Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 629: Chapter 313 Prince Chu Stayed in the Capital_3

"No, I’m planning to tell Father tomorrow." Zhao Yao couldn’t help but bury his face into the cat’s belly and rubbed forcefully, "I haven’t said anything these past two days because Father has been discussing affairs with Prime Minister He and others." Although the court has closed writing, the emperor doesn’t need to attend court or review memorials, there are still many matters to handle, such as discussing the development of Great Zhou over the past year.

"You mentioned this to your father at the end of the year. After the new year, he can start preparing." He Lianfang said softly, "If your father acts quickly, it can be implemented in the first half of the year."

"This is a big deal, Father and they have to arrange it well. Even the fastest would be the second half of the year." Zhao Yao felt it was unlikely to implement the imperial examinations in the first half of the following year.

"Don’t underestimate your father. Once he decides to do something, he will do whatever it takes to accomplish it." He Lianfang sneered coldly, "Your father will go to any lengths to achieve his goals."

"Second Uncle, are you praising my father or belittling him?"

He Lianfang looked at Zhao Yao with cold eyes, making Zhao Yao’s scalp tingle, scaring him into quickly greeting him with a flattering smile.

"Aren’t you worried about Meng Changce? After the New Year, you can propose to your father to go to Jinling to visit him."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao suddenly stood up, his expression extremely excited as he said, "Right, why didn’t I think of that." He looked at He Lianfang with admiration, "Second Uncle, you are indeed smart. If I suggest going to visit Mr. Meng, Father will certainly not object." By then, he will first visit Mr. Meng in Jinling, then take a detour to Yangzhou, where he can meet his maternal grandfather and the others.

He Lianfang said with a somewhat heavy expression, "Meng Changce is gravely ill. If there is no improvement, he might not last until next spring."

"What?" Zhao Yao’s face changed dramatically, his eyes full of urgent concern, "Wasn’t it said earlier that his condition was improving? How did it suddenly become severe again?"

"When people age, their health fluctuates often." He Lianfang said, while his right hand resting on his knee involuntarily grabbed it tightly. "Your third uncle is with Meng Changce, and he said that Mr. Meng wants to see you."

"Third Uncle is with Mr. Meng?" Zhao Yao looked surprised, "Third Uncle knows Mr. Meng?"

"Yes, they are friends."

Zhao Yao exclaimed, "Third Uncle is actually friends with Mr. Meng!" Why didn’t Third Uncle mention this in his letters before?

"Meng Changce has already written to your father, hoping he agrees for you to go to Jinling to see him. Your father should not oppose it, so you’d better prepare early to go to Jinling."

"Okay." Zhao Yao looked at He Lianfang and asked, "Second Uncle, will you go with me?"

"I won’t go." He Lianfang said in a flat tone, "You go ahead."

Seeing He Lianfang’s somewhat gloomy expression, Zhao Yao guessed what Second Uncle was thinking. He felt guilty and wanted to say something to comfort him, but he thought if he spoke, it would only make Second Uncle more upset.

"Then Second Uncle, wait for me to bring back some delicious food from Jiangnan." Zhao Yao changed the topic to Jiangnan’s delicacies and beautiful scenery, and as he spoke, he became hungry.

He Lianfang tapped Zhao Yao’s head lightly with a book, deliberately putting on a stern face, "Sending you to Jiangnan is not for you to indulge in eating, drinking, and having fun."

"I know, I’m going to see Mr. Meng." Zhao Yao said earnestly, "When I visit Mr. Meng, his condition will definitely improve."

He Lianfang didn’t respond to Zhao Yao’s words, continuing his conversation, "Jiangnan has many scholars and intellectuals. You should make more connections when you go and then persuade them to go to Lingnan to assist you."

"Second Uncle, even if you hadn’t told me, I would have done that." Going to an area rich in talent like Jiangnan and returning without bringing back some scholars would be such a waste.

The master and disciple duo, after discussing scholars and intellectuals in Jiangnan, began talking about Jiangnan’s officialdom. Jiangnan isn’t just Yangzhou but also includes places like Suzhou, Jinling, and Hui Province.

The governor of Yangzhou is Zhao Yao’s maternal grandfather, so the officialdom in Yangzhou is relatively clean, but other places may not be the same. In places like Suzhou and Jinling, the Crown Prince and Prince Dai have people arranged in these places, and their people hold considerable power there.

After spending the afternoon talking with He Lianfang, Zhao Yao returned to the palace before dark.

"Your Highness, why don’t you visit Prince Chu Mansion and Prince Wei Mansion?" Tong Xi asked with a puzzled expression, "You haven’t visited the two Prince Mansions in many days, what’s wrong?"

"Do you think I don’t want to go?" Zhao Yao rolled his eyes at Tong Xi and said grumpily, "The end of the year is the busiest time for Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother, why would I go and hinder them? Besides, the atmosphere between Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother is really tense right now, it’s better for me to avoid visiting them, or else I’ll end up being caught in the middle." Previously, Eighth Brother had made a report against Fourth Brother. Although Fourth Brother was fine, he must hate Eighth Brother even more now.