Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 705: Chapter 346 Prince Chu’s Exhortation

On the following evening, Mr. Fan took Zhao Yao to meet Prince Chu.

Zhao Yao followed behind Mr. Fan and, noticing that Prince Wei was absent, curiously asked, "Eighth brother isn’t coming with me?"

Mr. Fan walked ahead, leading the way for Zhao Yao.

"The Prince said he had matters to attend to and wouldn’t be going with you to see Prince Chu."

The fourth and eighth brothers have never gotten along, always finding fault with each other. If it weren’t for him, neither would want to meet the other, much less speak a word. It’s normal for the eighth brother not to want to see the fourth brother.

Zhao Yao followed Mr. Fan to the back door, where a carriage was parked.

Mr. Fan prepared to help Zhao Yao onto the carriage, but then saw him lightly leap into it.

Zhao Yao noticed the carriage looked ordinary from the outside, but inside it was tastefully and comfortably decorated. Mr. Fan entered with a bow and sat to Zhao Yao’s left.

"Your Highness, the Prince instructed that Prince Chu has secretly infiltrated Jinling and is very dangerous, advising you not to linger with him for long." Mr. Fan relayed Prince Wei’s orders, "The Prince says, just have a brief conversation with Prince Chu."

"I haven’t seen the fourth brother for a long time, and now that I have this opportunity, I want to have a good chat with him. How can it just be brief?"

"The Prince specifically instructed you to be asleep by the hour of Hai and to return before then, or else he will personally come to get you."

Zhao Yao replied with a grin, "Then I’ll wait for the eighth brother to fetch me."

Hearing this, Mr. Fan’s expression immediately turned sour, "Your Highness, you know the relationship between my master and Prince Chu."

"I understand, don’t worry."

After hearing Zhao Yao’s reassurance, Mr. Fan did not dare to say more.

Zhao Yao lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked out, realizing they were traveling down a main road, feeling a bit concerned.

"Mr. Fan, is it safe for us to be traveling so conspicuously like this on the main road?" He hadn’t forgotten that Li Jue and others were still looking for him.

"You’re not a fugitive, Your Highness, what are you afraid of?"

"But aren’t Li Jue and the others still searching for me? Have they given up?"

"Li Jue and his group are too preoccupied to look for you," Mr. Fan comforted Zhao Yao, "With the arrival of Prince Jing, they’re overwhelmed, busy dealing with the Song Family and Prince Jing, leaving no time to search for you."

"My seventh brother is quite capable indeed," Zhao Yao realized he had underestimated Prince Jing. Initially, he thought his seventh brother just had some cunning but was too arrogant, unable to accomplish major tasks. He didn’t expect his seventh brother to have secret dealings with the Song Family, leader of the Jinling Salt Group, and yet the Song Family abandoned their relationships with the Jinling Family to fully support his seventh brother.

"Indeed, who would have thought Prince Jing would have such a good relationship with the Song Family." Prince Jing’s relationship with the Song Family surprised everyone and was completely unexpected.

"By the way, I forgot to ask, how are the imperial exams going?"

"Going very smoothly. With the support of Prince Jing and the Song Family, children from humble backgrounds have registered, though noble family children have yet to sign up."

"It’s normal for noble family children not to register for the imperial exams," Zhao Yao said, "The exams were originally meant for children of humble backgrounds, so long as they can participate smoothly, that’s enough. What’s the situation over in Suzhou Prefecture?"

"The imperial exams in Suzhou Prefecture are also proceeding smoothly. Besides children of humble backgrounds registering, even the concubine-born sons of noble families are participating."

After hearing this, Zhao Yao mused: Indeed, just as he thought, as long as the imperial exams in Jinling proceed smoothly, so too can the ones in Suzhou Prefecture.

"It’s normal for noble family’s legitimate sons not to join the exams; they are proud and would lose face if they failed to pass."

"You’re right, many noble family children are unskilled, and it’s appropriate for them not to participate in the exams."

"As long as children from humble backgrounds can take the imperial exams, that’s the main thing." Their father is indeed insidious and cunning; he probably knew long ago about the unusual relationship between the seventh brother and the Song Family, hence specifically sending the seventh brother to Jinling to oversee the exams.

And also with matters in Suzhou Prefecture. It seems those are also part of their father’s calculations.

Truly cunning indeed.

All these matters fall within their father’s scheming, leaving him feeling sympathy for the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen...

Seeing Zhao Yao furrow his brows one moment and laugh the next, Mr. Fan asked concernedly, "Your Highness, what are you thinking?"

"Nothing." Zhao Yao mentally organized matters concerning Jinling City, Suzhou Prefecture, and Runzhou Prefecture, finding things exactly as he had once thought.