the mages in Qiandao Temple slaughtered, but she wasn’t so foolish as to miss some underlying truths.

So, the prophecy did exist, she had heard of it in her previous life and had merely laughed it off, forgetting that this prophecy could make many believe. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Nian Xia, dropping something by her feet, paid no heed and just stared at Zheng Haoyuan speaking; Xing Yu, mouth agape, looked at Zheng Haoyuan as if he were a stranger, clearly, like Zheng Nianru, not believing in any prophecy.

But Cang Er remained calm, evidently aware of it.

"Why?" Zheng Nianru asked calmly, her tranquility based on her clear knowledge that the Wen Family’s rebellion would not succeed, her only concern now was for Zheng Congyuan; she didn’t want any mishaps.

Zheng Haoyuan looked up at Zheng Nianru, finding it normal for her to ask; although he had only just heard of it, those were not all that he heard.

"Mother Consort said this prophecy existed ten years ago when the Emperor was critically ill, nearly beyond recovery. By tradition, a divination should be made at Qiandao Temple to predict the future successor to the throne. According to the prophecy, Zheng Congyuan is not the Child of Heavenly Selection. However, Master Huo Yi said this prophecy is not immutable, and since the Emperor started recovering from his critical state, more variables had arisen, hence it was put aside. But it became relevant again suddenly with the Emperor’s demise, prompting Qiandao Temple to rush here. Zheng Congyuan is aware of this," Zheng Haoyuan spoke slowly, illustrating that throughout these years, efforts were made to alter this outcome.

But the prophecy lantern placed upon the altar is not something that can be changed at will, and the Wen Family, having secretly infiltrated Qiandao Temple, verified that the prophecy lantern remained unchanged, hence their boldness to march their troops.

The heir to the throne of Nanzheng State, if not Zheng Congyuan, leaves only him.

The Mother Consort said so, and although it might not be convincing enough, now, Zheng Haoyuan believed it, and he wanted Zheng Nianru, before him, to believe it as well, and he would not act like Zheng Congyuan, who would brush past without caring for her.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Nianru’s brow furrowed slightly; this news had transcended beyond what she could believe or not. Even if she didn’t believe, Qiandao Temple’s fate was grievous, but now, it indeed had the power to bewitch people’s hearts.

Zheng Nianru wished she had the power to eradicate all those from Qiandao Temple right now.

"Does the imperial court know nothing of this matter?"

Zheng Haoyuan shook his head.

"This issue is a secret between Qiandao Temple and our Nanzheng Imperial Clan. If not for the sudden demise of the Emperor, this matter would have been settled with Master Huo Yi, just before the Emperor’s last breath, and the successor in his will would be the one prophesied."

Zheng Nianru was skeptical. Prince Duan’s rebellion almost succeeded, didn’t it? When all was said and done, the existence of Qiandao Temple truly was troublesome. So, does this mean the emperor chosen by Qiandao Temple is a diligently governing good Emperor?

It was a joke.

If she were Ju Nanyi, she would have killed those people from Qiandao Temple as well.

Seeing Zheng Haoyuan fall silent, Zheng Haoyuan thought Zheng Nianru believed him. His heart, which had been suspended, then fell back into the distance. Now, the entire Zheng Capital was filled with people from the Wen Family; Zheng Haoyuan naturally did not fear coming out with Zheng Nianru—such a rare opportunity.

Zheng Haoyuan softened his body and slowly moved closer to Zheng Nianru.

"Cousin, don’t you believe?" Zheng Haoyuan tugged at the corner of the girl’s robe, his gaze somewhat aggrieved. He had heard that the throne should have been his; he hoped that Zheng Nianru would be pleased.

"Do you want to be the Emperor?" Zheng Nianru asked. She felt that Zheng Haoyuan was reluctant and never had the intention. She had sat in that position and knew the desires of those who wished to ascend to it.

Zheng Haoyuan looked at Zheng Nianru, longing to blurt out some words. He had never been one to delve into other’s thoughts, nor did he care to. He just wanted to live joyfully and freely, able to be with the person in front of him.

"Mother Consort said this is Heaven’s selection. As a descendant of the Nanzheng Imperial Clan, I have no choice," Zheng Haoyuan slowly spoke.

Zheng Nianru nodded, but her thoughts were elsewhere. If it were the previous lifetime, she hadn’t impulsively married Ju Nanyi, hadn’t suddenly raised an army at the last moment, cutting off Zheng Congyuan’s retreat, then between them...

"Cousin, cousin, what’s wrong?" Zheng Haoyuan felt there was something off with Zheng Nianru and immediately grew somewhat panicked. Why was his cousin in a bad mood? Upon hearing this, she shouldn’t shift her focus from Zheng Congyuan back to him; only he could protect Prince Duan and her...

Zheng Nianru was lost in thought, as if heaven was mocking and wantonly jeering at mortals, seemingly as if the hand of fate had never been in her control.

"It’s nothing." Zheng Nianru raised her hand and rubbed the youth’s hair. "It’s all yet to be determined. There will inevitably be a battle, naturally fraught with danger."

Zheng Nianru looked at the youth before her. She worried about something—Zheng Congyuan was not the kind to await death. If it were about this prophecy, then in her previous life, she still killed Zheng Haoyuan anyway, and her son ascended to that position.

...

Inside Chenyuan Hall, everything was eerily quiet. Zheng Congyuan was still kneeling in front of the palisade coffin, having knelt for one shichen. His expression did not change despite the disturbance outside.

Prime Minister Lin and others, initially anxious, gradually calmed down as well, because the Crown Prince was too calm— a calmness different from his usual indifference, akin to one who tactically maneuvers behind the scenes.

From the beginning, Prime Minister Lin wanted to urge the Crown Prince to gather his troops, yet gradually he began to understand what the Crown Prince was planning.

The Crown Prince intended to capture them all at once, waiting until those clowns from the Wen Family had all come out.

Prime Minister Lin knew that over the years, the Crown Prince had secretly cultivated a significant amount of his own power. And now, not a bit of his forces had moved; the Crown Prince must have a bigger plan.

With this thought, Prime Minister Lin knelt even straighter and simply stopped caring about other things. Instead, he began earnestly mourning the Former Emperor, reciting from minor state affairs to major ones, even Empress Dowager Yan Ping, who had stopped crying, couldn’t help but tear up again at this time.

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