Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 863: Chapter 21: Lady Liang Is No Easy Target

The emperor let out an ambiguous laugh and said, "Only now are they inviting Xiao Xiao?"

"Your Majesty, did you expect that Empress Xie and Noble Princess Consort Rong would invite Lady Liang?" Sun Kui asked curiously, "Aren’t you worried that Empress Xie and Noble Princess Consort Rong might have ill intentions towards Lady Liang?" Their sudden display of attentiveness to Lady Liang must surely hide a plot. After all, normally, they wouldn’t spare her a glance.

"They need something from Xiao Xiao, so they won’t harm her for now. Moreover, with me here, who would dare to harm her."

"Do they need something from Lady Liang?" Sun Kui was full of questions, wondering what Empress Xie and Noble Princess Consort Rong might want from Lady Liang.

"Second Brother and Seventh Brother want to partner with that brat Tenth Brother in the glass business."

Sun Kui looked enlightened, "So that’s how it is."

The emperor sneered, "Hmph, they want to do business together yet act so superior." Since Zhao Yao had sent the glass back to the capital, some time had passed. During this time, Prince Dai and Prince Jing had sent a letter to Zhao Yao, expressing their desire to partner with him in the glass business. However, their tone in the letter was very arrogant, as if collaborating with them was an honor for Zhao Yao.

Upon reading the letter from Prince Dai and Prince Jing, Zhao Yao burst out laughing in anger. Clearly, they were the ones asking to cooperate in the glass business, but they acted as if he was the one begging them to do business together. He ignored Prince Dai and Prince Jing.

Prince Dai and Prince Jing felt Zhao Yao was ungrateful. They thought they were doing him a favor by offering him a chance to do business together, yet he didn’t appreciate it, which left them very displeased. If Zhao Yao had been in the capital, they would have already taught that ungrateful younger brother a lesson.

Yet they didn’t want to give up on Zhao Yao as their "cash cow," nor could they bring themselves to ask him to collaborate. So, Empress Xie and Noble Princess Consort Rong intervened, intending to negotiate with Lady Liang.

"Your Majesty, knowing Empress Xie and Noble Princess Consort Rong, they will surely force Lady Liang to agree." Now, everyone in the world wants glass, and they wish to work with Prince Han on the glass business.

"Xiao Xiao won’t agree." The emperor had great confidence in Lady Liang.

"Your Majesty, if Lady Liang refuses Empress Xie and Noble Princess Consort Rong, they surely will make her life difficult in the future." Empress Xie and Noble Princess Consort Rong are not easy to deal with. If Lady Liang doesn’t agree with them, they will hold a grudge and ensure she doesn’t have an easy life in the palace.

"Am I just a figurehead?" the emperor asked coldly, "If they dare to lay a hand on Xiao Xiao, I won’t be lenient with them!"

"With Your Majesty’s protection, nothing will happen to Lady Liang."

The emperor thought of his youngest son far away in Lingnan, causing trouble for his beloved Xiao Xiao, and felt quite displeased.

"That brat should have submitted the glass formula to the court; then there wouldn’t be so many issues."

Far away in Lingnan, Zhao Yao sneezed unexpectedly, startling He Lianfang.

"Are you catching a cold?"

Rubbing his itchy nose, Zhao Yao said, "No, someone must be cursing me."

"It could be Prince Dai and Prince Jing." Not long ago, Zhao Yao had rejected their business proposal. "Prince Dai and Prince Jing won’t easily let go of such a fat sheep. What do you plan to do?"

Zhao Yao shrugged, "Let them stew." He was far away in Lingnan, and Prince Dai couldn’t do anything to him. Even if they complained about him in court, he didn’t care.

"Lady Liang might not get any peace," He Lianfang reminded Zhao Yao, "The Empress and Noble Consort Rong are both formidable opponents."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao suddenly smiled, "Uncle, do you think my mother is an easy target?"

He Lianfang paused for a moment, then chuckled lightly, "I forgot that Lady Liang is a smart woman."

"I’m not bragging, but even if the Empress and Noble Consort Rong join forces, they are no match for my mother. Even if all the ladies in the harem combined, they wouldn’t be as clever as my mother," Zhao Yao said proudly. "Besides, Father will protect my mother in secret and won’t let anything happen to her." This is the main reason he dared to travel all the way to Lingnan.

He Lianfang sarcastically remarked, "Who would have thought Zhao Zheng is quite the romantic."

"Uncle, the men in our Lao Zhao family are all romantics," Zhao Yao added; this was the emperor’s saying, not Zhao Yao’s own words.

He Lianfang didn’t refute, remaining silent.

"My eldest uncle is one such romantic, isn’t he?"

Indeed, Prince Yi Yong was a romantic, though sadly the woman he loved perished in the chaos of war.

"So, are you a romantic too?"

"Me?" Zhao Yao pondered for a moment, "Probably not, as all my energy is focused on making money, and I have no time for love affairs."

He Lianfang looked at Zhao Yao, who spoke so decisively, with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, "It better be that way."

"Uncle, you can rest assured, I will never forsake my career for romance," Zhao Yao said lazily, changing the subject to business. "At the current pace, we should succeed in making the firearms before the end of the year." In recent times, Zhao Yao and Zheng Cheng had been busy with the firearms. The progress was decent so far.

He Lianfang, usually without expression, showed excitement when firearms were mentioned, "Really?"

"Barring any surprises." Zhao Yao teasingly noted He Lianfang’s excitement, "Uncle, it’s rare to see you this eager."

He Lianfang gave Zhao Yao a glare before stating matter-of-factly, "What you’re making is indeed impressive." In truth, he wanted to say remarkable. Though he was already aware of Zhao Yao’s capability in creating things—always being awed by Zhao Yao’s creations—this time’s firearm was entirely different from his past works. If the firearms were successfully made, they would be awe-inspiring weapons.

Zhao Yao laughed inwardly, indeed, all men love guns, even Uncle is no exception.

"Uncle, I must inform you in advance, even if the firearms are successfully created, that doesn’t guarantee success. They still need thorough testing." Zhao Yao’s demeanor turned serious, "Also, firearms can easily misfire and injure oneself."

Understanding Zhao Yao’s point, He Lianfang conceded, "Alright, I know impatience won’t cook the rice." However impatient he might be, he could only wait.

With other matters at hand, after speaking with He Lianfang for a while, Zhao Yao hurriedly left.

Meanwhile, Lady Liang had already returned to Kunde Hall from Zhao Yang Palace.

Though Lady Liang hadn’t explicitly rejected Empress Xie, it would have been clear to Empress Xie from her subtle refusal, evidenced by her unpleasant expression.

"My lady, Empress Xie was too overbearing; you refused her, she might harm you out of spite." Empress Xie was so infuriating, speaking in a condescending manner to Lady Liang and even threatening her.

But Lady Liang wasn’t afraid, "Deal with soldiers with generals, and water with soil."

"Prince Jing isn’t yet the Crown Prince, yet Empress Xie acts as if Prince Jing is already the Crown Prince." Gui Xing was enraged at Empress Xie’s slight towards Lady Liang, "So what if Prince Jing is the legitimate heir? His Majesty currently favors Prince Chu. Besides, with Prince Dai in line, it shouldn’t be Prince Jing’s turn. What is Empress Xie so proud of?"

Since the Crown Prince’s fall, Empress Xie firmly believed that her son, Prince Jing’s name, was written on the imperial decree hidden behind the Zichen Hall’s plaque. Her reasoning was simple: because Prince Jing was the legitimate heir.