Chapter 36: I will personally kill you

He thought that, when he came of age, he would naturally manage the Wang Fu.

But yesterday Jiang Yunchu asked himself, what exactly did he want to do?

He then realized he didn't want the Wang Fu; he wanted to be a general, to go to the battlefield, to protect Da Ning, to protect the Wang Fu, to protect his grandmother and Yue Yue, and also to protect Jiang Yunchu.

He thought that if he earned merit on the battlefield, no other manor would bully them.

Some children, after experiencing a major upheaval, might grow up overnight.

Some children might dawdle through life and never grow up, even until death.

Ning Hanmo seemed to have grown up; at this moment, Jiang Yunchu felt a sourness at the corners of her eyes.

"Are you sure?" she asked softly, hiding her emotions.

Yue Yue, the little girl, clung tightly to Jiang Yunchu; the pink bell on her little head jingled pleasantly.

"Sure." The boy nodded.

"On the battlefield, swords have no eyes, Ning Hanmo. My Regent Prince's Manor does not allow deserters. If you flee, I will personally kill you." Jiang Yunchu's voice was solemn.

She could even allow Ning Hanmo to be a prodigal son, but she would never allow him to be a deserter; this was the sacred place in her heart from her previous life, and no one is allowed to defile it.

Even a child she herself raised could not be exempt.

"Jiang Yunchu, I won't!" Ning Hanmo couldn't get up, but his shout made everyone inside and outside the room startle.

A long time passed with no one speaking; the air was unusually still.

"All right, I believe you." Just as Ning Hanmo was about to feel wronged, Jiang Yunchu nodded.

Ning Hanmo's emotions, which had not yet begun, were suddenly replaced by joy.

"Jiang Yunchu, I will protect you all, for sure." The youth clenched his fists, exerting great force; the veins on his forehead bulged, showing his obsession and fervor.

"I believe you." Still those three words.

But these three words were no longer empty; they carried firmness and a sense of recognition.

Exactly, a sense of recognition.

"What do you think about studying and learning to read?" Jiang Yunchu had thought for a long time, but still wanted to ask this child.

"I've chosen to go to the battlefield; do I still need to learn to read?" Ning Hanmo asked.

Jiang Yunchu pondered, "Since ancient times, has military strategy required literacy?"

"Does deploying troops require reading?"

"If you don't know the local customs and detailed information of a place, how would you act as commander?"

"I… " Ning Hanmo didn't know how to answer.

"Ning Hanmo, if you want to be a commander, you have a lot to learn."

"If you just want to be a soldier, then pretend I never said anything."

Jiang Yunchu spread her hands lightly; now he was no longer that reckless boy. For many matters, she merely laid out the reasoning, and he would naturally understand.

"I… will study." Ning Hanmo said.

Jiang Yunchu hated to discourage him, but she also needed to let him know how difficult it was.

"You want to study—do those academies want you?" Jiang Yunchu hit the nail on the head, directly striking Ning Hanmo's weak point.

Ning Hanmo then recalled the mischief they had done before.

The Six Great Academies, except for one women's academy, all refused to accept them.

The key is…

"Is there really no other way?" Ning Hanmo lowered his head, like a child who has made a mistake.

Looking back, it was all absurd?

"I'm thinking, you think too." Jiang Yunchu did not press him.

The little troublemaker's task is done; her heart has settled, and that ten‑year lifespan is considered secured.

Moreover, the Space Exchange System has been unlocked to intermediate level; inside there are not various items but various formulas—medicinal ones, cosmetic ones, some metal‑synthesizing ones…

Each of these, when unveiled, will cause a huge sensation.

She thought, the points haven't moved at all; at least for now they're not needed.

She taught the child diligently, not for those points, but to preserve her own lifespan.

She still doesn't want to die!

At that moment, Su Xin walked in from outside, glanced at the Young Master, then at the Princess Consort.

This posture clearly indicated she had something to say.

Jiang Yunchu said directly, "If there's anything, just say it."

"From now on, nothing needs to be hidden in front of the Young Master."

Originally meant to educate the child, the planned matters are less impactful than sudden events, which leave a deeper impression and provoke more thought.

"Yes!" Su Xin promptly agreed.

"Princess Consort, the steward of the Yanzhi Zuofang is causing trouble; now all the recipes of our cosmetic shop are in his hands."

Even Su Xin, at this moment, was very anxious, not knowing how to handle this; that's why she returned to the Wang Fu early this morning.

Nowadays, most of the external business is handled by Su Xin, and Jiang Yunchu is glad to have some leisure.

As long as she checks the ledgers weekly, reviews the inflow‑outflow records, and grasps the overall direction, that's enough.

But…

Some people just won't let themselves relax!

Declare war?

Heh! Really something to look forward to!

"Go check the workshop."

Jiang Yunchu had walked halfway when she suddenly turned her head to look at Ning Hanmo, 'Are you going or not?'

In practice, it is far more persuasive than theoretical knowledge.

In a lifetime, no one can always have smooth sailing; one must constantly sum up experience.

'Can I go?' Ning Hanmo widened his eyes, then looked at his own leg; that big iron box is still locked on top……

As someone with inconvenient legs, wouldn't going just add trouble?

'Shunzi, Dengzi!' Jiang Yunchu didn't give him an answer, instead she called the two people beside him.

'Your servant is here!' The two people hurriedly bowed; they had just been eating outside, and didn't know what had happened.

'Get up, wait.' Jiang Yunchu replied.

Then she looked at Bai Zhi, 'Those thirty good fellows from last time, all mustered.'

Thirty good fellows……

That title really is quite bandit-like……

'Yes!' But Bai Zhi answered so readily; how does it feel like we're going to look for trouble again?

Just a moment later, the neat footsteps outside began to sound.

'This is...' Jiang Yunchu listened to the footsteps; those who didn't know even thought the emperor had sent people to ransack the house.

It's just thirty people, yet it gives the feeling of thousands of troops.

'Reporting to Princess Consort, fifty people, okay?' Bai Zhi walked in, her complexion a bit off; she couldn't quite grasp how things were developing.

Jiang Yunchu stood up, didn't ask Bai Zhi, but directly walked out of the Rhyme Courtyard, saw outside the Courtyard that small place packed with people, each dressed in black cloth, only their demeanor had undergone a considerable change.

'It's only been twenty days since we last met; everyone, I hope you've been well.' Jiang Yunchu looked on amusedly, she seemed to understand why Bai Zhi's complexion was off.

This... where is the guardhouse?