CHAPTER 579: CHAPTER 558 SECOND UPDATE

Zheng Congyuan looked towards Ju Nanyi, now believing that he was the only one he could trust.

Ju Nanyi was feeling restless, but he couldn’t show it at this moment. He nodded slightly, just to test, thinking that if that young man was so easily deciphered, then there was truly nothing to fear.

Zheng Congyuan just asked for the sake of asking, having already made up his mind the moment he saw the effects of the Steel Ring. The question was merely subconscious, wanting to involve Ju Nanyi as well.

After all, if there were any mishaps, Zheng Nianru could only rely on Ju Nanyi, who was before him.

"Alright." Zheng Congyuan glanced at Ju Nanyi and then looked at the man before him, prepared to face the outcome. Rather than living a life worse than death and making Zheng Nianru suffer, he’d rather...

However, he feared that if anything happened to him, Zheng Nianru would end up in an even more dire situation.

"Noble one, I think it’s better to choose a..." The man hesitated, lacking confidence.

"Do it now—" Zheng Congyuan couldn’t wait any longer, his situation forced him to make changes, he didn’t have the time to prepare further, and he had to give his all at any moment.

...

"What day is it?" Zheng Nianru suddenly asked, in a moment of peace with a rare warm sun, the snow almost melted, Chende Palace and Prince Duan’s Mansion’s courtyard having similar wide eaves and planked walkways, connected to the in-floor heating inside.

The sun felt warmer, and on the embroidery frame before her were vibrant peonies, regal and magnificent in full bloom, already shaped.

Nanny Yun was slightly startled, appearing as though she missed something the Empress Dowager had just asked.

But Zheng Nianru’s question was abrupt, leaving Nanny Yun confused and uncertain: how many days had it been? How many days since the Empress Dowager’s last menstrual period.

The next moment, Nanny Yun belatedly realized what Zheng Nianru was asking and immediately stood up.

This matter was tacitly unmentioned by everyone, afraid that bringing it up would plunge the entire palace into worry and upset the Empress Dowager. Thus, everyone acted cheerfully and was extremely careful, fearing to touch any sensitive nerve.

"Empress Dowager, it has been... twenty-two days." This month was a shorter month, so there were still eight days left. So soon?

Zheng Nianru nodded, it had been twenty-two days. Looking at Zheng Congyuan’s expression, Zheng Nianru was unsure what the light and shadow would be like in another eight days.

At any rate, she felt it necessary to have a proper talk with Zheng Congyuan. After so many days, whether it was reluctance or resentment he held, he should have mostly resolved his thoughts by now. It was time to discuss her own thoughts.

If exchanging a Yin He could return peace to Nanzheng State and ensure Zheng Congyuan’s safety, then she would consider nurturing one at her side for her own happiness.

After all, in her previous life, she had married Ju Nanyi, and Zheng Congyuan’s reaction seemed not to have been...

"Is the soup ready? Take it to Chenyuan Hall." Zheng Nianru stood up, Nanny Yun immediately asked Fu Dong and the others to stop their tasks. These days, they had been on tenterhooks, but the Empress Dowager’s mood seemed more serene than they had imagined.

Nanny Yun signaled Fu Dong and the others to prepare the soup, personally following Zheng Nianru into the grand hall, fetching a cloak to drape over Zheng Nianru.

Zheng Nianru hadn’t mentioned it, so Nanny Yun naturally dared not speak. But now that Zheng Nianru had asked, and it was the first time she had directly broached the subject after so many days, Nanny Yun didn’t know if she would hear it again, afraid that missing this chance might leave her no time to speak the words she wanted to say.

"Your Highness, there are some things I’d like to discuss with you," Nanny Yun began, her tone immediately becoming gentle. She had watched Nian Ru grow up and had risked her life to protect Lady Ru’s child. If she were to meet Lady Ru in the underworld at this moment, she could do so with a clear conscience, having done her best.

Zheng Nianru sat in a chair and gestured for Nanny Yun to sit down as well.

Without hesitation, Nanny Yun sat in a circular chair to one side.

"Your Highness, I always say the same thing, men are like the moon in the sky. You can see them, you can touch them, but you can’t hold them tightly in your hand. All we can use is that tepid moonlight," Nanny Yun said, truly wanting to add that all men are alike, not to be taken seriously. Neither Zheng Congyuan nor Yin He is an exception. The current fuss is merely a matter of male pride.

So, don’t take them too seriously; once spoken aloud, it all amounts to little.

Zheng Nianru nodded, understanding Nanny Yun’s point and reflecting that it was precisely because of Nanny Yun’s influence from a young age that she could handle such matters; even if unwillingly, she was never driven to despair. Otherwise, she would not have ended up denounced by the world in her previous life.

Even so, Zheng Nianru felt no wrong; why shouldn’t she? Rules are made by people. Even ancestral teachings can be broken. Life is short, and in her previous life, she only lived past her thirties, so there was nothing to be troubled about.

"Nanny Yun, I understand what you mean." Zheng Nianru spoke with rare warmth, feeling even more grateful for Nanny Yun’s influence since her childhood, which hadn’t confined her within the limits of being a woman.

Thus, the gains and losses are mixed, and whether it is glory or decay, she alone has the answer.

Nanny Yun still looked up worriedly. Her initial intention in allowing Zheng Nianru to get close to Zheng Congyuan was to help them escape the bitter sea of Qishun Building -- that was the only chance they had to grasp. Zheng Congyuan was the only one capable of standing up to Empress Dowager Yan Ping and the only one who might save Prince Duan. Hence, initially, she insisted that men were only useful for exploitation, preventing Zheng Nianru from becoming emotionally involved and indulging in hopeless fantasies.

Gradually, even Nanny Yun felt she had succeeded. Even if despised by the world, they could just close their doors and lead good lives, guarding Prince Duan and preserving a somewhat peaceful marriage arrangement. This was always what Nanny Yun had planned, and so had Prince Duan.

Yet, against all hopes, the current situation was beyond their control.

She was afraid, extremely afraid...

"Nanny Yun, it’s getting late. Let’s go," Zheng Nianru noted, seeing Fu Dong and others waiting outside, and stood up.

Nanny Yun quickly stood up and followed Zheng Nianru to the door.

Zheng Nianru felt that just because she could reconcile certain things did not mean Zheng Congyuan could. For instance, Zheng Congyuan had remained trapped within the ancestral rules in his past life and had never broken free, burdened by guilt and wallowing in self-despair despite not becoming the Emperor.

But in this life, Zheng Nianru realized that Zheng Congyuan’s depth of feeling was deeper than she had imagined. If he could not come to terms with it, only one option remained.

Zheng Nianru entered the Chenyuan Hall, only to find it eerily silent, which felt off.

Just as Zheng Nianru entertained this thought, a hoarse roar erupted from behind the hall, sounding like a person enduring extreme pain yet unable to contain the scream.

And that voice, Zheng Nianru heard it clearly—it was Zheng Congyuan’s.

Zheng Nianru immediately walked further inside, while Qi Zhu hurried out to meet her.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, you can’t go in," Qi Zhu tried to stop her, but Zheng Nianru had already pushed past Qi Zhu.