"Wait for his return and summon him to the palace," Zheng Congyuan said, his voice laced with concern. Had sothing gone wrong during Nanyi’s absence? Congyuan naturally trusted Ju Nanyi’s competence, but could Nann Yu be that easily deceived?!
Eunuch Du promptly responded, carefully picking up the bowl Zheng Congyuan had just set down, making sure not to touch where Congyuan had touched it. Indeed, his longevity so far might be attributed to such caution.
But even after waiting for nearly two Shichen, the n sent still couldn’t find anyone in Lord Ju’s residence. Lord Ju’s trusted aides had searched every possible location to no avail.
Suddenly, everyone beca nearly frantic with worry, while Zheng Congyuan, having not seen Ju Nanyi for a long ti, realized the situation was more difficult than he had imagined.
As ti passed, the atmosphere in Chenyuan Hall grew increasingly tense.
"Your Majesty, the servant sent people to the post house, and the Monarch of Nann State hasn’t returned either. Perhaps Lord Ju is still accompanying the monarch," they reported.
Zheng Congyuan remained silent, his unease growing at the thought of Nanyi being with Nann Yu. Although he believed there was no flaw in Nanyi’s plan, what if the problem lay with Prince Duan?
Zheng Congyuan was aware of Prince Duan’s current state, speaking nonsense—could Nann Yu truly be so dimwitted as not to see through it, or was it that he was unwilling to believe?
"What about Prince Duan? Has Prince Duan returned?" Congyuan doubted Nann Yu would believe Prince Duan’s words, but what if he did?
"Servant, I’ll imdiately send soone..." Eunuch Du started to say.
The sky was dimming, and sure enough, the backyard of Prince Duan’s Mansion remained as Housekeeper He had described—unchanged.
Housekeeper He had visited twice, asking with a joyful expression whether to prepare the evening al for the guard at the gate, Nian Xia.
"No need, no need. Her Highness is probably just tired from the past few days and is sleeping deeply. When she wakes, she’ll regret the lost ti. You can go on with your duties, Housekeeper He," said Nian Xia hastily, but she thought to herself, ’Why hasn’t Her Highness co out yet?’
"Understood, Miss Xia," Housekeeper He quickly nodded and walked away but still thought it best to be prepared, just in case Her Highness felt like eating—after all, who could say for certain?
He also considered the possibility that Prince might ask to retain soone when he woke.
"It’s getting late," whispered Zheng Nianru as she turned in bed, sitting up to reach for the curtain only to have her hand enveloped by Ju Nanyi’s large palm.
"Don’t return tonight," Ju Nanyi’s voice spread out lazily, his husky tone a seductive blend of softness and the man’s usual cold indifference, as if he were a tempter longing to keep soone at his side.
Zheng Nianru paused slightly, sowhat surprised that Ju Nanyi would utter such words.
In the past, those bed gas she thought useless against Ju Nanyi, the ice mountain, desperate as they were; even if she pushed him to extres in a past life, he would only turn red-faced, not letting out a sound before fleeing without a trace, as if chased by a ghost.
Utterly dull.
Turning around, Nianru examined the man in the dim light, his unclothed state revealing the contours of his chest under the brocade quilt, a testant to his impressive physique.
She didn’t deny Ju Nanyi’s excellence—a rare combination of both talent and good looks.
Ju Nanyi held onto her hand without retracting it, as if he realized he had missed out on many pleasures in his last life. But by the ti he reflected on it, there was no turning back between them.
"Nianru, don’t go back to the palace," he said, his hand stroking her fingers, feeling the skin so soft and smooth. Suddenly he wanted nothing more, nothing else mattered; he wished he could take her away and flee far. With his current wealth, he could do it.
"And then?" Nianru was still not content; this version of Ju Nanyi who had let go felt much more appealing than the one from the previous life.
"I think we could try to be together forever," Ju Nanyi ventured bravely, but before he could finish, Nianru coldly withdrew her hand.
"Lord Ju, I didn’t think you were one to be easily confused and blinded by happiness," Nianru said as she lifted the curtain, with Nanny Yun quickly stepping forward to attend to her and not daring to utter a word.
The statent snapped Ju Nanyi back to reality, the absurdity of his blissful infatuation even laughable upon reflection.
Two lives, two lifetis, and was he still a fool in a dream?!
"Lord Ju, it’s late. I must return," said Nianru as she donned her cloak and left.
Suddenly, Ju Nanyi was left alone in the room, the coldness and loneliness assailing him in an instant.
So-called infatuation...
He got up swiftly, dressing in a flash. With Nianru’s departure, the warmth in the room seed to evaporate all at once.
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