Chapter 305: Chapter 203_2
Seeing Zhao Yao’s deep trust and reliance on the eighth prince, Mr. Xiao hesitated for a long time before reminding him, as he didn’t want Zhao Yao to be harmed by the eighth prince in the future.
"Sir, I know you mean well for me." Zhao Yao smiled gratefully at Mr. Xiao, "But, sir, I still believe that my eighth brother will not hurt me."
Mr. Xiao, surprised by his words, asked, "Your Highness, why are you so certain that the eighth prince will not harm you in the future?"
"Sir, perhaps as you said, the eighth brother may show his fangs in the future and hurt many people, but he will definitely not harm me." Zhao Yao said with a smile, "The eighth brother will never harm me!"
Mr. Xiao did not understand why Zhao Yao was so sure, "Your Highness, do you really trust the eighth prince so much?"
"Yes, I trust my eighth brother!"
Mr. Xiao saw Zhao Yao’s firm belief in the eighth prince and was unsure if he should continue speaking.
"Sir, to my eighth brother, I am his only brother, and his only family in this world." Zhao Yao spoke seriously, "Just for this reason, the eighth brother will not harm me."
Mr. Xiao felt that Zhao Yao’s words made some sense. He smiled lightly and said, "I hope the eighth prince lives up to your trust."
"I believe my eighth brother will not disappoint me," Zhao Yao said with a grin.
Mr. Xiao stopped discussing the eighth prince and brought up the fourth prince.
"The fourth prince is a very good person."
"Sir, do you think highly of my fourth brother?"
Mr. Xiao nodded slightly, "Yes, the fourth prince is a very good candidate."
Zhao Yao laughed, "Sir, we are of the same mind; indeed, my fourth brother is a very good candidate." He added, "If nothing unexpected happens, the eventual winner will be my fourth brother."
He did not know what his fourth brother had done, but he guessed his fourth brother was likely secretly building his own force, just like the eighth brother.
Though his fourth brother now stayed inconspicuous, once both the Crown Prince and Prince Dai failed, his fourth brother would no longer remain hidden and would reveal his ambition.
"The fourth brother is very responsible and has the country at heart," Zhao Yao said, "Most importantly, my fourth brother has a merciful heart. If he ascends the throne, he will undoubtedly be a good emperor, possibly even better than our father."
"Actually, among the princes, the fourth prince is the one most like the emperor, not Prince Dai," Mr. Xiao said, "Prince Dai only resembles him in appearance, but not in character or ability."
If Sun Kui heard Mr. Xiao’s words, he would surely mock his naivety. Among the princes, the one most like the emperor wasn’t Prince Dai or the fourth prince, but Zhao Yao. If nothing else, not wanting to be emperor is just like the emperor.
"I think so too."
"Your Highness, do you hope the fourth prince or the eighth prince will ultimately win?"
The question caused Zhao Yao to pause slightly. He did not answer immediately, but pondered and said, "Both my fourth brother and eighth brother are good brothers to me, and they treat me well. Regardless of which one ascends the throne, I would be happy for them. It’s just... as you said, the eighth brother’s nature is somewhat..." His nature is somewhat obsessive, and when doing things, he might be extremely extreme.
"Compared to the eighth brother, the fourth brother is more suited for the throne. For the sake of Great Zhou and its people, I hope my fourth brother wins in the end." Another important reason is if the fourth brother ascends, and he pleads for the eighth brother, the fourth brother would spare his life, but if the eighth brother wins, pleading for the fourth brother may not save him.
"You would help the fourth prince?" Mr. Xiao asked.
Zhao Yao shook his head and said, "I will not help my fourth brother, nor will I help my eighth brother."
He continued, "I will not intervene in their affairs. Besides, a fool like me has no right to meddle in their matters."
Mr. Xiao was amused by Zhao Yao’s words: "Your Highness, you are not foolish."
"It’s better for me to be a bit foolish." Zhao Yao laughed cheerfully and said, "Being a fool is quite nice."
Mr. Xiao understood Zhao Yao’s intention, nodded in agreement, and said, "Your Highness is right."
After saying this, he thought for a while and decided to remind Zhao Yao again, "Your Highness, caution against others is necessary."
Zhao Yao nodded and said, "I understand, sir."
This was Mr. Xiao’s kind advice, which Zhao Yao accepted.
"The third prince and others..." Mr. Xiao continued, referencing the third prince and the fifth prince, "Compared to the Xie family of the Duke Zhen Country Mansion, the Wang family is more detestable."
Speaking of the Wang family, Mr. Xiao’s face showed undisguised disgust.
Seeing Mr. Xiao’s strong dislike for the Wang family, Zhao Yao asked curiously and doubtfully, "What about the Wang family?" Compared to the Xie family, the Wang family was a lesser issue. If the stern emperor took action against the families in the capital, he would surely start with the Xie family of the Duke Zhen Country Mansion.
"The crimes of the Wang family are not few either," Mr. Xiao said coldly.
"The noble families have committed no less." Zhao Yao flicked the chess piece with his thumb and caught it again, "Not one of the families is clean, but they have not yet crossed our father’s bottom line, so he turns a blind eye. If they angered him, they would end up like those families in Yangzhou."
"These noble families are cancers, but it’s a pity they cannot be completely eradicated."
"The noble families in the capital are not as arrogant and foolish as those in Yangzhou; they are very shrewd," Zhao Yao said, "It’s impossible to completely root out the capital’s noble families; the methods used for the families over in Yangzhou are not suitable for dealing with the noble families in the capital."
"Moreover, if the noble families in the capital were pushed too hard, they might rebel," Zhao Yao said seriously, "If these families united against the court, there is no certainty the court could withstand them."
"Your Highness, how do you think the noble families in the capital should be dealt with?"
"It’s very simple, sow discord among them so they can never join forces."
"How do you sow discord?"
Zhao Yao said, "One word: ’profit’."
"Profit?"
"These noble families are very selfish, caring only about their own family’s profit, and would never sacrifice for another family," Zhao Yao said, "In recent years, our father has been continually sowing discord among the families, and although they appear harmonious on the surface, they secretly see each other as rivals, wanting to seize each other’s interests."
"When the Emperor and our father arranged a marriage with the Xie family, it wasn’t because the Xie family was a top noble family, but to use them to sow discord among the families."
"See, the Wang family has never acknowledged the Xie family as their leader. They’ve always wanted to bring down the Xie family and share in their benefits."
"The higher our father elevates the Xie family of the Duke Zhen Country Mansion, the more jealous and envious the Wang family becomes of the Xie family."
Regarding the noble families, Mr. Xiao had not thought of this.
"I’ve learned something."
If His Highness aimed for the throne, with His Highness’s intelligence, neither the fourth prince nor the eighth prince would be his match.