Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 765: Chapter 373: Prince Wei Returns to the Capital to Participate in the Succession Struggle

While Prince Wei was recuperating in Jiangnan, the Crown Prince was deposed, and the Duke Zhen and his son were imprisoned. He perfectly avoided the bloody upheaval of the Crown Prince’s fall. Of course, there were ministers who accused Prince Wei of aiding and abetting in wrongdoing, asking the Emperor to punish him, but Prince Wei had always acted with caution and never left any incriminating evidence. The things he did to help the deposed Crown Prince, no one had any proof it was him.

Now, it’s time for him to return to the capital. However, before heading to the capital, he needed to make a trip to Yangzhou to visit his tenth brother.

Ever since Zhao Yao learned that the Crown Prince had been deposed, he guessed that Prince Wei was preparing to return to the capital and also knew that Prince Wei would soon come to Yangzhou to see him.

Indeed, as he expected, Prince Wei came to Yangzhou to visit him.

Although Prince Wei was to return to the capital, he was not in a hurry. He deliberately stayed a few more days in Yangzhou, letting Zhao Yao take him to all the fun places in Yangzhou and enjoying all the delicious foods there.

The night before going to the capital, Zhao Yao played chess with Prince Wei in the study room.

Prince Wei noticed Zhao Yao looking at him as if wanting to say something but holding back, and laughed, saying, "If you have something to say, just say it."

"Eighth Brother..." Zhao Yao started but hesitated again.

It was the first time Prince Wei saw Zhao Yao looking so hesitant. He guessed that Zhao Yao must have something important or an important matter to tell him.

"Is there anything you can’t say in front of me?"

Zhao Yao looked at Prince Wei, and suddenly his expression became very serious: "Eighth Brother, after you return to the capital, are you going to compete for the position of Crown Prince?"

When Prince Wei heard Zhao Yao’s words, his action of drinking tea paused, and a look of surprise appeared on his face: "Who told you that?"

Zhao Yao shook his head and said, "No one told me."

Prince Wei didn’t believe Zhao Yao’s words and slightly frowned, asking, "Did Fourth Brother tell you?"

"Ah, Fourth Brother didn’t tell me about you." Zhao Yao gave Prince Wei a dissatisfied look, "Eighth Brother, do you underestimate me that much? I’m not a fool; do I need others to tell me such things?"

In Prince Wei’s heart, Zhao Yao was always his younger brother who hadn’t grown up, and he always felt that Zhao Yao understood nothing.

"Eighth Brother, do you think I’m that stupid?" Zhao Yao said angrily.

Seeing Zhao Yao angry, Prince Wei hurried to explain, "In Eighth Brother’s heart, you are not a fool."

"Really?" Zhao Yao was full of disbelief, "Eighth Brother, although I don’t understand much about court affairs, I do know some things. Now that there is no Crown Prince, you must want to vie for the position of Crown Prince. A prince who doesn’t want to be Crown Prince is not a good prince."

Prince Wei was amused by Zhao Yao’s last sentence. He deliberately asked, "You’re also a prince, do you also want to compete for the Crown Prince’s position?"

This question frightened Zhao Yao into shaking his head and waving his hands: "I don’t want to. I’m not a good prince. I’m just a lazy, food-loving prince."

Hearing Zhao Yao describe himself this way, Prince Wei was both amused and frustrated, saying, "Is that what you call self-awareness?"

"I call that having self-awareness. When I grow up, I want to visit fun places and eat all the delicious food in the world."

Seeing Zhao Yao’s eyes light up when talking about his "grand dream" from childhood, Prince Wei couldn’t help but laugh, "You really have big ambitions."

Zhao Yao waved his hand at Prince Wei and said, "Eighth Brother, you don’t like gourmet food, so you don’t understand."

Prince Wei suddenly asked, "Do you want me to compete for the Crown Prince’s position?"

This question stunned Zhao Yao, and he incredulously pointed at himself: "Ah, Eighth Brother, are you asking if I want you to compete for the Crown Prince’s position?"

"Yes, do you want me to?"

"Eighth Brother, it’s not about whether I want you to, but whether you want to." Zhao Yao gave Prince Wei a curious look, "If you want to, then go for it."

Prince Wei looked at Zhao Yao with earnest eyes: "Do you support me going for it?"

"Of course, I support you." Zhao Yao said seriously, "Eighth Brother, no matter what you do, I support you."

Hearing Zhao Yao’s steadfast support, Prince Wei’s heart warmed, and a smile unconsciously appeared at the corner of his mouth, "Since you support me going for it, then I will go for it."

Zhao Yao inwardly complained: Eighth Brother, it sounds like if I didn’t support you, you wouldn’t go for the throne.

"Eighth Brother, what can I do to help you?"

Prince Wei raised his hand and gently knocked on Zhao Yao’s small head: "You being safe and sound is the biggest help to me."

"Eighth Brother, I’m very useful; do you really not need my help?"

"I know you are smart and capable, but I don’t want you to get involved in the struggle for the throne." Prince Wei looked at Zhao Yao with gentle and affectionate eyes, "As long as you’re happy every day, that’s enough."