Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1031: Chapter 100: Bargaining with the Tiger (Part 3)

In order to establish great merit, Song Dachuan not only concealed the fact that Liang Dingyuan was a descendant of the Pei Family, but also hid from Zhao Yao the existence of Southern Wei people.

For safety’s sake, Song Dachuan even specially sent people to keep an eye on Duan Jiangcheng. He was afraid Duan Jiangcheng, upon hearing about Liang Dingyuan, would send someone to investigate him. Fortunately, Duan Jiangcheng did not pay attention to Liang Dingyuan’s existence, which made him increasingly feel that God was helping him.

After learning Liang Dingyuan had lost his childhood memories, Song Dachuan dispatched people to find prescriptions and methods to restore memories, as well as doctors who could treat amnesia.

Zhao Yao, understanding Song Dachuan’s actions, came up with an idea. He could frame Duan Jiangcheng for Song Dachuan’s death, intensifying the internal conflict among the Southern Wei. However, before killing Song Dachuan, he first wanted to see if he could obtain information about the Southern Wei from Song Dachuan. As for Duan Jiangcheng, he must also have someone watching him.

That evening, Hidden Guard Alpha and the others captured Song Dachuan alive.

Song Dachuan woke up from a coma to find himself in a jail cell, which alarmed him greatly. But what horrified him more was that Prince Han was standing right in front of him.

Seeing Song Dachuan awake, Zhao Yao did not beat around the bush, directly saying, "Being able to find out that Dingyuan is a descendant of the Pei Family, Boss Song, you’ve really got some skills."

Receiving praise from Zhao Yao, Song Dachuan was not happy; instead, he grew increasingly wary of him.

"What do you want to do?"

"This is a question I should be asking you—what do you want to do?"

Song Dachuan stared at Zhao Yao defensively, without speaking.

"You didn’t spread the word that Dingyuan is a Pei Family descendant; you want to find the Pei Family’s treasure through Dingyuan and then seek that object."

Hearing this, Song Dachuan’s eyes widened in shock, filled with disbelief.

He hadn’t expected Prince Han to know about the Pei Family’s treasure, and even more surprising to him was that Prince Han also knew about that object’s existence! How much did he really know?!

Seeing through Song Dachuan’s thoughts, Zhao Yao smiled slightly and kindly told him, "I know quite a lot. Your Lord is your leader, and you have been helping him seize the throne to revive the Southern Wei."

Song Dachuan exclaimed, "How did you know that?" Could the Lord have told Prince Han? Impossible, the Lord would never tell Prince Han.

"Don’t worry about how I know." Zhao Yao said, smiling, "I’ll kindly tell you, when Dingyuan was young, he was very seriously ill, completely losing childhood memories; he doesn’t remember who he is, nor does he know who his parents are. I gave him his name; it was also me who told him his surname is Pei."

Song Dachuan didn’t speak, his face icy.

"I have tried every possible way. I have invited renowned doctors, yet Dingyuan’s memory hasn’t recovered." Zhao Yao said, "Doctors all say that the severe illness Dingyuan had in childhood merely made him lose his memory without damaging his brain; he is lucky and blessed. You can’t possibly learn the Pei Family treasure’s whereabouts through Dingyuan."

Song Dachuan didn’t believe Zhao Yao’s words. He thought there must be a way to restore Liang Dingyuan’s memory.

"I wonder if you know that Dingyuan’s grandfather indeed escaped a disaster by luck back then, but his grandfather was sent to the Daoist temple due to a frail body since childhood. Before any incident happened to the Pei Family, his grandfather was always at the temple, never having returned to the Pei Family. What do you think are the chances his grandfather knew about the Pei Family’s treasure?" Zhao Yao continued, "If Dingyuan’s family really knew the treasure’s location, their family wouldn’t have become so destitute."

Song Dachuan wasn’t a fool, and despite not wanting to admit it, he had to concede that Prince Han had a point.

"Your dream has fallen through."

Song Dachuan glared at Zhao Yao and asked once more, "What do you want to do?"

"I am very curious about you Southern Wei people; inviting you over is to know about your affairs."

Song Dachuan thought: So it’s true.

"Haven’t you investigated us? Don’t you know our matters?"

"I know quite a lot, but certainly not as much as you do." Zhao Yao said, lightly fanning himself with a folding fan. At this moment, it was the peak of Lingnan heat, and though the cellar was damp and cold, it was still oppressively hot.

Song Dachuan said nothing and scoffed mockingly at Zhao Yao.

"I want to know your matters mainly to ensure you won’t harm my leader."

"How could we possibly harm the Lord, it’s you who wants to harm the Lord." Song Dachuan accused Zhao Yao with anger, "You are conspiring against the Lord."

"Hahahaha, this is the funniest joke I’ve heard." Zhao Yao thought, if he wanted to harm his leader, the leader would have been dead long ago. "You Southern Wei people are indeed dissatisfied with me and want to eliminate me."

Song Dachuan said angrily, "You pose the greatest threat to the Lord. One day, you will harm the Lord; you must die!"

"I see you can’t bear that in the leader’s heart, I, being his brother, am more important than you Southern Wei people."

Upon hearing this, Song Dachuan sneered, "To the Lord, naturally we are the most important. What are you?"

Zhao Yao was too lazy to argue this matter with Song Dachuan, pulling the topic back.

"I know you won’t obediently tell me your matters, so I must use some tactics."

Song Dachuan showed disdain for coercion under torture, "Even if you beat me to death, I won’t tell you."

"I won’t let you die." Zhao Yao said very kindly, "I will make you wish you were dead!"

Song Dachuan was terrified by Zhao Yao’s kind smile, and deep inside he involuntarily felt a chilling sense of dread.

Zhao Yao stood up and had Song Dachuan taken away.

Song Dachuan was prepared for coercion under torture; he didn’t expect he would simply be locked in a room. At first, he thought nothing of it, considering it just dark, but after two days, he was breaking down. He felt like he was about to go insane.

In the dark room, he shouted and clamored, saying he was willing to disclose anything.

When Zhao Yao saw Song Dachuan again, he looked like a dying fish. Though seemingly on the brink of madness, he hadn’t truly lost it, retaining some sanity. Without hiding anything, he told Zhao Yao everything he knew.

After listening to Song Dachuan, Zhao Yao felt the Southern Wei people had to die. Moreover, the leader was really bargaining with the devil. If the leader truly succeeded in the future, could he rid himself of the Southern Wei people?