Chapter 170: If you are strong, then Great Ning will be strong

Could it be that because they are well-off, people become content?

What a terrifying notion — people's greed is never satisfied, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant.

The greedy never know satisfaction; only the contented do, and even if they live in a remote corner, they still lead fulfilling and carefree lives.

"I..." Kang Nai Xin felt a little embarrassed.

After Jiang Yunchu clapped, everyone else began to clap; the earlier scattered applause eventually merged into a single rhythm, a single beat.

"You're right!" Jiang Yunchu affirmed her directly.

This child doesn't need criticism, for she sees things more clearly than many.

On the contrary, she needs encouragement, a bit of confidence given to her, so she can grow into a towering tree and protect those she wishes to protect.

"The human heart is a very mysterious thing."

"If there were no guards beside our carriage, do you know what would happen?"

Everyone furrowed their brows; some lowered their heads in thought, while others looked at Jiang Yunchu.

"They wouldn't steal anything, would they?" Kang Wu asked himself, not realizing it at first, but after blurting it out he recalled the scene of sharing steamed buns.

Wouldn't they?

They would!

A firm answer took shape in their hearts.

"If we had no guards around us, what would those people do then?" Before they could answer, she threw out another question.

The children exchanged glances one by one, and a frightening thought entered their minds.

"Children, I have let you see the lowest strata, but also let you see human nature."

"They are pitiful, but few among them are worthy of your help."

"The pouches lost on the streets, the gold and silver lost at home, the children lost in the alleys..."

She hadn't even finished speaking when everyone's expressions changed.

Those who had pitied them suddenly had other thoughts; for a moment it was complicated, tangled, and they didn't even know right from wrong.

"Why do I protect the children?"

"Why do I warn those elders?"

"Why, even though there are able-bodied adults at home, do they still remain in the poor districts?"

Jiang Yunchu smiled and said, "These are your topics; I don't need answers."

"Those who need answers are you yourselves."

She stood up, then had Zi Wu take the children to wash up and change into her clothes.

Afterwards she had the servant send the people from each manor back to their respective manors.

In the Rhyme Courtyard, Ning Hanmo and Ning Qiancheng wore looks of deep thought, sighing now and then, fidgeting, as if they had ADHD……

Jiang Yunchu set down the book in her hands, glanced at the two of them, and said, "If you have something to say, just say it."

Are these two putting on an act for her here?

Usually they'd retreat to their rooms to read early, but today they refused to leave, just lounging here — obviously they have something they want.

"Mother, should we help those people or not?"

Ning Hanmo and Ning Qiancheng exchanged a glance, then asked the question they cared about most.

They had originally wanted to help those people, but recalling Mother's words, they realized some of those people were bad, some lived in the slums and were not innocent.

Jiang Yunchu raised her eyebrows and asked, "Do you want to help?"

Ning Hanmo glanced at Ning Qiancheng, gesturing for him to speak: "We want to help, but we don't know how."

"We want to help those who deserve help, yet we don't want to let the bad ones take advantage, after all our silver didn't blow in on the wind."

Compared to others, his status as a prince is the most noble, yet he is the most difficult person of all.

In his former days he never lacked food or drink, but on other days he was even worse off than the children in the slums, so he can understand that helplessness and is all the more eager to reach out and lend a hand.

"You're giving me a tough problem!"

Jiang Yunchu pursed her lips, then tapped the foreheads of the two.

Both broke into a flattering smile: "Mother, you're the wisest."

Ning Hanmo was laying on the flattery.

But Jiang Yunchu's expression changed: "This is a slum; there are many like it, and many such places. You can save one, you can save ten — can you save a hundred? A thousand?"

She shook her head, her tone heavy, her voice soothing.

"I have a way to help them, but it only treats the symptoms, not the root; we need to solve the problem at its source."

"Of course, they can also be helped and need to be settled."

She first raised the problem, but also affirmed the children's ideas.

"If we go to the root, it's too hard." Ning Hanmo sighed; though young, he seemed to have big worries.

"Mother, how can we address the root?"

Ning Hanmo looked at his mother; this question in his heart felt like an unsolvable problem.

It's like a tangled ball of thread — no matter how you try, you can't find the end, and there's not a clue.

Jiang Yunchu looked at the two children amusedly and said, "Of course it's hard — His Majesty has spent many years on it and has only gotten this far; how could it be simple?"

"You mean...?" Ning Qiancheng's eyes lit up.

He thought……

Jiang Yunchu smiled and said, "His Majesty also wants to solve it, but it's certainly not a one-day job."

"These require long-term influence, capable officials who can enforce orders and prohibitions, a full treasury, and stable borders."

"All of these need to be planned gradually."

Her voice was very slow; she never minded discussing state affairs with the children, nor did she mind answering their questions. They could ask as deeply as they wished, and she would answer as deeply as they asked, not fearing they wouldn't understand, as long as a trace remained in their memory, that would be useful.

"But such a state is terrifying; if the people cannot make a living, the throne will wobble." Ning Qiancheng furrowed his brow, pondered a little before speaking.

While speaking, he also glanced around, making sure no one was there, before speaking out.

He is not an ignorant child; his ability to survive in the palace lies in his eyes and his forbearance.

"Things are much better now."

Over the past six months, she has learned the local customs of various places, knows their harvests, understands their tax revenues, and also knows about the wars.

Compared to ten years ago, the situation has improved greatly.

At the very least, the bones of those who starved to death by the roadside are becoming fewer and fewer.

"Our Da Ning is just like a child." Jiang Yunchu rubbed the two children's heads, then spoke in a soft voice with a soothing tone.

"You should be like me, give it time, give it a chance."

"You will have a day when you grow up, and Da Ning will have a time of prosperity and flourishing."

"But… if you are strong, Da Ning is strong."

If you are strong, then Da Ning is strong.

Both children fell into thought; they could not change the current situation, but they could gradually alter it through their own efforts.

"Mother, I seem to understand, yet I also seem not to." Ning Hanmo answered directly.

The answer seemed right across from him, but between him and the answer there seemed to be a veil of gauze, hazy and indistinct, impossible to see clearly.