Chapter 382: Chapter 228: The Fate of the Tenth Prince_3
"Master, you didn’t tell me my elder brother would have trouble back then."
"Heaven’s secrets must not be divulged," the old man said.
"Then why did you disclose that I would become emperor?"
"Because at that time, you didn’t want to shoulder the burden of all the lives under heaven," the old man said kindly. "I was worried about you before."
"Worried I wouldn’t do well as emperor?"
The old man smiled but said nothing.
"Are you reassured now?" the emperor asked with a beaming smile.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty, you are a good king who loves the people like his own children." The old man’s expression suddenly became very serious, "The people of Great Zhou are fortunate to have such a good emperor as you."
Hearing such praise from the old man, the emperor felt a bit flattered and said, "I dare not claim such credit; I merely did what needed to be done, but not well enough." The Great Zhou was just beginning, and there was much he hadn’t accomplished yet. "Master, do you remember what else you told me back then?"
"I remember," said the old man with a smile. "In the future, Great Zhou will welcome an emperor who will usher in a grand era of peace."
"If I’m not mistaken, the emperor you referred to who brings about this grand era is not me, but my son, correct?"
The old man did not directly answer the emperor’s question but smiled and asked, "Your Majesty, why don’t you think it’s you who will bring a grand era to Great Zhou?"
"If I live long enough, I might bring prosperity to Great Zhou, but I won’t live that long." The emperor seemed flippant, but his heart was as clear as a mirror. "What I can bring to Great Zhou is peace, but the world is not yet entirely peaceful. However, before I die, Great Zhou will be entirely peaceful." In this, the emperor had confidence.
"It is precisely because of this that your son will bring a grand era to Great Zhou," the old man said, looking admiringly at the emperor. "The Great Zhou of today is flourishing, and that is all thanks to you, Your Majesty."
"Indeed, it’s my son," the emperor deliberately asked, "Which of my sons?"
The old man smiled and said, "Your Majesty, haven’t you already figured it out?"
The emperor feigned ignorance, "Master, you overestimate me; I can’t read faces, so how could I know which son it is?"
"Your Majesty, why didn’t you bring His Highness along?"
"Master, you know?"
The old man said nothing, smiling all the while.
"He’s asleep."
"Then let me accompany Your Majesty to see him."
Seeing the old man’s enthusiasm, the emperor was a bit surprised, "Master, are you usually this eager?"
The old man gave the emperor a deep look and then said meaningfully, "I came this time precisely for this matter."
This statement left the emperor a bit startled, "Master, you came to the capital not to see me, but to see Xiao Shi?"
"Exactly," the old man said, rising to his feet. "Please lead the way, Your Majesty."
The emperor suspiciously glanced at the old man, then led him to see Zhao Yao, who was taking a nap.
The old man sat by the bedside, staring intently at Zhao Yao, who was sleeping soundly. After a moment, he stood up and left the room.
The emperor and the old man returned to the previous room, and the emperor quickly asked, "How was it?"
The old man said, enigmatically, "The time is not yet ripe."
The emperor understood the old man’s meaning, nodding in agreement, "He’s still young; indeed, the time is not yet ripe."
"Your Majesty, His Highness the Tenth is just like you in your youth," the old man said with a smile. "You two have very similar temperaments."
"Xiao Shi indeed resembles me the most," the emperor lightly swirled the tea cup in his hand, watching the golden tea sway gently inside. "Therefore, I want him to do what he desires." He couldn’t do what he wished in his life, so he hoped Xiao Shi could pursue his aspirations.
"Your Majesty, His Highness the Tenth came into this world with a mission. Like you, he is to bear the heavy burden of all the lives under heaven," the old man said. "Even if you do not wish for His Highness the Tenth to bear this responsibility, heaven will still have him do so because it is his destiny for coming into this world."
"As an emperor, naturally, I hope my son can be an outstanding and good emperor, truly bringing prosperity to Great Zhou." The emperor said, sighing softly, "As a father, I wish for him to live freely and happily."
"Your Majesty, His Highness the Tenth cannot escape his fate," the old man said with deep meaning, "Since last year’s illness of His Highness the Tenth, his fate has been sealed, something no one can change."
The emperor hadn’t expected the old man to know about Zhao Yao’s severe illness last year. He was taken aback, "Master, how do you know about Xiao Shi’s illness last year?"
The old man didn’t answer but quietly looked at the emperor.
The emperor suddenly thought of something, and with a troubled expression, he asked, "So, was Xiao Shi’s severe illness last year also predestined?"
"Indeed," the old man added, "His fate changed because of it too."
Hearing the old man’s words, the emperor suddenly thought of how his younger son had grown much smarter after last year’s illness and had created many astonishing things this year.
"Xiao Shi he..." Liang Zhaoyi hadn’t told the emperor about Zhao Yao’s dreams, for such things were too unbelievable.
The old man said, "Still your son, His Highness the Tenth."
The emperor didn’t understand what the old man meant, feeling his words were quite baffling, "Xiao Shi is, of course, my son."
"Your Majesty, before the time is right, His Highness the Tenth shouldn’t stay in the capital," the old man reminded the emperor, "Once he comes of age and is granted a title, let him stay far from the capital. At that time, he will accomplish many remarkable feats."
The emperor raised an eyebrow, asking in astonishment, "Away from the capital?"
The old man nodded slightly, "Yes, the farther the better!"
The emperor wanted to ask more, but the old man changed the subject to other matters, no longer discussing Zhao Yao.