Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne
Chapter 88: The Emperor has many sons, one less won’t make a difference

Chapter 88: Chapter 88: The Emperor has many sons, one less won’t make a difference

In Fuyang Palace, the Noble Consort angrily pointed at the Third Prince’s nose and scolded: "Are you unaware that your father values the late Empress’s memorial day? Have you forgotten that we copy Buddhist scriptures for the late Empress at this time every year? During the late Empress’s memorial period, everyone is cautious not to anger the Emperor, yet you dare to order the capture and killing of birds. Are you out of your mind?"

The Third Prince weakly defended himself: "Wasn’t I just so angry that I forgot about it?"

"Such an important matter, and you can forget it? Was your brain eaten by a dog?" At this moment, the Noble Consort had lost all her usual grace and composure. "In a few months, you’ll be leaving the palace to be titled a prince, and yet, just before the late Empress’s memorial day, you capture and kill birds. Are you seeking to be exiled to the frontier by your father and never return to the capital?"

The Third Prince was frightened by the Noble Consort’s words and quickly shook his head, saying: "Of course I don’t want that."

"Luckily, the Emperor called you to scold you. If someone else had reported you to the Emperor, it wouldn’t just have been a scolding." The Noble Consort, with a stern face, said seriously, "I’ve always told you, before you reach adulthood and are titled, behave yourself, don’t do anything outrageous to anger the Emperor. But look at you, the year just started, and you almost caused a mess. How do you expect the Emperor to bestow you with a good fief like this?"

The Third Prince remained silent under the reprimand.

"Do you still want Yangzhou? With your current behavior, I’m afraid you won’t even get that small place, Qingzhou." Although the Noble Consort was also annoyed by the late Empress’s memorial day, she never dared to show it.

The Second Princess brought a cup of hot tea to the Noble Consort and sweetly smiled at her: "Mother, have some tea to calm your anger."

The Noble Consort accepted the teacup, took a few sips, and felt her anger subside a bit.

"Brother, what did you do to make those birds drop on you..."

The Second Princess’s words were cut off by the Noble Consort.

"Do not speak so crudely."

"Yes, Mother." The Second Princess stuck out her tongue, "Brother, what exactly did you do?"

The Third Prince, looking aggrieved, said: "I didn’t do anything."

"If you didn’t do anything, why are the sparrows and crows bullying you? You must have done something to provoke them, and they’re taking revenge on you." The Second Princess’s guess was spot on.

"Why would I bother with those birds when I have nothing better to do?" The Third Prince felt unlucky.

The Second Princess mocked: "It must be because you’re dressed too flamboyantly."

The Third Prince liked to wear bright-colored clothes, dressing himself like a peacock, extremely eye-catching.

"Brother, you should tone down your dressing style in the future."

The Third Prince glared at the Second Princess, "What do you know?" He believed his good looks allowed him to wear vibrant clothes. Ordinary people couldn’t pull off wearing such vivid colors.

"I think you want to be picked on again." The Second Princess teased knowingly.

"Are you really my sister?"

"Enough." The Noble Consort interrupted the siblings’ conversation and, solemnly advising the Third Prince, "From tonight, behave yourself, and don’t eat meat for dinner."

The Third Prince obediently agreed: "Yes."

"During the period of copying Buddhist scriptures, just focus on that and don’t do anything else." The Noble Consort was aware of her son’s nature and knew he preferred whipping people, "If your actions during the late Empress’s memorial period were known to the Emperor, you know what consequences you would face."

"Don’t worry mother, I won’t do anything else." Although the Third Prince was violent by nature, he wasn’t foolish.

"The Emperor has many sons, losing one of you changes nothing." The Noble Consort was clear that the Third Prince held no significant weight in the Emperor’s heart.

"Mother, what do you mean by that?" What does it mean to lose one changes nothing?

"It means having you as a son is no loss to the Emperor," the Noble Consort replied coldly, "But, without your princely title, you are nothing."

The Second Princess was also shocked by the Noble Consort’s words, "Mother, would father really be so heartless?"

The Noble Consort sneered: "If you don’t believe it, you can try."

The Third Prince and Second Princess: "..." They didn’t dare try.

The Noble Consort glanced at her son and daughter, and sighed, "I’ve always told you that for the Emperor, state affairs come first, while concubines and princes and princesses are less important."

She continued, "The Emperor is first an Emperor, then your father, understand?"

The Third Prince and Second Princess understood and nodded profusely: "Understood."

"Alright, it’s getting late. You should return to Xingde Palace." Although the Third Prince had not yet reached adulthood, he was old enough not to linger in the harem.

"Your son takes his leave."

The Noble Consort, still uneasy, reminded once more: "Behave yourself."

"Yes."

The Noble Consort waved his hand, indicating the Third Prince to leave.

"Mother, if father’s aware of the things brother has done, would he really disown him? After all, brother only beat some eunuchs and palace maids, not commoners."

"Your brother beating one or two wouldn’t be a problem, but he has beaten to death over twenty or thirty eunuchs and palace maids. If the Emperor knew, he would certainly be furious." The Noble Consort had some understanding of the Emperor’s temper, "Even if the Emperor doesn’t depose your brother from his princely title, he would still be imprisoned in the Zongzheng Temple."

"Fortunately, we’ve kept it hidden well. Father won’t find out."

The Noble Consort nodded slightly: "Your brother will leave the palace next year, and if he acts out then, it won’t be easily discovered." In her eyes, there was nothing wrong with her son’s penchant since the lives of eunuchs and palace maids didn’t count as real lives.

They stopped discussing the Third Prince’s issues and shifted the topic to the late Empress’s memorial day. The Noble Consort instructed people to bring out plain-colored clothes, and from the next day on, their clothes shouldn’t be too vivid.

In Kunde Hall, Zhao Yao was writing a letter to his second uncle. In the letter, he informed him of the impending flood in Jiangnan during the summer and advised him to write to their grandfather, cautioning him.

After finishing the letter, Zhao Yao asked Lai Fu to deliver it to Liang Run.

Upon receiving the letter, Liang Run was very surprised and couldn’t understand how Zhao Yao got such information. However, events Zhao Yao mentioned always turned out to be true, so he dared not doubt it.

"Master Lingyun, please wait a bit while I write a reply to Yao Yao." Liang Run knew Lingyun’s status and dared not be disrespectful.

Lingyun, standing haughtily on the table, glanced at Liang Run and nodded slightly.

Liang Run briefly summarized the recent events, carefully tied the letter to Lingyun’s leg, and off he went after pecking Liang Run’s head.

Every time Liang Run requested Lingyun’s help to send letters back to Zhao Yao, he would always receive a peck.

After Lingyun flew back to Kunde Hall, Zhao Yao quickly retrieved the letter. Of course, before reading it, he generously rewarded Lingyun.

In the letter, Liang Run mentioned that Ding Yuan improved a lot and that he was very studious, dedicating time daily to reading and writing. Uncle Zhang had been training Xiao Niu and Xiao Niu very well. Additionally, he planned to buy some land in the countryside outside the capital to build a house to shelter orphans without parents.

Liang Run noted he had his eyes on a few villages, the place being quite far from the capital, making the land cheap.

After reading, Zhao Yao handed it to Liang Zhaoyi.

"Second uncle wants to buy land."

After reading, Liang Zhaoyi nodded and said, "This land can be bought."

"They should buy a large piece." Zhao Yao hadn’t previously considered buying land, but now hearing Liang Run’s plan to buy, an idea immediately formed in his mind, "Then we can build a farm, raise some cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, and geese. Also, buy some fields, so it looks like a normal manor."

Liang Zhaoyi laughed, "That’s a good idea, but I’m afraid your second uncle might not have enough money to buy fields."

"Then, mother, you can give second uncle some money." Zhao Yao knew his mother had a lot of money.

"Let your second uncle go to the bank to withdraw." Liang Zhaoyi, when entering the capital, brought several chests of money, leaving some in the largest bank in the capital. "Your second uncle might find it not so easy to buy fields."

"Why not?"

"It’s easy to buy wasteland and barren mountains, but fields are not so easy." Liang Zhaoyi explained, "Fields in villages are recorded; buying them requires the local magistrate’s consent. Some magistrates who are incorruptible are easy to deal with. But others aren’t as easy to talk to."

Zhao Yao understood: "You need to give money."

"Even if money is given and fields are bought, there’s always a risk of having them reclaimed." Liang Zhaoyi considered it and said, "This buying land and fields matter should be discussed with your father."

"Why tell father?"

"With your father’s approval, it’ll be much easier for your second uncle to buy fields."

"Telling father would mean he’d know what second uncle is doing, wouldn’t it?" Zhao Yao wasn’t keen on letting the Emperor find out.

"Just tell your father it’s for building a manor, and he won’t suspect anything." Liang Zhaoyi smiled, "Do you think your second uncle buying fields outside the capital can be hidden from your father?"

Zhao Yao asked in surprise: "It can’t be hidden?"

"Your father already knows your second uncle is doing business in the capital."

"What?" Zhao Yao was astonished.