Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1052: Chapter 109: The Future Princess Han’s Surprising Origins

He Lianfang watched Zhao Yao’s retreating figure, a look of helplessness and affection he himself didn’t realize showing in his eyes.

After Zhao Yao ran out of the study, he saw someone from the Dark Guard Camp coming to find him. He pulled them into another room, "Did you find out?"

The person from the Dark Guard Camp replied respectfully, "We did."

Zhao Yao asked, "Is it Prime Minister He, or Grandmaster Liu, or perhaps one of the four Great Generals?"

"None of them, Your Highness."

"None of them?" Zhao Yao wore a face of disbelief, "Really, how is that possible?"

The person from the Dark Guard Camp said, "Your Highness, your future Princess Han comes from commoner origins."

"What did you say?" Zhao Yao doubted he’d heard correctly, "Say that again."

"Your Highness, your future bride is a commoner, a villager from Xiao Village outside the capital."

"What?" Zhao Yao heard it clearly this time, but he still had an expression of disbelief, "A Xiao Village villager?"

"Your Highness, your future bride’s name is..." The person from the Dark Guard Camp reported in detail everything they had investigated to Zhao Yao.

After listening, Zhao Yao’s expression shifted from shock to peculiar.

"What’s going on?" He had thought his father would arrange a future bride for him of remarkable background, perhaps from the Prime Minister, Grandmaster Liu, or one of the four Great Generals’ families. At the very least, she’d be the daughter of a minister. He never calculated that his future bride would be a commoner. "How could it be a commoner?"

The person from the Dark Guard Camp was also puzzled, "Your Highness, she is indeed a commoner."

"This..." Zhao Yao was dazed, "What’s father doing here?" Isn’t he the one most favored by his father and intended to inherit the throne? Why would his future bride be a commoner? Could it be that he was mistaken, and his father actually favors his fourth brother?

"Your Highness, I don’t understand," the person from the Dark Guard Camp remarked, "However, your future bride has been learning various etiquettes, along with music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and embroidery over the years."

"It’s normal for father to send people to teach her these things since she’s to be a Princess Han in the future. If she knows nothing of etiquette, it would disgrace the Imperial Family." What is father planning?

"Your Highness, your future bride has also learned farming, medicine, arithmetic, and other skills."

"What? Why have her learn these?" Zhao Yao looked confused, "Do daughters of noble families learn these things too?" He wasn’t sure what noble maidens learned before marrying.

The person from the Dark Guard Camp replied, "Daughters from noble families likely don’t learn farming."

"No, my future bride is a commoner, right? Why have her learn farming?" The more Zhao Yao listened, the more confused he became.

"Your Highness, your future bride has been learning various things for eight years."

"Wait, what? Eight years?" Zhao Yao said in shock, "Eight years ago, how old was she?"

"Your future bride began learning various things at seven."

Zhao Yao exclaimed, "So eight years ago, even nine years ago, father had already decided on a bride for me?!"

"Your Highness, your future bride entered the palace two years ago and is now a female official in the Imperial Palace Bureau."

Zhao Yao’s eyes widened: "!!!!!!"

The person from the Dark Guard Camp continued, "However, just last month, your future bride left the palace and returned home, preparing for marriage."

Zhao Yao: "..."

After delivering this information, the person saw Zhao Yao’s stupefied expression and almost couldn’t help but laugh.

After a while, Zhao Yao finally came to his senses, "Does my mother know my future bride is a commoner?"

"Lady Liang does not know, the Emperor hasn’t told anyone."

Zhao Yao: "Father even kept it from Mother?!"

"Even your future bride’s family doesn’t know she’ll be marrying you."

Zhao Yao exclaimed, "What?" Damn, what kind of mess is father making. Makes no sense, utterly no sense. "Is my future bride pretty?" Finding out she was a commoner had indeed shocked and confused him, but he didn’t despise her for it. Being a commoner was not bad at all, but her appearance was very important.

Hearing Zhao Yao’s question, the person from the Dark Guard Camp paused, then smiled gently, "Rest assured, Your Highness, your future bride is good-looking."

"That’s good." Zhao Yao asked the person from the Dark Guard Camp, "Why do you think father arranged for me to have a commoner bride?"

"I don’t know, but the Emperor must have his reasons for doing so."

Zhao Yao disdainfully remarked, "I don’t see any noble intention, seems more like he’s up to no good." Knowing his father’s character, he’d definitely have some devious plan in mind. Zhao Yao always felt his father was setting him up.

The person from the Dark Guard Camp dared not speak ill of the Emperor, choosing to stay silent.

"Can’t understand, really can’t understand." Is father planning to make it clear that he’s not the favored Prince Han, letting his royal brothers think he’s out of the race? If that’s the case, it’d be fine. But his father and second uncle have secretly been ensuring he ascends the throne.

"Your Highness, should I have someone continue observing your future bride?"

"Continue observing." No matter what father is plotting, he needs to understand his future bride, or when they get married, being clueless would be too awkward. "Keep matters concerning the future Princess Han confidential, tell no one, not even second uncle."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Zhao Yao waved his hand, dismissing the person from the Dark Guard Camp. He rubbed his forehead and sighed: Father, you old fool, what exactly are you up to?