Chapter 317: One Leaf Obscures the View

"Great uncle."

"She tilted her head; the person who had just been domineering and leaking arrogance now seemed like a harmless little white rabbit."

"Is she really a little white rabbit?"

"No, she is a fierce beast, a tiger; as long as her bottom line is not touched, she will not show her claws and fangs."

"Do you know how dangerous it is?"

"Zhuang Yan's expression was solemn; when looking at Jiang Yunchu, he rarely showed any indulgent smile."

"Jiang Yunchu lowered her head and curled the corners of her mouth."

"So what?"

"She raised her head, glanced at the over eighty people behind her, and glanced at Ya Gu and Qiu Hui following beside her."

"Those who bullied my people, I naturally must regain face; this is what I, as the Host, ought to do, and must do."

"She turned sideways, looked at Zhuang Yan beside her, and said, 'Great uncle, you probably don't know my nature.'"

"If anyone offends me, heaven and earth will destroy them!"

"I am not a good person, never have been."

"When she said this, there was no ingratiating smile, no emotion, just as if stating a fact."

"But it was precisely this statement; Zhuang Yan knew she was serious, she was laying things bare to himself and to the Zhuang Clan."

"They are my people, naturally I will protect them."

"Jiang Yunchu looked at the crowd, the corners of her mouth slightly twitching; if she couldn't even protect her own people, what kind of Host would she be?"

"Those over eighty people had eyes brighter than ever; each person remained silent, but the hands gripping the sticks seemed to show protruding veins."

"This is the power of faith; this is cohesion."

"Today, everyone who went out will be rewarded twenty copper coins."

"Remember this: I don't care how other workshops are."

"But as long as it's our workshop, we will never bully others proactively; however, whoever dares to bully us will be beaten so badly that even their parents won't recognize them."

"Do you understand?"

"Jiang Yunchu looked at them, each person, each face still somewhat unfamiliar."

"Understood!"

"Everyone, in unison."

"Even those little ones raised their hands one after another, then shouted loudly."

"Those women also shouted likewise."

"Those young ladies' faces turned red, but their eyes shone even brighter."

"Zhuang Yan suddenly realized that the lifeless workshop had, at some point, changed, become another scene—not like a workshop but like a home."

"They helped each other, respected and loved each other; when one person suffered injustice, the whole family went to seek redress."

"Indeed!"

"Home!"

"Zhuang Yan didn't know how to judge it; perhaps saying anything would be wrong."

"At this moment, the time belonged to Jiang Yunchu, the place belonged to her, and her heart belonged to her."

"He prepared to open his mouth, but then closed it, stepped back, and yielded this place to her."

"Your three taels of silver, I will not make up for it."

"Although you were deceived, this is your own choice; you must bear this bitter fruit yourself, learn from it, for you are not alone—you have a child, whose first half of the road is watching how you walk, learning from the path you tread."

"The second half of the road is gaining experience from the first half, then continuing onward."

"Qiu Hui, your path, your child's path, are up to you now."

"After all..."

"Those three taels of silver that were defrauded did not return to her purse, but Qiu Hui bore no resentment."

"Being deceived, I chose it myself."

"I will earn it back in the future."

"Qiu Hui has changed, as if suddenly become another person, no longer self-pitying; her whole person's eyes have become much more resolute."

"Thus, it's best."

"Jiang Yunchu curled her lips, looking at Qiu Hui's change, ultimately feeling relieved."

"Continue working, do what you should do."

"She clapped her hands; the people who had just gathered dispersed, and she also turned to Zhuang Yan, 'Otherwise, shall we go to my place to chat?'"

"She knew her own change was huge and unexpected for those who didn't understand."

"But she is just like that; her former obedience was only because she hadn't touched her bottom line; when someone does, she will reveal her claws and fangs—it's only a matter of time."

"Moreover..."

"As time passed, her feelings for the Zhuang Clan deepened; she wanted them to know her true self—today's events were unexpected, yet also within her expectations."

"'What to chat about?' Zhuang Yan looked at her with a half-smile; his usually steady eyes now had a hint of sparkle."

"Seeing this, he secretly laughed inside, and also wondered what this child feared."

"Great uncle, I am just like this today."

"After all, she still raised her head to face Zhuang Yan directly; those eyes no longer had the earlier evasiveness, carrying a sense of ease and liveliness."

"I am inherently unruly, disliking restraint, disliking hierarchy, disliking suffering injustice."

"Whoever makes me suffer injustice, I will make them bleed!"

"This is my principle."

From the moment she spoke her first sentence, her tone grew increasingly firm, and all her words became smoother; word by word, looking into Zhuang Yan's eyes, she showed not the slightest hesitation.

"That… the you from before, is that really you?" Zhuang Yan remained silent for a long time, then asked a question.

Jiang Yunchu stared blankly, furrowed her brows, and finally nodded.

I have to admit, that is also her, but it's her in front of elders; people are multifaceted, each time, each person she meets is a different facet.

For the elders who dote on her, that version of her is her true self.

In the quiet room, Zhuang Yan suddenly burst out laughing heartily; that refined man cared nothing for his current image, his laughter carrying a sense of ease.

"You—!"

"A single leaf blocks the view."

His laughter stopped, but he had only spoken two sentences.

Afterwards he gently took a sip of tea, and his voice gradually calmed.

"That version of you is you, and this version of you is also you."

"From beginning to end, you are Jiang Yunchu."

"What difference is there?"

His words were like a thunderbolt, striking straight at the top of Jiang Yunchu's head, shattering her own understanding.

"What difference is there?"

"Is there any?"

One question after another swirled in her mind.

They are all her, doing whatever comes from her true heart—so what difference could there be?

She has never pretended to be someone else!

"Understood?"

His voice was gentle, carrying the guidance of an elder.

In the eyes of Kang Lian and Kang Yi, in that place called Jingdu, Jiang Yunchu was vigilant about everything; her conduct and all of her being made people feel she was an adult.

But upon reflection, she is only nineteen years old!

But in Jiangnan, in Zhuang City, she is no longer the Regent's Consort, no longer bearing the weight of so many people; she is simply herself, and only wishes to be herself.

Zhuang Yan and Zhuang Wei both treat Jiang Yunchu as a child; everyone of the Zhuang Clan, in their eyes, she is merely a nineteen‑year‑old maiden who ought to be doted on, pampered, and allowed to run wild.

Jiang Yunchu closed her eyes, gave a soft laugh, and realized she had been mistaken.