The little dumpling immediately became alert: "Second Brother, what are you up to again?"
Every time Second Brother spoke to her like this, it was never for anything good.
"Do you have to be so wary of me? I'm not a tiger, I won't eat people." Su Siqi pinched the little dumpling's cheek.
The little dumpling pouted, humming.
Second Brother was sometimes more terrifying than a tiger.
"I don't have anything else, I just wanted to discuss with you if you could do me a favor and get me some goods." Su Siqi rubbed his hands, a sly merchant's smile on his face.
Su Yunmo asked curiously, "What goods?"
"I opened a jewelry store in the East Market, and business is doing well, but I'm short on stock. Don't you have the token for Yuqin Lou?" Su Siqi winked.
Su Yunmo immediately understood: "Oh~ I get it, Second Brother wants to get something for nothing!"
He intended to use her connection with Yuqin Lou to get things for free.
"Look at how ugly that sounds, what do you mean 'get something for nothing'? This is clearly friendly cooperation." Su Siqi nudged her with his elbow.
"Momo, Second Brother always dotes on you the most. Now that Second Brother is in trouble, you can't refuse to help."
He shrugged helplessly, "You don't know, the location I chose isn't good. There's another jewelry store directly opposite, and I'm in a battle with them."
Although Su Yunmo knew he was secretly doing business, she didn't expect his store to be fully operational.
Even though his jewelry store had little to do with her, it was still family business, and she couldn't refuse to help.
The little dumpling sighed, "Alright, I can help you ask, but whether it works out depends on luck."
"If you go, it's bound to succeed!" Su Siqi's eyes lit up, and he pushed the little dumpling outside.
The little dumpling was pushed out of the palace doors: "Second Brother, where are you pushing me to?"
"Do I even need to ask? To Prince Yu's manor! If Prince Yu agrees to this, it'll be easy, after all, he's the owner of Yuqin Lou." Su Siqi called for servants to prepare the carriage.
Su Yunmo was surprised, "How do you know Prince Yu is the owner of Yuqin Lou?"
Su Siqi scoffed, "What's so strange about that? Everyone on Earth knows!"
The carriage was ready, and the little dumpling was lifted into it.
The carriage headed towards Prince Yu's manor.
Upon reaching the entrance of Prince Yu's manor, the carriage stopped.
Su Siqi pulled the little dumpling out of the carriage and placed her on the ground, "Hurry up, Second Brother will wait here."
Su Yunmo looked at him, who had the demeanor of 'selling his sister', and felt a headache coming on. But since she had already agreed, she couldn't go back on her word.
"Alright then, Momo will go in." The little dumpling stepped towards the manor.
Qian Xue came out from the manor and saw Su Siqi in the carriage, muttering, "Is that Young Master Two? Isn't he coming in?"
"He dares not come in." The little dumpling rolled her eyes inwardly, "Where is your master?"
Qian Xue curiously withdrew her gaze, not understanding the meaning of 'dares not' in her words, but she didn't ask further, "Our master is in the study."
"Oh, then I'll go by myself. You go ahead and do your work." Su Yunmo waved her hand and headed straight for the study.
Qian Xue knew she was familiar with the manor, so she responded and withdrew.
Inside the study.
Ye Jingyu was looking through memorials.
The study door was pushed open a crack, and a small head peeked in.
Ye Jingyu sighed inwardly. Without even looking up, he knew who it was.
Only one person in the entire capital dared to be so sneaky outside the study of Prince Yu's manor.
"Since you're here, come inside. Isn't it cold outside?"
The little dumpling squeezed in, closing the door casually, rubbing her small hands, "How can it not be cold? I'm freezing! Why isn't there a brazier in this room?"
"This room is full of books. If there were a brazier, it might accidentally start a fire." Ye Jingyu put down his brush and beckoned her.
Su Yunmo didn't stand on ceremony, squeezing into his arms with her short legs, her small hands clinging to his chest as she climbed onto him.
Ye Jingyu grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and placed her on his lap, rubbing her chilled little face, "Are you looking for me for something?"
The little dumpling pouted, "Can't I come to see you if I have nothing to do?"
Ye Jingyu chuckled, "If you had nothing to do, you wouldn't come to see me."
This girl always showed up only when she needed something.
Su Yunmo chuckled, feeling a little embarrassed by his words, "Your Yuqin Lou has a lot of things, doesn't it?"
She had to say it, Second Brother was still waiting outside.
"What? Do you want to take some away?" Ye Jingyu raised an eyebrow.
Su Yunmo waved a finger, saying earnestly, "How can you call it 'taking away'? I saved your mother. Shouldn't you give me some reward money?"
Ye Jingyu found it amusing. From the looks of it, she really did want to take some things.
He flicked her forehead with his index finger, then gently rubbed it, "Didn't I already send someone to return the token to you? Take whatever you want."
As for the items in Yuqin Lou, let alone if she liked hundreds of them, even if she really took them all, it wouldn't matter.
Su Yunmo's eyes widened in surprise, and she covered his forehead with her small hand, "What's wrong with you today? You're in such a good mood?"
He agreed so readily. In the past, he would have teased her a few words nine out of ten times.
Ye Jingyu shook his head helplessly, "Am I that stingy in your heart?"
It seemed he needed to do more to improve his standing in her heart.
"You're not stingy, you're the most generous." Su Yunmo said flatteringly, her eyes bright, and a sly merchant-like expression gradually appearing in her eyes, just like Su Siqi's.
"It's good that you know." Ye Jingyu held her small hand, warming it with his breath, "I really should thank you for what you did for Mother."
Mother was alone in the cold palace. Although she had Yi Zuo and Yi You accompanying her before, he couldn't extend his influence too far into the affairs of the harem.
Now that the Empress had fallen from power, Mother's future days would be easier, and he wouldn't have to worry about her all the time.
Su Yunmo snuggled into his embrace, exhaling a warm breath, "It's not entirely my credit. If your father didn't still have your mother in his heart, this matter wouldn't have been resolved so easily." xxs one
Ye Jingyu's fingers stiffened, and his expression darkened.
Su Yunmo felt his unusual reaction and looked up, "What's wrong?"
Ye Jingyu's eyes flickered, and he averted his gaze, "Nothing."
Seeing his evasive eyes, a thought vaguely surfaced in Su Yunmo's mind, "Do you hate your father?"
Ye Jingyu remained silent.
Su Yunmo sighed, straightened up, and reached out to cup his face, "Although what I'm about to say might be inappropriate, I think you might need to face your relationship with the Emperor."
"On a larger scale, he is the sovereign. If we want to accomplish anything, we must rely on his power, so we must maintain a good relationship with him."
"On a smaller scale..." Su Yunmo paused, her expression serious, "I don't think it was entirely his intention to banish your mother to the cold palace back then."