Zheng Nianru had already walked over, faintly hearing that the three people behind her had not followed but were discussing matters related to the river.
"What’s the matter?" Nann Yu didn’t know why he asked that, his reaction was tily, and it was normal to be startled.
Zheng Nianru suddenly looked towards Nann Yu. What was wrong with her? What could possibly go wrong? She just caught a glimpse of Ju Nanyi—had she reacted that obviously? She hadn’t even looked, how could there be any reaction.
"Nothing, just sit down." Zheng Nianru patted the side of the flower bed, realizing that now she and Ju Nanyi were two people who had absolutely no connection to each other—she shouldn’t even think about squeezing onto the sa narrow bridge in the future.
"Miss, is everything alright?" Nanny Yun, who had hurried over, carefully sized up Zheng Nianru before finally breathing a sigh of relief, "Miss, it’s getting late, we should head back early as well."
"Rest for a while, then we’ll head back," said Zheng Nianru in a soft, weak voice, like a frightened cat.
Ju Nanyi frowned. There wasn’t actually a collision just now, but the faint scent seed familiar, not overwhelming. Even as you approached, you couldn’t detect the fragrance; it ca slowly, growing from nothing, clear and lingering.
"What are you looking at?" Ju Nanyi heard the young man’s voice again. The face of the young man was unfamiliar, and Ju Nanyi didn’t rember any son of an aristocratic family with such a face, but undeniably, he looked good, still carrying a hint of greenness though.
"Looking at you," Zheng Nianru said with a sweet smile, as her soft and sweet voice drifted across the riverside breeze, lifting the hearts of those who heard it.
The young man blushed slightly, feeling sowhat awkward, and the unexpected sweetness rushed into his chest, as he too looked at Zheng Nianru, and in the next mont, both of them laughed out loud simultaneously.
Was he found by Prince Duan for Princess Chao Ren? Not a son of an aristocratic family, nor did he have a prominent identity.
It was understandable that Prince Duan would resort to such a thod to ensure the safety of his only heir’s latter life.
"I’ll take you back," offered Nann Yu, noticing indeed that it was getting late—the sun had set, making the road less navigable.
"Okay," Zheng Nianru replied in a sweetly obedient voice that always made one feel an urge to do sothing for her.
Nann Yu, not daring to stretch out his hand yet mustering the courage, accidentally touched the back of Zheng Nianru’s hand. The soft and unimaginable touch left the young man’s mind blank, and in a flurry, he grasped that tender hand.
Zheng Nianru lowered her head cooperatively, looking bashful like the delicate peaches of March.
"Lord Ju—"
"Lord Ju—" Lord Wu looked puzzled at the direction where Ju Nanyi was seemingly lost in thought. Had he seen an acquaintance?
Ju Nanyi had already turned his head back, his expression calm revealing no sign of disturbance.
"Lord Wu, Lord Zeng, I just rembered that there is still so official business. Since the inspection is also over today, perhaps..."
"Yes, yes, Lord Ju, with your hectic duties, there’s no need for such formality."
"I take my leave—" Ju Nanyi walked away with steady steps, not even looking back once.
...
Cang Er anxiously paced outside Qishun Building, glancing at the empty Qishun Building, though not truly empty, the little eunuch at the door always had the sa line.
"The Princess went out to play, we servants do not know where the Princess has gone, she should just be in the garden," the eunuchs said with surprising consistency, their attitude neither friendly nor arrogant, silently sweeping and sprinkling water.
As Cang Er’s anxiety grew, he feared that he might miss Princess Chao Ren if he went looking for her and she returned in the anti.
With dusk gradually settling, Cang Er bit his lip and decided to turn back.
Inside Qiwu Hall, darkness prevailed, save for two Little Eunuchs guarding the door, who looked at Cang Er returning and imdiately cast him a pleading look for help.
Without Eunuch Ho Sheng, Qiwu Hall really seed as if it were a place of death, and today alone, two eunuchs had already died.
A group of Palace Maids was still kneeling in the hall, not even allowed to light a single lamp.
Cang Er dared not enter, but he had no choice but to steel himself and go in.
"Your Highness, at least let the Imperial Physician take your pulse," Cang Er said quietly as he entered, noticing the Imperial Physician also kneeling on the ground. If the Noble Consort knew about this, a few more lives would be lost.
Upon hearing Cang Er’s voice, Zheng Haoyuan imdiately turned around, hope fading gradually from his face from the mont he saw no one following Cang Er, turning sullen and venomous.
"You useless wretch, you still haven’t found anyone?"
Cang Er hurriedly knelt down.
"Your Highness, please calm your anger. I have left a ssage with the eunuch of Qishun Building; the mont the Commandery Princess returns, he will co to notify , and I will go to invite her imdiately. I gave the doorkeeping servant quite a bit of Silver Coin; he will surely co," Cang Er insisted.
Zheng Haoyuan’s gloomy aura slowly spread, becoming dense in the air due to lack of release; the fearful servants on the ground didn’t even dare to breathe too loudly, the more timid ones already beginning to shake.
Zheng Haoyuan turned away, pulling the quilt over his head, his body lying flat, occasionally conveying a dull pain—a pain that ca in waves, as if soone were hamring his bones and gouging at his heart. Otherwise, why would his heart feel so tornted?
Cang Er, not hearing a reply from his master after a long ti, timidly raised his head, only to see Zheng Haoyuan covering his head again.
"Your Highness, it is my fault. If the Commandery Princess does not co today, I will go to Qishun Building before dawn tomorrow, waiting at the entrance of the courtyard; I am sure to see the Princess Royal," Cang Er tried hard to steady his trembling voice.
Zheng Haoyuan did not speak; it was not Cang Er’s fault. Even after going three tis, Cang Er had not found his cousin—perhaps she was hiding sowhere enjoying the scenery, unfindable by anyone.
"Your Highness, please let the Imperial Physician examine you. If the Commandery Princess arrives tomorrow, Your Highness will also have the energy to play with her," Cang Er suggested cautiously. Ho Sheng must have trusted Cang Er’s capabilities to leave him behind, knowing he was good at reading people and, apart from being unprincipled, the most reliable thing about him was his loyalty.
As expected, Zheng Haoyuan turned his head, considering that Cang Er might have a point. If his cousin did arrive the next day and he was in agony, he naturally wouldn’t be able to enjoy her company.
The Imperial Physician finally exhaled in relief, hurried forward to take the pulse, prepare dicine, and serve soup. The lamps in the hall were at last lit, and the Palace Attendants bustled about, fortunate to have survived another day.
After undergoing treatnt and having his wounds tended, the injury from Zheng Haoyuan’s back down to the base of his spine stung fiercely. This numbing pain weighed on the young man’s heart as it slowly sank.
Surely his cousin didn’t know about his beating, but even if she did know, what then?
His Mother Consort hadn’t co to see him, not even once.
Zheng Haoyuan fidgeted with the glaringly prominent embroidered dragons on his quilt and the Gold-Embroidered Gauze Canopy, everything so garish, mockingly highlighting his superfluousness—he was not worthy of sympathy.
Noble Consort Wen was at her wits’ end, repeatedly scrutinizing, not just Bushou Palace but almost the entire Imperial Palace turned upside down, even mobilizing the Imperial Forest Guard. Since Master Yin He returned to the Imperial Palace, it was as if he had vanished into thin air.
With trembling hands, Noble Consort Wen dismissed the Imperial Physician who had co to report on Zheng Haoyuan’s condition—the injuries were just superficial and had not reached the bone. The Empress’s actions were presumably not aid at her.
However, how could Master Yin He disappear?
He was the only outsider who knew about this matter. Eunuch Ho Sheng was one of her own people, which might still reassure Noble Consort Wen, but Master Yin He was different; with his delicate status, she dared not offend nor could she stop fearing him.
"Your Highness need not worry overly. After all..." Eunuch Kang Ning tried to alleviate his mistress’s concern. The dosage was absolutely precise; even if Master Yin He had escaped, he wouldn’t live long.
Noble Consort Wen remained silent. Yet, until she found Master Yin He, she could not be at ease.
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