Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1152 - 158: Not Long to Live (Part 2)

"That leaves Prince Jing and Prince Chu, along with Lord Wei."

"Once Prince Han and the others finish their reckless deeds, Prince Jing will be next." Zhao Yao speculated that something would happen to Prince Jing before he got married. Once he was wedded and had left the capital, his Eighth Brother would focus on dealing with his Fourth Brother. The Fourth Brother was no match for the cunning Eighth Brother, but fortunately, the Eighth Brother promised not to kill him.

"Is it that thrilling?" Tong Xi said, though his face showed a look of anticipation. "Is it His Highness Prince Chu or Lord Wei dealing with Prince Jing?"

"Eighth Brother."

"By the way, Your Highness, should we inform the Emperor about the matters regarding Prince Yue and Prince Dai?"

"I’ve received news, which indicates that Father is already aware." The intelligence from the Dragon Guards is very swift. Besides, he didn’t believe that Father would not have planted spies around the Second and Ninth Brothers.

"The Emperor is probably very upset." In Tong Xi’s view, the Emperor always favored Prince Dai the most, and didn’t expect that Prince Dai would want to rebel.

"Who knows?" Maybe all of this is within Father’s expectation. Sometimes, Father is truly kind, yet sometimes he is very ruthless.

"Your Highness, shouldn’t you go into the palace to accompany the Emperor?"

Zhao Yao gave Tong Xi a huge eye roll and then said irritably, "Why should I go into the palace to accompany him?"

"The Emperor might be feeling sad."

"Tong Xi, is there something wrong with your brain?" Zhao Yao pointed to the door and unceremoniously said, "Go bump your head against the wall to get the water out of your brain."

Tong Xi dared not speak, obediently retreated out, and then dutifully bumped his head against a pillar.

The Emperor, whom Tong Xi thought to be sad and angry, was instead calmly playing chess with Prime Minister He. As for the matter of Prince Yue colluding with Prince Han to rebel, he had long been aware. He had also learned of Marquis Xuanping persuading Prince Dai to plot rebellion.

"Your Majesty, the Yu Family is your maternal family," Prime Minister He reminded the Emperor.

The Emperor toyed with the chess piece in his hand, smiling with a hint of ambiguity, "And so?"

"Your Majesty, are you certain about dealing with Marquis Xuanping?"

"It’s not me dealing with him; it’s he who wants to rebel against me. If he seeks death on his own, how can he blame me?" The Emperor added, "Even if it’s my maternal family, if it threatens the Great Zhou, even if Mother were alive, I wouldn’t show mercy."

Prime Minister He was not surprised upon hearing this from the Emperor.

The Emperor is clear-headed and ruthless.

"Your Majesty, you will be criticized for being heartless towards your family."

The Emperor scoffed, "Do I care? If I did, I wouldn’t have let my sons fight each other all these years." The Emperor knew well that because of this, many ministers believed he was too cruel and heartless. "What I care about is the people of this world."

"To the people of the world, Your Majesty, you are a wise ruler." It is precisely because of this that Prime Minister He and the others are wholeheartedly devoted to the Emperor, even if the Emperor is domineering or comes back again, they are willing to help him. "But to several princes, you are a cold and ruthless father."

The Emperor also knew he was not a good father, saying with some helplessness, "I am first the Emperor of the Great Zhou, then their father. I can only be a good Emperor, not having the energy to be a good father."

"Your Majesty, if Prince Han’s maternal family were also an aristocratic family, would you still pass the throne to him?" Only Prime Minister He dared to ask so directly.

"I would still pass the throne to him, but before that, I would let him deal with his maternal family first." The Emperor squinted slightly, a cold gleam in his eyes, "I promised the late emperor that I would never allow aristocratic families to wreak havoc on the court or harm the people again, nor would I let aristocratic families dominate the court. Before I die, I will finish off all the aristocratic families and noble clans, making them disappear forever." This is why the Emperor lets his sons fight each other.

Whether it’s the former Crown Prince, or Prince Dai, or even Prince Chu, behind them are either aristocratic families or noble clans. The Emperor lets his sons fight to have their maternal families fight each other, leading them to mutual destruction, and then he will capture them all in one sweep.

"You are aware that the founding of the Great Zhou by the late emperor and myself was not for personal gain, but for the sake of the world's populace." The Emperor's tone turned unusually solemn. "In the past, we endured lives worse than death under the oppression of powerful clans and noble families. When the world plunged into chaos, rising up became our only path to survival. Throughout those trying years, it was the impoverished commoners who offered genuine assistance, while the aristocratic families only lent a hand when there was something to be gained."

The Emperor continued, his voice tinged with recollection, "I vividly remember the common folk's fervent hope that one day, an emperor would emerge from their ranks. They believed only such a ruler could truly aid the people and usher in an era of prosperity. Though I cannot foresee the character of my future descendants, I am bound to honor the promises made to those who supported us."

Prime Minister He nodded, recalling the noble souls of yesteryear. "Your Majesty has never faltered in your commitment to them."

"My selection of Young Master Ten stems from several key factors: firstly, his maternal lineage is not tied to any powerful aristocratic family; secondly, his heart has always been with the common people; thirdly, he possesses considerable capability; and fourthly, he is adept at guiding his heir, ensuring the Great Zhou's throne remains secure for generations. Thus, stability will prevail for a century." Prime Minister He marveled at the Emperor's farsightedness, extending his vision to a full hundred years.

"Only Prince Han is capable of meeting Your Majesty's aspirations."

"My ambition was never for the Great Zhou to endure a millennium; my sole wish is for the Zhao family to ensure the people of this world experience a stable existence for at least a hundred years, or perhaps more." The Emperor's thoughts did not even reach two centuries.

"I am confident Prince Han will achieve this."

"As am I," the Emperor replied with a gentle smile. "Before I pass the mantle of leadership to him, I shall decisively deal with all the entrenched aristocratic families and noble clans. This will allow him, upon his ascension, to dedicate his full attention to the welfare of the people and the cultivation of a prosperous Great Zhou."

"Your Majesty, you hesitate to have Prince Han confront the aristocratic families and noble clans directly," Prime Minister He observed. "Have you considered that such actions might be judged harshly by history, potentially earning you condemnation from future generations?"

"Does it matter to me?" The Emperor displayed utter indifference to his historical reputation. "My reputation is hardly stellar as it is. As for being cursed by posterity, I shall not live to hear it, so let them vent their grievances."

Prime Minister He understood that the Emperor, and indeed they themselves, were unconcerned with such trivialities.

"My only pursuit is a clear conscience in my deeds; all else is of no consequence." An Emperor who obsessed over his reputation was destined to fail. Even if history were to brand him a tyrant or a notorious ruler, he would remain unperturbed, knowing he had never wronged the people.

"Your magnanimity is truly remarkable, Your Majesty."

"I have always possessed a broad perspective."

Prime Minister He steered the conversation back to the pressing issue of Prince Dai's imminent rebellion.

"Your Majesty, Lord Wei is the mastermind behind all of this. How do you intend to proceed against him?"

"He is a useful tool, and I still require his services." The Emperor's voice was devoid of emotion, as if Lord Wei were not his own kin but an inconsequential figure. "Rest assured, he will not be allowed to sow further discord."

"Your Majesty, Lord Wei's schemes and methods are far from simple. Do you believe Prince Han is prepared to counter him?" Prime Minister He voiced his apprehension. "Lord Wei is also known for his ruthlessness. Are you certain he poses no genuine threat of disruption?"

The Emperor offered Prime Minister He a reassuring smile. "His lifespan is limited."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister He's eyes widened in surprise, but he swiftly grasped the profound implication behind the Emperor's words.

"In that case, I am at ease."

"He is aware his time is short, which is precisely why he initiated this rebellion."