Chapter 368: Chapter 223: My Lord_4
"We didn’t stop you from seeking a lord, but the Tenth Prince won’t do. Our Zheng Family never participates in the struggles between princes. By recognizing the Tenth Prince as your lord, you’ll get involved in it. Do you know how dangerous that is?" Zheng Rang’s face turned pale with anger, "Do you think I’m afraid you’ll cause us trouble? I’m afraid for your safety."
"Big brother, since when did you become so naive?" Zheng Qian said coldly, "Do you think by not participating in the princes’ struggle, you’ll be safe and sound? Do you think being the son of Zheng Xilin means you can be at ease? Do you think it’s Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu you need to worry about?"
"From the moment we arrived in the capital, we were already in trouble and danger!"
Zheng Qian’s words left Zheng Rang and the others speechless.
"Before I came to the capital, I spoke to father. I told him I was going to the capital to find my lord. Father said that anyone I deemed worthy to be my lord must be very impressive." Zheng Qian said, "I also asked him what if my lord is a prince? Father said it doesn’t matter if it’s a prince, and I should do what I want to do. Father also said, although he’s no longer a Grand Commandant, he still has the skills to protect his three sons. If he didn’t have even that much skill, he would be living in vain."
Zheng Rang and Zheng Cheng were both astonished upon hearing this.
"Father actually said that to you?"
"Father also said you two are fools and asked me, as the younger brother, to help you both more." Zheng Qian remarked irritably, "Father also said it wouldn’t matter even if the three of us supported different princes because he would ensure the three brothers would be safe."
Zheng Rang and Zheng Cheng were shocked. They never thought Father would say such things. After all, before they left, he hadn’t talked to them like that. He just told them to do what they wanted and not to worry about anything else.
"Father also said that if we three support different princes, we should support our own lords with our abilities, but we brothers must not kill each other."
"How could we possibly kill each other?"
Zheng Rang understood Zheng Xilin’s implication. His expression suddenly became very serious as he said to Zheng Qian, "Since Father said he can protect the three of us, then younger brother, go and do what you want to do. Second brother and I will not interfere."
Hearing Zheng Rang say so, Zheng Cheng naturally wouldn’t oppose Zheng Qian from recognizing a lord, but he still thought his younger brother was being too hasty.
"Younger brother, we don’t oppose you wanting to recognize a lord, but are you sure your lord is the Tenth Prince? The Tenth Prince is out of favor and has no ministerial support in court. Furthermore, the Tenth Prince said he wants to be a leisurely prince when he grows up, to travel and taste all the delicious foods in the world. He doesn’t want to fight for the throne. Are you sure you want to recognize him as your lord?"
"Second brother, did you misunderstand something?" Zheng Qian said, casting a disdainful glance at Zheng Cheng, "I recognized His Highness the Tenth as my lord because he’s smarter than me, not because he’s the Tenth Prince. I’m not trying to help my lord seize the throne."
"Then why recognize a lord?" Zheng Rang asked in astonishment, "Isn’t the purpose of recognizing a lord to help your lord accomplish great things?"
"No, the reason I recognize a lord is that I only recognize those who are smarter than me. Of course, if my lord wants to vie for the throne and become emperor, I’ll help him. If my lord only desires to be a leisurely prince, then I’ll travel the world with him, tasting all the delicacies." Zheng Qian said, "Whatever my lord wants to do, I’ll help him do just that."
Zheng Rang and Zheng Cheng didn’t know what to say for a moment. This was completely different from what they had imagined.
"Then what’s the point of recognizing a lord?" Zheng Cheng was puzzled. Since he’s not aiding the Tenth Prince for the throne, why does his younger brother need to recognize him as a lord?
"Second brother, do you have a pig’s brain?" Zheng Qian looked at Zheng Cheng with extreme disdain, "Didn’t I just say that I recognize a lord because the lord is smarter than me? How many times do I have to repeat that before you understand?" Are they really blood brothers? How could he have such a foolish older brother?
"Younger brother, the Tenth Prince isn’t known for being bright. In everyone’s eyes, the Tenth Prince is a fool."
Hearing this, Zheng Qian curled his lips into a cold smile and said, "If my lord is truly an idiot, how did he come up with new paper and moveable type printing?"
Zheng Cheng agreed with Zheng Qian, nodding repeatedly, "If the Tenth Prince were really a fool, it would be impossible for him to create new paper and moveable type printing. The Tenth Prince simply doesn’t like studying. If he did study well, he’d certainly be very astute at it."
"The lord has always been hiding himself." Zheng Qian said meaningfully, "The lord is not as innocent and naive as he appears on the surface."
"What do you mean?" Zheng Rang was startled by Zheng Qian’s words, "Are you saying the Tenth Prince has been pretending to be silly..."
Before he could finish his words, Zheng Qian interrupted. Zheng Qian glared at Zheng Rang and said, "What do you mean by pretending to be a fool? The lord is wise yet appears simple."
Zheng Rang inwardly retorted: He’s already defending him.
"Younger brother, why do you think so?" In Zheng Rang’s view, the Tenth Prince wasn’t someone with deep scheming, especially since His Highness the Tenth’s eyes seemed so pure and clear. "You’ve only played two games of chess with His Highness and had no previous contact with him. How can you be so sure the Tenth Prince is extremely intelligent and always concealing himself?"
Zheng Cheng echoed, "Exactly, how long have you known His Highness the Tenth?"
"Two games of chess are enough." Zheng Qian looked at his bewildered older brothers with disdain, "Of course, you two fools can’t understand."
The routinely scorned simpletons Zheng Rang and Zheng Cheng: "..."
"So what are you planning to do next?" Zheng Cheng, recalling Zhao Yao’s earlier attitude, laughed with schadenfreude, "The Tenth Prince doesn’t want to be your lord, you know."
Zheng Qian said, "Next, I’m going to the palace to be by my lord’s side."
Zheng Rang was greatly surprised, "What, you’re going to the palace?"
"How are you going to the palace?"
"Of course, I’ll walk into the palace. How else, do you think I’ll fly in? How could I have two such dull-witted brothers? I must have been adopted."
"No, younger brother, in what capacity are you going to the palace?" Zheng Rang couldn’t fathom where Zheng Qian got the confidence that he’d definitely gain entry to the palace.
"Naturally, it will be in the capacity of accompanying as the lord’s study companion." Zheng Qian confidently said, "I’m so smart, the emperor will surely agree to let me be the lord’s study companion."