Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved-Chapter 686 - 643: Another Update_3

"Prime Minister Ju, these are a few ladies from prominent families with both talent and beauty, specially selected by The Emperor for you. You have made significant contributions to Nanzheng, and even your marriage has not yet been settled—The Emperor is concerned about this," Eunuch Zheng hurriedly said, seemingly realizing that Lord Ju had misunderstood. Indeed, these past few days, there had been the Eldest Princess’s booklet and various recommendations from the Aristocratic Gentry Clans all mixed together. Prime Minister Ju is a very busy person and has never taken an interest in these matters.

Ju Nanyi was startled; not a whisper of this matter had reached him—had something been discovered?

Ever since Fu Dong had warned him that his presence at the gates of Chenhe Palace had greatly troubled her, he had made every effort to avoid appearing when she was likely to be there.

"Eunuch Zheng, is this The Emperor’s will?" Ju Nanyi put down what he was holding; he had no choice but to take this seriously.

"Indeed, it is The Emperor’s will. The Empress herself helped in selecting these candidates for you," Eunuch Zheng immediately said, fearing that Prime Minister Ju didn’t realize The Emperor’s and the Empress’s good intentions, and he elaborated on how considerately the Empress had planned for Prime Minister Ju.

"Prime Minister Ju, please have a look at them first; I will not disturb you any further," Eunuch Zheng said, feeling he spoke flawlessly, completely oblivious to Ju Nanyi’s increasingly darkening face.

When the room fell silent, devoid of any sound, there was a faint snap—Ju Nanyi’s pen broke into two, landing on the desk.

Birdsong filtered in from outside, where sunlight danced cheerfully, but the man felt an icy chill, as if he had plunged into an ice cellar.

He had been toiling away, striving to make something of himself in Nanzheng—for what, he wondered? He worked tirelessly, unwilling to waste a single moment—again, for what?

To wait for the day when he had enough leverage to stand face to face with Zheng Congyuan, with something substantial enough to sway Congyuan’s feelings.

He knew he could not let time slip away, and he wished a day could be stretched into two, to completely transform Nanzheng State and to dilute what he was about to do.

She chose these candidates?

Ju Nanyi laughed coldly, flicking through the first page of the booklet with the broken pen.

Nanmen Yuyan. She really is willing to pay the price.

Ju Nanyi did not know whether to laugh or to rage—so, she thought that a marriage to someone from the Nanmen Aristocratic Family could erase everything that had happened.

Does she have any idea what she is doing? Does she really think that Zheng Congyuan won’t recover, or that he won’t find out?

In the next moment, Ju Nanyi leaped up, wanting to rush into Chenhe Palace and confront her, to question why she would do such a thing.

But standing up, Ju Nanyi hesitated. Perhaps it was not her idea after all; maybe it was Zheng Congyuan’s—yes, the eunuch had just mentioned that it was Zheng Congyuan’s idea. If it was Congyuan’s idea, she naturally could not outright reject it.

So that is why there is a mention of the Nanmen Aristocratic Family? That family carries a different significance now, one powerful enough to make Zheng Congyuan wary—it must have been her idea.

Indeed, that would be the extent of her scheming.

Thinking this, Ju Nanyi felt as though he could breathe again. It must be so.

But Zheng Congyuan had agreed to it. So what did Zheng Congyuan mean?

In the next moment, Ju Nanyi calmed down. Had something been discovered because of his impulsive act at the gate of Chenhe Hall? Was this a test, starting with the Eldest Princess and now the Nanmen Aristocratic Family?

Ju Nanyi longed to confront Zheng Congyuan immediately, but his rational side told him that it was not yet the right time. What he needed was time.

He wanted Zheng Nianru to grow accustomed to his presence, and his choice to stay in the palace was made with this in mind too.

He believed that if only given another chance or two, he would begin to occupy a different place in Zheng Nianru’s heart—even if...

Even if she was still considering Zheng Congyuan, the nature of their relationship would compel Congyuan to give up. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Again and again, Ju Nanyi reviewed his strategies, pondering the potential outcomes of his contest with Zheng Congyuan.

The marriage proposal, however, was an immediate issue that he needed to address, no matter the reason, lest Zheng Nianru misunderstand.

"Prime Minister Ju, the Eldest Princess has sent over some soup—" A eunuch cautiously entered from outside the hall, not daring to stay out; if he did, the Eldest Princess’s servants might kill him. Yet upon entering, he felt as though Prime Minister Ju’s gaze alone could kill him.

Ju Nanyi looked at the eunuch who had come in; the man felt as though he was facing a force ten typhoon as he carefully placed the soup on the table near Ju Nanyi. Without his cap, the eunuch thought his scalp might have been stared bald in places.

"Get out!" Ju Nanyi snatched the food box and hurled it towards the exit.

"Clang!" The food box struck the palace gate accurately, creating a tremendous noise, startling a crowd of eunuchs and female servants standing guard outside.