Chapter 304: Chapter 203
Zhao Yao, who was about to place his piece, paused his action upon hearing Mr. Xiao’s words. He raised his eyes, looking at the opposite Mr. Xiao with surprise, and feigned a puzzled expression as he asked, "Sir, why do you say that? What happened to my eighth brother?" Could it be that Mr. Xiao knows what my eighth brother has done?
Impossible, the things my eighth brother did were so secretive; Mr. Xiao couldn’t possibly know.
The reason he knew about what his eighth brother did was just his speculation without any evidence. How could Mr. Xiao, a mere teacher, know what his eighth brother did?
Mr. Xiao slightly knitted his brows and said, "The eighth prince is not a kind person." Mr. Xiao never liked the eighth prince, not because he was of low birth, but because of his nature.
"Sir, why do you think so?" What exactly has Mr. Xiao found out? "Have you learned or heard anything?"
Mr. Xiao said, "I haven’t heard anything, nor do I know anything, but..."
"But what?"
"But I feel the eighth prince is not a kind person," Mr. Xiao said with great certainty, "My judgment is not wrong."
Upon hearing Mr. Xiao’s words, Zhao Yao sighed in relief internally. He thought Mr. Xiao had found out something, and he was worried for his eighth brother, but it turned out Mr. Xiao didn’t know about the things his eighth brother had done.
"Sir, my eighth brother is my brother. Whether he is kind or not, he would do nothing against me."
Mr. Xiao didn’t think so. He frowned slightly and said, "The eighth prince is not a merciful person. You are still young now and no threat to him, so he treats you well. But once you grow up and become a threat to him, he won’t spare you."
"Sir, I couldn’t possibly pose a threat to my eighth brother," Zhao Yao said, rubbing his thumb against the chess piece with a face full of deep meaning, "I am not interested in that position; I will never vie for that seat with my royal brothers."
"Your Highness, you may not wish to compete for that position, but do the other princes believe you will not?" Mr. Xiao was not trying to sow discord between Zhao Yao and the eighth prince. He knew Zhao Yao was not interested in the throne and did not want to be involved in the struggle for succession. However, if Zhao Yao continued to be close to the eighth prince, he would definitely be implicated by the eighth prince. Perhaps the eighth prince would use him as a scapegoat for self-protection.
"If I’m not mistaken, the eighth prince is only following the Crown Prince on the surface, while secretly building his power. When the time is right, the eighth prince will surely show his fangs." Mr. Xiao was very confident in his judgment of people.
Zhao Yao was shocked and slightly opened his mouth. He didn’t expect Mr. Xiao had guessed this far.
"Sir, are you saying my eighth brother..." He had to pretend he knew nothing.
"The eighth prince will not be willing to remain subordinate to others!" Mr. Xiao said in a detached tone, "Someone of such background as the eighth prince only wants to keep climbing until he stands at the pinnacle of power, to retaliate against those who looked down on him or bullied him."
Hearing this, Zhao Yao silently marveled at Mr. Xiao’s keen insight.
"The eighth prince is not favored by the emperor and has no maternal family support, so he can only temporarily depend on the Crown Prince." Although Mr. Xiao was not interested in court affairs and did not want to be involved, it did not mean he was ignorant. On the contrary, he saw the court situation very clearly. "I guess he relies on the Crown Prince outwardly while secretly using the Crown Prince to cultivate his own power. When the Crown Prince and Prince Dai fight to the death, the eighth prince will reveal his true self."
Zhao Yao was stunned, although he was only pretending.
Mr. Xiao had completely guessed it right.
"The eighth prince disguises himself very well daily, deceiving everyone." Mr. Xiao said, suddenly letting out a heavy sigh, "The eighth prince grew up in various humiliations and never experienced love. His heart is unlikely to be pure and upright, let alone kind, because what he has seen since childhood is the darkness and filth of the palace."
"Someone like him with a dark heart, filled with suspicion. Once he gains power, it will be bad for Great Zhou and its people."
"Sir, why are you so sure?" Zhao Yao thought he had underestimated Mr. Xiao. Mr. Xiao was more insightful than he imagined.
"Because I have seen many people like the eighth prince," Mr. Xiao sighed lightly, "I say this not to drive a wedge between you and the eighth prince, but to warn you to be cautious of the eighth prince."