Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 544: Chapter 289 Fourth Brother Doesn’t Love Me Anymore_2

Sun Kui asked again, "Your Majesty, do you really want to attend the lecture?"

"Do you want me to be honest?"

Sun Kui nodded.

The Emperor didn’t rush to answer Sun Kui’s question. Instead, he first propped his feet up on the imperial desk, crossed his hands under his head, and said in a casual tone, "To be honest, I don’t want to go. I’m not a scholar, and what he’s talking about is of no use to me." The Emperor could probably guess what Meng Changce would talk about, nothing more than the usual Confucian doctrines he was tired of hearing. No matter how Mr. Meng lectured, it was always the same old stuff. What he wanted were pragmatic strategies for governing, not the lofty principles found in books.

"However, being the Emperor, I have to make an appearance and listen, or else those scholars will say I’m not showing respect to Mr. Meng." The Emperor said this with a self-mocking laugh. "As an Emperor, I still have to put on a show for appearance’s sake. It’s really hypocritical."

"Your Majesty, this is not hypocrisy; this is showing respect to Mr. Meng." Sun Kui explained to the Emperor.

He curiously asked, "Your Majesty, will Prime Minister He and the others go?"

"They definitely will. If they don’t, they would be disrespecting Mr. Meng." The Emperor showed a mocking smile for reasons unknown, "All the ministers will go; no one dares not to."

Sun Kui thought to himself that it was indeed this way.

The Emperor sighed and said, "Reputation..." After saying this, he sat up straight and continued reviewing his memorials.

Sun Kui glanced at the sky outside the window and reminded the Emperor, "Your Majesty, it’s almost noon. Will you be having lunch at Kunde Hall?" Today was the Emperor’s scheduled visit to Kunde Hall for lunch.

"Of course, I’ll go soon."

"Then I’ll remind you later."

When noon came and studies concluded, Zhao Yao went to Kunde Hall for lunch.

Tong Xi saw Zhao Yao still looking forlorn and quickly comforted him, "Your Highness, if you can’t go to Prince Chu this year, you can go next year. Next year you’ll be twelve, almost an adult, and by then, Prince Chu will surely agree."

Previously, Zhao Yao sent a letter to Prince Chu, expressing that he missed him so much he couldn’t eat or drink. He lamented repeatedly about how much he missed his fourth brother, and wanted to visit the brother he missed most in Liangzhou.

He asked Prince Chu to write to the Emperor, seeking permission for him to visit Prince Chu. He originally thought Prince Chu would agree, as he had written "I miss you to death, fourth brother" multiple times. Besides, he also believed that Prince Chu missed him too. But unexpectedly, Prince Chu refused to let him go to Liangzhou.

"I’m eleven years old, already half an adult, not young anymore." The more Zhao Yao thought about it, the angrier he got, his face puffing up like a pufferfish, "Fourth brother just doesn’t want me to go, which is why he deliberately said I’m young."

"Your Highness, how could Prince Chu not want you to go?"

"He just doesn’t want me to go. Only a few years apart and fourth brother no longer loves me, his little brother..." The more Zhao Yao thought about it, the more wronged he felt, "Fourth brother just doesn’t want me to go!"

Tong Xi couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward in comforting Zhao Yao, who looked as if he might burst into tears, "Your Highness, you are Prince Chu’s most beloved brother. How could Prince Chu not allow you to go..."

"Don’t say it. Fourth brother just doesn’t want me to go." Zhao Yao said in a grieved tone, "Fourth brother has a son now, he no longer cares about me, his little brother."

Tong Xi showed a helpless expression upon hearing this.

"Your Highness, are you jealous of your nephew?"

"I’m not jealous; I’m just stating the facts." Zhao Yao said, his expression turning gloomy and his tone filled with lament, "Fourth brother hasn’t seen me in years, surely his feelings for me have faded. Ah, time indeed erodes all emotions."

Tong Xi felt what Zhao Yao said was quite true, yet strange.

"Your Highness, this servant thinks Prince Chu is concerned about your safety and health, which is why he doesn’t agree to you going to Liangzhou."

"No, fourth brother just doesn’t love me anymore." Zhao Yao said miserably, "I’m no longer fourth brother’s little darling."

"Your Highness, why don’t you write to Prince Chu again and plead with him? Prince Chu has always been soft-hearted towards you. If you ask several more times, Prince Chu will surely agree."

"I won’t beg!" Zhao Yao huffed stubbornly, "I won’t go. Since fourth brother doesn’t want me to go, why should I long to go!"

"Ah? Why aren’t you going now?" Tong Xi was puzzled by Zhao Yao’s words, "Weren’t you just complaining about Prince Chu? Why aren’t you going now?"

"I’m angry." Zhao Yao said indignantly with his hands on his hips, "Unless fourth brother asks me."

Upon hearing this, Tong Xi finally understood Zhao Yao’s thoughts and almost burst into laughter.