Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 624: Chapter 312: Playing with People’s Hearts_2

Upon hearing Mr. Meng’s sudden question, Zheng Xilin was slightly taken aback and then asked in confusion, "Why are you asking this?"

Hearing Zheng Xilin’s response, Mr. Meng knew what was going on. He smiled and said, "I met the Tenth Prince when I was in the capital before."

Zheng Xilin asked, "What do you think of the Tenth Prince?"

"The Tenth Prince has an extraordinary aura." Mr. Meng knew a bit of physiognomy and was exceptionally accurate.

Zheng Xilin said, "You are always accurate in judging people. If you say the Tenth Prince is extraordinary, then he indeed must be." After speaking, he asked curiously, "Why did you suddenly bring up the Tenth Prince?"

"The regret I mentioned is about the Tenth Prince."

This surprised Zheng Xilin greatly, "Your regret is the Tenth Prince? Why is that?"

"Because..."

After hearing Mr. Meng’s words, Zheng Xilin was very surprised: "When the weather warms up next spring, you can invite the Tenth Prince to visit you."

"I would like to, but I’m afraid the Emperor won’t agree."

"If you speak, there’s no way the Emperor would disagree."

"Then I shall give it a try."

Zheng Xilin said, "I will help you write a letter to the Emperor."

Mr. Meng looked at Zheng Xilin and teased, "With Grand Commandant Zheng helping me write the letter, the Emperor will surely agree."

"After hearing what you just said, I am very curious to see if the Tenth Prince is really as good as you say."

"You’ll know when you see him, cough, cough, cough..." Mr. Meng started coughing before he could finish his words. Zheng Xilin hurriedly helped him lie down, advising him to rest.

After talking for a while, Mr. Meng indeed felt tired and fell asleep shortly after lying down.

Zheng Xilin quietly stepped out. At this moment, someone by his side brought him a letter from the capital. Just by looking at the envelope, he could tell it was from Zhao Yao. He opened it with a smile, and after reading the contents, his smile deepened considerably.

This time, the letter Zhao Yao sent back to Zheng Xilin discussed Confucianism, Taoism, the School of Legalism, and other philosophical thoughts. Previously, Zheng Xilin had written to Zhao Yao, asking him how he viewed these philosophical ideas.

Over the past few years, under Zheng Xilin’s suggestion, Zhao Yao had read many books related to these philosophies and gained considerable insight.

In this reply, Zhao Yao elaborated in detail on his insights regarding these schools of thought to Zheng Xilin.

Zheng Xilin put down the teacup in his hand and looked at Zhao Yao’s letter spread out on the table, marveling, "This child is truly remarkable." He originally hadn’t planned to meet Zhao Yao, but now he was somewhat inclined to meet this unique student he had never met.

Far away in the capital, Zhao Yao suddenly wanted to sneeze, but it didn’t come out. He rubbed his nose vigorously and continued playing chess with He Lianfang.

"Second Uncle, I want to go to Lingnan early; do you have any way to get Father to agree to let me go to Lingnan?"

"It’s simple, commit a crime, then your father will exile you to Lingnan."

Upon hearing this suggestion, Zhao Yao said with a forced smile, "Second Uncle, your proposal is truly wonderful, I thank you."

"Why do you want to go to Lingnan early?" He Lianfang asked, "What can you do once you get there?"

"I need to see what the situation of my future territory is, right?" The news coming from Lingnan indicates that the situation there is very complicated. But just how complicated it is, he needs to see it for himself, so he can know what to do first when he goes to Lingnan as an adult. "Also, the local chieftains there are hard to deal with."

Many villages in Lingnan are controlled by local chieftains, and the chieftains hold significant power locally. To manage Lingnan well, one must first handle those chieftains.

"By the way, people in Lingnan don’t speak Mandarin, and if I go, I won’t understand what the locals are saying." This was Zhao Yao’s biggest headache, "Also, almost none of the locals in Lingnan understand Mandarin, which really is... a big problem." Although many exiled criminals have been sent there, there are still more locals.

Currently, the situation in Lingnan is relatively isolated. The locals neither learn Mandarin nor care to speak it. Most importantly, they do not obey the court but only their chieftains.

"There’s no way your father will agree to let you go to Lingnan early." He Lianfang poured cold water on him unceremoniously, "Stop thinking about it."

Zhao Yao sighed heavily, "Ah, I knew it." He said, his eyes darted around, and he suddenly had an idea in his mind, "How about this, since I can’t go to Lingnan, Second Uncle, find me someone who speaks Lingnan dialect and knows the situation well there to teach me."