Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 944: Chapter 58: Tinkering with Rubber (2)

Having been used to the carefree life in Jiaozhou, Prince Zheng felt all sorts of discomfort upon returning to the capital. He wondered what was so great about being an emperor; being a Prince Xiao Yao in Jiaozhou was much better. Besides, he was like an emperor there, doing whatever he pleased.

Lady Shu was infuriated upon seeing her son’s dejected appearance.

"I’m going to see the Emperor right away to have him depose you, lest you become an eyesore to me."

Prince Zheng was startled by Lady Shu’s words. His face changed dramatically as he asked, "Mother, why would you want to depose me for no good reason?"

Lady Shu wore a cold expression, her tone very stern, "It seems you don’t want to be my son, or part of the Wang Family. In that case, what use are you? Better to just have you deposed and cut all ties, it’ll save me the trouble."

Prince Zheng noticed that Lady Shu didn’t seem to be speaking in anger or jest, and he was so frightened that he turned pale and quickly knelt in front of her, "Mother, that was never my intention."

"Wasn’t it?" Lady Shu said coldly, looking at Prince Zheng, "You’ve spent years immersed in pleasures in Jiaozhou, completely forgetting about me and the Wang Family. Now that we’ve finally managed to bring you back to the capital, here you are, not feeling any joy, just full of complaints."

Prince Zheng lowered his head and said, "I dare not."

"Hmph, you speak of daring? In Jiaozhou, you’ve acted with no regard for the law." Lady Shu’s eyes grew sharp, her voice piercing, "Without me, without the Wang Family, you are nothing. Do you think your current status and position were given by whom? Had I known you’d be this useless, I wouldn’t have given birth to you."

These harsh words frightened Prince Zheng as he stared in fear.

"Mother, I was wrong, I really was."

"To get you back to the capital, your uncle betrayed the gentry and was scolded by noble families and dignitaries. Yet here you are, not grateful, but blaming us for forcing you back to the capital." Lady Shu spoke more angrily, slamming the table with her hand, "Do you think you’ve treated us rightly?"

Prince Zheng submissively acknowledged his fault, "I was wrong."

Lady Shu knew Prince Zheng too well and could see he didn’t truly recognize his mistakes.

"Since you’re unwilling, we won’t force you." Lady Shu looked at Prince Zheng, whose indulgences had turned him into neither man nor ghost, her eyes filled with disdain. She couldn’t understand how she gave birth to such an unaccomplished son, "I will go see the Emperor later and sever our mother-son relationship."

"Mother, I truly know my mistake." Prince Zheng realized that Lady Shu was genuinely angry, and he pleaded while kowtowing, "I will certainly heed yours and uncle’s words, and dare not complain again."

"I’ll give you one last chance." Although Lady Shu desperately wanted to disown this embarrassing son, he was her only one, and the whole Wang Family was relying on him, "If you continue with this behavior and persist in your lawlessness from Jiaozhou, I will surely ask the Emperor to approve of severing our mother-son relationship. I mean what I say!"

Prince Zheng felt troubled inside, but dared not show it on his face.

"I will certainly listen to you."

"You better mean what you say, or don’t blame me for disregarding familial ties."

"I will certainly manage," Prince Zheng didn’t want to return to the capital partly to avoid Lady Shu’s reproach.

"Get out." Lady Shu was frustrated with this useless son; even an extra glance at him made her angrier.

Prince Zheng didn’t dare delay, and rushed out of Fuyang Palace.

Back at Prince Zheng Mansion, he flew into a great fury. Unable to express his dissatisfaction in front of Lady Shu, he vented his anger at home.

After his outburst, Prince Zheng wished to enjoy himself carefreely, indulging in revelry with the beauties he brought back, regardless of it being daytime.

While carousing, Duke Anyang arrived.

Prince Zheng dared not underestimate Duke Anyang and, upon learning of his arrival, reluctantly ceased his revelry and hurried to meet him.

Duke Anyang was so furious upon seeing Prince Zheng that he smashed his teacup on the floor and scolded him harshly, pointing at his nose.

Prince Zheng dared not retort after being scolded. When Duke Anyang was tired of scolding, Prince Zheng timidly poured him another cup of tea.

Duke Anyang was very disappointed in Prince Zheng, his nephew, but had no alternative and continued supporting him.

"Your Highness, once you ascend the throne, the beauties of the world will all be yours, at which point you can do as you please and I, as well as Lady Shu, won’t be able to control you anymore." Duke Anyang first tempted Prince Zheng and then warned, "Your Highness, do you think that staying in Jiaozhou keeps you safe and worry-free? Do you believe the other princes will spare you? If you don’t vie for the throne, once a new emperor ascends, your only path is death."

Prince Zheng said nothing.

"Your Highness, do you really think the things you’ve done in Jiaozhou can remain hidden? Should Prince Chu and the others find out, they would certainly use them to bring about your demise." Spotting Prince Zheng’s disinterested demeanor, Duke Anyang’s face darkened, "If Your Highness truly refuses, I will no longer concern myself with you. Whatever fate befalls you in the future will not concern the Wang Family." Having said this, he rose to leave.

Seeing Duke Anyang truly leaving, Prince Zheng panicked and hurried after him, apologizing, making amends, and saying nice things.

Not far from Prince Zheng Mansion, at Prince Chu Mansion, Prince Chu was reading a letter from Zhao Yao.

In the letter, Zhao Yao asked Prince Chu to entice some unsuccessful scholars to go to Lingnan, which left Prince Chu both crying and laughing.

Yang Ling, who was sitting nearby reading, heard Prince Chu’s laughter and curiously asked, "Your Highness, what did Prince Han write to make you so happy?"

"Tenth Brother asked me to help him persuade some unsuccessful scholars to go to Lingnan..." Prince Chu explained Zhao Yao’s offer to entice the unsuccessful scholars to Yang Ling.

Yang Ling, after hearing it, lavishly praised, "Prince Han’s idea is truly brilliant; many scholars will likely be willing to go to Lingnan to give it a try."

"Tenth Brother is always full of clever ideas."

"Your Highness, I believe Prince Han understands people’s hearts," said Yang Ling, "Prince Han knows the desires of unsuccessful scholars and has given them an opportunity to become officials, an opportunity to pass the exams." Going to Lingnan meant they could become officials, they could pass; which scholar could resist such temptation?

"Your Highness, how do you plan to help Prince Han?" Yang Ling very much wanted to advise Prince Chu against helping Prince Han, but knew he wouldn’t listen.

"I’ll speak to Grandfather tomorrow about this; he will arrange everything." There are many students from the Imperial College who haven’t passed, and if Grandfather persuades them to go to Tenth Brother, they will listen.

Yang Ling sighed inwardly: Predictably.

"Your Highness, is the Imperial Hospital administering cowpox?"

"The Imperial Hospital is already preparing; they’re now waiting for doctors sent by Tenth Brother." Mentioning that cowpox could prevent smallpox, Prince Chu felt proud of his younger brother Zhao Yao, "Tenth Brother has done another good deed."

"More than just a good deed, it’s a great contribution that will be celebrated for generations. From now on, the people will owe their gratitude to Prince Han." Yang Ling felt complicated about Zhao Yao, Prince Han. He still regarded Zhao Yao as Prince Chu’s greatest rival, yet he admired Zhao Yao’s accomplishments. Speaking of cowpox, he felt a lot of admiration—his older brother had died from smallpox when they were young.

"Prince Han is truly talented."

"To have Tenth Brother is a blessing for the people, a boon for Great Zhou, and my honor," Prince Chu was especially proud to have Zhao Yao as his brother.

"Your Highness is right." Once cowpox is widely used, people will be grateful to Prince Han. Prince Han already has a great reputation among the people; in the future, he might become revered like a deity.

Alas, let’s hope Prince Han, just as His Highness said, doesn’t plan to vie for the throne, otherwise...