Chapter 394: Chapter 233 Pen Pal_2
"It seems that Duke Zhen placed the right bet. The Emperor has never forgotten Si Youying, and all his guilt towards Si Youying is now being lavished upon Princess Consort Ying," the Eighth Prince said admiringly, "Ever since Princess Consort Ying entered the palace, she has been deeply loved by the Emperor, who hasn’t visited Noble Princess Consort Rong for quite a while. If this continues, Noble Princess Consort Rong will surely fall out of favor."
"As long as Noble Princess Consort Rong falls out of favor, Prince Dai will..." The Crown Prince’s eyes flashed with a cold glint, and then he raised the corners of his mouth into a sinister smile, "I can’t wait to see Prince Dai become like a stray dog."
"Brother, you must stay calm now," the Eighth Prince was concerned that the Crown Prince might act impulsively and ruin the meticulously planned scheme laid out by Duke Zhen.
"Though I’m eager to see Prince Dai become a stray dog, I won’t act rashly out of momentary impulse," the Crown Prince said with a smile, "I’ve waited so many years for the day Prince Dai falls; I don’t mind waiting a bit longer."
"I thought you couldn’t wait any longer, brother," the Eighth Prince joked.
"I am a bit impatient, but I can still hold my ground." The Crown Prince picked up a piece of braised pork and placed it in the Eighth Prince’s bowl, "What do you think Prince Dai will do next?"
The Eighth Prince thought for a moment and said, "Prince Dai will probably do everything possible to restore Noble Princess Consort Rong’s favor, and Prince Dai’s people might target ours next." As he spoke, the Eighth Prince’s expression suddenly became somewhat serious, "Brother, we must be careful next."
The Crown Prince nodded and said, "Rest assured, Uncle will handle everything well."
The Eighth Prince chuckled lightly, "True, with Duke Zhen around, there’s no need for us to worry."
"We just have to wait and see Prince Dai become a stray dog," the Crown Prince couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the mere thought of that scene.
The ministers in Lanyuan Pavilion were also discussing the matter since it was the first time the Emperor reprimanded Prince Dai.
Back when Prince Dai returned victorious from Liangzhou, he was so disrespectful to the Crown Prince and was even admonished by the Imperial Censor, urging the Emperor to severely punish Prince Dai. However, the Emperor only lightly punished him without a single harsh word.
Since Princess Consort Ying entered the palace, Noble Princess Consort Rong lost favor. Now, with Prince Dai being scolded by the Emperor, many ministers believe that Prince Dai is like Noble Princess Consort Rong and will soon lose favor.
For ministers who support the Crown Prince or the Third Prince, they can’t wait for Prince Dai to fall out of favor.
"Fourth Brother, did Second Brother do something wrong?" Zhao Yao asked on purpose.
The Fourth Prince replied, "I’m not sure."
Seeing Zhao Yao’s curiosity, he sternly said to him, "The matters of the adults, including Second Brother’s, are not for us to concern ourselves with."
Hearing this, Zhao Yao obediently nodded, "I understand."
The Fourth Prince changed the topic by asking Zhao Yao what birthday gift he wanted. In a few days, it would be Zhao Yao’s sixth birthday.
"Fourth Brother, I would be happy with whatever you give me," Zhao Yao said with a grin, "If you give me something valuable, I’d be even happier."
Looking amused, the Fourth Prince asked Zhao Yao, "What valuable thing do you want, gold?"
Upon hearing the word "gold," Zhao Yao’s eyes lit up, "Fourth Brother, if you give me gold, I definitely wouldn’t mind it."
Seeing Zhao Yao’s greedy look, the Fourth Prince helplessly yet dotingly smiled, "Then how much gold do you want?"
"Fourth Brother, if you give me plenty of gold, I would be very pleased," Zhao Yao replied unapologetically.
The Fourth Prince teasingly said, "Yellow and white objects are not always good; how about I give you a book?"
"What kind of book, a rare edition?" Zhao Yao weighed it in his mind and considered that a rare edition might be worth more than gold. "If it’s a rare edition, I’d be willing to accept it."
"You don’t like reading; giving you a rare edition would be a waste." The Fourth Prince teased Zhao Yao, "Don’t you like reading storybooks? How about I give you storybooks?"
Zhao Yao, dissatisfied, glared at the Fourth Prince, puffing his cheeks in displeasure, "Fourth Brother, how could you do that?"
Seeing Zhao Yao upset, the Fourth Prince quickly comforted him gently, "Just kidding, I’ll give you something valuable."
Zhao Yao’s little face immediately lit up with a bright smile. He looked at the Fourth Prince with full expectation in his eyes, "Then I’ll be waiting for Fourth Brother’s gift." He shook his small head and gently swung his little legs, "I really wish my birthday could come sooner."
Seeing Zhao Yao’s joyful and expectant look, the Fourth Prince’s eyes were filled with laughter.
"Little miser..."
"Fourth Brother, it’s only once a year that I get to have a birthday, and on that day, I receive many gifts," Zhao Yao said, tilting his head, "I wish I could celebrate my birthday every month; that way, I’d be rich."
"You want to celebrate every month? How greedy you are."
"Not every month, if only every day could be a birthday."
The Fourth Prince gently tapped Zhao Yao’s forehead and said with a laugh, "You wish."
Zhao Yao stuck out his tongue at the Fourth Prince, "Fourth Brother, can’t I even wish?" Saying this, he jumped off the chair, "Fourth Brother, I’m going to find Prime Minister He and the others to play."
Prime Minister He and the others had just finished their lunch and were waiting for Zhao Yao to come and play chess with them.
Every day after lunch, Zhao Yao would go and play chess with Prime Minister He and the others.
Zheng Rang saw Zhao Yao arrive and hurriedly took a letter from his pocket and handed it to Zhao Yao.
"Your Highness, your letter."
Zhao Yao took the letter from Zheng Rang’s hand and immediately placed it into his own pocket.
Zheng Qian wrote letters to Zhao Yao every day and then asked Zheng Rang to deliver them.
Unable to approach Zhao Yao himself, Zheng Qian came up with the idea of writing letters to maintain contact with his lord daily. While he couldn’t be at his lord’s side every day, his letters could.
Zhao Yao found Zheng Qian’s declaration of loyalty to be somewhat unbelievable. Initially, of course, he refused. Later, hearing from Zheng Rang that Zheng Qian was genuinely striving to become his strategist, not only curbing his temper but also studiously learning at the Imperial College, Zhao Yao found it hard to outright refuse.
He thought that once he grew up, Zheng Qian might change his mind and no longer consider him as his lord. However, Zheng Qian’s letters were written with such earnestness every day, detailing his daily activities, what he learned, what books he read, and his thoughts, all shared with Zhao Yao.
He even wrote to Zhao Yao asking for guidance on military strategy, with such sincerity that Zhao Yao couldn’t refuse and had to reply to him daily.
In this way, the two of them wrote letters to each other daily, becoming pen pals.