"Big sister, take a look..."
Zhao Hong tapped the table with a smile that was not quite a smile, "This is the honest man you spoke of, but you should not look at the second and fourth brothers, who have been leaping around in the court these past few years, merry as they are, but in the eyes of Father Emperor, those two fools are like red-bottomed monkeys. The only ones Father Emperor really considered were myself and the third brother!"
Zhao Miao, tired, lowered his eyelids and muttered softly, "I do not want to be involved in matters between you brothers. I only wish you, as the eldest, could spare the third brother’s life out of kinship..."
"Big sister, you think too highly of me."
Zhao Hong slowly shook his head, "With the Marquis Luting backing you, how dare I really do anything to the third brother?"
He laughed and exclaimed, "Our father, this move of his is simply magical; I have no choice but to admire it!"
"Initially, when Father Emperor sent me to Lu Ting, I thought he just wanted to give the third brother a chance to prove himself."
"Later, I felt that he was giving me a chance to show myself."
"Only today have I realized..."
"He actually wanted to protect both of our lives."
"With the Marquis Luting around, no matter whether I or the third brother ascends to the great throne, not only can we not harm a single hair on one another, but we must also ensure his lifetime of safety and prosperity."
"What a calculation, what a strategy indeed!"
He clapped his hands, thoroughly convinced and admiring his father’s manipulation... Such a bloody and cruel matter of the struggle for the throne, and his father had resolved it so effortlessly.
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Zhao Miao listened quietly until he finished, then replied hoarsely, "Speak of the matter at hand, do not bring the second brother into this. He never intended to meddle in these sordid affairs, nor did he ever think of gaining any benefits from them. It is we, the Zhao Family, who owe him, not he who owes the Zhao Family."
Zhao Hong lowered his eyelids and stayed silent for a long time before he sighed, "I understand!"
Nangong Feiying had returned to the palace to report, telling Zhao Hong without missing a single word how Yang Ge first refused and then accepted the honors from Marquis Luting and the First Rank Grand Master, along with the message Yang Ge asked Nangong Feiying to convey to him.
Zhao Hong realized clearly, like seeing in a mirror, that Yang Ge accepting the honors from Marquis Luting and the First Rank Grand Master was not because Zhao Hong had bestowed wealth and honor upon Yang Ge, but rather that Yang Ge was supporting Zhao Hong from afar...
Zhao Run looked at Zhao Miao, then at Zhao Hong.
He understood, and thus he was deeply moved!
"Alright, enough of the idle talk, let’s discuss my plans for the third brother first!"
Zhao Hong forcibly spirited himself up and said solemnly, "The circumstances of Father Emperor’s demise are unclear to others, but you all should be aware!"
"This is a war, a war between us, the Zhao Family, and those traitorous officials!"
"Father Emperor lost the battle..."
"I have little confidence in winning either!"
"However, a vendetta for killing one’s father cannot be shared under the heavens, even if my talents are far inferior to Father Emperor’s by a fraction, I vow to fight those traitorous officials to the end!"
"But if I am a move short in this chess game..."
"My death as Zhao Hong is a minor matter, but the Wei kingdom’s stability, the welfare of millions, is a major matter—it must not let those traitorous officials control the court, oppressing the common people at will!"
"If you, the third brother, have the determination and courage to take on a great responsibility, then stay in the capital, study, and practice martial arts in peace. I will often send the courtiers’ memorials to Prince Jin’s Residence for your review and approval... Should the day come when the mountains collapse, you may take the throne for yourself!"
"If you, the third brother, lack this determination and courage, pick a location in Yunnan or Lingnan, and you may leave the capital for your fiefdom tomorrow..."
"Listen well, if you choose to stay in the capital, then you should never think of setting foot outside the capital in this lifetime. If you dare step out of the capital even once without authorization, I will charge you with plotting rebellion!"
He had also come to understand these days that the late Emperor must have been plotted against within the Ziwei Palace because he persisted in reforming, touching upon the fundamental interests of the civil and military officials of the court who could not do anything to the late Emperor and had to resort to desperate measures.
Thus, upon his accession, he faced two choices.
One was to change the political policies of the Xiping era, to act submissively and seek peace by making concessions.
The other was to adhere to the political policies of the Xiping era, continuing the battle of wits and bravery with the civil and military officials of the court.
In both principle and emotion, he was unwilling to choose the first option and be a puppet emperor.
But if he chose the second option...
He had lost the struggle, and the great powers had fallen to others, allowing powerful ministers to fill the court; it was no different than the first scenario!
If he had won... they dared to kill the late emperor, so why would they not dare to kill Zhao Hong?
As the popular saying goes: "There are only so many days to be a thief, but can one be a guard for that long?"
Even if the palace security is impenetrable, it’ll hardly stop those with intent from scheming!
Therefore, he had to prepare for the worst!
What was the worst scenario?
Of course, it was his death, with that group of rebellious officials ushering in a young and weak Crown Prince!
A scenario of a weak ruler and strong ministers, history had seen this more than once...
...
Zhao Run stared in astonishment at Zhao Hong, shocked by his determination and his bravery!
If he were in his shoes, he’d never leave such a great threat, capable of plotting a usurpation, right by his side while he slept!
Meanwhile, Zhao Miao silently picked up his ivory chopsticks and continued eating. It took him a while before he finally said, "You haven’t wasted your efforts, big brother."
After Zhao Hong had spoken these words, he relaxed significantly, his hand idly playing with the wine cup in front of him, chuckling softly, "Sister may not believe it, but if I had a choice, I’d go back to Lu Ting and continue fixing my drainage channels. It’s tiring and hard, but at least it leaves a clear conscience, and I sleep soundly... The taste of hotpot, I probably will never experience it in this lifetime, right?"
"I believe you, why wouldn’t I!"
Zhao Miao squinted his eyes, not without a boastful smile, "The day after tomorrow I’ll be back in Lu Ting, and big brother will definitely cook hotpot for me."
"You... "
Zhao Hong nearly broke down, quickly looking upwards to stop his tears from falling, "Is that how you act as an older sister? No way, when you return you must bring me some hotpot base from the palace, I’ll have the Imperial Chef prepare it!"
"How could that be possible?"
Zhao Miao shook his head like a drum ruffle, firmly saying, "You are now royalty, how can food from outside the palace enter your mouth? My brother and I can’t take that responsibility!"
"Besides, the hotpot has to be made by my brother at the inn to taste good, once it leaves the inn, it just doesn’t taste the same..."
Zhao Hong lost his composure, slammed his hands on the table and wept, "It’s too much, you are tormenting me too much, knowing I can’t go out, yet you still talk to me about this, aren’t you just bullying an honest man?"
"Do well!"
Zhao Miao, smiling amiably, got up, "As long as you make sure the people lead good lives, I’ll ask our brother to bring ingredients into the palace and make you a hotpot... Alright, you brothers talk, I won’t meddle as an outsider."
Zhao Hong, with a flushed face and an outstretched neck, said angrily, "You haven’t even entered the Yang Family yet!"
Zhao Miao: "Isn’t that just a matter of time? Soon I’ll be Ms. Yang, and I can’t meddle in the affairs of the Zhao Family; my brother wouldn’t be pleased."
Zhao Hong, pointing a trembling finger at her, exclaimed, "Look at your sister, look at your sister... "
Zhao Run blankly turned his head to look at Zhao Miao.
Zhao Miao slapped his head to one side, "What are you looking at? Even if I change my surname to Yang, I’m still your sister!"
Zhao Run, feeling wronged, covered his head, not daring to get angry or even speak out.
"Look at how pathetic you are."
Zhao Miao, frustrated by his lack of spirit, knocked on his head making a ’bang bang’ sound, "If you ask me, you should go to Lu Ting and do some hard labor for a few years, learn how to be a real man!"
"Don’t even think about it!"
Before Zhao Run could open his mouth, Zhao Hong flatly refused, "If he chooses to stay in the capital, from now on, wherever I am, he will be, even if I go to the bathroom, I’ll have to tie him to my belt!"
Thinking of clinging to Yang Erlang’s powerful and heroic leg?
Dream on!
That leg, full of rivers and lakes, daring and tenderness, is only for me to hold!