Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved-Chapter 671 - 638: First Update_3

"Miss Xue Liu, Miss Xue Liu, it’s all right, it’s all right, these four are just timid." Eunuch Du hurried to chase after them, knowing well that even if the Empress seldom visited Chenyuan Hall, he was aware of her importance in the Emperor’s heart.

Xue Liu was half-doubtful, half-believing. What had happened?

"Get up quickly, you’ve frightened Miss Xue Liu. What could possibly go wrong? Do you think Lord Ju is such a petty person?" Eunuch Du quickly scolded them a few words with a smile on his face, eager to please. He knew that his own position had also depended on the Empress’s favor.

"Eunuch Du, you’re just in time. The Empress sent me to deliver something, and giving it to you is just as well." Seeing his reaction, Xue Liu handed over what she was carrying to Eunuch Du.

"Ah, ah, good—" Eunuch Du promptly agreed and took the item.

...

"What does that mean?" Zheng Nianru looked up, turning her attention to Nian Xia. Had she heard something just now?

Nian Xia shook her head; she hadn’t heard anything. Then, she immediately turned and walked towards the door, intending to find out what had happened.

The guard had just stood up, but on seeing Nian Xia approach with a question, he knelt down again with a thud. This kneeling prompted the other guard and the two stationed at the northeast corner of Chenyuan Hall to likewise kneel down.

"Miss Nian Xia, please, we truly didn’t see anything," the guard immediately said, about to kowtow to Nian Xia.

"Xue Liu mentioned Lord Ju, what’s wrong with Lord Ju?" The guard immediately shook his head, not daring to say more.

Nian Xia had a hunch and immediately turned to leave.

"Did Lord Ju lose his temper?" Nanny Yun quickly grabbed Nian Xia. It had been two days—what was Lord Ju planning to do? Losing his temper, so much so as to disturb Eunuch Du... what exactly was he aiming to achieve?! 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Nian Xia hushed her, signaling Nanny Yun to keep her voice down, as the Empress was already irritated by the issue and had not left her quarters for two days. Lord Ju also should’ve been more aware of the current situation instead of causing a scene at the palace gates every day.

"What’s happened with Ju Nanyi? Is he still at the palace gate?" Zheng Nianru also guessed some of the situation.

"Empress, Lord Ju has already left," Nian Xia answered honestly.

"Empress, won’t you go to see the Emperor?" Nanny Yun raised another concern. Having alerted Eunuch Du, what if the Emperor overthought it because of a word or two mentioned in his presence?

Zheng Nianru looked at Nanny Yun, wondering why she was suddenly asking her to visit Zheng Congyuan.

Nanny Yun stepped forward, making it unnecessary for Nian Xia to leave.

"Empress, since Eunuch Du was there, even though I don’t know what happened, it would still be prudent to be careful." Though the guards at the palace gate were loyal to her, she knew that the palace was riddled with spies.

"All right, let’s go—" Zheng Nianru also wanted to see Zheng Congyuan, and regarding that matter, she felt it should be discussed with him as well.

No sooner had Zheng Nianru walked into Chenyuan Hall than Zheng Congyuan’s voice came from inside.

"Why have you come here? Didn’t you have someone bring the items over?" Zheng Congyuan’s voice was gentle. He thought of rising to greet her, but after a moment’s hesitation, he remained seated. His gaze lingered on Zheng Nianru as she sat on the other side of a writing desk, an image he could only vaguely recall amidst the faint scent of memories.

"You look much better today, but don’t overexert yourself," said Zheng Nianru, glancing at Zheng Congyuan. She slightly lowered her head as the light slid across her cheeks, softening her gaze.

"Yes, don’t worry," Zheng Congyuan suddenly felt a pang of sorrow. The person so close to him spoke, "I’ve caused you hardship during the days of my unconsciousness." When Ju Nanyi mentioned the matters of Bu Er Temple, the girl in front of him had not uttered a word, but inevitably, she had felt worry and fear. Yet having been through so much, Zheng Nianru proved to be stronger than he had imagined.

Zheng Nianru stood up, took two steps forward, but then she stopped when she saw the anxiety in Zheng Congyuan’s eyes. She halted at the threshold between the Central Hall and the Inner Hall, one step away from the Inner Hall.

Resting her hand on the intricately carved lattice frame, Zheng Nianru gazed at Zheng Congyuan, feeling that lifetimes were enough for her to understand him.

If, in her past life, her feelings for Zheng Congyuan were mixed with defiance and the resentment of being denied, having shed those feelings, Zheng Nianru realized she still could not let go. Even if the outcome would be the same, she was willing to walk through fire and water for him all over again.

Thus, she began to contemplate such a possibility—surviving the rest of their lives bound by fate.

"What is it, Nian Ru?" Zheng Congyuan suddenly spoke, as the gaze of the girl in front of him was bright yet sorrowful, carrying burdens in her heart.

"I was just thinking, how wonderful it would be if I could be close to you one day," Zheng Nianru suddenly said, realizing that now wasn’t the right time to speak of this. She knew that Zheng Congyuan didn’t really care about these things, but she couldn’t explain all that she wanted to say. She was certain that the future Emperor of Nanzheng would be Ju Nanyi’s son, but how could she make Zheng Congyuan believe that?

Zheng Congyuan quietly observed the girl before him, tightly gripping the writing brush in his hand.

"Trust me, you won’t have to wait very long," he said.

"Yes," Zheng Nianru nodded, "What did the Eldest Princess come for?"

"Right, there is something I need your help with," Zheng Congyuan looked up, a faint smile on his face. Now, being able to talk to her like this was already a good beginning, wasn’t it?

"You should select a few suitable daughters of court officials for marriage, and let me have a look at them," Zheng Congyuan continued, noticing Zheng Nianru’s puzzled gaze, "It’s not for me, but I’ve been thinking that Ju Nanyi is not getting any younger and shouldn’t be delayed by matters of Nanzheng."

"How did you come up with this idea?" Zheng Nianru asked casually, but she remembered Nanny Yun’s words. Had Zheng Congyuan noticed something?