"I like it!"
The portrait was the most satisfactory piece that Su Yu had spent the entire night before painting. Thinking of this little aunt brought back fond memories. The little aunt was very kind to all of them as children. Before she entered the palace, she often bought them delicious snacks and took them out to play. Su Yu was the oldest grandchild and the closest to this aunt, but now... Alas, times have changed.
Seeing everyone's gloomy mood, Su Yu quickly took out his gift to divert their attention. "Cousin, I may not have the talent of my elder brother or the wealth of the third brother, but... my gift is also quite good, you'll see." He said mysteriously as he took out a small cloth bag from his pocket.
Su Yue took it and opened it in front of everyone. Inside was a small round box. As soon as it was opened, a strange fragrance wafted out. Xuan Little Three was the first to notice something was amiss and quickly went over to close the box.
"Third Master Xuan, what's wrong?"
"This scent is poisonous."
Everyone was shocked.
"You little brat, what are you trying to do by giving your cousin something poisonous? Are you itching for trouble?" Su Huan was the first to scold.
"No, no, Grandfather, this may seem like poison, but it's actually a very useful medicine. I had to go through great efforts to obtain it."
"But it's still poison. How could you give your cousin something poisonous? You're being too reckless."
"Uncle, it's truly not poison, but a medicinal herb. If you don't believe me, ask the Divine Doctor Xuan. He would definitely know about it."
Su Yu looked at Xuan Little Three with hopeful eyes, hoping he could explain on his behalf.
"Indeed, this is called Xuan Ice Grass. It has a bewitching fragrance but is itself a rare medicinal ingredient."
"So this is Xuan Ice Grass. But I recall from the books that Xuan Ice Grass mainly grows in extremely cold regions. How did the second cousin obtain it?"
"I came across it by chance. At the time, I showed it to the army physician, who recognized it as a precious medicinal ingredient, so I kept it. I thought, Cousin, with your excellent medical skills, you would surely appreciate such a rare medicinal herb. Heh heh." Su Yu scratched his head sheepishly.
"It is indeed a rare ingredient. Thank you, second cousin."
"No need to thank me. If it weren't for you, who knows what would have happened to my father."
"Your father is also my little uncle. Second cousin, please don't be so formal. Although Uncle has been unconscious for the most part, he has indeed escaped danger. More rest is good for him to recuperate."
"Yeah, he did regain consciousness for a brief moment this morning."
With casual family chat and gift-giving, this family banquet soon came to an end.
In the afternoon, Su Huan and the Su family members held a family meeting. "This time when I return to the Capital City, I will step down."
"Father!" "Grandfather!" "Grandfather!" "Grandfather!"
Su Huan waved his hand. "I'm not stepping down because I'm admitting defeat to those people, but rather to return to the Capital City and plan countermeasures. Elder son, you will have to take over."
"This is only natural. Someone has to remain here, and I don't trust anyone else. But Father, you don't need to step down right now."
"If I don't step down, those people won't allow me to remain in the Capital City. I've made up my mind. This time, under the pretext of poor health, I will stay in the Capital City, and all duties will be handed over to you. That way, I can protect Yue and the others in the Capital City."
At this moment, Su Yu had some concerns. "Grandfather's intention is good, but will they allow my father to take over so smoothly? I'm afraid they might take advantage of the situation and seize military power."
"Do they think they can seize military power as they wish? This military power will only remain in the hands of our Su family. Rest assured about that."
"It's reassuring that Grandfather has made arrangements."
"Yes! This time, Yu and Qian will also return to the Capital City with me. Qian, you've had enough fun as well. It's time for you to go back."
Su Qian was unusually serious. "Understood, Grandfather. I'll leave in a couple of days, not with you all back to the Capital City. That would draw too much attention. I'll go ahead and report the good news to Grandmother, Father, and Mother."
"Grandfather, I want to stay and assist my father. Leaving him alone here, I'm not at ease, especially with the recent unrest in the surrounding areas."
"Deal with those issues before you leave, as a warning to them. Over these years, they truly think our Su family is easy to bully with our restraint."
Su Yu was immediately energized upon hearing this. "Grandfather, let me take the lead in dealing with those scoundrels. I've been holding back so much that I'm about to cough up blood."
"No need to rush. Let me plan it out first. This time, we'll serve them a full course."
Su Yu's eyes also turned fierce.
"Good, I'll leave this matter to you two brothers. After it's settled, return to the Capital City together. Yu, you're not young anymore. It's time for you to return to the Capital City and settle your marriage. Let your Third Uncle stay behind to recuperate, and after he recovers, he can assist your father."
"Grandfather, I... I don't want to get married yet." The mention of marriage turned Su Yu's face beet red.
"You're already twenty-five. If you don't want to get married, then what do you want to do? By your age, others already have several children."
Su Li immediately became displeased upon hearing this. Over the years, his son had been stationed in the military camp, and the delay had dragged on until this age, which made him very anxious.
"That's right, that's right. Elder brother, you should find us a sister-in-law. Isn't that right, Third Brother?"
"Yes, yes, yes. Find us a sister-in-law and hurry up and give us a nephew to play with." Su Qian had a mischievous grin on his face.
"Yu, you're twenty as well. After all these years of delay, we'll settle both of your marriages together this time."
Seeing that both his elder and second brothers were about to be arranged for marriage, Su Qian immediately dared not speak anymore, fearing he would be implicated as well. He was still young and didn't want to get married.
Su Yu was also left blushing.
"Alright, you all can withdraw. Yu, you and your brother make the arrangements quickly. This time, don't hold back. Give them a good beating and let them know how hard the Su family's fists can strike. You have seven days. We'll depart for the Capital City at the latest in seven days."
"Yes, Grandfather."
"Yes, Grandfather."
Su Li watched his sons leave the tent with full confidence, but his face was filled with worry.
"What's wrong? You don't have faith?"
"It's not that I don't have faith in Yu's abilities. At such a young age, he already has the aura of a great general, and his battle tactics and strategies far surpass mine. It's just... I'm worried that on the way back to the Capital City this time, the journey might not be peaceful."
"Son, I don't have you accompany me back because I'm not at ease about it either. Although your father is old, I'm not completely immobile. I have preparations in place, so there won't be any issues."
"Father, are you... planning to employ the Shadows?"
"Over these years, I haven't used them, but haven't they been active all along?"
"So, Yue's true identity couldn't really be concealed after all?"
"It was only a temporary concealment. That person probably already knows, and the news may have already spread back to the Capital City by now."
It must be said, the older the ginger, the spicier it is.
At this time, in the imperial study room of the palace in the Capital City, the middle-aged man dressed in a dragon robe trembled as he held the secret report, unable to speak for a long while. The chief eunuch Zhang Fu, who was standing beside him and had served the Emperor since childhood and was the most trusted and closest person to the Emperor, was also frightened by the Emperor's expression. He leaned over to look at the content of the secret report.
This Zhang Fu had served the Emperor since childhood and was the most trusted and closest person to the Emperor, privy to all of the Emperor's affairs. Upon reading the contents on the paper, he was first shocked, then his eyes reddened with tears. She was... she was alive. How wonderful, how wonderful.
