Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1118 - 141: Mutual Deception

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Previously on Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne...
Zhao Yao questioned the unlikely connections between Shupin of the Wang Family, Prince Han, and the Xiongnu's Third Princess, suspecting treasonous collusion to seize the throne despite the peril of clan extermination. He and his aides decried the nobles' betrayal of national loyalty by allying with brutal invaders, lamenting the lack of direct evidence from captured seasick assassins but relying on indirect proofs sent to the Emperor. Foreseeing attacks from the Xun Family's assassins en route to the capital, Zhao Yao rallied his followers amid weary banter. In Youzhou, Prince Han vomited blood in fury upon learning his plot had failed.

Just as Zhao Yao had foreseen, the following assassins shifted away from the Xiongnu’s suicide squad, turning instead into the Xun Family’s suicide squad. Naturally, no evidence marked them as belonging to the Xun Family.

In addition to the Xun Family’s suicide squad, the Wang Family’s suicide squad joined the fray. Even professional killers showed up.

Assassination waves crashed relentlessly, growing fiercer with each surge. Desperate to slay Zhao Yao, they unleashed every trick in the book, but failed utterly to take him down.

Far off in the capital, news reached the emperor of Prince Han dispatching endless assassins after Zhao Yao, yet he showed zero worry. By contrast, Sun Kui at his side grew deeply anxious over Zhao Yao’s fate.

This day, the Dragon Guards brought yet another secret report, detailing fresh waves of suicide squads dispatched to target the Han Prince.

Having scanned the letter, the emperor rubbed his chin and sighed: "That kid’s got a tough life—waves upon waves of suicide squads thrown at him."

Hearing those words, Sun Kui grumbled inside: Your Majesty, Prince Han’s in grave peril—how are you so calm? Don’t you worry something bad might befall Prince Han?

"I get why the Xun Family would strike at that kid, but the Wang Family sending their suicide squad too?" the emperor remarked, eyes narrowing with a cryptic look, "Since when did Xun Family and Wang Family get so chummy?"

Sun Kui pondered silently: Wasn’t the Wang Family once Duke Anyang Mansion? Titles stripped, yet they won’t lie low and even dare assassins on Prince Han. Seeking death, are they?

Noticing Sun Kui standing mute nearby, the emperor queried: "Do Lady Liang and Princess Consort De get along well?"

Sun Kui thought back cautiously and replied: "The ladies rarely cross paths." Back when Lady Liang was Consort Liang, she avoided Consort De. Chance meetings brought sharp barbs. They’d vied for favor before, relations icy. Plus, they’d clashed fiercely over their sons, banning any further mingling.

The emperor absorbed this with a knowing chuckle: "Intriguing."

Catching the emperor’s false grin, Sun Kui’s spirits dropped; he bowed his head swiftly.

Turning to the Dragon Guards, the emperor commanded: "Probe into Lady Liang and Princess Consort De."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The Dragon Guards withdrew promptly.

Fiddling with the secret letter, the emperor smirked artificially: "I’ve misjudged women."

Sun Kui wondered: What’s that imply? Does the emperor mean he underrated Lady Liang and Consort De? Are they not as hostile as they seem?

In the harem, feigned rivalries abound on the surface. Still, if Lady Liang and Consort De are faking it, they’ve pulled it off masterfully.

The emperor sighed deeply: "A woman’s heart runs deeper than the sea’s abyss."

Sun Kui probed on purpose: "Your Majesty, this drags Lady Liang in too."

The emperor shot Sun Kui a fierce look and flung the secret letter at his face.

"Loose tongue."

Sun Kui lightly smacked his own cheek and grinned apologetically: "I merit rebuke."

"Hmph, Xiao Xiao stands apart from such women."

"Your Majesty, with Prince Han under assassination fire, won’t you step in?" Suicide squads—merciless butchers who stop at nothing till Prince Han falls.

"And do what?" The emperor’s face hardened coldly, "I’m swamped; no time for it."

Sun Kui: "..." Your Majesty, do your own words even register? If Prince Han caught wind, his heart would break.

"No fear for Prince Han’s mishap?" Plus, should Lady Liang learn of the assassination hits on Prince Han while you shrug off his survival, won’t she make your life hell?

"That kid’s got nine lives; he won’t go down easy." The emperor snorted dismissively, "If fortune doesn’t bring him back to the capital, then that’s his limit."

Sun Kui’s blood ran cold at those words. Suddenly, he couldn’t tell if the emperor truly valued Prince Han.

Claim the emperor dotes on Prince Han? Yet amid endless kill attempts with death looming, he ignores it all. Claim no favor? Yet he’s cleared countless roads for him.

The emperor proves both kind and cruel beyond measure!

Noticing Sun Kui’s anxious look, the emperor teased: "I, as a father, am not concerned about that brat, yet you are."

Sun Kui felt his heart clench, forcing a sycophantic smile across his face: "Whenever I hear about suicide squads, I get scared." He kept silent about his worry for Prince Han’s safety.