Zheng Qian, seeing that his persuasion was useless, cursed his father fiercely in his heart. He decided to settle accounts with Grand mandant Zheng when he arrived at Swamp Prefecture.
"Alright, Grand mandant Zheng is ing to see you two. As his sons, you should be happy."
Zheng Cheng’s heart filled with joy and anticipation again, but Zheng Qian was still full of discontent.
Zhao Yao said no more about Grand mandant Zheng, and continued talking about the last few days of the trade conference.
After finishing their lunch, the brothers Zheng He and Zheng Qian left the Han Prince Mansion to continue their own affairs.
With some time before the afternoon football match, Zhao Yao did not rush to the Cuju Field but returned to his study to rest for a while. As for Grand mandant Zheng’s imminent arrival at Swamp Prefecture, he did not take it to heart.
Hearing the sound of wheelchair wheels ing from outside the study, Zhao Yao did not open his eyes, but a hint of a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
Shortly after, He Lianfang’s voice came from the doorway of the study.
"It’s me."
Zhao Yao: "Uncle, e in."
He Lianfang pushed the wheelchair slowly inside, seeing Zhao Yao sitting at the desk looking at something, and asked, "What are you looking at?"
"A contract." Zhao Yao raised his eyes to look at He Lianfang and asked with a smile, "At this hour, Uncle, shouldn’t you be napping? What brings you to me?"
He Lianfang looked at Zhao Yao and straightforwardly asked, "Zheng Xilin is ing to Swamp Prefecture, what are your thoughts?"
Zhao Yao didn’t ask how He Lianfang knew. He shrugged and said, "I have no thoughts."
He Lianfang, hearing this, slightly raised an eyebrow: "Do you want him to e?"
"Uncle, Grand mandant Zheng is ing to Swamp Prefecture as a father to see his two sons. What reason do I have to refuse?" Zhao Yao blinked at He Lianfang, "He hasn’t told me, so I’ll just pretend I don’t know anything."
He Lianfang was a bit surprised by Zhao Yao’s answer.
"With Zheng Xilin actively ing to Swamp Prefecture, do you want to miss this opportunity?"
"Uncle, are you suggesting I take this chance to ally with Grand mandant Zheng?" Zhao Yao said, laughing self-deprecatingly, "Even the Emperor has no way to make Grand mandant Zheng return to the capital to assist him, what ability do I have to make him help me?"
Zhao Yao, with self-awareness, said, "Grand mandant Zheng has always lived secluded in the mountains, clearly not wanting to be involved in the court’s rights and wrongs. Why should I seek embarrassment for myself? Besides, I’m not vying for the throne, there’s no need to curry favor with Grand mandant Zheng. Even if I had the ability to recruit Grand mandant Zheng to assist me, it would be such a waste."
"Having Zheng Xilin assist you, why would it be a waste?"
"I’m not vying for the throne, having him stay in Lingnan assisting a small Han Prince like me, isn’t that a waste of talent?" Zhao Yao felt having Grand mandant Zheng assist him would be an overkill. "Someone of Grand mandant Zheng’s talents serving under me is too much of a grievance; he should continue to assist the Emperor, making the Great Zhou better and better. Unfortunately, he doesn’t want to return to the capital." Emperor Zhao is not the Zhao Yao from history’s Han Gaozu; Grand mandant Zheng need not retire like Zhang Liang, but Grand mandant Zheng still left the court and returned home to be an old farmer. Frankly, for someone with such great talent, not utilizing his abilities to benefit the people, he doesn’t understand. However, everyone has their own aspirations, and he cannot say that Grand mandant Zheng’s early retirement is wrong.
"If you think Zheng Xilin is useful, why not try having him stay in Swamp Prefecture to help you."
Zhao Yao waved his hand and said, "Forget it, I already have the brothers Zheng Cheng and Zheng Qian." If he wanted to vie for the throne, he would find ways to win over Grand mandant Zheng, but he just wanted to be the Han Prince in Lingnan; the talents of Grand mandant Zheng’s two sons are enough for him; he doesn’t need Grand mandant Zheng’s abilities. "I do not want to find trouble for myself." He’s already busy enough, and doesn’t want misunderstandings from the capital that might lead him into trouble and danger because of Grand mandant Zheng.
"Uncle, if you are interested in Grand mandant Zheng, you can go see him."
He Lianfang said, "I will go see him." He intended to probe Zheng Xilin a little.
Zhao Yao said nothing more about this matter, and started talking to He Lianfang about the parade on the last day of the trade conference.
Zhao Yao had to attend the afternoon football match, so he didn’t talk long with He Lianfang.
He Lianfang, having watched the football match in the morning, didn’t plan to go in the afternoon.
Returning to his own study, He Lianfang sighed in frustration, "Turning down such a gift, really..."
Speaking of which, what exactly is Zheng Xilin’s purpose in ing to Swamp Prefecture, and what scheme does Zhao Zheng have in mind.
At this moment, the emperor far away in the capital was stretching, but suddenly sneezed, hurting his back, and cried out in pain.
Sun Kui quickly approached to massage the emperor.
"I’m getting old." The emperor rubbed his still aching back, "My body is being sluggish."
"Your Majesty, you are in the prime of your life, how can you say you’re old."
"Sitting at this desk day after day, my body has bee duller and duller." The emperor said with a face full of grievances, "If I weren’t the emperor, just a leisurely prince, I’d be robust now."
Sun Kui: "..."
"Being this emperor is wearing down my lifespan." The emperor lay on the desk, voice full of resentment, "I want to bee the Supreme Emperor, when will that brat let me fulfill that wish?"
Sun Kui’s mouth twitched slightly, reminding the emperor, "Your Majesty, the Han Prince is only seventeen."
"If that brat were twenty-seven this year, I’d have abdicated long ago and let him be the emperor." The emperor was intent on abdicating to bee the Supreme Emperor and live carefree days. "I’ll wait another ten years." Thinking he had to be emperor for another ten years, Zhao Zheng had a face full of weariness.
"By the way, I wonder if old Zheng has reached Swamp Prefecture?"
"Your Majesty, is Grand mandant Zheng going to Swamp Prefecture to help the Han Prince?"
"I don’t know, old Zheng said he was going to Swamp Prefecture himself, claiming it was to see his two sons." The emperor said, "Whether old Zheng helps him depends on whether that brat has the skills to persuade him." The emperor hoped Zhao Yao could persuade Zheng Xilin to help him. With Zheng Xilin’s help, Zhao Yao would be even more powerful.
Sun Kui silently wondered in his heart: would the Han Prince ask Grand mandant Zheng to help him?
If Zhao Yao were here, he would surely tell Sun Kui: He wouldn’t!
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