Zheng Haoyuan followed Zheng Nianru's gaze, indeed looking towards Talented Lady Jing's direction with a fierce glare.
"When my cousin lives here, why are you all appearing here?" Zheng Haoyuan coldly eyed the women, who were scattered and cowering, each only able to weep.
"Your Highness, these are Consort Liang and Consort Jing from Jingqi Pavilion." Eunuch Ho Sheng came forward with a headache, quietly reminding him. Other concubines might be overlooked, but these two often appeared before His Majesty, and were quite influential. As for why they were here, since the Commandery Princess said so, he could not intervene.
"Cousin, do you want me to kill them?" Zheng Haoyuan tilted his head and asked. Although he was young, he still understood human speech, and this cousin seemed different from the others.
Zheng Nianru thought seriously, and with her nature, she wanted to kill. Now, having lived another life, Zheng Nianru still felt it was simpler and more straightforward to kill directly.
"Fu Gong—" Just as Zheng Nianru was about to speak, a familiar voice came from behind. Although brief, it was like a spring breeze dispersing the severe cold of the whole garden. Zheng Nianru even saw a glint of hope on the faces of Liang Qingyue and Talented Lady Jing.
"Crown Prince—"
"Crown Prince—" The respectful voice seemed to come from the heart, and even those eunuchs treated as less than human on the ground felt as if they had snatched back their lives from the gates of hell, tense and trembling.
Zheng Nianru turned around, without bowing, the person before her dressed in deep blue robes with silver-grey edging and delicate cloud patterns cascading from the collar, bound by light blue and light grey belts at the waist.
Zheng Congyuan stood tall, his figure sculpted-like, capable of resembling a painting even just by standing still. No matter how many times Zheng Nianru saw him, it was never enough; each time felt as fresh as her first memory of seeing Zheng Congyuan. Her memory overlaid reality—she could feel hatred, yet at that moment her hatred was baseless without any reason, and he could even personally come to her rescue.
Her father, Prince Duan, had also said that the Crown Prince was a ruler of rare benevolence who had matured on matters of state. In the recent years, his measures to nurture life and rest had significantly eased tensions, allowing Nanzheng State to catch its breath and even begin to thrive.
"Imperial Brother—" Zheng Haoyuan was somewhat afraid of his brother, the Crown Prince. He cast aside his whip and bowed, his expression displeased as he looked down.
"What has happened?" Zheng Congyuan's gaze was calm, falling on Zheng Haoyuan on the scene. That look just now, she seemed unhappy—had Prince Duan said something?
Empress Dowager was shrewd, Prince Duan generally careless, perhaps she had been warned not to slip out again.
Thus, that was the most suitable reason for her recent absence from Qishun Building.
"It's nothing, truly nothing," Zheng Haoyuan looked up furtively at Zheng Congyuan, not daring to say much; although he wanted to discuss more about 'The Savage' with his cousin, there was time for that after the Crown Prince had left.
"Then disperse, Fu Gong. Today I've received new Buddha beads, and I just remembered I have matters at Mingyan Hall. Since you are here, please go for me," Qi Yu stepped forward, holding a sandalwood box. Zheng Haoyuan didn't want to take it; he didn't want to go to the Empress Dowager's place, so Eunuch Ho Sheng quickly took it over.
"Your Highness, rest assured, this old servant will accompany the Fourth Prince and deliver it," he said, signaling with his eyes to the eunuchs on the ground, personally holding the box and leaving with his master.
"Consort Liang, Consort Jing were frightened, I will have Palace Attendants send the two of you back to the palace."
"Thank you, Crown Prince." At this moment, Liang Qingyue and Talented Lady Jing clung to this lifeline as if rescued, devoid of any other thought but to quickly get away, swiftly leaving with their respective palace maids.
Zheng Nianru felt suddenly disinterested in the affairs; as the Crown Prince, whatever he did seemed naturally reasonable, everything fitting within reason as if it was meant to be. His presence there now had ample justification, and resolving this conflict was also part of his duty as the Crown Prince of the East Palace.
It felt like the first time he had saved her, merely an act of convenient benevolence, as if there was no difference from saving Liang Chongrong and Talented Lady Jing just now.
"Not leaving?" Zheng Congyuan waited patiently for a moment but did not get the usual rushing over; letting go of his slightly inexplicable emotions, he wondered if this was not the outcome he had hoped for.
Zheng Nianru would not let him have his way. Regardless of past or future lives, she had most pondered what Zheng Congyuan was thinking, down to his very breathing—she could detect something from it.
"Zheng Congyuan." Zheng Nianru stepped forward to grasp the man's arm but, just as she expected, he avoided her smoothly, without even a hint of awkwardness. His figure moving ahead was like a pine by a mountain stream, resembling a creek or a clear spring, though his breathing suggested he was much more content.
Yet, Zheng Nianru did not pursue further. She did not know how to describe her feelings at that moment. Did he like her being close? No, he always pushed her away decisively. But why did she still hope? Did she enjoy that kind of rejection, that arrogant aloofness from others?
Zheng Congyuan stopped, turned around, and accidentally bumped into the forehead hair of the person behind him. It seemed as though he was intentionally being difficult, not moving aside.
"You should reduce your contact with the Fourth Prince in the future; he is too playful." He spoke as if he were still a mischievous child, "If something happens, have someone send a message first, don't just stand there foolishly."
"Understood." Zheng Nianru replied obediently. She knew Zheng Congyuan had his people in Qishun Building. At that moment, his men weren't inside the inner court but were likely among the eunuchs who were cleaning outside.
"Go back." Zheng Congyuan rarely saw her so obedient and his heart softened momentarily. Then his brows furrowed slightly. Was she frightened? He knew the Fourth Prince was wild, like a wolf cub, unruly even in the harem. It was time to take action regarding Noble Consort Wen.
Zheng Nianru took a step forward and immediately saw Zheng Congyuan instinctively raise his arm to block her, which was somewhat frustrating yet amusing for her. It was instinctual, and she had even forgotten the decision she had just made a second before. Even pleasing him had become a habit.
"I'm leaving; I'm very tired." Zheng Nianru turned around and, holding Fu Dong's hand, walked toward her own Qishun Building.
"Your Highness…" Qi Ling could not help but speak out as Princess Chao Ren had already walked in, her figure disappearing from view.
Zheng Congyuan turned and walked away.
Qi Yu gave Qi Ling a look, as if to say you overstep too much.
Qi Ling disagreed, feeling that something between the Crown Prince and the Princess had suddenly changed.
...
"Whack—" Hong Chou's wooden box hit a tree branch again, scattering the newly received pouches inside all over the ground.
"Hong Chou, what's been happening with you these days?" Palace Maid Hong Lian quickly helped to pick them up, carefully blowing the dust off the pouches. "Are you sick?"
Hong Chou came back to her senses, her mind repeatedly visualizing Yu Lihuai with a big hole on his head, keeping her awake all night.
"It's nothing, probably just too tired." Hong Chou spoke, her face pale and listless.
Hong Lian looked around; they were alone. She then moved closer to Hong Chou.
"Hong Chou, did you know? Eunuch Kang Ning has been asking around these past couple of days about where Eunuch Yu went, you should…"
"Ah—" Hong Chou screamed, stars bursting before her eyes, and fell heavily to the ground on her bottom.
"Oh, you scared me to death." Hong Lian hurriedly pulled her up, "Why are your hands so ice cold? Hong Chou, you aren't sick, are you?"
"What are you two doing?" A sharp voice broke in suddenly.
"Eunuch Kang Ning—" Hong Lian quickly pulled Hong Chou to greet him.
"Hong Chou, there you are. I heard from the palace maids in the outer court that the day before yesterday, you were talking with Eunuch Yu in the Ningze Garden." Eunuch Kang Ning walked up, knowing quite a bit about his apprentice's matters but recognized him as loyal and efficient.