Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1082 - 123: Zhao Yao’s Speculation (Part 3)

Upon hearing Song Dachuan's statement, Zhao Yao felt at ease.

"Keep monitoring this situation closely."

"Don't worry, I'll keep a sharp eye on it."

Zhao Yao offered Song Dachuan several more directives before dismissing him.

Right then, He Lianfang appeared, wheeling a wheelchair, and inquired, "Do you find his words believable?"

"Believable. Factions divide the Southern Wei internally." Zhao Yao's fingers drummed gently on the table, "The group Kou Nanyu aligns with must be behind it."

"Are you certain it's that straightforward?"

"Second Uncle, do you sense this affair hides deeper layers too?"

He Lianfang nodded faintly, "Southern Wei schemers abound; selling Divine Pills for control can't be their sole aim."

"Second Uncle, what do you see as their true objective?"

He Lianfang eyed Zhao Yao briefly, "Haven't you already divined it inwardly?"

At those words, Zhao Yao let out a booming laugh, "Second Uncle, our minds sync perfectly!"

"Issuing the Divine Pill ban earlier was a mistake." He Lianfang suspected Zhao Yao's decree had put them on guard.

"Second Uncle, you realize the dire endgame here. Skipping the Divine Pill prohibition to dodge alerting them would let floods of pills pour inland, hordes consume them, spiraling into chaos beyond control." Zhao Yao's face turned gravely somber, voice chilling, "With spread just starting, swift bans nip it in the bud, halting escalation." He dreaded the Divine Pill cheapening for masses.

"Producers of Divine Pills can brew other poisons too." He Lianfang noted, "Failing to seize them means Divine Pills keep emerging endlessly."

"The Dark Guard Camp already shadows them under my orders; at the perfect moment, we'll net them all." As he spoke, Zhao Yao's visage hardened fiercely, "Divine Pills command exorbitant sums now; I fear capital's elite powers might yield to greed, allying with Southern Wei to addict officials far and wide." In this realm, scant few defy immense riches or youth's siren call.

"Maybe the Emperor sampled it, relished the results, so no prohibition decree issues."

"Second Uncle, do you deem my father that dim?"

"What Emperor withstands lures of prolonged life and renewal?" He Lianfang scoffed, "Likely he'd hail the Divine Pill as imperial offering."

"Other Emperors couldn't shun Divine Pill's temptation, yet Father never would." Zhao Yao sneered, "Youth aside, mere lifespan extension—he'd spurn it outright."

"You claim the Emperor scorns longevity?" He Lianfang chuckled, "Who rejects more years alive?"

"Longevity tempts all, but Father loathes endless emperorship." Zhao Yao chuckled, "Divine Pill intake forces extra reigning decades." Should it truly grant life extension and rejuvenation, he'd procure it for irksome Father, reverting him ever younger, evading future recriminations.

He Lianfang yearned to challenge Zhao Yao but held back, knowing Zhao Zheng truly abhorred prolonged rule.

"Moreover, countless Taoists and monks peddled Immortal Elixirs to Father through the years. He lambasted them savagely, barred elixir sales harming commoners, slaying any caught peddling deceptions." Taoists' alchemy and monks' Immortal Elixirs trace to antiquity, enduring popularity. Prior dynasty Emperors fixated on such pursuits, courting insanity or demise. Simply put, elixirs poison.

Father's edict ending Taoist and monk elixir vending quelled the fad. Yet alchemy defies total extinction; multitudes peddle and partake in shadows.

"Second Uncle, disdain Father if you must, but spare such slurs."

He Lianfang furrowed his brow, falling mute.

Stifling chuckles, Zhao Yao declared, "Urgent task: uncover Divine Pill's components and venomous impacts." Strangely, memories surged of the dream world's scourge poison ravaging the masses.