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To be honest, Su Yu was indeed somewhat disappointed in King Zhenbei. After hearing so much about him, he had thought that King Zhenbei was truly formidable. Who would have thought otherwise?
“Arrogant,” King Zhenbei, knowing he was no match for Su Yu, resorted to using poison when Su Yu wasn’t paying attention.
He had expected Su Yu’s strength to significantly decrease after being poisoned, but to his surprise, Su Yu seemed unfazed.
“You are not my match, and even using poison won’t help you defeat me. It seems that you haven’t been practicing martial arts properly in your fief these years,” Su Yu said meaningfully.
King Zhenbei looked at Su Yu in shock. “How is it possible that you are unharmed?”
The poison was meant to be lethal, so how could Su Yu be unscathed?
“Tsk, is this the best you’ve got?” Nan Qiao sneered mockingly.
Nan Qiao’s words made King Zhenbei’s expression even more grim. He turned to look at his subordinates who had been severely injured and detained, realizing that the situation was beyond retrieval.
Xiao Bao looked at King Zhenbei, tilted his head, and suddenly said, “How did such a foolish person become a vassal king?”
Xuan Feiran’s gaze shifted to him. “Why do you say that, Xiao Bao?”
“He brought in just a few people into the palace. Even if he has a hundred thousand troops, they wouldn’t be able to come immediately from his fief. He attempted to assassinate Uncle Emperor in front of so many people. Is he worried about living too long?” Xiao Bao asked with a furrowed brow, looking troubled.
This was the general who commanded a hundred thousand troops? He seemed so foolish.
As everyone followed Xiao Bao’s line of thought, they suddenly heard him speak again, “Do all officials become foolish? I don’t want to be an official in the future. I just want to earn lots of gold like Dad.”
All the officials looked at Xiao Bao. Did he just insult them?
Su Yu dodged King Zhenbei’s attack and, feeling impatient with the struggle, swiftly subdued him in three moves.
Looking at King Zhenbei, who was lying on the ground, Su Yu remarked, “Even a six-year-old child can see through this. It’s truly foolish for King Zhenbei to make such a mistake.”
Xiao Bao nodded vigorously. “Dad is right, it’s too foolish. My dad is smart.”
Xiao Zhi reached out and tugged at Xiao Bao’s clothes. “Although dad is very smart, we should give other adults some face. We shouldn’t call them foolish in front of them, or they will lose face.”
Innocently, Xiao Bao looked at Xiao Zhi. “Is that so?”
Xiao Zhi nodded. “Look at their expressions.”
Glancing around, Xiao Bao indeed noticed their displeased expressions. After giving it some thought, he earnestly said, “You don’t need to compare yourselves to my dad. None of you can compare to my dad. You should get used to it.”
Some of the courtiers felt a pang in their hearts upon hearing the somewhat childish voice.
The Imperial Prince Yu’s son should not comfort them any further. The more he comforts them, the more uncomfortable they feel.
Xiao Bao looked at them in confusion. Why did they seem even more upset?
“Why are these uncles still not happy? Did I say something wrong?” Xiao Bao asked bewilderedly.
Su Yu reached out and ruffled Xiao Bao’s hair, smiling as he said, “Xiao Bao, you didn’t say anything wrong. But we should just keep these words in our hearts. They still have to work for your Uncle Emperor. What if they refuse to help? Then your dad will have to do the work. It’s better to let these uncles help.”
Xiao Bao nodded earnestly. “Oh, Dad will have to work for Uncle Emperor. It’s better to let these uncles help.”
All the ministers of Xuan Empire looked on in astonishment at the father and son. The Prime Minister suddenly spoke up, “Your Majesty, I wish to resign.”
“Not allowed,” Xuan Feiran said without batting an eye.
With Xiao Yu going to help Xiao He plant high-yield grain seeds, leaving Xiao Yu alone in the capital would likely cause a stir.
Is it appropriate to separate a married couple like this?
“Your Majesty…”
“Xiao He still needs to go back to plant high-yield grain seeds. Are you really going to let her go back alone? Besides, she’s pregnant,” Xuan Feiran said, looking at the ministers who were considering resigning due to the actions of Su Yu and his son.
The Prime Minister and the others were momentarily taken aback by the Emperor’s words. He really wanted to say, “Are you really going to let such a talented person become a merchant? Aren’t you angry, Your Majesty?”
“Aren’t you angry, Your Majesty?” the Prime Minister couldn’t help but ask.
Xuan Feiran glanced at the Prime Minister. “Can anger make someone who doesn’t want to be an official become one?”
If that were the case, Xiao Yu would have entered the court as an official long ago. Would he have waited until now?
Back then, when Xiao Yu abandoned his scholarly pursuits to become a merchant, Su Xi probably felt quite angry.
Back then, it was of no use. Is it useful now?
Su Yu didn’t want to discuss his official status. He pointed at King Zhenbei and his entourage. “Your Majesty, the people you need to deal with are King Zhenbei and his men, not me.”
Xuan Feiran cleared his throat and looked at Su Jiu. “Su Jiu, have them taken away and thrown into the dungeon.”
“Yes.”
Su Yu and Nan Qiao rendered them completely powerless in combat, so now even an ordinary soldier could handle them.
King Zhenbei looked at Xuan Feiran and said coldly, “Do you think that capturing us will allow you to regain control of the military power in my hands? Don’t even think about it.”
“Is King Zhenbei referring to this military token?” Su Yu produced a token and looked at King Zhenbei with a sardonic smile.
“Thank you, King Zhenbei, for mistreating your legitimate son all these years and for passing the position of heir to your illegitimate son, which has given me an opportunity,” Su Yu said, toying with the token in his hand.
Upon seeing the appearance of the token, King Zhenbei’s face changed drastically. He looked at Su Yu in disbelief and asked, “Where did you get this thing?”
“It was given to me by your son. Surprised? He doesn’t want anything, only requesting an imperial decree to allow the divorce of King Zhenbei’s consort from you,” Su Yu said, looking at King Zhenbei, enunciating each word.
King Zhenbei, with a dark expression, realized that apart from his own loyal guards, the other soldiers obeyed the bearer of the token. The one who held the token had the authority.
Now that the token was in Su Yu’s hands, there would be no chance for his men to act as they pleased.
As King Zhenbei fumed, Su Yu spoke again, “If I’m not mistaken, the reason King Zhenbei has reached his current position is thanks to King Zhenbei’s consort, right? You gained everything today through King Zhenbei’s consort, and now you remember the woman you love. You’ve played your cards well, executing the strategy of favoring a concubine and destroying a wife. If not for that, how could I have obtained this token?”
“Well, speaking of which, I really should thank your concubine. When your legitimate son was just a few years old, she instigated you to abandon him in the Forget Sorrow City. Was she hoping he would die in there? It’s a pity that not only did he survive, but he’s also doing quite well,” Su Yu said nonchalantly.
Nan Qiao scratched his head as she saw Su Yu casually speaking these words. “Brother Yu, are you sure it’s a good idea to provoke Yue Shang like this? Do you think he might cause trouble for you?”
Su Yu raised an eyebrow at Nan Qiao. “Does he still want me to help his mother get rid of the scumbag?”
Nan Qiao choked and turned away silently. He couldn’t argue with Brother Yu.
But this was indeed a good opportunity.