Chapter 14: Ning Hanmo

The Imperial Consort is getting old; the two children are still young—can she hold on until Ning Hanmo grows up?

Thinking of this, she seemed to understand the Imperial Consort's caution, as well as that deep helplessness.

Is it that she doesn't want to deal with those people who were planted?

She merely doesn't want to startle the snake, letting those behind strike at the two children.

She rubbed her temples, thought for a long time, then set down the first page and saw what was behind—two sheets were the indenture contracts of Zi Su and Bai Zhi.

Behind the indenture contracts was a list of, over the years, the Imperial Consort's discoveries of the various factions that had planted people in the Wang Fu.

I'm just saying, suddenly the pressure is huge!

That night, not only did someone in the Regent Prince's Manor stay awake all night.

In a plain room of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, besides a simple wooden bed, there was only a straw mat; the person kneeling on it wore light hemp clothing, palms together, constantly chanting something.

"Imperial Consort, it's late." A granny stood behind the Imperial Consort, reminding her.

But the Imperial Consort didn't go to rest as usual; she kept chanting sutras, her heart's words unspoken, and she didn't know whether what she was doing was right or wrong.

She had no choice; if Yun Chu were a dull person, she would naturally arrange her future, not letting her waste away in the Wang Fu.

But given her recent actions and the letter Zi Su had sent her, she knew the time had come to speak plainly.

"Imperial Consort, you should rest," the old granny said worriedly.

The Imperial Consort's health was worsening; if she didn't rest, she would surely have a headache tomorrow—this had been a longstanding ailment.

The chanting suddenly stopped, and the Imperial Consort slowly opened her eyes.

"Good!"

The Imperial Consort gave a soft reply, and with the old granny's support, she rose from the straw mat—perhaps from kneeling too long, she was still a bit unsteady, steadied herself, then began to walk.

"Xiuzhi, how many years have you followed me?" she asked, sitting on the room's only wooden bed, which had only a single blanket, likewise made of gray hemp.

"Imperial Consort, you don't remember? It's been forty years," the old granny said, a smile touching her lips.

The Imperial Consort nodded, "Time really flies—it's been forty years."

"Yes, when you married, I was your dowry maid," she said. When the mistress entered the palace, only two dowry maids could be brought.

The other maid had already died in the palace.

Thus their master‑servant bond grew deeper, and the Imperial Consort always brought Xiuzhi the granny with her wherever she went.

"Forty years…" the Imperial Consort repeated the time, then lifted a faint smile and said nothing more.

Regent Prince's Manor

"Yun Chu," the little girl whispered, then tugged at Jiang Yun Chu's hand.

Jiang Yun Chu lowered her head and asked curiously, "What's wrong with Yue Yue?"

Ning Yue Xue blinked her big eyes and said, "Yun Chu, did Brother anger you again? Are you unhappy?"

"Why do you say that?"

Jiang Yun Chu was somewhat surprised, not knowing whether it was due to her status or her circumstances, but Yue Yue was more sensitive than ordinary children and consequently lacked a sense of security.

"Yun Chu, frowning isn't pretty," Yue Yue said, tiptoeing and stretching out her chubby little hand to cover her forehead; that small warm hand smoothed her brow and eased her tangled, hesitant heart.

She directly picked up the little girl and kissed her chubby cheek.

What if she was schemed against? What if others eyed her hungrily?

Looking at the obedient Yue Yue in her arms and the troublesome brat not far away, she realized that to protect them she could no longer remain detached.

"Yun Chu?" Ning Hanmo repeated, feeling awkward and tongue‑tied, but for his own purpose he had no choice but to call her that.

Jiang Yun Chu glanced over and saw the brat's eyes darting about, knowing he was surely up to mischief again.

"Speak." She had no mood to match wits with the brat today.

"Have a sip of porridge—I personally… had Shunzi cook it." Ning Hanmo held out a small bowl containing only half a bowl of porridge.

Shunzi stood behind, his face turning pale……

Jiang Yun Chu gazed at the half‑bowl of porridge before her, then at the two people with differing expressions; she raised her eyebrows ever so slightly—a motion only Zi Su noticed.

Probably because she had been observing her master these past days, she also understood what those small gestures meant.

"The Princess Consort doesn't like porridge," Zi Su said, about to reach for the bowl.

But……

Jiang Yun Chu pressed her hand on the bowl, "I naturally wouldn't drink what others bring, but since Hanmo specially arranged this, how could I not eat it?"

She smiled, her expression unusually bright compared to her usual coolness.

Then she took an empty bowl, filled it with half a bowl of porridge for Ning Hanmo—by coincidence, the two bowls seemed to hold about the same amount at that moment.

"Drink the porridge." Jiang Yun Chu handed it over, her face showing the affectionate aunt's smile, wrapping those opposite in a warm atmosphere.

Ning Hanmo saw her expression and, for no reason, suddenly had a bad premonition.

But he didn't know where that feeling came from.

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with the porridge?" Jiang Yun Chu asked, seeing he hadn't moved.

Ning Hanmo, already feeling guilty, hurriedly shook his head. "No, no—how could there be a problem? I watched Shunzi the whole time while he cooked; there's nothing wrong."

……

Jiang Yun Chu's laugh this time was genuine—she couldn't help it; this person, whenever he does something bad, gets nervous.

"Then let's drink the porridge." Jiang Yun Chu picked up a small spoon, scooped a spoonful, blew on it, and put it in her mouth.

Never mind—this chicken‑soup porridge really warms the stomach.

Ning Hanmo was already tense, still having to watch Jiang Yun Chu's expression constantly; he didn't think much, picked up the spoon and began eating—the porridge was a bit thick, whereas he usually complained, but today he was unusually obedient.

"Yun Chu, Yue Yue also wants porridge." Yue Yue looked at the two people's expressions, feeling the porridge looked good to drink.

The little girl usually dislikes porridge, so Jiang Yun Chu had told the kitchen to give Yue Yue noodles in the morning—something the child likes and is easy to digest.

Jiang Yun Chu nodded at Zi Su, who stepped forward, ladled some out, cooled it with a small spoon, and then brought it to Yue Yue's side.

Before, Yue Yue still had people feed her meals, but ever since she came to Jiang Yun Chu's side, Jiang Yun Chu told her that if she wanted to eat, she had to come eat it herself and could no longer be fed.

Although the little girl wasn't good with chopsticks, when she picked up vegetables she kept dropping them here and there, but now she's becoming more and more skilled.

"Wow, it's really delicious." Yue Yue said excitedly.

Moreover, after she started eating on her own, her appetite improved greatly, and the flesh on her little face became rounder.

That's how children are; for many things, she also wants to do them herself.

For example, she always feels that the rice she cooks herself is especially fragrant.