Chapter 514: Tell the children, don

That day, the whole Ning Jing seemed to stir awake. On the Regent Prince's manor carriage, Jiang Yun Chu finished arranging the exam baskets—four in total. She checked each one lightly, confirming there were no problems, and only then let out a full breath of relief.

"Young Princess Consort, you're too nervous." Ning Chengyan hooked her sleeve, but she dodged it.

"Tell the children, don't be nervous, okay?"

"Tell the children, are the snacks placed at the bottom?"

"Tell the children, if it's cold, have you brought the knee guards?"

She threw out each question one by one; Ning Chengyan nodded helplessly, "I've said them, all of them."

Jiang Yun Chu let out a breath of relief, and she also smiled helplessly.

One imperial examination represents the future path for many commoners' children, but for someone like Ning Hanmo's status, he could completely skip it.

But…

She hopes they go out to try, to know their current ability and level.

For their own dreams, they too should give it their all.

"Don't worry, the children's mindset is very steady, their learning is profound, and they have their own thoughts." Ning Chengyan looked at the anxious Young Princess Consort, softly comforting her.

Jiang Yun Chu raised her brows, "I heard these past two days, they've been making them stand in horse stance while reading?"

"Whoever gets sleepy gets whipped?" She had also heard that, but in the end she didn't intervene.

Ning Chengyan rubbed his forehead, telling himself to manage her, and now settling scores after autumn is still her duty.

"Today returning to the manor, if the lady wants to punish her husband, the husband will accept it." The man's eyes shone bright, inexplicably making Jiang Yun Chu think of the words "pure and clean".

"Hmph, just stay put." She shook off Ning Chengyan's hand holding hers, looked at the outside street, and they were about to reach the examination courtyard.

Outside, people came and went; some students carried exam baskets and walked on their own.

Some had family accompanying them.

All the facets of human life.

"Mother, the road outside is rough; let us go on our own." Ning Hanmo jumped down from the carriage, came to Jiang Yun Chu's carriage, and then said softly.

As Jiang Yun Chu opened the carriage curtain, her whole person had already changed; she was no longer that tense, anxious mother, but a composed dean.

"That's fine; let Du Er and Bai Zhi escort you there."

"During the imperial examination, read carefully, avoid arrogance and impatience." Jiang Yun Chu gave these two reminders, watching the children lift their exam baskets and walk forward step by step; they soon disappeared into the crowd.

"We can't see them anymore; let's go back." Ning Chengyan looked at the Young Princess Consort's worried expression, which made him feel heartache and warmth.

These children, none of them are hers, yet she is their eternal dean, eternal mother.

"Let's go back." Jiang Yun Chu turned and got into the carriage.

Just as they entered the carriage, Ning Chengyan followed up; the space originally crowded with exam baskets is now much emptier.

"Are you worried about them?"

Ning Chengyan held her hand, turned sideways, and pecked her lips, "My lady, when will we consummate the marriage?"

"You like children so much; are you willing to bear a child together with me as your husband?"

His voice carried a hint of hoarseness and allure, his whole body close to Jiang Yun Chu's side, exuding a masculine aura.

Jiang Yun Chu lifted her head; her lips were a light red hue, just having been rubbed, and now even more rosy.

"Ning Chengyan."

Her voice had a faint hoarseness as she leaned against the carriage wall, looking at the man beside her.

Ning Chengyan nodded, playing with her fingers, "I'm here."

"I…"

"I don't want children." Her words were clear and light, like they could be blown away by a breeze.

The carriage was already soundproof; now it grew even quieter, only the sound of each other's breathing could be heard.

Ning Chengyan looked at her, his brows and eyes gentle, "Yun chu."

"When you weren't around, I never thought of marrying."

He tidied himself a bit; Yun chu's hair was a little messy, he gave a light smile, "I know you still need to save your mother, we still have to go to Zhongzhou, and now Da Ning is also a time to redraw its layout."

"I understand; we'll take it step by step, even if it's just the two of us, this world is still wonderful."

Jiang Yun Chu hadn't expected that he wouldn't get angry or lose his temper; instead, he softly comforted her.

"You're not angry?" She wasn't afraid of his anger; one shouldn't try to change a person, but choose someone you like to walk alongside.

Ning Chengyan tweaked her nose, "What would I get angry about?"

"You just voiced your own thoughts; why would I get angry?"

During the imperial examination, the whole Ning Capital was hushed; even the merchants' calls grew softer.

"Here." Jiang Yun Chu looked at Ning Hanmo who had come out, walked over nervously, "Are you still holding up physically?"

Ning Hanmo smiled, dodging his mother's hand reaching for the exam basket, "Mother, I'm not a fragile person; it's just the imperial examination, it won't exhaust me to death."

"Our manor's carriage is over there; hurry to rest a while, I'll wait for them."

Yue Yue also took part in the imperial examination this time; seeing the children's current state, it's impossible to feel at ease.

"My son isn't tired; my son will stay with Mother to wait." Ning Hanmo stayed by Jiang Yun Chu's side, using his body to block the crowds for her.

"And my father?"

Ning Hanmo found it strange; since his father returned, his eyes have always been fixed on Mother—wherever she appears, within a meter you can surely find his father.

Today is the day they leave the examination grounds, yet his father is absent.

"There's trouble in Northern Rong; yesterday your father received an imperial edict to go tour Northern Rong, so don't worry." Jiang Yun Chu waved her hand.

Ning Hanmo's mouth twitched as he sized up Mother's appearance.

"Does Northern Rong know you're saying that?"

"Just go tour around…"

"Dean." Zhang Cunwen walked out, then bowed respectfully.

Not far away, the lady of Yong Bo Marquis Manor, seeing the familiar figure, was about to speak, but then saw the child's cold gaze.

The words she had just been about to say were swallowed back.

"Is he still resenting me?"

"Why can't he be more obedient, like his brother?"

"How can he not understand my painstaking efforts? I'm doing this all for his own good!"

The lady of Yong Bo Marquis Manor pressed a hand to her chest, her eyes slightly moist, looking at the child who had not returned home for nearly five years—flesh that had fallen from her own body—how could she not worry about him?

"Madam, someday the Young Master will understand your painstaking efforts." The elderly maid attending her softly coaxed.

But…

When someone steps out, the lady of Yong Bo Marquis Manor forgets everything—forgets her own heartache, forgets that she still has a young son.

She ran over heedlessly, losing the dignified bearing of the mistress of Yong Bo Marquis Manor.