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“Everyone hopes their children will soar to great heights, but is your approach truly right? Forcing a child to bear the burden of something even adults can’t achieve—is that appropriate?” Su Yu looked at Patriarch Gu, each word carefully spoken.
Patriarch Gu had no idea about these matters, nor did he intend to. All he knew was that Zhang Zhilin was fine now, and he was doing exceptionally well.
“I’m doing this for his own good. He’ll understand in the future. He’s still young now. Please return the child to the Gu family, Your Highness,” Patriarch Gu stubbornly insisted.
“This child’s surname is Zhang, not Gu. Patriarch Gu, please don’t mistake the identity. Also, instead of keeping an eye on Xiao Zhilin, you might as well focus on educating the children at home,” the children of the Gu family were not as undesirable as Patriarch Gu thought.
With proper guidance, they would undoubtedly become outstanding individuals.
However, Patriarch Gu never bothered to understand; once he deemed someone incapable, he believed there was no hope.
“Don’t trouble yourself with Gu family matters, Your Highness. Just return the child to me,” Patriarch Gu said, realizing that Su Yu wasn’t paying attention to his words at all.
Su Yu, seeing that he had spoken so kindly, was surprised by Patriarch Gu’s attitude and didn’t want to continue the conversation with him.
“I’m leaving now, Your Highness. Write to me if you need anything.”
“Okay.”
“Your Highness, are you trying to forcibly take someone else’s child?” Patriarch Gu hastily asked as Su Yu mentioned leaving.
“Patriarch Gu, I already know about this matter. It ends here. Xiao Zhilin is Xiao Yu’s adopted son, and taking care of him is most suitable. Besides, you saw the child’s reaction just now. If you take away a child who is doing well, you might ruin him completely,” Xuan Feiran looked at Patriarch Gu displeasedly and said.
“Your Majesty…”
“If the child is willing to go with you, that’s fine. But he clearly doesn’t want to go with you. Are you trying to endanger a child’s life by forcing him? If you have nothing else to say, this matter is settled,” Xuan Feiran coldly reprimanded, furrowing his brows.
The onlookers, having witnessed Zhang Zhilin’s earlier condition and now seeing Patriarch Gu’s persistence, began to murmur quietly: “What’s wrong with Patriarch Gu? Didn’t he see that the child didn’t want to go to his house? Why insist on taking the child away?”
“Yeah, and he’s saying that the prince is taking away their child. It’s not even their child. The child’s surname is Zhang, even if he’s an adopted grandson, there’s a level of separation.”
“The way the child behaved just now shows what kind of things their family did to him in the past. I can’t believe they’re acting like this now,” the commoners kept murmuring.
Pointing at the people below, Xuan Feiran said, “Did you hear that? Even the commoners can see through this situation. Patriarch Gu, don’t do such things in the future. This matter ends here.”
Patriarch Gu lowered his head in defeat. “Yes.”
Xuan Feiran turned to Su Yu. “Hurry, leave now. If you delay, you’ll end up sleeping outside. Su Jiu is waiting for you outside the city gates.”
“Alright.”
Su Yu, accompanied by Wang Jinhe, left. After they departed, Xuan Feiran returned to the palace with the queen. As for Patriarch Gu, he stood at the entrance of the Su family’s residence for quite some time before leaving.
Once Su Yu and the others were on the carriage, they set off back to the Xie family village.
As they reached the city gates, they indeed saw Su Jiu on horseback, waiting with a group of people.
“Elder brother has left.”
“Good.”
After leaving the capital, Zhang Zhilin’s tense nerves finally relaxed. Hong Yi had grown up, making the journey a bit faster.
With four children on the road, they didn’t find it boring. After over half a month, the group finally arrived at the Xie family village.
Yu Qingfeng was in the yard, discussing matters with a customer buying wine. Hearing the sound of hooves outside, he initially thought it was another customer coming to purchase goods.
When Qingfeng went outside and saw Su Yu getting off the carriage, he smiled. “Xiao Yu, you’re back.”
“Dad, we’re back.”
Su Yu lifted the four children from the carriage. Hong Yi, seeing Yu Qingfeng, walked over and reached out to be picked up. “Grandpa, hold me.”
Yu Qingfeng lifted Hong Yi and playfully rocked him in his arms. “You’re heavy.”
“Not heavy, I’ve grown up.”
“All right, Hong Yi is not heavy; he has indeed grown up.”
After getting off the carriage, Xiao Bao ran towards the house. “Big Flower, Little Flower, we’re back.”
Upon Xiao Bao’s shout, the dogs, chickens, and sheep in the house all started making noise, creating a chaotic symphony.
Chang Le, curious, looked inside. Even Su Shan was intrigued and asked, “Cousin, do you have so many things in your house?”
“Yes.”
“Imperial Uncle, I want to see. I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Chang Le had only seen horses; animals like these were truly a rare sight.
The mention of “Imperial Uncle ” made Yu Qingfeng look at Su Yu. “Whose child is this?”
It wasn’t what he expected.
“She’s Emperor’s legitimate eldest daughter, Princess Chang Le. Chang Le, He’s ‘Grandpa.'”
Chang Le looked at the person holding her brother, tilted her head, and said, “Imperial Uncle, this is Uncle, not Grandpa.”
“Why?” Su Yu’s eyelids twitched. How did it become “Uncle” now?
“He looks so young, not like a grandpa. Grandpas have white, bushy beards, not like this.”
Yu Wingfeng was amused by Chang Le and ruffled her hair. “The princess speaks so well. Grandpa is already in his forties.”
“But Grandpa looks young.”
“Chang Le, Does Empress looks young?” Su Yu felt the need to have a serious talk with Chang Le.
Chang Le nodded earnestly. “She wasn’t young before, but now she is. Mother is also very beautiful.”
“That’s right. Because Grandpa and Empress take good care of their health, they look young. But we can’t mess up the generations.”
“Got it. Imperial Uncle, can I go play with Xiao Bao and the others?”
“Sure.”
“Me too,” Hong Yi chimed in.
Yu Qingfeng put Hong Yi down, and Hong Yi slowly walked towards the house. When he reached Little Baa, he hugged Little Baa’s neck. “Little Baa.”
Su Shan was interested in the animals at home, so they let her play with the four children. Chang Le especially liked Big Flower, finding it quite majestic.
After settling the children, Su Yu and Wang Jinhe took out the gifts they brought for Yu Qingfeng and the others. Only then did they have time to hear about what had happened during their absence.
It turned out that during their time away, Wang Jingyu had become engaged. His fiancée was the daughter of the headmaster of the academy, a fine young lady.
Wang Jinhe looked surprised and turned to Gu Jiuning. “Mom, my brother got engaged? We had no idea.”
“It happened during the New Year.”
“Well, that’s good. It looks like I need to set my sights on my brother’s friends.” Wang Jinhe rubbed her chin, expressing his intentions.
Gu Jiuning and Yu Qingfeng looked at Wang Jinhe in confusion. “Set your sights on what?”
“It’s about my eldest uncle’s daughter’s engagement? I think my brother and his friends are all good, so it’s like the saying, ‘Good things should stay within the family.’ Now that my brother is engaged, I’ll have to look elsewhere,” Wang Jinhe explained confidently.