Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1056 - 111: Prince Han Underestimates the Emperor

Prince Chu heard this, a faint smile tugging at his lips: "I didn’t expect the tenth brother to share my thoughts; now I can rest easy." With the tenth brother dispatching investigators, something was bound to turn up.

"Your Highness, rest easy. My second brother will deliver the evidence to your residence the moment he uncovers it."

"Good, thank you for the effort."

"Your Highness, you’re too polite."

Prince Chu exchanged a few casual words with Liang Chun before heading back to his quarters.

Should his teacher discover he’d enlisted the tenth brother to probe the scheme between Prince Han and the Third Princess, another scolding was inevitable.

Meanwhile, Yang Ling was making his way back to the capital too. The fake Prince Chu had dismissed him early, sparing him from calamity. He’d been tasked to travel with the Liang Family caravan into the capital.

Learning the entire entourage with the impostor Prince Chu had been massacred and their corpses obliterated, Yang Ling burned with anger and grief, yet counted his blessings. Without Prince Han’s foresight, both he and Prince Chu would have perished.

This convinced Yang Ling to drop his suspicions of Zhao Yao. He now trusted Prince Chu’s claim that Prince Han would never betray him.

"Little brother, how fares my young master now?" Yang Ling was currently posing as a white-haired old man.

"Sir, don’t worry—your young master is perfectly fine. You’ll reunite with him in just a few days."

Assured of Prince Chu’s safety, Yang Ling’s heart eased.

"Excellent, excellent. Prince Han proved a true ally this time. He genuinely cherishes Prince Chu."

Cousin, oh cousin, do you and Prince Han believe Prince Chu is truly gone and rejoice in it? Your smiles won’t last—you and Prince Han will soon lose them.

Convinced of Prince Chu’s death, Yang Qi and Prince Han set his matters aside. Their current focus lay on handling Prince Dai. Past efforts to ensnare him had failed.

"Prince Dai lacks gratitude; why not just eliminate him?" Having slain Prince Chu, Prince Han saw no reason not to dispatch Prince Dai too, blocking his return to the capital.

Noting Prince Han’s serious intent to kill Prince Dai, Yang Qi quickly cautioned, "Your Highness, that’s unwise."

"What’s unwise about it?" Prince Han shrugged indifferently. "Killing him would be effortless."

"Your Highness, slaying Prince Dai is simple, but have you weighed the fallout?"

"What fallout?"

"Your Highness, never underestimate the court, least of all the Emperor." Yang Qi sensed Prince Han dismissed the court far too lightly. "With Prince Chu gone and Prince Dai following, do you think the Emperor will stay passive? Court officials and the Emperor aren’t blind; they won’t swallow tales of accidents for both. You’d be their prime suspect, triggering an imperial order for full scrutiny."

"Even if Father demands a probe, they’ll find nothing." Prince Han brimmed with certainty.

"Your Highness, are you certain the court uncovers zilch?" Yang Qi pressed. "Do you truly think our deeds are seamless without traces? Prince Chu exposed our link to the Third Princess—why couldn’t the court? Is the court a hollow shell, the Emperor a doddering fool?"

Stunned by Yang Qi’s volley of questions, Prince Han fell silent briefly.

"Your Highness, belittle court ministers if you wish, but never the Emperor." Yang Qi’s voice sharpened unwittingly. "Forgot my earlier counsel? What of the deposed Crown Prince and former Duke? Or the Yuan Family matter?"

Prince Han remembered well, his scornful look turning grave.

"Your Highness, recall the Yangzhou noble clans’ downfall?" The old Yangzhou incident still prickled Yang Qi’s scalp. "Your Highness, can you challenge the Emperor?"

"I..."

"Your Highness, none rivals the Emperor in schemes of state." Spotting Prince Han’s lingering doubt, Yang Qi added, "Ponder those fates I named."

Prince Han stared hard into Yang Qi’s eyes before saying, "Sir, if it’s as you claim, can I still claim that throne someday?"

"Your Highness, shun self-sabotage, and that position is yours. Persist in killing Prince Dai, and I guarantee not only failure to rise but your doom." Yang Qi’s bluntness stunned.

First time Yang Qi addressed Prince Han so directly, prompting him to retort, "Sir, aren’t you overly wary of my father?"

"Your Highness, all dread the Emperor—you should too, or bear unbearable repercussions." Yang Qi cut sharply. "Prince Chu’s murder revealed, the Emperor will erupt in fury, sending agents north for rigorous inquiry. Burned bodies might deceive, but Prince Dai’s death won’t. Two dead sons? He’d scour earth and sky for the hidden foe."

Prince Han creased his brow faintly, holding his tongue.

"Your Highness, assume not the Emperor spares kin; even tigers devour cubs in his sight." Yang Qi warned anew. "Ten sons total—with Prince Chu and Prince Dai gone, several remain beyond you."

"Sir, your candor stings." Prince Han offered a wry smile.

"Your Highness, truth only. Prince Dai’s death yields zero gain." Yang Qi pressed on. "His living actually serves us."

Absorbing Yang Qi’s piercing counsel, Prince Han shed his disdain.

"Heed sir’s wisdom—let Prince Dai breathe for now."

Relieved Prince Han yielded at last, Yang Qi sighed inwardly.

"Your Highness, after Prince Dai reaches the capital, disposing of him won’t be late."

"All per sir’s plans."

Yang Qi let Prince Dai drop, turning to their pact with the Third Princess. Discussion done, he withdrew to his study.

Alas, years skulking built Prince Han’s bold confidence. Now it blinded him to the Emperor, fooling him into thinking he could outwit him! This arrogance must halt, lest catastrophe strike beyond imagining.