Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 664: Chapter 324 Going to Die_2

The man in black listened and slightly nodded his head.

The guard hesitated for a moment before saying, "Young master, the Tenth Prince is of no threat, there’s no need to keep people watching them."

The man in black slightly nodded and said, "Then let them withdraw." Ever since the Tenth Prince arrived in Jinling, the man in black had sent people to secretly keep an eye on him.

Although the Tenth Prince is not favored and poses no threat to them, the man in black has always been cautious and has been secretly monitoring and guarding against the Tenth Prince.

In fact, what the Crown Prince said was correct, the Tenth Prince posed no threat and was not worth worrying about.

The guard exited. Moments later, he returned.

"Young master, our people have all returned."

The man in black said nothing, and the guard wisely retreated.

At this time, in Mr. Meng’s residence, in Zhao Yao’s room, he was reading a book.

A Hidden Guard suddenly appeared in his room and reported, "Your Highness, those who were monitoring you have withdrawn."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao immediately put down the book in his hand, looked up at the Hidden Guard in the shadows, and said in surprise, "All gone, not one left behind?"

"Not one left."

Zhao Yao asked, "Did your people follow them?"

"They have followed them."

"They won’t be discovered, will they?" Zhao Yao noticed several groups monitoring him as soon as he arrived in Jinling, but once he reached Mr. Meng’s place, only one group remained keeping an eye on him.

"Rest assured, Your Highness, they will never be discovered by the other party." The Hidden Guard wasn’t boasting; he was speaking the truth. The four of them had been secretly protecting His Highness, and those monitoring His Highness had never realized it. In this world, besides the Dragon Guards, no one else could ever discover them.

"I really want to see who has been watching me," Zhao Yao said to the Hidden Guard in the shadows, "It’s fine now, you may leave."

"Yes, Your Highness." The Hidden Guard silently left Zhao Yao’s room.

Soon after, Tong Xi came in to remind Zhao Yao it was time to sleep.

"How is Mr. Meng, he hasn’t woken up yet?"

"I just went to ask, and Mr. Meng still hasn’t woken up."

Zhao Yao’s mood grew a few shades heavier upon hearing this, and his face showed a worried expression.

"Mr. Meng probably..."

Seeing Zhao Yao’s distress, Tong Xi quickly comforted him, "Your Highness, you are human, not a god. You cannot save Mr. Meng, there’s no need to blame yourself."

"I know." Zhao Yao had long since known that Mr. Meng’s medicine would be of no use, and he was also aware that Mr. Meng had little time left. In recent days, Mr. Meng’s comatose periods had grown longer, and his third uncle had told him it would be a matter of days for Mr. Meng. He was already prepared for it, but still felt sad.

The next day, Zhao Yao woke up early. He first went to find Zheng Xilin and had breakfast with him. Afterward, they went to visit Mr. Meng.

Mr. Meng woke for a brief moment as dawn broke, drank some medicine, had a bit of porridge, and soon fell back into a deep sleep.

Gazing at the bedridden Mr. Meng, who was nothing but skin and bones, Zhao Yao felt deeply troubled.

Zheng Xilin was also heartbroken, and after sitting by Mr. Meng’s bedside for a while, he left with Zhao Yao.

The arrangements for Mr. Meng’s funeral had already been made by Zheng Xilin and the housekeeper.

"After Mr. Meng passes, you’ll leave Jinling and go to Yangzhou to find your maternal grandfather."

"Ah?" Zhao Yao looked at Zheng Xilin in shock, "Third Uncle, didn’t you say before that I have things to do? Why are you now telling me to leave?"

"Originally, you had things to do, but given the current situation, those things can no longer be done," Zheng Xilin said, "I will also return by then."

"Third Uncle, won’t you come to Yangzhou with me?"

"Why should I go to Yangzhou with you?" Zheng Xilin gave Zhao Yao a peculiar look, "When did I ever promise to go to Yangzhou with you?"

"Third Uncle, we just finally..."

Zhao Yao hadn’t finished his sentence before Zheng Xilin interrupted him, "I’m not going to Yangzhou with you."

"Then after I go to Yangzhou, can I come to your home and find you?" Zhao Yao had already guessed earlier that Zheng Xilin wouldn’t go to Yangzhou with him.

"We’ll talk about it when the time comes." Zheng Xilin neither refused Zhao Yao nor directly agreed. "Once Mr. Meng passes, all the sinister forces in Jinling will emerge, and remaining here will only drag you into danger."

"There’s something I’ve always found puzzling."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Xilin asked, "What do you find puzzling?"

"Mr. Meng, though a great scholar, holds no real power, so why do these sinister forces in Jinling fear him?" This was something Zhao Yao had never understood, "How could these wicked forces in Jinling possibly fear Mr. Meng?" Even if they couldn’t publicly harm Mr. Meng, in secret, those people had various means to kill him.

"When Mr. Meng returned to his hometown and went into seclusion, he assisted the aristocratic families of Jinling, and they owe him a great debt," Zheng Xilin sighed softly and continued, "Also, do not underestimate the status and position of a great scholar."

"What do you mean?" Zhao Yao did not understand Zheng Xilin’s final sentence.

"Mr. Meng is the only great scholar of this era. If something were to happen to him in Jinling, do you think the scholars of the world would let those in Jinling off?" Zheng Xilin asked, "Do you think your father would let them off?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao instantly understood what Zheng Xilin meant.

"So that’s it. I indeed underestimated the status of a great scholar."

"He is the only great scholar from both the previous and current dynasties, yet he is about to pass... this is truly not good for Great Zhou." "Also, regarding the solution you mentioned earlier, it is best not to use it."

Perplexed, Zhao Yao asked, "Why?"

"You cannot interfere in the imperial examinations, or you won’t be able to go to Yangzhou."

"Alright then, I won’t interfere." He had already spoken with his father about it, and now it was up to his father whether or not to take his advice.

"Go gather the books, I’ll go see if there’s anything unprepared," Zheng Xilin said, referring to the things for the funeral preparations.

"Then I’ll head off." Mr. Meng had given Zhao Yao all his life’s collection of books. For the past two days, Zhao Yao and his four brothers had been busy sorting and organizing the gentleman’s books.

Mr. Meng lived to be eighty or ninety years old, and throughout his life, he collected an enormous number of books. Zhao Yao and the others had not yet finished organizing them, but he estimated at least ten thousand volumes.

Once these books are delivered to the capital, the court will arrange for them to be printed and distributed to scholars.

Meanwhile, Prince Wei returned to Prince Wei Mansion after court.

Yu Hai brought a secret letter to Prince Wei.

After reading it, Prince Wei sneered disdainfully, "Smart of him not to keep spying on my tenth brother, otherwise..." He didn’t finish his sentence, but the tone was menacing and dangerous. "Those people in Jinling are becoming increasingly brazen."