Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1052 - 109: The Future Princess Han’s Surprising Origins

He Lianfang gazed at Zhao Yao’s departing silhouette, his eyes revealing a mix of helplessness and fondness that he was unaware of.

Once Zhao Yao dashed out of the study, he spotted a member of the Dark Guard Camp approaching. He dragged the man into a nearby chamber, "Have you uncovered it?"

The Dark Guard Camp member answered with respect, "Yes, we have."

Zhao Yao inquired, "Is it Prime Minister He, Grandmaster Liu, or maybe one of the four Great Generals?"

"No, none of them, Your Highness."

"None?" Disbelief filled Zhao Yao’s face, "Seriously? How can that be?"

The Dark Guard Camp member stated, "Your Highness, your future Princess Han hails from commoner roots."

"Come again?" Zhao Yao thought he misheard, "Repeat that."

"Your Highness, your upcoming bride is a commoner girl from Xiao Village beyond the capital."

"What?" This time Zhao Yao caught every word, yet shock lingered on his face, "From Xiao Village?"

"Your Highness, your future bride is named..." The Dark Guard Camp member relayed all their findings in full to Zhao Yao.

Upon hearing it all, Zhao Yao’s look morphed from stunned to strangely intrigued.

"What in the world?" He’d assumed his father would pick a fiancée with an impressive lineage, like from Prime Minister He, Grandmaster Liu, or the four Great Generals’ clans. Minimum, a minister’s daughter. Never did he expect a mere commoner. "Why a commoner of all things?"

Confusion mirrored in the Dark Guard Camp member, "Your Highness, she truly is from common stock."

"This..." Zhao Yao stood stunned, "What’s Father up to?" Wasn’t he the most cherished son, groomed to take the throne? So why pair him with a commoner? Maybe he’d misread it, and Father preferred his fourth brother after all?

"Your Highness, it baffles me too," the Dark Guard Camp member noted, "But your future bride has studied etiquette, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and embroidery for years."

"Father sending tutors for that makes sense; she’ll be Princess Han soon. Without manners, she’d shame the Imperial Family." Just what scheme is Father brewing?

"Your Highness, your future bride has picked up farming, medicine, arithmetic, and more skills too."

"Huh? What’s the point of those?" Zhao Yao frowned in bewilderment, "Noble ladies study that stuff?" Truth be told, he had no clue what highborn girls learned pre-wedding.

The Dark Guard Camp member responded, "Noble daughters probably skip farming."

"Hold on, she’s a commoner, sure, but why farming?" Zhao Yao grew more baffled with each revelation.

"Your Highness, your future bride’s studies in these areas span eight years."

"Hold up—eight years?" Shock hit Zhao Yao, "How old was she eight years back?"

"Your future bride started at age seven."

Zhao Yao burst out, "So even eight, no, nine years ago, Father already chose my bride?!"

"Your Highness, two years past, your future bride joined the palace as a female official in the Imperial Palace Bureau."

Zhao Yao’s eyes bulged: "!!!!!!"

The Dark Guard Camp member went on, "Yet last month, she exited the palace to go home and ready herself for the wedding."

Zhao Yao: "..."

Having shared the intel, the member eyed Zhao Yao’s dumbfounded look and barely suppressed a chuckle.

Moments later, Zhao Yao snapped back, "Does Mother know my future bride’s a commoner?"

"Lady Liang remains in the dark; the Emperor told no one."

Zhao Yao: "Father hid it from Mother too?!"

"Her own family doesn’t even know she’s wedding you."

Zhao Yao yelped, "What?" Damn it, Father’s stirring up total chaos. Doesn’t add up at all. "Is my future bride attractive?" The commoner reveal floored him, sure, but he held no prejudice. Common birth wasn’t an issue; looks mattered most.

At Zhao Yao’s query, the Dark Guard Camp member hesitated, then grinned softly, "Don’t worry, Your Highness, your future bride is quite beautiful."

"Good to hear." Zhao Yao turned to the Dark Guard Camp member, "Any guess why Father picked a commoner for me?"

"I’ve no idea, but the Emperor surely has his motives."

Zhao Yao scoffed, "Doesn’t strike me as noble; feels like mischief." Given Father’s nature, some sly plot was afoot. Zhao Yao always suspected Father was playing him.

Unwilling to badmouth the Emperor, the Dark Guard Camp member held his tongue.

"No clue, absolutely none." Is Father signaling he’s not the top pick for Prince Han, tricking his brothers into dismissing him? If so, that’d work. Yet Father and Second Uncle covertly paved his path to the throne.

"Your Highness, shall we keep tabs on your future bride?"

"Keep watching her." Whatever Father’s game, he had to learn about his bride, or their wedding would be mortifyingly ignorant. "Lock down all info on future Princess Han—no leaks, not even to Second Uncle."

"Understood, Your Highness."

With a wave, Zhao Yao sent the Dark Guard Camp member away. He massaged his brow and let out a heavy sigh: Father, you sly old fox, what’s your real play?