Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 802: Chapter 391: Candidate for Prime Minister

Zhao Yao’s Prince Mansion was finally completed before his birthday.

Regarding the construction of the mansion, Zhao Yao didn’t pay any attention from beginning to end, but Prince Wei and Prince Chu were quite concerned.

Prince Wei and Prince Chu were indifferent about the construction of their own mansions, but were very attentive to the construction of Zhao Yao’s mansion. Since they couldn’t personally monitor the construction every day, they sent people to supervise it daily, ensuring that the craftsmen wouldn’t loaf or cut corners.

The materials used for Zhao Yao’s mansion were of the best quality. Not only that, Prince Wei and Prince Chu even paid out of pocket to buy things to decorate Zhao Yao’s mansion.

Zhao Yao thought there was no need for his mansion in the capital to be too extravagant, as he wouldn’t be staying there for long. Besides, once he went to Lingnan, the vacant mansion in the capital would be a waste.

Prince Wei and Prince Chu did not see it that way. They unanimously believed that Zhao Yao wouldn’t stay in Lingnan for long, and in a few years, they would definitely bring Zhao Yao back to the capital and ensure he wouldn’t leave again.

Seeing Prince Chu and Prince Wei’s persistence, Zhao Yao could only comply. After all, it was their money being spent, not his.

"Your Highness, if it weren’t for Prince Chu and Prince Wei keeping watch, your mansion wouldn’t have been built so well."

"Indeed, thanks to Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother, it’s a pity I won’t be staying long." Zhao Yao felt a bit distressed about the money spent on the mansion’s construction. He thought it would be better if the money was given directly to him, spending it on his mansion seemed wasteful.

"Your Highness, I suppose Prince Chu and Prince Wei are hopeful that you will return from Lingnan in the future."

"I won’t be returning." The capital was nice, but he didn’t like it. "I’m too comfortable being the carefree prince in Lingnan."

"Your Highness, will you really be able to follow your wishes then?" Tong Xi thought her master was too simplistic about everything. "Whether it’s Prince Chu or Prince Wei on that throne, they all need you to help them. Do you think you can escape?"

"We’ll see then." Zhao Yao thought that when the time came, he would just be stubborn and refuse to return to the capital, even if Fourth Brother couldn’t do anything about it. "It’s a pity Mother can’t leave the palace, otherwise I’d let her see my mansion in the capital."

"Your Highness, you could ask His Majesty. Maybe he’d agree and then bring Lady Liang to see your mansion."

"I asked Father, Father agreed, but Mother definitely wouldn’t." Zhao Yao understood Lady Liang well, "Mother would never break the rules." She had always been cautious in the palace and would never do anything reckless to break the rules.

"Your Highness, then when you return to the palace, tell Lady Liang about the mansion’s decor. I think she’ll be happy to hear."

"That’s the only thing I can do." Zhao Yao said as he walked around his mansion once more with Tong Xi, growing fonder of it and more appreciative of the care put into it by Prince Chu and Prince Wei.

Every part of his mansion showed the love and concern from Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother, which made him feel increasingly guilty for keeping so many secrets from them.

If it really came to the time Fourth Brother or Eighth Brother asked him to return to the capital to assist them, he probably wouldn’t refuse because he owed them that.

Alas... I won’t think about it now, I’ll deal with it when the time comes.

"Let’s go find Fourth Brother."

"Your Highness, are you going to the Prince Chu Mansion to freeload on a meal again."

"Why call it freeloading? I’m openly going to eat."

"Your Highness, this is called having thick skin."

When Zhao Yao arrived at the Prince Chu Mansion, Prince Chu handed him a list of gifts.

"Everything others have gifted is recorded here, take a look."

"Fourth Brother, I trust the people in your mansion with these matters. No need for me to look." Zhao Yao took the list without opening it.

Seeing Zhao Yao’s trust, Prince Chu smiled slightly: "You need to keep this list well, you’ll have to repay these gifts in the future."

Zhao Yao handed the list to Tong Xi, "Don’t worry, Fourth Brother, once I have money in the future, I’ll surely repay."

"Though the gifts on this list aren’t very extravagant, they’re tokens of people’s intentions towards you."

"Honestly, Fourth Brother, I didn’t anticipate so many people would give me things." Zhao Yao said, feeling flattered, "I didn’t think my rapport was this good." He occasionally interacted with several court officials, often dining and having good tea with them, but hadn’t formed deep connections. He always regarded them as mere acquaintances, calling them "friends for leisure." Unexpectedly, upon learning he was going to Lingnan as a prince, many expressed concern for him. Knowing he lacked money and power, worried he wouldn’t fare well in Lingnan, they all sent gifts to him.