Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1117: Chapter 140: Prince Han Vomits Blood in Rage (Part 2)

Impossible, Shupin is a daughter of the Wang Family, born and raised in the capital city, never leaving it; how could she know the Third Princess?

The Third Princess is not from the capital, she is from the northern border. She was captured by the Xiongnu and then presented to the Chanyu.

How could these two women be connected?

Is Shupin in contact with the Third Princess of Xiongnu, and does the Wang Family know? Also, wasn’t Shupin’s relationship with Princess Consort De not good; why would she help Princess Consort De and even assist Prince Han in connecting with the Third Princess?

At the outset, Prince Han chose Youzhou as his fiefdom, it seems for the purpose of connecting with the Third Princess.

In the past, the Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion colluded with the Xiongnu and ended up with their family being executed; could Prince Han and Shupin really turn a blind eye to this? Do they still dare to collude with the Third Princess of Xiongnu, confident that no one will find out, or are they arrogantly believing they will surely succeed?

"Why do you think they’re all colluding with the Xiongnu, these foreigners?" Zhao Yao wasn’t asking Tong Xi and the others, "Do they not know that colluding with the Xiongnu merits extermination of the nine clans? Do they not know about the Xiongnu’s brutality, ruthlessness, and callousness? Do they not know the Xiongnu have always eyed Great Zhou covetously? Are they not afraid of inviting wolves into the house?"

Zhao Yao can understand Prince Han’s desire to fight for the throne, and also that they will stop at nothing during the struggle, but he cannot understand why they would collude with outsiders.

In order to sit on the throne, they collude with the Xiongnu, allowing the Xiongnu’s Iron Cavalry to step into Great Zhou.

Or did they never take the Xiongnu seriously from the beginning, thinking they could easily handle the Xiongnu once they were done using them?

Zhao Yao didn’t know whether to call them confident or foolish.

Tong Xi replied, "Your Highness, to seize the throne, they will do anything."

"The death of the entire Marquis Jingyang’s family wasn’t enough to make them fearful," Zhao Yao said sternly, "It seems that the Xiongnu’s Iron Cavalry is invincible and unstoppable in their eyes."

Lu Guang sneered coldly, "The Xiongnu Iron Cavalry is nothing, just a bag of explosives could blow them to pieces."

Liang Chun laughed coldly, "These noble families are truly ambitious wolves, for the sake of their own interests, they even collude with foreign tribes."

Zhao Yao sighed, "No wonder Father wants to eradicate these noble families." These families, for their own interests, completely disregard the national righteousness. In their hearts, family interests outweigh everything, there is no righteousness, and no regard for the people. As long as their family does well, nothing else matters.

"They are all selfish people, they deserve to be eradicated by the Emperor," Tong Xi said angrily, "Your Highness, you must tell this to the Emperor."

Lu Guang said, "We have no evidence."

"These Xiongnu Assassins cannot prove the collusion between Prince Han and the Third Princess." Liang Chun said regretfully, but he quickly remembered another matter, showing a happy expression, "These Xiongnu Assassins can’t prove the collusion but it doesn’t matter, we still have those caught from Annan and Johor, they can prove Prince Han and the Third Princess’s conspiracy." Otherwise, Prince Han wouldn’t have sent these Xiongnu Assassins to assassinate Your Highness.

"The evidence isn’t solid," the evidence collected from Annan and Johor did not directly point to Prince Han and the Third Princess colluding. If Prince Han returned to the capital, claiming he didn’t collude with the Xiongnu Third Princess, Zhao Yao and the Emperor couldn’t do anything about it. Unfortunately, Prince Han was too scared to return to the capital, which confirmed his interactions with the Third Princess. "Nevertheless, it’s not important, Prince Han confirmed it himself." Originally, they wanted to get direct evidence from these Xiongnu Assassins about Prince Han and the Third Princess’s collusion, but this group of assassins knew nothing.

The indirect evidence collected earlier from Siam and Johor, Zhao Yao had long sent to the Emperor via the Hidden Guard. As for the Emperor’s reaction upon watching, Zhao Yao did not care.

"Your Highness, will Prince Han send assassins to kill you again?" The Xiongnu Assassins sent by Prince Han not only failed to assassinate Your Highness, but also got themselves killed. By now, Prince Han should figure out that the Xiongnu Assassins at sea are useless and won’t send them again, right?

"Not Xiongnu Assassins, but Xun Family’s Assassins." So far, the Xun Family hasn’t acted yet.

"Ah, Xun Family’s Assassins, they’re definitely not afraid of water," Tong Xi said with a bitter face, "Your Highness, does this mean we won’t have peaceful days ahead?" Every night there’s assassination attempts which made it hard for him to sleep well. He hasn’t rested for several nights now. These assassins don’t sleep at night, causing them sleeplessness as well. There are still many days before reaching the capital, does it mean he won’t have peaceful sleep in this duration?

"There will be no good days until we return to the capital," Zhao Yao stood up, stretched, and said, "Even after returning to the capital, there won’t be peaceful days."

Tong Xi’s face almost turned into a resentful wife’s face upon hearing this.

"Your Highness, why don’t we return to the Swamp Prefecture?"

"Do you think I don’t want to go back?" Zhao Yao glared at Tong Xi, "I fear as soon as I go back, Father will send someone to drag me to the capital."

Tong Xi said pitifully, "Your Highness, this servant just wants to have a good night’s sleep."

"Sleep when we return to the capital."

"Didn’t you say it’s not peaceful even in the capital?"

"It’s still better than now." Zhao Yao patted Tong Xi’s shoulder, gently comforting, "Bear with it a little longer."

Tong Xi: "..."

Lu Guang suddenly asked, "Your Highness, why hasn’t the Emperor sent someone to protect you?" Impossible that the Emperor doesn’t know the journey back to the capital is dangerous for Your Highness, right?

"I’m an unfavored prince, how could Father care about my life or death."

Tong Xi’s silent expression: "..." Your Highness, aren’t you feeling guilty saying this?

Lu Guang believed it, showing an indignant look, "Your Highness, you are the Emperor’s own son, how could he not care about your safety, that’s too much."

Tong Xi looked incredulously at Lu Guang: What is he saying, doesn’t he know the Emperor’s most favored son is Your Highness?

"Alas, being unfavored is like this, you get used to it." Zhao Yao raised his hand and patted Lu Guang on the back, "Don’t be angry for me, even without Father sending someone to protect, I can live well. Besides, I have you, the sharpshooter, around."

Lu Guang, feeling sorry for Zhao Yao’s ordeal, earnestly said, "Rest assured, Your Highness, I will surely protect you and ensure your safety."

"Good, then my safety is in your hands."

Lu Guang answered loudly, "Yes, Your Highness."

Tong Xi and Liang Chun looked at Lu Guang, deceived by Zhao Yao, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Within two days, far away in Youzhou, Prince Han, upon learning that the Xiongnu Assassins he dispatched failed to assassinate Zhao Yao because of seasickness, was so furious that he vomited blood and fainted on the spot.