Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 558: Chapter 293 No Territory_2

Before he could finish his words, Zhao Yao struck him on the head hard.

"What nonsense are you talking about? If I become Mr. Meng’s student, I’m finished."

"Your Highness, it won’t be that bad." Tong Xi thought Zhao Yao was overthinking it, "I don’t see any harm in you becoming Mr. Meng’s student."

Zhao Yao shook his head and said, "You don’t understand. Besides, Mr. Meng probably won’t take me as a student, after all, I have no literary talent." He had never written any famous articles or poetry. "Moreover, I don’t like studying or doing academic work, so let’s spare me from being accepted as a student."

"True, Your Highness, you hate writing essays and poems the most." After Tong Xi said this, he thought of Sun Doudou and quickly asked Zhao Yao, "Your Highness, when you are enfeoffed, is Mr. Sun really going with us to Lingnan?"

When Zhao Yao heard Tong Xi’s words, he squinted slightly, with a hint of an indescribable gleam in his eyes.

"Your Highness, why did the Emperor send Mr. Sun with you to Lingnan?" Tong Xi wasn’t worried about Sun Doudou taking his place as a personal eunuch; he just found it strange. Sun Doudou was Sun Kui’s disciple, and his only one at that, destined to inherit his legacy. He didn’t understand why the Emperor wanted Sun Doudou to accompany Zhao Yao. Honestly, going with His Highness to Lingnan didn’t seem as promising as staying in the palace.

"Who knows?" Zhao Yao had a few thoughts, but none were certain. "Sun Doudou is quite clever. If he really goes with us to Lingnan, he might be useful."

"That’s true," Tong Xi didn’t think much more about it.

"I should visit Brother Eight." Zhao Yao was a bit worried about the Eighth Prince’s health.

When Zhao Yao arrived, the Eighth Prince had just finished taking his medicine.

"Brother Eight, how do you feel?"

"I’m fine. The Imperial Physician said that after a couple more doses, I won’t cough anymore." The Eighth Prince asked, "What did Sun Doudou come to you for?"

"Oh, he came to tell me that Father is taking me to see Mr. Meng after the court tomorrow."

"What?" The Eighth Prince looked surprised, "Father is taking you to see Mr. Meng, what is this about?"

Zhao Yao recounted what Sun Doudou had said to him.

Upon hearing this, the Eighth Prince felt relieved.

"So that’s it." Mr. Meng, worthy of being a great scholar of his time, understood the importance of the things Tenth Brother had created to the empire. "Mr. Meng indeed lives up to his name."

Zhao Yao showed his fear and asked, "Brother Eight, will only meeting me make the Crown Prince and Prince Dai unhappy?"

The Eighth Prince smiled gently at Zhao Yao, soothing him warmly, "It won’t. You can go with Father to see Mr. Meng without worry."

"Really?" Zhao Yao scratched his face and said, "I’m not good at studying, and Mr. Meng only wants to see me, not the Crown Prince and Prince Dai."

"No, Mr. Meng wants to see you because of the things you’ve done, not because you’re good at academics," the Eighth Prince added, "Besides, you’re still a child, so it’s appropriate for you to see Mr. Meng." Among their brothers, except for the Tenth Brother, seeing Mr. Meng wouldn’t cause any issues, but anyone else would stir up trouble.

Zhao Yao pretended to be comforted by the Eighth Prince’s last words, and the fear and unease on his face instantly faded away.

"Then I’m not afraid."

"With me around, what is there to fear?" The Eighth Prince felt a twinge of pity in his heart. Although Tenth Brother was still a child, he had gradually understood some things over the past two years. He didn’t fully grasp these matters, but instinctively sensed danger, hence his fright and unease.

Zhao Yao nodded forcefully and said, "With Brother Eight here, I’m not afraid."

"When you see Mr. Meng tomorrow, don’t be rude..." The Eighth Prince, fearing Zhao Yao might be nervous or scared when meeting Mr. Meng, carefully instructed him on what to do and say in Mr. Meng’s presence.

Zhao Yao listened intently.

"Remember?"

Zhao Yao nodded and said, "I remember."

The Eighth Prince noticed Zhao Yao’s expression was a bit odd and quickly asked with concern, "What’s wrong?"

"Brother Eight, why would Mr. Meng thank me, when he’s such a great scholar?" Zhao Yao said with some embarrassment, "Besides, no one has ever thanked me before."

Hearing this, the Eighth Prince felt a dull pain in his heart.

Just because Tenth Brother was not favored, with a powerless maternal family, the court officials ignored the significance of what he had achieved. Among the common people, there was an abundance of gratitude for the things Tenth Brother had done. He was quite renowned among the populace, but held no standing in court.