Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 773: Chapter 377: Knowing He Lianfang’s Identity_2

"When did you start to suspect?"

"I had my suspicions early on, but I was not sure. Once I met your friend, I was certain." Although He Lianfang’s friend didn’t reveal his identity, through his words, Zhao Yao could infer He Lianfang’s true identity.

"Why didn’t you ask me?"

"You didn’t tell me who you were, so I thought you didn’t want me to know. Why would I ask?" Zhao Yao said considerately.

He Lianfang wasn’t at all surprised that Zhao Yao guessed his identity. If Zhao Yao still didn’t know who he was by now, He Lianfang would have doubted whether Zhao Yao was worth supporting.

"You can ask now."

"Uncle, I already know who you are, so what’s there to ask?"

He Lianfang raised his eyebrows and asked, "How much do you know?"

"I know all about your past battles." As Zhao Yao spoke, he gave He Lianfang a thumbs-up, his face full of admiration, "Great Zhou’s War God He Lianfang!"

Upon hearing the words "War God," He Lianfang’s expression became a bit dazed, followed by a self-mocking smile on his lips, "I’m nothing but a cripple now."

"Uncle, although your legs are inconvenient now, that doesn’t overshadow your past achievements on the battlefield."

He Lianfang snorted coldly, "The past... let’s just forget it."

Zhao Yao knew that He Lianfang’s crippled legs were a heartache that he couldn’t unravel.

He Lianfang put away his self-loathing, looked at Zhao Yao with a half-smile, "Don’t you want to know why I’m here?"

"Father had you locked here." Without needing to investigate, one could easily guess who could confine the once War God here. Besides, only the emperor could possibly have the power to imprison the War God here.

He Lianfang wasn’t surprised that Zhao Yao knew. He asked again, "Do you know why I am confined here?"

"Afraid you’d rebel."

Zhao Yao’s answer surprised He Lianfang a little.

"Uncle, it’s not unusual for me to guess." Zhao Yao was amused by He Lianfang’s surprised expression, "You used to be a famous War God. With the merits you’ve achieved, you shouldn’t have ended up being imprisoned here. So you must have done something to make my father afraid. Out of respect for your past contributions to the Great Zhou, he couldn’t bring himself to kill you, so he had to imprison you."

"Since you know I want to rebel, why do you still approach me?"

"Uncle, although I don’t know what happened between you and my father, I know you wouldn’t rebel." Zhao Yao said with certainty, "If you wanted to rebel, you wouldn’t have fought so hard for the Great Zhou back then."

He Lianfang sneered, "That might not be the case."

Zhao Yao said meaningfully, "Uncle, for the sake of my eldest uncle, you wouldn’t rebel."

Upon hearing this, He Lianfang was struck deeply, showing a look of astonishment.

"How do you know, did Zhao Zheng tell you?"

Zhao Yao shook his head slightly, "No, father never told me about you and him. But he did tell me about my eldest uncle." He said, pointing to a dimple at the corner of his mouth, "This dimple is exactly like my eldest uncle’s, which is why you were so surprised the first time you saw me."

He Lianfang didn’t speak, because Zhao Yao had guessed correctly.

"You used to be a Great General under my eldest uncle, and after my eldest uncle had an accident, you bore a grudge against my father." Zhao Yao said, "If I didn’t guess wrong, you think it was my father who caused my eldest uncle’s death."

He Lianfang didn’t expect Zhao Yao to guess so much.

"Uncle, I’m not speaking for my father, he would never harm my eldest uncle." Zhao Yao added, "Instead, my father wished that my eldest uncle would live well, so that he wouldn’t have to be the emperor." With his father’s carefree character, he became emperor purely by necessity.

He Lianfang said coldly, "You truly are his good son."

"I’m not making excuses for my father." Zhao Yao glanced at He Lianfang’s cold face and tentatively said, "Actually, you know clearly in your heart."

As soon as he finished speaking, he received a sharp glare from He Lianfang.

Zhao Yao smiled pleasingly at He Lianfang, then quickly changed the topic, "Uncle, the third uncle you introduced me to is Grand Commandant Zheng, right?"

"He confessed to you?" He Lianfang’s first reaction was that Zheng Xilin had revealed his identity to Zhao Yao.

"No, third uncle never told me his identity from beginning to end." Zhao Yao pursed his lips, "You two don’t say, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t know." Even if he were slow, he would have guessed by now.

"I really underestimated you." He Lianfang was not at all surprised that Zhao Yao guessed his identity. However, Zhao Yao guessing Zheng Xilin’s identity took him by surprise. "What do you think now that you’ve learned our identities?"

"Uncle, what are you and third uncle trying to accomplish by teaching me?" This question had long lingered in Zhao Yao, but it was hard to ask before their identities were clarified. Now that He Lianfang had revealed his identity, Zhao Yao asked, "A war god and a former Grand Commandant wouldn’t teach me for no reason, what is your aim?"

He Lianfang glanced at Zhao Yao, casually asked, "What do you think?"

"Is there some agreement between you and my father?" Zhao Yao didn’t believe he had enough charm to make a war god and a Grand Commandant carefully mentor him.

"What kind of agreement do you think we could have with your father?" He Lianfang asked coldly, "What kind of contract could there be between me and your father?"

Zhao Yao listened, his face full of doubt as he looked at He Lianfang.

"Did you really make no agreement with my father?"

"I help you for the sake of your eldest uncle." He Lianfang lied without changing his expression, "You will grow up to be a king and will need to manage a territory. You should learn some governance policies, which is why Zheng Xilin taught you in the letters."

Zhao Yao raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced, "Is it really that simple?"

He Lianfang laughed, "What, you weren’t thinking we were helping you to fight for the throne, were you?"

Zhao Yao had indeed thought so, "Isn’t that the case?"

"Did I and Zheng Xilin say anything about helping you seize the throne?"

Zhao Yao thought carefully, then shook his head and said, "No."

He Lianfang unceremoniously mocked Zhao Yao, "We’re not idle enough to assist you in seizing the throne."

Zhao Yao: Was he overthinking it?