Novel Full Chapter 995 - 84: Grand Commandant Zheng Disliked by His Sons
Chapter 995: Chapter 84: Grand Commandant Zheng Disliked by His Sons
Zheng Cheng and Zheng Qian have been in Swamp Prefecture for some time. Naturally, Grand Commandant Zheng, as their father, misses them. It’s normal for him to want to visit the Swamp Prefecture to see his two sons.
While Zheng Cheng was happy about Grand Commandant Zheng’s visit, Zheng Qian was somewhat displeased. Zheng Qian felt that his father’s purpose in coming to Swamp Prefecture was not to see them but to specifically check on the situation in Swamp Prefecture.
Zheng Qian opposed Grand Commandant Zheng’s visit to Swamp Prefecture, but his opposition was in vain. Grand Commandant Zheng was determined to come to the Swamp Prefecture.
"Your Highness, my father doesn’t have good intentions. You should just shut him out." They were doing well in Swamp Prefecture and didn’t want his father’s arrival to disrupt their peaceful life there. Having witnessed Grand Commandant Zheng’s influence since childhood, Zheng Qian feared that his father’s arrival would bring trouble to Swamp Prefecture. "Your Highness, my father is trouble, and he’s a cunning old fox. It’s best not to meet him."
Zheng Cheng was incredulous at how much Zheng Qian disliked Grand Commandant Zheng.
"Little brother, how can you speak of Father like that?" What kind of son calls his father trouble and a cunning old fox?
Zheng Qian coldly retorted, "Am I wrong?"
His question left Zheng Cheng speechless because Zheng Qian wasn’t entirely wrong.
"Speaking of Father like that..." Father is indeed a cunning old fox, but you can’t say that in front of His Highness.
Zheng Qian interrupted Zheng Cheng, continuing to speak to Zhao Yao, "Your Highness, if others find out my father is coming to Swamp Prefecture, it won’t just trouble you; it will also put you in danger." Zheng Qian was well aware of the Imperial Court’s attempts to win over his father. If Prince Dai and the others found out about his father’s visit, they would certainly suspect Your Highness of colluding with his father, and they would see Your Highness as a rival.
Your Highness is not interested in the struggle for the throne and doesn’t wish to be drawn into its bloody chaos, which is why he has come to Swamp Prefecture. If his father’s arrival led to attention from the capital, the Princes there would certainly see Your Highness as a thorn in their side. Your Highness’s situation would become very perilous.
Although Zheng Cheng was not interested in politics, he was not completely ignorant. Hearing Zheng Qian’s words now, he immediately understood the impact their father’s visit to Swamp Prefecture would have on Zhao Yao.
He had been very happy about Grand Commandant Zheng’s visit before, but now he was anxious and quickly agreed, "Your Highness, my brother is right, my father cannot come to Swamp Prefecture." He wondered why he hadn’t thought of it from this perspective before.
Upon hearing the brothers’ words, a trace of warmth flickered in Zhao Yao’s heart.
"Grand Commandant Zheng is your father. Worried about you, he comes to Swamp Prefecture to see you out of deep familial affection; I have no reason to shut Grand Commandant Zheng out." Zhao Yao saw the concern in their eyes and smiled reassuringly, "I think Grand Commandant Zheng will visit Swamp Prefecture not as a Grand Commandant but as a father. Besides, it’s been a long time since you’ve seen Grand Commandant Zheng. Don’t you want to see him?"
Zheng Qian replied without hesitation, "No, I don’t."
Zheng Cheng did not answer because deep down, he did want to see Grand Commandant Zheng.
"How is Grand Commandant Zheng planning to come here? Is he coming by boat from Quanting County?" Grand Commandant Zheng’s hometown is near Quanting County, which is by the sea. Since the maritime ban was lifted, the coast of Quanting County has become very bustling, and sea transportation has become very prosperous and convenient. Most of the inland merchants attending the trade conference are arriving in Swamp Prefecture by sea from the docks of Quanting County.
Zheng Qian said with a stern face, "He is already on his way to Swamp Prefecture and will probably arrive at the Swamp Prefecture docks after the trade conference ends." Zheng Qian was very displeased with Grand Commandant Zheng’s "act first, report later" behavior.
"That’s only a few days away. At that time, you two brothers should go to the docks to meet Grand Commandant Zheng." Zhao Yao did not plan to meet Grand Commandant Zheng at the docks since Grand Commandant Zheng was coming to Swamp Prefecture to see his sons as a father, not as an official to visit Prince Han. Besides, if he went to meet Grand Commandant Zheng at the docks, it would be too conspicuous. He dared to bet that within a few days, the news of Grand Commandant Zheng’s visit to Swamp Prefecture would spread throughout the capital, and then even the Yellow River wouldn’t be able to clear him of suspicion.
"Your Highness, just send him back directly."
"Whether public or private, I cannot send Grand Commandant Zheng away." Zhao Yao looked with amusement at Zheng Qian’s displeased face, "When Grand Commandant Zheng arrives, you two brothers should entertain him well and show him around Swamp Prefecture."