Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne
Chapter 84: First Update

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: First Update

On the way to Chengguang Hall, the Fourth Prince held Zhao Yao’s hand and reminded him, "Tenth brother, animals are not very clean. Be careful when you’re close to them." Many cats, dogs, and birds carry diseases, and the Fourth Prince was worried that Zhao Yao would get too close to them and catch something.

"Fourth Brother, I understand." Zhao Yao knew in his heart that the Fourth Prince was only reminding him out of concern about getting close to the animals.

"Third Brother and Fifth Brother were teased by your bird friends. They will definitely not spare your bird friends. You should let your bird friends stay away from the Imperial Palace for a while." The Fourth Prince knew that Zhao Yao loved small animals and always treated them kindly. He remembered a year ago, when the Ninth Prince injured a cat with a stone, and when the Tenth Prince saw it, he was so angry he started a fight with the Ninth Prince. It was the first time he had seen the Tenth Prince fight. Afterward, the Tenth Prince cried very sadly while holding the injured cat.

The Fourth Prince saw Zhao Yao getting close to those birds and thought that if those birds were caught by the Third Prince and the others, Zhao Yao would definitely be very sad.

Zhao Yao nodded and said, "I’ve already told them to stay far away from the Imperial Palace." Thinking of the Third Prince’s angry and twisted expression just now, Zhao Yao thought that this was probably the true face of the Third Prince. "Fourth Brother, I find the Third Brother a bit scary."

The Fourth Prince thought Zhao Yao had been scared by the Third Prince’s angry outburst, so he gently comforted him, "Stay away from Third Brother and the others in the future." As for the Third and Fifth Princes, the Fourth Prince did not like them.

"Fourth Brother, you should also stay away from them." Fourth Brother is so good, he didn’t want Fourth Brother to be bullied by the Third Brother and others in the future.

The Fourth Prince nodded lightly, "Okay, we’ll stay away from them together."

Zhao Yao shook the Fourth Prince’s hand gently.

The Fourth Prince cooperated with him and shook hands together.

A moment later, the brothers arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Study.

The Fourth Prince let go of Zhao Yao’s hand and gently patted him on the back, "Go see Father."

Zhao Yao took a few steps then saw that the Fourth Prince hadn’t followed, so he walked back.

"Fourth Brother, aren’t you going in with me?"

"I have nothing to discuss with Father, you can go in alone to thank him."

Earlier, Zhao Yao was afraid to come alone to the Imperial Study to thank the Emperor, so the Fourth Prince accompanied him here.

"Fourth Brother, I’m afraid to go in alone." Zhao Yao was scared to face the Emperor by himself, fearing being bullied by him. "Fourth Brother, come with me. If you’re there, Father won’t bully me." He said as he tugged on the Fourth Prince’s sleeve and acted coyly.

"If Father finds out you only dare to see him with me, he’ll think you’re cowardly and punish you again." The Fourth Prince, like the Eighth Prince, felt sorry that Zhao Yao was not favored. Now that Zhao Yao had a chance to be alone with the Emperor, the Fourth Prince naturally didn’t want to interrupt. "You are going to thank Father; he won’t bully you."

"Fourth Brother, can’t you really go in with me?" Zhao Yao looked at the Fourth Prince pitifully.

The Fourth Prince lightly patted Zhao Yao’s shoulder, "I have other matters, so I won’t go in with you." After speaking, he turned and left.

Zhao Yao couldn’t believe that the Fourth Prince left so "cold-heartedly," his eyes widened in shock, "Fourth Brother..."

The Fourth Prince didn’t look back.

Zhao Yao stared incredulously at the retreating back of the Fourth Prince and said, "Fourth Brother just left like that?"

At this moment, Sun Doudou approached, respectfully saluting Zhao Yao, "Servant greets the Tenth Prince."

"Little Mr. Sun, is Father in the Imperial Study?" Zhao Yao asked, "Is Father busy?"

Sun Doudou was Sun Kui’s disciple, and in the palace, people referred to Sun Kui as "Mr. Sun" and called him "Little Mr. Sun."

"His Majesty was just resting; I’ll help you inform him now."

"Thank you."

"You’re welcome, Your Highness," Sun Doudou said compliantly, "Your Highness, please wait at the door."

Zhao Yao nodded obediently and stood at the entrance waiting.

Just then, Lingyun flew out of the Imperial Study, passing right in front of Sun Doudou, startling him and causing him to almost fall backward.

Seeing Lingyun fly towards Zhao Yao, Sun Doudou worried Zhao Yao might get injured by Lingyun, and was preparing to help, only to witness the usually fierce Lingyun being cuddled obediently by the Tenth Prince.

Lingyun rubbed its head against Zhao Yao’s little face, softly cooing, sounding as if it was acting coquettishly.

Sun Doudou gaped, unable to believe that the revered Lingyun was being held so tamely.

Was this Sea Eagle constantly nuzzling the Tenth Prince’s face really Lingyun?

Could he be mistaken?

Sun Doudou blinked and opened his eyes again, still seeing the reverent Lingyun snuggling against the Tenth Prince’s face.

Zhao Yao held Lai Fu for a while before complaining that Lai Fu felt heavy, "Lai Fu, have you gotten fat again? I can’t hold you anymore."

Lingyun refused to admit it was gaining weight, [It’s because you haven’t held me lately that I feel heavy. If you held me every day, I wouldn’t feel heavy.]

"Is that so?" Zhao Yao, with sore arms, crouched down and placed Lingyun back on the ground, "I can’t hold you anymore; better stay on the ground."

Lingyun, being put down, appeared slightly displeased, pecking lightly at Zhao Yao’s leg.

Sun Doudou was dumbfounded watching Zhao Yao’s interaction with Lingyun and momentarily forgot to inform the Emperor. It wasn’t until Zhao Yao gave him a glance that he came back to his senses and hurried into the Imperial Study.

He had just bowed and was preparing to report that Zhao Yao was seeking an audience when he heard the Emperor say, "Let him in."

Huh?

Sun Doudou was momentarily taken aback, and after a while he came to his senses, then stepped out of the Imperial Study.

"Your Highness, the Emperor invites you in."

"Okay."

Lingyun followed obediently at Zhao Yao’s feet, entering the Imperial Study with him.

Sun Doudou, on the side, watched in shock as Lingyun followed Zhao Yao, crying out internally: Is this really Lingyun the Great? Could it be some strange thing pretending?

As Zhao Yao crossed the threshold, Lingyun skillfully jumped over it, then continued to waddle along at Zhao Yao’s side.

Sun Kui saw from a distance how Lingyun stuck closely to Zhao Yao’s feet like a little puppy, also stood in stunned amazement.

The Emperor, however, remained very calm. When Lingyun flew out of the Imperial Study earlier, the Emperor already knew it meant Zhao Yao had arrived.

"This son greets Father." Zhao Yao obediently bowed to the Emperor.

"Rise."

"Thank you, Father."

The Emperor crossed his hands under his chin and looked at Zhao Yao with interest, "What brings the Tenth Prince to my Imperial Study today?"

Zhao Yao: "..." Father was being sarcastic again.

"East wind," Zhao Yao said puffing his cheeks.

Hearing Zhao Yao’s response, Sun Kui almost couldn’t hold back his laughter.

The Tenth Prince was really amusing, no wonder His Majesty liked to tease him.

The Emperor was a bit surprised; he didn’t expect Zhao Yao to answer that way.

"Why the east wind?" The little tenth always had astonishing things to say.

"Because purple air comes from the east." Zhao Yao said earnestly, "Father, since you are the Emperor, shouldn’t it be the east wind?"

"Hahaha..." The Emperor was amused by Zhao Yao’s words.

Zhao Yao thought, what’s so funny about that?

"Father, this son is here to thank you for the beef you gifted me."

The Emperor waved Zhao Yao over, "Come here."

Zhao Yao’s heart skipped a beat and he reluctantly walked up to the Emperor. As soon as he approached, the Emperor pinched his small face hard.

He just knew it!

The Emperor pinched his little son’s face, shaking it vigorously.

Zhao Yao’s fair little face immediately turned red from the pinching.

Ouch...

Father always pinched his face so hard.

Zhao Yao, unable to bear the pain, glared angrily at the Emperor, "Father, that hurts." His face wasn’t dough.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor didn’t let go, but instead started rubbing Zhao Yao’s small face.

Zhao Yao’s little face was kneaded into various shapes.

He felt as if a layer of skin was being rubbed off his face.

He tried to pull the Emperor’s hand away with no success. Frustrated, he resorted to grabbing the Emperor’s face. But instead of the face, he caught the Emperor’s mouth and beard.

The Emperor’s beard was too short for Zhao Yao to get a good grip on, so he had to retaliate by pulling the Emperor’s lips hard.

Sun Kui was astonished, watching the Emperor and his son pinch and pull at each other’s faces, wondering what on earth they were doing.

Zhao Yao’s fingers reached into the Emperor’s mouth and the Emperor mischievously bit down, making him cry out in pain.

Angry, he pulled the Emperor’s lower lip very hard, stretching it a lot.

The Emperor, feeling some pain from the pulling, pinched Zhao Yao’s nose.

Zhao Yao’s nose suddenly couldn’t breathe, forcing him to open his mouth wide to breathe.

"Ouch... Father, it hurts..." His nose felt like it was being pulled off.

Father was truly despicable!

He knew Father would bully him!

The Emperor, pinching Zhao Yao’s nose, still deliberately moved it side to side.

Seeing that the Emperor wasn’t letting go, Zhao Yao started crying in frustration.

Sun Kui, watching, felt a pang just seeing the Emperor finally release his grip.

Noticing his youngest son shedding golden beans, the Emperor let go, then poked Zhao Yao’s forehead with some disdain, "What are you crying for?"

Zhao Yao angrily shouted, "It hurts, it hurts a lot... boohoo..." crying very aggrievedly, "Father, you’re bullying me... boohoo..." His nose hurt so much, his face ached.

It was only then that the Emperor noticed how his youngest son’s nose and face had turned red from his handling. He reached out to wipe Zhao Yao’s tears away.

His hand was rough, calloused from years of battle. When he wiped, he didn’t control his strength, making Zhao Yao’s tender little face hurt even more.

"What are you crying for? Can’t tolerate this little pain, how could I have such a delicate son?"

Clearly, Father hurt him, and yet he blamed Zhao Yao for being fragile.

Zhao Yao was furious, retorting, "How could I have such a mean father?"