Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1063: Chapter 114: Why Is Grand Commandant Zheng Here? (2)

"Young man, what’s your surname? Do you live in Swamp Prefecture?" Zheng Xilin asked kindly, "Have you been educated?"

Upon hearing Zheng Xilin’s questions, Zhao Yao thought to himself: Grand Commandant Zheng is even better at acting than he is.

"Sir, my surname is Liang, and I currently live in Swamp Prefecture." Zhao Yao said without changing his expression, "I don’t like studying, so I haven’t studied much." He wasn’t lying about this; he never really enjoyed studying from a young age. "May I ask your surname, sir? Judging by your accent, you don’t sound like you’re from Swamp Prefecture. Are you from elsewhere?"

"My surname is Lin. I’m indeed not from Swamp Prefecture. My son works here, and I’ve come to visit him."

Zhao Yao asked casually, "What do you think of Swamp Prefecture?"

"It’s a nice place. After coming here, I don’t want to leave." Over the past few months, Zheng Xilin had traveled all over Lingnan and found it to be a great place, with Swamp Prefecture being particularly nice. "The scenery and the food here are nice." Before, no one realized Swamp Prefecture was a good place, but His Highness saw its potential at a glance. In just a year, His Highness had brought tremendous changes to Swamp Prefecture, something ordinary people couldn’t achieve. "It’s a wonderful place to spend one’s later years."

What does he mean? Is he planning to stay in Swamp Prefecture without leaving? Is he kidding?

No way, his little Swamp Prefecture can’t accommodate a big shot like Grand Commandant Zheng.

"Swamp Prefecture is indeed a nice place, but it’s not suitable for retirement." He needed to find a way to make this big shot leave, otherwise, it would be troublesome for him as Prince Han. "The place is full of miasma, snakes, insects, rats, and ants are abundant, and most importantly, it’s hot and humid year-round, not suitable for retirement."

"I see the elderly here are doing well; there’s nothing wrong,"

"You probably don’t know, sir, but the elderly in Swamp Prefecture don’t live very long. Most pass away by their forties or fifties." Zhao Yao said earnestly, "I think this place is more suitable for young people to work hard, not for elders to retire."

If he hadn’t known that Prince Han didn’t recognize him, he would have thought Prince Han was deliberately trying to drive him away.

"My son is here; I don’t want to be separated from him."

This reason truly left Zhao Yao with nothing to say. It’s not like he could ask Zheng Qian to leave too. Zheng Qian was his capable right-hand man; he couldn’t do without him.

"I plan to stay here, to be close to my son."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao shouted inwardly: Really? Are you really planning to stay in Swamp Prefecture, sir?

This wasn’t good news. Once he returned, he would call Zheng Qian over and question him thoroughly. If Grand Commandant Zheng really intended to stay in Swamp Prefecture, then he would have Zheng Qian find a way to send his father away.

He couldn’t let Grand Commandant Zheng stay in Swamp Prefecture, or it would mean big trouble for him!

"Being close to your son is good." Zhao Yao said, against his conscience. As soon as he finished speaking, the fishing hook caught another fish, and this time it was a big one.

Zheng Xilin saw this scene, his expression very complicated.

Tong Xi quickly took it down, weighing it in his hand.

"Young master, this fish is at least three or four pounds."

Zhao Yao laughed and said, "So fat, let’s have the kitchen make sour fish soup tonight."

Tong Xi agreed, "Sour fish soup sounds great. After you catch a few more, let’s have them grilled."

"No problem." Zhao Yao was very confident in his fishing luck.

"Young Liang, judging by your accent, are you from the capital?" Zheng Xilin inquired, "I once visited the capital and lived there for a while."

Upon hearing Zheng Xilin mention the capital, Zhao Yao became secretly wary.

"I am indeed from the capital." His capital accent was so strong, it was hard to deny he wasn’t from the capital if he tried.

"Young Liang, which do you think is better, the capital or Swamp Prefecture?"

"I think Swamp Prefecture is better than the capital; I like Swamp Prefecture."

"Oh?" Zheng Xilin asked with interest, "Why do you think Swamp Prefecture is better than the capital?"

"It just is."

"What parts of Swamp Prefecture do you think are better than the capital?"

Zhao Yao thought to himself: What’s Grand Commandant Zheng’s purpose in asking me this?

"As you mentioned before, the scenery here is better than the capital’s, and the food is better too. In Swamp Prefecture, you can enjoy fruits not available in the capital, and..." Zhao Yao listed many aspects of Swamp Prefecture that he thought were better than the capital in one breath.

Seeing Zhao Yao’s eyes light up when he talked about the good things in Swamp Prefecture, Zheng Xilin couldn’t help but chuckle silently. Prince Han really seems to like Swamp Prefecture.

"Hearing you say so, it indeed seems Swamp Prefecture is better than the capital." Zheng Xilin laughed, "As far as I know, Swamp Prefecture didn’t use to be like this. The reason it’s this good now is because of His Highness. What do you think of His Highness?"

Zhao Yao: Grand Commandant Zheng is definitely asking this on purpose.

"I think His Highness is excellent, very capable, and has great vision." Praising himself, Zhao Yao didn’t even blink.

Standing nearby, Tong Xi almost couldn’t hold back his laughter upon hearing Zhao Yao flatter himself so effusively.

His Highness really is thick-skinned, praising himself like that.

"Do you think His Highness is a good prince who loves the people like his own children?"

What does it mean? Is he deliberately probing me?

Zhao Yao replied, "Whether I think His Highness loves the people like his own children isn’t important. What’s important is whether His Highness treats the people well." He didn’t consider himself to love the people like his own children; he just did what he was supposed to do.

Zheng Xilin asked again, "Then do you think His Highness treats the people well?"

"It should be good, considering all that His Highness has done to make life better for the people of Swamp Prefecture." This wasn’t him boasting; the people of Swamp Prefecture believed so. "Do you think His Highness doesn’t treat the people well?"

"I also think it’s good, but not enough." Zheng Xilin said meaningfully, "Far from enough."

Far from enough, does that mean he thinks what I’ve done still isn’t good enough?