Chapter 256: I might also become one who holds the pieces!

Okay, you play by yourself, I'll look at the ledger.

Ning Emperor was just about to pick it up when, at that moment, Jiang Yunchu suddenly spoke, "Uncle, get ready mentally—do you have any heart disease, high blood pressure, or anything like that?"

"Forget it, I'll take your pulse." Jiang Yunchu directly reached out her hand.

That fair hand, raised in midair, she lifted her chin slightly, signaling Ning Emperor to raise his wrist.

Ning Emperor blinked, still, is this the first time he's received such treatment?

After he raised his wrist, Jiang Yunchu carefully took his pulse—hmm… very healthy!

That shouldn't anger him to death!

"All right, your health is great, keep it up."

Only then did she relax; she had been to the imperial study twice—once for an urgent matter, she didn't stay long before leaving the palace.

Another time, Consort Cao somehow got the news and came straight to kill her, forcing her to leave the palace.

This is the first time she's had leisure to look carefully.

Seeing her like that, Ning Emperor helplessly shook his head, opened the first page of the ledger, and saw……

Raw iron……

Weapons……

Workshops……

One word after another, one date after another, and quantities.

Those ledgers—there are over ten of them—just how many weapons is this?

When an emperor rages, corpses float for a thousand miles—this is no idle talk.

He frowned, his whole face filled with gathered anger, yet he didn't explode, nor did he toss the ledger aside; instead he kept reading, line after line of data.

"This Da Ning!" Ning Emperor suddenly felt drained; in all these years on the throne, he had been diligent, never daring to let his guard down.

His imperial younger brother, guarding the border, even returned to the capital in a feigned death to help him investigate the mastermind, yet still cannot bring a clear sky to Da Ning?

For a moment he felt listless; the room held no one else, only Yun Chu, whom he regarded as his own child, and he didn't want to hide his emotions.

Over these years, the emotions he's suppressed have been more than enough.

"The late emperor was benevolent; at Da Ning's peak, he gave the borderlands space to develop, room to grow."

"He's gone, but the Da Ning left behind is no longer what it once was."

"Yun Chu, since I ascended the throne I have never slept a peaceful sleep."

Ning Emperor's voice was flat, without any emotion; his gaze carried a hint of detachment, even a weary thought of 'let it be smashed,' just like that.

"Uncle, think of Da Ning's people, think of the soldiers guarding the border, think of the officials and local magistrates who strive for Da Ning."

"Uncle, you are the emperor; Da Ning needs you."

"If you abandon Da Ning, who else would want it?"

Jiang Yunchu knew this would hit Ning Emperor hard; she only feared his anger would harm his heart, or that he'd lose his temper—she never expected him to say these words.

"Needed?" Ning Emperor closed his eyes; Jiang Yunchu's words were like a morning bell, striking him sentence by sentence, telling him he must go on, must persist.

How can he entrust such a Da Ning to his children with peace of mind?

"How about Qiancheng?" Ning Emperor suddenly blurted out, but the question was unrelated to what came before.

Jiang Yunchu raised an eyebrow, "My children, is anything wrong?"

Upon hearing that, Ning Emperor, whose eyes were closed, suddenly opened them and said, "Good, good, good."

He said nothing else, but it felt as if he had made some decision inside, and his whole state changed.

"In ten days I'll be leaving; please take extra care of the Wang Fu and the children, Uncle."

Going to Jiangnan, the only thing that could worry her is that bunch of little rascals.

They were at the peak of their studies, especially with this incident at the Mingbang Academy, suddenly realizing their abilities were still lacking; if they placed first, would the dean of Mingbang Academy really dare to swap out their exam papers?

"So soon? Must I go?" Ning Emperor felt worried.

As long as she stays in the capital, he can protect her; but if she leaves the capital, he fears he'll be unable to reach her.

Jiang Yunchu lifted her head, eyes firm, "Uncle, whether for the Wang Fu, for the children, or…"

"For Da Ning."

"I have to go out, escape this vortex; only by going out can I see what Da Ning has become."

"If I don't go out, I'll always be a pawn in the game; only by stepping out of this board might I be a piece."

"But…"

"I might also become one who holds the pieces!"

That night……

In this Ning Jing, many places are quietly undergoing something, and many people are making decisions within.

"Master, you must definitely, definitely take care." Zi Su divided the dried rations, scattered silver coins, and banknotes, giving the master several places to store them.

When going out, one must watch everything.

"Master, not let Bai Zhi come along?" Bai Zhi pursed her lips, looking unhappy.

Lately she's been begging the master for a long time, but the master seems to have made up his mind, refusing to bring her no matter what.

If the master doesn't bring her, how can she rest easy about his safety?

"Bai Zhi, the safety of everyone in the Wang Fu rests on you."

There's also a more important reason: Bai Zhi is a symbol of her identity; while in the capital, many of her affairs are handled by Bai Zhi going out—if Bai Zhi stays away too long, then…

Her deployment of doubtful formations would easily be discovered.

Now she must take advantage of those people's gazes, when dealing with His Majesty, to shed her cicada shell and leave the capital.

"Did you remember yesterday's words?" Jiang Yunchu stared seriously at Bai Zhi until Bai Zhi nodded.

After I leave, everything, follow Zi Su's arrangements.

Yes!

Inside the room, only four senior maids; others, those who ought to know already know; those who ought not to know, she will keep it secret tightly.

Moreover, this time she goes out, His Majesty assigned her three dark guards, and also gave her a person.

She still remembers His Majesty's expression back then: "This person, I have given to you; whether you can subdue him depends on your own ability."

Afterwards, he added: "He, is indeed a person of great talent."

Three people in the dark, one accompanying person...

One person, one horse, one bag of dry rations.

Giddyup!

Dressed in white clothes with green bamboo, a red long whip, the whole person looks like a suave, debonair young gentleman; along the way, many young ladies from aristocratic families frequently cast curious glances.

"Kang Yun, take a rest." That person wore a green robe, not as she initially thought, an old man; unexpectedly, he is a handsome young gentleman, his aura warm and jade-like; each time he speaks, one feels like a spring breeze.

However...

If one really thinks this person is simple, that would be a big mistake; though his face appears gentle, his eyes are as if filled with ice, making one involuntarily feel chilled.