Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved-Chapter 551 - 530 Second Update

Zheng Haoyuan continuously charged forward, thinking back on his own cowardice just moments ago. No, he had to win back this battle at all costs. The Wen Family Army was winning, wasn’t it?

Yet before Zheng Haoyuan could reach the very front, he heard General Wen Qun’s agonized screams. Startled by the screaming, he froze and then saw General Wen Qun reduced to a pile of ashes, leaving him stunned on the spot.

Old Master Wen Kang turned around and immediately saw the shocked Zheng Haoyuan.

"Take the Fourth Prince and go—" Old Master Wen Kang bellowed, and a few soldiers who had just rushed up immediately grabbed Zheng Haoyuan and started retreating.

"I won’t leave, I won’t leave—" Zheng Haoyuan chanted, but it clearly lacked any convincing power.

"For the love of our ancestors, get moving!" Several soldiers carried Zheng Haoyuan and hurriedly slipped away into the distance.

"Put me down, put me down." Zheng Haoyuan regained some of his senses. No, he couldn’t leave.

"Fourth Prince, Fourth Prince, weren’t you looking for the Commandery Princess? We have news of her; our men have found her," one of the soldiers hastily announced, speaking out of utter desperation, having held little hope originally since the matter at hand seemed far more pressing, but in the next moment, Zheng Haoyuan paused slightly.

"Why didn’t you say so earlier, lead the way—"

Zheng Haoyuan immediately shifted his attention, not waiting for the soldiers to pull him; he hurriedly ran ahead on his own.

The soldiers breathed a sigh of relief, but before they had gone a few steps, the retreating Wen Family Army moved even faster, urgently making their way out of the palace. However, as they passed by Zheng Haoyuan and the others, just about to step out of the range of Chenyuan Hall toward the palace gates, suddenly, columns of black smoke rose before their eyes, accompanied by screams, just like what had previously happened to the soldiers near the Marquis of Zhenbei and General Wen Qun.

"Ah—"

"Ah—"

"Stop, stop, halt—" the soldiers bellowed, but the surging crowd still pushed the people in the front over the boundary, and instantly, one continuous scream followed another. The worst was for those soldiers split in half, leaving half a torso, or a pair of legs jumping and twitching on the ground.

The soldiers watched this scene in horror. There seemed to be nothing in front of them, yet it felt as though something unspeakably terrifying was there. They widened their eyes, trying to discern something, anything, but saw nothing, their fear multiplying.

"What’s happening?"

"What’s the matter?" Zheng Haoyuan asked, but the soldiers were too scared to speak. More troops aggressively surged from behind, hastening to retreat, and a few soldiers ran at top speed toward the Marquis of Zhenbei.

"Marquis, Marquis, it’s terrible, it’s terrible—"

Old Master Wen Kang’s group had already fallen into chaos. How could they just surrender without a fight? Even if they abandoned Zheng Capital, they could still resist for years in their own territories. There was no way they could just give up so easily.

"Explain clearly, what’s going on?" The Marquis of Zhenbei also felt the pace of the troops slowing down.

"We can’t get out, we can no longer get out—" the soldier said anxiously, "there are ambushes ahead, just like what happened before—"

Only then did the Marquis of Zhenbei and Old Master Wen Kang realize the severity of the situation, exchanging glances with each other.

"What about the other directions?" The Marquis of Zhenbei asked immediately, but before he could finish, soldiers from several directions rushed toward them.

"Marquis, there’s no way out—"

"General, there’s no way out—"

Marquis of Zhenbei and Old Master Wen Kang finally understood Zheng Congyuan’s words, their faces turning ashen. They, too, had fallen into Zheng Congyuan’s trap.

Empress Xiao had already grabbed Zheng Congyuan, anxiously checking his body to make sure he wasn’t hurt in the slightest. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief. The scene just now was too horrifying, as if a single misstep could lead to Zheng Congyuan’s utter annihilation.

"Mother, please take the Imperial Grandmother and leave. To have caused you and the Imperial Grandmother such worry for so long is my unfilial conduct," Zheng Congyuan said, looking at Empress Dowager Yan Ping.

"Child, why did you not tell us earlier?" Empress Dowager Yan Ping reproached, but there was more joy in her tone than blame, and it wasn’t really reproach at all. She just couldn’t figure it out.

"Imperial Grandmother, the matter wasn’t prearranged by me. It was a matter of utmost urgency, and only at the last moment did I see the signal, which is why I deliberately delayed some time," Zheng Congyuan confessed truthfully. Indeed, most of his words were true, but it wasn’t until he stepped out and saw the light reflecting off the eaves, blinking out a signal, that Zheng Congyuan knew there was a chance for reversal.

"Good, good, it’s truly heaven’s grace." Empress Dowager Yan Ping naturally believed Zheng Congyuan’s words, having full faith in them. Thankfully, everything had passed, and there was a turn of events.

Empress Xiao, also tearful with joy, supported Empress Dowager Yan Ping as they withdrew back into Chenyuan Hall. The rest of the ministers, although they did not understand what exactly had just happened, could now see that the situation was still under the Crown Prince’s control.

Zheng Congyuan didn’t even wait for them to speak but turned to address the assembly of ministers.

"My dear ministers, I am immensely grateful that at this crucial time, you all stood by my side. I am truly comforted. Luckily, Heaven has not forsaken our Nanzheng. Just at the most critical moment, Lord Ju arrived with reinforcements to address our dire needs," Zheng Congyuan said.

Prime Minister Lin stepped forward.

"Lord... Lord Ju?" Prime Minister Lin repeated once more. Indeed, he had been bewildered; he had always been oblivious to the fact that Nanyi wasn’t there, wondering if the young man had avoided disaster, but it turned out to be at this moment.

"And also the Mage from Qiandao Temple. Without the help of Qiandao Temple, I could not have turned danger into safety," Zheng Congyuan added, and at that moment, everyone suddenly realized. Indeed, apart from Qiandao Temple, who else could have achieved what had happened earlier?

"The Crown Prince is the people’s choice, our choice," Prime Minister Lin immediately said.

"The Crown Prince is the people’s choice, our choice," the other ministers echoed at once.

Marquis of Zhenbei and Old Master Wen Kang had, by now, slowly returned to their original positions. They came full circle only to discover that the Wen Family Army had been trapped in a checkmate with no way out. The perimeter was marked with the lives of the Wen Family soldiers, their encirclement clearly visible on the ground.

The troops surrounding them had dropped black cinders falling in an arc shape.

"Zheng Congyuan, what exactly do you want?" Old Master Wen Kang bellowed, staring coldly at Zheng Congyuan, his heart sinking slowly, piece by piece, in despair of the future.

"I have already said, lay down your arms and surrender, and I will spare you all from death," Zheng Congyuan spoke up as the sound of neat marching footsteps came swiftly from the perimeter to the vicinity of Chenyuan Hall, led by none other than Ju Nanyi in full military attire.

Ju Nanyi stepped forward and knelt down respectfully.

"Your Highness, I have come late to rescue you. Please punish me," Ju Nanyi said loudly.

"It’s not too late," Zheng Congyuan said, "It’s just in time."

Ju Nanyi immediately withdrew to one side, standing respectfully aside, looking toward the Marquis of Zhenbei. At this moment, everyone’s gaze fixed on Old Master Wen Kang and the Marquis of Zhenbei within the circle.

Old Master Wen Kang’s lips trembled as he snorted coldly.

"Don’t even think about it. Even if we of the Wen Family die, we will..." Before Old Master Wen Kang could finish, the Marquis of Zhenbei had already grabbed his arm. At that moment, abruptly, Zheng Haoyuan rushed to the front.

"Zheng Congyuan, let us out, or you will regret it," he said.

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