CHAPTER 570: CHAPTER 549 FIRST UPDATE

"Nian Ru, I’ve wronged you." Zheng Congyuan didn’t move; he knew she would be even more stubborn in obtaining what she wanted if he refused her. Thus, he let the person beside him knead his arm, the soft touch felt like a ray of light shining into hell, allowing one to breathe.

"Are you saying that the grand wedding and the Empress’s enthronement ceremony are to be held together, and even the marriage proposal was just a formality?" Zheng Nianru blinked, her bright eyes glistening with moisture. Indeed, Ju Nanyi, who was so thoughtful in every aspect of the Chenhe Palace, why would he arrange their grand wedding with Zheng Congyuan in such a hurry, almost as if he meant for everyone to overlook it?

Clearly, Ju Nanyi had a purpose in doing this; Yin He wanted her, and Zheng Congyuan earnestly wished to keep her by his side. Ju Nanyi definitely didn’t share this sentiment; as long as she remained in Nanzheng State, Yin He wouldn’t dare to do anything to Nanzheng State.

Moreover, this might not even be solely Ju Nanyi’s own idea; Prime Minister Lin and a host of other courtiers were most likely in the know as well.

After all, the situation that day had been like mountains collapsing into Ghoul Ravine; with the slightest error, the Nanzheng Imperial Clan, or even the whole Nanzheng State, would cease to exist.

Even if Zheng Nianru was not the brightest, she could understand this point.

But she didn’t care. If it truly came to exchanging her for the entirety of Nanzheng, she naturally wouldn’t want to. Others would reap the benefits while she got nothing, she certainly wouldn’t consent to that.

Therefore, that was where Ju Nanyi showed his intelligence, always able to swiftly locate the root of the problem.

Zheng Congyuan nodded, his fingers exploring Zheng Nianru’s soft and boneless fingers.

"As for Prince Duan, I will go and explain in person."

"There’s no need to explain; being a member of the Nanzheng Imperial Clan, father will understand." Zheng Nianru didn’t want to talk about this, especially now, taking advantage of Zheng Congyuan’s fingers, her own deftly found their way inside his sleeve, the cool fingertips touching the warmth of his arm and slipping further in.

A shiver ran through Zheng Congyuan’s arm, and he tried to say something but had already forgotten what it was. He felt weak, even more so because he had been poring over ancient texts without rest for the past few days, yet it was just exhaustion; he was keenly aware that his body was gradually recovering.

Zheng Congyuan seized the other’s mischievous hand with a deep look in his eyes, gazing at Zheng Nianru. Having spent so much time together, he naturally understood what she was thinking at this moment.

Ju Nanyi, even everyone in the palace, deliberately avoided this issue, but Nian Ru wouldn’t, she was single-minded, regardless of the consequences.

Zheng Congyuan was moved, so she shouldn’t be trapped here, nor should she submit to others because of him.

Zheng Congyuan thought that any man would find it hard to swallow this.

"Don’t overthink it; I know your body isn’t fully recovered yet. I just want to sleep holding you, I’ve always wanted to." Zheng Nianru didn’t struggle, letting Zheng Congyuan hold on to her while she wriggled further under the covers.

Zheng Congyuan’s breath quickened due to the woman’s actions.

"Everything in Chenhe Palace is more comfortable than here, you..."

"Brother Fu Xun, do you really have the heart to see me this cold?" Zheng Nianru’s voice was filled with grievance. Her cape had already fallen to the floor, and under the pink and golden jacket was a single layer of clothing, also in tones of pink and gold. Only then did Zheng Congyuan notice that Zheng Nianru hadn’t fixed her hair in a hairdo; her waist-length, jet-black hair hung down, clearly she came prepared.

"Just sleeping, I have always found it hard to get used to unfamiliar places." All Zheng Congyuan could hear was the murmuring by his ear; what was said wasn’t so important anymore.

Zheng Nianru quickly crawled under the covers, her eyes sly and filled with the scheming of someone who had succeeded. Her arms firmly wrapped around, and with her eyes closed, she could breathe in the scent that was unique to men, serene and beautiful, exactly as she had imagined it would be.

...

Ju Nanyi’s horse could not be faster, yet even at its utmost speed it took half a Shichen to travel from Yiren Street to the Imperial Palace. At the moment, there was no other choice but to reach the Imperial Palace as swiftly as possible.

However, by the time Ju Nanyi hurried to the palace, not even setting foot into Chenyuan Hall, there was already a hustle of palace maids and eunuchs dashing out from the brightly-lit hall.

"Call the Imperial Physician, quickly call the Imperial Physician—" Nanny Yun was shouting at the top of her voice, with the newly appointed Eunuch Bo Qing frantically calling for the Imperial Physician.

Ju Nanyi immediately made his way inside.

"Lord Ju, you’ve arrived just in time, please hurry..." Nanny Yun seemed panicked, not knowing whom to call and grasping at him as if he were a lifeline. But how could Lord Ju have arrived so quickly?

"Aunt Yun, don’t panic, what has happened?" Ju Nanyi’s heart was already in turmoil; seeing Nanny Yun so flustered, he instantly thought of something happening to Zheng Nianru.

He had already warned her, yet she did not listen. However, it was pointless to say these things now, so had the young master of Ghoul Ravine become angry and, in a fit of rage, done something to Zheng Nianru?

"It’s the Crown Prince—it’s The Emperor. The Emperor is vomiting blood again," Nanny Yun said, slapping her thigh in distress.

The hand that Ju Nanyi, much like a lifesaver himself, had placed on Nanny Yun’s arm eventually steadied and let go.

"I’ll be right back—" Ju Nanyi finally wasn’t so flustered anymore; it seemed the issue was not with Zheng Nianru, but with Zheng Congyuan. He was about to leave when a cry of alarm from inside the room made him halt in his tracks.

"You go—" Ju Nanyi turned to Xia Wei beside him, someone he had brought back from the Northwest Border. Xia Wei was momentarily startled, then immediately turned and left.

Ju Nanyi rushed inside, where the strong scent of blood overwhelmed him. As he lifted his head in haste, his eyes were dazzled by the gleaming gold, but even more arresting than the shining gold was the sight of Zheng Nianru, her skin so white and radiant it outshone even the candlelight, dressed only in a thin robe, with half of her arm exposed, looking as though it had been snapped off like a lotus root. The man quickly averted his gaze, unsure of where to look.

At that moment, no one noticed him. Fu Dong hurried to support her commandery princess, while Zheng Nianru, unconcerned for herself, had already turned to sit on the edge of the bed, helping Nian Xia in lifting Zheng Congyuan.

"Where is the Imperial Physician, where is he?" Zheng Nianru turned her head to shout, and Nanny Yun, rushing in, heard her voice and immediately went out again to wait for the Imperial Physician.

Only then did Zheng Nianru see Ju Nanyi, her gaze merely passing over him without any expression, as if he were just some common item, not registering in her heart.

Ju Nanyi, by now, had set aside all other concerns and took a step forward.

"Lord Ju, you’re here, that’s wonderful—"

Ju Nanyi wasted no time, he went directly to the bedside and tried to remain calm to assess Zheng Congyuan’s injuries.

"I’m alright—" Zheng Congyuan assured with a pale shake of the head, "Fu Dong, give your master a coat—"

Fu Dong suddenly realized there was an outsider present and immediately draped a coat over Zheng Nianru, who took it and began putting it on herself, all the while asking,

"What exactly happened?" Zheng Nianru queried Ju Nanyi, completely oblivious to the presence of others.

Ju Nanyi briefly lifted his head, noting her bare feet on the wooden floor, her round and luminous toes... Shaking his head to rid himself of the distraction, he pondered why those around her were so neglectful, not even thinking to put shoes on their mistress in such cold weather.