Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1129 - 144: Mother and Son Reunited (Part 3)

Lady Liang’s expression became serious as a thought crossed her mind: "I fear Prince Han may instigate a rebellion."

"We shall simply await his rebellion."

Upon hearing this, Lady Liang was taken aback, "Are you intentionally provoking Prince Han into revolting?"

"As expected of Mother; you discerned my intentions immediately." Zhao Yao's strategy to strip Prince Han and the Third Princess of their influence in foreign lands was precisely to drive Prince Han into a corner.

"You truly are..."

"Even if he harbored no thoughts of rebellion, his collusion with foreign tribes is an offense punishable by death." With a sharp snap, the teacup in Zhao Yao’s hand fractured into two pieces. "He foolishly believes he can profit from the discord between others. How naive."

"Your actions are not without justification, it's just..."

"General Chu is stationed at the Northern Border; no harm will come of it." Zhao Yao continued, "Father appointed General Chu to the Northern Border Camp specifically to keep the Xiongnu in check."

"You imply your father was already aware of Prince Han and the Third Princess's clandestine dealings?"

"If I am privy to this information, how could he be unaware?"

Lady Liang pondered this and nodded in agreement, "You are not merely forcing Prince Han to rebel, are you?"

A mother’s understanding of her son is indeed profound.

"Mother, you truly are my most esteemed mother."

Lady Liang smiled and discerned his plan, "You intend to leverage this situation to dismantle the Xiongnu completely, ensuring their tribes can never again unite."

Zhao Yao gave Lady Liang a thumbs-up: "Your insight is brilliant, Mother."

Lady Liang inquired, "Are you confident in your success?"

Zhao Yao held up eight fingers.

Lady Liang felt instantly at ease, "That is reassuring." Just as she spoke, she recalled her son mentioning the Xun Family and the Wang Family dispatching a suicide squad to assassinate him. "I comprehend the Xun Family's motive for sending assassins after you, but why the Wang Family?"

"Lady Shu." Zhao Yao’s right index finger tapped rhythmically on the table. "With Noble Princess Consort Rong gravely ill, Prince Dai was summoned back to the capital, a maneuver orchestrated by Lady Shu."

"Lady Shu? Why would she align herself with Princess Consort De and the others?"

"If my assumption is correct, Lady Shu and Princess Consort De maintained a rather close relationship in private before entering the palace."

"That defies logic. I had heard they were at odds with each other even prior to entering the palace."

"Feigning animosity is a common tactic, but I never anticipated they would sustain such a convincing facade." Zhao Yao let out a laugh tinged with schadenfreude. "Father was likely deceived by both of them as well."

"Everyone was fooled by their act." Lady Liang had never conceived that Lady Shu and Princess Consort De were merely pretending to be at odds. "How did you uncover this truth?" Although he was not present in the capital, he possessed an intimate knowledge of the capital's and the palace's affairs. "When did you discover this?"

"I inferred it when Noble Princess Consort Rong fell seriously ill."

"Everyone presumed Noble Princess Consort Rong was feigning illness. Did you know from the outset that she was genuinely unwell?" Even Lady Liang herself had believed Noble Princess Consort Rong was pretending to be sick to facilitate Prince Dai's return to the capital.

"Indeed, because Noble Princess Consort Rong did not wish for Prince Dai to return to the capital." Zhao Yao elaborated, "If Prince Dai remained at the Northern Border, he could continue to accrue merits. Furthermore, Noble Princess Consort Rong intended for Prince Dai to establish himself at the Northern Border Camp and become its Great General."

"Hasn't the Emperor already appointed General Chu as the Great General of the Northern Border Camp? Prince Dai would have no opportunity there."

Zhao Yao remarked meaningfully, "General Chu cannot remain at the Northern Border Camp indefinitely."

"How can you be certain that General Chu cannot remain at the Northern Border Camp?" Lady Liang considered it advantageous for General Chu to be stationed at the Northern Border to repel the Xiongnu.

"General Chu, along with three others, are deeply trusted by Father; they are practically his most loyal generals, each wielding significant military authority. If General Chu were to remain at the Northern Border permanently, how would other military officers perceive this situation?" Zhao Yao stated casually, "Father trusts General Chu implicitly, believing he would never rebel, but what about the others?"

Upon hearing this, Lady Liang finally understood.

"I never imagined Noble Princess Consort Rong harbored such ambitions." General Chu already enjoyed immense favor with the Emperor. With hundreds of thousands of soldiers under his command at the Northern Border Camp, permanent incumbency would inevitably breed jealousy among rivals.

Zhao Yao sighed, "A parent's love for their child compels them to devise profound strategies."