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The youth looked up upon hearing this, somewhat not understanding the meaning behind Zheng Nianru's words, but even without understanding, his youthful and vigorous nature did not allow him to refuse.
"Fine, even if it costs me my life, I'll get it done." Therefore, Zheng Haoyuan was definitely not a good person, tyrannical and bloodthirsty by nature; he had personally witnessed the brutal deaths of numerous palace maids and eunuchs. And with Noble Consort Wen covering the sky with one hand inside the Imperial Palace, there would come a day when he would make her witness the same with her own eyes.
"No need for you to die, just dance and it's settled." Zheng Nianru said indifferently. This kid was also lucky to have such a serious injury recover so quickly; he managed to stand up within two days. Even though he looked pretty miserable, his ingratitude and fickleness meant that even if he was miserable, he deserved it.
The youth was stunned, and his face turned visibly red at a speed seen by the naked eye. His former recklessness instantly became a complete joke.
"I wanted to see it. If you danced, it would also fulfill my wish, and consider it a way to repay your debt." Zheng Nianru's brows lifted slightly. You think you're capable? Forcing her to dance in the lord's tent, does dancing solve conflicts? Now she would return the favor.
"Dance?" The youth was somewhat uncertain.
"Yes, dance- that kind of dance where you strip while you're dancing. Nanny Yun, what's that dance called?" Zheng Nianru, feeling somewhat amused, turned her head to ask Nanny Yun.
"Commandery Princess, that's something to add some fun with your husband in the bedroom, why are you telling a child about this?" Nanny Yun wished she could cover her own mistress's mouth. She'd dare say anything; that was their Art Workshop's secret.
The youth's face turned even redder upon hearing this, but the only thing that haunted him was Nanny Yun's mention of a husband, and the fact that he was just a child, a stranger not worthy of consideration.
The youth's gaze turned toward Nanny Yun. Although he was somewhat small due to long-term exposure to cold and hunger, with irregular meals, he was already fourteen, an age at which he could be married in Nanmen State.
"Commandery Princess, talking about these things with a child... and yesterday, what were you discussing with the Fourth Prince about the Art House, Cloud Tower?" Nanny Yun seized the opportunity to start lecturing again. The Fourth Prince was young, how could he shape anything significant? With the brother Crown Prince available, why bother with the Fourth Prince?
"Then what should we talk about?" Zheng Nianru asked Nanny Yun. What you've taught me is about all there is. Surely we can't talk about how I will woo Ju Nanyi in the future to anger Zheng Congyuan, or the mess of things that will happen after that—none of which can be discussed openly.
Nanmen Yu watched the two people in front of him as if they had forgotten his existence, this neglect making him feel as insignificant as a feather, not even warranting a glance from her. This realization made the youth desperately want to run away, but running away would make him no different than the dust under her feet or the curling smoke rising in the room.
"I'll dance—" The youth abruptly spoke up, cutting off the conversation in the room abruptly, followed by a stretch of silence.
Zheng Nianru turned around, puzzled. Dance what?
She instantly remembered what she had just said, even more puzzled. Willing to dance? He's willing to dance? How could that be possible? She was a hundred times unwilling at that time.
Zheng Nianru paused. Could it be that she had always misunderstood Nanmen Yu, and that the condition he had proposed was originally to put himself in her shoes and give her a way out?
If she had known earlier, there was no need for her to tackle him; talking about dancing was not as straightforward as getting right to the point.
In the moment Zheng Nianru was stunned, the youth had already begun undressing. He was not unskilled at dancing, but it was clear that wasn't what she wanted to see.
Nanny Yun was also taken aback. Was he really going to strip? But she admired his courage; she thought he was a good prospect from the beginning, certainly a good prospect to throw into the Art Workshop.
The moment the youth's clothes fell to the floor and his upper body was revealed, a mix of green and purple bruises, and his thin chest was not much to look at, the youth was a bit at a loss. Should he continue undressing?
Fu Dong hurried into the room, picked up the clothes from the floor, and began dressing the youth.
"Commandery Princess, the Crown Prince has arrived." The words of Fu Dong immediately caused a bustle in the room, and Fu Dong quickly pushed the youth toward the outer courtyard.
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"Hurry in, hurry in. Let me tell you, our Commandery Princess saved you. If you want to repay her, just stay here honestly and don't come out." Nanmen Yu was locked back in the outer courtyard room, and the door slammed shut in a rush. Before Fu Dong even reached the front of the room, he saw that the Crown Prince and three or four others were already heading towards the Qishun Building.
"Your Highness—"
The atmosphere inside the room immediately changed. Aside from the lingering incense that was still rising, Nanny Yun anxiously looked at her own Commandery Princess.
Look, look, the Crown Prince himself has come. Hurry and take the opportunity to step down.
Zheng Nianru did not move, nor did she lift her head to look at Zheng Congyuan. She just quietly looked down at the fan in her hands.
A feather fan, its design twining the feathers of a kingfisher with silk threads into a picture of birds singing on a spring day—the kingfisher life-like, as if living upon the fan.
Zheng Congyuan felt somewhat bemused. The young girl sitting before him was tranquil as usual, just like when she would sit at the desk in his study. He would write and read official documents while she propped her head on her hands and watched him, this tranquil.
Even, he faintly heard that sentence.
"Brother Crown Prince, are you hungry? Take a rest!"
"Nian Ru." Zheng Congyuan's heart lifted slightly, but then he remembered the current situation.
Qi Ling and the others silently withdrew, and Nanny Yun led her people away even faster. The door quietly closed.
"Brother Crown Prince—" Zheng Nianru looked up, her pure face revealing a trace of craftiness that one could see through at a glance, as if her previous disregard was intended to draw even more of your attention, to monopolize all of it.
"Is it Fu Gong who's troubling you?" He could understand why she wasn't in a good mood.
"Somewhat," Zheng Nianru nodded. Zheng Congyuan sat down beside her. The rose chair's soft rattan was specially designed for women, and this particular one was specially made with leather to appear soft, yet strong enough to support a man's weight.
So, Zheng Nianru thought, she had always been so attentive. Such attentiveness had long exceeded using someone for one's own advantage, as Nanny Yun had mentioned. She was truly grateful to Zheng Congyuan. She believed her care had become increasingly sincere, going beyond mere exploitation.
Zheng Nianru had really considered, with great caution, that she could feign death. She could live without a title, reigning supreme within the Crown Prince's Mansion; she didn't ask for much.
"Still unhappy?" Zheng Congyuan was no stranger to Zheng Nianru; he could keenly perceive her joys and angers. It wasn't because of Zheng Haoyuan, so why then?
In the past few days, he had been busy, but no matter how occupied he was, she usually came to see him. But now that he thought about it, aside from the day of remembrance, it had been nearly ten days since she last stepped foot into the Crown Prince's Mansion.
So, she was still unhappy.
"What's wrong? Tell me, and your brother will make you feel better." Zheng Congyuan's voice softened even more, soft enough to nearly draw tears from Zheng Nianru. Look, even the now hard-hearted and stubborn her couldn't stand to hear Zheng Congyuan speak like this. So, could all that happened later be entirely her fault?
Therefore, pretending to be pitiful now seemed to come to her quite naturally, even though she knew it was hopeless. The sweetness of drinking poison to quench thirst was something she found irresistibly delightful.
"Brother Crown Prince, I just wanted to see how long it would take you to remember me." Zheng Nianru said with a sense of grievance, grabbing onto that sleeve within reach. She wanted to draw closer, to feel his breath. That tear rolling around in her eyes seemed as though it had just spilled over, but it was actually one she desperately held back.