Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 946: Chapter 59: Prince Han’s Intentions (2)

The Zhao Yao, who is remembered by Uncle Gao, is now bending over, planting seedlings in the terraces he cultivated.

During the spring plowing, Zhao Yao led the way in going down to the fields for farming. Now with the start of planting seedlings, he naturally continues to take the lead.

After finishing planting the seedlings, Zhao Yao returned to Prince Han’s Mansion. Actually, he doesn’t want to go back to the mansion, preferring to stay in the North Mountain Laboratory conducting rubber experiments, but the ministers do not allow him to stay there for too long.

Upon returning to the mansion, Zhao Yao not only has to attend court but also deal with various governmental affairs.

When Uncle Gao sees Zhao Yao, he resembles a wilted grass, exuding an aura of being utterly indifferent to life.

"Your Highness, what’s the matter? You look so listless."

Zhao Yao lies on the table, looking ashen-faced and says: "I’ve been squeezed dry, not a drop left."

Uncle Gao receives the tea cup from Tong Xi, and hands it to Zhao Yao.

"Your Highness, have a cup of tea."

Zhao Yao sits up, takes the tea cup with both hands, tilts his head and drinks it all in one go.

"This is really not human work. I’d rather work in the fields every day than come back to handle these things."

Uncle Gao totally understands Zhao Yao’s sentiment, "I, just like you, Your Highness, would rather lead soldiers into battle than handle these trivial matters."

"Uncle Gao, is there something you need from me?"

Uncle Gao rubs his hands, his expression becoming very fawning: "Your Highness, after the trade conference, can you give me ten firearms?"

"Ten firearms?" Zhao Yao first looks at Uncle Gao in surprise, then nods understandingly, "Uncle Gao, do you also want to set up a Divine Machine Camp?"

"No, no, no, I just want to set up a Personal Guard for the Divine Machine Camp." Uncle Gao says thick-skinned, "Your Highness, please fulfill my humble wish."

"Only ten, no more." Zhao Yao says deliberately, "You know the cost of making one firearm is high, and it is time-consuming, giving you ten is already a lot."

"Thank you, Your Highness, ten is enough for me."

"It’s no good to have only firearms without bullets." Zhao Yao says thoughtfully, "I’ll give you the recipe for bullets. You can make them yourself when you return to Japan, I won’t send them to you, because the cost of manufacturing bullets is also quite high."

Uncle Gao hadn’t thought about bullets, and now hearing Zhao Yao say this, he hurriedly expresses gratitude.

At this time, Tong Xi comes in, after greetings, he takes out a letter from his chest and hands it to Zhao Yao: "Your Highness, it’s a letter from Prince Han."

"A letter from fifth brother?" Zhao Yao shows surprise, "Fifth brother write me a letter, did the sun rise from the west today?"

"Your Highness, Prince Han definitely didn’t have good intentions writing you a letter." Tong Xi doesn’t know what he thought of but reveals a touch of alarm and discomfort, adding, "Your Highness, could there be poison in the letter? As long as you open it, you’ll be poisoned to death."

Zhao Yao helplessly glances at Tong Xi, "You should read fewer novels in the future."

"Your Highness, then you’ll be busy, I’m going to find the General." Uncle Gao wisely retreats.

Zhao Yao nods and immediately opens the letter sent by Prince Han.

After Zhao Yao finishes reading, Tong Xi anxiously asks, "Your Highness, what did Prince Han write?"

"He said he will send people to attend the trade conference and also wants to cooperate with me in business." Zhao Yao squints slightly, expressing inscrutability, "He also said he wants to invest."

Tong Xi hears this and angrily says, "I knew Prince Han didn’t have good intentions." After speaking, he sees Zhao Yao in contemplation, and asks, "Your Highness, what’s wrong?"

"I’m wondering if fifth brother simply wants to do business with me or has ulterior motives."

"Surely he has ulterior motives." Tong Xi says furiously, "Prince Han must have seen you making money, so he wants to take over all your business."

Zhao Yao slightly frowns, "Fifth brother is somewhat hard to decipher."

"Your Highness, there’s nothing hard to decipher, Prince Han isn’t a good person, you shouldn’t agree with him."

Zhao Yao taps his fingers lightly on the table, "Whatever intentions he has, we’ll know when the people he sends arrive."

"Ah?" Tong Xi is shocked, "Your Highness, you really plan to let Prince Han send people here, aren’t you letting a wolf into the house?"

"Even if fifth brother is a wolf, when he comes to Lingnan, he can only become a dog." Zhao Yao’s lips curl into a radiant smile, "If someone comes to Swamp Prefecture to invest and do business, how can I shut the door on them?"

Tong Xi is startled by Zhao Yao’s smile, he’s not worried for His Highness at all, instead he sympathizes with Prince Han.

Zhao Yao waves his hand, signaling Tong Xi to leave.

After Tong Xi leaves, Zhao Yao calls Hidden Guard A out and directly asks: "Do you know anything about fifth brother?"

Hidden Guard A respectfully replies: "I do not know."

"Send someone to investigate fifth brother." Zhao Yao orders, then suddenly remembers Hidden Guard A belongs to the Emperor, revealing a hint of embarrassment, "Sorry, I forgot your duty is just to protect me, not to investigate people."

"Your Highness, after the four of us followed you to Lingnan, we are now your people, no longer Dragon Guards."

"Ah, you’re my people now?" Zhao Yao looks surprised, "How come no one told me?"

Hidden Guard A: "The Emperor didn’t tell you?"

"No, even the matter of you protecting me, father never mentioned from beginning to end." After Zhao Yao finished speaking, recalling Hidden Guard A’s earlier statement that they are no longer Dragon Guards, "Wait, you were expelled from Dragon Guards after following me to Lingnan?"

"We are no longer Dragon Guards."

"Such a big thing, why didn’t you say before?" Zhao Yao is anxious, "Otherwise, I’ll tell father and let you return to Dragon Guards."

"Your Highness, are you dissatisfied with the four of us?"

"No, I’ve always appreciated you, I just feel sorry for you having been expelled due to me." Dragon Guards are father’s Personal Guard. Being the emperor’s Personal Guard is surely more prestigious than being my Hidden Guard.

"Your Highness, you’ve overstated, becoming your people is an honor for the four of us." Hidden Guard A agrees respectfully, "I will send people to investigate Prince Han." They currently indeed do not belong to Dragon Guards, but will return to Dragon Guards in the future.