Chapter 304: You think I dare not punish you?

That's all. The fruit tea shop the master mentioned has already been assigned staff; according to the drawings, work has begun, and it's expected to be finished next month.

After Su Xin finished speaking the last item, she directly closed her large notebook.

Zi Su poured her a cup of tea; she immediately took it and drank it in two glugs, finishing it.

After talking for so long, she was really thirsty.

"Slow down, there's more." Zi Su smiled, then quickly poured her another cup.

Su Xin looked at Zi Su pitifully, "Please, give me a big bowl."

Usually, using a small teacup is a matter of mood; what you drink is a flavor, it's elegant.

But in front of someone about to die of thirst, that's a hindrance—she just wants to drink her fill!

Zi Su covered her mouth, laughing and shaking her head: "Okay, wait a moment."

"Sisters, thanks!" Su Xin made a fist-and-palm gesture, her whole person gaining a heroic air.

Jiang Yunchu took a sip of tea, looking at the person opposite, genuinely happy for her; she was doing her own thing, which she previously didn't understand, even felt lost about, but now she handles it with ease.

"How do you feel lately?" Jiang Yunchu asked lightly, the ledger spread before her; these ledgers were submitted by Su Xin and will be used when settling accounts later.

"Lately? What feeling?"

Su Xin suddenly froze, then realized what the master was asking, and she suddenly smiled: "It's like… I've become a new person?"

"If I stood before a bronze mirror, I might… not even recognize myself."

As she spoke, she pondered: when had she changed?

Before, she was lost; before, she was at a loss; before, she was flustered, not knowing what to do—especially after those three estates had trouble, her heart was filled with anxiety; she feared she wouldn't do well, and she feared even more betraying the master's trust.

But now, she isn't afraid!

Because she knows no one is more suited for this position than herself; as long as she's there, the master has a fallback; no matter how dangerous, she is the master's rear guard.

And this rear guard, she couldn't entrust to anyone else; she could only hold it tightly herself.

"I've poured you a bowl of warm water; the master had the small kitchen prepare soup for you; I just had the small kitchen send you rice and hot water—soon after you eat the rice and drink the soup, wash up and hurry to sleep."

"Look at your eyes—how many days have you gone without sleep?"

Zi Su looked at her appearance; although her face was full of fatigue, she nevertheless had vigor, and her overall condition was even better.

"Good, Elder Sister Zi Su, that's best." Su Xin jumped up from the stool and ran straight out.

After running far enough, she then heard Zi Su's words: "Who's the elder sister?"

Jiang Yunchu watched their tussle, shaking her head helplessly; probably only Su Xin could make Zi Su lose her temper.

Who knows what they've been through; Su Xin's mischief is just to provoke Zi Su into losing her temper, and the usually gentle and magnanimous Zi Su falls for it every time, getting angry each time.

But whenever they meet again, they forget, then how they should speak, still how they speak—also unknown what agreement the two of them actually have.

"You're leaving again?"

The Ning Emperor rose directly, pointing at Jiang Yunchu, unable to speak.

"Jiang Yunchu, you think I dare not punish you?"

The Ning Emperor's face turned red with anger; Xi eunuch knelt on the ground, not daring to move.

But Jiang Yunchu merely walked around the Imperial Study, seeing a new lotus stand: "Huh? New item?"

She picked it up, looked at the base, then at the lotus seed's position, pursed her lips, and put it down directly: "Obviously boring."

"Jiang Yunchu!"

The Ning Emperor slammed the table and shouted loudly.

Xi eunuch was about to call out to his ancestors; the Your Majesty was already angry—"aunt", don't keep speaking; if you continue like this, you'll be fine, but he fears his own dog's head won't be safe!

"Here, here, lower your voice—it's shaking and hurting my ears."

Jiang Yunchu rubbed her ears, then turned and walked to the Ning Emperor's side: "My imperial uncle, you know my situation; you also know what I need to face."

"You originally didn't care about the throne, so why did you take it?"

She couldn't help but sigh, their sibling bond was truly excellent.

For their mother, both had given so much……

Upon hearing this, the Ning Emperor instantly lifted his gaze to her; from her eyes he just knew.

The events of those years, Yun chu knew them all.

"Xiao Xi." At that moment, the Ning Emperor suddenly spoke.

Xi eunuch had just been kneeling, not seeing the two's expressions, not hearing their words—he wished he could cover his own ears.

"Your Majesty." Xi eunuch trembled, "Will I be silenced today?"

"Let Fang Zilun guard the door for me; anyone who comes in, even a fly, shall be killed without mercy."

The Ning Emperor's words—when the emperor is angry, a thousand-mile pagoda.

All these years, he has been a benevolent ruler, never carrying out mass slaughter—but Yun chu's secret must not be leaked even a bit.

"Yes!"

Xi eunuch has served by the Your Majesty's side since childhood; the Your Majesty rarely has such killing intent—once in the past, once four years ago, and this is the third time.

His legs trembled slightly when he stood up; his whole body shook when he rose—clearly he was greatly frightened.

"Uncle, you should still be merciful to your personal attendant—look how you've frightened Xi eunuch."

Jiang Yunchu shrugged indifferently, watching Xi eunuch stagger out, and said somewhat pitifully:

The Ning Emperor lifted his head, already looking at her—"Jiang Yunchu!"

This is today, the second time he has called her full name.

There was no follow-up; perhaps he was waiting for the people outside, or perhaps he hadn't organized his words.

Jiang Yunchu smiled: "Don't be so nervous."

Since she came over through transmigration, it has always been her deepest secret; she always thought it was herself borrowing a corpse to return to life, that she had stolen the original owner's life.

Even her resistance to the Kang Clan, to the Jiang Clan, is not only because of the past, not only because of their indifference, but more because she doesn't know how to face them—those are the original host's relatives, ah, but what relation do they have to her?

Facing the relatives' concern, their heartfelt, loving gazes, she felt guilty, her conscience uneasy.

But...

This incident unraveled the knot in her heart; in this life and past lives, all her entanglements were undone.

The pain of being abandoned before, the life she seemed to have stolen in this lifetime—none of it exists anymore, because it has always been her, only her.

"Xiao Xi Zi isn't as simple as you think!"

"In this Imperial Palace, where is there anyone simple?"

"Jiang Yunchu, don't pity others; who knows if that person, in a dark corner, might stab you?"

These things shouldn't have been taught by him, but the person who should have taught her is now missing; so let this uncle of his say a few more words.