Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1079 - 122: Divine Pill (Part 2)

"Your Highness, I fear the investigators won’t accept your explanation."

"It doesn’t matter if they believe it; the key is they lack proof." Prince Han felt no anxiety toward the capital’s investigators. He’d supplied those idiots with funds and manpower without leaving traces. On top of that, his commands to that fool stood unrecorded.

When the capital’s team arrives for the probe, he could toss out a random figure to confuse them, as precise numbers elude discovery.

"Even should Father grow furious about this, the worst he’d do is scold me lightly and cut my stipend for several years." To Prince Han, such a penalty meant little.

"Your Highness speaks wisely." With Prince Han exuding such assurance, Yang Qi’s worries eased. "Your Highness, Prince Dai might present a chance."

"Explain yourself."

"Should it come to light that Prince Dai and Marquis Xuanping are mustering soldiers and crafting arms in Annan, that spells treason. At that point, Prince Dai gets hauled back to the capital in chains. We seize the moment to sway him, and he’ll surely yield."

"Mr. Yang, what role does Noble Princess Consort Rong play here?" Prince Han rejected the idea, "Marquis Xuanping’s household counts as Father’s wife’s kin; even if Prince Dai rebels outright, Father won’t execute him. Do you see Prince Dai as dim-witted like those fools?"

"Prince Zheng before only slaughtered masses, no heavy offense, yet treason demands wiping out nine kin. If the Emperor slew the old Prince Zheng, why spare Prince Dai?" Yang Qi held that prior Prince Zheng’s savagery wasn’t dire enough for death, but rebellion surely merited Prince Dai’s end.

"Mr. Yang, how can that idiot compare to Prince Dai? Are you unaware of Prince Dai’s years of merits? Don’t you grasp Father’s deep affection for him?" Prince Han felt Yang Qi downplayed Prince Dai’s value to the Emperor. "Besides, Prince Dai and his lot merely gather troops and smith weapons in Annan, not within Great Zhou, without hauling forces or arms back home—so no rebellion yet."

"Your Highness, does that mean Prince Dai escapes trouble?" Yang Qi had hoped to bend Prince Dai via this scandal, only to learn differently.

"Worst case, Marquis Xuanping loses his marquisate. Yet with Noble Princess Consort Rong’s influence, it’ll return someday." Prince Han went on, "Father relies on Prince Dai at the northern frontier against the Xiongnu; punishing him now makes no sense."

"Thus, Prince Dai simply yields?"

"Who claims this king yields? Prince Dai stays away from the capital for now, and those envoys draw near. We hold off on Prince Dai temporarily. After the capital folk leave, we make our move."

"Your Highness plans astutely." The capital’s group nears Youzhou soon. To play safe, restraint proves wisest now.

Right then, a retainer from Prince Han’s estate entered.

"Your Highness, Mr. Wu has arrived."

Prince Han appeared startled, "What brings him here? Alone?"

"No, alone he’s not; Mr. Wu comes with two stunners, one gifted to you, the other for Prince Dai."

Prince Han eyed Yang Qi and queried: "What scheme does he hatch?"

"Your Highness, those two beauties from Mr. Wu likely hide depths." Yang Qi suspected a honey trap at once, "Your Highness, see him first."

"Escort him to the hall; this king comes soon."

"Yes, Your Highness."

After Mr. Wu sipped a cup of tea, Prince Han arrived with Yang Qi.

Mr. Wu bowed and stated his intent clearly to Prince Han. The beauties weren’t commonplace; they’d undergone superb training. Masters at delighting and ensnaring men, one dispatched to Prince Dai would captivate him completely, bending to any whim.

Prince Han grasped it as a honey trap from Mr. Wu. He accepted without demur; one went to Prince Dai, the other remained in Prince Han’s residence.

Earlier beauties Prince Han dispatched to Prince Dai got rebuffed. Yet Mr. Wu’s differed. Western Regions and Great Zhou lineage blended exotic Western seductiveness with Zhou grace, crafting irresistible allure.

True enough, Prince Dai kept this beauty this time.

Soon after, word reached Prince Han: Prince Dai obsessed over the beauty, lost in revels for days, ignoring military duties.

The beauty kept in Prince Han’s estate went untouched by him. Though he relished women, such trained ones repelled him, particularly suspecting her schemes.

Retaining her served to watch her closely, of course.

As Prince Dai wallowed in feminine charms, the capital’s inspectors for Prince Han and old Prince Zheng reached Youzhou. As anticipated, they uncovered zilch.

Following days of scrutiny in Youzhou, the envoys from the capital withdrew. Shortly post-return, Prince Han faced rebuke and a three-year pay slash—just as foreseen.

With the capital envoys gone, Mr. Wu revisited Prince Han’s mansion, presenting the Divine Pill. From the Western Regions, it promised lifespan extension, vitality boost, virility surge, and youthful glow.

Prince Han showed no keenness for Mr. Wu’s Divine Pill. Skeptical of such wonder drugs, he wavered. But Mr. Wu pressed: long-term use yields eternal youth. Those prior beauties consumed it daily, staying forever radiant.

Despite doubts on the Divine Pill, Prince Han took it anyway.

"Divine Pill?" Prince Han sneered mockingly, "Who knew Wu mimicked those pill-pushers to fool folks. Does he deem this king a simpleton?" Youthful as he was, no pill promised longevity or youth he craved.

"Your Highness, Mr. Wu wouldn’t risk duping you."

"Sir, don’t swallow his tale; fancy these trinkets real divine cures?"

"Your Highness, truly no divine elixirs exist; this Divine Pill’s probably just a supplement." Yang Qi clarified, "I’ve heard Western Regions harbor many taboo substances; their powers stun, thus banned."

Prince Han plucked a Divine Pill from the satin case, eyeing it curiously: "So this truly delivers Wu’s boasts—life extension, youth eternal?"

"Your Highness, to verify Mr. Wu’s claims, test on some elder. Should they youthify upon swallowing, then no deceit."

"Sir, sound idea; procure an elder for trial." Prince Han laughed, "Proves true, and this king esteems him greatly."

Far off in Swamp Prefecture, Zhao Yao learned of the Divine Pill too.

Zhao Yao dismissed worldly Divine Pills. Its abrupt emergence in Lingnan sparked suspicions. He dispatched agents at once, unearthing troubles indeed.