Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 913: Chapter 43: Now It’s the Wang Family’s Turn (Part 2)

He Lianfang: "Nowadays, the Wang Family is already a top-tier noble family."

Zhao Yao sneered with disdain: "Tsk, compared to the Xie family, the Wang Family is still far behind. However, Prince Jing has been emerging over the past two years, and there are signs that the Duke Zhen Country Mansion might surpass the Wang Family."

"The current Duke Zhen is a fool. Do you think he can outsmart the old foxes of the Wang Family?" The current Duke Zhen is Empress Xie’s younger brother, Xie Shi, a person without any talent. "Without Empress Xie and Prince Jing, Xie Shi probably couldn’t hold onto the Duke Mansion."

"Xie Shi is incapable, but the Xie family consists of more than just Xie Shi. Even without Empress Xie and Prince Jing, the Duke Zhen Country Mansion wouldn’t fall." Zhao Yao said, "The Xie family still has quite a few talented people who can barely maintain the Duke Mansion."

"When Prince Jing falls, the Duke Zhen Country Mansion will likely collapse too. But the Wang Family..." He Lianfang’s lips curled into an intriguing smile. "In recent years, although they’ve done a lot secretly, they haven’t done anything on the surface to anger your father, the Emperor."

"With the example of the Duke Zhen Country Mansion right in front of them, how could the Wang Family dare to provoke my father?" Zhao Yao said, appearing thoughtful. "If my father wants to deal with the Wang Family, I could fan the flames from the sidelines."

Seeing Zhao Yao smiling cunningly like a fox, He Lianfang curiously asked, "What do you want to do?"

"Uncle, do you remember the Princess of Annan?"

"Princess of Annan?" He Lianfang looked puzzled and asked, "What about her?"

"Uncle, you’ve forgotten. The Princess of Annan used to be Prince Zheng’s concubine but later fled back to Annan."

Upon hearing Zhao Yao’s words, He Lianfang finally recalled.

"After the Princess of Annan fled back to her country, didn’t she divorce Prince Zheng?"

"Third Brother treated her so terribly. She wouldn’t just give up on revenge after the divorce." Mentioning Prince Zheng, Zhao Yao’s face openly displayed hatred. "Over the years, Prince Zheng has committed countless unspeakable acts in his territory."

"Why, despite becoming the top noble family in the capital in recent years, hasn’t the Wang Family brought Prince Zheng back to the capital?" He Lianfang asked, puzzled. "And why haven’t they tried their best to get him a significant position?"

"Do you think the Wang Family doesn’t want to? It’s my father who doesn’t agree; otherwise, Prince Zheng would have already returned to the capital." Sometimes, Zhao Yao thought letting Prince Zheng return to the capital might be for the best. In the capital, Prince Zheng would be more restrained. But in his own territory, he acts like a local tyrant, doing whatever he pleases. Over the years, who knows how many people he has harmed. "Father is still angry about how Prince Zheng drove away the Princess of Annan years ago."

"It must be more than just that."

"The main reason for not letting Third Brother return to the capital is to warn the Wang Family." Zhao Yao said with deep implication, "The most crucial reason is to let Third Brother and the Wang Family be at ease. My father loves to set a long line to catch big fish. Third Brother and the Wang Family have already taken the bait. It’s just a matter of when my father wants to reel them in. If the Wang Family intends to use the land tax reform to oppose my father, then my father will reel them in."

He Lianfang asked, "Do you think the Wang Family will take the bait this time?"

"As far as I know, the Wang Family owns a lot of land. If they were to pay taxes according to land tax reform, they would have to pay a lot, naturally making them unwilling. They will surely oppose my father’s implementation of the land tax reform." Zhao Yao said with schadenfreude, "Once the Wang Family gets involved, my father will reel them in."

"Even if reeled in, the Wang Family won’t collapse, as they haven’t committed treason." He Lianfang said, "The Wang Family’s outcome will be similar to the Xie family."

"As long as the Wang Family’s vitality is hurt, my father won’t go further, provided they don’t cross my father’s bottom line." If the Wang Family were like those noble families in Yangzhou and crossed my father’s bottom line, he would definitely root them out. Besides, if my father dealt with other noble families like he did with those in Yangzhou, other families would likely band together in fear against the imperial court, which wouldn’t be good for the court.

"This is a good opportunity."

Startled by Zhao Yao’s sudden outcry, He Lianfang glared at him: "Why are you suddenly yelling like a ghost?"

Zhao Yao looked excited: "Uncle, this is a good opportunity."

"What good opportunity?"

Zhao Yao chuckled sinisterly: "A good opportunity for the Princess of Annan to take revenge."

"What can a princess do?" If the Princess of Annan could truly take revenge, she wouldn’t have been forced into divorce back then.