Chapter 390: Empty City Stratagem

I guard the borders of Da Ning for you, you guard the Regent Prince's Manor for me, and guard my mother. Ning Hanmo looked at Ning Qiancheng; he cared for few people, one manor was enough.

I stabilize the court for you; even if I am beneath one and above ten thousand, I, Kang Wu, never seek power, only to guard a patch of peace. Kang Wu smiled; before the Dean appeared, his greatest dream was to be like his grandfather, a wise man protecting those he wanted to protect with his own strength.

When you think I've become your obstacle, Ning Xiao Yao, tell me I will withdraw, but don't use a sovereign's heart to guess and scheme against me.

Me too.

Ning Hanmo's words had just fallen when Kang Wu took over; the three of them are the team's brains, the weather vane, everyone's direction.

I swear my blade will never point at a companion unless the companion draws first. Ning Qiancheng looked at the two, expression solemn.

That night was very deep; aside from Kang Wen snoring loudly, the three sat under the eaves, looking at a pitch‑black night where you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, and for a moment it seemed as if they had made some decision.

Dean, the carriages from all mansions have arrived. Zi Wu opened the door from outside and then walked in.

Jiang Yunchu nodded. 'Everyone, go back!'

The children turned one by one, bowed, and said, 'Dean, you've worked hard.'

After they said that, they rose together, then turned and left.

Watching each departing back, Jiang Yunchu breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the two homeless little ones and also Ning Hanmo.

'Let's go hunting tomorrow,' Jiang Yunchu suddenly said.

What?

Hunting?

Hunting?

The three kids seemed to have lost their rapport; Jia Chuan tugged at his ear, doubting he had misheard.

Ning Hanmo and Ning Qiancheng, however, spoke in unison: one was originally a child of the Regent Prince's Manor, with no such thing as vacation; the other was a foster child who never returned to the palace, treating the manor as home.

They had already become immune to the Dean's myriad odd ideas……

'Exactly, this Ning Jing is so boring!' she shrugged and sighed helplessly.

Ning Hanmo thought, then asked, 'Mother, is there another scheme again?'

Jiang Yunchu looked at him, shook her head helplessly, 'Plans? They probably can't keep up with my thinking over there; it's just pure boredom, I'm taking you out to relax. Whether you go or not, in one sentence!'

Go!

What can three people do? Their own Dean, whom they dote on!

Several people packed up a bit, but actually there was nothing to pack; mainly they saw the Dean take out a grill rack, a wooden box of seasonings, oh, and also fruit‑drink tea.

……

Jia Chuan had originally slipped a book into his sleeve, intending to read more if he had time, but unexpectedly the Dean gave an order, so he could only obediently put it down.

What?

Going to the countryside villa?

'Xiao Xi Zi, you speak about her, can't you take a break?'

'Just these few days? She's started causing trouble again—is my Ning Jing too small? I can't let her go.' The Ning Emperor heard the news immediately, rose from the dragon throne, his face grim, and began to complain.

Xi Gonggong lowered his head helplessly—would he dare to speak?

If he now answered a word, not to mention the Regent's Consort would not let him off, even Your Majesty would not spare him!

But if he didn't answer, he also wouldn't dare not to answer!

'Perhaps…… perhaps……'

Xi Gonggong thought for a long time, his face turned pale, yet he couldn't come up with any reason.

'Perhaps it's really that my Ning Jing is too small.' Xi Gonggong hadn't found a reason yet; the Ning Emperor sighed and answered helplessly.

If it were a bit larger, the outskirts would be included, and then it wouldn't count as leaving Ning Jing.

Thinking this way, the idea opened up.

At the same time Xi Gonggong breathed a sigh of relief, his mouth twitched involuntarily; he didn't blame the palace concubines for gossiping—just the degree to which Your Majesty doted on her was something he had truly never seen.

A mansion in Jingdu.

Where did they go?

They went to the countryside villa.

The subordinates hurriedly replied, the nails of the Regent Prince's Manor had been pulled out one after another; now wanting to plant people inside is doubly difficult.

Since Jiang Yunchu married into the Regent Prince's Manor, their plans have been thwarted step by step; several times they tried to eliminate her, but each attempt ended in heavy losses.

'My lord, should we act?' the underlings narrowed their eyes and made a hand‑knife gesture.

How many people did she bring?

She brought three children and two maidservants.

Three children, two maidservants?

'Withdraw all our people, don't leak any trace, and recall those watching.' The person seated at the head sighed.

'My lord! This is a good opportunity; last time we lost so many brothers, this grudge must be avenged—our brothers cannot have died in vain!'

Idiot!

'This is clearly a plot; knowing there's danger, how could you still bring these people? Stretch your necks onto our blades—can you do that?'

The person at the head directly threw the teacup out; it smashed into that person's head, blood instantly flowing, yet he dared not move a muscle.

'Those watching, withdraw quickly; if you don't pull back now, you won't be able to retreat.' The man said again.

Yes!

This time, the subordinates promptly responded, clasped their fists, and left.

For a moment the room fell silent, only a cool breeze blowing away the stuffiness.

'Mother, you really have no scheme this time?' Ning Hanmo still couldn't believe it.

Jiang Yunchu looked at him, 'Why do you ask that?'

Since few people were going out, they simply used a carriage; Bai Zhi rode a horse, Zi Su sat beside the driver, and inside the carriage were their teacher and the four students.

"On the surface, we only have these few people; no matter how you look at it, it seems like a plan to lure the enemy into a trap." Ning Hanmo spoke.

Mother never fights without preparation; she is also not an impulsive person, so even if bored, she wouldn't go all the way out to a country estate.

"Do you two think the same way?" Jiang Yunchu looked at Ning Qiancheng and Jia Chuan.

The two nodded in unison; their thoughts were exactly the same as Ning Lao Da's.

Jiang Yunchu smiled lightly, then told them a story: "During the Three Kingdoms period, there was a strategist named Zhuge Liang……"

"At that time he only had ten thousand troops to defend the city, while Sima Yi brought two hundred thousand soldiers, pressing right up to the walls……"

"He calmly played the zither on the city gate……"

Her clear, cold voice drew the three children into the story; vivid scenes unfolded before their eyes, and they pondered carefully, even deeply.

If they faced such a situation, how would they choose, what would they do.

"This is the empty city stratagem."

After she finished speaking, she made no more sound, letting the three children ponder on their own.