Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne
Chapter 102 - 101 Consort Li Suggests the Fourth Prince Participate in the Compilation of History

Chapter 102: Chapter 101 Consort Li Suggests the Fourth Prince Participate in the Compilation of History

As soon as Zhao Yao returned to Kunde Hall, Gui Xing brought over the medicine she had just brewed.

The bitter smell of the medicine wafted over from afar, making Zhao Yao’s stomach churn. He quickly covered his nose, his adorable little face full of disdain and refusal.

"Your Highness, the medicine is still hot, please drink it quickly."

No, it’s too smelly.

Taking advantage of Liang Zhaoyi and the others not noticing, Zhao Yao bolted for the door.

Liang Zhaoyi hurriedly sent Tong Xi after him.

From a distance, the Emperor saw Zhao Yao running and guessed he was escaping, so he instructed Sun Doudou and the others to chase after him.

Zhao Yao didn’t expect to meet the Emperor halfway, "Father, why are you here... cough cough cough cough..."

Hearing his youngest son’s cough, the Emperor quickly raised a hand and gently patted his back.

"Why are you running?"

"I wasn’t running, I was going to find Fourth Brother."

As he was speaking, Tong Xi caught up. Seeing the Emperor, he quickly knelt down in salute.

"You little brat, are you running away because you don’t want to drink the medicine?"

Zhao Yao hurriedly shook his head in denial: "No, I’m not sick, why would I drink the medicine." Saying so, he struggled strongly, trying to escape from the Emperor’s grip. "Father, let me go."

The Emperor directly grabbed Zhao Yao and gave his butt a firm slap.

"Behave yourself."

"I don’t want to, let me go." Seeing the Emperor holding onto his collar, Zhao Yao thought of a way and reached to untie his belt, trying to strip off his clothes.

The Emperor, seeing this, was both angry and amused, directly picked Zhao Yao up. He again gave Zhao Yao’s butt a firm slap, "If you don’t behave, I’ll give you a spanking. Do you want your butt to bloom?"

Hearing the words "butt bloom," the previously restless Zhao Yao immediately calmed down.

"Father, you always threaten me." Zhao Yao, angry, reached out and pinched the Emperor’s face, "What kind of hero are you, bullying a child like me?"

"What kind of hero runs away fearing to drink medicine?"

Zhao Yao grabbed the Emperor’s ears, angrily saying: "I’m a child, not a hero, I just don’t like drinking medicine, simply don’t like it!"

"When you’re sick, you should obediently drink your medicine." The Emperor deliberately laughed maliciously, "If you don’t drink obediently, I’ll force it down you."

A few months ago, when Zhao Yao was seriously ill, he refused to drink the medicine, the Emperor and Liang Zhaoyi took turns forcing it down him.

Zhao Yao, angered, opened his mouth and bit the Emperor’s nose, "Stinky father, bad father, always bullying me."

"Yes, I am indeed bullying you." The Emperor laughed, "Having sons is for bullying, otherwise why have you?"

Zhao Yao: Why does he have such a rotten dad?!

Bite this bad father to death.

Zhao Yao opened his mouth and bit the Emperor’s face. He bit hard, causing the Emperor to inhale sharply from the pain.

The Emperor pinched Zhao Yao’s small mouth, playfully scolding: "You little brat, are you a dog?"

"Since you bullied me..." Zhao Yao hadn’t finished speaking when the Emperor bit his little face, causing him to cry out in pain, "Stinky father, you bit me!"

"You bit me, so naturally I’ll bite you back."

Sun Kui, watching the Emperor and his son biting each other’s faces, both leaving a tooth mark on each other’s face, found it amusing but also quite heartwarming.

"Father, how can you be like this..." Zhao Yao complained loudly.

The Emperor ignored Zhao Yao and carried him back to Kunde Hall.

Liang Zhaoyi was not surprised to see the Emperor come. Zhao Yao was sick, and the Imperial Physician was called; once the Emperor knew, he would definitely come to visit.

"Where’s the medicine?" The Emperor sat down with Zhao Yao in his arms.

Gui Xing quickly brought the medicine over, respectfully placing it before the Emperor.

Zhao Yao, smelling the medicine, looked visibly disgusted.

The Emperor took the medicine bowl with his right hand and brought it to Zhao Yao’s lips.

"Drink."

Zhao Yao tightly covered his nose with both hands, shaking his head vigorously.

The Emperor used one hand to pry open Zhao Yao’s small mouth and the other to pour the medicine in.

Zhao Yao was forced to tilt his head back, forced to open his mouth, and forced to swallow the medicine.

Although the Emperor was forceful, he knew his limits and didn’t choke Zhao Yao.

The whole bowl of medicine was forced down. Zhao Yao felt utterly hopeless from the bitterness.

Liang Zhaoyi handed two pieces of caramel to the Emperor, who took them and directly stuffed them into Zhao Yao’s mouth.

The sweetness of the caramel swiftly dispelled the bitterness, and Zhao Yao ate ten pieces in succession before he felt alive again.

Having finished the medicine, Zhao Yao was like a wilted eggplant, devoid of any energy.

Upon learning that the Emperor hadn’t had lunch yet, Liang Zhaoyi quickly went to the small kitchen to stir-fry two dishes.

During the meal, Zhao Yao had no appetite. Though the caramel reduced the bitterness significantly, Zhao Yao still felt nauseous.

Seeing him not eat, the Emperor had to once again force-feed him.

After the meal, noticing Zhao Yao lacked energy, the Emperor generously allowed him to rest well in Kunde Hall for the afternoon.

The Emperor originally thought letting Zhao Yao skip study in the afternoon would make him happy, but unexpectedly, the little rascal still seemed unenthusiastic.

Liang Zhaoyi had Tong Xi take Zhao Yao to his room to rest first.

"This little brat usually loves not studying the most, why did he not react just now when told he didn’t have to study?"

"The medicine hit him hard." Liang Zhaoyi, feeling sorry for her son, said, "He really fears and dislikes drinking medicine."

"How did he catch a cold in the first place?"

"Maybe he kicked off his covers while sleeping at night." Liang Zhaoyi self-blamed, "It’s my carelessness."

"That little rascal’s restless sleeping isn’t your fault," the Emperor comforted Liang Zhaoyi, "Didn’t the Imperial Physician say his cold wasn’t serious? He’ll be fine after a couple of doses, you needn’t worry too much."

"I’m just afraid he’ll develop a fever." Previously, Yao Yao’s illness started mild, but later he did develop a fever.

"He won’t." The Emperor held Liang Zhaoyi’s hand, patting it gently and said, "This kid’s body is much stronger than it was months ago, it won’t be like last time."

Hearing the Emperor’s assurance, Liang Zhaoyi felt much at ease.

"Yes, Yao Yao will definitely be fine."

The Emperor still had matters to attend to and didn’t linger long at Kunde Hall. Before leaving, he went to check on Zhao Yao.

Zhao Yao was already asleep, yet his little face remained furrowed.

The Emperor touched Zhao Yao’s forehead and little face, assurance came seeing no fever.

Liang Zhaoyi, uneasy for Zhao Yao, stayed by his bedside, occasionally touching his forehead and little face.

The Fourth Prince, noticing Zhao Yao’s absence from the martial arts arena in the afternoon, thought his cold had worsened. After lessons, he hastily ran to Kunde Hall to visit.

Liang Zhaoyi informed the Fourth Prince that Zhao Yao had developed a fever in the afternoon, but it had subsided by now.

Hearing of Zhao Yao’s fever, the Fourth Prince’s heart was instantly gripped with anxiety.

"Zhaoyi madam, may I go in and see the Tenth Brother?"

"Go ahead, but he fell asleep not long ago, so you can’t talk to him."

"I’ll just look at Tenth Brother." Guided by Tong Xi, the Fourth Prince went to Zhao Yao’s chamber.

After the fever earlier, Zhao Yao’s little face remained flushed. However, his face wasn’t furrowed.

Carefully, the Fourth Prince reached out to touch Zhao Yao’s forehead, finding it cool, his heart, once in his throat, was set at ease. To avoid waking Zhao Yao, after watching for a while, the Fourth Prince quietly left.

"Zhaoyi madam, I’ll come to see Tenth Brother tomorrow."

"The Fourth Prince is thoughtful."

"Zhaoyi madam, this opens the Prince’s eyes."

"Fourth Prince, take care."

After leaving Kunde Hall, instead of returning straight to Xingde Palace, the Fourth Prince went to his mother’s quarters.

Consort Li was surprised to see the Fourth Prince visit her at that time.

"What brings you here?"

"Son just came from Kunde Hall after visiting Tenth Brother."

"How is the Tenth Prince, is it serious?" Consort Li had heard of Zhao Yao falling ill.

"He had a fever in the afternoon, but it has since subsided." The Fourth Prince continued, "Mother, I remember you have a four-hundred-year-old ginseng."

Upon hearing this, Consort Li knew what her son intended.

"You’re asking me for ginseng for the Tenth Prince?"

"Tenth Brother has poor health. I wanted to ask for some ginseng from Mother to help him recuperate." The Fourth Prince became heavy-hearted, recalling Zhao Yao’s severe illness months ago, "I don’t want Tenth Brother to fall ill again."

"You sure are concerned about the Tenth Prince." Consort Li knew her son’s character well. He was precocious, mature, and astute, rarely allowing anyone into his heart. Somehow, though, the Tenth Prince had managed to reach him, winning his care and affection.

"He’s my Tenth Brother, of course, I care."

Consort Li teasingly asked, "Why don’t I see you so concerned about the Fifth Prince and your other brothers?"

"They’re not Tenth Brother." In the Fourth Prince’s heart, Zhao Yao was the only one he considered a brother; others were not.

Consort Li instructed a servant to fetch two ounces of ginseng and then gave it to the Fourth Prince.

"If it’s not enough, come get more. But, first, you should consult the Imperial Physician to ensure the Tenth Prince can take ginseng."

"Thank you, Mother."

The Fourth Prince had Wei Mian deliver the ginseng to Kunde Hall. He stayed to chat with Consort Li for a while.

"The Emperor plans to chronicle history, have you heard?" Consort Li asked.

The Fourth Prince slightly nodded, "Yes, I heard."

"What’s your take on it?"

"It’s a good thing."

Consort Li gave the Fourth Prince a knowing look, "You have a love for reading and have gone through numerous historical texts, and I believe you could participate in the chronicle."

"Me?" The Fourth Prince was taken aback.

"Yes, I think you should give it a try." Consort Li said gently, "You won’t come of age for another two years. If you achieve something significant before your coming of age ceremony, it could be beneficial for your future ennoblement. This historical chronicle is a great opportunity, you shouldn’t miss it."

The Fourth Prince felt his mother’s words made sense, "Mother, I’m still young; Father might not agree."

"You are talented, meticulous, and earnest in your work, the Emperor will surely agree." Consort Li was confident in her son’s abilities, "Tomorrow, you should express your intention to participate in the chronicle to the Emperor."

"Yes." The Fourth Prince had always wanted to serve the court and the people, but due to his youth, he could only stay at Wende Hall studying. With the opportunity to serve the court and the people, he naturally would not pass it up.

"The Emperor said the idea to chronicle history was proposed by the Tenth Prince."

"Tenth Brother?" The Fourth Prince was surprised.

Consort Li shared with the Fourth Prince what she had heard in detail.

After hearing this, the Fourth Prince chuckled, "Who would have thought that an offhand remark by Tenth Brother would lead Father to decree a historical chronicle."