"Even if Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother quickly realize what I’ve done, they shouldn’t turn against me," Zhao Yao said, lacking confidence. "I’m not peting with them for the throne."
He Lianfang looked at Zhao Yao, who was deceiving himself, with amusement. "Do you think your good Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother will think like you?"
"Second Uncle, I believe Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother won’t doubt my intentions." Zhao Yao’s expression suddenly became very serious. "I trust the bond between us brothers."
"A bond?" He Lianfang was amused by Zhao Yao’s words and sneered, "The bond between you brothers is filled with deceit. Do you think your brotherly bond is really as strong as gold?"
Zhao Yao was left speechless by He Lianfang’s questioning.
"If you truly trusted Prince Chu and Prince Wei, you wouldn’t have kept deceiving them," He Lianfang sharply exposed Zhao Yao’s self-deception. "You should have already told Prince Chu and Prince Wei everything you’ve done over the years," he said, his tone being aggressive. "But are you willing? Do you dare?"
Faced with He Lianfang’s aggressive questioning, Zhao Yao couldn’t utter a single word.
"Zhao Yao, you claim that you’ve done all these things for self-preservation. How many people do you think will believe that?" He Lianfang continued to press. "Do you really think Prince Chu and Prince Wei will believe you have no intentions of seizing the throne? You’ve hidden so much from them, even more than what they’ve done. Do you really think they’ll believe you?"
Zhao Yao remained silent.
"Everything you’ve done over the years looks like it’s been for seizing the throne to anyone looking," He Lianfang of course knew Zhao Yao had no desire for the throne, but his questioning had another purpose. "When Prince Chu and Prince Wei discover what you’ve done, they’ll only think you’re pretending to be weak while actually being cunning, thinking your mind is unfathomably deep."
Zhao Yao looked silently at He Lianfang. After a while, a bitter smile appeared on his face. "Second Uncle, after all you’ve said, what are you really trying to tell me?"
He Lianfang collected his earlier sharpness and, with a normal expression, asked back, "What do you think?"
"Second Uncle, you know I have no desire for the throne, I don’t want to be emperor. Everything I’ve done over the years was to live freely." Wanting to live freely, he had to plan everything for himself so that no one could do anything to him.
"What I know doesn’t matter," He Lianfang replied coldly. "Your royal brothers won’t believe you."
"Even if, in the future, Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother don’t believe me and decide I’m a schemer and turn against me, I’ll accept it." Zhao Yao let out a long sigh. "I believe over time, they’ll e to understand I truly have no desire for the throne and won’t pose a threat to them."
"Zhao Yao, put yourself in their shoes. If you knew your dear brother wasn’t just foolish but actually very strategic, and when he went to Lingnan it was to cultivate his own power, which then grew stronger and stronger, would you feel at ease?" He Lianfang’s tone became sharp again. "Would you always believe he has no intentions of rebellion?"
"I..."
"Who can allow another to sleep peacefully beside their bed?" He Lianfang’s tone was cold. "Even if your good Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother are big-hearted enough to believe you, will their sons trust you? Will the ministers of the court believe in you?"
"Second Uncle, before I went to Swamp Prefecture, you talked to me about this and successfully persuaded me to secretly raise an army of a hundred thousand." Zhao Yao looked at He Lianfang with confusion and bewilderment. "Second Uncle, now you’re bringing up the same issue, what exactly do you want me to do? Are you suggesting I raise another hundred thousand troops?"
"Zhao Yao, my purpose in saying all this to you is to remind you that just because you don’t want to seize the throne doesn’t mean you won’t get caught up in the struggle for it. You may not be involved now, but in the future, you may be forced into it." He Lianfang continued, "Sometimes, you might even be forced to fight for the throne because if you don’t, it could mean death."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao’s heart sank sharply, and his expression turned cold.
"Zhao Zheng cherishes you, but can he protect you and your mother your whole life?" Having e to Lingnan, He Lianfang had no intention of overlooking the things Zhao Yao did in the imperial capital. He had to stoke the fire. "Zhao Zheng will age, he will fall ill, and then what will happen to Lady Liang in the palace?"
Zhao Yao’s face turned as dark as water after hearing He Lianfang’s words.
"I’m telling you this not to urge you to seize the throne, but to ensure you are always prepared for the possibility," He Lianfang said, softening his tone. "So that if you’re ever forced to fight for the throne, you won’t be caught off guard."
After hearing this, Zhao Yao’s expression became peculiar. "Second Uncle, didn’t you just say that everything I’ve done over the years seems like I’m fighting for the throne? So what more do I need to prepare for?"
"I mean your heart." He Lianfang pointed with tongs at Zhao Yao’s heart. "Your heart hasn’t prepared to fight for the throne at any moment."
"I never intended to vie for that position, so of course my heart isn’t prepared."
"Well, you can start preparing now."
Zhao Yao said, "Second Uncle, I think it won’t e to that."
He Lianfang laughed in anger at Zhao Yao’s words. "Zhao Yao, are you deliberately playing naive with me, or would you just rather continue deceiving yourself?"
Zhao Yao’s expression turned stiff, and he smiled awkwardly. "Second Uncle, your words are particularly sharp tonight."
"If I don’t wake you up now, by next year you won’t have any good days left," He Lianfang said, lightly tapping Zhao Yao’s head with the tongs. "Stop pretending ignorance."
Zhao Yao said helplessly, "Second Uncle, you really are my good Second Uncle."
"Being part of the Imperial Family es with many situations beyond one’s control, and many circumstances under pulsion," He Lianfang said, his tone turning gentle. "You should understand that in your heart."
"Sigh..." Zhao Yao let out a long sigh, his face full of melancholy. He deceived himself precisely because he knew everything in his heart.
"In future, I’ll remind you from time to time." Since he had e to Lingnan, matters of succession should be brought to the forefront; it wouldn’t do to let this youngster be so indifferent any longer.
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