Duke Ping thought, this girl wouldn't really want him to go to the palace to ask for something for her. Once it's in the emperor's hands, there's really no way he can get it back.
Su Juan shook her head, "His Majesty said that it was a token of love between the Empress and him, and now it has been returned to its original owner."
A token of love made everything clear.
"It seems you already know." Duke Ping let go of the teacup and put it back on the table. He originally wanted to pick a day to tell her, but he didn't expect that Liu Ze would act faster.
Now, Su Juan knew it first.
Su Juan nodded slightly, "Yes, I understand."
[You and Xie Xun showed it so obviously, plus the Queen's changes, if you can't guess it, you'd be stupid.]
When their eyes met, Duke Ping smiled, "In terms of seniority, you should call me uncle."
Su Juan put down the teacup, stood up and walked to the Duke of Pingguo, knelt down in front of him, and bowed to him, "Juan'er greets uncle!"
This kneeling and bowing frightened Duke Ping, but the word "uncle" made his eyes sore. He stood up to help him, "We are a family, why do we need to go through such a big ceremony?"
Su Juan shook her head and said, "I only now understand how much my uncle protected me, so I am grateful to him."
It was not until recently that she figured out why the Duke of Ping and his son treated her so well the first two times. It must be because they knew her life experience.
At that time, the King of Han, the King of Heng, and the King of Jing were fighting with each other. In order to protect his niece's granddaughter, he kept it a secret. In such a chaotic situation, staying alive was more important than anything else.
Later, when the Xie family was exiled, he died on the way to exile and never revealed a word. I knew that my situation was difficult at that time and he never asked me for help.
Su Juan never thought that the love and care from her family that she had longed for for so many years in the orphanage had actually been fulfilled when she came here, but she was completely unaware of it at that time.
In this situation, she recalled the many times Duke Ping had protected her in the past, and her heart ached, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Duke Ping was also in tears, and helped Su Juan up, "Girl, it's not that your uncle and grandmother don't want to recognize you, but you know the situation in the court. Exposing your background at that time would only harm you."
Su Juan: "Uncle is very thoughtful, Juaner understands."
Duke Ping sighed and patted the back of Su Juan's hand. "It's a pity that Liu Ze still found out. But fortunately, you have many good colleagues in the court now, and we have people in the six ministries. Just stand up straight in the future. With your uncle here, the Duke's Mansion is your backer."
Prince Jing has connections in the court, and now his Duke's Mansion also has many connections. Prince Han has military power, and his Duke's Mansion also has it.
Even if he wanted to take action, he had to consider the strength of the Duke Pingguo's Mansion. Xie Yu'an was no pushover.
Su Juan was grateful in her heart, "Thank you, uncle."
Duke Ping looked at Su Juan, collected his thoughts, and his expression became much more serious. "Uncle has something to ask you, you should think carefully before answering."
Su Juan nodded.
Duke Ping said sternly, "You are of royal blood, born to the current emperor and the queen. You are of noble status. The emperor has no other heirs. Once your background is exposed, you will become the target of public criticism. I only want to ask you one question now: do you intend to seize the throne?"
If it were before, he would not have dared to ask this question, but during the trip to Xuzhou, he could also feel the changes in his niece's granddaughter.
Under the gaze of Duke Ping, Su Juan nodded slowly, "I dare not hide it from you, I do have this intention."
"I know that the King of Han has been coveting it for a long time, Song Qianfan has wolfish ambitions, the other vassal kings also have ulterior motives, and the Southern Kingdom is eyeing it covetously. This road is bound to be difficult to take, but I have seen the suffering of the people, and I am not at ease leaving this world in the hands of anyone."
Duke Ping felt relieved, thinking that all his planning for her over the past two years was not in vain.
"Don't worry, no matter how difficult the road is, your uncle will help you. It's yours, and no one else can take it away from you."
Su Juan was grateful in her heart, "Juan'er thanks uncle."
The two men sat down and discussed the current situation in the court, who could be used, and who needed to be guarded against.
"After the New Year, my uncle will invite the Minister of Justice and the Earl of Ping to come to his house. You should come and meet them. These two people already know your identity, so there is no need to hide it."
Su Juan was slightly stunned, "What about Liu Xuan?"
[Does Liu Xuan know this too? ]
Duke Ping laughed and said, "That child is smart. He guessed it himself."
"Girl, trust people when you employ them, and don't employ people you don't trust. You should be sincere to people, but you can't lack the means. Do you understand?"
Su Juan nodded, "I understand."
She has always been clear about this. The people of Ruyi Tower are her confidants. She has always treated them with trust and never been harsh on them. She also takes good care of their families, but at the same time, their families are also a means to ensure their loyalty.
Only by combining kindness and severity can we truly control everything.
Seeing that Su Juan understood everything she should know and understood some things at a glance, Duke Ping was pleased. She was indeed a descendant of the Xie family, smart and promising. After all, not everyone could climb to the position of a fourth-rank minister in the current dynasty in just two years.
At this moment, Xie Xun's voice came from outside the study, "Old man! The kitchen staff said that the flowers are not enough, are you going to pick them or not?!"
"If you don't pick them, I'm going to visit the flower shop!"
Duke Pingguo: “.” Except for this rebellious son.
He was puzzled. The midwife had done the right thing when she delivered the baby, so why did this son not look like him at all?
After the New Year, there is the Lantern Festival.
Su Juan and Liu Miaoqing made an appointment to go to the lantern festival together after the banquet in the palace was over.
The old emperor specifically instructed that this banquet must be held well, as there were many ministers and their wives entering the palace, so more desserts should be prepared, and hangover soup should also be prepared.
Because it was a festival, Su Juan was dressed brightly and walked with Xie Xun, attracting everyone's attention.
Surprisingly, there were hot water bottles at the women's table. Su Juan had been freezing all the way, so she immediately took the hot water bottle in her hands.
As soon as everyone took their seats, the old emperor came with the queen, with a smile on his face, "My dear ministers, there is no need to be polite. Let's eat and drink well tonight and enjoy the festival together."
After the words fell, the court officials raised their glasses, and Su Juan also poured a glass of wine and raised it high, but muttered in her heart: [What's good to drink? The old emperor is very stingy. It's neither water nor wine. ]
[I have never drunk a single sip of good wine at any banquet in the palace.]
The old emperor’s forehead twitched: “.” Bullshit!
When did I do that? Why are you talking nonsense here?
The court officials were silent. After Su Juan went to Xuzhou, they almost forgot about it.
They drank wine, but Su Juan drank real water.
Su Juan followed the other court officials and drank it all in one gulp. It tasted hot at first, but then turned sweet. Her eyes lit up immediately, "Wow! What a good wine!"
The courtiers were shocked: "!"
His Majesty actually let her drink! ?
Here is the third update of today’s chicken drumstick. There is one more update, which will be delivered later.