CHAPTER 575: CHAPTER 554 SECOND UPDATE

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Lin glanced at Ju Nanyi and instantly, his expression became cautious. What was the other party implying?

Prime Minister Lin thought again that Nanmen State had once sent a letter during the crisis in Nanzheng State, intending to lend Zheng Congyuan a hand. It was for this reason that he hesitated about whether to deliver this letter to the Emperor.

But now, what did Lord Ju mean?

Prime Minister Lin thought again. Indeed, why hadn’t he considered it? What was Nanmen Yu doing here at this time? It was true that Nanmen Yu had been a hostage in Nanzheng State and was naturally very familiar with the situation in Nanzheng State. What was his purpose in coming at this time?

Clearly, he was here with significant intentions. Prime Minister Lin almost slapped his thigh. He did not doubt Ju Nanyi’s intelligence and with just one sentence, he felt that Nanmen Yu’s visit to Nanzheng at this time was definitely not for anything good.

"Lord Ju, indeed, your thoughts are meticulous," Prime Minister Lin patted Ju Nanyi’s arm, truly feeling a kind of transformative scenario in his mind. He had been confused, ultimately not as deep and thorough in thought as the younger man.

"Prime Minister Lin, the court still needs your help. With this move from Nanmen State, we cannot rule out the intention to probe for weaknesses. Regardless of the purpose, it is unfavorable to us. Nowadays, the Emperor is particularly preoccupied... so, we must..." Ju Nanyi did not say everything, but Prime Minister Lin understood and kept nodding, then took his leave.

"Then, I will take my leave first," Prime Minister Lin quickly collected the letter, and Ju Nanyi bowed to let him pass.

Zheng Nianru came from Chende Palace, carrying a freshly stewed fish soup that she had personally supervised. Xing Yu held the entire pot of soup, blocking Prime Minister Lin’s path.

"Prime Minister Lin, so busy, where are you off to?" Prime Minister Lin at first did not see the person, but upon seeing, he immediately bowed in greeting.

"This humble official pays respects to the Empress, may the Empress live for thousands and thousands of years," Prime Minister Lin had previously not paid much attention to Princess Chao Ren, now the Empress, but this time, his respect was profound as it was she who had saved the life of the Emperor, or rather, the entire Nanzheng State.

As for why the person from Ghoul Ravine required Princess Chao Ren, Ju Nanyi had once explained that the Commandery Princess had unintentionally saved the life of the young master of Ghoul Ravine, leading to that crucial change at the last moment.

However, Prime Minister Lin was not a fool. Though he was not clear about the situation on the side of the Wen Family, the circumstances at that time were not simply encapsulable by a phrase about a life-saving favor.

But at this point, whatever he said was futile.

Zheng Nianru had not intended to overhear their conversation, but the mention of Nanmen State by Prime Minister Lin reminded Zheng Nianru of something.

This matter was known to very few people. If it were not for the memories of her past life, she might not have stopped in front of Prime Minister Lin at this moment.

"Prime Minister Lin, the letter from Nanmen State, let this palace have a look," Zheng Nianru said unceremoniously, extending her hand.

Prime Minister Lin was startled and looked up in surprise. This was the first time Prime Minister Lin had looked at the Empress so seriously. But even with just that look, Prime Minister Lin could see the trouble brought by a beauty, no wonder the young master of Ghoul Ravine...

"Empress, about this matter?" Prime Minister Lin hesitated as he spoke.

"This palace has its plans. Moreover, Prime Minister Lin should know, whether it’s Qiandao Temple or Ghoul Ravine, both originate from Xiyu and are somewhat related to the secret arts of the Imperial Family of Nanmen State, aren’t they?" When Zheng Nianru saw that Prime Minister Lin was hesitant, "This palace has also been researching ancient texts these days, and found the connections therein."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Lin was indeed stunned. When he looked at Zheng Nianru again, beyond the beauty that causes calamity, he saw stunning brilliance, dazzling and eye-catching like snow.

Prime Minister Lin thought this because he had suddenly developed a fondness for the Empress, who was still considering the Emperor’s safety.

Prime Minister Lin did not know how to judge the relationship between the Emperor and the Empress, after all, the ancestral injunctions of Nanzheng Imperial Family did not permit this, but in that urgent moment for the sake of Nanzheng State, Congyuan, who was then the Crown Prince, had made this proposal and they did not oppose it because, compared to a single ancestral injunction, the whole of Nanzheng State naturally outweighed it.

However, later on, even though Prime Minister Lin was not very observant, he still noticed that the Emperor cared deeply about the Empress, even to the extent of risking the whole of Nanzheng for her at critical times, and when the Empress died for love, he could not claim to be completely unmoved.

"Empress, do you mean that Nanmen State might have a cure for the poison in the Emperor’s body?" Prime Minister Lin asked somewhat urgently.

"I dare not confirm, I just know Nanmen Yu, maybe I could find out something," said Zheng Nianru, expressing her thoughts.

Prime Minister Lin, without hesitation, took out the invitation. So many considerations naturally could not outweight the importance of dealing with the Ghoul Ravine, but how did the Empress also know Nanmen Yu?

Before Prime Minister Lin could finish his thoughts, Zheng Nianru had already taken the items and walked into the Chenyuan Hall.

Prime Minister Lin wanted to follow but felt...

Ju Nanyi was speaking with Congyuan, who was seated before the desk, about the matters concerning Qiandao Temple. They had dispatched men who had found some displaced affiliates of Qiandao Temple, but it was a fact that Qiandao Temple had fallen, particularly since there was no news of either Mage Huo Yi or Mage Yu Sheng to this day.

"Your Majesty, I suspect they have gone directly to Nanyu from the Southern Frontier, and if they went to Nanyu, perhaps..." Ju Nanyi’s words were not yet complete when he saw the shadows shifting on the floor as someone approached, the hall’s doors were open, and people from the Ghoul Ravine weren’t constantly watching closely by Congyuan’s side. As long as Congyuan did not leave the Imperial Palace, there seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary.

In fact, their people would not even barge into the Harem, merely encircling the entire Imperial Palace, creating a facade that as long as the people within the circle remained compliant, there would be peace under heaven.

When Zheng Nianru entered, her footsteps were not heavy, but they were enough to let the two men inside hear her.

Qi Zhu had already gone ahead to meet her, taking the jar from Xing Yu’s hands.

"Thank you, sister," Qi Zhu said, as Xing Yu handed over a spoon and bowl as well.

Ju Nanyi naturally stopped talking, as Congyuan’s gaze was no longer on their discussion, but on Zheng Nianru who had entered.

"You look much better," Zheng Nianru glanced at Congyuan and then at Ju Nanyi, feeling somewhat uneasy with this man present.

"The cage in Chende Palace is no match for those in Prince Duan’s Mansion, and going back and forth, you inevitably catch a cold. There’s no need to come every day," said Congyuan, his tone gentle, appearing to have reverted to his old self since getting out of bed.

"I am pleased—" Zheng Nianru gave a sly smile, "Try this, I brought a chef from Prince Duan’s Mansion, the several good ones from the Crown Prince’s Mansion have also been brought into the palace."

Qi Zhu quickly served a bowl to Congyuan, the faintly sweet smell drifted through the air, Ju Nanyi’s mind slightly disturbed, those speculations, now in the frank exchanges between the two, had tangible proof.

That was, Congyuan knew the heated beds in the rooms of Prince Duan’s Mansion were the best, whether he had personally arranged it was hard to say, and she also knew about the chefs from the Crown Prince’s Mansion.

Ju Nanyi vaguely remembered that impromptu exposure of the script book in the Crown Prince’s Study Room.

The script book, if he did not know that Zheng Nianru liked script books, and these were exactly her favorite ones from before, how could he now connect such a distant memory and embarrass himself.