Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1015 - 94: Prince Han Really Overestimates Me

Assisted by Wang Cai and Fu Duoduo, the poisoner was rapidly uncovered. The culprit had slain the cook’s assistant right in the kitchen before assuming his guise, thereby slipping undetected into the Han Prince Mansion. Prior to the killing, he had covertly surveilled and studied the assistant, waiting until he fully comprehended every routine before striking.

Once embedded in the Han Prince Mansion, the assassin’s personality, behaviors, and daily patterns matched the cook’s assistant so closely that nobody in the kitchen detected the replacement.

Having assumed the role of the cook’s assistant, the assassin refrained from poisoning at once; instead, he faithfully carried out the duties for a stretch. He held back for yet another motive: during that time, Zhao Yao scarcely lingered at the Han Prince Mansion.

Cognizant that Prince Han often departed the mansion and at times only stayed briefly upon return, the assassin noted Zhao Yao had finally come back and wasn’t leaving right away, so he chose to deploy the poison.

After the poisoning effort, the assassin observed Prince Han remain unaffected and grasped that it had failed. Bent on trying again, he stayed put in the Han Prince Mansion and Swamp Prefecture.

Lately, Wang Cai and Fu Duoduo had trailed and watched the assassin in secret, learning of his interactions with the proprietor of a rouge shop.

Armed with this intel, Zhao Yao directed the Dark Guard Camp to probe the shopkeeper, uncovering that despite seeming to originate from Yangzhou, he truly came from Jizhou.

Given that Jizhou lies in Prince Dai’s domain, it was straightforward to peg him as the instigator. Still, Zhao Yao wasn’t convinced; he figured it couldn’t be so straightforward.

"Prince Dai certainly has motives to do away with you. Why rule him out?" He Lianfang was locked in a chess match with Zhao Yao. "Last year’s glass matter left Prince Dai irked with you, leading to a reprimand. Prior to that, he even dispatched envoys to propose collaboration, which you rejected. You’ve shamed him on multiple occasions and drawn near to Prince Chu. He can’t stand you any longer."

"Prince Dai does have cause to want me gone, but doesn’t this entire affair seem to proceed too effortlessly?" Zhao Yao fiddled with a chess piece in his grasp, a subtle grin playing on his mouth. "The true plotter aims for me to conclude that Prince Dai dispatched the would-be killer."

Hearing Zhao Yao’s assessment, He Lianfang had to agree it felt overly seamless.

"Then, who do you suspect is the real force behind it—Prince Jing or Prince Han?"

With a sharp clack, Zhao Yao dropped his chess piece onto the board, lifted his eyes to meet He Lianfang’s, and stated with assurance, "Prince Han."

"Why Prince Han instead of Prince Jing?" He Lianfang pressed. "Prince Han recently allied with you; poisoning you now would strike as far too hasty, right? Plus, he depends on you for earnings. What advantage does he gain by trying to kill you?"

Zhao Yao answered offhandedly, "If I perish, Prince Han could take over my operations."

"Should you die, Prince Han might snag parts of your trade, but he couldn’t claim Swamp Prefecture." He Lianfang rejected the notion that Prince Han would poison Zhao Yao over such stakes. "Zhao Zheng wouldn’t permit Prince Han to seize control of Swamp Prefecture."

Zhao Yao inquired, "Uncle, if not, then who do you believe seeks my demise this round—Prince Jing?"

He Lianfang countered, "Prince Han."

Zhao Yao showed genuine shock at He Lianfang’s response. "Uncle, didn’t you just argue that Prince Han wouldn’t eliminate me?"

"I only meant your prior explanation didn’t hold water," He Lianfang reflected momentarily before adding, "Maybe an agent you inserted into the Northern Border Camp got exposed by Prince Han?"

Zhao Yao shook his head, replying, "That’s improbable. The contact I have in the Northern Border Camp lacks any elevated status and hasn’t interfered with Prince Han." Years back, Zhao Yao had planted individuals across key army bases. While he maintained presences in the Northern Border Camp, they held modest ranks. Normally, such positions kept them distant from the camp’s inner circles of authority. Besides, Zhao Yao had ordered him to hold back on gathering intel except for vital updates. Consequently, little news had filtered back from the Northern Border across the years.

"Then what’s the motive?" He Lianfang questioned, his face etched with bewilderment. "You hold no opposing stakes with Prince Han. Why join forces in business with you while scheming to poison you at the same instant?"

Zhao Yao rapped his finger gently against the table, voicing his contemplation, "It could tie to my fourth or eighth brother."

"Tied to them?" He Lianfang reacted with astonishment.

"I avoid the fight for the throne, steering clear of rivalry with Prince Han over it, but my fourth and eighth brothers vie for it fiercely, posing his primary threats in the succession battle. My friendly bonds with them might prompt Prince Han to move against me," Zhao Yao theorized. "Furthermore, my trade dealings with my fourth brother bolster his finances, potentially giving Prince Dai and his faction cause to aim at me too."