On the cliff.
Su Yu stared blankly at the two-meter-tall Big White wolf, sitting motionlessly on the ground.
Big White: So this is the cousin that the master mentioned? Which cousin is this, he doesn't look very smart...
Su Yu looked at the Big White wolf in front of him, feeling like this wolf was disdaining him. Just a moment ago, he had fallen off the cliff and was rescued by this wolf. After climbing back up, Su Yu sat dazed on the ground, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
"Third Cousin, are you alright?"
Su Yue and the others rushed over, finding Su Yu sitting dazedly on the ground. Su Yue examined him carefully and aside from the few sword wounds he had received earlier, there were no other injuries.
"Cousin... it..."
"Oh, this is Big White. Big White, why are you here?" Xuan Little Four went up and hugged Big White's neck.
"Woo!"
Big White: Don't strangle my neck, you're so heavy, it's suffocating me.
"Big White, you're happy to see me too, right? You missed me a little, didn't you?"
Big White: You fool, let go of me now.
"I knew you missed me, so you followed us here, right? I just knew it, aside from Little Five, you like me the most."
Big White: Still not letting go? If you don't let go now, I'll bite you!
"Woo!"
Su Yue had a deadpan expression at this point and quickly pulled Xuan Little Four's arms away before Big White got angry. "Fourth Senior Brother, Big White doesn't like others strangling his neck, quickly let go."
"Oh oh, I was just too excited to see Big White!"
Su Yu watched their interaction with the Big White wolf and slowly realized that this Big White must have been accompanying his cousin and the others. Recalling that Xuan Little Four had mentioned to their grandfather that when his cousin was born, she was saved by a Big White wolf, this must be that wolf.
"Cousin, this... Big White? He came with you all?"
"Yeah, that's right. Big White has been following us. But because of his large size and not wanting to scare people, he's been hiding in the woods, secretly following behind us. Just now in that dangerous situation, I called out to him to come rescue you."
"Thanks to Big White, otherwise I would have perished here this time." Su Yu looked gratefully at Big White.
"It's okay, Big White is very happy to meet you."
"Really? Big White, my name is Su Yu, I'm Yue Er's second cousin. Thank you for your assistance today."
Big White: Master, this cousin of yours seems a bit foolish, he was just sitting dazedly looking at me earlier.
"Yue Er, it seems like Big White likes me too? He's been looking at me this whole time." Su Yu excitedly looked at Big White, really envious of his little cousin having such a large pet, he wanted one too.
Su Yue felt awkward, "Um... yeah, that's right, Big White likes you a lot."
Xuan Little Three watched his little junior sister's expression and silently laughed to himself. Others might not know, but he knew. This Big White, aside from Little Five, didn't care about anyone else. In the past, he had tried to curry favor with this cold-eyed wolf too, but each time was met with disdain, so eventually he stopped bothering to warm up to its cold butt.
"Let's quickly catch up to the group ahead, your great-grandfather and the others must be worried."
"Yes, let's hurry, I don't know how things are on Elder Brother's side." Su Yu also refocused, feeling somewhat anxious.
At this time, the main army had stopped ten miles away from the cliff, waiting for the group to return. The situation had been so dire earlier that Su Yu was anxiously waiting.
Su Huan was the first to receive the news. The Covert Guards immediately came to report that the group had escaped danger, but omitted the detail about the mysteriously appearing Big White wolf. However, the news was quickly relayed to the imperial palace in the capital.
"As expected of Our daughter, she is truly extraordinary. I never imagined that after being displaced for many years, she would learn such formidable skills - her fortuitous destiny." Emperor Wu beamed with pride.
"Zhang Fu, We instructed you to search Our private vaults and gather some fine gifts, have you found everything?"
"Yes, yes, this servant has gathered a full eight boxes, all top-notch treasures that the young princess will surely love." Zhang Fu grinned from ear to ear, never expecting the young princess to be so capable. She truly lived up to being the daughter of Consort Yun. He had received Consort Yun's great favor in the past and has always been grateful to her. Her child is his benefactor.
"Your Majesty, there is one other matter..."
"What matter? Speak, don't beat around the bush."
"Su Yu fell into the cliff, and when the princess called out, a... two-meter-tall Big White wolf appeared from nowhere and rescued Su Yu."
"You mean it appeared out of nowhere?"
"Yes, this servant and the others witnessed it clearly, it appeared out of nowhere."
Emperor Wu's eyes narrowed slightly, "If word of this spreads, the Covert Guards Pavilion will cease to exist."
"Yes, this servant swears on his life to never let this spread."
"You are dismissed."
Emperor Wu sat at his desk, deep in thought.
Yun Er, I never imagined that our daughter, although not raised by our side, has had such wondrous encounters. Rest assured, I will surely protect her well. After my hundred years, I will have the face to see you again.
He then thought about the Su family's perilous journey back to the capital and the assassination attempts, his eyes hardening. "Zhang Fu, do you think over these years, We have been too lenient with those people? Allowing them to harbor ideas they should not?"
Zhang Fu opened his mouth but said nothing. He understood the Emperor's thoughts. But over these years, in order to protect the second prince, the Emperor had deliberately turned a blind eye, precisely to lower those people's guard. At the same time, it also nurtured their ambitions.
"Send orders that the Zhenguo General will soon return to the capital. Have the Crown Prince go forth and personally welcome the Zhenguo General, ensuring his safe arrival in the capital. Tell the Crown Prince, if anything happens to the Zhenguo General, he need not return to the capital either."
Zhang Fu was shocked, "Your Majesty, this......"
"Convey the message word for word to the Crown Prince."
"Yes, this servant will obey."
"Also, have Covert One personally lead troops over, secretly protecting them to ensure their safe arrival in the capital."
"Yes."
Zhang Fu bowed and departed.
At King Jing's Mansion.
"Bang!" Everything on the desk was knocked to the floor.
The Crown Prince Xiao Shen's eyes were filled with malice. His father had dealt him a stinging slap in the face. He, the Crown Prince and prime candidate to be the heir apparent, was being instructed to go out of the city and welcome the Su family back, and if anything happened, he need not return? How did his father view him now?
"Father, You are far too biased. Even after all these years, that sickly runt is the only one in Your heart. Going out of Your way to pave the path for him. Have You forgotten that I too am Your child?" Xiao Shen's eyes were bloodshot.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please restrain yourself. In the current circumstances, we still have the upper hand, we cannot give others an opening at this critical juncture." Xiao Shen's chief adviser Jiang Yan tried to placate him.
"What do I fear? Everything I have achieved was through my own efforts. Father has never favored me, his heart only has room for that sickly runt, that little b*stard!"
"Your Highness, watch your words," Jiang Yan glanced at the door, "Even if the second prince regains the Emperor's favor, how much longer can he live? Your Highness, small resentments lead to greater disorder."
"Restrain, restrain - how much more must I restrain myself? I am the Empress's son, both the eldest and legitimate heir, why must I endure Xiao Yan!"
"Yes, Your Highness's identity is noble, how could the second prince ever compare? Therefore, why be angered? The second prince's ill health precludes him from the throne. The Emperor only has you two princes, and the throne can only go to you. Once you ascend to that supreme position, you can do as you wish with the second prince, who could stop you then?"
Xiao Shen took a deep breath, "A great man can bend and straighten. I will endure this one last time. When I sit upon that throne, hmph, the Su family, Xiao Yan, not a single one will have a good life."
