No title, no marriage? Do you think I'm some kind of lapdog?

After he finished speaking, all around him fell silent.

Su Chuang glanced at Lin Ruxue's tightly clenched sleeves and then caught a glimpse of the Empress's seemingly gentle yet unfathomable eyes.

He became wary, his mind racing:

Empress Zhang's move, seemingly a gesture of flattery, was in reality a way to draw him into the power struggle between the inner palace and the outer court.

The title of "legitimate son" is both a shield and a target.

Those princes who covet the position of crown prince will be the first to see him as an enemy.

However, if he refuses, he will offend the Empress and may also miss the crucial clues to find out about his father's death.

But since his surname is Su, not Lin, it doesn't really matter if he's the legitimate son in history.

Does this mean that among adopted sons and godsons, there should also be a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children?

In a flash, he had made his decision.

"Your Majesty's kindness is too great for me."

"But the boy is unruly by nature and has a bad reputation, which may bring shame to the lady's family."

Su Chuang bowed, his voice clear, carrying a perfectly measured hint of panic and a touch of street smarts.

"Besides... that's all the kid's got to offer."

"I only want to accumulate more wealth so I can marry a beautiful wife and live a peaceful life. I really can't handle the important affairs of the court."

He paused, then looked up and forced a simple yet greedy smile.

"snort!"

Before Zhang Yuhua could say anything, Lin Ruxue snorted first.

She was very dissatisfied with Su Chuang's answer.

"Very well, everyone has their own ambitions, I will not force you."

"But this promise will always stand. Come back to me when you've made up your mind."

A hint of disappointment flickered in Zhang Yuhua's eyes, which she concealed well. She didn't insist too much and spoke in a calm tone.

"Thank you, Your Majesty..."

Su Chuang bowed and thanked him.

"Brother Chuang...do you even know what you just missed?!"

"How dare you disobey the Empress Dowager! You should know that even the Emperor fears the Empress Dowager to some extent."

When Lin Ruxue saw Su Chuang get up, she quickly pulled him aside and began to lecture him.

"I know, all the princes are scrambling to recognize the Empress as their mother."

"But as you know, I'm used to being wild."

"I prefer money to power!"

Su Chuang said indifferently.

If given another chance, I would still decisively and tactfully refuse Zhang Yuhua.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

Emperor Wu strode over with a powerful stride, and Eunuch Gui shouted loudly from the side.

"My husband...you're back."

Zhang Yuhua greeted them with a beaming smile.

"Okay, let's go eat together."

"I have a great appetite today, I must eat several bowls of rice!"

Su Chuang noticed that Emperor Wu's gaze towards Zhang Yuhua was unusually gentle, devoid of any imperial majesty.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Su Chuang knelt down, and Lin Ruxue bowed slightly beside him.

Get up.

"Xiao Chuang, you don't need to be so complicated in the harem in the future. Just follow Ru Xue's example."

After saying this, Emperor Wu and Zhang Yuhua walked hand in hand into Yongle Palace and began their meal.

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes…

While Su Chuang was busy making a fuss, he also listened attentively to Emperor Wu and Empress chatting.

The text suggests that the situation in the northern frontier is tense again, and the Xiongnu envoys are not behaving themselves at the Honglu Temple.

It seems this negotiation will not be easy.

"Xiao Chuang, Ru Xue told me you have a big appetite."

"Eat as much as you want, and don't tell anyone. I'm feeding you, and I'll make sure you're full!"

"Hahaha!"

Emperor Wu said happily.

This was the happiest day of his life in the past ten days.

"Speak slowly, or you'll choke again."

Zhang Yuhua said with a hint of complaint.

"Thank you... Father..."

"This is the best meal I've ever eaten in my life."

Su Chuang mumbled incoherently as he gnawed on a chicken leg.

"By the way, Father, where is my bodyguard Yue?"

"He didn't eat either..."

He was about to pack up when he realized that Yue Fei, the packing expert, was not there, so he looked up and asked.

"Don't worry, I've sent him to the imperial kitchen; he won't go hungry."

Emperor Wu was pleased to see Su Chuang showing concern for his subordinates.

"That's good, that's good. If there are any leftovers after we finish eating, can I take them home?"

"There are still many people in my household who haven't had such delicious food. Let's not waste it..."

After quickly finishing a chicken leg, Su Chuang picked up a large pig's trotter and said...

"Uh... okay, okay! Hurry up!"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wu's forehead once again showed signs of distress.

"Hehehe..."

Lin Ruxue and Zhang Yuhua simply covered their mouths and chuckled at this.

What a happy family of four!

As the sun set, two long shadows stretched out outside the palace gates.

It was Su Chuang and Yue Fei carrying large and small bags.

"Pengju, these are all delicious foods, please don't drop them."

Su Chuang reminded him, his fingers stroking the storage ring.

But he was secretly thinking to himself:

This ring should not be used under normal circumstances; it must be kept hidden.

Although I completed the daily check-in task successfully today, I cannot be careless.

He still needs two more missions to obtain an S-rank special unit:

The negotiation outcome must be favorable to the Great Qian Dynasty, and at the same time, Wanyan Zongbi must be eliminated without anyone noticing!

How to kill? When to kill?

"Here you go!"

Yue Fei said in a deep voice.

His first thought was, "Why is the road back home so long?"

"Um?"

Just as he turned out of the palace gate and onto the long street, Su Chuang paused.

A few people were vaguely visible standing in the shadows at the alley entrance ahead.

Although he was dressed in civilian clothes, his posture and eyes exuded a sense of solemnity and discipline typical of the military.

One of them was Wang Shuo, a lieutenant general under Ye Qingyue, whose face was ashen in court today.

"Duke of Su".

"This humble general is here on General Ye's orders to 'remind' you of something."

Wang Shuo clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice icy cold, as if he wished he could devour Su Chuang alive.

He deliberately emphasized the word "remind" in his tone, his hand already on the hilt of the knife.

"It's not just the roads in northern Xinjiang that are difficult to travel."

"And you can't just sit in this chair as the commander of the patrol army without a plan."

Su Chuang smiled but didn't reply immediately.

He glanced at Wang Shuo, then slowly stuffed the last bite of the pastry he had brought from the palace into his mouth and patted the crumbs off his hands.

"General Wang, go back and tell Ye Qingyue."

He looked up, his eyes flashing even colder, his killing intent growing stronger.

Whether this chair of mine is stable or not is not up to her to decide.

"But she should be careful, lest she fall from her position as 'Heroine Marquis' one day."

"After all, I begged for her minor title from the Emperor."

"Without me, she wouldn't even be considered a piece of trash!"

After saying this, Su Chuang ignored the other party's stiff expression and led Yue Fei straight into the night.

……

The Duke of Xin's Mansion.

After Su Chuang sent his servants to buy some miscellaneous sugars, he went into his dormitory to rest.

[Congratulations, host, you have successfully unlocked today's check-in location: the Patrol Army Commander's Mansion.]

[Beginner: Simply check in upon reaching the destination to receive a B-rank general as a reward.]

[Intermediate: Initial success in reforming the patrol troops and gaining their loyalty; rewarded with one A-rank general.]

[Advanced: Gain full loyalty and bring the deputy commander to justice; reward: one S-rank general]