CHAPTER 584: CHAPTER 563 FIRST UPDATE

The procession, adorned with gold and encrusted with jade, had claimed the attention of everyone since leaving the Imperial Palace. The pure white horses, not a spot of different hair on them, should have been galloping across grasslands. Yet now, they were harnessed with extremely luxurious, heavy saddles, embroidered so richly that they dazzled the eye, pulling carriages decked with blue canopies and golden threaded patterns, so bright it was hard to look away.

Twelve horses, four carriages, and thirty-two guards in uniform—black with golden edges of the Imperial Forest Guard—all exuded an overwhelming sense of nobility.

From the Imperial Palace to the Nanmen of Zheng Capital, the procession made its way through bustling streets. Commoners paused their steps to watch and speculated about the identity of the person inside the carriages. Officials from Nanzheng who were in the know had already kept well away from the itinerary; those who stumbled upon it by chance closed the windows facing the street and hung their heads, refusing to watch.

As subjects of the court, they felt both shame and rage at such a debacle that embarrassed the Nanzheng Imperial Court, deeming the ostentatious and lavish display highly inappropriate for the times.

And the fact that palace banners were paving the way was simply absurd.

In a tavern facing the street, with a barely opened window, a person seated inside fixed their gaze directly onto the carriages.

"Princely Heir, this convoy is heading to Bu Er Temple; it’s our only chance to blend in. It’s said that the carriages are carrying the Empress of Nanzheng State who’s going to pray at the temple, but the one leading the team is Ju Nanyi, a tough nut to crack," said Gu Dao, stepping forward as his master watched the procession below without moving, relaying the intelligence he had gathered.

Zong Yunqian wasn’t interested in whoever was sitting inside the palanquin. Moreover, as Gu Dao and Xi Feng gathered information, those privy to the inside story naturally kept mum on such a humiliating matter. All they knew was that Zheng Congyuan had married an empress and that there was something unclear between Nanzheng Imperial Clan and Ghoul Ravine.

The situation at hand was that Ghoul Ravine had swiftly replaced Qiandao Temple, and to this day, there was still no trace of the temple’s mages. Thus, their priority was to find out where those people had gone, and whether Master Bu Er would hold the answers was something Zong Yunqian couldn’t be sure of.

Gu Dao glanced at his master and, seeing that he hadn’t spoken, grew somewhat anxious as the procession slowly faded from their view. To follow or not to follow?

"Let’s go—" Zong Yunqian suddenly stood up. Although they didn’t look like the beggars they had been when they first entered Zheng Capital, they were dressed in ordinary everyday clothes and had deliberately altered their appearance, blending inconspicuously into the crowd. The three hurriedly left the tavern, paid for their drinks, and chased after the disappearing procession.

...

The convoy moving southward wasn’t fast. Ju Nanyi wasn’t in a hurry, nor was Zheng Nianru. Having left the capital, the procession had already taken one rest stop. The cooks brought along had set up a fire in the open field and were simmering soups and broths, their fragrances wafting for meters around.

The three hidden in the distant grass furrowed their brows, seemingly puzzled by the actions of the distant convoy. Rumors had it that Zheng Congyuan had been seriously injured, and after the Wen Family’s rebellion impacted him, the Empress had no choice but to pray at Bu Er Temple. This made sense as the Nanzheng Imperial Family had always had a tradition of prayer.

However, if Zheng Congyuan was seriously ill, there was no reason for the convoy to proceed so leisurely, especially with Ju Nanyi present – they should have hurried to Bu Er Temple, with or without hope, they should at least show respectful urgency.

Could it be that Zheng Congyuan’s illness was a ruse? It was the only explanation Zong Yunqian could think of.

Xue Liu brought the soups, glancing at the casually resting guard leading the group. His posture was awkward, as if wearing a prickly suit, obviously uncomfortable, it was easy to spot his difference from others at a glance.

Xue Liu showed no reaction, simply carrying the soup onto the carriage. Once inside, a wave of warmth hit her, and beneath her feet were soft furs, thick and plush. Zheng Nianru rested on the soft pelts, revealing half a shoulder, her skin as white as snow stood out starkly against the red fox fur.

"A little to the left," hummed Zheng Nianru lightly, and Nian Xia’s hands moved to the left, slowly massaging. Nanny Yun also pressed her own shoulders; no matter how large the carriage was, such a long journey was naturally exhausting, and they were not accustomed to traveling by carriage.

"Lord, is it...?" The subordinate following Ju Nanyi quietly stepped forward, glanced at the sky, and noted that at the present pace, it would barely take an extra day to reach the Bu Er Temple, yet the journey had been unnecessarily stretched to two days. The arrangements for where to rest at night had been made well in advance, but judging by the current state of things, it seemed impossible to reach the planned stop before nightfall.

Ju Nanyi glanced at the steaming earthen pot at the rear of the procession but didn’t utter a word. He was in no hurry; what good things awaited him?

At first, he had spoken in that manner, but now, reflecting on it, he felt his intellect must have been temporarily bewitched. He had firmly reminded himself not to let the events of his past life repeat in this one.

It wasn’t that he regretted his decision, and he had clearly seen into Zheng Nianru’s heart. If he had fulfilled her wishes in this life, he would never have had the chance. Heaven hadn’t given Zheng Nianru that chance either. Although the present circumstances weren’t entirely to Ju Nanyi’s satisfaction, they weren’t bleak enough to cause him despair.

It was only when it wasn’t Zheng Congyuan that she would notice others.

Ju Nanyi, clutching the riding crop in his hand, became somewhat lost in thought...

The subordinate, regretting his outburst, thought he was only troubling his superior. What could Lord Ju decide? Inside the carriage was the Empress, and her visit to the Bu Er Temple was sure not to bring joy, a fact evident from the painfully slow progress of their journey.

Just as the subordinate was about to retreat, he saw his superior stand and head in the direction of the carriage.

The subordinate couldn’t help but feel emotional; Lord Ju taking on this thankless task had already been demeaning enough. Bound by the imperial command, he couldn’t refuse, and he was devoted heart and soul to the imperial court.

Before Ju Nanyi could approach the carriage, he caught a whiff of a delicate fragrance that differed from the previous few times, resembling more the scent that she would grow fond of in later days. Ju Nanyi paused momentarily, as if a voice in his head told him there was a connection between this life and the last.

In his past life, she couldn’t be with Zheng Congyuan, and this life was proving as turbulent. So what was there between him and her...?

"Lord Ju, is it time to set off?" asked Fu Dong, stepping forward apologetically. The lost-in-thought Ju Nanyi hadn’t noticed Fu Dong’s attention to him.

It was indeed remarkable that Lord Ju, at such a time, would personally escort them to the Bu Er Temple.

"Please inform Her Majesty, it’s getting late. If we delay any longer, I fear we will not make it to the post station ten miles away," Ju Nanyi said, his eyes lowered, his voice calm.

"Lord Ju, Her Majesty has rested well and sent me to tell you that we may depart," Fu Dong stated, sensing something indefinably odd about the Lord Ju standing before him.

But Lord Ju was a man of integrity; even though he had been teased by Her Majesty in the past, he now served with utmost diligence, out of respect for the Emperor.

At these words, Ju Nanyi turned and walked briskly to the front of the column without looking back.

Fu Dong immediately felt his assumptions were mistaken; it seemed Lord Ju had no wish to be entangled with their Empress.