Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne-Chapter 188 - 158 - s of Studying Military Strategy

"Boss, are you really the Tenth Prince?" Shen Sen and the others still couldn’t believe it.

"Do I not look like one?"

Chu Huan nodded and said, "Yes, you do." Chu Huan wasn’t too surprised by Zhao Yao’s identity. From the first time he saw Zhao Yao, he knew Zhao Yao wasn’t as simple as he seemed and didn’t believe he was just the son of a wealthy merchant.

"Boss, since you’re the Tenth Prince, does that mean..."

"My mother told me that if I’m making friends with you, I shouldn’t hide my identity, as it wouldn’t be sincere. So, I specifically left the palace this time to tell you my identity." Seeing Shen Sen and the others still shocked, Zhao Yao felt a bit worried. "You won’t stop being my friend just because I’m the Tenth Prince, will you?"

"This..." Zhang He and the others had never thought of befriending a prince. Suddenly finding out their new boss was a prince left them a bit bewildered.

Zhao Yao suddenly thought of something and asked, "Did your fathers tell you not to associate with princes?"

Chu Huan was the first among them to snap back to reality. "Our fathers didn’t specifically tell us that, but they did tell our brothers."

Shen Sen nodded in agreement. "Our fathers didn’t say that to us either."

"So, are you afraid your fathers will oppose your friendship with me?" Zhao Yao said earnestly, "I genuinely want to be your friend; otherwise, I wouldn’t have revealed my true identity to you."

He quickly added, "I’m not befriending you because you’re the sons of General Song and the others." This statement was a bit unconvincing, although even if they weren’t the sons of General Song, he would still be friends with them.

Chu Huan said, "Boss, whether or not you’re a prince, you’re still our boss."

Seeing Chu Huan express his stance, Shen Sen and the other three quickly echoed, "Xiao Bai is right. Since we recognized you as our boss, you’ll always be our boss."

"Aren’t you afraid your fathers will oppose our friendship?"

"Boss, we won’t tell our fathers, so they won’t know." Song Jicai said, "Besides, who we make friends with is our business, why do we need to report to them?"

"Exactly, they don’t tell us about their friends either."

"Our fathers never said we couldn’t be friends with a prince."

"Boss, don’t worry, you will always be our boss."

Listening to their reassurances, Zhao Yao felt deeply touched. "You will always be my good friends, my good brothers!"

Perhaps because they were still young, Chu Huan and the others weren’t awestruck or scared of Zhao Yao just because he was a prince; instead, they interacted with him as they did before.

"So should we call you Boss or Your Highness from now on?"

"Of course, I’m your boss, not your highness," Zhao Yao said. "Once I’m out of the palace, I’m not the Tenth Prince."

"Boss, to be honest, you don’t seem like a prince at all," Zhang He said with a grin.

"In what way?"

"We’ve met Prince Dai."

"If you’re judging based on my second brother, then I indeed don’t seem like one."

"Boss..."

Then, with curiosity, Zhang He, Shen Sen, and the others bombarded Zhao Yao with questions.

They were naturally curious about the prince, especially since it was their first direct encounter with a living prince, so they had many questions.

Zhao Yao, not expecting them to be so curious about the prince, patiently answered all their questions.

Because of these questions, their relationship became even closer.

"Boss, have you found out who the owner of that residence is?" Chu Huan was also curious about the owner of that place.

"I went back to the palace and asked Mr. Qin to investigate. Many people’s situations are like that uncle’s, but none are the actual uncle." Zhao Yao added, "Mr. Qin was a former subordinate of your father and is now teaching us horse riding and archery in the palace."

"Uncle Qin Su?"

"Yes, that’s him."

"Boss, your archery skills were taught by Uncle Qin!" Chu Huan said with a smile. "Uncle Qin often teaches me archery too."

"Then we are indeed fellow apprentices."

"But, I’ve never heard Uncle Qin mention you." Chu Huan thought that with the boss’s excellent archery skills, Uncle Qin would certainly boast about having such an impressive student, but he’d never heard Uncle Qin mention the boss.

"Because I have an average performance in the palace."

Shen Sen and the others looked puzzled at Zhao Yao.

Zhao Yao scratched his head and said, "In the palace, to avoid attention, I haven’t truly showcased my archery skills."

Chu Huan understood, but then he was puzzled.

"Boss, why do you need to hide your skills?"

"To avoid drawing attention," Zhao Yao replied, and seeing their confused faces, he further explained, "I’m the youngest son of the emperor, but I’m not very favored. Moreover, my maternal family has no power or influence, so I have to conceal my abilities in the palace..."

Zhao Yao carefully explained his situation to Chu Huan and the others. They listened with expressions of shock.

Despite their young age and their carefree lifestyle, being sons of a Great General, they knew a bit more about such matters.

"I didn’t expect being a prince could be so difficult."

"Boss, that’s quite unfortunate for you."

"Boss, have you ever been bullied in the palace?"

"Boss, don’t worry, we’ll help you keep it a secret."

Chu Huan and the others were all the youngest sons in their families. Although they were often scolded for being unruly, their parents still cherished them greatly. Moreover, their brothers were their full-blooded siblings.

General Song and the others didn’t take concubines, only having their official wives, so Song Jicai and the others had no half-brothers. Their elder brothers also doted on them.

As noon approached, Zhao Yao invited Chu Huan and the others to Zhenxiu Building for hotpot.

During the meal, they didn’t discuss the matter of identity again. Chu Huan and the others told Zhao Yao about recent happenings in the capital, such as the increased number of foreigners arriving, including many foreign women. Their dancing was said to be enchanting, drawing large crowds.

"Did you guys go see them?"

"No, we wouldn’t dare."

"If our fathers found out we went to a brothel to watch foreign girls dance, they’d kill us."

"It’s said that the way foreign women dance is different from ours."

"They say they’re also exceptionally beautiful."

Zhao Yao rubbed his chin and said, "I want to see it too."

Hearing this, Zhang He and the others quickly put down their bowls and chopsticks, asking excitedly.

"Boss, you’re going to watch the foreign girls dance?"

"Boss, if you’re going, we’ll go with you."

Zhao Yao glared at Zhang He and the others, "Didn’t you just say you were afraid your fathers would beat you?"

"We’ll sneak out, and our fathers won’t know."

"With you around, Boss, what do we have to fear?"

"Boss, after we’re done eating, let’s go then."

"Not today. After the meal, I have to visit that residence," Zhao Yao said. "The next time I leave the palace, I’ll take you to see it."

"Boss, you must keep your word. If our fathers find out later, we’ll say you took us, so they probably won’t punish us."

"I promise, next time I’ll definitely take you."

"Boss, why are you going to that residence again?"

"To learn military strategy from that uncle."

"Learn military strategy?"

Upon hearing the words "military strategy," Chu Huan and the others’ eyes lit up.

"Boss, can we come with you?"

"Boss, we want to learn military strategy too."

They’d always wanted to learn military strategy, but their fathers and elder brothers refused to teach them, saying they wouldn’t be able to learn it.

"That uncle won’t let you in," Zhao Yao said, recalling that last time the uncle didn’t allow Chu Huan and the others to enter. "I was allowed because I resemble his friend, and that’s why he’s willing to let me in and teach me."

"Boss, put in a good word for us. Maybe he’ll let us in."

"I’ll try. If not, I’ll teach you what I learn."

"Alright."

After finishing their lunch, Zhao Yao didn’t go directly to the residence but first stopped by a pastry shop to buy some snacks.

The last time he visited the residence, it felt quite eerie. However, this time it seemed less gloomy, though there was still an odd air about it.

Zhao Yao raised his hand and knocked on the door. After a moment, the door was opened from the inside by the ordinary man he had seen last time.

The ordinary man opened the door and stepped aside, gesturing for Zhao Yao to enter.

"Can I bring my friends inside?" Zhao Yao asked politely.

The ordinary man glanced at Chu Huan and the others, then shook his head and pointed to Zhao Yao, indicating only he could enter.

Zhao Yao turned back to Shen Sen and the others. "Wait here at the door; I’ll go in and ask the uncle."

"Boss, we’ll wait for you."

Zhao Yao followed the ordinary man into the residence. The middle-aged man was seated in the backyard just as before.

"Uncle, I’ve come to see you."

The middle-aged man showed no surprise at Zhao Yao’s visit, as if he had anticipated he would come today.

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