Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne
Chapter 60: Sixty - s: He is Human

Chapter 60: Sixty Chapters: He is Human

"Slave... slave..." The eunuch’s body trembled even more violently. He couldn’t even utter the two words "slave" without stuttering.

"What did the Third Brother do to make you so terrified?" Zhao Yao squatted down, asking with concern and curiosity, "Did the Third Brother hit you?"

"No... no... third... third..."

Zhao Yao saw the cold sweat on the eunuch’s forehead and face, dripping down in large droplets.

"Did the Third Brother abuse you?"

The eunuch suddenly stood up and took a few hurried steps back, distancing himself from Zhao Yao. His face was pale, his eyes filled with fear, and his lips trembled: "Your... Your Highness, this slave still has matters to attend to, I’ll take my leave now." After saying this, he ran away from Zhao Yao as if escaping for his life.

With a bang, the eunuch, too rushed to notice his path, fell hard to the ground. Zhao Yao was about to go over and help him up, but he continued to stumble forward before disappearing from Zhao Yao’s sight.

"Your Highness, what happened to him?" Tong Xi asked in surprise and doubt, "Why is he so scared, as if Your Highness was going to eat him?"

"He’s not afraid of me; he’s afraid of the Third Brother." Zhao Yao said thoughtfully, "The Third Brother must have done something to him, otherwise he wouldn’t be shaking just hearing of him."

"The Third Prince surely hit him." Tong Xi thought of the terrified look on the eunuch’s face just now, and a trace of sympathy arose in his heart, "For us eunuchs, if we encounter a bad master, we are either beaten or scolded. The Third Prince is domineering, when he gets angry, he will definitely whip the serving eunuchs, and it’s possible he even takes pleasure in abusing eunuchs and palace maids. That eunuch just now must be frequently abused by the Third Prince."

In the palace, eunuchs like them have the least valued lives, being beaten and scolded is commonplace. Even if beaten to death, no one cares. In the eyes of many masters, they are not even considered human.

Fortunately, he met His Highness. His Highness is very kind to them, never scolding or beating them. In His Highness’ eyes, they are human.

"Is the Third Brother really such a person?" Zhao Yao said, rubbing his chin, "Though the Third Brother is somewhat domineering, he wouldn’t randomly abuse those serving him, right? If Father found out, the Third Brother would be in big trouble."

"Your Highness, knowing someone’s face doesn’t mean you know their heart." Tong Xi, who had always disliked the high-and-mighty Third Prince and others, remarked that in their eyes, only those from noble families were considered people, while others were not. "The Third Prince might possibly be someone who privately takes pleasure in tormenting eunuchs or palace maids."

"Is the Third Brother really that perverted?" The word "perverted" was something Zhao Yao learned from the Zhao Yao in his dreams.

"Your Highness, what does perverted mean?"

"It means less than a beast."

"Then the Third Prince must be perverted." Tong Xi said very firmly.

"Your Highness, should I go investigate?"

"Investigate the Third Brother?"

Tong Xi nodded: "Investigate whether the Third Prince is perverted."

"Tong Xi, are you tired of living?"

Tong Xi, not immediately understanding, said blankly: "Your Highness, I haven’t lived enough, how could I be tired of living?"

"Investigating the Third Brother is courting death." Zhao Yao gave Tong Xi a sideways glance and said irritably, "Can we provoke the Third Brother?"

Hearing Zhao Yao say this, Tong Xi realized that the Third Prince was not someone they could provoke.

"Then Your Highness, what about the eunuch just now?"

"What does he have to do with us, why should we care?" Although Zhao Yao was curious about that eunuch’s experience, he wouldn’t delve into it, "He’s the Third Brother’s person, not mine. If you were bullied by the Third Brother, I would certainly stand up for you." He’s not so magnanimous as to help everyone. He’s not a Bodhisattva who saves the suffering and needy.

"Your Highness is right." Tong Xi, not usually a busybody, only for a moment, felt empathetic, because before meeting Zhao Yao, he was often bullied too. The ones who bullied him were not masters, but eunuchs.

In the palace, not only do masters torment eunuchs, but even eunuchs bully eunuchs. Tong Xi met Zhao Yao on the day he was about to die. At that time, he was pinned to the ground and beaten by several eunuchs, leaving him with only one breath. If it weren’t for Zhao Yao finding him and taking him back to Kunde Hall, he would have died.

"I know you’re sympathetic to him, and there’s nothing wrong with sympathy, it shows you’re still human. But before you help others out of sympathy, you need to see if you have the capability to help." Zhao Yao said seriously, "Also, ensure your own safety when helping others; don’t sacrifice yourself to help others."

Hearing this, Tong Xi felt a slight twinge in his nose and quickly nodded, saying: "This slave remembers Your Highness’ words." In His Highness’ heart, he is human.

"Let’s go back." The Third Brother is really not someone they can provoke.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Zhao Yao suddenly remembered something important and hurriedly said: "Let’s hurry back, I have something important to do." With that said, he started running.

"Your Highness, it’s dark, watch your step and be careful not to fall." Tong Xi lifted the lantern and hurriedly chased after him.

In Kunde Hall, Liang Zhaoyi and Yu Meiren were embroidering. The Fifth Princess was earnestly learning from them.

"Mother, Second Mother, Third Mother, Fifth Sister, I’m back." Zhao Yao raised his hands, then lowered them, bowing at ninety degrees to Liang Zhaoyi and others. "Mother, I have something to do, I’ll go to the study first." After saying this, he disappeared from their sight like a gust of wind.

Yu Meiren smiled and said: "Yao Yao, what’s the rush?"

Liang Zhaoyi smiled and said: "Ignore him."

Pan Cairen regrettably said: "I wanted to ask Yao Yao what happened when he went to meet Prince Dai."

The Fifth Princess put down her needlework and said: "I’ll go call the Tenth Brother to tell us about it."

As she stood up, she was pulled back down by Yu Meiren.

"Stay put and finish your embroidery."

"Mother, I want to call the Tenth Brother..."

"Yao Yao said he has matters to attend to, let’s not disturb him." Yu Meiren said to the Fifth Princess sternly, "Mind your embroidery."

The Fifth Princess pouted and unwillingly continued her embroidery.

In the study, Zhao Yao held a quill and drew on the rice paper, sketching the stirrups he saw in his dream.

Tong Xi brought a cup of freshly brewed tea and handed it to Zhao Yao.

"Your Highness, have a sip of tea first."

"I’ll drink it later."

"Your Highness, why are you drawing iron loops?" Tong Xi asked curiously, "Is the important matter you mentioned drawing iron loops?"

Zhao Yao just finished drawing a stirrup. He put down the quill, took the teacup from Tong Xi’s hand, took a few sips, and then said: "Let me tell you, this is not just an ordinary iron loop."

"But, it looks just like a regular iron loop."

Zhao Yao finished his tea and continued drawing another stirrup. Once he finished, he said to Tong Xi once again: "Do you know where I want to use this pair of iron loops?"

"Your Highness, do you plan to use them as a weapon?" A handheld weapon.

Zhao Yao said: "... No, I want to use it on a horse."

"On a horse?" Tong Xi was puzzled, and then he guessed, "Your Highness, are you going to hang it on the horse’s neck?"

"Of course not, you’ll know in a few days." Zhao Yao handed the finished drawing of the stirrup to Tong Xi, instructing him: "Go to the Office of Crafts tomorrow, and have them make this pair of iron loops." Also, have them match this pair with a sturdy strap."

Tong Xi carefully folded the drawing and placed it in his chest.

"Your Highness, how long should the strap be, how many do we need?"

"For now just one strap, about five feet long." If the strap was too long, he could always cut it shorter.

"Your Highness, should we make just one pair of iron loops or more?"

"Start with one pair." Zhao Yao said, "If we make too many, the Office of Crafts will definitely ask me to get Father’s permission." Iron is precious and not allowed for indiscriminate use.

"After sending Your Highness to Wende Hall tomorrow morning, I’ll go to the Office of Crafts." Tong Xi said, "Just making one pair of iron loops, that would be quickly done."

"Have them done by noon, that way after class, I can use them." Zhao Yao stood up and walked out of the study, "Let’s find Mother and them, and talk about picking up the Second Brother."

When Liang Zhaoyi and the others saw Zhao Yao come over so quickly, they promptly asked him: "Are you done with your work?"

"Yes, I’m done. I’ll tell you about the events of picking up the Second Brother this afternoon."

"Tell us quickly." The Fifth Princess couldn’t wait and urged.

Liang Zhaoyi and Yu Meiren set aside their needlework, looking attentive and all ears.

Zhao Yao recounted what happened when they left the palace in great detail to Liang Zhaoyi and the others.

After hearing it, Liang Zhaoyi and the others were all shocked.

Seeing that it was getting late, Liang Zhaoyi urged Yu Meiren and the others to go back and rest, and reminded them not to talk about what they had just heard outside.

Yu Meiren and the others quickly assured that they absolutely would not speak of it.

After Yu Meiren and the others left, Liang Zhaoyi hurriedly asked Zhao Yao: "What were you doing in the study just now?"

"Mother, don’t tell you yet, I’ll tell you tomorrow." Zhao Yao laughed slyly, "It’s a good thing."

Seeing her son behave so mysteriously, Liang Zhaoyi felt a sense of anticipation and smiled, saying: "Alright, Mother will wait for your good thing tomorrow."

Tong Xi, standing by, silently grumbled to himself, wondering how two iron loops could be a good thing.

The next day, after Tong Xi sent Zhao Yao to Wende Hall, he turned and went to the Office of Crafts.

He handed the drawing to the craftsmen there, "The Tenth Highness needs this pair of iron loops by noon, can you have them ready by noon?"

The craftsman said: "I can have it ready for you immediately."

Before noon, the craftsman finished the iron loops Zhao Yao needed and matched them with a sturdy strap as Zhao Yao instructed.

After his midday lesson, Zhao Yao didn’t hurry back to Kunde Hall but first went to the stables to bring Hei Yu to Kunde Hall. Lie Huo wanted to follow, but Zhao Yao refused, which made Lie Huo very upset.