CHAPTER 585: CHAPTER 564 SECOND UPDATE

The procession finally arrived at the Post Station before nightfall. This station was located thirty li outside the city suburbs and was originally intended as a temporary lodging for envoys from various countries visiting the Zheng Capital. Back when the Nanzheng State was prosperous, there was a constant flow of envoys from various nations, and a continuous stream of tribute treasures was sent from different countries.

But now, the former prosperity was gone. The Post Station, once as large as a Traveling Palace annex, had closed all its courtyards to the left, right, and rear, leaving only a few in the center. Over the past few years, the number of envoys that had been received here could be counted on one hand.

Zheng Nianru had some recollection of this Post Station. In her previous life, it had served as her camp when she rebelled and attacked the Zheng Capital. It was also the stronghold of Prince Duan’s secret forces, which were initially under his control. Once she took the position of the Empress Dowager, this place became the residence for those people. Ju Nanyi even transformed it into a covert base from which they continuously expanded their forces.

Those people came from all walks of life, varied and diverse. Once they left this place and dispersed into every corner of the Zheng Capital, they were like birds in the sky, observing every movement.

As Zheng Nianru stepped here once more, she could clearly see traces of hasty preparations. Even the carpets laid on the ground were somewhat uneven. From the great gate of the Post Station to the best courtyard, everything had been washed and wiped clean. Although the furnishings were not to Zheng Nianru’s liking, she had no inclination to be picky at the moment.

"Empress, would you like to bathe first?" Nanny Yun immediately came to ask, having noticed that a wooden tub had been prepared in the courtyard.

"I’ll do it later——" Zheng Nianru suddenly wanted to have a look around. She had lived here for quite some time in the past, and her second child was also born here.

Those distant memories that she had almost forgotten surged vividly to life at the sight of this familiar place, replaying scene by scene in her mind.

Zheng Nianru touched the wooden chair, which, though lacking intricate patterns, had a simple and refined charm that seemed identical to the one from her previous life.

Fu Dong, seeing the expression on Zheng Nianru’s face, quietly sent away Nian Xia and Xue Liu, who were about to enter to clean up, and stood silently by, watching. These days, it wasn’t just Fu Dong who noticed that the Empress was growing more and more lost in thought. The reason behind this was something they could all guess at, hence they had been trying various ways to cheer up the Empress over the past couple of days.

Seeing Fu Dong, Nanny Yun sighed inwardly, feeling equally dispirited.

"Why are you bringing this?" Nian Xia stood outside with Xue Liu, looking at the box held in Xue Liu’s hands. They were going to Bu Er Temple, a place where it seemed peculiar to bring something belonging to Prince Duan.

Xue Liu glanced inside the quiet room and then spoke in a lowered voice.

"The Empress ordered it to be brought. She must be missing the Prince. Looking at it often may soothe her longing," Xue Liu said, as Nian Xia opened the box to reveal a jade pendant glowing with a soft, watery light. The tassel was half-worn, and the pattern on the pendant was strange, with a bead the size of a longan hanging from it, its nature—whether pearl or jade—equally bizarre.

Nian Xia closed the box, resigned to the fact that the Empress was once again in low spirits. They decided to wait before moving anything else.

Everything the Empress was to handle or use was fully prepared by them, even if it was for just one day; they could not make do for the Empress. Moreover, nowadays, for the sake of Nanzheng, the Empress could be said to be...

With this in mind, nobody in the courtyard felt cheerful, and Xing Yu promptly closed the courtyard gates, leaving only two guards standing watch outside.

...

As Ju Nanyi stepped into the post station, those vivid memories from his dreams surged in his mind. The him in his dreams, from the start of the rebellion, struggled to slowly turn the tide, until he finally controlled the situation. Every step matched his way of thinking and modus operandi. Therefore, Ju Nanyi wouldn’t believe it was just a dream because a dream couldn’t possibly be that realistic.

Just like this post station—although he had never been here before, the memory of it was clear in his mind, and some places were particularly deeply embedded in his memory.

"Lord Ju, you’ve been laboring all day. Why not rest for a while? I, with the men..." The officer regretted his earlier indiscretion, having seen his lord standing outside the carriage for such a long time, which had drawn the Empress’s attention. He felt terribly sorry about it.

"There’s no need. You and the men rest first. You’ll need to take turns on watch later tonight," Ju Nanyi reined in his thoughts and spoke, "I won’t feel at ease without walking through it myself."

The officer immediately felt abashed by Lord Ju’s diligence and, after giving his respects, led a team to rest.

The people who had rushed to the post station had already prepared everyone’s accommodations and even the meals were ready early on. The guards ate in two shifts, with two teams resting and two teams continuing their patrols, alternately taking turns.

"Where’s our lord?" It was only then the guards remembered their lord hadn’t eaten yet. They searched around but couldn’t find Ju Nanyi. As they were wondering what to do, the guard leader interrupted those who were still searching and ordered a team to stop patrolling and guard the courtyard where the Empress stayed.

The guards didn’t dare show their anger, although the other side, dressed in the Imperial Forest Guard uniforms, were truly people from the Ghoul Ravine. They had looked down on them from the beginning, but the guards didn’t dare say anything. After all, the most important task was to ensure the Empress’s safety.

Ju Nanyi walked leisurely, the scenes from his memory accurately unfolding before him. The courtyard they once stayed in was the very one Zheng Nianru now occupied.

Those sealed courtyards, Ju Nanyi also remembered clearly, his fingers caressing the uneven bricks as if touching those memories themselves.

So, in this lifetime, why hadn’t Zheng Nianru seen it through? Why follow the same path as in the past life? Perhaps then, he would have had more opportunities and wouldn’t have been confined to those people and events. After all, they had shared happy days and once had two children.

Ju Nanyi walked slowly, inadvertently arriving at a familiar courtyard, not even realizing it was the place they used to avoid their mischievous elder son, to enjoy their rare time together.

But now, standing here, Ju Nanyi suddenly laughed helplessly. He wondered if it was at himself from his past life, who was taken advantage of yet remained willingly so, even to the extent of giving his all. And in this lifetime, it seemed he didn’t even have the opportunity to be exploited.

"Who’s there?" Zheng Nianru frowned. This place wasn’t far from her courtyard. She’d come over on a whim, her thoughts troubled and impulsive.

Xing Yu looked carefully and saw there really was someone. In their line of sight, they only saw half a silhouette with a back turned towards them, unable to make out any details, but at least they could tell from the robe that the person was one of their own.