Chapter 12

Jiang Yun Chu, what right do you have to move my people? Ning Hanmo rushed over, full of anger after hearing the news.

Whoever moves his courtyard, isn't that just slapping his face?

This stupid woman, is she crazy?

He and Zhang Xiao San spent half a day devising this plan, but before they could even lure the person out of the Wang Fu, his own maid was sold—how could he bear it?

"Your people?" Jiang Yun Chu stood up, looked at Ning Hanmo, her eyes slightly narrowing.

I don't know if it's the height difference or that facing a stupid woman creates such pressure, but right now Ning Hanmo feels uncertain.

Ning Hanmo, those who can be deceived by you are the ones who care about you.

Jiang Yun Chu looked at the person shorter than her waist, silently walked a few steps, and placed the medical book on the table.

Whether as your stepmother or as your enemy, as long as I remain in the Regent Prince's Manor for a day, we are grasshoppers on the same rope.

Today's first lesson I teach you is called 'The Wolf Is Coming.'

Jiang Yun Chu's voice had always been cold, but previously that cold was aloof cold; this time her voice seemed able to freeze into ice shards, making people shiver.

Once upon a time, there was a shepherd boy...

The wolf really came, and the shepherd boy shouted until his throat was hoarse, yet no one came to help him.

He lies habitually and can never gain trust.

Ning Hanmo listened while standing, unusually obedient; he did not lift his head, did not talk back, and did not walk away angrily.

Ning Hanmo, I neither gave birth to you nor raised you.

The child who had kept his head down suddenly lifted it, a faint red at the corners of his eyes, and he asked, 'So, you don't care whether I live or die?'

Although he deceived her, it was his fault.

But Jiang Yun Chu did not go to save herself, and moreover she sold Xiao Hong.

It's precisely because she doesn't care about herself; if it were Yue Yue, would it be different? If Yue Yue were lost, she would surely be anxious, right?

After all, she dotes on Yue Yue so much.

The child's hands were clenched tightly into fists, yet stubbornly he did not lower his head, simply lifting his gaze to Jiang Yun Chu, waiting for an answer.

'Let me ask you.' Jiang Yun Chu looked at his persistence and finally softened.

'How many people follow you each time you leave the manor?'

Ning Hanmo felt uneasy inside, though previously he would not have felt this way; yet upon knowing that the foolish woman didn't care about his life or death, he still felt wronged and wanted to cry.

'Two, one is Shunzi and the other is An Wu.' He answered honestly.

Jiang Yun Chu pointed to the stool beside her and said, 'Sit.'

Ning Hanmo hesitated for a moment, then sat directly opposite; he wanted to hear what else this foolish woman could say.

'How many people are around Zhang San Shao?' That was the second question.

Ning Hanmo didn't hesitate, 'Two little servants.'

Jiang Yun Chu nodded, then looked at Ning Hanmo and said, 'Still haven't figured out the key question?'

Ning Hanmo kept his head down; these two questions kept turning in his mind, and finally he grasped the point.

Exactly!

I have An Wu beside me, but An Wu didn't return with news; how did Xiao San's servant manage to return with news?

Zhang Xiao San! What kind of damn intelligence do you have!

Your brain doesn't work, yet you give the young master foolish ideas; this time you've lost face big time!

But... even though I lost face, why did that stifled feeling just disappear?

I even feel a little bit happy.

'Also, I had that maid deliver a message to you, but later her words offended me, so I sold her.'

'Since you came yourself, I might as well reluctantly say it again.'

'From now on, don't use such petty tricks in front of me; it's embarrassing!'

After saying that, she also gave him a contemptuous look; normally this kid would have jumped up, but today he was somewhat abnormal.

'Oh!' Ning Hanmo responded, then walked away without saying anything... walked away...

Jiang Yun Chu looked at the retreating back, wondering what had possessed this child.

Today he's been overly abnormal?

Halfway there, Ning Hanmo suddenly froze, also realizing his oddness—wasn't he going to question Jiang Yun Chu? Why was Xiao Hong sold? He hadn't gotten an answer, yet he just walked away like that.

Shunzi followed behind Ning Hanmo, couldn't help but smile, wearing a relieved expression.

This stepmother-son pair didn't understand, but Shunzi did.

Truly, those involved are confused, while onlookers see clearly!

'Forget it, it's not a big deal.' Ning Hanmo furrowed his brows, somewhat unaccustomed to his state, but after all he's just a child, so he didn't think much.

After returning to Hanmo Pavilion, Zhang Xiao San hurried over and asked, 'How was it?'

He didn't believe that foolish woman could avoid being fooled.

Ning Hanmo looked at him, this intelligence—if I keep playing with him, will I also become like that in the future?

Xiao Hong has been sold, yet he still has the nerve to ask me, 'How was it?'

Over there, Zi Su caught a carrier pigeon, opened the small bamboo tube on its leg, then took out a slip of paper with a few characters written on it.

'For Yun chu's personal opening.'

Zi Su, holding the slip, hurried back to the Rhyme Courtyard, 'Princess Consort, the Imperial Noble Consort's letter.'

She reported the events here to the Imperial Noble Consort, but the Imperial Noble Consort's reply was given only to the Princess Consort.

'Hand it over.' Jiang Yun Chu set down her book, rubbed her temples; lately, battling wits with the child, her quiet reading time has been dwindling.

'Yun Chu, the Wang Fu is full of people, ghosts, snakes, and gods; before I left, I left a letter for you in the study of my courtyard. If you discover any abnormality in the Wang Fu, you will be allowed to take that letter; if you do not discover it, the letter will remain sealed there forever.'

The content of the letter may perhaps answer your doubts.

The Imperial Noble Consort's note is not long, and its main content is also expressed clearly.

She knows the situation in the Wang Fu, perhaps also made preparations, and this might also be considered her test?

Originally I thought, marrying into the Regent Prince's Manor, lying flat and raising the kids would also be not bad.

Now the situation seems to be getting further and further away from the days of lying flat.

Late at night, all was quiet; tonight Bai Zhi was on watch, she came along, and Bai Zhi immediately woke up, just about to speak…

"Don't speak." Jiang Yun Chu said softly, borrowing the candlelight, she pointed to Yue Yue's position inside.

"Wear thicker clothes and come with me." As her words fell, without waiting for Bai Zhi to move, she also put on a cloak.

The night is still chilly, especially after the rain, it's even a bit cooler.

Bai Zhi also didn't know what the Princess Consort intended to do, but she obediently followed behind her, the two of them one after the other, avoiding the people in the Wang Fu, and went straight to the Imperial Noble Consort's courtyard.