Prince Duan got on the carriage, and as soon as it started moving, he couldn’t wait to ask.
"Nian Ru, what does this letter you sent an? Did Zong Yunqian say sothing to you?" Zheng Boding thought of this possibility, and it must be so, otherwise, how would Nian Ru know about this lad coming to Prince Duan’s Mansion to ask for her hand in marriage?
Thinking of that lad daring to et Nian Ru in secret, Prince Duan felt like tearing this scoundrel apart imdiately.
"Father, is Heir Zong not good?" Zheng Nianru tilted her head, her gaze clear and puzzled, "He saved at Siyan Lake, claiming he would take responsibility."
Prince Duan looked at his daughter, her gaze so clear and watery that he couldn’t doubt it. But he was no longer the naive young man he once was, having lived through those years.
For a mont he felt the illusion of "as deep as shallow streams," pure and clean, yet there was a sense of backlash...
Prince Duan couldn’t explain it, yet didn’t want to think in that direction.
So, did Nian Ru simply think this was a matter of taking responsibility?
A girl’s thoughts, if Heir Zong saved Nian Ru once more, if he were just a man with an ordinary family background, Prince Duan might consider this possibility.
Zheng Nianru looked at Prince Duan, quickly sensing his sensitivity, and knowing that no one knew her like her father, she added another sentence.
"Father, he said, if I’m willing, he can rescue from the Imperial Palace." Zheng Nianru lowered her head, a bit at a loss, as if she had done sothing wrong, "Father, I was wrong, I will not interact with him anymore."
Prince Duan was taken aback for a mont, and for a mont wanted to slap himself for his absurd thoughts. What would Nian Ru know, when she hardly t people and could only get along with the intellectually deficient Zheng Haoyuan, wasn’t that telling enough?
She was just a child.
"Nian Ru, it’s not your fault, it’s just that the heir of the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family is not suitable for you." Prince Duan patted Zheng Nianru’s shoulder, feeling even more self-reproachful. What was he thinking? Zong Yunqian was indeed despicable, using this matter to tempt Nian Ru, clearly knowing how much she wished to leave the Imperial Palace.
Zheng Nianru was slightly stunned. This plan also didn’t work? However, since Zong Yunqian appeared, Zheng Nianru now felt that he might be the most suitable for her.
They both had their needs, and once she left the Imperial Palace, she could easily find an opportunity to call off the engagent.
"Father, I just want to leave the Imperial Palace, to be with you for a lifeti." Zheng Nianru, clinging to Prince Duan’s arm, spoke from her heart, without a trace of falsehood.
If it was anything else, she could let it go, her chaotic previous life notwithstanding, she never asked for much.
Prince Duan felt montarily infected by the atmosphere, and his self-reproach grew heavier. Though he said this, who could predict the future?
"What else did Heir Zong tell you?" Prince Duan, despite his reluctance, asked.
"He said..." Zheng Nianru sneakily glanced at her own father, knowing her plan had taken effect. "He said, the first ti he saw at Siyan Lake, he..."
Zheng Nianru shyly lowered her head, "Only then did he notice I had fallen into the lake, so he saved at that mont..."
"What else?" That matched what Zong Yunqian had told him.
"He said, he would take to Qiandao Temple, not go to the Northwest Border, and could stay in Zheng Capital."
"He said, he could use the identity of a novice monk at Qiandao Temple, to have the Empress Dowager let out of the palace, to live honorably in Prince Duan’s Mansion."
Prince Duan was taken aback; Zong Yunqian’s words, almost every one stemd directly at the heart of the matter, no wonder Nian Ru wrote him that letter. Prince Duan fell into deep thought, so matters, he had to consider in advance.
He couldn’t protect Nian Ru for a lifeti; if she went, what would Nian Ru do afterward? Even if her husband had no status or background, could he protect Nian Ru in the future?
Moreover, how could he ensure that those without familial backgrounds were not rely after his status and were not truly devoted to Nian Ru? If they encountered soone with better conditions who did not have to bear an identity like Nian Ru’s, it would be hard to guarantee that they would not be tempted by benefits.
Although Yunqian was not his first choice, now that a scion of such an aristocratic family stood before him, casting aside all other considerations and valuing only Nian Ru, knowing her identity, willing to defy the family’s opposition, and moreover, having the strength to disregard the family’s arrangents.
"Father, don’t be angry, I swear I will not et with Heir Zong again," Zheng Nianru said when Prince Duan did not speak, anxiously, as if afraid that Zheng Boding would get angry, her voice even carrying a crying tone.
"Nian Ru, that’s not what Father ans," Zheng Boding imdiately spoke up; he had been indecisive for many years, but was still unable to resolve the current predicant.
Although Emperor Jingzhi was seriously ill, his life was not in imdiate danger at the mont. But once his condition beca critical, Empress Dowager Yan Ping would naturally be more wary of him. With so many uncertainties, it indeed made sense to entrust Nian Ru to soone reliable.
"Do you really think that Yunqian is a reliable person, do you think..."
"I trust Father’s judgnt, I will listen to Father," Zheng Nianru acted upon Prince Duan’s words, seeing that her goal had been achieved, she leaned her head on Prince Duan’s shoulder.
Seeing this, Prince Duan gently patted Zheng Nianru’s shoulder, feeling a warmth in his heart.
...
Luh Xingze had not seen Ju Nanyi for many days; he had even been to Yiren Alley twice and had not encountered anyone.
Every ti Mother Ju saw Luh Xingze, she was reminded of her hotown matters. She wanted to find a girl from their hotown for Ju Nanyi, also thinking of having soone to keep her company in the future.
"Auntie, you don’t have to worry about Brother Nanyi’s marriage. Now that Brother Nanyi has been promoted again, many ministers at the imperial court are inquiring about him," Luh Xingze said while eating fried rice, a specialty from their hotown that could only be found here.
Mother Ju looked at him and sighed inwardly, seeing Luh Xingze’s carefree behavior. She always felt that things were not that simple; if they were, why hadn’t Nanyi ever ntioned this matter once until today?
Could it be that there is not even one slightly less significant official’s daughter in the imperial court?
"Brother Nanyi, speaking of you, here you are —" Luh Xingze imdiately went to the door, Mother Ju stood up, no longer indulging in wild thoughts, smiling warmly at her son appearing at the doorstep.
"Xingze, you’re here," Ju Nanyi spoke, masking his emotions, he had not expected to hear such shocking news today from one of his subordinates.
Thus, Heir Zong’s appearance was to save Prince Duan and Zheng Nianru, and the fact that Heir Zong had gone to Prince Duan’s Mansion to propose had beco common knowledge throughout the city, yet he alone had been unaware.
"Brother Nanyi, no matter what, we must go out and have a good drink today," Luh Xingze insisted on not letting Ju Nanyi leave now that he had finally caught him.
"Why eat out, it’s just expensive, rather..."
"Auntie, it’s not often, please let and Brother go out to eat."
Mother Ju did not know why, but she felt that her son was sowhat unhappy, she did not insist any further.
"Go ahead, go ahead —"
"Let’s go —"
Ju Nanyi looked indifferent, but did not delay. He put down what he was holding and handed it to Mother Ju, then Luh Xingze pulled him out to leave.
"Brother Nanyi, I know there’s a good place to eat just ahead..."
Luh Xingze had not finished speaking when he suddenly stopped and bowed respectfully.
"Heir Zong—" Luh Xingze recognized Heir Zong, especially because of his connection with Prince Duan, having seen this Heir Zong before.
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