Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 609: Chapter 306: A Winning Start_3

The Eighth Prince smiled meaningfully, "That makes it interesting." As he spoke, his expression turned serious, "I won’t lose to the Fourth!"

Hearing the Eighth Prince say this, Yu Hai dared not say anything more.

"Let the Fourth and the Crown Prince fight; we’ll just watch the show."

"Your Highness is wise; it’s my unnecessary worry." How could Your Highness, being so smart, lose to Prince Chu?

The Eighth Prince suddenly asked, "Has there been any news from Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion?"

Yu Hai replied respectfully, "We haven’t found what you’re looking for yet."

The Eighth Prince’s brow furrowed, "Could it not be in Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion?"

"Your Highness, we’ve searched the secret rooms in Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion several times, but still haven’t found it. I think what You’re looking for isn’t there."

"If it’s not in Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion, then where is it?" The Eighth Prince pondered, could it have really disappeared without a trace?

He previously thought it might be in Shu, but after searching Shu thoroughly, it wasn’t found. He searched other possible locations too, yet nothing. The only remaining possible place was Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion, and it turned out to be fruitless as well.

"Your Highness, I think it really has disappeared."

"Since it’s not in Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion, then there’s no need for Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion to remain, have Bo Chang take action." Since the item couldn’t be found, the Eighth Prince decided not to insist on it. Besides, he didn’t hold out much hope in the first place.

"Yes, Your Highness."

At this time, in Kunde Hall, the Emperor was holding Lady Liang, complaining about Zhao Yao’s "wrongdoings."

"Xiao Xiao, that little rascal isn’t interested in my affection, truly breaking my heart."

The Emperor recounted to Lady Liang the conversation Zhao Yao had with He Lianfang.

After hearing it, Lady Liang was initially shocked, then looked at the Emperor, who was complaining, with a face full of helplessness.

"Blame yourself then."

The Emperor, feeling aggrieved, said, "How is this my fault? Haven’t I been good to that little brat?"

"Fighting over dishes with Yao Yao, over pastries, even his favorite foods..." Lady Liang counted, item by item, the instances where the Emperor bullied Zhao Yao, using her fingers.

Before she could finish, the Emperor covered her mouth with his hand. He defended himself, "I was just playing with little ten, not bullying him."

"In Yao Yao’s view, you are bullying him," Lady Liang continued to reproach the Emperor, "I told you before not to keep bullying Yao Yao; see, now he misunderstands you."

"I... I..." The Emperor was at a loss for words.

Seeing the Emperor’s flustered expression, Lady Liang couldn’t help but laugh.

The Emperor looked at her with a wounded gaze, "Xiao Xiao, how could you make fun of me?"

"Alright, I’m not teasing you anymore." Lady Liang stopped smiling, reached out to gently caress the Emperor’s aggrieved face, "Yao Yao is afraid."

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, "Afraid of what?"

"Afraid that your affection for him is only temporary, afraid that you’ll..." Lady Liang repeated what He Lianfang had said.

After hearing it, the Emperor fell silent.

"It’s because we’ve hidden it too well, making him mistakenly think you don’t care for your youngest son." Lady Liang finally understood why Zhao Yao hadn’t asked her about the Emperor’s affection even after learning of it. She thought Yao Yao understood, so he didn’t ask. Now it seems that’s not entirely the case.

The Emperor understood Lady Liang’s point and sighed heavily, "Indeed, it’s my fault."

"It’s also my fault; I thought Yao Yao understood, so I never told him about it. Now it appears he’s been bothered by it all along." Lady Liang gently patted the Emperor’s hand, speaking tenderly, "Tomorrow, I’ll have a good talk with Yao Yao."

"If you talk to him about this, how will you explain knowing it?" The Emperor asked, "If you tell him you heard it from me, he’ll know that I have contact with Lao He, and with little ten’s intelligence, he’ll immediately figure out who Lao He is, and also guess my and Lao He’s intentions."

Lady Liang hadn’t considered this, "True, then how should we talk to Yao Yao?"

"Forget it, let’s just pretend we don’t know."

Lady Liang glanced sideways at the Emperor, teasing him, "Weren’t you very aggrieved?"

"I am aggrieved, that little rascal Yao Yao is close to that old guy Lao He, telling him everything while feeling uncomfortable around me, his father." The Emperor felt both aggrieved and angry, "As you said, I have only myself to blame."

"I’ll find a chance to talk to Yao Yao eventually."

The Emperor held Lady Liang’s hand, his expression gentle, "No need, just let little ten maintain this kind of relationship with me."

"Are you sure?" Lady Liang understood the Emperor’s meaning, "Will you willingly accept this?"

"Of course not willingly, but this is best for little ten." The Emperor smiled, "As long as little ten knows that I, his imperial father, care for him, that’s enough. Whether or not he is close to me isn’t important."

Lady Liang knew the Emperor’s words were not truly reflective of his heart. He did want Yao Yao to be close to him.

"Yao Yao will be close to you."

The Emperor haughtily declared, "I don’t need his closeness." He said, lowering his head to brush against Lady Liang’s cheek, "I only want to be close to you." With that, he kissed Lady Liang.

After the Emperor fell asleep, Lady Liang sat up, her eyes tenderly tracing his sleeping face. She smiled wryly at the stubborn words he had spoken before.

Hearing the words Zhao Yao had said to He Lianfang clearly made him sad. Alas, in due time she should talk to Yao Yao, lest he be hurt by it for a lifetime.

Lady Liang leaned down, kissed the Emperor’s lips, then lay back down. As soon as she did, the Emperor pulled her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his waist, softly patting his back.

The next day, when the Emperor was about to leave, he reminded Lady Liang not to tell Zhao Yao about last night, insisting repeatedly that he didn’t care. Lastly, he said that if he admitted caring to his youngest son, it would be rather embarrassing as his father.

Lady Liang, holding back laughter, assured him she wouldn’t tell Zhao Yao. With this assurance, the Emperor went to court relieved.

Having spent the previous night at Kunde Hall, the Emperor attended the morning court session in a very good mood, much to the relief of the ministers.

It was unclear why, but the Emperor’s mood hadn’t been great in recent days, even though Prince Chu had won a victory in Shu.

Today’s morning court didn’t involve any major issues, just some minor matters, wrapping up within two hours.

Afterward, the Emperor returned to the Imperial Study, perused some memorials, and then took Sun Kui to Wende Hall.

Seeing the Emperor hunched over, stealthily peering through the window to spy on Zhao Yao studying, Sun Kui’s lips twitched slightly. He whispered, "Your Majesty, if you want to watch, why not go inside?"

The Emperor glanced back and glared at Sun Kui, whispering, "What do you know?"

Sun Kui: "..."

Majesty, didn’t you tell Lady Liang before going to court that you didn’t care about the Tenth Highness’s words? So why are you sneaking here to watch the Tenth Highness now?

Zhao Yao sensed someone watching him, lifted his eyes and looked around.

Seeing his youngest son glance in his direction, the Emperor quickly crouched down beneath the window sill. Sun Kui hurried to duck down as well.

After surveying his surroundings and seeing no one, Zhao Yao dismissed the feeling and continued listening to his teacher’s lecture.

Tong Xi, returning with pastries from Xingde Palace, saw the Emperor hunched against the window sill. He quickly bowed to the Emperor, who stopped him with a look.

Seeing Tong Xi had arrived, the Emperor didn’t feel comfortable continuing to spy on his son’s studies. Before leaving, he warned Tong Xi not to tell Zhao Yao that he had visited Wende Hall.

Tong Xi quickly nodded and respectfully escorted the Emperor to the hall’s door.

"Your Majesty, why didn’t you go in and see the Tenth Highness just now?"

"Why should I go in to see him?" the Emperor stubbornly replied, "I just wanted to see whether that little rascal was studying seriously, nothing else."

Sun Kui: Majesty, your words are quite the obvious denial of your own actions.