Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne-Chapter 179 - 151 He Was Played by the Crown Prince

The Emperor designated the annual spring plowing as an important day, and the court took it very seriously.

On the morning of this day, at an auspicious hour, the Emperor would pray to heaven and earth and the ancestors, hoping for favorable weather throughout the year. Then, he would pray to the god of the five grains, Hou Ji, seeking a bountiful harvest for the year.

On the day of spring plowing, at the hour of Yin, when it was still pitch-black outside, Zhao Yao was shaken awake by Tong Xi.

To help Zhao Yao wake up early, Tong Xi directly washed his face with cold water.

After having his face iced with cold water for a moment, Zhao Yao finally awoke from his deep sleep.

Seeing Liang Zhaoyi in the dining hall, Zhao Yao asked in astonishment, "Mother Consort, why are you up?" Mother Consort didn’t need to participate in the prayers or attend the spring plowing, so there was no need to get up this early.

"I made breakfast and snacks for you," Liang Zhaoyi said warmly, "Eat more."

"Mother Consort, I’m just going to join the fun." Zhao Yao’s body wasn’t in the best condition and wasn’t suitable for field planting. The Emperor originally didn’t plan to bring him, but with the "persuasion" of the Fourth Prince, he finally agreed to take Zhao Yao.

"You are going to observe and learn, not just to join the fun." Liang Zhaoyi sternly corrected Zhao Yao’s remark.

Realizing he misspoke, Zhao Yao stuck his tongue out and said, "Mother Consort is right, I am going to learn."

"Your royal brothers will all be in the fields planting rice, so watch carefully," Liang Zhaoyi earnestly instructed Zhao Yao, "In the future, you will also need to learn how to plant rice."

"Rest assured, Mother Consort, I will watch closely." Although sometimes the old Emperor did unreliable things, he was very good at spring plowing. "I will also learn well."

"Have your breakfast; otherwise, you’ll be late for the prayers." Liang Zhaoyi sat down to have breakfast with Zhao Yao.

"Then I have to eat quickly."

Liang Zhaoyi personally made congee, egg pancakes, and shumai for Zhao Yao. Her egg pancakes were very delicious, and Zhao Yao usually loved to eat them, able to devour several in one go.

Zhao Yao ate two bowls of congee, four egg pancakes, and five shumai. If Liang Zhaoyi hadn’t stopped him, he could have eaten another pancake and two more shumai.

After feeding Xiao Bai and finishing its meal, Xiao Bai returned to Zhao Yao’s sleeve, winding itself around his arm.

Seeing this, Liang Zhaoyi jokingly asked, "Doesn’t this little guy feel stuffy hiding in your sleeve every day?"

"Xiao Bai is too shy and timid to stay alone," Zhao Yao lifted his right hand and gently patted Xiao Bai wrapped around his left arm, "Besides, the weather isn’t very warm yet, and Xiao Bai is afraid of the cold. It’s comfortable wrapped around my arm." When sleeping at night, Xiao Bai would curl up into a ball in Zhao Yao’s arms.

"I noticed earlier, it seems to have grown a bit."

"Yes, it’s gotten longer and chubbier."

Liang Zhaoyi reminded, "During the prayers, make sure it doesn’t run out and frighten anyone."

"Got it, Mother Consort." Zhao Yao waved to Liang Zhaoyi, "Mother Consort, I’m off now."

The location for the prayers was at the altar, also known as the Temple of Heaven.

The Temple of Heaven wasn’t far from Chengguang Hall, but it was quite a distance from Kunde Hall, taking about three ke of time to walk.

The Fourth Prince waited for Zhao Yao on the road.

"Good morning, Fourth Brother."

"Good morning."

Since formal attire was needed for the prayers, both the Fourth Prince and Zhao Yao were dressed in crimson prince robes.

The crimson attire made Zhao Yao look even more like a delightful, charming little figure, especially endearing.

"Cold?" the Fourth Prince asked while reaching to hold Zhao Yao’s hand. Finding Zhao Yao’s small hands were warm, he felt at ease.

"Fourth Brother, I’m not cold." Zhao Yao held the Fourth Prince’s hand and found it a bit cold, "But your hands are a bit chilly, Fourth Brother. Let me warm them for you." Zhao Yao used his chubby little hands to rub the Fourth Prince’s hands.

"I’m not cold either." The Fourth Prince didn’t let go of Zhao Yao’s hand, "Let’s go."

"Fourth Brother, you look very handsome in red." Normally, his Fourth Brother appeared mature and stable, like an adult, but the red outfit made him seem more lively.

"You look truly stunning in red as well."

"I am good-looking, so I look great in anything." Zhao Yao was always self-aware of his appearance.

"Indeed, you look great in everything." The Fourth Prince laughed.

The brothers walked and talked until they reached the Temple of Heaven.

The ministers were already there, standing in order.

Among the princes, only Zhao Yao and the Fourth Prince had arrived, the others had not yet come.

The Fourth Prince was worried that Zhao Yao might forget the prayer rituals out of nervousness, so he quickly reviewed them with him again.

Soon after, the Third Prince and others arrived, and shortly thereafter, Prince Dai arrived with the Ninth Prince.

The Ninth Prince intentionally gave the Third Prince and his group a provocative look, to which they responded with a dismissive eye roll.

As soon as Prince Dai arrived, the atmosphere became lively.

The ministers all greeted Prince Dai, and he chatted amiably with them.

Watching Prince Dai and the ministers talking and laughing, Zhao Yao silently remarked to himself: With the Crown Prince sick and unable to attend spring plowing, Second Brother proactively stepped up in place of Da Liang, making himself appear like the Crown Prince.

In recent years, Prince Dai had been quelling rebellions outside and hadn’t attended spring plowing. This year, with his rare presence in the capital, and the Crown Prince unwell, it gave him this opportunity.

During the upcoming sacrifices, Prince Dai would temporarily assume the Crown Prince’s role for the prayers.

But just as Prince Dai was delighting in his role, suddenly a voice giving greetings to the Emperor wafted over from afar.

"Greetings to Your Majesty."

Then, another voice came giving greetings to the Crown Prince.

"Greetings to the Crown Prince."

Prince Dai’s smile froze, his eyes wide with disbelief.

How could this be?

How could the Crown Prince be here?

Many ministers also wore expressions of disbelief.

Seeing Prince Dai and the ministers with such astonished looks, Zhao Yao almost couldn’t hold back his laughter.

He already knew that the Crown Prince would show up, never allowing Second Brother to replace him.

It turned out he guessed right!

Looking at the Crown Prince walking beside the Emperor, Prince Dai’s gaze turned gloomy and filled with anger.

He had been tricked by the Crown Prince!

The Crown Prince saw Prince Dai’s shocked expression and felt a smug sense of satisfaction inside.

Duke Zhen was the first to salute the Emperor and Crown Prince; the ministers hurriedly followed suit.

As Prince Dai lowered his head, his face twisted into a dark and distorted look.

"You may rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The Emperor ascended the Temple of Heaven, with the Crown Prince following behind him.

The Seventh Prince, who had been trailing behind the Emperor and Crown Prince, joined the princes’ ranks.

Though the Seventh Prince appeared calm, he was inwardly furious and resentful.

Although he was the legitimate son, he was often overlooked. Even though his status was higher than that of the Crown Prince, yet...

Just a while ago, on the way to the Temple of Heaven, the Seventh Prince encountered the Emperor and the Crown Prince, so he joined in walking with them.

On the way to the Temple of Heaven, the Crown Prince, as the elder brother, kindly inquired about the Seventh Prince. Although inwardly annoyed by the Crown Prince’s feigned concern, he still answered obediently.

The thing that made the Seventh Prince most angry was not the Crown Prince, but the Emperor’s indifference towards him.

When the Emperor saw the Seventh Prince, he merely glanced at him and did not ask if he had breakfast or how his studies were going.

Among the princes, the Seventh Prince was quite outstanding, especially in academics. Apart from the Fourth Prince, the Seventh Prince was the best at studying among all the princes.

The Seventh Prince often received praise from his teachers for his studies, but he rarely received praise from the Emperor. This increasingly made him feel that the Crown Prince was blocking his path.

In fact, it wasn’t just the Seventh Prince; even other princes, including the Crown Prince, rarely received the Emperor’s praise. Even when the Crown Prince was studying back in the day, his tutors were full of praise for his intelligence and often complimented him in front of the Emperor, yet the Emperor seldom praised the Crown Prince.

Among academics, the only one to receive praise from the Emperor was the Fourth Prince.

The Fourth Prince didn’t study as much as the Crown Prince, but unlike the Crown Prince, he didn’t study rigidly. The Crown Prince was somewhat rigid in his studies, and the Emperor often called him a bookworm.

The Crown Prince was smart in his studies, but he didn’t possess the insight of the Fourth Prince.

The Emperor led the Crown Prince in sincerely praying to heaven and earth and the ancestors, and then also offering prayers to Hou Ji.

After the prayers, Zhao Yao and the others would first return to their own palaces to change out of their formal attire and into regular clothes.

Kunde Hall was a bit far, so the Fourth Prince directly took Zhao Yao to Xingde Palace, to his room to change clothes.

The Fourth Prince’s room always had a few outfits prepared for Zhao Yao. Sometimes Zhao Yao would stay there.

After changing clothes, Zhao Yao deliberately went to the Eighth Prince’s room to visit him.

Since returning to the palace, the Eighth Prince had been recuperating in his room. After these days of rest, his face finally showed a bit of color, though he was still very weak.

After chatting with the Eighth Prince for a while, Zhao Yao left.

"Fourth Brother, let’s go."

The Fourth Prince nodded lightly, then took Zhao Yao’s hand and headed towards the palace gates. On the way, the Fourth Prince considered a few times telling Zhao Yao to keep his distance from the Eighth Prince, but ultimately didn’t say it out loud.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel