Chapter 2 Let Him Go This Time
The Emperor of Nanzheng State had become gravely ill ten years ago, repeatedly showing no sign of improvement, and spent eleven months of the year bedridden. The older ministers, exhausted, managed affairs great and small, barely keeping the nation afloat for ten years, the political and administrative systems having been eroded like a sieve.
Zheng Nianru walked down a secluded path, with golden yellow tile eaves on either side cascading over the walls. Moss crept across the blue bricks, spreading its own kind of pattern.
Zheng Nianru would later attribute the inability to revive Nanzheng State to these ten years, but now, the reason that Nanzheng State kept teetering but never fell was because of the existence of Mage Huo Yi. Conceptually, Nanzheng State wasn't governed by power alone, the dominion of religious faith through the mage was also significant.
Zheng Nianru was actually somewhat hesitant, having considered Qiandao Temple very important in Nanzheng State, but when Mage Huo Yi had stopped her from seizing power, Nanyi had made an unusually decisive and ruthless move, slaughtering all the disciples of the temple, which even surprised Zheng Nianru.
Zheng Nianru recalled the memories of her thirteen-year-old self. She had known the Crown Prince for two years, and these two years were her most diligent. Initially, she couldn't even enter the Crown Prince's Mansion; it took her two months to finally seize a chance. Look, the conditions at Qishun Building, providing sustenance and freedom, were even better than those of ordinary concubines in the palace, all thanks to her efforts over the last two years.
She had survived two years ago because Crown Prince Zheng Congyuan saved her, and over these two years, it was also because she had come to know Zheng Congyuan. Nanny Yun wasn't intelligent, but within her limited understanding, she maximized the worldly knowledge from the Art Workshop for their situation, though what she learned was merely techniques to please and seduce others.
Yet it was useful, men liked this approach — Zheng Congyuan was no exception, and neither was Nanyi.
"Squeak—" The rusty secluded door of Qishun Building emitted a piercing creak, startling several sparrows on the branches, shaking loose a shower of fine raindrops.
"These damned beasts—" Nanny Yun deftly swung her handkerchief, chasing away the dust, stepping out ahead through the small door.