Chapter 346: Do you resent me?

Reason? She gave no reason; the myriad aspects of the world are always a test, whether deliberate or not.

It's merely a coincidence that these two belong to Ning Chengyan; if they weren't, then what?

Could they then enjoy all this with a clear conscience?

No!

Ning Hanmo didn't move, merely staring at Jiang Yunchu; the crimson in his gaze slowly faded, leaving a pale hue.

"Do you resent me?"

Her voice was gentle, she looked at Ning Hanmo with some worry.

They will worry, they will be angry, but……

They lack another feeling toward Ning Hanmo.

"No."

Ning Hanmo gave a light smile, then looked at Jiang Yunchu, unable to avert his gaze.

"I am very grateful."

"Mother is fine."

The young boy, not angry at being deceived, nor upset at being teased, saw his frantic heartbeat suddenly calm.

That is his mother, although she did not give birth to him, she taught him and raised him to adulthood.

In his heart, he has only this mother; with Jiang Yunchu, he wants no other mother, no one else will do.

Mother being unharmed is the best.

Afraid of his impulsive companions, afraid of his angry children, they silently opened the doors, entered the rooms, and Feng San Niang silently dragged Zhang Dali away.

And after Bai Zhi finished tidying, she also closed the door.

In the whole corridor, only the mother and son remained; since the start of Chun Hua Xue Yuan, they have rarely spoken alone.

"You don't resent me?" she lightly laughed, then looked at the stubborn child.

Ning Hanmo shook his head.

"You don't hate me?"

He still shook his head.

"Mother, in this world, nothing is more important than you," the little boy said, so earnest and insistent when he spoke those words.

Jiang Yunchu smiled, then ruffled his head; her son, in unseen places, was gradually growing up, slowly becoming a man who could stand tall and firm.

"You're still young; someday you'll know that many things are more important than mother." She smiled gently, her face full of relief.

If one were to say Ning Chengyan has any merit, it's his good genes, having such fine sons and daughters.

This is already his greatest contribution.

Ning Chengyan, far at the border, couldn't help rubbing his nose; those two should have arrived by now, right?

With these two, the safety of our young princess consort should be assured!

But at this moment……

"No, that won't happen, Mother." Ning Hanmo stubbornly lifted his head, gazing at his mother, "You taught me how to be a person, you taught me reason; although you didn't give birth to me, you raised me."

"Mother, in this world, nothing is more important than you."

This is the little boy's steadfast conviction deep in his heart.

"Mo Mo……"

Jiang Yunchu looked at the child's reddening eyes, her voice gentle, unlike her usual sternness, instead carrying a hint of soothing comfort.

"Think of the Imperial Consort, think of Yue Yue, think of your companions."

"When you forge ahead without hesitation, have you considered that they will stand by your side?"

"If you die, it's one life; they are the eleven lives accompanying you."

"Think of Da Ning."

"It's the place your father risked his life to protect; when you grow up, you'll have a wife and children, and you'll have a very happy home."

"Life is very long; don't limit yourself to the present, nor to the past."

To say one isn't moved is impossible.

With such a sincere child, how could she not dare to act?

Yet on his small shoulders, she does not want to become his burden!

Her path ahead is perilous, step by step like dancing on a blade; how could she let the child risk his life for her?

Forcing them to grow up is only because she fears that one day……

When she cannot be by their side, they are still not grown up!

"Mother, I only want you, Yue Yue, and Grandma, to be together forever." The little boy hardly ever opposes her anymore.

Jiang Yunchu couldn't help but squat down, then pull him into her embrace.

"Are you tired?"

At this moment, she is not a dean, not someone who forces them to grow, but a mother; she also aches for her child and hopes the children can have a happy childhood.

She is selfish.

She wants them to survive without her, yet also hopes they can be a little happier.

She herself is full of contradictions, let alone the children.

"Not tired."

Ning Hanmo's eyes grew redder, yet he was smiling; all his fatigue seemed to vanish at that moment.

"Mother, rest assured, the son can bear it and must bear it."

He straightened up, gently pulled Yun chu up, looked into her eyes, and said, "Mother, I can, the son can."

"Good."

Jiang Yunchu rubbed his head and gave a light smile, "Don't expose your weakness so completely; even if your heart is broken, you must crawl forward."

Ning Hanmo, growing up isn't about how far you've walked, but how much you can bear.

She was afraid, wondering if, should something happen to her, this child's nature could survive.

"Okay, I promise, Mother."

Ning Hanmo raised his head and smiled; unbeknownst to him, the boy had already grown nearly to her shoulder height.

Over the past year and a half, all meals at Chun Hua Xue Yuan have been nutritionally balanced, supplementing the children's nutrition and energy; each little one, when first arrived, is worlds apart from now.

How could he not know that his mother was worried about him?

"Get a good night's rest; tomorrow we set out, and the road ahead won't be peaceful." She gave a light smile, then playfully said, "Please take care of my son on the road ahead."

Ning Hanmo patted his chest, "Leave it to me."

For a moment, mother and son exchanged a smile.

Early the next morning, Zhuang Miao and Zi Su were busy in the kitchen for a long time, the children helped too, while Feng San Niang and Zhang Dali stood innocently to the side.

They really can't cook—people who wander the jianghu, living rough, year after year—why would we recommend buns?

Because buns keep well, they bought three hundred from a hundred li away, prepared especially for the Princess Consort, leaving only two for themselves to eat; the rest were laced with drugs.

……

Who would have thought the Princess Consort's lot ate nothing at all, returning to their rooms to eat their own dry rations and drink from their water skins.

Even fetching water, they went to the well themselves; there was no need for the two of them to intervene.

"You two go sit over there; don't loiter here." Ning Hanmo said helplessly, looking at the two at a loss.

They really can't do anything, yet they're still in the way!