Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1146: Chapter 155: Prince Han’s Rebellion

In the early hours, Zhao Yao was woken up by Sun Kui.

This morning, during the hour of the rabbit, Zhao Yao had to perform the sacrificial ceremony on behalf of the Emperor, so he had to get up early.

When Zhao Yao was awakened, he found himself in the Emperor’s embrace, slightly stunned for a moment, and then quietly moved the Emperor’s arms and legs away.

The Emperor was in a deep sleep and was not awakened.

Zhao Yao got out of bed and directly exited the Emperor’s sleeping chamber, heading to the adjacent room to wash and change clothes.

Sun Kui and Sun Doudou personally dressed him. Thankfully, the Prince’s ceremonial attire was not complicated, unlike the Emperor’s ceremonial attire, which is complex during sacrificial ceremonies. It didn’t take long for him to change into his clothes.

Once he freshened up, Zhao Yao was fully awake and then followed Sun Kui and others to the dining hall for breakfast.

Sun Kui stood by, serving Zhao Yao as he had breakfast, "Your Highness Prince Han, did you sleep well last night?"

"Pretty well." Zhao Yao was not particular about beds or people; no matter where he slept, even if it was on the floor, he could fall asleep.

"I could tell that His Majesty was very happy yesterday." The Emperor rarely smiled so freely as he did last night. "It seems this is your first time sleeping with His Majesty."

Zhao Yao found Sun Kui’s comment somewhat strange, easy to misconstrue.

"Your Highness, in fact, the Emperor wishes to be closer with you." The Emperor is stubborn and doesn’t express his true feelings, obviously wanting to be closer to you, yet refusing to admit it. As someone close to the Emperor, I have to speak up for him. "You being close to General He has even made the Emperor jealous."

"Is that true?" Zhao Yao looked surprised, "He’s jealous of my closeness to Second Uncle?"

Sun Kui nodded, "Indeed, His Majesty always says he’s your real father, and yet, you don’t stay close to your own father and instead get close to an outsider. Sometimes, General He uses this to provoke His Majesty, which never fails to anger him."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao found it amusing, "Wasn’t it him who arranged for me to be close to Second Uncle? How come he’s now jealous of that closeness?"

Hearing Zhao Yao’s words, Sun Kui was startled and thought, as expected, Prince Han knows everything.

"The Emperor just wants you to be close to him."

Zhao Yao imagined being close to the Emperor and felt a chill running down his spine.

"It’s too mushy, I prefer things as they are now."

Sun Kui noticed Zhao Yao’s tsundere nature and held back a laugh, "Your Highness, the sacrificial ceremony will be tiring, have more food so you’ll have strength."

"Yes, I should eat more." After taking a few bites, Zhao Yao looked at Sun Kui and asked, "Father has been poisoned, what did the Imperial Physician say?" His medical skills were average, only good for checking the pulse. "Has his vitality been harmed?"

"You’re aware that His Majesty has an old injury, and this poisoning has caused a relapse of his old injury, ultimately damaging his vitality." Sun Kui continued, "Since last year, His Majesty has been suffering from headaches occasionally. In recent months, the headaches have become frequent."

"Headaches?" Zhao Yao asked with a slight frown, "What causes the headaches?"

"The Imperial Physician said that the Emperor thinks too much daily, coupled with not resting well, causing the headaches."

Zhao Yao remembered that Empress Xie also suffered from headaches and asked, "Is it similar to the Empress’s headaches?"

Sun Kui didn’t expect Zhao Yao to ask this and was momentarily stunned. "I don’t know."

"It’s best to ask the Imperial Physician if their headaches are similar," Zhao Yao said seriously, "I remember the Empress had headaches for many years, sometimes so severe that she couldn’t even get out of bed."

"You’re right, Your Highness. I’ll ask for clarity later."

"Though headaches aren’t fatal, they’re torturous when severe, best to have the Imperial Physician find a solution." Zhao Yao thought, once he returned to Swamp Prefecture, he’d inquire if there were any witch doctors or Miao doctors in Lingnan skilled in treating headaches.

"Rest assured, Your Highness, whenever the Emperor has headaches, the Imperial Physician relieves the pain with acupuncture."

"That sounds good." It seems the Father’s headaches are due to overthinking. "By the way, after the Father reads memorials for two hours, advise him to take a walk, relax his mind and body, so his head doesn’t hurt frequently." Overthinking and frequent headaches could lead to dementia in old age. To prevent that, he should help Father relax more often.

"I’ll remember your words, Your Highness." Seeing Zhao Yao’s concern for the Emperor, Sun Kui felt genuinely happy.

Zhao Yao said nothing further and continued his breakfast. After a while, he asked, "How is the Empress?" When he returned to the capital, he went to Zhao Yang Palace to pay respects to the Empress but was refused an audience. "Does she still suffer from frequent headaches?"

"In response to Your Highness, the Empress hasn’t had headaches for a long period, but in the past month, they’ve started occurring again."

Hearing this, Zhao Yao slightly nodded and said nothing more.

Empress Xie’s headaches returned because the Divine Pill was gone. Seventh Brother gave Empress Xie a fake Divine Pill, which couldn’t suppress her headaches. In time, life would become unbearable for Empress Xie.

After breakfast, Zhao Yao proceeded to the Temple of Heaven to prepare for the sacrificial ceremony.

Soon after, the civil and military officials were all present.

Zhao Yao represented the Emperor, solemnly and sacredly performing the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven and Earth.

No accidents occurred during the ceremony, and no abnormal phenomena appeared.

Zhao Yao had been worried that during the sacrificial ceremony, some unusual phenomena like celestial auspiciousness might occur, forcing him into the Emperor’s position even if it wasn’t his desire. Fortunately, nothing happened.

Zhao Yao realized he was overthinking; he wasn’t the protagonist of a novel world like the dreamt-of Zhao Yao, where such an unusual occurrence could happen during a sacrifice.

After completing the sacrifice to Heaven and Earth, the burden on Zhao Yao’s shoulders was completely lifted, filling him with a sense of relief. From then on, he had no further responsibilities.

He followed Prince Dai and Prince Chu, along with others, to pay New Year’s respects to the Emperor and the Empress.

After Zhao Yao finished breakfast, the Emperor awoke. The poison had been neutralized, his old wounds were no longer painful, and he had a great sleep last night. Upon waking, he felt invigorated but still had to pretend to be ill.

When the princes came to offer New Year greetings, they noticed the emperor’s face looked bad and everyone expressed their concern.

After the emperor gave each prince money to ward off evil spirits, he dismissed them.

Zhao Yao and the others went to Zhao Yang Palace to wish Empress Xie a Happy New Year. Empress Xie was heavily made up, concealing her poor complexion. Her tone while receiving the princes’ greetings was not friendly, starting with Prince Dai, she rebuked each one. When it was Zhao Yao’s turn, her tone was exceptionally sarcastic.

After admonishing the princes, Empress Xie gave them money to ward off evil spirits, then dismissed them.

As they left Zhao Yang Palace, Prince Dai unceremoniously tossed the money from Empress Xie to the eunuch beside him, mocking Empress Xie’s stinginess.

Afterwards, the princes went to offer New Year greetings to Noble Princess Consort Rong.

Noble Princess Consort Rong was very kind, praised the princes generously, and rewarded them with ample money. In contrast to Empress Xie’s meanness and frugality, Noble Princess Consort Rong was gentle and gracious.

Next was Noble Princess Consort Ying. She was also very courteous and generous to the princes.

Lastly, they offered New Year greetings to Princess Consort Li.

As for Lady Liang, she did not have the status to receive New Year greetings from the princes.

After greeting Princess Consort Li, Zhao Yao then went to greet Lady Liang.

"Did you sleep in your father’s bed last night?"

"Luckily, I slept on the Dragon Bed." Zhao Yao remarked earnestly, "The Dragon Bed was nothing special, not as comfortable as the bed in my Han Prince Mansion."

Lady Liang was amused by her son’s words: "Dragon Bed, Dragon Bed, do you really think it’s made from a dragon?"

"I mean the Dragon Bed isn’t anything remarkable." Zhao Yao said, implying two meanings.

Lady Liang understood her son’s implication and laughed, "Only you would complain about the Dragon Bed not being comfortable."

"Only I dare to speak the truth."

Lady Liang stopped bantering with her son, "How are things with Prince Han?"

"News from the northern border doesn’t travel to the capital quickly, it will take a few days to know." Zhao Yao lazily leaned back on the couch, "It’s possible Prince Han and the Xiongnu made a move last night."

"Alas..." Lady Liang felt for the people and soldiers at the border, "Why must it come to this."

"He’s a fool, what else could be done." Zhao Yao said carelessly, "It’s better for such fools to die sooner, so they don’t cause trouble in the future."

"Can’t the people and soldiers at the border have a peaceful New Year?"

"The Xiongnu don’t celebrate the New Year."

"Will it affect your marriage?"

"Rebellion can be quelled in less than three months, it shouldn’t affect my marriage." Once he marries, he plans to set off immediately for Swamp Prefecture. He can’t stay in the capital too long, or he might not be able to leave.

"I hope all goes smoothly."

Zhao Yao didn’t mention Prince Han’s rebellion to Lady Liang anymore, instead changing the topic to talk about the customs of celebrating the New Year in Lingnan.

After chatting for a while, Zhao Yao felt sleepy. He had to attend the luncheon at the palace at noon, so he decided against returning to Han Prince Mansion and took a nap at Kunde Hall.

At noon, Zhao Yao was awakened by Lady Liang to attend the luncheon.

In the following days, even though Zhao Yao didn’t have to offer worship, he went out daily to greet people or to attend banquets, leaving early and returning late.

On the sixth day of the New Year, news of Prince Han’s rebellion reached the capital, causing a massive stir.

Prince Han had colluded with the Xiongnu, advancing with unstoppable momentum, capturing several states and prefectures, and was nearing Yanmen Pass, placing the capital in grave danger.

That night, at Han Prince Mansion, Zhao Yao was eating hot pot with Prince Wei.

Prince Wei noticed that Zhao Yao wanted to ask something multiple times but hesitated to do so, and chuckled: "If you want to ask something, just ask."

"Eighth Brother..." Zhao Yao almost blurted out, but ultimately decided against asking, "Forget it."

Prince Wei could guess what Zhao Yao wanted to ask. He smiled slightly and said: "Tenth Brother, sometimes it’s better not to know certain things."

Upon hearing this from Prince Wei, Zhao Yao felt reassured. He nodded: "Eighth Brother is right."

"Once everything settles, I’ll tell you."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao looked at Prince Wei in surprise: "Eighth Brother, you..."

"Your marriage won’t be affected." Prince Wei suddenly shifted the topic to Zhao Yao’s marriage, "On your wedding day, I’ll give you a grand gift."

As soon as he heard the words "grand gift," Zhao Yao’s eyes immediately lit up, his face showing an expectant expression.

"I’ll be waiting then."

Seeing Zhao Yao’s money-minded expression, Prince Wei teased: "What good thing does Han Prince have that you’d covet my grand gift?"

"It’s different, I believe Eighth Brother will be extremely generous, giving me an unexpected grand gift."

"Rest assured, I won’t disappoint you." Prince Wei said, a deep emotion flashing in his eyes.