Nann Yu rushed straight to Qishun Building, only to find it quieter than usual and suddenly lacked the courage to step inside.
The events of the day replayed vividly in his mind, and Nann Yu decided he had no face to step into Qishun Building again. However, Second Uncle Jing was right, Nian Ru must have been in so difficulty to have acted that way.
Those like Nanny Yun, who had not witnessed the conflict firsthand, only learned about what had happened at Prince’s Mansion after Nann Yu ca out. Just hearing about it was enough to whiten their faces with fear. Nanny Yun regretted not having accompanied the Commandery Princess inside, instead waiting in the outer room. Fu Dong and Nian Xia also took a while to regain their spirits, feeling unsafe everywhere even after returning to Qishun Building.
Nann Yu took his usual path inside, which has beco increasingly difficult to enter, not knowing when two highly skilled guards appeared, whom Nann Yu guessed were Prince Duan’s n.
The guards at the front gate were much more cautious now, but they could not stop Nann Yu. Just as he entered the true main gate of Qishun Building, Xing Yu blocked his way, pushing the advancing Nann Yu back.
"Nann Yu, please leave," Xing Yu said angrily. She regretted not accompanying the Commandery Princess, who had been greatly frightened today. How could she let this principal offender step into Qishun Building again?
"Xing Yu, I want to see your Commandery Princess," Nann Yu said guiltily. He didn’t believe a word from the master and Tan Zong; Nian Ru must have had her reasons, or perhaps, they just didn’t understand what Nian Ru was saying.
"The Commandery Princess doesn’t want to see you," Xing Yu said unapologetically. She always said that Nann Yu was no good, always sneaking around, not as lovable as Zheng Haoyuan and lacking the Crown Prince’s kindness toward the Commandery Princess.
"Xing Yu, I know I was wrong today. I’ve co especially to apologize."
"There’s no need for apologies. Our Commandery Princess kindly went to Prince’s Mansion to plead for you, and in return, almost died at the hands of your n. You are truly ungrateful," Xing Yu said, her emotions running high. Recalling how she had gone to deliver items for the Fourth Prince instead of accompanying the Commandery Princess today, and that had almost put the Commandery Princess in danger, Xing Yu felt like severely scolding the Nann Yu in front of her.
"If you don’t leave, I’m going to hit you," Xing Yu threatened, raising her fist nacingly.
Nian Xia pulled open a gap and gave Nann Yu a disdainful glance.
"Why bother talking to him? Just drive him out."
"Nian Xia, Xing Yu, if beating up can alleviate your anger, then go ahead," Nann Yu imdiately said, knowing they would be furious and seeing the attitudes of Nian Xia and Xing Yu, he knew how angry Zheng Nianru must be.
Xing Yu raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself that not hitting would be a waste, as it would an the Commandery Princess suffered for nothing. Xing Yu imdiately raised her fist without any rcy, ready to swing.
"Xing Yu, let him in," the voice of Zheng Nianru ca from the hall. Fu Dong reluctantly put down the fan in her hand, wondering why the Commandery Princess would still deal with such a person.
Nann Yu breathed a sigh of relief, but at the sa ti, his heart ached. Nian Ru still trusted him, yet he had let her down.
Forgetting everything else, the person he most wanted to see was right before him, whether she was angry, furious, or even if she scolded or hit him, he would gladly accept it.
"Nian Ru—" Nann Yu rushed into the hall. The smoke-blue curtains blocked the harsh sunlight, with bits of light filtering through the high curtains sprinkling over the chairs, the couch, and the smooth, glossy floor that shone like water, as if sprinkled with golden sand, creating a dream-like scene.
Zheng Nianru, sitting calmly and composed on the solitary plank-surrounded bed, wore nothing but a common mid-sleeve silk embroidered long gown with subtle flower patterns in Cloud Brocade, looking as if she belonged in the midst of all the beauty one can dream of.
"Nian Ru, the incident today was due to my people’s recklessness. I will personally go to Prince Duan’s Mansion tomorrow to apologize," Nann Yu imdiately said, his face displaying a look of guilt.
Zheng Nianru looked up at Nann Yu. In her previous life, although she knew that Nann Yu had received assistance from a powerful backing, she had never truly encountered this force directly.
Now, however, Zheng Nianru not only encountered it but personally felt that this power was stronger than she had imagined. They had entered Prince Duan’s Mansion as if it was uninhabited territory, achieved by only a few people. What if this force wasn’t limited to the few who had appeared in Prince Duan’s Mansion under Tan Zong’s command? What if it consisted of an entire team capable of locating Zheng Haoyuan within the shortest ti in the Imperial City? Therefore, she hadn’t carefully observed the changes in Nann Yu since the beginning, otherwise she wouldn’t have been so shocked today.
Zheng Nianru changed her mind. In her last life, she thought that Nann Yu’s departure had spared her one less hassle, finally freeing her from his persistent nuisance.
But now, she thought differently. Letting Nann Yu return was like releasing the tiger back to the mountain. With Nann Yu’s capabilities, today’s events would likely recur; after the first instance, a second and third would inevitably follow.
"Who are they?" Zheng Nianru slowly asked, looking at Nann Yu.
In his past life, Nann Yu never ntioned these people. So what about the Nann Yu now?
"They are from Nann State, you could say they are a covert force from my maternal family’s side, much like the Loyal Warriors in the Fourth Prince’s hand, or the Hidden Guard in the Crown Prince’s hand," explained Nann Yu, trying to keep it as simple and understandable as possible. He omitted certain details because Nian Ru was uninterested, and also because he was uncertain about so matters himself and dared not make any promises.
"So, is that why you need to return to Nann State?" Zheng Nianru raised her jet-black, clear eyes, brimming with an enchanting dew of spirit, her voice carrying a soul-stirring pathos that almost compelled one to carve out their heart and lungs to prove their innocence and earnestness.
All of Nann Yu’s senses were subsud in those tear-filled eyes, causing a panic in his heart. He felt as if everything about him was wrong, every action he had taken was a mistake, considering himself the most useless person.
"Nian Ru, I..."
"I—I don’t want you to leave, I can’t just casually let you go," Zheng Nianru said, perfectly timing her bow of the head, a tear slid down, dropping onto her garnt, much like a dewdrop on a lotus leaf.
Nann Yu could no longer care about anything else. He stepped forward, embracing the woman in front of him tightly, almost wishing he could rge her into his body to feel content, virtually desiring to split open his head to let her know how much he didn’t want to leave, to remain here forever as a hostage, just to be with her.
Zheng Nianru did feel Nann Yu’s sincerity and whole-heartedness. With her eyes closed, she inhaled the unique scent of kapok belonging to this man—clean and fresh, and slowly began to retrieve so things she had once lost.
Possibilities, paths she had never taken—could they lead to a different life for her?
"I want to kill you so you can always stay by my side," murmured Zheng Nianru, her voice erging from Nann Yu’s chest. The warmth of her breath was felt through their clothes, causing Nann Yu to stiffen, closing his eyes, instinctively understanding that her wish to kill him ant this.
He would rather... die by her hand.
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