Chapter 597: Dividends

The latest website: "Susu."

Seeing Yang Susu return, Yang Feng immediately walked over.

Pulling Yang Susu to Zhao Xu's side, he asked, "Did you also hear what His Highness just said?"

Yang Susu lowered her head and nodded slightly.

Thinking of something, she bowed to Zhao Xu and said, "Commoner Yang Susu pays her respects to Your Highness."

"Rise," Zhao Xu said, looking Yang Susu over.

Ever since arriving in Yanzhou, Yang Susu had pawned her fine silk clothes and jewelry.

She usually wore only coarse cloth garments and made a living selling tofu with Yang Feng every day.

However, even without makeup or beautiful clothes, Yang Susu was still naturally beautiful and hard to ignore.

Ever since she and Yang Feng began walking the streets and alleys of Yancheng selling tofu.

The reputation of the "Tofu Fairy" had spread throughout Yancheng.

Wealthy merchants' sons and dashing scholars all came for her sake.

Often, the tofu on their cart would be sold out not long after they left home.

Some lecherous men even harbored evil intentions, though these people were naturally dealt with by the guards Zhao Xu had dispatched to protect the two.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Yang Susu raised her head slightly.

Her autumn-water-like eyes fixed on Zhao Xu, her expression slightly agitated, "Is what Your Highness just said true? Is my father still alive?"

Zhao Xu nodded, then told Yang Susu how Bai Shang had encountered Yang Zhen on Chrysanthemum Island, and how Yang Zhen had participated in the harassment of the Ningjin Dusi during the Northern Expedition.

He also told her about the founding of the Ningjin Dusi and Yang Zhen's feat of capturing Jincheng during the Ningjin Battle.

Upon hearing this, both Yang Feng and Yang Susu felt as if they were in a dream.

Since the Yan Wang had said so much, he surely wasn't making up a story to deceive them.

Furthermore, they had no value, so why would the Yan Wang bother to deceive them?

Thinking of this,

Yang Feng and Yang Susu shed tears at the same time.

When the news of Yang Zhen's death in battle arrived back then, he felt as if the sky had collapsed for the Yang Family.

He had six sons in his life, and five had died on the battlefield.

Yang Zhen was his last son, and also the most outstanding among the young generals.

Everyone believed he would inherit his mantle and carry forward the Yang Family.

His death was, without a doubt, a fatal blow to the Yang Family.

From then on, the Yang Family had no successors.

That night, he aged nearly ten years, and truly wanted to follow Yang Zhen to the grave.

But looking at Yang Susu, who was only five years old at the time, he held on.

Now that the Yan Wang told him Yang Zhen was not dead, one could imagine his current state of mind.

The turmoil in Yang Susu's heart was no less than Yang Zhen's.

Her mother had passed away shortly after giving birth to her.

Her only childhood memories were of being with her father.

In her dreams over these years, she often thought of that towering figure who used to lift her high.

But waking from the dream, an unprecedented sense of loss would always leave her clothes soaked in tears.

Now that she knew her father was not only alive but also guarding a region in the Yan Wang's army.

A warm current seemed to flow through her entire body, causing her to tremble involuntarily.

"This is a joyous occasion, you two should not be so sad; if you cry yourselves sick, I won't be able to answer to General Yang." The tear-streaked Yang Susu was pitiful.

Remembering the handkerchief in his sleeve, Zhao Xu took it out and, without much thought, reached out to wipe Yang Susu's tears.

Yang Susu was stunned for a moment, and suddenly a rosy cloud flew across her face.

At this moment, Zhao Xu suddenly realized something, and his hand holding the handkerchief froze in mid-air.

Seeing this, Yang Feng rolled his eyes, took the handkerchief, and wiped Yang Susu's tears.

He then said, "Susu, why don't you thank His Highness? If not for His Highness, your father would likely still be drifting on Chrysanthemum Island, and you might never have seen him again before you died of old age."

Then he gritted his teeth and said, "Your Highness, could you lend this old man a warhorse? I want to go to Jincheng and peel the skin off Yang Zhen."

Upon hearing this, Yang Susu stole a glance at Zhao Xu and bowed again.

Rising, she nudged Yang Feng, "Grandfather, if you scold Father like that, aren't you scolding yourself too?"

"That's true." Yang Feng's old face flushed, and thinking of something, he tapped Yang Susu's head, "Hmph, when it comes down to it, you're closer to your father and mother; now you're already protecting your father."

"I'm not..." Yang Susu pouted coquettishly.

"Ahem..." Zhao Xu felt that his continued presence was a bit of a hindrance.

He should leave some space for the two to celebrate this matter.

So he said, "Duke of Yi, I am heading back. By the way, don't live in this courtyard anymore. I have selected a residence for you; once it is tidied up, move over there."

"This..."

Seeing Yang Feng about to decline, Zhao Xu added, "General Yang Zhen will need a place to stay when he returns to Yancheng, won't he? Besides, if you miss this opportunity, it won't come again."

Pausing, he said, "I believe that a large number of Royal Clan members and wealthy merchants will soon move to Yanzhou. By then, even though there are many residences in Yancheng, there won't be enough for them to buy."

He had already had people spread the news of Zhao Heng's arrival in Yanzhou.

Moreover, the official reason was not that Zhao Heng was fleeing here.

It was that the Emperor intended to move the capital to Yancheng, and from then on, Yancheng would be the Capital City of the Great Song.

In this way, those Royal Clan members who fled from Jinling during the chaos and the wealthy merchants loyal to the Great Song would all find ways to come to Yancheng.

This is just like attracting wealthy people to immigrate.

These people will bring their families and wealth to Yanzhou, which will promote further prosperity in Yanzhou.

At the very least, he can attract some population.

Therefore, he intends to take advantage of this wave of migration to sell the houses hoarded by the Prince's Mansion.

After all, having cleared out the Rich Clans of Yanzhou, the number of houses in his hands is countless.

Besides this, in order to let them arrive in Yanzhou smoothly, Zhao Xu also had Zhou Yi lead Warships to escort the section from Yanzhou to the Jiujiang estuary, so as to avoid being intercepted by the Five Peaks Island Pirates.

According to Zhou Yi, Zhao Heng encountered the Warships of the Wufeng Pirates when he came to Yanzhou.

Fortunately, they discovered them in advance.

"Since that is the case, this old man... this old subject thanks Your Highness," Yang Feng said; from now on, he is once again the Duke of Yi of the Great Song.

Nodding, Zhao Xu turned and left.

Yang Feng and Yang Susu saw Zhao Xu to the door.

Watching Zhao Xu go, Yang Feng said, "Yan Wang is truly a dragon among men, even far stronger than the Jin Wang of the past. With the chaotic times now approaching, Yan Wang will surely achieve great things in the future. Your father drifted on Chrysanthemum Island for over ten years, and meeting Yan Wang again is truly a blessing in disguise."

Then, thinking of something, he stuffed the handkerchief in his hand to Yang Susu, "Yan Wang forgot to take this. Wash it and put it away; when I see Yan Wang another day, I will return it to him."

When saying this, the corners of Yang Feng's mouth turned up.

Yang Susu nodded lightly, and thinking that this was the first time in her life she had washed a man's personal item, she couldn't help but blush again.

Zhao Xu, who was gradually traveling further away, naturally could not see this scene.

For the next few days, he simply kept listening to the intelligence sent by Xu Ke and analyzing the current situation.

At the same time, just as he had expected, after the news of Zhao Heng's arrival in Yanzhou spread.

Merchant Ships kept docking at the Leting County Pier, and batches of the Royal Clan and wealthy merchants stepped onto the land of Yanzhou.

At the same time, this news also stirred up huge Bolan among the powerful clans.