Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1120: Chapter 141: Mutual Deception (Part 3)

Sun Kui knew his diligent purpose, and initially didn’t take it seriously. Later, seeing that this child was clever, hardworking, and able to endure hardships—even though he had some schemes, his heart was kind and he never did anything harmful.

After observing the child for some time, he took him as an apprentice, keeping him by his side and teaching him personally. Sun Doudou didn’t let him down; over the past ten years, he had performed excellently.

Despite only ten years of master-disciple relationship, Sun Kui had long regarded Sun Doudou as his own son.

"You’ve taught your apprentice well, he does things fairly steadily." The Emperor remarked, "But compared to you, he is still lacking."

"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty, but the servant is..."

The Emperor interrupted Sun Kui, "Don’t bother with humble words, you’ve been by my side all these years. How you perform, don’t I know?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Kui was filled with emotion, his eyes slightly reddened. He hurriedly knelt down, choking up, "Your Majesty, the servant..."

"What’s the point of a grown man crying, stand up quickly."

Sun Kui hurriedly stood up, raised his arm, and wiped his face hastily with his sleeve.

"Your Majesty, I’m not a grown man."

"True," the Emperor scanned Sun Kui up and down, smiling, "Although you are not a man, your temperament is quite manly."

Sun Kui said with a full smile, "This is all because the servant has been by your side."

"Enough, don’t flatter me anymore."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Sun Kui silently corrected in his mind: Your Majesty, your backside is a dragon’s backside, not a horse’s backside.

"This apprentice has been with you for ten years, can you bear having him leave you?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Kui pondered: As expected!

"The servant can bear it."

"I see you treat him like a son, can you truly bear having him leave you?"

"Your Majesty, he can’t stay with me forever." Sun Kui cautiously tested, "Your Majesty, are you planning to have Sun Doudou serve Prince Han?"

"That’s the plan."

"Your Majesty, isn’t it a bit too early to have Sun Doudou serve Prince Han?" Sun Kui wasn’t unwilling to part with Sun Doudou; it was because Sun Doudou was his apprentice. If he were to serve Zhao Yao now, it would be as if announcing to all, Your Majesty, that your most favored prince is Prince Han.

"You’re right, it’s not the right time now." The Emperor had somewhat forgotten this.

Sun Kui didn’t wish for Sun Doudou to follow Zhao Yao just yet, partly because the time was not right. Secondly, he felt keeping Sun Doudou in the palace was better than having him follow Zhao Yao to Swamp Prefecture.

Zhao Yao in far-away Swamp Prefecture was far from the capital. Even if he had people planted in the capital, he could receive news if anything happened there, but it would be delayed. If Sun Doudou remained in the palace, he could know about any situation, whether in the capital or the palace, instantly. Moreover, Sun Doudou could also help Zhao Yao watch over the capital and the court’s dynamics.

"Although he can’t stay by Little Ten’s side, we can let him bunker under Little Ten’s wing." The Emperor remarked with deep implication, "There must be people in this palace for Little Ten."

These words were quite astonishing, causing Sun Kui’s heart to pound a few times in surprise.

"Your Majesty, do you mean to have Sun Doudou send messages to Prince Han?"

"Exactly."

Sun Kui: "..." Your Majesty, what are you up to?

Generally speaking, shouldn’t Your Majesty detest anyone sending messages about the palace’s matters? Yet, here you are asking Sun Doudou to actively do so.

"Make your apprentice into Little Ten’s eyes and ears in the capital."

Sun Kui hesitated before speaking, "Your Majesty, having Sun Doudou actively pledge allegiance to Prince Han, the servant feels it won’t work."

The Emperor asked in puzzlement, "Why won’t it work?"

"The servant feels Prince Han will refuse."

These words startled the Emperor. After a moment, the Emperor sighed and said, "You’re right, that brat Little Ten certainly won’t want your apprentice."

Sun Kui said softly in his heart: Indeed. You want Sun Doudou to pledge allegiance to Prince Han, but given His Highness’s intelligence, how could he possibly not see the purpose behind such arrangements? Naturally, His Highness would refuse.

"Your Majesty, when Prince Han was in the palace, he always kept his distance from those who served at the imperial court." Although Prince Han was polite to them, he never tried to win them over. In fact, to avoid trouble, Prince Han stayed far away from them.

"That brat is too clever." The Emperor shook his head, "He’s hard to fool."

Sun Kui thought of something, parted his lips wanting to speak but didn’t dare.

Seeing Sun Kui hesitant with words, the Emperor raised his eyebrows slightly, "Speak up."

"Your Majesty, do you truly believe Prince Han hasn’t caught a bit of your intentions?" Sun Kui found it hard to believe Prince Han hadn’t perceived the Emperor’s heart.

The Emperor’s expression froze, then he widened his eyes and slightly opened his mouth.

Sun Kui, seeing the Emperor’s expression, was astonished: No way, does His Majesty genuinely believe Prince Han hasn’t perceived anything?

"You think that brat knows?"

"It’s impossible for him not to know." Prince Han is no fool.

Thinking it over, the Emperor found Sun Kui’s words made sense. Given the brat’s intelligence, it was impossible for him not to have any awareness.

Sun Kui carefully said, "You and General He haven’t been discreet; it’d be hard for Prince Han not to notice."

The Emperor reached out to his forehead, sighed audibly, "Sigh... Old He didn’t mention anything either."

"Seems like General He hasn’t noticed either."

"Old He is indeed with that brat, and yet he had no clue at all, he really is too dense!"

Sun Kui: Your Majesty, did you not notice it either?

Neither you nor General He noticed; it only means Prince Han masks it well.

"Did that brat really notice?" The Emperor pondered deeply, finding no sign Zhao Yao had detected anything.

"Your Majesty, whether Prince Han has noticed or not, you might try testing."

Waving his hand, the Emperor replied, "No testing. Once tested, that brat will confront me openly."

Sun Kui thought: Prince Han might indeed really do that.

"He pretends not to know, I shall pretend likewise."

Sun Kui: "..." Your Majesty, do you and Prince Han aim to deceive each other?

The Emperor stated firmly, "I absolutely must not pierce through this facade." Once pierced, that brat would surely drop everything, and might even leave, distancing himself from Great Zhou.