The Succession Struggle in the Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 257 The Gift Was Actually Sought After

Speaking of this fishing rod, Tu Chengyu still has some past memories he doesn't want to recall.

That was when he was still in the Prince An's mansion. At that time, besides his daily studies, he had a lot of spare time.

But he was still a young adult with a mature soul, and he couldn't play in the mud with Xiao Liu and the others.

So he thought about finding something to do to pass the time.

The first thing that came to his mind was fishing, as fishing is said to be the best way to pass the time.

He looked for many fishing rods but couldn't find one that satisfied him.

So he wanted to make a modern fishing rod himself.

At first, he was thinking of making telescopic poles.

Unfortunately, the materials weren't up to par in the end, so he could only make it as a patchwork.

Fortunately, the craftsman he found was quite skilled, and although the fishing rod he made did not meet his requirements, it was still much better than what he had at the time.

After getting this fishing rod, Tu Chengyu went fishing in many places.

Unfortunately, not long after, his father became emperor, and he moved into the palace.

Fishing in the palace wasn't so convenient, so Tu Chengyu left the fishing rod in the courtyard of the Prince An's residence.

When he returned, he discovered the fishing rod he had left behind.

Just then, he discovered that the Emperor Emeritus had taken a liking to fishing.

So when he was preparing to return to the palace to present a gift to the retired emperor, he thought of this fishing rod and brought it back with him.

When the Emperor Emeritus heard that the fishing rod was made by Tu Chengyu himself, he was also very happy.

"I didn't expect you could do these things."

Tu Chengyu said boastfully:
"Grandpa, you underestimate your grandson. I can make many things. When I think of other good things in the future, I will definitely make one myself and give it to you."

The retired emperor nodded in satisfaction and said:

"It's good that Xiao Wu has this idea. Your Majesty is waiting for you to send me some nice things. Now, please attach this fishing rod and let me take a look."

"Grandpa, please wait, we'll pack it for you right away."

As soon as Tu Chengyu finished speaking, he took matters into his own hands and began assembling the fishing rod.

He had assembled this thing many times, so he was naturally very skilled at it now.

In no time, he had assembled a fishing rod that was more than two meters long and much lighter.

Seeing the fishing rod in Tu Chengyu's hand, which he had never seen before, the Emperor Emeritus took it with great interest.

The moment he started working with her, the retired emperor realized that she was different from others.

This fishing rod feels much lighter in my hand, and it's very easy to handle after swinging it around a couple of times.

The Emperor Emeritus was delighted. With this fishing rod, catching fish would surely be much better.

While the grandfather and grandson were studying the fishing rod, Dai Quan had already set out the food.

"Your Majesty, the meal is ready."

Upon hearing this, the retired emperor handed the fishing rod to Dai Quan and beckoned to Tu Chengyu.

"Xiao Wu, have a meal with Grandpa Emperor."

It wasn't mealtime yet, so the Emperor Emeritus only took a few bites and then stopped eating.

Tu Chengyu, on the other hand, was a real glutton and enjoyed a delicious meal.

Seeing Tu Chengyu enjoying his meal, the Emperor Emeritus was both amused and exasperated.

"Little Wu, you said you were going to send me food, but you ate most of it."

Tu Chengyu chuckled and said, "Grandpa, what delicious food haven't you eaten? I'm just bringing you these to try. We can't let the rest go to waste."

As they were talking, Tu Chengyu had almost finished eating.

After the palace servants cleared away the food, the retired emperor slowly asked:

"Little Wu, you suddenly ran back to the palace, bringing me food and fishing rods. Is there something you need your grandfather's help with?"

Tu Chengyu smiled and said, "Grandpa was right. That's why I came here. I wanted to ask for your help."

"You little rascal, I knew you'd be so eager to help me out of nothing. Tell me, what do you want me to do for you?"

Now that things were out in the open, Tu Chengyu didn't hide anything and said directly:
"Grandfather knows that I've taken on a job settling disaster victims who have come to the capital outside the southern city walls. But recently I've discovered..."
Some people are trying to take advantage of the disaster victims, but I don't have many people at my disposal and can't handle the situation. So I'm asking my grandfather for a few servants to do.

Upon hearing Tu Chengyu's words, the Emperor Emeritus did not immediately agree, but instead inquired about other matters.

"I heard you want to lock up all the disaster victims coming to the capital?"

This sentence reveals that even though the retired emperor remained in the Eastern Palace, he was fully aware of any disturbances outside.

Tu Chengyu nodded and said, "That is indeed what I intend to do."

After listening, the retired emperor sighed and said:

"Your intentions are good, and I know you are thinking of the disaster victims, but do you think you can manage those victims well?"

Tu Chengyu smiled and said, "Grandpa, don't worry, I've already planned it out. I'm sure I can manage these disaster victims."

Unexpectedly, the retired emperor still shook his head:
"It's not that I don't trust you, but you don't know that the issue of disaster victims involves many aspects, and I'm afraid that someone might jump out and deliberately make things difficult for you."

It seems that the retired emperor is also aware of the recent events.

So Tu Chengyu said directly:
“Grandpa is right. What I’ve done has indeed blocked some people’s path to wealth, and they’re already impatient to make their move.”

Then, Tu Chengyu told the Emperor Emeritus everything that had happened that day, but he did not mention Quan Wenwei's analysis.

After listening, the retired emperor closed his eyes slightly and thought for a moment before saying:
"It does seem that someone is stirring up trouble. So, you came to me asking for people, is it to deal with this matter?"

Tu Chengyu nodded: "Yes, I want some people familiar with the capital to help me investigate some things and see who is behind the scheme."

Upon hearing this, the retired emperor asked a question.

"What do you plan to do after you find out who's behind this?"

"Of course we'll settle accounts with them. We can't let them off easily."

After Tu Chengyu finished speaking, he saw the Emperor Emeritus looking at him with a very peculiar gaze.

Tu Chengyu was puzzled by the look in his eyes and couldn't help but ask, "Grandpa, was there anything wrong with what I just said?"

The Emperor Emeritus shook his head and said, "There's nothing wrong with it. I just want to ask you, you keep saying you want to deal with the people behind the scenes, but do you know who's involved in this matter?"

Tu Chengyu said nonchalantly, "Aren't they just those people waiting to skin the disaster victims alive? Do you think your grandson is afraid of them?"

"Sigh, Xiao Wu, you're oversimplifying things. Behind the disaster victims are far more than just those people."

Tu Cheng asked in surprise, "Could it be that other people are involved?"

Seeing that Tu Chengyu still looked clueless, the Emperor Emeritus sighed inwardly and could only start to analyze the situation for Tu Chengyu.

"Little Fifth, there are many people involved behind this disaster. Let me ask you, who was in charge of resettling the disaster victims in previous years?"

Tu Chengyu thought for a moment and said, "As far as I know, in previous years it was handled jointly by officials from the Ministry of Revenue and other ministries."

"That's it. Since all this work is done by others, the benefits and credit will naturally fall on these people."

But this time, the Emperor assigned this task to a few of you, which is tantamount to blocking other people's benefits and credit.

And you, not only did you steal the job, but you also blocked others from making money on the other side. How could they stand by and do nothing? They will definitely find a way to cause you trouble.

Tu Chengyu was completely unconcerned when he heard that some officials in the court would suffer as a result.

He said, "Since they value this task so much, why didn't they fight for it in the court back then? Now they're causing trouble. These people are probably not good officials. Once I find out the truth, I will make sure Father deals with them properly."

Seeing Tu Chengyu's expression, the Emperor Emeritus glared at him angrily.

"You're already looking down on others before you've even done anything. If you keep this up, you might suffer the consequences someday."

After being reprimanded by the Emperor Emeritus, Tu Chengyu immediately corrected his attitude:

“Grandpa is right, I will remember it. But I am also right, these people do prefer to do things in secret, they dare not do them openly.”

The retired emperor said, "What do you know? Do you think they don't want this job? They all want it."

However, they underestimated the emperor and were outmaneuvered by him. He not only removed the chief minister but also took over the position.

However, while the emperor gained the upper hand with this statement, it put you all in the spotlight.

Upon hearing this, Tu Chengyu recalled the grand court assembly he had attended after returning to the capital.

At the time, he felt that the emperor seemed to be in control of everything; now, he realizes that it was a struggle between the emperor and his court officials.

He himself was a knife in the emperor's hand, causing tons of damage to the court officials.

Although he was being used like a knife by the emperor and was now being put in the spotlight, Tu Chengyu was still quite excited at the thought of helping the emperor suppress the court officials.

He said to the retired emperor, "No matter how high the tide is, as long as my grandfather and father are here, I will not be afraid of them."

"Are you really not afraid?"

"Truly unafraid."

"Do you know that this time you are facing not only officials in the court, but also noble families, wealthy merchants, ordinary people in the capital, and even the disaster victims you are protecting may jump out and cause trouble."

Moreover, these people mostly operate in secret. Are you still saying you're not afraid?

To be honest, when the Emperor Emeritus listed out the enemies they would face in the future, Tu Chengyu was still a little worried. After all, there were too many people involved, and they came from all walks of life.

However, Tu Chengyu believed that even if these people had great power in the country, they couldn't cause too much trouble.

Otherwise, given their track record, they would have already confronted the enemy head-on; there would be no need for them to hide in the shadows.

Moreover, at most they will only create some trouble for themselves, forcing them to compromise under pressure, but it will not have a significant impact on Tu Chengyu himself.

So Tu Chengyu said to the Emperor Emeritus, “How could I be afraid of them? Even if they are skilled and make me lose, what can they do to me? Can they take away my throne?”

Hearing Tu Chengyu's shameless act, the Emperor Emeritus changed his serious demeanor and burst into laughter.

"Xiao Wu, you're right to think this way. Only by thinking this way can you deal with those people."

"So, Grandfather supports what I'm doing?"

The Emperor Emeritus said, "I never said I wouldn't support you. Everything I just said was merely to tell you about the difficulties involved."

If you are deterred by these difficulties, I will naturally have the Emperor remove you from your post; if you insist on doing it, I will support you.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will do my best."

"Don't talk big. I'm telling you in advance, the difficulties in resettling the disaster victims this time will be much more complicated than you imagine. The people and things involved are also very complex. I just hope you won't back down when the time comes."

"I have remembered what you said, Your Majesty. I would also like to express my opinion: no matter what changes may occur, I will definitely persevere."

"As a prince, how could my grandson possibly be afraid of them?"

Hearing Tu Chengyu's unwavering words, the Emperor Emeritus said with satisfaction:
"As expected of the Tu family, don't worry, Xiao Wu, your grandfather will definitely support you with all his might."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Tu Chengyu thanked the Emperor Emeritus again, then pressed on, "So, what are your plans for manpower, Your Majesty? I'm in dire need of them."

Upon hearing this, the retired emperor turned to Dai Quan and asked, "Do you still have any capable people at your disposal?"

Dai Quan bowed and replied:

"Your Majesty, I do have a few people under my command who have retired from the Imperial Horse Administration. Although they are a bit old, they are still capable of investigating things."

Watching the retired emperor and Dai Quan putting on their act, Tu Chengyu almost rolled his eyes.

Everyone in the palace knows that the retired emperor still commands a considerable number of troops, all of whom are elite soldiers.

But now, the conversation between the retired emperor and Dai Quan makes it seem as if they have no one at all, and even those supporting Tu Chengyu are retired cadres.

Although he heard that they were going to send some elderly people to him, Tu Chengyu was not worried at all.

Even if we disregard the fact that the Emperor Emeritus couldn't possibly send all his old men to help Tu Chengyu, if he did send any old men, they would be a group of capable old men.

Anyway, Tu Chengyu knew that the Emperor Emeritus would not betray him.

The reason they said this in front of Tu Chengyu was not actually for Tu Chengyu's ears, but for the Emperor's people.

After hearing Dai Quan's report, the Emperor Emeritus said:

"Then pick out some usable ones and send them to Xiao Wu as soon as possible."

Upon finally hearing the Emperor Emeritus agree, Tu Chengyu was overjoyed. He quickly thanked the Emperor Emeritus again and then said to Dai Quan:
"Steward Dai, once you've arranged the manpower, have their leaders come to me as soon as possible. There's something urgent that needs our help."

Upon hearing this, Dai Quan responded and went to make the arrangements.

(End of this chapter)