Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1207: Chapter 183: Rescuing the Li Family (Part 2)

“Fourth Brother, just wait for my good news.” Zhao Yao said confidently, “I’m going to see Eighth Brother now.”

Prince Wei was not in the Prince Wei Mansion, but in the East Warm Pavilion of Zichen Hall discussing state affairs with Prime Minister He and the others.

As they were talking, Sun Doudou came in, approached Prince Wei, and whispered: “Your Highness, Prince Han requests an audience.”

“Let him come in.”

Moments later, Zhao Yao entered carrying a brocade box, and seeing Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu, politely greeted them.

Prince Wei asked Zhao Yao to sit aside until he finished discussing matters with Prime Minister He and the others.

Zhao Yao noticed that Prince Wei had not finished discussing matters, planned to leave for Kunde Hall for a while and then come back, but unexpectedly Prince Wei asked him to stay and listen.

Not interested in court affairs, he casually found an excuse, saying he did not understand and would not interrupt them, but Prince Wei mentioned they were discussing customs matters. None of the three understood them as well as Zhao Yao.

Zhao Yao could not leave, so he had to stay and discuss customs matters with them.

For customs matters, no one in the entire court understood it better than Zhao Yao. In the early days, when he set up customs in Swamp Prefecture and determined customs duties, other regions of Great Zhou had not yet opened their maritime trade.

If not for the incident in the capital, Zhao Yao had initially planned to transform another prefecture in Lingnan into the second Swamp Prefecture before going to Mysir.

Zhao Yao proposed many suggestions. These suggestions were excellent and beyond the imagination of Prime Minister He and the others.

Unknowingly, they discussed for more than an hour. Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu saw Zhao Yao had something to discuss with Prince Wei and left after the state affairs discussion.

Sun Doudou served two cups of tea, Yu Hai brought over two plates, and expressed concern.

Prince Wei took a tea cup and then handed it to Zhao Yao.

“Thank you for your hard work, Tenth Brother.”

“Not at all.” Feeling a bit thirsty, Zhao Yao quickly drank the tea.

“You are an expert in customs matters.”

“Of course.” Zhao Yao said complacently, “I’m also knowledgeable about maritime trade.”

“Although I have never been to Swamp Prefecture, I heard from others that it’s well built by you.” Father entrusting Tenth Brother was not wrong; in governance, Tenth Brother excels beyond all of them, even better than Father.

“Eighth Brother, maritime trade is very lucrative, don’t foolishly halt it.” Swamp Prefecture surpassed the capital and Yangzhou within five years solely relying on maritime trade.

“I’m no fool.” Prince Wei laughed, “But regarding maritime trade, you should discuss more with Prime Minister He and teach them.”

“Alright, before I leave, I’ll definitely impart all my knowledge.” Finished speaking, Zhao Yao suddenly remembered that his purpose for seeing Prince Wei was not about maritime trade, hurriedly handed the brocade box beside him to Prince Wei. “Eighth Brother, here’s a gift for your enthronement.” Though Eighth Brother ascended as interim emperor, this peerless treasure is greatly useful to him. “Eighth Brother, we agreed beforehand, if this gift satisfies you, you must fulfill one of my wishes.”

“I always keep my word to you.” Prince Wei laughed and asked, “Can I open it now?”

“Open it.”

When Prince Wei opened the brocade box and saw the contents, he was stunned for a long time without reacting.

Seeing Prince Wei’s shocked expression, Zhao Yao was not surprised.

“Eighth Brother, are you satisfied with this gift?”

Prince Wei snapped back to reality, looked at Zhao Yao with amazement: “How did you get your hands on this?” Over the years, he and the Southern Wei people have been searching for this item. Even Father was seeking it, unexpectedly it was with Tenth Brother.

Zhao Yao replied: “A few years ago, I picked it up by chance in a mountain cave in Swamp Prefecture.”

“Picked up?” This item has been missing for decades, during which countless people have searched all over the place, unexpectedly found in a cave in Swamp Prefecture.

“Eighth Brother, you should know that the Southern Wei Kingdom was near Lingnan back then, it’s not surprising it was found in Swamp Prefecture.” Zhao Yao said, “I guess the Southern Wei people fled with the treasure into the deep mountains of Swamp Prefecture, and then by chance I found it.”

Prince Wei gazed deeply at Zhao Yao, inwardly sighing: It seems that not only Father has chosen Tenth Brother, but also the heavens.

“You’ve had it for years, why not give it to Father, but instead give it to me?” Prince Wei suddenly thought of the purpose behind Zhao Yao gifting him the treasure, his eyes narrowed slightly, “If not for the Li Family’s trouble, you probably wouldn’t have given me this treasure either.”