Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne
Chapter 80 Third Update

Chapter 80: Chapter 80 Third Update

"Lai Qian and the others are coming back, really?" It’s been a while since Lai Qian and Lai Xi left the capital. Zhao Yao thought Lai Qian and the others would take at least a month to return, but he didn’t expect them to be back so soon.

[It’s true, Lai Qian and the others are already on their way back.] Lai rubbed Zhao Yao’s cheek with its little head and said, [Lai Qian asked a friend to tell me.]

Zhao Yao tilted his head and rubbed Lai’s little head with his cheek.

"That’s great, Lai Qian and the others are finally coming back."

It’s strange, the matters in Yangzhou have been dragging on for several months, yet Father and the ministers have shown no reaction. There’s no news about Yangzhou in court either, as if everyone has forgotten about the rebellion in Yangzhou.

Although his maternal grandfather and the others wrote to say they’re fine and that there’s nothing unusual in Yangzhou, he still feels there’s something wrong with the rebellion.

He always feels that Yangzhou is only superficially calm, and that there might be hidden dangers beneath the surface. Moreover, the calmer the court’s attitude, the more it suggests that there’s a big problem in Yangzhou.

His intuition tells him that there’s a conspiracy in the Yangzhou rebellion, and it’s not a small scheme either.

Zhao Yao is not worried about the rebellion in Yangzhou but is concerned about the safety of his maternal grandfather’s family. If his maternal grandfather’s family weren’t in Yangzhou, he wouldn’t be bothered with its affairs.

[They should arrive in a few days.]

"When Lai Qian and the others return, I’ll treat you all to a feast."

Upon hearing about the feast, Lai immediately flapped its wings with joy: [Yao Yao, I want to eat fruits, snacks, insects, and more...]

Since knowing Zhao Yao, a glutton, these birds have also become gluttons. Every time they come to Zhao Yao, they would actively order what they want to eat. Zhao Yao is generous and usually satisfies them.

"No problem." Zhao Yao looked at Lai, and a thought suddenly occurred to him, a sly smile appearing at his lips. "Lai, I have something I need your help with."

[What is it?] Lai raised its right wing and gently patted Zhao Yao’s cheek, saying boldly, [Whatever it is, I’ll help you.]

Zhao Yao’s eyes darted around, surveying the surroundings to ensure no one else was present, then asked Lai, "Do you know my third brother?"

[We know all your brothers.] Lai tilted its little head, thought for a moment, and said, [Your third brother is the one who likes to carry a fan, right?]

"That’s right, it’s him." An insidious smile suddenly appeared on Zhao Yao’s face. "Lai, in the next few days, whenever you see my third brother, poop on him, preferably all over his head."

Tong Xi, following behind, was first shocked with his mouth agape, then felt his prince was really clever.

Lai thought it was something significant, but it turned out to be such a trivial matter.

[No problem, leave it to us.]

"My third brother is not a good person. Once you poop all over him, he’ll surely be very angry and might even order someone to catch you. Or he might order someone to shoot arrows at you." With his third brother’s temperament, he would really do something like that. "After pooping, quickly fly away and hide in the Cold Palace, so his people won’t find you."

[Alright.] Lai asked, [Yao Yao, has your third brother bullied you?]

"He hasn’t bullied me, but he bullies my people." Zhao Yao said in a low voice to Lai, "My third brother isn’t a good person; he enjoys beating people."

Lai exclaimed: [Then he really is a bad person. Don’t worry, we’ll help you teach him a lesson.]

Zhao Yao cupped Lai in his hands and kissed its little head.

"Lai, you are really too good."

Lai was very pleased by the kiss, raising its little head to gently peck at Zhao Yao’s chin with its tiny beak.

[Yao Yao, you are good too.]

It suddenly remembered something, [Yao Yao, do you really want to see that nasty third brother of yours suffer?]

"Of course, otherwise I wouldn’t have asked you to poop on his head."

Lai mimicked Zhao Yao’s earlier sly smile, [Then I’ll call the crows over.]

"Sure, I haven’t seen Lai Wu and the others in a long time." Mentioning Lai Wu and the others, Zhao Yao puffed his cheeks unhappily. "They never visit me in the palace."

[Yao Yao, the crows actually want to see you and want to play with you, but they are afraid they’ll bring you bad luck, so they don’t dare to visit.]

"I’ve already said I don’t mind, and I don’t believe crows bring bad luck," Zhao Yao said earnestly. "In many places, crows represent good luck. Besides, Lai Wu and the others haven’t brought me any bad luck."

Over a year ago, Zhao Yao saved an injured Lai Wu. Since then, he and Lai Wu became friends. However, Lai Wu felt being a crow would bring bad luck to people, so it didn’t dare to approach Zhao Yao easily.

In fact, Lai Wu would secretly visit the palace to see Zhao Yao every once in a while, but it hid and didn’t let Zhao Yao notice.

[I’ll talk to them and bring them to deal with your third brother.]

"Then I’ll trouble you."

Lai feigned arrogance and said: [I don’t help for free, you’ll have to give me good food.]

"Then I’ll give you plenty of apples and snacks."

[Then I’ll go find the crows now.] Lai, being an impetuous character, flew off immediately after speaking, gathering its brothers to find Lai Wu and the others.

Zhao Yao waved at Lai and the others: "Be careful."

He has many bird friends. They are very kind and often fly into the palace to visit him, sharing things they’ve seen and heard. They often help him gather information.

As they fly outside frequently, he worries about them being caught or shot. Previously, Lai Qian and Lai had both been injured; if not for meeting him, they might not have survived.

Zhao Yao frequently tells Lai and the others to fly higher during weekdays so they won’t get hurt. If they’re hungry, they can come directly to the palace to find him.

"Your Highness, are you really asking the sparrows..."

Zhao Yao interrupted Tong Xi, correcting him: "It’s Lai and the others."

"Alright, it’s Lai and the others. You’re really asking them to poop on the third prince’s head?"

"That’s right." Zhao Yao thought his idea was simply brilliant. "It’s to help Tong An vent his frustration."

"The third prince will definitely be super mad." Tong Xi imagined the third prince being pooped on by a bunch of sparrows and found it amusing. "I’ve heard that if you’re pooped on by a bird or get bird poop on you, it brings bad luck."

"Is there really such a saying?" Zhao Yao replied with a mischievous smile. "Then it’s a win-win!"

"Your Highness is wise." Tong Xi said, then suddenly realized something, quickly asking, "Your Highness, can Lai and the others understand what you’re saying?"

Zhao Yao gave Tong Xi a sideways glance and said, exasperated, "Of course they can understand, otherwise what were we just talking about?"

Tong Xi: "..." Your Highness, weren’t you just talking to yourself?

Whenever he saw Zhao Yao talking to the sparrows or to Lai Fu and the others, Tong Xi felt Zhao Yao was talking to himself.

"Do you think Lai and the others are as dumb as you?" Zhao Yao glanced disparagingly at Tong Xi. "Everything has a spirit; Lai and the others can understand human speech."

Tong Xi thought to himself, is that so?

Seeing Tong Xi’s disbelief, Zhao Yao couldn’t be bothered to explain further.

"Let’s go, hurry back to eat, I’m starving."

"Your Highness, slow down, be careful not to fall." Tong Xi hurried to catch up.

Zhao Yao hopped and skipped back to Kunde Hall. Lai Fu and Lai Cai, along with Lai Yun, came out to greet him.

Lai Fu and Lai Cai jumped straight into his arms. Lai Yun flew directly onto his shoulder.

[Yao Yao, there’s beef, lots of beef.] Lai Yun said excitedly, flapping its wings.

Lai Fu also said: [This morning, Mr. Sun sent some beef and other things.]

Lai Cai rubbed his face as it spoke: [The maid prepared the beef in the small kitchen, we could smell it, it was delicious.]

"Really?" Zhao Yao was full of surprise and delight.

[Really. Yao Yao, we also want to eat beef.]

"No problem, I’ll feed you later." Zhao Yao picked up Lai Cai, leading Lai Fu and with Lai Yun perched on his shoulder, running inside.

"Mother, I want to eat beef."

Zhao Yao ran to Liang Zhaoyi, forgetting to greet her, and quickly asked, "Mother, why did Mr. Sun send us beef?"

"It was a reward from your father," Liang Zhaoyi smiled and said. "Your father saw you eating beef last night and asked the Imperial Kitchen to give you all the leftover beef."

"A reward from Father?" Zhao Yao was filled with disbelief, "Would Father really be so kind?"

Father wouldn’t have put some drug in the beef, would he?

If he eats it, he’ll get diarrhea.

Or perhaps, Father has some scheme in mind.