Chapter 169: Capturing Hearts

While Gu Xiruo was contemplating how to deal with Wang Jinhe, the gifts from Xiao Bao to Su Jiu and the others arrived.

Looking at the person delivering melons to him, Su Jiu raised an eyebrow and asked, “Is Xiao Yu so kind? He sent so many watermelons to me.”

“This was personally picked by little Young Master. The Emperor, Empress Dowager, Master, and Young Master each have ten.” The person delivering the melons spoke.

Su Jiu was surprised to hear that Xiao Bao had personally picked and sent them. “Why would Xiao Bao think of sending us melons?”

It would make sense if he sent them to him and his grandfather, but why would Xiao Bao also send them to the Emperor and Empress Dowager? It was quite strange.

“After receiving the imperial decree, Little Young Master expressed his liking for the Emperor and said he wanted to send melons. When Little Young Master likes someone, he will personally pick and send fruits. Previously, only the Master had received such treatment.”

Su Jiu was at a loss for words. This little guy indeed had some skills in winning people’s hearts.

“Alright, take the ones for my grandfather to him, and I’ll personally deliver the ones for the Emperor and Empress Dowager,” Su Jiu instructed, and the melons were brought into the palace once again.

The Emperor was surprised to learn that Su Jiu had sent him watermelons. “You’re unexpectedly kind today? Sending watermelons to Us? And so many of them?”

“It wasn’t me who sent them. Xiao Bao picked them and specifically wanted to send ten to the Emperor and Empress Dowager,” Su Jiu shrugged.

If he had been the one sending them, two or three would have been generous. But ten? What was he thinking?

Xiao Bao…

The Emperor found the name very familiar. “This name seems a bit familiar.”

“He’s Xiao Yu’s son. Because of the land you rewarded Xiao He, Xiao Bao said he likes you. He dragged Xiao Yu to the field to pick melons and had them sent here,” Su Jiu asserted, making his little nephew’s presence known.

The Emperor looked at Su Jiu with surprise. “Is that so? Su Jiu, how many incense sticks did your brother burn to have such an adorable son?” He even felt like competing with Su Yu for the child; what should he do?

“I don’t know how many incense sticks were burned, but Xiao Bao is indeed very well-behaved and sensible,” Su Jiu’s heart melted at the thought of Xiao Bao. “I once thought about coaxing Xiao Bao over, but who would have thought this child is so clever? No matter how you try, he won’t be fooled.”

This child’s talent is exactly like Su Yu’s; who knows if he’ll break Su Yu’s records in the future.

Looking at the melons in the basket, the Emperor touched his chin. “Since the little guy has given Us a gift, We can’t be too stingy. We should give him something nice. Later, I’ll ask the Empress Dowager and decide what to give the child.”

Su Jiu’s mouth twitched a bit. Is Xiao Bao the first child to receive a reward directly from the Emperor based on his own merits? And he’s only three years old.

“Your Majesty, there’s no need to give the child anything,” Su Jiu, though pleased, refused verbally.

“It’s not for you. Why are you rejecting on behalf of others?”

Su Jiu shook his head in a helpless manner, leaving the matter to the Emperor.

The items were delivered, so Su Jiu left the study to find Su Xi. Meanwhile, the Emperor took the melons and went to the sleeping palace to find the Empress Dowager.

“Why did Your Majesty come to visit me today?” the Empress Dowager asked curiously upon seeing the Emperor.

Considering the recent busy schedule of the Emperor, she didn’t expect him to have time to come to her.

“Mother, it’s Wang Jinhe’s son who sent us fruits. I thought since he gave us melons, shouldn’t we also give the little guy something?” The Emperor couldn’t help but speak up.

The Empress Dowager, who was originally reclining on soft pillows, sat up straight when she heard this. “Sent us fruits?”

“Yes, Su Jiu said the child likes whoever he likes and picks fruits to give them as gifts.” A three or four-year-old child, where did he get such thoughts? He even picks fruits only for those he likes.

“This child seems quite cute. But how would Su Jiu know about someone else’s child?” the Empress Dowager asked in surprise.

“This child is Su Yu’s son.” The Emperor then recounted the story of Su Yu and Wang Jinhe to the Empress Dowager, who praised Su Yu for his loyalty.

“This lad is quite responsible. After searching for so many years, he has finally turned his luck around. He has a wife and a child now. But I heard before that the child separated from the family. What happened?” The Emperor explained the situation of Su Yu and Su Qin to the Empress Dowager, who furrowed her brows more as she listened.

“This Su Qin couple really has some issues. Treating their own son like this, the child doesn’t even acknowledge them now,” the Empress Dowager commented.

“Indeed. Mother, what do you think we should give Xiao Bao as a small gift?” The Emperor asked.

“Send some novel toys; children generally like that. I remember you have some high-quality writing tools in your collection; give the child some of those too,” the Empress Dowager suggested. With a father who excelled in studying, what could be lacking in the son?

“Yes, Mother, I will prepare that. I wonder if Xiao Bao can break his father’s three consecutive victories,” the Emperor said.

“Who can say for sure now? We’ll know when the child grows up a bit,” the Empress Dowager replied.

“That’s true.”

Wang Jinhe was unaware that, due to Xiao Bao’s gesture, the Emperor had personally prepared a return gift for Xiao Bao and even invited him to play in the palace after they returned to the capital.

Leaving that aside, upon learning about Gu Xiruo’s purpose, Wang Jinhe didn’t pay too much attention. She left the matter entirely to Su Yu, while she took Qiuyi and others, focused on making wine, raisins, and similar products.

Su Yu was completely clueless about these things and could only watch from the side. Suddenly, he heard the cry of an eagle, and Su Yu walked outside to see a lightning bolt descending from the sky.

He raised his hand to let the lightning stand on his arm. Su Yu took the letter from it and was about to read it when Xiao Bao and Xiao Zhi ran over. “Daddy, we want to feed lightning.”

“You go feed it.” Su Yu handed the lightning to Xiao Bao, and both Xiao Bao and Xiao Zhi hurried to find Wang Jinhe.

“Mom, we want meat to feed lightning,” Xiao Bao said when he approached Wang Jinhe, holding lightning.

Seeing lightning in Xiao Bao’s arms, Wang Jinhe went to get some meat for them to feed it.

Su Yu, on the other hand, was reading the contents of the letter. After reading it once, he read it again to make sure he hadn’t misunderstood.

It was a letter from his older brother, saying that the Emperor and the Empress Dowager had prepared a return gift for Xiao Bao.

Shaking his head, Su Yu felt that their son Xiao Bao was truly impressive.

“Xiao He, I’ll tell you something. Do you want to know?” Su Yu looked at Wang Jinhe and asked mysteriously.

Wang Jinhe took a moment to look up at Su Yu. “Hmm? What is it?”

“I’ve always known that Xiao Bao is good at winning people’s hearts, but I didn’t expect it to be this impressive.”

“Hmm?”

“Big brother sent a letter. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager have prepared a return gift for Xiao Bao.”