Chapter 385: Your life is not your own!

Rou Jia giggled, looking cheerful, and said, "I'm willing—I'll go wherever the master is."

She was nothing but a weed—a blade of grass drifting anywhere on the street, growing toward the sun, free and unrestrained.

"Good." Jiang Yun Chu nodded at Rou Jia, and she agreed.

"Shu Ying and Rou Jia, follow me to Ning Jing."

"Ye Han and Jiu Hua, stay in Zhuang City."

"Qian Jia and Fu Qu, go to Yan City."

I've laid out the road for you all; I hope you walk it step by step and don't forget your present choice. She gazed at the six girls, the one who had first raised her hand to volunteer.

"Yes!"

Six people, in unison.

At that moment, Kang Qiuju woke up, rubbed her forehead, and felt her mind clear, as if she'd had a good sleep.

"Master, is this what the young lady is supposed to do?" She hurriedly got up and went to Yun chu's side.

Yun chu had warned her that, dressed as a man, she must keep her identity hidden.

"Right, how does it feel?" Jiang Yun Chu nodded at her elder sister, who also awaited her evaluation.

"It's wonderful—I seem to relax unconsciously, slowly enjoying it; I don't know how long I slept, but it feels like all my fatigue has vanished."

"Second young lady, it's not just these."

Rou Jia gave a light laugh, fetched a small bronze mirror, and said, "Take a look."

Kang Qiuju lifted the bronze mirror, saw her reflection—her face noticeably paler, white with a hint of red—and wondered, "Is that really me?"

As she stroked her skin, she felt its soft, dewy smoothness—nothing like before.

"This……"

If she weren't looking at her own reflection, she might even think she'd touched the wrong person.

"This is our product, the thing from the experience shop."

After Jiang Yun Chu finished, she turned to the girls and said, "Shu Ying, keep three skilled people; the rest, according to your units, will depart tomorrow for various places."

"Yes!" Shu Ying immediately selected three people—these three are highly skilled, the best aside from the six of us.

"Master," the three said, feeling uneasy, unsure why they alone were kept back.

Since Shu Ying picked you, it means your skill has her approval; I trust her judgment, and I trust you.

There are still a hundred people to train, and you are their instructors.

Only ninety-three people—far from enough.

Zhuang City, Yan City, Ning Jing—these are merely the start……

"Yes!"

The three immediately bowed respectfully.

"Sort out your people; tomorrow someone will take you where you need to go. Shu Ying and Rou Jia, you'll come with me to the capital." After assigning the personnel, Jiang Yun Chu left with Kang Qiuju and Zi Su.

Back at the Zhuang Mansion, Jiang Yun Chu wrote up some documents—pricing for the experience hall, target clientele, and future plans.

"These are the experience hall's documents; I had planned to find someone in the capital to take care of the arrangements."

"Elder sister, this responsibility probably falls to you."

Zhuang City is guarded by the Zhuang Clan, and she has already reached an agreement with the Yan Clan, so Yan City will naturally be under Yan Clan protection; Jiangnan's safety far surpasses that of the capital.

Entrusting it to Kang Qiuju will also put her at ease.

Kang Qiuju's hands shook as she held the papers, but she quickly steadied, looked at her firmly, and said, "Yun chu, I'll do it well."

Jiang Yun Chu smiled faintly and said, "Elder sister, I trust you."

Never underestimate a woman who is self-reliant, self-sufficient, and yearning for independence.

"Miaomiao, serve your parents-in-law well, look after the children; your parents are here, you have your elder and second elder brothers, you'll be fine." Madam Zhuang gripped Zhuang Miao's hand, staring without blinking.

The last time her daughter married, it had been over twenty years since they last met.

Will she get to see her again this time?

Zhuang Miao knelt, and several children knelt with her, saying, "Father, Mother, Second Uncle, Miaomiao is unfilial—we've made you worry and miss us."

Zhuang Second Master turned his head, and Jiang Yun Chu saw a tear glint at the corner of his eye.

Elder Master Zhuang sighed, "You're grown—why kneel at the slightest provocation? How can the children look up to you?"

"You've started a family, have your own life; your parents know that if you're doing well, that's better than anything."

Madam Zhuang clung to Zhuang Miao's hand, tears streaming.

They had planned to stay just over ten days, but because of Kang Qiuju's matter they remained in Jiangnan for about twenty days and now must head back.

"Father, Mother, Second Uncle, take care." Zhuang Miao knelt, knocked her head three times, then rose.

The caravan swayed off, just as it had arrived—rocking gently.

The return trip was smooth; every relay station had readied rooms ahead of time, awaiting the convoy's stay—nothing needed managing, everything had been prearranged.

"Jiang Yun Chu!" the Ning Emperor glared at the aggravating girl, unable to catch his breath.

Jiang Yun Chu gave a wry smile, waved her hand helplessly, and said, "Imperial uncle, I'm fine, aren't I?"

"And furthermore…"

"Undeniably, this is the fastest method."

They operate in the open while the enemy lurks in the shadows, leaving them reactive; only after gaining clarity can they change their position.

And her risking her life this way is merely to provoke the enemy into exposing a weakness.

"Jiang Yun Chu, remember—your life isn't solely yours; many have safeguarded it. When you court danger, can you think of them?"

This time the Ning Emperor was truly furious; upon hearing of Yun chu's injury, he didn't know how to face Ying Ying.

He also could not bear the fact that this girl would depart.

This threw the formation into disarray; they directly sent out Fang Zi Lun. Although they had uncovered the other side's truth, the other side had also uncovered his truth.

Under these circumstances, Yun chu being exposed is not a good thing.

「I……」

「Actually, I had already made preparations; although getting injured was an accident, it was also within my plan—I just didn't expect…… 」

The news from Jingdu arrived so quickly; I also didn't expect the emperor's maternal uncle to send people so quickly, and he directly sent out Fang Zi Lun.

「You mean……? 」 At this moment, the Ning Emperor suddenly realized something.

Jiang Yun Chu nodded, saying, 「Logically speaking, under my deliberate obstruction, Ning Jing wouldn't have news so quickly. 」

「Less than five days have passed, and the Imperial Edict from Jingdu has already arrived, indicating that the news was deliberately sped up. 」

The Ning Emperor had only been worried before; now, with Jiang Yun Chu's reminder, he has gained a bit more contemplation.

「Stay put in Ning Jing honestly these days! 」

However……

The heavens are vast and the earth is vast, but there is nothing greater than disciplining a child; this child is simply never honest for a single day.