Novel Full Chapter 1103 - 133: Purpose (2)
Chapter 1103: Chapter 133: Purpose (2)
The topics the common people discuss over meals are either household matters or Prince Han, Zhao Yao.
A middle-aged man finished eating, picked his teeth, and said, "When will Prince Han, Zhao Yao, return from his visit to Annan and Johor?"
A middle-aged woman asked with a worried face, "Could anything have happened to His Highness? Wouldn’t the people of Annan harm His Highness?"
"Those foreigners wouldn’t dare harm our Prince."
"Yes, yes, our Prince is very formidable; those foreigners are no match for him."
"I heard that those foreigners want to arrange a marriage for our Prince." The elder women gathered to discuss. "The foreign royal families want to marry their princess to our Prince as a princess."
"Those foreigners keep sending beauties to His Highness, but he doesn’t want any of them."
"Our Prince still hasn’t taken a princess consort, nor does he have a single maid around him. People say our Prince likes men, but there are no men around him either."
"Since His Highness arrived here, he’s been busy ensuring we commoners live a good life. Where does he find the time for romance?"
"Thanks to Prince Han, or else how would we have such good days now?"
"Without His Highness in Swamp Prefecture these days, it feels empty somehow. I wonder when His Highness will return."
Missed by the people of Swamp Prefecture, Zhao Yao is on his way back.
This time, his visit to Annan and Pyu wasn’t for any special purpose. Although he breezed through Johor and Pyu, he still witnessed the customs of foreign lands.
"Uncle, we’ve only been out for a few days, and you’re rushing me back. I haven’t even had enough fun." Zhao Yao originally planned to roam for a month but ended up returning after only ten days. He originally wanted to sneak out to sea without anyone knowing, but He Lianfang discovered it, forcing him to take him along.
He Lianfang shot a cold glance at the disgruntled Zhao Yao and said irritably, "I’m afraid you wouldn’t want to come back." Over the past few days, Zhao Yao had been enjoying himself immensely in Annan and Johor, showing no desire to return to Swamp Prefecture. He Lianfang worried that if he played any longer, Zhao Yao really wouldn’t want to come back.
Zhao Yao: "Uncle, you’re overthinking."
"You better think that way." He Lianfang didn’t seem to believe Zhao Yao.
"I really mean it; Great Zhou is my home. Once I improve Swamp Prefecture, I’ll set sails to explore."
While pouring tea, He Lianfang asked, "All this time you’ve been out playing day and night. Did you gain anything?"
In all seriousness, Zhao Yao said, "To be honest, the food in these foreign countries is really awful, and the entertainment doesn’t compare to Great Zhou’s, but it’s novel."
For Zhao Yao’s feigned ignorance, He Lianfang shot him a dismissive look.
"Your trip to Annan and Johor was not just for fun, but for another purpose."
"Uncle, you’re wronging me. I really just went for leisure, not for any other purpose." Zhao Yao put on an innocent face, "Besides, what purpose could I have?"
He Lianfang gave Zhao Yao a long look, saying nothing.
"I really have no purpose." Zhao Yao’s eyes were very clear, and his expression very sincere.
Though his expression remained unchanged, He Lianfang’s tone turned cold: "Are you planning to keep it from me?"
"Uncle, why would I hide anything from you? I have no reason not to tell you." Zhao Yao scratched his face, saying, "My main purpose for visiting Annan was for leisure and to check on the Southern Wei people hidden there."
He Lianfang’s tone returned to normal: "What did you find out?"
"Nothing useful." Zhao Yao said, lying across the table, his head rolling back and forth, "It matches our speculation, but I’ve heard quite a bit of gossip about the royal secrets of Annan and Johor." At this, he sat up straight, speaking with gossip-laden relish, "The royal gossip of these foreign lands is truly explosive, Uncle do you want to hear it?"
"No."
"Uncle, let me tell you..." Zhao Yao ignored whether He Lianfang wanted to hear and began to recount the secrets he’d heard.
After listening for a while, He Lianfang grew uninterested and kicked Zhao Yao out.
"Uncle, hear me out..."
"Get out."
"Uncle, hear me out..." Zhao Yao was so engaged in his storytelling that, even after being kicked out, he continued standing at the door, finishing the juicy secrets he had heard.
Forced to listen to the overwhelming gossip, He Lianfang: "..."
After Zhao Yao finished recounting the gossip, he finally left the door to He Lianfang’s room.
Returning to his own room, Zhao Yao’s expression suddenly changed, helplessly sighing in his heart: Uncle is indeed not easy to fool, and he wondered if those words had any made Uncle believe him.
This visit to Annan and Johor wasn’t simply for leisure but also to investigate some matters. Naturally, it acknowledged the movements of the Southern Wei people hidden in Annan and Pyu.
It was shocking to discover more than expected.
The situation in Annan is even more serious than he imagined.
Since these countries submitted to Great Zhou, they’ve been thoroughly infiltrated by various forces from Great Zhou. Whether this is good or bad for Great Zhou and themselves is unclear.
Though unexpected, these circumstances were within Zhao Yao’s expectations. What surprised him the most was Prince Han and the Xiongnu’s Third Princess’ influence in these foreign countries. He anticipated they’d extend their influence abroad, but not to such an extent.
They cannot be allowed to stretch their reach any further; their influence must be cut.
Seeing their collusion with the Southern Wei people, it’s time for them to incite infighting.
"Come out."
A silhouette suddenly appeared in front of Zhao Yao, "Your Highness, what are your orders?"
Zhao Yao whispered some instructions into the Hidden Guard’s ear.
After hearing this, the Hidden Guard vanished from the room.