Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1064 - 115: Sending Off a God Is Hard

Disregarding Grand Commandant Zheng's prestigious position, viewing him purely as an individual, he's exceptionally sharp-witted, deeply erudite, and remarkably approachable, displaying no haughtiness whatsoever. If he weren't Grand Commandant Zheng, Zhao Yao would truly desire to form a friendship with him, overlooking their age gap. What a shame.

Tong Xi caught the regretful expression on Zhao Yao's face and inquired with worry, "Your Highness, what's the matter?"

"Nothing, simply sensing the pity of it." Truth be told, the afternoon discussion with Grand Commandant Zheng had been thoroughly enjoyable.

"Your Highness, what precisely do you deem a pity? Did you not snag sufficient fish?" Tong Xi slapped the fish basket slung from his horse, packed with fish in all sorts of sizes. "Your Highness, you've hauled in so many fish, yet you feel it's lacking? Didn't you spot Uncle Lin's envious glare?" Uncle Lin failed to catch even one fish the entire afternoon. Thankfully, his benevolent Highness handed over a few fish to Uncle Lin right before departing, or else Uncle Lin would struggle to justify himself back home.

Recalling Grand Commandant Zheng's envious and jealous face, Zhao Yao couldn't suppress a chuckle: who'd imagine the renowned Grand Commandant Zheng drawing a blank on fish.

"Your Highness, that Uncle Lin isn't just any regular fellow, right?" Uncle Lin appeared refined, radiated a transcendent air, and spoke with profound insight, far from a typical elder.

"You spotted it?"

"Indeed, I did." Tong Xi questioned curiously, "Your Highness, who exactly is he?"

"Grand Commandant Zheng."

"Oh, Zheng..." In that instant, Tong Xi's face filled with shock as he burst out, "What, he's Grand Commandant Zheng?!" His outburst sent roadside treetop birds scattering in flight.

"Lower your voice." Luckily, they rode along a deserted path with nobody around.

Tong Xi clamped his mouth shut promptly, then dropped his hands after a beat and whispered, "Your Highness, is Uncle Lin truly Grand Commandant Zheng?" Grand Commandant Zheng, the top strategist worldwide, had aided the late emperor and the present one in founding Great Zhou.

Noting Tong Xi's disbelieving look, Zhao Yao teased, "Doesn't he resemble the part?"

"He certainly does." Uncle Lin's very demeanor and poise screamed nobility. Yet none could guess the old man was Grand Commandant Zheng himself. "Your Highness, didn't Grand Commandant Zheng depart?" He recalled Mr. Zheng mentioning his father had returned home.

Mentioning this, Zhao Yao furrowed his brow: "Evidently, he never left."

"Your Highness, isn't Grand Commandant Zheng lingering in Swamp Prefecture a boon? He could assist you..." Tong Xi got cut off as Zhao Yao rapped his head sharply.

Zhao Yao smacked Tong Xi's head with the horsewhip, snapping irritably, "Are you cursing me to an early grave? If Grand Commandant Zheng remains to aid me, my doom comes swiftly." This Grand Commandant Zheng amounted to a ticking explosive; harboring him spelled certain catastrophe.

Tong Xi clutched the struck spot, wearing a baffled and wronged expression, and queried, "Your Highness, why so?"

"Are you unaware of Grand Commandant Zheng's stature? Even Father implored his return, yet he declined. Retaining him would paint me as public enemy number one." Zhao Yao eyed the innocent dimwit Tong Xi, "Picture my brothers sparing me? Any chance of tranquility?"

After Zhao Yao's clarification, enlightenment dawned on Tong Xi.

"Your Highness, doesn't Grand Commandant Zheng face grave peril staying in Swamp Prefecture?"

"Perilously so; we must urge his swift departure, lest the capital's folks discover him eventually." Zhao Yao lifted his whip, declaring, "Let's hasten back to Zheng Qian and ensure he escorts his father out tonight."

"Your Highness, hold up for me."

Beyond the cause Zhao Yao stated, another urgency drove hastening Grand Commandant Zheng's exit: his knowledge of the emperor's heir selection eyeing Zhao Yao. That afternoon by Wild Pond, amid fishing, Grand Commandant Zheng probed deeply into livelihood concerns, which Zhao Yao barely evaded.

Grand Commandant Zheng's queries on those topics held purpose; over recent months touring Lingnan, the elder had delved into other prefectures' livelihood woes with him, quizzing solutions—which Zhao Yao sidestepped as well.

When livelihood talks yielded little, Grand Commandant Zheng shifted to historical topics. Zhao Yao feigned ignorance from scant study. Surprisingly, the elder pressed on relentlessly with history discussions.

One must admit, Grand Commandant Zheng offered unparalleled perspectives on history; conversing with him that afternoon imparted lifelong wisdom.

Merely an afternoon's exchange with the elder left him profoundly illuminated for life.