Chapter 75: Entering the Palace Again

Entering the Palace Again

Yin Fengzhan's sudden appearance surprised Nie Jinxuan. But after a brief daze, her face darkened, and she turned to leave...

As if he had seen through her thoughts, the moment Nie Jinxuan turned, the Senior Minister called out to her at the right time.

"Haha~, Jinxuan, we were just waiting for you. Come over and sit."

The Senior Minister's face was full of kindness. After the Senior Minister spoke, Madam Nie Chen, sitting beside him, also chimed in.

"Yes, Jinxuan, come in quickly. The Prince has been here for a while."

Madam Nie Chen was clearly speaking on Yin Fengzhan's behalf. After speaking, she glanced at Yin Fengzhan. Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan pursed her lips and walked over.

Nie Jinxuan sat down out of respect for the Senior Minister. But she was seething with anger, so even though she sat beside Yin Fengzhan, she did not look at him once.

For a time, the room grew quieter and quieter, and a trace of eeriness permeated the air. Seeing this, the Senior Minister finally couldn't stand it anymore. He wanted to say something to smooth things over... but just then, before the Senior Minister could speak, Yin Fengzhan, who had been expressionless and deep-eyed, suddenly pursed his thin lips and said in a deep voice,

"I came today to tell you: tomorrow, you will accompany me into the palace!"

Yin Fengzhan's sudden opening startled everyone present. His words were clearly directed at Nie Jinxuan, but upon hearing this, Nie Jinxuan, sitting beside him, snorted coldly.

"I'm not going!"

"You will go whether you want to or not!"

"Then you can go by yourself!"

As she spoke, Nie Jinxuan really couldn't sit still. After speaking, she stood up to walk out. But she was suddenly grabbed by the wrist by Yin Fengzhan.

"It is the Emperor's oral decree. If you want to defy the decree, you are free not to go!"

Yin Fengzhan spoke with an unmoving expression. After speaking, he didn't wait for Nie Jinxuan to reply; he stood up, shook off Nie Jinxuan, and strode out!

Yin Fengzhan left just like that, in front of all the Nie family members present. For a time, the large back hall was filled with an eerie and awkward atmosphere. Standing where she was, Nie Jinxuan stared straight at Yin Fengzhan's departing back, silent for a long time.

Seeing this, the Senior Minister became worried.

"Uh... Jin, Jinxuan, are you alright?"

The Senior Minister couldn't help but speak in a low voice. But hearing this, Nie Jinxuan remained standing where she was, not moving at all. Seeing that she still didn't speak, the Senior Minister sighed slightly. Just as he wanted to say something more, Nie Jinxuan, who had been silent, spoke first.

"Father, your daughter is fine. I was rude just now, please forgive me, Father, Mother, and everyone else. Jinxuan is not feeling well, so I will return to my room to rest first."

After speaking, Nie Jinxuan didn't wait for the Senior Minister or anyone else to say anything and walked out directly.

Nie Jinxuan had never hoped that Yin Fengzhan would come to pick her up specifically because she had returned to her maiden home. But in the end, she discovered with some frustration that the moment she saw Yin Fengzhan tonight, she had indeed hoped for it.

But in the end, Yin Fengzhan gave her a satisfying answer: he acted imperiously in front of all her family members and then left with a flick of his sleeves!

As for the Nie family, although Nie Jinxuan did not have deep feelings for them, she still had some reservations about them. But Yin Fengzhan did not care at all, even completely disregarding the Nie family.

So, as soon as she returned from the back hall, Nie Jinxuan sat in her room sulking. Even Xiao Xiu didn't know what to say. Just as Xiao Xiu was feeling extremely anxious, the Senior Minister suddenly pushed the door open and walked in.

The Senior Minister's face was filled with kindness and concern. After entering, he dismissed Xiao Xiu and sat down in the seat next to Nie Jinxuan.

"Jinxuan, are you still angry? Actually, there is no need for that."

Clearly, the Senior Minister had come specifically to persuade Nie Jinxuan. Hearing this, although Nie Jinxuan didn't want to say anything, she couldn't treat the Senior Minister's good intentions coldly. So, Nie Jinxuan pursed her lips and said,

"I understand what you mean, Father, but you saw it just now, I really..."

"Yes, yes, Father understands what you mean, Jinxuan. But now that you are the Princess Consort of Chen, you cannot always be at odds with Prince Chen over these things! Besides, sigh, I didn't say it in the back hall just now... actually, Prince Chen came today because I invited him. However, the matter of the Emperor's oral decree is true. Moreover, your marriage to Prince Chen was presided over by the Emperor, so if you don't go tomorrow, it will surely displease the Emperor."

"So Jinxuan, no matter what, even if it is for Father's sake, you should go along with Prince Chen in everything..."

The Senior Minister spoke earnestly. Having said this, he stood up and added in a low voice,

"And if you still feel in a bad mood tomorrow, let Jinhui accompany you into the palace. That way, you two sisters will have company, and it will save you from having any more unpleasantness because of Prince Chen."

After speaking, the Senior Minister left.

Nie Jinhui, the second young lady of the Xiangguo residence, was Nie Jinxuan's second sister. However, she was not the Senior Minister's biological child but had been adopted from the relatives of the second wife, Madam Nie Chen. Although Nie Jinhui had no blood relationship with the Nie family, the Senior Minister had always treated her as his own, and his doting was no less than that for Nie Jinxuan or the eldest sister, Nie Jinyan.

However, compared to the eldest sister Nie Jinyan, who married into the residence of the General who Defends the Country, and Nie Jinxuan, who married into the Chen Wangfu, Nie Jinhui's fate was much more bumpy.

It turned out that two years ago, Nie Jinhui had been engaged to Jin Jingyuan, the eldest son of the Jin family, the Minister of Revenue. But not long after the engagement, Jin Jingyuan accidentally fell into a river and drowned while out playing with friends. With Jin Jingyuan's death, the marriage between the Jin and Nie families naturally came to an end.

But the matter did not end there. Not long after the marriage was called off, it was rumored that the Minister of Revenue, Jin Qi, who was Jin Jingyuan's father, had accepted bribes and used his position to sell official posts. Within two months, he was convicted by the imperial court and beheaded.

At the same time, after Jin Qi was beheaded, all of the Jin family's assets were confiscated into the national treasury, and the family members were convicted by the court, some exiled and some imprisoned. The entire Jin family fell into decline just like that.

The Jin family's affair was considered settled. But because Nie Jinhui had been engaged to Jin Jingyuan, with his death and the decline of the Jin family, rumors spread in the streets that it was all because of Nie Jinhui. Some even went so far as to say that Nie Jinhui was destined to bring misfortune to her husband, which was why the Jin family had met such an end!

Therefore, to this day, even though Nie Jinxuan, the third young lady, had married, Nie Jinhui remained unmarried.

In Nie Jinxuan's memory, Nie Jinhui had always been a quiet and polite person. So, hearing the Senior Minister suggest that Nie Jinhui accompany her into the palace, Nie Jinxuan naturally had nothing to say.

Furthermore, Nie Jinxuan felt the Senior Minister was right. If it were just her and Yin Fengzhan going into the palace, there was no telling if they would quarrel again. If someone else went along, it would count as having company, and she wouldn't have to face that man's cold, Arctic-ice-like face alone!

Thinking this, Nie Jinxuan felt a bit better. The next morning, she got up early and left the Xiangguo residence with Nie Jinhui, who was already prepared.

But as soon as the two of them stepped out of the gate, they saw Yin Fengzhan waiting there.

"Haha~, sister, they say that husband and wife quarrel at the head of the bed and make up at the foot. I didn't believe it before, but now, I truly believe it~"

Standing at the gate, Nie Jinhui held Nie Jinxuan's hand and said with a smile. After speaking, she turned her eyes to Yin Fengzhan, who was standing by the carriage at the gate of the Xiangguo residence.

"Otherwise, look, sister, you were quarreling so frighteningly last night, yet he didn't miss a beat this morning... Haha, so, sister, don't be angry anymore. The Prince still has you in his heart~!"

It must be said that Nie Jinhui was a beauty through and through, with fair skin, soft and picturesque features, and even her temperament was gentle. Standing at the gate of the Xiangguo residence in the early spring sun, she was truly someone one couldn't help but look at twice.

At this moment, Nie Jinhui teased Nie Jinxuan while pulling her down the steps to Yin Fengzhan.

"So, sister will not disturb Jinxuan and the Prince. I will take the carriage behind~."

Nie Jinhui was quite straightforward. After speaking, she bowed softly to Yin Fengzhan, smiled at Nie Jinxuan, and got into the carriage behind.

Watching Nie Jinhui get into the carriage, Nie Jinxuan couldn't help but frown. But before she could speak, she saw Yin Fengzhan step into the carriage first and say in a low voice,

"Get in!"

If she could, Nie Jinxuan really didn't want to get into the carriage. But she was already out, and if she didn't go now, it would be too pretentious. After pursing her lips slightly, Nie Jinxuan finally got into the carriage.

This was the second time Nie Jinxuan and Yin Fengzhan had ridden in the same carriage. Compared to the eerie tension of the first time, this time was even worse. However, both were silent; the last time, Nie Jinxuan didn't know what to say, but this time, she didn't want to say anything!

The carriage was silent. Nie Jinxuan simply closed her eyes, wanting to avoid the sight and the annoyance. But just then, she saw Yin Fengzhan, sitting opposite her, raise his deep eyes and look straight at her.

"Who is she?"

Yin Fengzhan's sudden question was inexplicable. But hearing this, Nie Jinxuan understood his meaning without thinking and replied with an unmoving expression,

"My second sister."

"Why did she follow?"

"Father asked her to accompany me!"

As she spoke, Nie Jinxuan looked up at Yin Fengzhan for a moment, then returned to her previous state and said no more. Seeing her like this, Yin Fengzhan pursed his thin lips and continued,

"Remember not to cause trouble this time in the palace!"

"..."

"When there is nothing to do, stay in your room and don't come out!"

Originally, Nie Jinxuan really intended to ignore Yin Fengzhan. But upon hearing him say this, she frowned and looked up at the man who still had a cold expression.

"What do you mean? Aren't we going into the palace? Why should I stay in the room?"

Although Nie Jinxuan had only been into the palace once, she didn't think the Emperor had ordered them into the palace just to have her stay in her room! Hearing this, Yin Fengzhan just looked at her quietly.

"Spring Sacrifice!"

Yin Fengzhan gave Nie Jinxuan a simple answer. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan was stunned, but she immediately recalled it.

The Spring Sacrifice was a traditional activity of the Dongling royal family. Every early spring, the Emperor would lead the royal family to hunt in the Zi Feng Lin. It was meant to pray for favorable weather for the Dongling nation throughout the year and was the largest collective activity of the royal family each spring.

The Zi Feng Yuan was located at the Zuixiashanzhuang, fifty miles south of the capital. It was known for its beautiful scenery and, in particular, for its intoxicating sunset glow.

But hearing Yin Fengzhan say that this trip into the palace was for the Spring Sacrifice, Nie Jinxuan couldn't help but be puzzled.

"Spring Sacrifice?! Isn't that supposed to be at the beginning of April every year?"

Nie Jinxuan had married into the Chen Wangfu during the autumn of last year, so she hadn't participated in the previous Spring Sacrifice. Even so, she had heard some things about it.

"But it's only mid-March now, why is it so much earlier than in previous years?"

Nie Jinxuan was confused. Hearing this, Yin Fengzhan just looked at her quietly, and after a long while, he asked in a low voice,

"What do you think?"

"What... what do you mean?"

Yin Fengzhan's words were loaded with hidden meaning, making Nie Jinxuan's heart skip a beat, but she didn't understand what he meant. Seeing her like this, Yin Fengzhan didn't say anything more. After an unknown amount of time, he said indifferently,

"In any case, you had better behave yourself this time!"

She had thought it was just an ordinary trip into the palace, but she hadn't expected hidden mysteries behind it. Nie Jinxuan asked a few more questions, but Yin Fengzhan didn't say another word.

Not long after, Yin Fengzhan, Nie Jinxuan, and Nie Jinhui arrived at the Imperial Palace. The three of them got out of the carriage and entered the palace. Just as they had taken a few steps inside the gate, they heard a light laugh from behind.

"Haha~, I was wondering who was walking in front. So it's the Fourth Brother~!"