Chapter 24: Don't tell him I was here

The road was a bit distant; on Jiang Yunchu's back she carried one person, and in her arms she held another.

If it weren't for these days of training, she might not have been able to persevere; even with the training, she now has a faint sheen of sweat on her forehead.

Step by step, she walked steadily and firmly.

"Shall we… go help?" Shunzi felt uneasy; the Princess Consort had ordered that they not appear today.

"Let me say it!" Bai Zhi wiped her soft sword at her sleeve; these days, staying by the Princess Consort's side, her temperament has loosened a bit.

"Speak." Su Xin glanced at Bai Zhi; she also felt uncertain.

There's hardly anyone around now; even if they went over, there'd be nothing.

But the Princess Consort never gave an order, so they didn't know whether they should go over.

"Let's not go." Bai Zhi said indifferently.

Clearly the Princess Consort gave the order this morning; without her signal, they shouldn't get too close, let alone help.

"But… the Princess Consort will get tired." Zi Su worried a bit about the Princess Consort's health.

Now Bai Zhi has even more say.

"Rest assured, even the four of you together aren't as strong as the Princess Consort, yet you're still worrying about her!"

Just worry about yourselves.

Don't ask how she knows—what a painful realization!

"…" Everyone suddenly didn't know what to say.

Over there, Jiang Yunchu carried Ning Hanmo on her back and held Yue Yue in her arms.

At first Ning Hanmo felt a bit embarrassed, but he was so exhausted today that his whole body went limp; the surroundings were too comfortable, letting him fully relax, and soon even his breathing became even.

Yue Yue even started to snore lightly.

Before she used to worry that Yue Yue might have some health issue, but later she found this little girl's physique was excellent; it's just that she gets tired from playing during the day, and at night when she sleeps she tosses and turns, sometimes clinging to whoever holds her arm and not letting go.

All the way to the Wang Fu, the steward looked at this bunch like beggars and was about to grab a broom to drive them away.

"You stupid little fish, open the door…" Shunzi hurriedly spoke.

Over the years, he's gotten used to speaking to the Young Master…

Upon hearing that, the steward knew they were from Hanmo Xuan; he went in and saw the Princess Consort carrying the Young Master on her back, and in her arms she still held another.

As for the four maidservants and Shunzi, they stood around like elders…

He's just a steward with dim, aging eyes—can't he understand?

Who exactly is the master here?

"Princess Consort." He hurriedly opened the door and gave Jiang Yunchu a salute.

"Mm, lock it." Jiang Yunchu entered the Wang Fu and handed Yue Yue in her arms to Zi Su.

She also had Shunzi take Ning Hanmo over; suddenly changing the hold, Ning Hanmo felt a bit uncomfortable, furrowed his brow, and even kicked his little feet.

"Sleep." At that moment, a voice sounded.

Whether the little brat really heard it or just felt like he was dreaming, he immediately became still, didn't move or kick, and curled up obediently in Shunzi's arms.

The moon rose above the branches; the food in the small kitchen stayed warm, and the two children, tired from the day, now slept soundly.

Jiang Yunchu had them bathe Yue Yue, then applied a medicinal plaster to the little girl's leg, so she wouldn't cry tomorrow and Jiang Yunchu would have to feel sorry for her.

After washing up, she threw on a cloak and got ready to go out.

"Princess Consort, where are you going?" Tonight Zi Su is on night watch; seeing the Princess Consort dressed like that, she's surely heading out.

"Have someone watch Yue Yue, and you come with me." Jiang Yunchu gave the order.

Zi Su quickly summoned Zi Wu; Su Xin and Bai Zhi were asleep, and she didn't want to wake them.

"Is this the Young Master's courtyard?" Zi Su followed behind; all the way they went straight to Hanmo Xuan.

"Princess Consort, how did you come here?" Seeing the Princess Consort, Shunzi also stared wide-eyed.

It's this time of day; she's already tired from the day, hasn't the Princess Consort already given instructions?

"I'm uneasy; come see if the Young Master is asleep." Jiang Yunchu asked.

Shunzi quickly nodded: "The Young Master didn't wake at all; he called for his mother twice in the middle."

He sighed, saying the Young Master is also pitiful—he lost his mother from childhood, and now even the King's fate, alive or dead, is unknown.

Jiang Yunchu slowly took out his leg, pierced the blisters on his feet, squeezed out the water, then sprinkled medicinal powder, fearing he'd wake from pain; the whole process was slow and gentle.

Don't tell him I was here.

"Keep the fire in the stove from dying; if he wakes at midnight, he can have some porridge, and don't let him eat anything too greasy." Jiang Yunchu instructed each point.

Shunzi quickly nodded, watching the Princess Consort's receding back, then glanced at the Young Master sleeping soundly.

Actually the Young Master is quite well, after all the Princess Consort dotes on him.

It's just that the Young Master himself doesn't know it.

The next day, at breakfast, Jiang Yunchu glanced at Ning Hanmo and asked, "Do you still need silver?"

Ning Hanmo slept through the night without waking even at midnight; by morning he felt his head wasn't dizzy, his vision wasn't blurry, and his feet didn't hurt.

Yesterday every step he took made him tremble with pain, but today he feels nothing at all.

Feeling refreshed and invigorated—how to put it? Just like this!

"No thanks, I've got enough—over twenty taels." Ning Hanmo drank his porridge and ate the flatbread; that flatbread was left over from that old man yesterday, whose business was poor, so he hadn't sold eight of them, and Ning Hanmo bought back the remainder.

Following the principle of not wasting, when the small kitchen asked what to eat today, Jiang Yunchu simply had them heat up the flatbread.

You can't spend the money and not taste it.

Yesterday Ning Hanmo gave away every copper coin in his purse; whenever he saw a family in need, he'd give them two, but later he realized he simply couldn't keep up.

At that time, his helpless expression, coupled with being at a loss.

"Good." Hearing his reply, it was indeed not in vain that I accompanied him yesterday in his trials of life.

During the day she glanced at the shop's accounts; over these days many managers have been replaced, and some have also been transferred away from their own shops, and she arranged other duties for them.

"Princess Consort, Madame Jiang of the General's Manor requests an audience." Bai Zhi reported, her face showing a hint of curiosity.

Last time she returned to her natal home, she brought Su Xin and Zi Wu.

Since then, the Princess Consort has never mentioned her natal family, and no one from the Jiang household has ever come to the Wang Fu.

"Let's go to the side hall." Jiang Yunchu said.

Last time she returned to her natal home, Madame Kang's words, between the lines, had already made clear the drawing of boundaries; yet today she came of her own accord, and it's unknown why.

"I have seen the Princess Consort." Madame Kang was just about to rise.

Jiang Yunchu then said, "No need."

Madame Kang stood there, only then lifting her head to look at Jiang Yunchu.