"These days, why haven’t I seen Fu Gong around?" Zheng Nianru finally rembered Zheng Haoyuan one idle morning, and not only him, Wen Zan, who would usually send gifts every few days, also hadn’t been heard from these past couple of days. When Zheng Nianru didn’t think about it, she didn’t notice anything odd, but once she did, it seed a little strange.
Fu Dong was also startled. Yes, she also felt it was a bit strange.
"Commandery Princess, isn’t it better that the Fourth Prince doesn’t co?" Nanny Yun, while tidying up the cups on the table, said. How could it not be better? If the Crown Prince kept his promise, then in the future, dealing with the Fourth Prince and the Empress Dowager Yan Ping side... oh...
If the Crown Prince didn’t keep his promise...
These past few days, Nanny Yun had been muddled, her mind preoccupied with this matter. No matter what, the path before them wasn’t easy for the princess.
Zheng Nianru also just thought about it and had no intention of probing further, especially since Fu Gong had grown up, and Noble Consort Wen naturally couldn’t let him be as playful as before, after all, Noble Consort Wen had high hopes for Zheng Haoyuan.
As for the matters concerning Noble Consort Wen and the Wen Family, Zheng Nianru didn’t take them to heart. In her previous life, Zheng Haoyuan had been the first to raise troops, hunting for so dubious prophecy at Qiandao Temple, at least, Zheng Nianru didn’t believe it, it was said to be chosen by Heaven. The Nanzheng Imperial Clan was about to experience turmoil, from the Northern Border, Southern Frontier, nurous troops appeared nacing and caused disturbances for several days.
Now it seed that Zheng Congyuan hadn’t regarded Zheng Haoyuan and the Wen Family seriously back then; those soldiers that poured into Zheng Capital from the Northern Border were just for show. Had it not been for her revolt when Zheng Congyuan’s forces were withdrawn preparing to eliminate Zheng Haoyuan’s troops in one fell swoop, Zheng Congyuan wouldn’t have been so suddenly paralyzed like a snake nailed through its vital spot.
Of course, she didn’t have such courage or insight to discern Zheng Congyuan’s vital spot, it was rather Ju Nanyi, who had by then beco Zheng Congyuan’s trusted aide, and was very familiar with the military deploynts.
Therefore, Zheng Congyuan wasn’t defeated by her forces, but by Ju Nanyi’s hand.
Of course, such a situation wouldn’t arise in this lifeti.
"What is this?" Zheng Nianru saw an extra box on the cleaned-up table, the box wasn’t as exquisite as ordinary boxes, but the design was elegant.
"This was sent by the prince early this morning; he said it was an Auspicious Seal made for the Commandery Princess. You might want to look at it," Nian Xia said, though she spoke the words, she wasn’t really interested in such things and couldn’t discern their quality.
Through the gaps between Nian Xia’s fingers, Zheng Nianru glimpsed a jade stone red like pigeon’s blood. She moved her hand and expressed her lack of interest, and Nian Xia imdiately set the box down.
...
"How co he’s disappeared again?" Empress Dowager Yan Ping paused slightly, wondering about this reasoning but knew well her son’s knack for forgetting what he said earlier.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, you shouldn’t worry too much, this servant thinks His Majesty’s health is improving day by day, maybe in a few more days..."
"Humph, what improvent, it’s all sustained by those dicines, and he behaves utterly recklessly," Empress Dowager Yan Ping snorted coldly, removing a mink collar in irritation.
As for Emperor Jingzhi, she had long given up hope, only wishing for this son to gradually pass away peacefully and witness her grandson ascend to the throne herself.
As for Fu Xun ascending the throne, Empress Dowager Yan Ping was very relieved; fortunately, Heaven had been generous, leaving her such an obedient, clever, and capable grandson.
As for Emperor Jingzhi, her only hope was that before she closed her eyes forever, her family would live in harmony, and strife over an outsider would not divide her sons; she had no other ambitions.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, only you can push this matter forward." Nanny Leng was an old servant of the palace and knew the Empress Dowager’s heart well, as well as the current situation of Emperor Jingzhi. Seeing the Empress Dowager these past two days unable to eat or sleep well, Nanny Leng dared not speak, but now she mustered the courage to speak up.
Empress Dowager Yan Ping looked at her maid. She had thought about it herself, but these thoughts stayed locked in her heart, unspoken. Now seeing her own maid voicing it, she felt reassured by the feasibility of the idea.
"You think so too?"
"Your Majesty, both His Majesty and Prince Duan are your children, both dear to you. Moreover, decades have passed since their conflict, neither are the hotheaded young n of the past, and their tempers have llowed. Besides, considering the Commandery Princess as well, even if Prince Duan does not think for himself, he must consider the Commandery Princess." Nanny Leng said, massaging Empress Dowager Yan Ping’s legs slowly.
Empress Dowager Yan Ping sighed slightly and nodded. She had considered all this but had never spoken of it, nor had anyone dared to speak these thoughts before her.
"This servant has overstepped her bounds, but I cannot bear to see you so distressed, Your Majesty. This matter requires your involvent, as you are the most suitable to handle it," Nanny Leng said, knowing well the thoughts of Empress Dowager Yan Ping, though these were words the Empress Dowager herself would not articulate, and thus spoke through her servant.
"In that case, go and convey my ssage. Tomorrow is the fifteenth; since Emperor Jingzhi is in good spirits, let him co to my palace for a reunion al. And go out of the palace yourself to personally invite Prince Duan and Commandery Princess Chao Ren as well," Empress Dowager Yan Ping closed her eyes, feeling as if a weight had slowly lifted from her shoulders.
...
Ju Nanyi was disoriented for two days. Each day upon waking, the image of that young girl reaching for his hand incessantly surfaced in his mind, rging with the wild and crazed appearance of a woman in his dreams, giving him splitting headaches.
Ju Nanyi eerily felt as if his hand had its own senses, pulsating with a throbbing sensation whenever he thought of that image, leaving him so irritable that he didn’t know how to ease it.
"Are you leaving this early again today?" Mother Ju observed the just-dawning sky; she hadn’t had ti to prepare breakfast yet.
"Yes, I’ve accumulated so work that needs to be handled. Don’t worry about breakfast; I’ll buy sothing on the way." Ju Nanyi hurriedly left the courtyard, avoiding Mother Ju’s earnest gaze. He knew what his mother wanted to say, but at this mont, he lacked the energy and desire to listen.
Moreover, the actions of the Crown Prince these days suggested that he was up to sothing.
He wondered if she liked the Auspicious Seal, though it had co through Prince Duan’s hands...
Ju Nanyi shook his head; at this ti, he could not afford to be distracted. The situation at the Northern Border seed grim, and Miss Xia from the Jiumu Family had co to the Crown Prince’s Mansion two or three tis in recent days. The frequency of the letters she sent almost allowed Ju Nanyi to guess sothing.
Mother Ju watched her son’s departing silhouette silently, not uttering a word. Was it because of that woman?
She seed like a kind person, but Mother Ju could also see that her son, as excellent as he was, probably did not match the noble status of that woman. Mother Ju did not know the woman’s identity, but from her posture and the way she commanded respect, she was undoubtedly accustod to a life of privilege.
Mother Ju could understand her son’s predicant; with such beauty, it was impossible not to be moved.
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