Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1053 - 110: Hidden Meaning

Zhao Yao brimmed with bewilderment over his future princess hailing from lowly commoner roots. He failed to grasp why the emperor had set it up this way. If the emperor genuinely aimed to sideline him, then why count all the years of service he and He Lianfang had rendered him?

Should the emperor not have shifted his stance, why pair him with a princess bereft of backing or influence? Was it perhaps to solidify beliefs that Prince Han lay fully disgraced, misleading all into laxity so he might persist in seclusion, spared from peril or hassle?

Might the treacherous imperial father truly yearn for his bloodless rise to the throne? Did that treacherous imperial father cherish him to such depths?

Suppose the treacherous imperial father adored him enough to shield him from every threat, refusing any stain of gore, yet upon claiming the throne, could he forever dodge such horrors? Guarding him so fiercely—would that truly aid him later as emperor?

Could a sovereign unscarred by throne-seizing carnage, a sheltered prince, ever rise as a worthy ruler?

Regal perils and massacres surpass princely ones in savagery. Might a ruler untouched by trials masterfully command Great Zhou's realms?

Zhao Yao remembered a dream of a bygone emperor who, learning folks lacked food, wondered why they shunned meat porridge.

He rejected the notion of such untainted safeguarding from the treacherous imperial father. A plot surely festered beneath, though he hadn't unraveled it.

"Alas..."

Tong Xi nearby caught Zhao Yao's repeated sigh and ventured, "Your Highness, what's amiss? Why these endless sighs?"

Zhao Yao shook his head, declaring, "I can't unravel it, truly can't." He prided himself on shrewdness, piercing certain treacherous imperial father schemes, but this marriage decree left him stumped.

Tong Xi, puzzled and worried, probed, "Your Highness, what vexes you so profoundly?" He'd never beheld His Highness this tormented, grappling a vast enigma.

Zhao Yao glanced up, exhaled softly, and replied, "You wouldn’t understand."

"I might not grasp it, but confer with the Second Master." If His Highness faltered, so did he.

"This affair bars discussion with my Second Uncle." He'd long sensed Second Uncle's pact with the imperial father, unknown to Second Uncle.

"Not the Second Master? Then share with General Chu and company." Tong Xi urged, "They may lack fixes, but chatting could ease your heart."

"Chu Huan works, others not." Among four brothers, Chu Huan excelled in wit, poise, and depth.

"Then I'll fetch General Chu."

"Unnecessary, I'll seek him." Zhao Yao rose and strode off.

Tong Xi dashed after, "Your Highness, hold up!"

Given Chu Huan's steadfastness, maturity, and insight, Zhao Yao had assigned him Divine Machine Camp oversight last year. Pre-command, trials included gunplay. Chu Huan began clumsy yet surged via rigorous drills, now a Divine Machine Camp ace shooter.

The Divine Machine Camp stood apart from Zhao Yao’s Imperial Guard, autonomous under his sole authority.

Zhao Yao quartered the Divine Machine Camp at North Mountain Laboratory—secured stoutly, and supplier of their ceaseless firearms and rounds.

Prior to departure, Zhao Yao briefed He Lianfang on his North Mountain Laboratory stay, noting messengers for urgencies.

He Lianfang found it routine; Zhao Yao's multi-day Laboratory jaunts were commonplace.

At North Mountain Laboratory, Zhao Yao skipped Chu Huan first, eyeing cannon upgrades. Earlier, Zheng Cheng and artisans birthed one via relentless toil, flawed and needing tweaks.

Craftsmen told Zhao Yao progress flowed well this round. Days hence, fresh tests awaited. Thrilled, Zhao Yao extolled them and pledged bounties post-trial triumph.