Novel Full Chapter 873 - 25: Not Returning to the Capital (2)
Chapter 873: Chapter 25: Not Returning to the Capital (2)
Although He Lianfang’s tone was very flat, Zhao Yao felt his scalp tingle.
"Second Uncle, can I not return to the capital? Please, stop with the sarcastic remarks."
"You are a filial son, how can you not go back to avenge your third mother consort?" He Lianfang picked up the teacup, sipping slowly, "I advise you to hurry back."
Zhao Yao sighed deeply in his heart, but did not show it on his face. He said solemnly, "If I return to the capital now, it would be exactly what Prince Dai wants. Besides, even if I go back to the capital, I can’t kill them."
"Aren’t you quite capable? How come you can’t personally cut down Prince Dai and the others?" He Lianfang said with a sardonic smile, "I believe you have the ability to kill them."
Zhao Yao: "..." He hurriedly admitted his mistake, otherwise He Lianfang’s sarcastic remarks wouldn’t stop. "Second Uncle, I was wrong, please forgive me."
Upon hearing Zhao Yao’s plea, He Lianfang finally put away the mocking tone.
"It seems you do have some brains." He was really worried that Little Ten would recklessly rush back to the capital.
"Second Uncle, it’s normal for me to lose my mind in anger after Prince Dai and the others forced my third mother consort to her death, isn’t it?" Zhao Yao tried to defend himself a little.
"A mere concubine makes you lose your calm, you really can’t hold your nerves." He Lianfang knew Zhao Yao respected the concubine, but seeing Zhao Yao lose his usual sense for the concubine’s death made him somewhat angry. "Is the concubine’s death more important than your life, worth you returning to the capital to die?"
"Second Uncle, that’s not the right way to put it." Zhao Yao said with a bitter smile, "Moreover, I haven’t gone back to the capital."
He Lianfang glanced at Zhao Yao, saying irritably, "If I weren’t here, you would already be on your way back to the capital."
"No, even if I lose my calm momentarily, I will quickly regain my sense." Zhao Yao said seriously, "If I impulsively return to the capital, there are only two outcomes waiting for me. One is to obediently agree to cooperate with them, and the other is to die in the capital."
"If you’re not planning to return to the capital to personally avenge yourself, what are you going to do next?" He Lianfang asked, "Act as if nothing happened, or seek revenge in secret?"
"They have bullied me to my face, how can I act as if nothing happened?" Zhao Yao said, his expression becoming vicious, gritting his teeth, "I’ll remember this feud for now, and one day I will seek revenge."
"What are you going to do now?"
"Naturally, not let them have it easy." Zhao Yao grinned maliciously, "Though I am not favored, it does not mean I am a pushover."
He Lianfang asked with interest, "And how do you plan to deal with them?"
"Although the main culprits might be Prince Dai or Prince Jing, surely the ones who forced my third mother consort to her death in the palace were the Empress or Noble Princess Consort Rong." Zhao Yao lightly tapped his fingers on the table, "So let’s deal with the Empress first."
"The Empress?" He Lianfang raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise, then asked puzzled, "Why not deal with Noble Princess Consort Rong first?"
Zhao Yao suddenly smiled with malice: "Second Uncle, if the Empress is deposed, Prince Jing, the legitimate son, would become an illegitimate son. All along, hasn’t Prince Jing been relying on his status as a legitimate son to gain a lot of support in court, among scholars, and civilians? Without the legitimate son status, his sole advantage is gone; how can he remain arrogant?"
He Lianfang immediately understood Zhao Yao’s true objective with this move: "Besides making Prince Jing lose his status as the legitimate son, your main goal is to turn Prince Dai into the advantageous illegitimate eldest son, letting him and Prince Jing fight like dogs."
"Exactly." Zhao Yao smiled meaningfully, "Without a legitimate son, everyone is the same, none higher than the other. When Fourth Brother seizes the throne, no one will object."
"You’re really a good brother, considering Prince Chu’s interests this much." He Lianfang sneered, "Aren’t you afraid that after Empress Xie is deposed, your dear father might make Noble Princess Consort Rong the Empress? Don’t forget, Noble Princess Consort Rong has always wanted to be the Empress, and Prince Dai wants to become the Crown Prince openly."
"Second Uncle, do you really think Father will appoint Noble Princess Consort Rong as Empress?"
He Lianfang: "Noble Princess Consort Rong and your father have been childhood sweethearts. If the Xie family hadn’t intervened years ago, your father should have married Noble Princess Consort Rong."
"Does that reason mean Father will appoint Noble Princess Consort Rong as Empress?"
"Prince Dai is your father’s eldest son and has distinguished himself on the battlefield. For Prince Dai’s sake, your father might appoint Noble Princess Consort Rong as Empress." He Lianfang added, "The most crucial point is that Noble Princess Consort Rong is part of your father’s maternal family. His maternal family now only includes Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion and Noble Princess Consort Rong."