Zhao Yao watched the bustle and returned to the Fourth Prince’s side to tell him about the competition between Prince Dai and the Crown Prince.
The Fourth Prince, upon hearing, said with displeasure, "Does he consider rice planting a child’s play?" The "he" referred to Prince Dai, of course. "Father actually allowed him to ss around."
"The Crown Prince won. Uncle even said the Crown Prince planted very well." He guessed that the shaless father agreed to Second Brother’s challenge to teach him a lesson. "Said Second Brother’s planted rice wouldn’t survive. Now Father wants Second Brother to plant properly, and if he doesn’t do it well, he’s not allowed to eat."
Hearing this, the Fourth Prince also understood the Emperor’s intention. However, he still disapproved of Prince Dai using rice planting as a competition with the Crown Prince.
Prince Dai is really too arrogant!
The ministers didn’t take this rice planting competition seriously and considered it a trivial matter. Even Prince Dai himself thought so. His original intention was to win against the Crown Prince and make him embarrassed, but he unexpectedly lost to him. Fortunately, Father didn’t take it to heart.
At the beginning of the Shen hour, the Emperor, along with his ministers and sons, returned to the capital.
On the return journey, Pri Minister He shared a carriage with the Emperor.
Seeing the Emperor’s expressionless face, Pri Minister He knew he was in a bad mood.
"Since Your Majesty is displeased, why agree to Prince Dai’s proposed competition?" Pri Minister He discerned what was bothering the Emperor.
The Emperor wasn’t angry that Pri Minister He saw through his thoughts.
He sighed deeply and said, "He’s really made no progress." Using rice planting as a competition and losing, the Emperor was very disappointed in Prince Dai’s behavior this ti.
"Your Majesty, what kind of progress do you expect from Prince Dai?" Pri Minister He said aningfully, "If Prince Dai shows great improvent, what would Your Majesty do then?"
"If the second son shows great improvent, as a father, I would naturally be gratified."
Pri Minister He didn’t believe the Emperor’s words, "Your Majesty, Minister Liu and I have always been concerned about you getting caught up in your gas."
The Emperor was sowhat taken aback by Pri Minister He’s blunt words. He looked at Pri Minister He with interest, "You and Lao Liu know what I’m up to?"
Pri Minister He didn’t directly answer the Emperor’s question, "Your Majesty, Minister Liu and I aren’t fools."
"If you two were fools, then there’s no such thing as a fool in this world." The Emperor quipped, "You two combined have eight hundred tricks up your sleeves."
"Minister Liu’s and my cunning combined is not as much as yours." In trickery, there’s no one better than the Emperor. "Your Majesty, Minister Liu and I don’t want to clean up the ss for you."
Hearing Pri Minister He’s implied words, the Emperor retorted irritably, "When have I ever asked you to clean up a ss for ?"
"Your Majesty, your usual sses are harmless, but if this situation gets out of hand, the resulting ss could destabilize the court, and Minister Liu and I may not be able to handle it well." So much has happened lately, Pri Minister He really worries about the Emperor getting carried away, and once again reminds him, "Your Majesty, Minister Liu and I are getting old and can’t handle your antics."
"You’re about the sa age as , how are you old?" The Emperor glared at Pri Minister He, "Are you implying that I’m old?"
"Your Majesty, I’ve grown white hair." Having an Emperor who loves to stir things up like the Emperor is exhausting for Pri Minister He and Grandmaster Liu.
"Lao He, which of my sons do you think is the best?"
The Emperor’s words seed casual, but they made Pri Minister He tense up inside. However, he didn’t show any of it on his face.
Pri Minister He put down the teacup in his hand and calmly asked back, "In what aspect is Your Majesty asking?"
"In all aspects."
"The Princes are all naturally excellent." Pri Minister He spoke flawlessly, "In my eyes, the Princes are all outstanding, worthy of being Your Majesty’s sons."
The Emperor pointed at Pri Minister He and laughed, "Old fox."
"Thank you for the complint, Your Majesty."
"Hahahahaha..." The Emperor burst into laughter.
Sun Kui, sitting outside the carriage, couldn’t help but be curious upon hearing the Emperor’s laughter. What did Pri Minister He say to make the Emperor laugh so heartily?
The Emperor sprawled carelessly in the carriage, frowning and said, "My two sons are really worriso."
"That’s because Your Majesty has high expectations of the two Princes," Pri Minister He said, "Of course, since they hold important positions, Your Majesty should be strict with them."
"Sigh... these two just won’t make any progress, it’s really troubling..." The Emperor lay in the carriage, with his head resting on his crossed hands. Though he spoke of worry, his expression was rather carefree.
"Your Majesty, since you’ve canceled the marriage arrangent between Prince Dai and the young daughter of Grandmaster Kong, what are your plans next?"
"Lao He, you have a daughter, don’t you?"
Although he knew the Emperor was teasing him, Pri Minister He couldn’t help but feel nervous.
"Your Majesty, I advise you not to set your sights on , or else I’ll take a page from Lao Zheng and retire to the mountains."
Hearing this, the Emperor put on a frightened expression. He purposely pleaded, "Please, I was just joking with you, don’t abandon . If you leave, I’m dood."
Pri Minister He said with a stern face, "Your Majesty, so jokes are not to be made."
"Yes, yes, I won’t joke with you like this again." The Emperor collected his casual smile, his expression becoming serious, "I didn’t expect Grandmaster Kong’s young daughter to beco a nun. I underestimated the backbone of Grandmaster Kong’s family."
It was rare to see the Emperor falter, and Pri Minister He naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity to mock him.
"Your Majesty, this is what happens when your ga goes too far. In the previous dynasty, the Kong Family was ridiculed and disgraced by the world for supporting Prince Yun, their reputation plumted. In this dynasty, the Kong Family has finally regained so reputation, Grandmaster Kong wouldn’t dare let the Kong Family get involved in the Princes’ matters again."
"This is a wrong move on my part. What do you think I should do next?" The Emperor lay in the carriage, crossed his legs, and shook his right foot joyfully. "Who do you think I should assign to be Prince Dai’s concubine?"
Pri Minister He said, "As long as it’s not my daughter."
"Lao He, I’ve really taken a liking to your daughter."
Pri Minister He’s face changed dramatically, "Your Majesty..."
"Not for the second son." The Emperor gave Pri Minister He a reassuring look, "Your daughter is about the sa age as the Fourth, and I’m thinking of letting your daughter be the Fourth’s Princess, what do you think?"
Pri Minister He felt relieved. He said irritably, "Not great."
"Didn’t you, old fox, always praise the Fourth? Why do you look down on my Fourth now?"
Pri Minister He boldly and bluntly said, "I don’t want to be in-laws with you, nor do I want to get involved in your family matters." He quickly added, "If you ss around with marriages, I’ll resign imdiately."
"Lao He, can’t you stop using resignation as a threat against ?"
"I miss Lao Zheng dearly."
"Alright, alright, I won’t ntion it again." The Emperor truly feared Pri Minister He abandoning him and running off to retire to the mountains with Lao Zheng. "That old fox Lao Zheng..." ntioning Lao Zheng, the Emperor felt irritated.
"I think Lao Zheng was wise. He knew your temperant and knew he’d be worn out by you in the future, so he resigned and retired early." Pri Minister He showed a "regretful" look on his face, "He’s indeed cunning."
"That’s disloyal of him." The Emperor sat up, "He left us and ran off to seclusion, don’t you think that’s excessive?"
"Wasn’t it because he was afraid of your antics?"
"When did I ever give him a hard ti?"
"Haven’t you tornted him and us enough?" Pri Minister He said, suddenly recalling sothing, "Lao Zheng’s three sons are also grown, right? I heard his three sons are very intelligent and outstanding."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor imdiately understood what Pri Minister He ant, "You want to call on Lao Zheng’s sons to serve?"
"Lao Zheng doesn’t want to return, and we can’t force him, but his three sons..." Pri Minister He gave a cunning smile, "He wouldn’t want his sons to live in seclusion like he does. As a father, he should hope for his sons’ success. Moreover, his three sons, being young and ambitious, should desire to achieve sothing like their father."
"That’s well said. As soon as I’m back at the palace, I’ll write to Lao Zheng, asking him to send his three sons to the capital." The Emperor laughed, "How could I have forgotten about Lao Zheng’s sons?"
"I t his three sons a few years ago," Pri Minister He said slowly, "His eldest son has so of Lao Zheng’s true skills. The second son is obsessed with the Mo Family, and the youngest, though young, is very smart but has a rebellious streak."
"The youngest being smart and rebellious, what’s that an?"
"He acts according to his own preferences and doesn’t like being bound by worldly rules." Pri Minister He said, "Lao Zheng once complained to about this, saying he doesn’t know what to do with his youngest. He’s always worried his youngest son might beco a chaotic influence in the future."
"A chaotic influence?" The Emperor exclaid, "That serious?"
"Lao Zheng says his youngest son is too rebellious."
The Emperor laughed with interest, "Then his youngest seems quite interesting."
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