Chapter 77: If one wishes to escape the sea of suffering, they must stake their life

"What do you mean?"

The simple three words, plus that familiar rising tone, made Ning Hanmo instinctively pause, lifting his head from the delicious skewers.

As for that rising tone, it was his instinctive reaction.

"Princess Consort, you want some?" Zhang Cunwen put down all the skewers, rolled up his sleeves, and his whole spirit perked up.

"This thing, in our Ning Jing, does anyone buy it?"

"People are all curious; for something nobody sells, who wouldn't want to give it a try?"

Afterward, he looked toward Jia Chuan on the side: "You can smell this aroma; only this place has it—don't you want to try it?"

Jia Chuan honestly nodded: "Want to, gotta try it."

Zhang Cunwen got even more energized, looking at the two people on the side: "Eldest, youngest, do you want to eat?"

The two ignored him, but their skewer‑rolling speed picked up a bit.

Their action already served as an answer.

"Right, it's exactly our status—we all want to try it; if we nail the recipe, the profits will be limitless."

When Zhang Cunwen said this, his whole person's eyes seemed to glow with golden light.

Jiang Yun Chu suddenly realized that everyone has their own strengths; Zhang Cunwen dislikes studying, is lazy with his limbs, but one must say, at seven years old, uttering those words just now, in the business world he will surely have a place.

But…

His status might also become his limitation.

Will the Yong Bo Marquis Manor allow him to engage in business?

Jiang Yun Chu nodded, glanced at Zhang Cunwen, and said, "That's a good idea."

Zhang Cunwen became even happier; every time he told his mother before, she scolded him for not being serious, but he never expected the Princess Consort to be such a perceptive person.

"Princess Consort, your vision is top‑notch!"

Zhang Cunwen picked up a skewer with one hand and gave Jiang Yun Chu a thumbs‑up with the other.

Just looking at the remaining skewers, this bunch of brats didn't even say to wait for me!

He didn't have time for chatter, directly started rolling skewers, holding one in each hand, taking left and right bites, eating with great enjoyment.

Jiang Yun Chu saw the children's appearance, couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head, then lightly nodded at Zi Su.

Zi Su slowly withdrew, but as she left she carried a plate of skewers, mostly vegetables with only a few meat skewers.

Night……very deep……

The youths seemed to have endless talk; Jiang Yun Chu had someone tidy up, went to their courtyard, let them chat there, and also brought over the chilled mung bean soup, worried the kids would get overheated from eating too much barbecue.

"Princess Consort, the mung bean soup has been brought over; this old servant will keep watch."

The person in charge of the manor and Jiang Yun Chu reported back; Jiang Yun Chu told him, "We already marinated plenty of lamb, so you'll likely need to skewer it yourselves; arrange the vegetables as you like—these can all be grilled."

"Let the villagers come over to grill themselves; this side provides the seasonings—put in whatever you want to eat."

She had people bring two sheep; how much can these few people eat?

Not long ago I compiled an agricultural textbook myself; this manor is one of the test sites, the people here have helped me a lot, and this visit counts as repaying them a bit.

"How can this be okay?"

The farmhand hurriedly waved his hands, saying, "We're just laborers—how could we eat something so precious?"

From far away you could smell the aroma—whose child isn't eagerly looking forward to it? Whose child isn't being scolded while swallowing saliva?

But…

"This is my order: let everyone in the manor come eat, and let the tenant farmers come too."

Jiang Yun Chu gave the order, then turned and left; the longer she stayed here, the more uncomfortable those manor folk felt.

"Right, keep it down." Before leaving, she specifically gave that instruction.

Over there, the four little ones kept chatting; her courtyard was right next to theirs, so they could look after each other.

"Ning Eldest, the Princess Consort seems different from what you said before!" Zhang Little Three scratched his head; his thin, tall frame looked like a gust of wind could blow him over.

Ning Hanmo glanced at him: "What, a single meal of skewers and you're bought off?"

As he spoke, his face flushed a little; recalling what he'd said to the brothers at the start, he felt even more embarrassed.

"That's not it either…" Zhang Cunwen waved his hand.

Ning Qiancheng looked this way and that, then said to Ning Hanmo, "Eldest, just stop scaring him."

"You still don't know Zhang Lao San's temperament."

Ning Hanmo took a sip of mung bean soup; the summer's heat faded considerably, leaving a refreshing feeling.

"My mother is wonderful; I had misunderstood her before."

He looked at his respective brothers and recounted the incident of Ningguang being crowned; even though he didn't know how many times he'd already recalled it, each time he did, tears flowed uncontrollably.

"She's really good." Zhang Cunwen also cried.

Jia Chuan patted Ning Hanmo's shoulder to ease his emotions a bit.

But Ning Qiancheng kept his head down; no one knew what he was thinking. He felt his two arms, as if the place where she had lightly applied medicine still retained a hint of heat—whether from the ointment or because of the Princess Consort, he couldn't tell.

In his memory, no one had ever been good to him.

Later he met the brothers, who treated him well, but the first time someone applied medicine to him was the Princess Consort.

"Exactly, she's great, especially great." Ning Hanmo looked up at the stars.

"So… I will study hard, train hard, uphold the Wang Fu, give her a home; my father is gone, so I will protect her." Ning Hanmo's lips curled; the young lad, having planted a seed of protection in his heart, saw it slowly blossom in silence, no one knowing when it would bear fruit.

Zhang Cunwen suddenly stood up: "Eldest, I want to go to Chun Hua Xue Yuan."

Voluntarily attending school was something he never dared to imagine before; now he wants to go.

As for why, he himself couldn't say clearly; probably he didn't want to fall too far behind his brothers, or maybe it was that sense of belonging.

"Count me in." Jia Chuan also spoke up.

He is eight years old, and the matter of his attending school is still undecided.

Grandmother and mother did not want him to leave Ning Jing, and father also did not want him to be particular; the various major academies in Ning Jing clearly refused them, and now Chun Hua Xue Yuan is perhaps not a bad place to go.

At the very least, he could still be with his brothers.

"Laoyao, what about you?" Ning Hanmo looked at the person who had not spoken.

Ning Qiancheng smiled and shook his head, "My path is different from yours; I cannot decide my own path."

Six years old, just a little boy.

His smile carried sorrow and helplessness.

"My mother promised that she would definitely do what she said." Ning Hanmo said firmly.

"If one escapes the sea of suffering, one must repay with one's life." Ning Qiancheng looked at Ning Hanmo, eyes sincere, tone earnest.

He is willing to associate with any schemer, only wanting to escape that enviable imperial palace.