Chapter 585 - 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.