Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 557: Chapter 293: No Fiefdom

In Xingde Palace, Zhao Yao listened to Sun Doudou’s words, his face filled with astonishment, and he pointed to himself, incredulously asking again, "Are you sure Mr. Meng wants to see me?"

Sun Doudou saw that Zhao Yao still looked disbelieving and once again told Zhao Yao in a very firm tone.

"Your Highness, Mr. Meng really wants to see you, and he specifically named you. I did not relay the message incorrectly."

Zhao Yao, looking shocked, said, "Why does Mr. Meng want to see me? What’s there to see about me?"

"Your Highness, I just told you that Mr. Meng wants to thank you for benefiting the common people and scholars..." Sun Doudou had no choice but to repeat what he had just told Zhao Yao.

Previously, Zhao Yao had not listened carefully to Sun Doudou’s words. Hearing Sun Doudou say that Mr. Meng wanted to see him left him dumbfounded, and he did not hear the rest of what Sun Doudou said. Now, after hearing Sun Doudou’s words, he still felt very surprised in his heart.

"Just because I developed the printing technology and new paper, as well as the curved plough, Mr. Meng wants to see me and thank me in person?" Zhao Yao’s mood was somewhat complicated.

"Yes, Your Highness." Sun Doudou continued, "The Emperor said that after the morning audience tomorrow, he will take you to see Mr. Meng."

"I understand."

Tong Xi saw Sun Doudou off.

Sun Doudou knew he would follow Zhao Yao to Lingnan in the future, and he was already considered half of Zhao Yao’s man. So he was very attentive to Zhao Yao’s affairs. Towards Tong Xi, he was very courteous.

Tong Xi originally quite liked Sun Doudou. As Sun Kui’s apprentice, serving in Chengguang Hall, he was quite favorable in the Emperor’s eyes. Yet, he never abused his position; instead, he was kind and humorous. Most of the eunuchs in the palace liked Sun Doudou very much.

"Brother Doudou, is Mr. Meng meeting His Highness really because of the things he made?"

"Really." Sun Doudou understood what Tong Xi was worried about and smiled at him reassuringly, "Rest assured, His Highness will be fine."

Hearing Sun Doudou say this, Tong Xi felt relieved. He suddenly thought of something and quickly asked, "Besides His Highness, will any other princesses go, like the Crown Prince or Prince Dai?"

"No, Mr. Meng only wants to see the Tenth Highness, not the Crown Prince or Prince Dai." Sun Doudou laughed and said, "Mr. Meng wants to see the Tenth Highness because our Tenth Highness is impressive, having created so many beneficial things for the country and people. The Emperor praised Mr. Meng for his unique insight."

"Our Highness is inherently remarkable."

Tong Xi and Sun Doudou laughed together as they spoke.

Sun Doudou still had to return to Chengguang Hall, so he didn’t chat long with Tong Xi. Before leaving, he told Tong Xi and Zhao Yao not to worry one bit.

After returning to his room, Tong Xi relayed everything Sun Doudou had told him, word for word, to Zhao Yao.

"I fear that the Crown Prince and Prince Dai might be jealous of me." Zhao Yao’s main concern was this. Mr. Meng didn’t want to see the Crown Prince or Prince Dai, yet he was willing to see him, the neglected tenth prince.

"Ah, could it mean your Highness is in danger?" Tong Xi looked full of worry and anxiety, "What should we do? How about you don’t go?"

"Is it up to me not to meet him? Father wouldn’t agree." Zhao Yao thought it over and half of his worries disappeared, "The Crown Prince and Prince Dai might not necessarily resent me. If it were Fourth or Seventh Brother being requested by Mr. Meng for a meeting, the Crown Prince and Prince Dai would surely be dissatisfied."

"Your Highness, do you mean meeting Mr. Meng might be uneventful for you?"

"Yes, it shouldn’t be a big deal. After all, I’m just a child, and an unappreciated one at that, without power or influence. If the Crown Prince or Prince Dai truly envied me, they’d be lowering themselves too much."

"Your Highness, what you say is true." Tong Xi’s worries instantly dissipated.

"I just couldn’t imagine Mr. Meng would want to meet me." Zhao Yao said, feeling flattered.

"Mr. Meng, indeed, is extraordinary, unlike ordinary fellows. He can immediately see that what you created is of great quality."

Zhao Yao smirked, "I wish he were like everyone else." Before going to Lingnan as an adult, he didn’t want to become too famous. As the saying goes, the famous people attract trouble like pigs growing fat for slaughter. If he became too well-known before his princely title and estate were secured, he might draw unwanted attention from those with ill intentions.

"Your Highness, do you think Mr. Meng might take you as a student?" Tong Xi asked, his expression becoming excited, "If you become Mr. Meng’s student, you’ll really make it big..."