Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1211: Chapter 184: I Want Lady Liang to Be the Empress Dowager (3)

The emperor blinked, a look of confusion in his eyes.

“Before I returned to the capital, I had already guessed that he would raise an army and rebel, forcing me to rebel too, so I had everything arranged before I left.” Zhao Yao said with a smile, “Back then, you placed He Lianfang by my side, firstly to teach me, and secondly to provoke me into rebellion. You, as the emperor and my father, actually hoped I would rebel, I really don’t understand your behavior.”

The emperor glared at Zhao Yao, shouting in his heart: It’s all because you, this wretched boy, refused to be emperor, so I had no choice but to use this plan.

“You’ve always known He Lianfang wanted to rebel against you, yet you allowed him to operate by my side.” Zhao Yao finished eating an orange and started on some snacks again, “All these years, I’ve been ignoring everything he’s done around me. He thinks I am unaware of his intentions, but I have known all along.”

The emperor looked at Zhao Yao in surprise: Wretched boy, when did you find out?

“I knew everything before I went to Lingnan.” Zhao Yao looked at the emperor with disdain, “You and him thought I was young and, hence, naive?”

Emperor: “…”

“I’ve allowed my uncle to engage in rebellious activities around me, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let him succeed.” Zhao Yao chuckled lightly, “Indeed, uncle is an outstanding general, his soldiers and spies are all well-trained, and loyally devoted. However, he overlooked me. He thought the soldiers trained by him were loyal only to him, but in truth, their loyalty lies with me.”

The emperor’s eyes were filled with astonishment.

Zhao Yao propped his face with his right hand, speaking leisurely: “Uncle believes I am indifferent, just a young brat without authority, so the soldiers would only listen to him and not to me. But he forgets one thing: he trained the soldiers under the pretense of assisting me, Prince Han. Additionally, among the trained soldiers are Chu Huan and others. Most importantly, I, Prince Han, possess the ability.”

The emperor looked at Zhao Yao with some contempt, as if to say that he was bragging.

Zhao Yao caught the emperor’s thoughts, and grinned as he said: “I’m not bragging. As Prince Han, I am quite charming in the Swamp Prefecture. Uncle thinks that because I don’t handle the training of soldiers, they won’t obey me but only him. That’s the reason his rebellion failed.”

The emperor’s eyes showed a shocked expression.

“You and uncle both underestimated me. I couldn’t be bothered to expose your tricks, you truly think I know nothing.” Zhao Yao mocked, “Like, the fact that you are now paralyzed due to a stroke, and you already knew that eighth brother poisoned you. You simply went along with it and took the opportunity to trap me.”

The emperor heard these words, his eyes widened.

“I suspect it’s Noble Princess Consort Ying who continuously poisoned you, she’s with eighth brother, isn’t she?”

Emperor: “!!!!!”

“Speaking of which, old man, you really are ruthless to yourself, making yourself paralyzed, unable to speak, and unable to manage your bodily functions, just to make me emperor.” With that, he praised the emperor with a thumbs up.

The emperor almost spat blood from anger.

“What’s the point?” Zhao Yao couldn’t comprehend this behavior.

The emperor rolled his eyes at Zhao Yao.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t become emperor as you planned.” Zhao Yao teased, “You failed, and even ended up paralyzed, truly a case of trying to steal a chicken only to end up losing the bait.”

The emperor rolled his eyes in anger.

“Once eighth brother ascends the throne, I’ll return to the Swamp Prefecture.” Zhao Yao stretched lazily, “I’ll continue being Prince Han, living a carefree life forever.”

The emperor scoffed internally: Dream on!

“I will leave the witch doctor here to continue your acupuncture treatment.” Zhao Yao said, “Not for you, but for my mother. If you recover sooner, she’ll have less to worry about.” Thinking to himself that his rotten father got what he deserved, Zhao Yao would rather not save him and see him remain paralyzed, but that would burden his mother. For her sake, he must speed up his father’s recovery.

Emperor: Disobedient son.

Zhao Yao stood up and said: “Alright, I’m leaving.” Before leaving, he went to see Princess Consort Li, and discussed the Li Family and Prince Chu’s situation with her.

Lady Liang held Zhao Yao’s hand and asked with concern: “Everything is fine in the Swamp Prefecture, right? Si Yun is safe, isn’t he?”

“No worries, mother. Everything is fine.” Zhao Yao thought of the emperor, irritatedly saying, “Mother, father brought this upon himself, you don’t have to be too kind to him.”

Lady Liang laughed and said: “Once he recovers, I’ll make sure to settle accounts with him.”

Hearing Lady Liang say this, Zhao Yao felt reassured. It was getting late, so he didn’t speak much to Lady Liang, and left with Tong Xi.

Upon leaving the palace, Yu Hai took him to the Prince Wei Mansion.

Prince Wei hasn’t ascended the throne yet, so for now, he resides in the Prince Wei Mansion.

“Eighth brother, what brings you to invite me for a meal today?”

“No matter how busy, there’s always time to dine with you.”

“Eighth brother, if you have something to say, just say it straight.” Zhao Yao speculated that Prince Wei might have something in mind for him.

“Indeed, I do.” Prince Wei cut to the chase, “I want Lady Liang to become Empress Dowager.”

While sipping tea, Zhao Yao heard this, startled, choking on tea and coughing intensely.

Quickly, Prince Wei reached out to pat Zhao Yao’s back, helping him breathe.

Zhao Yao, his face flushed from coughing, exclaimed: “Eighth brother, what did you say? You want mother to become Empress Dowager?”

“Yes, Lady Liang has always treated me well, in my heart I’ve considered her a mother, so I wish for her to be Empress Dowager.”

Zhao Yao could see Prince Wei’s genuine intentions.

“Eighth brother, if you make mother the Empress Dowager, what about your biological mother?”

Prince Wei frowned slightly and said: “She’s unworthy.”

“But she’s your biological mother.”

“Even so, she’s unworthy.” At the mention of his biological mother, Prince Wei’s face turned very cold, “Father wouldn’t agree to making her Empress Dowager.”

Zhao Yao thought: That’s true.

“Is it appropriate for my mother to become Empress Dowager?”

Prince Wei responded seriously: “I wish for Lady Liang to be my mother, there’s nothing unsuitable about it.”