Chapter 74: Who did it!

Mother, I understand. Ning Hanmo didn't resist; many things had become habit.

Is your mother crazy? The Wang Fu has fallen so low it can't afford servants? Zhang Cunwen asked sneeringly.

Jia Chuan also looked incredulous—doing work himself?

Not to mention the Regent Prince's Manor, even their Secretary's Manor doesn't require them to work themselves!

Are they here to enjoy an outing?

They must be here to experience peasant life.

Whatever Mother tells us to do, she naturally has her reasons. Ning Hanmo smiled, then looked at the two behind him, "I've prepared clothes over there—quickly take off your fine garments, or..."

He burst out laughing, then looked at the two incredulous people, "If you go back, you might end up as beggars."

"..."

The two speechless youths looked at the unfamiliar Ning Hanmo before them, exchanging a glance.

They must be possessed!

But...

When the three entered the main courtyard, they saw a person with their back to them, drinking tea.

Dressed in coarse cloth, not old, the figure was frail.

Youngest! Ning Hanmo shouted loudly.

Ning Qiancheng turned, saw the three entering, pulled up the corners of his mouth and smiled, "Eldest Ning, Second Jia, Third Zhang."

The corners of his mouth were slightly cracked, yet his smile was so wide that even though it hurt to stretch, he kept smiling.

Ning Hanmo stepped forward, ruffled his head; they were the same age, but Ning Qiancheng was half a head shorter than him.

Youngest, if you don't want to smile, then don't.

Ning Qiancheng blinked, shook his head, "I'm happy."

Your wound... what exactly happened?

Ning Hanmo stepped inside, then saw the wound on his mouth corner; he quickly pulled up the youngest's sleeve, seeing the red lines all over his body.

Who did it!

Ning Hanmo's eyes widened, his whole body filled with anger; the earlier calm vanished, and his bandit aura returned.

Zhang Cunwen and Jia Chuan let out a breath—this was their Elder Ning after all!

But...

When they saw the youngest's wounds.

Damn it, which bastard did this? Youngest, you tell me! Jia Chuan's eyes turned red, Zhang Cunwen's fist trembled slightly.

Ning Qiancheng pulled down his sleeve, looking warmly at the few people.

If it weren't for these people, he wouldn't have been able to endure.

I'm fine! Ning Qiancheng smiled; these pains, he'd long grown used to—just a beating, painful, but he'd long been accustomed.

Each night when he goes to sleep, if there's no pain accompanying him, he still feels a bit unaccustomed!

Come with me. Ning Hanmo grabbed Ning Qiancheng's hand and walked straight out.

Ning Qiancheng didn't move, he patted his arm.

Elder Ning, don't act recklessly for my sake; you've come this far, it's not easy. Ning Qiancheng looked at the person pulling him.

If one were to say, in this world, whom he wishes to fare best, it would surely be the one pulling him.

It is he who pulled himself out of hell.

It let him see the sole beautiful thing.

Ning Hanmo's eyes were bloodshot, his whole body trembling, "I won't act recklessly; I'm going to see my mother."

The youngest originally shouldn't have appeared, but now he's here, and their few resting rooms are also here.

All of this was arranged by Mother.

The youngest being able to leave the palace was also Mother's arrangement.

He is no longer the clueless troublemaker of before; even if he isn't calm now, even if he wants to act impulsively, his mind will automatically work, and he can already analyze pros and cons.

See the Princess Consort? Zhang Cunwen and Jia Chuan exchanged a glance, not understanding why they'd see the Princess Consort now.

Ning Qiancheng smiled, "The Wang Fu's position is awkward; the Princess Consort isn't easy either. This time I can come out, the Princess Consort must have expended great effort—I can't cause her more trouble."

Whether he can come out isn't up to him to say.

But today the emperor issued an oral decree letting him leave the palace for the manor; everything will be arranged by the Princess Consort.

He grew up in that perilous palace; those people couldn't directly kill him, after all his veins still carry the emperor's blood.

Yet they don't want him to have an easy time either, given his lowly status—anyone could tread on him.

Indeed, it's Mother. Ning Hanmo's voice paused, then paused again.

Although he already had the answer in his heart, hearing it face‑to‑face still couldn't hide his inner emotion.

Jia Chuan and Zhang Cunwen looked at Ning Hanmo, then at the youngest; they seemed to have held too many prejudices against the Princess Consort before.

Ning Hanmo looked at Ning Qiancheng, "Youngest, my mother is very smart, especially smart—she's the smartest person I've ever seen; let's go ask her, see if there's any other way."

Before Ning Qiancheng could answer, a voice came from the courtyard.

You little brat, praising me like that.

Next time praise me to my face, let me be happy; praising me behind my back, I can't even hear it.

Jiang Yun Chu walked over, wearing coarse hemp cloth, her hair also wrapped in coarse cloth; her attire was no different from commoners', yet on her it carried a sense of ease.

A gentle, soft smile, her eyes bright like stars; her whole aura was peaceful, without irritability or scheming.

Even just her words just now only made Ning Hanmo a bit embarrassed, but without any resentment.

I haven't seen you come out for half a day, I thought you didn't want to work, so I came over to look—hope I'm not interrupting your catching up.

The woman laughed hehe, her whole aura suffused with sunshine—unlike her at the academy, where she was more serious and more earnest.

Now she carries a touch of carefree ease, a touch of freedom.

I can't say why, but every time she reaches a new stage, she seems to give people a wholly fresh feeling.

"No." Ning Hanmo shook his head, then walked up to Jiang Yun Chu and gently bowed, "Mother, thank you."

He knows Mother does all this for his sake.

The youngest and Mother have no relation; they only met once at the West Village horse racing grounds, and they will have no interaction.

But Mother specially asked the Palace for the youngest, specially sent him to the manor, knowing I was worried.

All for him.

He didn't understand before, but now he does.

"Thank me—if you want to thank me, then just do more work for me."

Jiang Yun Chu smiled, the corners of her mouth lifted and never lowered, then she added another sentence.

"If I eat well, then my mood will be good."

"If my mood is good, maybe my mind will work better."

"If my mind works well…"

"Maybe I could think of some ideas, like asking someone to leave the Palace or something."

She tapped her chin with her finger, wearing a light, breezy expression, but the four youths in the room all lifted their heads to look at Jiang Yun Chu.