Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1025 - 98: The Southern Wei People Find Pei Dingyuan (2)

"What else can I possibly do? I've already handled all that's required of me. Henceforth, there's no need for me to take any further action."

He Lianfang inquired with mild astonishment, "You're not worried about Prince Han?"

"Why would I worry over Prince Han?" Zhao Yao found He Lianfang's remark rather comical, "With Prince Dai and my fourth brother both stationed in the north, watching over Prince Han, what more is there for me to handle?"

"Aren't you concerned that Prince Chu and the rest might not prevail against Prince Han?" He Lianfang stressed, "Prince Han has long concealed his depths, and Prince Chu along with the others might not prove to be his equals."

Zhao Yao let out a soft laugh, "Second Uncle, you're giving me too much credit and undervaluing my fourth brother."

He Lianfang knitted his brows and questioned, "What are you implying?"

Rather than reply, Zhao Yao countered with a question, "Second Uncle, do you genuinely think I possess the ability to reveal Prince Han's real nature?"

He Lianfang stayed silent, casting Zhao Yao a glance full of implication.

"Second Uncle, to earn such faith from you fills me with genuine joy." Zhao Yao winked teasingly at He Lianfang, "Anything I manage to uncover, my fourth brother can assuredly detect too. Since he's now positioned directly before Prince Han, do you truly suppose he can't dig up some truths?"

"It was you who first spotted Prince Han's profound secrecy, not Prince Chu."

"That's correct, it was me, yet that doesn't imply my fourth brother is incapable of dealing with Prince Han." Zhao Yao showed firm belief in Prince Chu, "In the past, my fourth brother alone located the spot where the ex-Crown Prince and the former Duke stashed the copper."

Upon hearing this, He Lianfang fell quiet for some moments.

"Prince Han might fool Prince Dai, but he'll never hoodwink my fourth brother." Zhao Yao declared with assurance, "Crucially, my fourth brother has unearthed Prince Han's deepest secret, all while Prince Han stays completely oblivious."

"Do you consider Prince Han a fool?"

"Prince Han isn't foolish, but he is haughty. I'm afraid he still believes his secret remains hidden." Zhao Yao went on, "While Prince Han will remain wary of my fourth brother, my fourth brother possesses methods to uncover all he wishes to know discreetly, without rousing Prince Han's suspicions."

"You place great faith in Prince Chu." He Lianfang, though, remained skeptical.

"I've trusted my fourth brother ever since childhood." Zhao Yao observed He Lianfang's contempt toward his imperial siblings, deeming them inferior to him. "Second Uncle, simply observe what unfolds."

"I'll watch with keen interest." He Lianfang doubted Prince Chu's ability to expose Prince Han's secret, "For Prince Chu to probe is his affair, and for you to probe is yours."

"Second Uncle, letting my fourth brother probe Prince Han suffices fully. There's no call for me to delve deeper." He had numerous other duties demanding his attention, leaving no spare time to constantly monitor Prince Han.

"Remember Prince Han's murky ties with the Xiongnu. Are you really intending to drop the matter entirely?"

Zhao Yao shook his head and replied, "My fourth brother will delve to its depths, so I'll stay out of it."

Witnessing Zhao Yao's unwavering reliance on Prince Chu, He Lianfang sensed deep frustration. Realizing Zhao Yao's resolve was set, he refrained from pushing and shifted to different topics.

Once their discussion on matters concluded, He Lianfang made his way back to his residence.

A silhouette that had trailed He Lianfang covertly stepped from the gloom, murmuring softly, "Is something troubling you?" The tone was so faint that without attentive listening, one might miss the presence of another in the chamber.

He Lianfang uttered no words, yet a flicker of lethal intent gleamed in his gaze.

The dim figure picked up on his killing aura and probed, "Whom do you intend to slay?"

He Lianfang signaled to the obscure form, and the entity concealed in shadows vanished from the space in an instant.

Moments before, He Lianfang had harbored a surge of murderous urge toward Prince Chu, but he soon composed himself, aware that he needn't strike now, as Prince Dai, Prince Jing, Prince Han, and Prince Wei would not let Prince Chu escape unscathed. He resolved to attack once Prince Chu was gravely diminished after clashing with them.

He Lianfang maneuvered his wheelchair to the writing table, grasped a brush, and began composing a missive to the distant emperor in the capital.

Zhao Yao, for his part, harbored no fears that He Lianfang would move against Prince Chu, certain that He Lianfang would not dispatch Prince Chu at present. Considering He Lianfang's temperament, he would seek to eliminate Prince Chu only at the final juncture. Yet, by then, Zhao Yao would certainly step in to thwart it.

Just then, Tong Xi arrived and informed Zhao Yao, "Your Highness, Lord Pei seeks a meeting."

"Ding Yuan?" Zhao Yao felt a touch of surprise. Not over Pei Dingyuan's visit itself, but the advanced hour. "Bring him in." Ding Yuan's arrival at such a time surely signaled pressing news.

Soon enough, Tong Xi escorted Pei Dingyuan into the room.

Zhao Yao cast a look at Tong Xi, who withdrew with deference and positioned himself at the entrance to bar any other intruders.

After offering salutations, Pei Dingyuan expressed remorse, "Your Highness, please pardon my intrusion upon you at this late time."