Chapter 332: My child, I will naturally protect you

"Jia Chuan, you should have grown up by now." Jia Da Ren still wore his honest expression as he looked at his son, who had already reached his chest; letting him live alone at such a young age is his fault as a father.

Dad.

Jia Chuan's eyes were filled with tears; when he looked at his father, he felt wronged.

Jia Da Ren patted his son's shoulder, saying nothing and giving no instructions.

He knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty, I discovered ten years ago that the lady was a spy, but I did not report it."

My lord.

Madam Jia widened her eyes, disbelief in them.

How could it be? Ten years ago, how could it be?

Then why was he lured in, why did he marry me, why did he have Chuan'er?

Yes, ten years ago.

That night you schemed against me, I didn't drink that bewitching wine." Jia Da Ren smiled, his smile full of sincerity; when he looked at Madam Jia, it was deep affection.

He loved this woman, loved her to the core; for her, he gambled his whole life.

But all the defense maps she stole from my hands were also fake.

One sentence—not only did Madam Jia startle, even Jiang Yunchu was a little surprised.

Always appearing simple and honest, the kind and sincere Jia Da Ren had actually hidden this deeply for so many years...

What?

Emperor Ning narrowed his eyes, then shouted outward, "Fang Zi Lun."

Fang Zi Lun immediately replied, "Here."

I want the case files.

The case files—no need to specify which case.

Wait.

Just then, a clear, cold voice stopped Fang Zi Lun's steps.

Bring the secret over.

She and Jia Chuan entered the palace, and two strangers also entered, taking the case files; it was obvious they were telling others this was related to the case.

Listen to the Princess Consort." Emperor Ning looked at the hesitant Fang Zi Lun and immediately replied.

Fang Zi Lun heard the emperor's words and immediately answered, "Yes."

In a moment, his lightness skill activated, and he left this place.

Jia Da Ren, tell us the situation.

Jia Da Ren sighed, gave a light laugh, "I didn't drink that bewitching wine; I was already alone, and when I first saw her, the loneliness in her eyes, her desolation, a voice at that moment told me it was her."

Wait!

Jiang Yunchu said helplessly, "As the Princess Consort, I want to hear about the process of exchanging the defense maps."

Not to hear your sour love story...

At first I wasn't sure, but the defense maps I brought home were all fake, even in military deployment they matched the traps previously set.

Jia Da Ren sighed; at that moment Madam Jia widened her eyes, "So that's how it is!"

The defense maps she sent back—once the Southern Barbarians attacked, causing losses...

She thought it was a temporary rotation, she hadn't expected...

She looked at the men beside her; they were so ridiculous, they had been acting out their roles for each other's lifetimes!

After that, I confirmed your identity; afterward the defense maps were also altered, but to keep the Southern Barbarians from noticing, I didn't set any more killing traps.

Jia Da Ren laughed, shaking his head, gazing gently at the lady beside him; he had never hated her, never.

He also had no shame before Da Ning, never betrayed his country.

He could die without regret, but his son must never bear the name of a traitor; he has not.

Your Majesty, the case files.

Fang Zi Lun set down the case files and then left; Emperor Ning stared at the files, his gaze growing sharper.

Afterward, the case files were handed to Jiang Yunchu.

Jiang Yunchu glanced over, pursed her lips and smiled; so that's how it is.

So that's how it is!

Jia Da Ren and Madam Jia, do you still remember the last defense map? Could you draw it out?

Yes." The two spoke in unison.

Jiang Yunchu had Fang Zi Lun bring two sets of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone; the two knelt on the ground back to back, neither could see the other's paper, and no one spoke.

The defense map in the Jia Manor study was originally drawn by Jia Da Ren himself; it allowed the lady to steal the defense map while having no effect on Da Ning.

Madam Jia had already drawn it once, and Jia Chuan had bumped into her while she did; the memory was deep.

The two moved their brushes quickly, even without needing to think.

When Emperor Ning and Jiang Yunchu looked at the two people's papers, which were completely identical, Emperor Ning's gaze deepened.

Ministry of War!

His Ministry of War!

His most important place, and yet someone had gotten in.

Just then, Jiang Yunchu suddenly called out a name, "Jia Chuan."

Yes!" Jia Chuan reacted instinctively, turning toward her direction and bowing with fists clasped.

Come over to check the paper.

That clear, cold voice carried undeniable authority; no one knew what she was thinking, nor what she would do next.

She wanted to protect Jia Chuan, she wanted to keep the Jia family safe, but she seemed to trust no one.

It was a very contradictory feeling, but it truly existed in her.

Jia Chuan stepped forward, carefully confirming his mother's drawing; after a long while, he nodded and said, "The same."

Jiang Yunchu raised her eyebrows, looked at the Ning Emperor, and said, "It seems the Ministry of War needs to be cleaned up."

The Ning Emperor's expression was inscrutable; the place he had valued most since his ascension was the heart of Da Ning, yet he never expected it to change hands……

"I have it in mind." The Ning Emperor's expression showed no change; no one knew what decision he had made.

Jiang Yunchu suddenly smiled, looking at Sir Jia, and said, "Sir Jia won the bet, but……"

"This Princess Consort didn't lose either!"

Sir Jia, who had been a bit tense earlier, truly relaxed now.

"The people, I have kept them safe."

"A gecko shedding its tail is not something only they do!"

She smiled lightly, the light in her eyes flickering like stars, also like candlelight.

"I have taken the people away……"

"Since Sir Jia and Lady Jia are already dead, let them disappear from everyone's sight, but before death one must leave something behind, like a kinship severance document!"

"Kinship severance document!"

"Severing bloodline and kinship."

"Sir Jia truly did not betray the country, but Lady Jia's identity as a spy is indeed true."

"Jia Chuan cannot bear such a reputation; he can stay away from the imperial court, he can stay away from the army, but he needs to live with his spine straight."

"Others may not care, but she does!"

"Good!"

"Sir Jia had no hesitation; Lady Jia's mouth curled in a smile as she gently kowtowed toward Jiang Yunchu's direction, 'Princess Consort…'"

"'Stop.' Jiang Yunchu did not let her finish."

"Her expression, the hand she raised, was firm: 'He is my child, the child of my Chun Hua Xue Yuan, and has nothing to do with any of your instructions, nor with any of your entrustments.'"

"'My child, I will naturally protect him.'"

"'He……'"

"She took hold of Jia Chuan's wrist; that child had never resisted, following her strength as they walked out of the great hall."

"'It has never been wrong; it needs no one's pity or forgiveness.'"

"……"