Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 596: Chapter 303: Paving the Way for Prince Chu_3

Prince Eight guessed what Yu Hai wanted to ask and said, "You want to ask why we don’t directly expose the Yuan Family when we already have evidence of their collusion with the Right Virtuous King?"

Yu Hai nodded vigorously.

Prince Eight laughed coldly, "That would be too easy for the Yuan Family."

Yu Hai understood Prince Eight’s meaning upon hearing this.

Prince Eight continued, "That thing might be in the Yuan Family."

"In the Yuan Family?" Yu Hai asked in astonishment, "Your Highness, why do you think it’s with the Yuan Family?"

"The Yuan Family had close ties with the Southern Wei in the past; it’s not impossible that they took it." As Prince Eight spoke, his brows furrowed and his gaze turned cold, "I suspect the Yuan Family has other things as well."

"Other things?" Yu Hai asked with a puzzled look, "Besides that, what else could there be?"

"Gold and silver jewelry, and probably a lot of it." Back then, the Yuan Family made a lot of money from their dealings with the Southern Wei. Later, when Southern Wei was annihilated, the Yuan Family was involved and certainly seized a lot of things in the process.

"Your Highness, we must take it back." Upon hearing that the Yuan Family possessed Southern Wei’s wealth, Yu Hai’s face turned furious, "Your Highness, it’s your property; the Yuan Family shouldn’t be allowed to keep it."

Besides gold and silver jewelry, Prince Eight also suspected the Yuan Family was hiding another very important thing from Southern Wei. Though it wasn’t as important as the other item, it held significant value for the Southern Wei people.

The next morning, Zhao Yao accompanied Prince Eight to pay their respects at the Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion.

Apart from the princes, civil and military officials and noble families also came to offer their condolences.

Marquis Jingyang was ill and couldn’t meet people. The funerals of the two legitimate sons of the Yuan Family were handled by the eldest son of the concubines.

The eldest son of the concubines was somewhat timid and stuttered when he spoke, making Zhao Yao anxious for him.

After burning incense, Prince Eight left with Zhao Yao and didn’t stay long at the Yuan Family.

On their way back to the palace, Zhao Yao asked Prince Eight, "Brother Eight, is that Yuan Kuang a stutterer?"

"I haven’t heard of it," Prince Eight speculated, "Perhaps he was just nervous."

"I felt he was quite nervous and scared. He seems to be the eldest son of the Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion." The deceased legitimate eldest son Yuan Han wasn’t actually the oldest; there was an elder son born of a concubine above him.

"That’s right, he is the eldest son of the Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion, but because he is a concubine’s son, he isn’t valued much in the mansion." Prince Eight explained to Zhao Yao, "The Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion places great importance on the distinction between legitimate and concubine-born children. Even though they are both sons, the status and position of a concubine’s son differ greatly from that of a legitimate son."

When Zhao Yao heard Prince Eight say this, he noticed a critical point.

"Brother Eight, you said the Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion greatly emphasizes the legitimate and concubine-born distinction. Then how is it that the eldest son born of a concubine is older than the legitimate eldest son?" Normally, the eldest son born of a concubine shouldn’t be older than the legitimate eldest son.

"Actually, Yuan Han wasn’t truly the legitimate eldest son; he had an older brother, but he passed away when he was only a little over a year old. Then came Yuan Kuang, the eldest son of a concubine, and two years later Yuan Han, the legitimate son, was born." Prince Eight was very familiar with the affairs of the Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion.

Zhao Yao suddenly understood and said, "No wonder."

Reflecting on the situation he observed at the Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion earlier, his expression gradually turned peculiar.

Seeing Zhao Yao’s strange little expression, Prince Eight asked with amusement, "What’s wrong?"

Zhao Yao, looking mysterious, lowered his voice and said to Prince Eight, "Brother Eight, I feel there’s something... odd about the Marquis Jingyang." Aside from the issue of the Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion conspiring with the Xiongnu, the atmosphere in the mansion was... best described as ’eerie.’ "When I went in earlier, I felt a little on edge; didn’t you feel the same, Brother Eight?"

Prince Eight didn’t have that feeling. He reassured Zhao Yao, "The Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion is holding a funeral, and it’s your first time attending a funeral; it’s normal to feel scared."

"Is that so?" Zhao Yao didn’t mean that, but seeing that Prince Eight didn’t understand him, he didn’t say more.

"Yes, indeed. Once you grow a bit older, you won’t be afraid anymore."

Pretending to have just realized, Zhao Yao glared angrily at Prince Eight, "Brother Eight, are you saying I’m cowardly?"

"Oh, you figured it out."

Zhao Yao: "..." Brother Eight, your expression is too exaggerated.

"Brother Eight, how can you say I’m cowardly?" Zhao Yao lunged at Prince Eight, trying to tickle him.

The two brothers played around in the carriage for a while.

Leaning on the carriage window, Zhao Yao gazed outside, noticing the Li Family’s carriage not far away, which made him think of Prince Chu in distant Liangzhou.