Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1077: Chapter 121: Prince Wei Is So Angry He Coughs Blood (Part 2)

The ministers accused by the Princess of Annan instead hope that the matter of the Northern Border will come to light, so that it can divert the emperor’s attention, and perhaps they can avoid disaster because of it.

In order to deflect the trouble eastwards, these ministers are using all means to inquire about the situation in the Northern Border, but unfortunately, they haven’t uncovered a single useful piece of information.

Now, apart from the emperor, only Prince Chu knows what has truly happened at the Northern Border. Many ministers went to seek information from those who support the ministers in Prince Chu’s faction, spending a significant amount on bribes to find out.

Even the ministers in Prince Chu’s faction wish to know what occurred at the Northern Border, so that they can prepare and perhaps take action. However, Prince Chu does not meet with them. There’s no choice but for them to seek Minister Li.

After returning to the capital to rest, Prince Chu did not see outsiders, but he did visit Minister Li.

Minister Li also asked Prince Chu what had happened at the Northern Border, but Prince Chu said it was confidential and couldn’t be disclosed; therefore, the elderly minister did not ask further.

The ministers in Prince Chu’s faction, having heard Minister Li say Prince Chu didn’t disclose the information, refrained from further inquiry, as they understood clearly that something major must have happened at the Northern Border, otherwise Prince Chu wouldn’t keep even Minister Li in the dark.

The factions of Prince Jing, Prince Dai, and Prince Chu, along with neutral ministers, are all curious about the Northern Border matter. Only the ministers of Prince Wei’s faction are not curious, because they know. However, not everyone is informed—only a select few are aware.

In a civilian residence in the North Market of the capital, Prince Chu and Prince Wei rarely sat together. Of course, the two still looked at each other with disdain, without pleasant expressions.

This time, it was Prince Wei who sought Prince Chu out for a meeting.

"Was it your tenth brother who helped you escape from Prince Han’s grasp?"

Prince Chu looked expressionlessly at Prince Wei and said, "What does that have to do with you?"

"In your investigation of Prince Han, did you expose your tenth brother?" Prince Wei’s gaze suddenly turned incredibly sharp, directly targeting Prince Chu. "If Prince Han suspects that it was your tenth brother who told you about his collusion with the Third Princess, Prince Han will never let your tenth brother go."

That Prince Wei knew of this did not surprise Prince Chu in the slightest.

"So you do know about Prince Han’s collusion with the Third Princess." Having said that, he thought of Southern Wei people being in the Western Regions and Northern Border, and even on the grasslands; his gaze instantly turned cold, "Did you have a hand in Prince Han’s collaboration with the Third Princess?"

Prince Wei sneered coldly, "Whether we had a hand or not, what does it matter?"

Upon hearing Prince Wei say this, Prince Chu knew that Prince Han’s collaboration with the Third Princess was not instigated by Prince Wei, but certainly involved Southern Wei people.

"You take care of yourself."

Prince Wei did not appreciate it: "No need for your advice."

"Southern Wei people have continuously sent people to assassinate your tenth brother, as well as Prince Han." Originally, Prince Chu didn’t know about Zhao Yao’s assassination attempts until Liang Run accidentally let it slip during their journey to the Western Regions. Under pressure, Liang Run revealed that ever since Zhao Yao went to Swamp Prefecture, there had always been attempts to kill him. Before Zhao Yao even went to Swamp Prefecture, Southern Wei people had been secretly trying to assassinate him. "During my journey to the Western Regions, Prince Han sent people to poison your tenth brother, and not just once. Your Southern Wei people also poisoned your tenth brother."

Prince Wei was unaware of Southern Wei’s attempt to poison Zhao Yao.

Seeing Prince Wei’s face instantly turn dark and unsightly, Prince Chu knew Prince Wei was ignorant of Southern Wei’s attempt to poison Zhao Yao.

"You really are quite skilled, allowing your subordinates to repeatedly attempt to assassinate and poison your tenth brother without knowing a thing."

Prince Wei suppressed the anger in his heart and said coldly, "I will handle it."

Prince Chu looked at Prince Wei with a cold, threatening gaze, "If anything happens to your tenth brother, I won’t let you or Southern Wei people off!"

"I won’t let anything happen to him!"

Prince Chu said no more, but his gaze towards Prince Wei was full of derision.

"Stop investigating the matter between Prince Han and the Third Princess, or you’ll implicate your tenth brother." Prince Wei warned, "I will inform your tenth brother to stop looking into this matter as well."

"After my tenth brother told me about this matter, I told him to stop concerning himself with it." Prince Chu replied coldly, "You take care of your Southern Wei people."

Prince Wei had only come to say these things to Prince Chu, and now that his words were said, he no longer wished to remain with Prince Chu.

He stood up, looking down at Prince Chu, "Soon it will be time for us to clash. I hope you won’t bore me." With that, he turned and left.

Watching the departing back of Prince Wei, Prince Chu sneered disdainfully.

Prince Wei hurriedly returned to the Prince Wei Mansion and then sent trusted aides to investigate the Southern Wei people’s assassination and poisoning of Zhao Yao. He needed to know who was behind it.

Years ago, Prince Wei had warned those people not to touch Zhao Yao, yet they actually treated his words like whispers in the wind.

Seeing Prince Wei with a clouded face—that looked downright dreadful—Yu Hai cautiously said to the Hidden Guard, "Your Highness, His Highness Prince Han is unharmed, don’t let yourself be too angry over this." As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Prince Wei so enraged he spat out blood, startling him greatly, "Your Highness, what happened? This servant will fetch a doctor immediately."

"No need, I’m fine."

"Your Highness, you’re bleeding." Yu Hai said with a face full of concern.

"I’m fine." Prince Wei wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Your Highness, it’s better to have a doctor check your pulse." It’s been years since his highness spat blood, yet now out of anger, his highness spits blood again; he was ready to deal with those people.

"No need." Prince Wei glanced at Yu Hai’s anxious and worried face, calmly instructing, "You go investigate this matter as well."

"I will go immediately." Yu Hai said viciously, "Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will definitely find out who disobeyed your orders and acted to assassinate His Highness Prince Han."

Prince Wei nodded lightly.

Yu Hai retreated out.

With a bang, Prince Wei slammed the desk in front of him, his face shadowed.

It seems they thought he’s reliant on them, but the time has come to show them what he’s capable of.

At this moment, far away in the Swamp Prefecture, Zhao Yao was happily eating chilled watermelon.

The capital had already entered autumn, with the weather cooling, but Lingnan was still in summer, hot and muggy. Without eating ice each day, one would certainly suffer from heatstroke.

Zhao Yao sat in a rocking chair, digging into the watermelon while thinking things over.

His fourth brother should have returned to the capital, and the capital would once again become lively. Previously, the matter of the Princess of Annan’s accusation was yet unresolved, now his fourth brother returned, surely making the ministers of the court incredibly tense.