Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1066: Chapter 116: Are the Common People More Important, or the Scholarly Family?

Zheng Xilin did not chase away his youngest son when speaking with Zhao Yao. Zheng Qian sat quietly to the side, listening to his father talk about grand principles with Prince Han.

Zhao Yao initially thought Zheng Xilin would speak for several hours, but unexpectedly, he only talked for two hours. After finishing, Grand Commandant Zheng expressed that he was tired and would leave Swamp Prefecture by boat early tomorrow morning, ensuring he would not cause Zhao Yao any trouble or danger.

Zheng Qian invited Zhao Yao to his study for tea. Zhao Yao picked up the teacup but did not drink immediately; instead, he gently swirled the tea surface with the lid. Zheng Qian, sitting across from him, remained silent.

After a long pause, Zhao Yao finally spoke, "What do you think your father meant?"

Zheng Qian knew Zhao Yao could not have missed the implication in his father’s words, "My lord, you don’t need to heed his words." He had never really listened to his father. "Just consider him talking nonsense."

Zhao Yao was first taken aback by Zheng Qian’s comment about his father, then burst into laughter.

"Haha, Zheng Qian, is it alright for you to speak of your father like that?"

"I’ve always spoken of him this way." He had said even more outrageous things before.

Zhao Yao had long seen Zheng Qian’s deep disdain for Grand Commandant Zheng. He teased, "Your elder brothers are proud to have a father like Grand Commandant Zheng; why do you despise your father so?"

Zheng Qian snorted coldly, "He’s annoying."

Zhao Yao said no more and slowly drank his tea.

"My lord, you should live according to your own intentions."

After finishing the tea, Zhao Yao put down the cup, "I won’t change my mind because of your father’s words. I don’t understand why your father values me; what makes me worth him looking at me differently?" Even now, he didn’t understand why the Emperor chose him. He felt he was only better at earning money than his royal siblings, but otherwise fell short compared to them. In terms of military prowess, he couldn’t match Prince Dai. Academically, he couldn’t rival his fourth brother. In terms of endurance and cunning, he fell short of his eighth brother. By family background, he was far inferior to Prince Jing. He could only make money but was outshone by his royal siblings everywhere else, so why did the Emperor and Grand Commandant Zheng think he was fit for great responsibility?

"My lord, if he couldn’t see your worth, then he’d be blind." Although Zheng Qian had many grievances against his father, he agreed with his father’s high regard for Zhao Yao. "My lord, you are excellent; it is only normal that he thinks highly of you."

"What is good about me?" Zhao Yao pointed to himself, "I have no great ambition; I wish only to be a wealthy prince and not concern myself with state affairs. How does someone like me qualify to be Emperor? Let’s not mention others—just my fourth brother; in every aspect, he excels and he cares for the common people. He’s the most suitable person to be Emperor; why don’t Father and Grand Commandant Zheng think highly of him? In what way is he lacking?"

"Prince Chu is indeed good, but he does not compare to you, my lord."

"In what way is my fourth brother inferior to me?" To him, his fourth brother was the perfect successor.

"My lord, you create many things beneficial to the people, something Prince Chu far cannot match."

"What does that represent? Becoming Emperor does not require making items like curved plows and water wheels." Zhao Yao waved his hand, "The things I make indeed benefit the people, but that doesn’t mean I’m suited to be Emperor. Being Emperor doesn’t need this but needs managing the realm well. I’m even lazy about handling affairs in my small court, let alone major state affairs." He disliked managing affairs in his small court, much less state matters. More importantly, in state matters, no issue is trivial; each one concerns the entire Great Zhou people and cannot be dismissed lightly.

Zheng Qian suddenly asked, "My lord, how do you think Prince Chu would manage Great Zhou if he became Emperor?"

Zhao Yao replied without hesitation, "Naturally with Benevolent Governance."

"Do you think Benevolent Governance is good?"

These words made Zhao Yao pause momentarily. He furrowed his brow and with complete puzzlement asked, "Isn’t Benevolent Governance good? Have the wise rulers throughout history not governed benevolently?"

Zheng Qian did not answer Zhao Yao’s question but instead asked, "My lord, do you think the Emperor rules with Benevolent Governance?"

"Doesn’t my father govern with Benevolent Governance?" Zhao Yao found Zheng Qian’s question strange, "Since my father’s ascension, he has reduced various taxes and labor obligations, lessened punishments, and enacted policies beneficial to the people—isn’t that Benevolent Governance?"

"Is that all you consider Benevolent Governance, my lord?"

"Of course, these are not enough; I just gave some examples. Benevolence in governance should be demonstrated in many aspects." Zhao Yao spoke earnestly, "To be [benevolent] with civil and military officials so they will actively offer counsel. To be [benevolent] with scholars so that Great Zhou’s culture prospers, encouraging more people to read and to take the imperial exams to become officials. To be [benevolent] with the common people so they can live peacefully and prosperously, ensuring a prosperous country and happy people..."