Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved-Chapter 517 - 496: Second Update

Noble Consort Wen had not yet continued to speak when Old Master Wen Kang hurriedly burst in, frantic and distraught.

"Still not found?"

Noble Consort Wen was about to speak when Old Master Wen Kang, burning with anxiety, brought in several of his trusted aides.

"I only asked you to keep an eye on Fu Gong, and you couldn’t even manage that," Old Master Wen Kang said, unable to bear saying more. If Zheng Haoyuan could not be found, proving Zheng Congyuan was not the Child of Heavenly Selection would be enough. Moreover, among the princes, only Zheng Congyuan and Zheng Haoyuan remained. If it was not Zheng Congyuan, communication wasn’t necessary since others would naturally assume it was Zheng Haoyuan.

But Zheng Haoyuan had disappeared at this critical moment, which was frightening not merely because the young man might have left out of mischief. It was feared that he might have been kidnapped by someone with an agenda.

Although there were no signs indicating it yet, notably from Zheng Congyuan’s side, his people were watching closely with no movement detected.

"It seems he must be no longer in the palace, outside the palace..."

"Brother, don’t panic, there seems to be a clue." Noble Consort Wen finally interjected, sharing her recent suspicions.

Upon hearing this, Old Master Wen Kang immediately turned to the guard on the floor and asked.

"Did anyone see what those people looked like?"

Noble Consort Wen felt it was unlikely, but now, after almost turning the entire Imperial Palace upside down without a single clue, she had suddenly thought of this possibility. After all, Nian Ru, being utterly weak, how could he possibly have taken Zheng Haoyuan away?

The news came quickly; the guards who had initially stopped Nian Ru and his companions were swiftly brought in. These guards were well-trained, and within a few minutes, they had Noble Consort Wen rising in astonishment from her chair. Though surprised, she instructed someone to go to Prince Duan’s Mansion to look for people.

The guards left quickly. Noble Consort Wen slumped back into her chair, still in a state of shock.

She hadn’t expected Princess Chao Ren to harbor such a sinister intention and to take Zheng Haoyuan away without anyone noticing, especially at such a crucial moment. It must have been under someone’s direction.

Prince Duan? Yes, it must be Prince Duan. Zheng Congyuan had always been very close to Prince Duan, who would naturally help Zheng Congyuan.

With this thought, Noble Consort Wen became restless. She needed Zheng Haoyuan to stand in front of that prophecy personally, proving to the entire world who the Child of Heavenly Selection was.

Noble Consort Wen was convinced of this.

...

Housekeeper He had come several times to inform the princess about the current situation. The prince had been trapped in the palace for two days now, and Prince Duan’s Mansion was nearly in chaos. With the prince absent, Housekeeper He, knowing well the princess’s place in the prince’s heart, could only arrange his trusted aides to strictly guard the mansion.

The quietest place now was Nian Ru’s courtyard. Nian Ru, using her cunning, had already anxiously discussed with Housekeeper He several times, considering a few secure estates to take the Commandery Princess for refuge.

But as soon as Nanny Yun entered the courtyard, she nearly gasped for breath at the sight of Zheng Haoyuan, not knowing where he had appeared from.

"Fourth, Fourth Prince, you didn’t leave?" No, wasn’t it said that the Wen Family had rebelled? The Wen Family had already surrounded the entire Zheng Capital. How could the Fourth Prince be here?

Nanny Yun sensed something was amiss. Although she could not fathom the consequences, she was certain they wouldn’t be good.

"Didn’t the Wen Family raise troops just so the Fourth Prince could become the Emperor?"

"I just woke up." Zheng Haoyuan rubbed his eyes and politely explained to Nanny Yun, then he saw Zheng Nianru, who was walking toward the porch under the eaves, sketching Floral Design. The eaves were already draped with gauze, heated by charcoal fire and warm as sunlight, extremely comfortable.

Nanny Yun hurried to follow, but Fu Dong silently pulled her back.

"No, the Fourth Prince shouldn’t be—" Nanny Yun still didn’t understand, the Fourth Prince shouldn’t be here.

"The Commandery Princess went to the Imperial Palace and took the Fourth Prince out with her," Fu Dong said, not having told Nanny Yun earlier because she knew Nanny Yun would never agree. Right when Nanny Yun was discussing matters with Housekeeper He, the Commandery Princess took Nian Xia and Xing Yu with her.

Nanny Yun nearly lost her balance upon hearing this, grabbing Fu Dong.

"What, when?" Nanny Yun looked at Fu Dong, everyone knew except her?

"Just yesterday, while the Commandery Princess was taking a nap," Fu Dong said somewhat guiltily, not daring to meet Nanny Yun’s gaze. She was instructed by the Commandery Princess to stand guard at the door, and Nanny Yun, being preoccupied, hadn’t noticed that the nap was unusually long.

"You, you foolish girls, what if something had happened? And why bring that ancestor back?" Nanny Yun had a headache, as if things weren’t chaotic enough.

"The Commandery Princess wanted to bring him back," Fu Dong said in a low voice, glancing around, "The Fourth Prince also wanted to come on his own."

"Cousin—" Zheng Haoyuan sat down beside Zheng Nianru on the smooth floor of the veranda. The wooden floor was quite warm due to the brazier, like the young man’s mood at this moment.

"Are you awake?" Zheng Nianru didn’t look up, still carefully sketching the Floral Design in her hands. Counting the days, this deadlock should soon end. By then, as long as Zheng Haoyuan wasn’t in the palace, he wouldn’t die a tragic death.

Zheng Nianru didn’t know if fate would turn as she hoped, but this was all she could do. As for the future, Zheng Nianru hadn’t thought that far ahead.

"Cousin, it’s very warm here," Zheng Haoyuan looked up at the sky, thinking how wonderful it would be if he and his cousin could always stay like this, just like before when he would sneak over and find Zheng Nianru waiting for him at the Qishun Building. Zheng Congyuan wouldn’t appear and steal her away.

Zheng Nianru didn’t answer. The young man slowly moved closer, leaning against Zheng Nianru’s arm, resting his chin on the small table in front of her.

"You’re blocking my drawing," Zheng Nianru turned, pushing the young man’s forehead away. Zheng Haoyuan was slightly stunned; under the sunlight, the woman before him was dazzling, causing his heart to skip a beat. Suddenly, a thought popped into his mind.

When did Zheng Congyuan come to know Zheng Nianru? During the days of his neglect, how could Zheng Congyuan have become so close to his cousin?

This closeness...

Thinking of this, Zheng Haoyuan grew restless, wanting to kill everyone just to calm down.

"Bang, bang, bang—" Housekeeper He hadn’t finished tidying up the items, and the estates that were discussed were already prepared, but the luggage hadn’t been loaded onto the carriages yet when the front door of Prince Duan’s Mansion was already being pounded violently.

Housekeeper He felt something was wrong and had a bad feeling but before he could order someone to open the door, it was already broken down.

"How dare you, this is Prince Duan’s Mansion, you, you..." Housekeeper He protested with a group of house servants when a squad of guards rushed in. The servants who tried to intervene were kicked aside, and three or four were already rolling on the ground.

"Who are you?" Housekeeper He asked, astonished by the sight of this troupe of people.

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