Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1137: Chapter 149: Laying It All Out

In the Prince Wei Mansion, Zhao Yao is busy grilling lamb skewers.

Today is a rare sunny day, so Zhao Yao dragged Prince Wei to have a barbecue in the courtyard of the Prince Wei Mansion. The brothers decided to grill the meat themselves without any help from their servants.

This time Zhao Yao returned to the capital, he brought along a special seasoning he had someone make. The seasoning they’re using now for the barbecue was specially made for him, and it’s not available for sale in the capital.

Prince Wei isn’t really interested in food, but he had to admit that what his tenth brother made was delicious and really opened up his appetite.

As Zhao Yao skillfully grilled the meat, he tried to persuade Prince Wei to eat more.

"Eighth Brother, you’re too thin. You should eat more meat regularly so you can put on some weight."

Prince Wei munched on the lamb skewer grilled by Zhao Yao, "You and Lady Liang are indeed mother and son, always saying I’m too thin when you see me." During the more than a year Zhao Yao wasn’t in the capital, Prince Wei often visited the palace to pay respects to Lady Liang, to see her, and to chat with her. Every time Lady Liang saw him, she would say he’s too thin and told him to eat more food regularly.

"You really are too thin." Zhao Yao looked Prince Wei up and down and said disdainfully, "Eighth Brother, you’re as skinny as a bean sprout."

Prince Wei jokingly scolded, "You’re the bean sprout."

"Eighth Brother, doesn’t my grilling taste good?"

"Very good." Prince Wei gave Zhao Yao a thumbs up, lavishly praising, "The grilled meat from Zhenxiu Building doesn’t taste even half as good as yours."

"Of course, my barbecue seasoning is specially made, unlike Zhenxiu Building’s." Zhao Yao said proudly, "When it comes to food, no one on earth can beat me. Let me tell you, if I went out to sell barbecue on the street, I’d also make a fortune."

"What, are you thinking of setting up a stall to sell barbecue?"

"I’ve set up a stall in Swamp Prefecture." Zhao Yao flipped the chicken wing over and sprinkled it with the special seasoning, "I opened up a food street in Swamp Prefecture, dedicated to people setting up stalls to sell food. When I have nothing to do, I occasionally set up a stall to sell food as well."

Prince Wei didn’t expect Zhao Yao had actually set up a stall to sell food, and scolded, "Nonsense, how can you, a dignified prince, go set up a stall to sell food?!"

"Eighth Brother, do you think doing so tarnishes my identity as a prince?"

"Doesn’t it?"

"I don’t think so." Zhao Yao smiled, "Besides, when I go out to sell things at the stall, no one knows my identity." Even if they knew his identity, he didn’t care.

Prince Wei pointed at Zhao Yao, helpless yet doting, "You... you never act properly."

"Eighth Brother, I never care about my identity as a prince or a royal duke." Zhao Yao genuinely didn’t care about his identity, "I just want to live freely and happily."

Prince Wei knew that Zhao Yao truly didn’t care about his prince’s identity, and said meaningfully, "So, you also don’t mind marrying a peasant woman as a princess."

"That’s right, in fact, I’m happy my future princess isn’t from a noble family or an official’s family." Zhao Yao said cheerfully, "Marrying a peasant woman as a princess is a good thing for me." Ugh, if he hadn’t known about his father’s intentions, he really would think so. But since knowing that his father had chosen him, he felt marrying a peasant woman as a princess wasn’t a good thing.

"I knew it." Prince Wei understood Zhao Yao’s nature, so he didn’t sympathize with Zhao Yao.

"Eighth Brother, you really understand me."

Prince Wei unceremoniously mocked Prince Chu, "The Fourth Brother is so self-righteous, thinking Father wronged you, and went to the Imperial Study to question Father."

It was the first time Prince Wei spoke so directly about Prince Chu in front of Zhao Yao, which surprised Zhao Yao. In front of him, Prince Wei and Prince Chu wouldn’t mention each other.

"Eighth Brother, the Fourth Brother was also standing up for me."

"He doesn’t understand you." Prince Wei sneered, "His presumption angered Father, and it’s a good thing for me."

Zhao Yao looked deeply at Prince Wei, surprise evident in his tone, "Eighth Brother, you in front of me..."

Although Zhao Yao didn’t finish his sentence, Prince Wei knew what he wanted to say.

"You should know I hate him."

Zhao Yao nodded slightly.

"You should also know that he and I are irreconcilable."

Zhao Yao continued to nod.

"He and I have not acted against each other so far, first because of you, and second because the time hasn’t come."

"I understand." Zhao Yao was puzzled, not understanding why Prince Wei would suddenly bring it up, "Eighth Brother, you and the Fourth Brother usually don’t in front of me..."

"I know in your heart, he and I are equally important to you, and you never interfere in matters between us, right?"

Zhao Yao nodded, "Eighth Brother, you and the Fourth Brother are both my most important brothers. To me, you’re both equally important, and I won’t take sides or interfere in matters between you."

"Tenth Brother, the final battle for succession should be between him and me. Who do you hope will win or lose?" Prince Wei asked, suddenly giving Zhao Yao a sharp look, "Answer me honestly."

Zhao Yao didn’t expect Prince Wei to ask so directly. He paused for a moment, then replied seriously, "Eighth Brother, it doesn’t really matter to me who wins or loses. I just hope that no matter who wins in the end, you’ll spare the other’s life."

Upon hearing Zhao Yao’s words, Prince Wei was not surprised in his heart.

"Tenth Brother, did you know about my origins long ago?"

Eight Brother is laying everything out.

Zhao Yao knew once Prince Wei asked, it meant he already knew.

"Yes, I knew a long time ago."

"What were your thoughts when you found out I have Southern Wei blood?"

"What can I think? You’re still my Eight Brother." Zhao Yao shrugged and said, "Unless you’re not my Eight Brother."

This response did not surprise Prince Wei, "Why did you hide the fact that the Southern Wei people tried to assassinate you from me?"

"Eight Brother, because you need the support and help of the Southern Wei people, I didn’t want my situation to create strife between you and them." Since Eight Brother wanted to lay everything out today, he couldn’t hide anything either, "Besides, I’m alright."

"Tenth Brother, you..." Prince Wei also guessed Zhao Yao didn’t want to make things difficult for him.

"Eight Brother, since you’ve laid everything bare today, I won’t hide anything from you either." Zhao Yao said seriously, "Eight Brother, the Southern Wei people are ambitious, and now they’re supporting you wholeheartedly for imperial succession. Once you ascend the throne, they will use it against you. You must be careful."

"I know what they’re planning." Prince Wei laughed dismissively, "They can’t do anything to me."

"It’s good that you’re aware, Eight Brother."

"Tenth Brother, why don’t you ask why I want to vie for the throne, why don’t you ask if it’s for the Southern Wei people, or for my mother?"

Zhao Yao looked at Prince Wei seriously and said, "Eight Brother, your fight for the throne is not for the Southern Wei, nor for your mother, but for yourself."

"Do you think I’m suitable for that seat?"

Zhao Yao didn’t respond directly and instead asked, "Eight Brother, do you think you’re suitable for that seat?"

"Tenth Brother, in fact, you are the most suitable person for that seat."

Zhao Yao was shocked by Prince Wei’s words and his expression changed drastically, "Eight Brother, don’t scare me, alright?"

Seeing Zhao Yao alarmed by his words, Prince Wei smiled reassuringly at him, "Don’t worry, just listen to me."

"Eight Brother, I’m not brave, don’t scare me."

"Whether it’s me, Fourth Brother, or Second Brother, we’re all vying for supreme power, but you are the only one uninterested in supreme power." Prince Wei continued, "For years, we’ve been jockeying for that position, fighting for power, never doing anything good for the people of Great Zhou, but you’ve been working for the people since childhood. In this regard, we’re not as good as you."

Zhao Yao quickly waved his hand and said, "Eight Brother, I’m not as great as you say."

"Tenth Brother, we value power, but you value the people."

"I don’t, I’m not, don’t talk nonsense." Zhao Yao didn’t accept Prince Wei’s claim.

"You dislike power struggles and intrigue, so you don’t participate in the succession battle and chose to go far away to Lingnan to stay away from the disputes of the capital." Prince Wei saw this clearly.

"I don’t participate in the succession mainly because I’m not interested in being emperor, and I have no capability."

"Tenth Brother, if you have no capability, then no one in the world does." Prince Wei cast a sidelong glance at Zhao Yao, smiling meaningfully, "Your cunning and tactics surpass mine, don’t pretend."

Zhao Yao: "!!!!!」

Seeing Zhao Yao stunned and speechless, Prince Wei smiled warmly at him, "Tenth Brother, I have no other intentions, just wanting you not to pretend in front of me."

"Eight Brother, you..." What exactly did Eight Brother mean?

"You had Fourth Brother investigate Fifth and the collusion with the Xiongnu’s third Princess, I understood you know everything." Prince Wei continued, "You destroyed the Divine Pill, and dismantled Fifth Brother’s forces in Annan and Johor, these are not things ordinary people can do."

"Eight Brother, I never intended to pretend in front of you all..."

Prince Wei interrupted Zhao Yao, "I know, if you truly wanted to hide, we wouldn’t know anything."

"Eight Brother, I also don’t want to pretend in front of you, but I have no choice." Zhao Yao defended himself, "I don’t want you all to misunderstand, and I don’t want you to be in a difficult position. I truly don’t want to be involved in your affairs, nor do I want to be emperor."

"I know."

"Everything I’ve done is first to protect myself, not wanting to be passive. Second, for the Great Zhou." Zhao Yao looked directly at Prince Wei, his expression serious as he said, "I’m not as great as you said, Eight Brother, but as a Prince of Great Zhou, I don’t want anything to happen to Great Zhou, nor do I want chaos in the world, so I’ve always watched the northern border closely."

Prince Wei nodded slightly and said, "I understand."

"Eight Brother, you laid everything bare today so I won’t pretend anymore?"