Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved-Chapter 649 - 628: Second Update

"The Monarch is unaware, but the tomb of the Commandery Princess is not in the Imperial Tomb at North Mountain; it lies at the foot of Lin Mountain in the Southern Suburb." As the group began heading south, Lord Lin noticed Nanmen Yu’s confusion and immediately began to explain.

Nanmen Yu glanced at Lord Lin. Not even in the Imperial Tomb? Because she died young, she couldn’t be interred in the Imperial Tomb?

Lord Lin immediately bowed his head in embarrassment; he couldn’t understand why the Monarch of Nanmen State was so fixated on personally visiting Princess Chao Ren’s grave.

"Monarch of Nanmen State, I too know only bits of this affair. I heard that Prince Duan insisted on it because Nian Ru’s mother is also buried in the Southern Suburb Lin Mountain," Lord Lin explained further, trembling inside. Lord Ju had asked him to intervene, but he had never engaged in such deception, especially not with the Monarch of Nanmen State. If he were suspected, it would be a grave matter.

After all, the rightful heir is still in the palace.

Lord Lin was aware of the magnitude of the situation, as it related to whether Nanzheng State and Nanmen State could form good relations, and now, aligning with Nanmen State was the best choice for Nanzheng.

Upon hearing this, Nanmen Yu turned back, somewhat convinced. But even with this conviction, what could he do? He knew Nian Ru’s mother was from Nanmen State...

Prince Duan’s actions were not beyond explanation.

The group slowly exited through the South City Gate, where another procession, led by Lord Ju, was already waiting on the eastern official road.

"Monarch—" Lord Ju stepped forward, and Nanmen Yu, seeing that Prince Duan was by Lord Ju’s side, immediately dismounted.

"Prince Duan, Lord Ju," Nanmen Yu’s expression became much more respectful, putting aside his earlier suspicions and preoccupations, but his heart slowly sank. Prince Duan’s arrival dashed the last of his doubts, which were vanquished by the reality before him.

"Monarch, regarding the visit to the Commandery Princess’s grave, I naturally had to consult Prince Duan, and unexpectedly, he also came; please forgive me," said Lord Ju.

Nanmen Yu gathered his thoughts and respectfully responded.

"Of course, it was impolite of me, a younger generation. I give my regards to Prince Duan." By then, Nanmen Yu had become the Monarch of Nanmen State, albeit a tributary state under Nanzheng State. Although Nanzheng’s power had weakened significantly over the years and no longer held its former prestige, Nanmen Yu’s action was indeed giving full face to Prince Duan.

"Monarch of Nanmen State, please—" Prince Duan, expressionless, shook his head and walked on, and Lord Ju swiftly escorted him into a carriage.

Nanmen Yu noticed something off about Prince Duan and looked questioningly at Lord Ju, who had no intention of hiding anything but simply shook his head slightly.

"Ever since the Commandery Princess... Prince Duan’s illness has worsened..."

Seeing this, Nanmen Yu already understood the situation. Prince Duan greatly cherished Nian Ru, to the extent that he almost gave up a lifetime of vengeance for Nian Ru and her mother; a truly rare devotion.

Nanmen Yu caught up with the group, which slowly advanced. He felt suddenly that everything was transformed, and his return took on an unexpected aspect.

"Snore—snore—" The sound of snoring emanated from the carriage; Prince Duan had fallen asleep as soon as they set off, his snores growing louder, much to the concern of the guard by his side, who rushed to the carriage and gently nudged Prince Duan, failing to wake him. Glancing at Lord Ju leading the way and the Monarch of Nanmen State, what would they do if they noticed any discrepancies?

The guard was very anxious, boldly stepping forward, while Lord Ju, accompanying Nanmen Yu and noticing his silent, gloomy mood, naturally had no words to offer.

Lord Ju, noticing the guard from the corner of his eye, deliberately lagged a few steps behind, prompting the guard to quickly step forward.

"What’s the matter?" Lord Ju asked in a low voice, both deep and gentle.

"My lord, he has fallen asleep—"

Lord Ju paused briefly, not understanding at first what the problem was with falling asleep. Then, faintly hearing the thunderous snores from the carriage, even from a distance, Lord Ju also faintly heard them.

Nanmen Yu had already turned back; Lord Ju thought for a moment, then stepped forward.

"Monarch of Nanmen State, I am worried about Prince Duan and wish to check on him. Please excuse me for a moment."

Upon seeing this, Nanmen Yu nodded and didn’t mind. Lord Lin immediately took Lord Ju’s place and led the way in front.

Knowing that Lord Ju was moving forward again, Nanmen Yu turned around.

"Prince Duan—"

"It’s nothing serious, just a bit sad." Seeing this, Nanmen Yu’s expression also turned melancholic.

...

"Why has he not returned yet?" Zheng Nianru, hearing that Prince Duan had also gone, felt uneasy and had gone to Prince Duan’s Mansion early in the morning.

"Your Highness, shouldn’t we go back? It’s not safe here," Nanny Yun, looking around uneasily, worried about what would happen if Nanmen Yu came to the mansion with people.

"It’s necessary to come even if it’s not safe." Zheng Nianru didn’t think Nanmen Yu would come back to Prince Duan’s Mansion, she trusted what Ju Nanyi had done.

Moreover, aside from worrying about Prince Duan, she had another important matter today.

Zheng Nianru seemed to faintly remember some details about that troop from her past life, she remembered that apart from this jade pendant, there was another token that could summon these people.

She had remembered this when she woke up in the morning and felt the jade pendant.

Originally, in his urgency, Prince Duan had taken both items out, but he had only given Zheng Nianru the jade plaque. If she remembered correctly, that item she vaguely remembered was inside the main hall.

"What is Your Highness looking for?" Nanny Yun felt puzzled, and the attendant from Prince Duan’s Mansion who followed was also very puzzled, looking at each other in confusion.

"Your Highness, why not let us servants help you look?" Lin Sheng rushed over, Housekeeper He had accompanied Prince Duan out, and Your Highness’s arrival was sudden, unprepared; he had just been called over by the attendant.

Seeing that it was Lin Sheng, Zheng Nianru turned around.

"Lin Sheng—" Zheng Nianru sat down, how could she forget, Lin Sheng was more familiar with Prince Duan’s Mansion than she was.

"Lin Sheng, have you ever seen an object with a very strange shape?" Zheng Nianru picked up a pen and drew a very vague shape, but it was enough to illustrate the problem.

Lin Sheng looked at it closely.

"Your Highness, this servant has never been inside the Prince’s storage..."

"It’s not in the storage, it’s in this main hall." Zheng Nianru shook her head, she remembered that Prince Duan had taken out that item in this very hall. That item was made of a multitude of black woods, sounding metallic when struck, surely a very peculiar wood.

"Then shall this servant help look for it?"

"Yes, you look for it." Not only Lin Sheng, but Nanny Yun and others also started searching, turning the entire hall upside down.

"Prince, it’s been a long time since we last met, I have missed you greatly." Nanmen Yu dismounted.

"Monarch of the Nanmen State, no need to dismount, you’ve seen enough, I will be leaving first," Prince Duan was not interested in staying longer and stopped him as soon as he saw Nanmen Yu dismount.

"Prince, if you permit, I wish to visit your mansion, I hope the Prince..."

Zheng Boding was about to refuse, tired of making excuses, but then thought.

"All right, those issues are in the past now, returning those things you originally brought over would also be returning them to their rightful owner, they are of no use to me anyway."