Chapter 4: Training Troops Is Not as Good as Provoking Them

Shunzi hurriedly grabbed Ning Hanmo's waist, and with a 'Smack!' he knelt on the ground, 'My lord, my ancestor, calm down, calm down.'

'Today I will kill her.' Ning Hanmo's eyes were bloodshot; he had cried half the night, planning to go this morning to persuade his grandmother and get that stupid woman to scram.

He was told his grandmother had already gone to the Imperial Ancestral Temple; he chased after her all the way, but no matter whether he acted cute and threw tantrums or swore to study hard, she never returned to the manor with him.

Jiang Yunchu glanced at his appearance, gave a faint smile, picked up a piece of pastry, and shoved it straight into her mouth, showing no trace of a refined young lady.

'Shunzi, let him go.' Jiang Yunchu said lightly, while also rising from her chair.

Shunzi hesitated for a moment, recalling the Imperial Noble Consort's instructions, and released his hold on Ning Hanmo.

Ning Hanmo shot forward like a small cannonball.

His tremendous impact force was unstoppable whenever he fought outside.

But today…

Jiang Yunchu extended a finger, pressing it directly against his forehead, preventing him from advancing even an inch.

'Ning Hanmo, is that all you've got? How dare you oppose me?'

'Neither literary nor martial.'

'Besides being the Young Master of the Regent Prince's Manor, what else do you have?'

Her voice was light, laced with a hint of mockery, the slant of her eyes showing utter disdain for him.

'Stupid woman, I will definitely beat you out of the Wang Fu; just wait!'

A young boy, full of anger, his eyes blood‑red, left in a weary, travel‑worn state.

Even far away, one could still hear him grinding his teeth.

But a faint voice from behind said, 'Don't take too long; I'm afraid I can't wait.'

Hearing that, the little boy walked even faster.

'Princess Consort, this…' Zi Su, not quite understanding, could only summon her courage to ask.

Seeing this situation, the Princess Consort and the Young Master are locked in a deadly feud—how will the Princess Consort ever discipline the Young Master in the future?

Jiang Yunchu, however, twitched the corner of her mouth, sat calmly in her chair, and lifted her tea.

'Training troops is not as good as provoking them.'

If you don't draw out his anger and let him vent his emotions, no matter how you guide him later, this child will surely rebel; it's better to provoke him from the start.

Struggling against heaven is foolish beyond measure; struggling with a spoiled child brings endless joy.

The three maidservants watched the composed Princess Consort sip tea, exchanged a glance, and dared not speak.

The sun was three‑quarters high, warm; wind, rain, morning glow filled the sky.

'Yun chu.' A childish voice came from the courtyard gate; a tiny figure in pink clothing, with two little bell hair ornaments on her head, a round face, and a sweet smile, was utterly adorable.

'Take it slow, don't rush.' Jiang Yunchu couldn't help but stand up; although she knew the child shouldn't be overly indulged, seeing Yue Yue's well‑behaved face made her understand why parents play favorites.

This… it's hard not to play favorites.

'Hmph!' This warm moment didn't last long before a discordant voice came from the courtyard gate.

Ning Hanmo's face was full of reluctance, his whole body exuding a low‑pressure aura.

'Why was the little kitchen shut down?' The child, just up to her waist, could look down on him even while seated.

Early this morning, Shunzi woke him up, telling him the little kitchen would be closed; if he wanted to eat, he had to go to the Rhyme Courtyard on schedule.

The Rhyme Courtyard is Jiang Yunchu's courtyard; the characters 'rhyme' and 'cloud' are homophones, and the courtyard's location is perfect for the mistress of the household—so the Imperial Noble Consort put considerable thought into placing Jiang Yunchu there.

Jiang Yunchu leisurely sipped her tea, held Ning Yue Xue in her arms, then looked at Ning Hanmo and said, 'In the Wang Fu, I have the final say.'

Explain?

Can't give even a bit.

'Stupid woman, I will definitely drive you out of the Wang Fu; you won't be able to take even a scrap of the Wang Fu.' Ning Hanmo's face was full of rage, especially seeing Yue Yue nestled in that stupid woman's arms, which gave the young boy a feeling of betrayal.

'Heh!' Jiang Yunchu gave a cold laugh, then gently flicked the bell on Yue Yue's head, and said with a calm expression, 'You've said that line too many times; my ears are about to grow calluses from hearing it.'

'Ning Hanmo, besides spouting harsh words, what else can you do?'

'I can read accounts; can you?'

'I can recognize characters and study; can you?'

'I can embroider and paint; can you?'

'I can perform acupuncture to save lives; can you?'

……

A string of questions—this was the most Jiang Yunchu had ever spoken since arriving at the Regent Prince's Manor.

That contemptuous expression made Ning Hanmo feel his lungs were about to explode with anger.

How could there be such a hateful person as Jiang Yunchu in the world?

Jiang Yunchu is his arch‑enemy.

But…

'You can't do anything at all—you're just a rice‑weevil, eating the grain left by your ancestors, and when the ancestors are not around…'

'Ning Hanmo, what status do you have to be proud of?'

The pressures piled up layer upon layer; aside from Ning Hanmo, in the room only Jiang Yunchu and Ning Yue Xue, curled in her arms, could not feel that accumulated pressure.

Each question felt like it was breaking a straw on Ning Hanmo's back, constantly rubbing against his spine.

A spoiled child is that way because of lack of education.

But more often it's the adults' responsibility; the child is still young—what could he understand?

'Stupid woman, I'll fight you to the end!'

'Dark Five, kill this woman for me.' Ning Hanmo pointed at Jiang Yunchu, his face full of hatred.

And Dark Five, who had been lurking in the darkness, did not move this time.

He had long received the Imperial Noble Consort's order; now the authority to speak in Wang Fu rests solely in the Princess Consort's hands.

"An Wu!" Ning Hanmo went mad, his eyes reddening, even his voice trembling, making everyone in the room feel unwilling from the bottom of their hearts.

Jiang Yunchu's heart also softened a bit; he was just a child.

But she soon hardened again.

If he knew she had softened, he would be even harder to control thereafter.

"Fine, you all bully me, Jiang Yunchu; I cannot coexist with you." He stormed off, angrily walking away.

"Young Master, don't be angry."

"Young Master, you haven't eaten yet."

"Eat, eat, eat, Shunzi; all you know is to eat."

He was so angered by that stupid woman that he had no appetite—what was there to eat?

He came in a flurry and left as swift as a gale.

"Princess Consort, if this continues, will the Young Master still obey?" Su Xin felt a twinge of pity; not to mention her, even the few maidservants who could enter to serve, upon hearing this question, all looked toward the Princess Consort.

If this goes on, the Young Master and Princess Consort will surely become enemies.

Jiang Yunchu thought for a moment; before crossing over, she had been a battlefield medic, following a special forces unit.

She had grown up in an orphanage since childhood, with no parents.

Therefore, she had never been managed by anyone, nor had she managed anyone else.

However, the number of ruffians she had educated was countless, but in fact no one knows that her heart also harbors many worries and hesitations.

Morning glow does not venture out; evening glow travels a thousand miles.

Just as noon arrived, the originally bright sky suddenly darkened, thunderclaps striking one after another, lightning as if unwilling to not cleave the sky.

Raindrops as big as bowls fell, filling the entire heavens and earth.