Chapter 40

"You all go back first, report your respective duties to Su Xin." Jiang Yun Chu told the six stewards.

Just a moment ago the room was full, but suddenly it emptied out, leaving it bare.

"Reporting to Princess Consort, the recipes of this workshop are all suppressed by Steward Fang, and some procedures cannot do without the people involved."

The old man sighed; as for the Regent Prince's Manor, never mind whether it makes money or not, but it has never shortchanged wages.

Even in the most difficult times, the Imperial Consort never made things difficult for them.

Why bother with those people?

Jiang Yun Chu smiled and shook her head, "You mean well, but I've long wanted to organize the workshop; they've also given me a reason."

"Rest easy and go back; when we have results here, we'll naturally let you know."

The Wang Fu's rouge and powder workshop hasn't released anything new in a long time; now the shop has no new stock, and business has been taken over by more than half.

This isn't even the worst; the worst is……

A year ago, the Cao Clan opened a rouge and powder shop; every three months they release new products, and whatever the Regent Prince's Manor has, you can find in the Cao Clan's shop.

To say there's no ghost in this, I'm afraid……

Only a ghost would believe that, right?

"Yes!" The six people withdrew from the room.

Inside the room, aside from a few maidservants and Ning Hanmo's people, there was no one else.

Outside the door, guarded by the Regent Prince's Manor's staff, not even a fly could fly in.

Jiang Yun Chu rubbed her brow; in fact, she didn't like handling such affairs—she preferred to go to the battlefield, fight bravely and kill the enemy, either win or die.

But she couldn't let go of, nor could she abandon, this affair of the Regent Prince's Manor.

"You must be tired."

At this moment, One Voice quietly asked.

Jiang Yun Chu lifted her head, looked at the spot beside her, and said, "Heart-weary."

"I don't like such matters, nor do I like scheming—how nice it would be to make money together."

"But..." Ning Hanmo wanted to say something, yet he didn't know if what he would say was right or wrong.

"Speak." Jiang Yun Chu lowered her head, leaning against the chair's back, her whole body limp, nothing like the imposing aura she had just shown.

"Conflicts of interest, differences of allegiance—once chosen, one has no control over oneself."

Ning Hanmo's words made Jiang Yun Chu smile.

Exactly, being unable to control oneself is truly the most terrifying!

"So, in whatever we do, we should rely on our original heart; we must never place ourselves in such a situation, nor let our conscience develop a crack."

She knew these words shouldn't be said, couldn't be said.

But compared to his ability to achieve great deeds, compared to his ability to gain fame and success, she hoped more that he would just be a person.

A person who, in a midnight cycle of rebirth, is not afraid of ghosts knocking at the door.

A person who can follow their original heart and wholeheartedly pursue goodness.

"I know." Ning Hanmo patted her shoulder—this was the first time the boy had ever been so close to her.

Jiang Yun Chu smiled; having such a son is truly wonderful.

"Princess Consort, the Prefect of Jingzhao requests an audience." The one-eared man knocked on the door and said to Jiang Yun Chu inside the room.

"Please." Jiang Yun Chu uttered only one word, straightened her attire, changed her posture—now she donned the mask of the Princess Consort.

She represented the entire Regent Prince's Manor.

"Shunzi, take the Young Master outside to familiarize himself with the workshop's process." Jiang Yun Chu instructed Shunzi.

Ning Hanmo was so smart that he immediately realized the forthcoming conversation might not be suitable for him to hear.

He immediately stretched out his hand, signaling Shunzi to take him away, and also told Dengzi to leave.

"Greetings, Princess Consort." said the Prefect of Jingzhao.

Jiang Yun Chu rose, then stepped down from the recent platform, standing before the Prefect of Jingzhao.

"Thank you."

Her voice was so soft that others could hardly hear it, lacking any warmth; if one didn't know her, they might not realize whether her thanks were sincere.

"Family."

At that moment, the Prefect of Jingzhao lifted his head, his tiger eyes staring straight at Jiang Yun Chu.

The Prefect of Jingzhao is a member of the Kang Clan.

To be precise, he is the sole son of the Kang Clan's second great-grandfather's household, the only remaining branch.

"When are you preparing to return to the Kang Clan? Haven't you made ready yet?" Kang Li looked at Jiang Yun Chu before him, his perpetually stern face now slightly softened.

Although he had heard of her deeds—whether causing a ruckus at the West Village racetrack, sounding the drum of grievance, or today—

she was never a timid, fearful person, yet when it came to returning to the Kang Clan, she kept postponing.

"Preparation?"

Jiang Yun Chu smiled, then shook her head; she didn't need to prepare to return to the Kang Clan, but rather to prepare to know everything.

As she is now, she still lacks sufficient confidence to cope.

She kept thinking that knowing a day later would also be fine.

"Tomorrow, your great-uncle will visit the Wang Fu."

Kang Li saw Jiang Yun Chu's expression, knew she wasn't ready yet, but thinking of some matters, he felt he should give the child a warning.

"So urgent?" Jiang Yun Chu sat down, then brewed a cup of tea and directly handed it to Kang Li.

In theory, he should also be called uncle.

Your great-uncle being so urgent—perhaps the situation has already reached a point where it can't be held steady?

"Don't worry, it's not anything else; I guess they're going to send you a trouble."

Just at this moment……

【Ding, transformation mission target: all children of the Kang Clan.】

【Mission success: gain points; mission failure: lifespan reduced by thirty years!】

Reduced by thirty years……

Why won't you let me just go die?

In a moment, Jiang Yun Chu's face turned black, the whole person filled with an inexplicable anger.

"Yun chu, what's wrong?" Kang Li was a bit worried; just now he was fine, but Yun chu's complexion suddenly changed—where does he feel uncomfortable?

For so many years, the Kang Clan hasn't managed Yun chu; it's not that they don't want to, but that they can't.

How could one's own child not be heartbreaking?

Moreover, she is Kang Ying's child!

That talented woman Kang Ying who shook the capital!

Back then, how many noble talents flocked to her, yet she early withered like fragrant jade.

"It's fine!" Jiang Yun Chu raised a hand.

At this moment she only wants jade and stone to burn together……

Yesterday she was relieved that her ten-year lifespan was preserved; today she must worry about the thirty-year lifespan she is about to lose.

At worst……

I'm not doing this anymore!

But thinking of the just-four-year-old Yue Yue, and the only-six-year-old Ning Hanmo, her heart aches again.

"Those people still need to trouble Uncle; the detention probably won't last too long—tomorrow we must know the result."

Not only must Wang Fu not let the Cao Clan catch a handle, even Jingzhao Prefecture cannot.

"Don't worry, we have propriety." Kang Li nodded.

When returning, Jiang Yun Chu's mind was filled with the system mission's matters, and also the rouge and powder workshop's matters.

Now all products have entered a backward stage; if she wants to change, she must change from the root.

Not only products, but also management need change; this matter happening once is enough, sufficient to alert her.