Chapter 314: Chapter 206: Aren’t you afraid that uncle has ulterior motives for you?_2
Before Zhao Yao could finish his sentence, Liang Zhaoyi interrupted him in shock: "What did you say? He wants to help you train spies?"
"Yes, he has already sent his men to Wusun to gather information ahead of time. When our second uncle and the others arrive in Wusun, his men will go and find them."
Liang Zhaoyi listened with trepidation. She almost couldn’t maintain her composure. She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and said, "Why does that uncle want to help you?"
"Oh, I told uncle I wanted to form a caravan to the Western Regions..." Zhao Yao recounted everything He Lianfang had said to him in detail to Liang Zhaoyi.
After listening, Liang Zhaoyi was both shocked and helpless.
"Do you trust that uncle so much?" Liang Zhaoyi couldn’t believe Zhao Yao had shared his affairs with He Lianfang, leaving her at a loss for words.
"Uncle harbors no ill will toward me. Besides, he doesn’t know my identity."
Listening to her son’s naive words, Liang Zhaoyi felt a sense of helplessness.
This child thought He Lianfang didn’t know his identity. Little did he know that from the first day he stepped into that house, He Lianfang had already recognized him.
"Aren’t you afraid he has ulterior motives?" He Lianfang actually wanted to help Yao Yao build a force, which meant he was trying to assist Yao Yao in vying for that position.
"Motives for what?" Zhao Yao laughed, "Motives because I’m young? Or because I’m smart and charming?" Uncle doesn’t even know his identity. "Uncle is helping me because I resemble someone he once knew. I believe uncle is trustworthy."
Liang Zhaoyi hesitated internally, unsure whether she should disclose the uncle’s true identity to Zhao Yao.
Given Prince Yi Yong, it’s normal for He Lianfang to be willing to teach Yao Yao military strategy. However, his current willingness to help Yao Yao build a force is not purely motivated. Considering He Lianfang’s resentment toward the emperor, he likely aims to incite Yao Yao to revolt against the emperor.
This matter needs to be reported to the emperor.
"Yao Yao, it’s important to be cautious of others, especially when you know nothing about that uncle."
"Don’t worry, mother, uncle is kind to me and won’t harm me." Zhao Yao said with conviction, "I can tell that uncle sincerely wants to help me."
In her mind, Liang Zhaoyi silently said: Of course, he wants to help you! But he has other intentions!
"By the way, mother, I have a gift for you. This is your birthday present." Zhao Yao took out an ornate box and handed it to Liang Zhaoyi, "Even though your birthday is still a few days away, I wanted to give it to you in advance so you can use it."
"What is it?" Liang Zhaoyi reached out to accept the box, filled with curiosity and doubt, and opened it to find a red object inside. The object carried a floral scent. "What is this?"
"It’s soap, also known as lard soap, made from lard, wood ash water, and flower juice." Zhao Yao explained, "It can be used for washing hair, face, body, and even clothes."
Liang Zhaoyi picked up the soap and examined it closely.
"Is this from the world of that dream Zhao Yao?"
Zhao Yao nodded and said, "Yes, in their world it’s called soap. It cleans the hair, face, and body very well, and is fragrant."
Liang Zhaoyi sniffed the scent and recognized it as peony.
"This is indeed a wonderful thing, I like it very much." Liang Zhaoyi gently stroked her son’s face and said with a tender smile, "This is the best birthday present I’ve received."
"Mother, this is nothing. I can make even better things in the future." Zhao Yao reminded Liang Zhaoyi, "Mother, you should use this soap secretly."
Liang Zhaoyi understood Zhao Yao’s meaning: "Yes, I’ll use it secretly."
"I’ve already written to grandfather, asking him to produce this soap, and then offer it as tribute to the palace. Once grandfather can manufacture soap openly, people in Yangzhou won’t dare to compete with him." Zhao Yao said with a gleeful grin, "Grandfather is the governor of Yangzhou, his soap business won’t have any competition there."
Liang Zhaoyi tapped Zhao Yao’s forehead lightly, smiling indulgently: "You really are a clever little one."
"Making soap a tribute can deter those with ill intentions." Thinking about the wealth he’d accumulate, Zhao Yao’s eyes turned into crescents as he smiled, "I’ll soon become rich with soap."
"You are such a little profiteer."
"Mother, I’ll tell you that designs can be carved onto this soap, including patterns, paintings, and words... " Zhao Yao chattered to Liang Zhaoyi about many things.
After listening, Liang Zhaoyi wanted to make one herself, but considering the palace wasn’t very safe, she temporarily abandoned the idea.
"By the way, didn’t you visit the Li Family? How was it?"
"Mother, the Li Family’s library has three buildings, and each is filled with books..." Zhao Yao recounted everything that happened at the Li Family to her in detail. Of course, including the matter of the Li Family script.
It was Liang Zhaoyi’s first time hearing about the Li Family script, "I didn’t expect the Li Family to create their own script, truly remarkable."
"The Li Family script is quite strange." Zhao Yao said, writing a few characters he saw that night for Liang Zhaoyi to see.
After looking, Liang Zhaoyi remarked, "This Li Family script looks more like ancient characters." It resembled symbols.
"The Li Family script isn’t pretty; the simplified characters from the dream world Zhao Yao are prettier." Zhao Yao said, writing his name in simplified characters, "Mother, don’t you think these simplified characters are beautiful?"
Liang Zhaoyi’s eyes lit up as she said, "Yes, they are beautiful and easy to write."
"Actually, the characters we write now exist in the history of the dream world Zhao Yao, they call them ’small seal script’." Zhao Yao smiled mysteriously, "Mother, I could spread simplified characters and make them our script."
"Promoting a new script is not an easy task, but if these simplified characters are created, they will definitely be popular." Liang Zhaoyi laughed, "Scholars and students will likely accept them easily."
"Why is that?"
"Because these characters are easy to write and look nice." Liang Zhao said, copying the two characters Zhao Yao had just written, "This simplified script looks very elegant when used for calligraphy, scholars and students will love it."
"Should I make them now?"
"No, you shouldn’t create them now, you’re too young." Liang Zhaoyi said, "Wait until you have your own fief, then create these simplified characters."
Zhao Yao obediently nodded: "That’s exactly what I plan to do."
Liang Zhaoyi said, "I really like these simplified characters. Yao Yao, teach me to write them every night."
Zhao Yao said, "No problem."
He had already taught the symbol for punctuation and pinyin to his mother.
"It’s getting late, you should head to the martial arts arena."
"Mother, I won’t be back for dinner. I’ll be dining with fourth brother." Zhao Yao stated, "After class, I’ll visit fourth brother and ask him to show me how papermaking is done."
"What do you plan to do?"
"I’ll tell you when I return tonight." Zhao Yao playfully teased.
After speaking, Zhao Yao went to change his clothes and then headed to the martial arts arena.
Liang Zhaoyi instructed Gui Xing, "Go to the Imperial Study and find Mr. Sun, tell him I have matters to discuss with the emperor, and ask the emperor to visit Kunde Hall tonight." The actions He Lianfang is taking toward Yao Yao must be reported to the emperor.