Novel Full Chapter 1174 - 168: Take It Easy (Part 2)
Chapter 1174 - 168: Take It Easy (Part 2)
"You punk sure know a lot." Back then, the truth of how Princess Wei got pregnant had been completely guessed by Zhao Yao.
Zhao Yao rolled his eyes at this so-called "compliment" from the emperor. "Did you think I went to Lingnan just to idle around all day?"
The emperor exaggeratedly praised his youngest son, "Our Prince Han is amazing, truly impressive."
Zhao Yao: "..." This damned old man’s asking‑for‑a‑beating tone really made him want to punch him.
The emperor suddenly asked, "What else do you know about the Southern Wei Royal Family?"
"I know some things even Eighth Brother doesn’t, things I’m afraid even those Southern Wei people around him don’t know."
Hearing that, the emperor’s interest was immediately piqued. He asked curiously, "What do you know?"
"There was once a very favored concubine in the Southern Wei Royal Family, favored over the entire harem just like Noble Princess Consort Rong."
When the emperor heard the three words "Noble Princess Consort Rong," his brows twitched slightly.
"Guess where that Princess came from?" Zhao Yao deliberately dangled the answer.
"Where?" the emperor guessed. "From how you’re saying it, this Princess wasn’t a Central Plains person."
"Not a Central Plains person, but at the time she was taken as one. It’s said her mother was bought back by a merchant of the previous dynasty, then that merchant presented her mother to an official, and her mother became very much favored by that official."
The emperor did know about this part. "And then?"
"Then the official sent their daughter into the Southern Wei Palace, and she very quickly became King of Southern Wei’s beloved concubine." Zhao Yao stopped keeping him in suspense. "That favored concubine’s mother was bought back from Siam by a merchant. Her mother wasn’t some poor girl, but a believer of a Siamese sect called the Blue Sect."
"Blue Sect, what kind of sect is that?" This was the first time the emperor had heard of it.
"An evil cult. Her mother escaped from them. Later, somehow the Blue Sect found out that the Southern Wei favorite’s mother had been one of their people, so naturally they took the daughter to also be one of their own."
The things Zhao Yao was talking about now were new to the emperor.
"And then?"
"The Blue Sect in Siam wanted to use this to control Southern Wei, but in the end they failed. The Southern Wei Royal Family might have escaped disaster, but they were cursed by the Blue Sect. That’s why the Southern Wei Royal Family had such thin descendants, and why they were eventually destroyed."
After listening, the emperor’s face clearly said he didn’t buy it.
"Southern Wei was destroyed because they went back on their word; what’s that got to do with a curse?"
"I haven’t finished. Back then the Southern Wei Royal Family joined forces with Siam to wipe out the Blue Sect. The Blue Sect was eradicated as a sect, but some remnants survived."
At this point, the emperor suddenly remembered how his youngest son had, before coming to the capital, eliminated the forces that Prince Han and the three Xiongnu concubines had in Siam, Johor, and other countries.
"Those remnants colluded with Old Fifth and the others?"
"Yes, and that’s not all. You know Eighth Brother moved the Southern Wei people under him over to Siam, Johor, and other countries, right?"
"What, people from the Blue Sect found the men under Old Eight?"
"Right, they did."
"Shouldn’t the Blue Sect and Southern Wei be mortal enemies?"
"That was in their ancestors’ time. The Blue Sect’s goal now is to cleanse their name, expand their power, and gather more believers."
The emperor was getting a bit muddled. "You’re telling me about the Blue Sect to warn me?"
Zhao Yao nodded. "The remnants of the Blue Sect nearly took control of Siam, Johor, and the like, but I ruined it for them." Last year he had specially gone to Siam and Johor and the other states abroad, first to eliminate the forces that Prince Han and the three concubines had built up in those foreign countries, and second to eradicate the Blue Sect remnants so they could no longer control those foreign royal families.
"Well done." After praising him, the emperor asked again, "Why didn’t you tell me this before?"
"I felt they hadn’t amounted to much yet, so there was no need to tell you."
"Then why bring it up now?"
Zhao Yao didn’t answer the emperor head‑on, but said meaningfully, "When I go back, I’ll tell Eighth Brother about the Blue Sect."
The emperor instantly understood what Zhao Yao meant.
"There aren’t many people from the Blue Sect left, but they do have some sinister, crooked tricks. Be careful."
The emperor laughed. "You brat, your reach is getting longer and longer, to know even these obscure things."
"Since I’m in Swamp Prefecture, of course I need to get a clear picture of some of the affairs of the neighboring countries."
"I know how to weigh it." The emperor looked at him with fatherly affection. "Don’t worry, your old man won’t come to harm."
After that, the emperor asked a few more questions about the Blue Sect.
Zhao Yao stayed and had lunch with the emperor and Lady Liang.
During lunch, the emperor and Lady Liang kept picking dishes into Zhao Yao’s bowl, telling him to eat more. They repeatedly urged him that once he was back in Swamp Prefecture, he must take good care of himself.
After lunch, Zhao Yao left the palace and went straight to the Prince Chu Mansion.
Prince Chu was a bit surprised to see Zhao Yao come looking for him without even taking a noon nap.
"Fourth Brother, I’m leaving at dawn tomorrow. There are some things I want to say to you."
Seeing Zhao Yao’s solemn expression, Prince Chu knew whatever he was about to say would be serious.
"Go ahead."
"Fourth Brother, Second, Fifth, and Ninth are gone. Next, there’s only Seventh, you, and Eighth Brother left." Zhao Yao didn’t beat around the bush and came straight out with it. "Eighth Brother will take out Seventh Brother next, and then it’ll be just you and Eighth Brother."
Prince Chu nodded once and said nothing.
"Fourth Brother, you and Eighth Brother are both my elder brothers and you’ve both treated me well. To me, you and Eighth Brother are both flesh of my own palm; I don’t want to see either of you get hurt. But in the end, it’s bound to come down to a struggle between the two of you." As Zhao Yao thought of what was going to happen, his mood grew heavy. "I hope that when it’s all over, the two of you can at least spare each other’s lives."
Prince Chu raised his hand and patted Zhao Yao’s shoulder. "Don’t worry, I won’t kill him."
"I know." Zhao Yao opened his mouth, wanting to tell Prince Chu, Fourth Brother, you can’t beat Eighth Brother, he’s even more... "Fourth Brother, do you still remember that pair of black and white Taiji fish Jade Pendants you gave me back then?"
"I remember. You gave me the white fish, and I’ve kept it with me all this time."
Zhao Yao looked at Prince Chu, his tone very serious. "Fourth Brother, if you run into trouble or danger, remember to send someone with the White Fish Jade Pendant to me. That way I’ll know you need my help."
Prince Chu knew Zhao Yao was worrying about him; warmth rose in his chest, and he answered him solemnly, "All right."
"If I can help it, I’d rather never see your White Fish Jade Pendant."
After talking with Prince Chu a while longer, Zhao Yao finally left. When he got back to Prince Han’s Mansion, he found Prince Wei there.
"You must have something to say to me, so I came."
Zhao Yao had already been completely frank with Prince Wei, so there was no need to hold anything back in front of him.
"Eighth Brother, after you get rid of Seventh, the next one you’ll deal with is Fourth Brother, and then Father, right?"
Prince Wei hadn’t expected Zhao Yao to ask so bluntly. He froze for a moment, then let out a helpless smile. "Tenth Brother, you really are..."