Chapter 305: Five-Person Portrait

Jiang Yunchu smiled, naturally knowing the Ning Emperor meant well, rarely lacking two sentences on the skin.

"I know." She said softly.

At that moment, outside came a clamor of footsteps, like troops moving in unison, neat and uniform.

In the middle of the night, they mobilized the Imperial Forest Army to surround the Imperial Study; this news would spread throughout the Palace for a long time, even the officials speculated.

But the Ning Emperor could no longer care; he stared deeply at Jiang Yunchu, gazing at her calm eyes, "You already know?"

He hadn't expected that his second martial brother would return, and before they could devise a plan, the second martial brother spoke up about the matter.

He also didn't expect to be caught off guard by Yun chu's strike.

"I know."

Jiang Yunchu nodded, looked at the Ning Emperor, then stepped a little closer, her voice lowering, "Imperial Uncle, why are you so kind to my mother?"

"To rescue your mother, you originally had a carefree heart for the martial world, yet you confined yourself within this Palace."

"My foster father, too, did it for your mother, disregarding his reputation, only later marrying my aunt, causing her and Yun Hui to suffer injustice."

"I've always been curious: what kind of person is my mother? Why does it seem everyone around her is striving for her sake?"

Kang Clan, Jiang Clan, the Ning Emperor.

Master Ningguang, Great Scholar Qing Feng—each possessed their own strength and influence, yet for the sake of the mother they protected her for many years, allowing her to grow into adulthood.

What magic does that person, who vanished nearly twenty years ago, possess?

The Ning Emperor chuckled, then walked to the Duobaoge, pressed a mechanism, a box popped out; he gently opened it and took out a scroll from inside.

The scroll had yellowed, its edges darker, clearly someone often took it out to study.

The Ning Emperor slowly unfurled the scroll, then gently turned it over toward Jiang Yunchu.

Only then did Jiang Yunchu see that the scroll did not depict a single person, but five.

"This is my master, Master Ningguang; this is me; this is Wen Fu; and this is your mother."

"This..."

"It's Chengyan."

Finally, the Ning Emperor introduced the last person, who appeared very young, a few years old, like a mischievous child.

"Ning Chengyan?"

Upon hearing that name, Jiang Yunchu instinctively furrowed her brows.

Seeing her unreserved reaction, the Ning Emperor couldn't help but burst into laughter; among those who despise that lad, Yun chu is the first.

"Yes, that's him."

"Do you know why I granted the marriage?" the Ning Emperor chuckled, at this moment he resembled a fox; if he had a tail, it would surely be pointing skyward.

Jiang Yunchu also didn't quite understand; this question had always lingered in her heart.

Previously, the Ning Emperor's schemes and court entanglements led her to think otherwise, but after recognizing each other and making contact, she realized it wasn't like that.

"Why?"

The Ning Emperor chuckled, looking at the scroll, "He is the son-in-law your mother chose."

"What did you say?" Jiang Yunchu widened her eyes, looking incredulous.

"My mother chose the son‑in‑law?"

"Is this a joke? What the heck?"

Jiang Yunchu's question provoked the Ning Emperor into another bout of laughter, the sound carrying far and wide; Fang Ziwen, guarding outside, heard it and felt puzzled.

"Aren't we supposed to discuss confidential matters?"

"This laughter confirms the need to mobilize the Imperial Forest Army late at night, to have him stand guard?"

The Ning Emperor looked at Jiang Yunchu, considering it repayment for the earlier slight: "Yes, Chengyan has relied on your mother since childhood; even while you were still in her womb, he vowed to protect you for life."

Thinking back then, Chengyan spoke innocently, and they struggled to protect Ying Ying, yet in the end they still failed to keep her.

But at least they protected Yun chu; when the day came that she regained consciousness, the Ning Emperor's tiger eyes gazing at her would reveal an inexplicable kindness.

"Aren't you curious why we treat your mother so well?" the Ning Emperor said, taking his seat on the dragon throne, spreading the painting before him, and carefully examining each figure.

"The cherry blossom hairpin was not bestowed by others, but by the common folk."

"The former emperor was benevolent, yet the bordering states were full of schemes; Da Ning was like a piece of meat surrounded, every nation wanting to take a bite."

"One year..." the Ning Emperor's lips curled, he chuckled lightly.

When the cherry blossoms bloomed, the allied nations launched an attack on Da Ning; the former emperor favored literature over martial arts, border folk lived in misery, military provisions were repeatedly deducted, and the soldiers suffered greatly.

The four nations united, advancing straight in.

As the Ning Emperor spoke to this point, his expression drifted, clearly recalling that scene.

"The great army drew near, yet in the court no one answered the call to battle."

The Ning Emperor looked at Jiang Yunchu, helplessly curling his lips, "How ridiculous."

"Those who are eloquent, usually fluent as a hanging river, that day each became mute, closing their mouths."

"How pitiful the court, how pitiful Da Ning!"

As the court fell into silence, an elderly official stepped forward, "Your Majesty, for your people, surrender."

In an instant, that single remark was like a drop of water falling into hot oil; those who had just kept silent began to burn with righteous indignation.

"Yes, Your Majesty, surrender."

……

The Ning Emperor chuckled, "The faces of those officials, to this day I still remember."

"What happened then?" After all these years, she still could sense the Imperial Uncle's helplessness; it was obvious how desperate he was back then.

"Then..."

Jiang Wen Fu stepped forward; at that time they were still young, with youthful looks, before they could become vigorous, they suffered a great calamity befalling their family and country.

"His Majesty, this commoner wishes to lead troops forward."

"At that time, he lowered his head, knees on the ground, fists clasped, not lacking a bit of etiquette."

"Is it him?"

"Jiang Yunchu curled the corner of their lips, thinking of that previously indifferent-as-water person, never expecting such a past."

"It's him!"

"Ning Emperor nodded, then continued speaking, 'After that day, I fought for Da Ning; after that day, I donned armor, no longer a prince of Da Ning, but a vanguard, a forward soldier.'"

"Second junior brother alone, I cannot rest easy."

"Since the four states can advance straight in, I also want to know who those border people are—human or ghost, hiding their identities, having entered the court's army."

"Jiang Yunchu looked at the Ning Emperor; in what they considered difficult times, these were all improvements made bit by bit by the elders, accumulated little by little."

"The situation they faced was far more difficult than their own."

"'In the court, there is a senior prime minister stabilizing the situation.' Ning Emperor said up to this point, then looked toward Jiang Yunchu, 'That is your maternal grandfather.'"

"Throughout the court, all are corrupt worms."

"Officials who serve the country and the people are already far too few."