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“Alright, but you should discuss this matter with the Empress Dowager. It’s better to find a substitute for the child in these three months just in case,” not that Su Yu looked down on Ling Guifei and the Xie family, but they have to be cautious of people like them.
The Empress Dowager listened on the side and, after some consideration, said, “Xiao Yu, you’ve worked hard.”
“I’ll protect the Crown Prince protects, and make armor for him.” Su Yu took out a jade pendant and handed it to the Emperor.
The Emperor saw the two characters on the jade pendant: “Flowing Toast Pavilion.”
“Not only are you the Dandy Scholar, but you’re also the Pavilion Master of Flowing Toast Pavilion?” The Emperor looked at Su Yu in shock. What kind of brother did he just acknowledge?
“This jade pendant serves as the token of the Deputy Pavilion Master. With this jade pendant, everyone in Flowing Toast Pavilion, from top to bottom, can work for you. Information about the movements of various countries, intelligence on officials in our country, and news from various places can all be delivered to you,” Su Yu replied earnestly, ignoring the Emperor’s shock.
“…” The Emperor looked at the jade pendant of Flowing Toast Pavilion in his hand. He had already infiltrated into other countries. How formidable was his power?
Just because he recognized him as a sworn brother, he was considering his well-being to such an extent. This made the Emperor’s mood extremely complex.
Su Yu looked at the Emperor; in fact, the Flowing Toast Pavilion was originally prepared for the Emperor.
For him, the Emperor was actually his benefactor.
In his previous life, the Emperor helped him seek revenge and ultimately laid him to rest.
After being reborn, he had always wanted to find an opportunity to repay him, but he hadn’t found the chance until now.
“You don’t need to reveal all your trump cards,” the Emperor said to Su Yu, returning the jade pendant to him. “You should keep this thing for yourself. A power shouldn’t have too many wielders of authority. One is enough. As for intelligence, when I need it, I’ll ask you for it. At that time, you can bring it to me.”
Su Yu looked at the jade pendant returned by the Emperor, somewhat unable to understand. “You don’t want it?”
“No, you’re my brother now. When I want your help, can you refuse?” the Emperor said with a relaxed expression.
To be honest, knowing that Flowing Toast Pavilion was a force in Su Yu’s hands, he felt much more at ease. At least this power was not in someone else’s hands.
“Okay.”
The Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor very satisfied. He was a good emperor. Since he chose to use this person, he wouldn’t suspect. Perhaps this attitude of the Emperor was the reason why Su Yu exposed himself to help him.
“Thank you, Brother.”
Thank you for avenging me in the previous life.
Thank you for the funeral in the previous life.
Although the words “thank you” were feeble, he could only say these two words now.
In the future, whatever concerned the Emperor, he would help as much as he could. If he couldn’t help, he would find every possible way to assist.
Watching Su Yu, who was willing to sacrifice everything for the Emperor, Su Jiu frowned. He felt that his brother’s feelings toward the Emperor seemed a bit peculiar.
“If there’s nothing else here, I’ll take Xiao Jiu back first,” Su Yu said.
“Okay, bring Xiao Jiu along for the New Year,” the Emperor reminded, concerned.
“Sure.”
Back at Su Yu’s home, Su Jiu looked at him seriously and asked, “Is there something I don’t know?”
Su Yu told Su Jiu about what happened in his past, and Su Jiu’s eyes turned red after listening.
So that’s it; many things could be explained this way.
“Are you helping the Emperor because of this?”
“Yes, in my previous life, he helped me seek revenge, collected my body, and gave me a proper burial. That’s why I want to help him,” Su Yu said. He used to help in secret, but now he had brought it to the forefront.
Su Jiu felt a heavy burden in his heart. His brother had gone through so much.
“It must have been very painful back then.” From his brother’s words, Su Jiu learned that before his death, he had been killed by the Xie family on the battlefield, and Su Xuan was also a puppet in Yang Shanshan’s hands. How did Su Yu endure all of that alone?
Su Yu walked to the window, looking at the silver-covered world outside. He spoke softly, “You get used to it, and then it doesn’t hurt.”
It was very painful at first, but as he gradually became numb, the pain faded away. No matter what they did to him, he couldn’t feel the pain.
Su Jiu reached out and hugged Su Yu tightly, saying with heartache, “No wonder you’ve changed so much in these years.”
“Brother, it’s all in the past. I’m fine now, Grandpa and you are still here, and there’s also Xiao He and Xiao Bao.” As long as they were all still here, he was content.
Su Jiu suppressed his anger and looked at Su Yu, asking, “When do you plan to take action?”
“Let them have one last peaceful year. If I act too late, it won’t be good,” Su Yu said.
“It’s not too late now,” Su Jiu shook his head. “If you need anything, just tell me. I will help you.”
He wouldn’t let his brother go through it alone, like in the past, where he had to endure everything alone until the end, and others had to help him collect his body.
“Do you know, Brother, when you had an accident on the battlefield, the Emperor personally went to find you. After bringing you back, he took action against the Xie family. Since then, few have seen him smile.” Su Yu suddenly told Su Jiu about this.
These things were told to him by the people under his command. At that time, he still had a few sincerely loyal subordinates who would tell him many things.
At that time, he felt fortunate for his brother’s choice because it was the right one. The Emperor was a good emperor and, at the same time, a good friend.
Su Jiu smiled at Su Yu’s words, “It’s something he would do.”
“He’s really good, Brother. Let’s help him together,” Su Yu said seriously.
“Okay, I’ll leave the Second Prince to you,” Su Jiu said seriously.
Considering Ling Guifei’s ambitions, the likelihood of her targeting the Second Prince was very high.
“I will.”
While the two were discussing this, the Emperor also informed the Empress of this matter.
The Empress looked at the child in her arms, feeling reluctant, but she knew the Emperor was right. If the child stayed in the palace, although they could protect him, they couldn’t watch over him every moment. “According to Su Yu’s suggestion, find a substitute for the child.”
She decided that because Ling Guifei would surely make a move soon.
“Okay.”
Soon, a child born on the same day as the Crown Prince was sent to the Empress’s sleeping palace. The Empress instructed her trusted maidservant to take good care of the child. When the consorts visited to see the child, they would hold this substitute instead. Since the children all looked alike, no one suspected anything.
With everything prepared, it was also nearing the time for the New Year.
Three days before the New Year, Qian, the shopkeeper, informed everyone that vegetables and strawberries were available. Upon hearing this news, each household sent people to guard, ready to make a move as soon as the shop opened.
The next day, even before the shop opened, there were already many people queuing outside. Su Yu saw this scene from a restaurant across the street and couldn’t help but admire Qian, the shopkeeper.
When Qian announced the news yesterday, he had mentioned that strawberries were twenty taels per catty, and vegetables were one or two silvers per catty.
Even though they were so expensive, so many people still came. It seemed they had already guessed the benefits of these fruits and vegetables.