Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1016: Chapter 94: Prince Han Really Overestimates Me_2

"Prince Han has always been very secretive, never associating with Prince Chu and the others, nor has he ever been their enemy. Why would he suddenly target them?" He Lianfang felt that Zhao Yao’s speculation might not be correct either. "At this moment, Prince Han won’t expose himself."

Zhao Yao found He Lianfang’s analysis somewhat reasonable. If it wasn’t the reason he had guessed, then what was it? "Second Uncle, what do you think is the reason?"

He Lianfang gazed at Zhao Yao and said, "Perhaps Prince Han sees you as his greatest rival."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao was shocked, pointing at himself with disbelief in his voice, "Me? You’re saying Prince Han considers me his greatest rival? What qualities or abilities do I have?"

He Lianfang watched Zhao Yao silently for a while, not answering his question.

Zhao Yao laughed self-deprecatingly, "Prince Han really overestimates me."

"You successfully hosted a trade conference that made those in the capital wary of you. If Prince Han sees you as his greatest rival, what’s wrong with that?" He Lianfang always believed Zhao Yao had a significant misunderstanding of his own abilities. Not to mention the things he’d achieved before, just this trade conference—everyone, including him, thought it wouldn’t succeed. But the outcome was that the trade conference was extremely successful, earning a lot of money and even intimidating the foreigners.

This trade conference seemed easy to host on the surface, but in reality, it was very difficult. Not everyone can host a trade conference so successfully. Through this trade conference, everyone realized Zhao Yao’s abilities were stronger than they had imagined.

"I’m far away in Swamp Prefecture, what do they have to worry about?"

"The success of the trade conference made Zhao Zheng praise you in front of the civil and military officials at court. People in the court speculate that Zhao Zheng might transfer you back to the capital. Do you think they shouldn’t be worried?" He Lianfang knew full well the emperor wouldn’t transfer Zhao Yao back to the capital anytime soon.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao frowned, his expression turning grim, "Even if Father wants to transfer me back to the capital, I won’t go."

"It’s not a matter of whether you want to return or not, but how those in the capital perceive it. If they see you as a threat, they’ll naturally find ways to eliminate you, even if you haven’t done anything." He Lianfang placed a piece on the board, instantly shifting the game into a more intricate situation. "You may not participate in the battle for succession, and have even gone all the way to Swamp Prefecture, but that doesn’t mean those in the capital will let you go."

Zhao Yao sighed with frustration, "Ah, it’s really annoying. I’m not competing with them for the throne, why do they keep an eye on me?" He thought that by distancing himself from the capital he could avoid the bloody succession struggles, but he still got involved.

He Lianfang glanced at the troubled Zhao Yao, coolly saying, "No one will believe that you have no ambitions for the throne."

"Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother believe me."

"What use is it if they believe you, since Prince Dai and Prince Han don’t?" He Lianfang ceased talking about the matter and returned to discussing Prince Han, "If Prince Han wants to eliminate you, what do you intend to do?"

Zhao Yao raised his eyebrows and said with a sly smile, "Of course, use his own tactics against him."

"You plan to poison Prince Han to death?"

Zhao Yao wagged his finger at He Lianfang, deliberately keeping him in suspense, "You’ll see at the time."

Hearing this, He Lianfang didn’t pursue the matter further.

"When you return to the capital next year to marry, those in the capital won’t let you easily go back to Lingnan."

Zhao Yao shrugged and said, "We’ll see about next year’s issues next year." He definitely wouldn’t return to the capital to marry next year. "For now, I have many things to deal with and cannot attend to matters of next year."

He Lianfang knew Zhao Yao had a firm grasp on the situation, so he said no more.

"With Prince Han’s people in Swamp Prefecture, what do you intend to do?"

"Nothing much, let them continue doing business." He welcomed anyone to do business in Swamp Prefecture; he wouldn’t turn away Prince Han. Besides, Prince Dai and Prince Jing would also send people to do business. While he wouldn’t cooperate with them on business, he wouldn’t stop them from doing business in Swamp Prefecture. Moreover, by having them do business there, he could monitor their every move.

A few days ago, many people came from the capital to find Zhao Yao. Openly and secretly, they all wanted to cooperate with Zhao Yao. Zhao Yao refused cooperation but allowed them to engage in business in Swamp Prefecture. However, doing business in Swamp Prefecture required adherence to his rules. If one did not abide by his rules, they should not blame him for being ruthless.

Those from the capital, although displeased with Zhao Yao for refusing cooperation, seeing that he allowed them to do business in Swamp Prefecture, did not resort to coercion or bribery.

"Allowing Prince Han and Prince Dai’s people to do business in Swamp Prefecture is too risky," He Lianfang disapproved of Zhao Yao’s approach.

"Second Uncle, the most dangerous place is the safest place," Zhao Yao said meaningfully. "Letting them make little moves right under my nose is better than them doing something behind my back." As for his secrets, those people wouldn’t discover them. He would show them what they wanted to see.

"Be careful not to overplay it." He Lianfang sighed inwardly; this young lad, Little Ten, is truly Zhao Zheng’s son.

"I won’t. Everything is under my control." He wouldn’t let those in the capital ruin his plans.

After Zhao Yao spoke calmly, he placed another piece on the board, revealing a pleased smile, "Second Uncle, you lost."

He Lianfang glanced at the chessboard and then said serenely, "You won." Nowadays, competing in chess with Zhao Yao made it very difficult for He Lianfang to win. Zhao Yao had surpassed him in chess skills.

Zhao Yao stood up and stretched, "Second Uncle, I’ll be leaving now." He had other matters to attend to. "Tomorrow, I’ll be away from the Prince Mansion for a while, so stay well at home."

"What are you busy with again?"

"The harvest," Zhao Yao replied with a smile. "Tomorrow we’ll start harvesting the early rice, I need to take a look."

"Isn’t this year’s early rice growing well, what is there to see?"

"To see how much can be harvested from this year’s early rice."

He Lianfang knew Zhao Yao was very concerned about the grains. Back in early spring, he personally went into the fields for the spring sowing. For the sake of the harvest, he even specially made windmills before the trade conference.

"This year’s early rice yield should be higher than previous years, right?"

"Certainly more, but we still don’t know by how much." Zhao Yao naturally hoped the yield would be as high as possible. "If this year’s early rice yields double that of last year’s, then the people of Swamp Prefecture will have enough to eat." He had done so much upon arriving in Swamp Prefecture with the aim of improving the lives of the people. "If the yield doubles, then the things I’ve done in the fields could be promoted across other states and prefectures in Great Zhou."

"You may go then."

"Second Uncle, I’m leaving." After departing He Lianfang’s study, Zhao Yao returned to his own study. As soon as he approached, Xiao Jin and General Hu rushed toward him.

These two loved hunting and had been away for quite some time. For them to return today indicated they had filled up outside.

Xiao Jin and General Hu began to proudly boast about their "exploits" during the past days. Zhao Yao listened attentively, occasionally praising their competence.

After hearing their stories, Zhao Yao suddenly realized something was off with their words just now.