Chapter 356 Your Highness, You Shouldn’t Come to See Me

“Master, the Second Prince wants to see you.”

In the study of the princess’s mansion, Luan Nu hurried in to report the news.

Zhao Qi’an stopped what he was doing, looked up and asked, “Where are they?”

“I’m already at home, in the reception room now.”

Ji Haoyu is so anxious to come and see him?

Zhao Qi’an couldn’t help but frowned, but soon regained his composure, stood up and said, “I’ll go over now and tell people not to get close to the reception room.”

“Yes.”

……

In the living room, Ji Haoyu was waiting anxiously, looking outside from time to time, as if he wanted to see if Zhao Qi’an had arrived.

Zhao Qi’an arrived late. When he arrived at the reception room, Ji Haoyu stood up impatiently and said anxiously, “Haiqing, something big has happened.”

“I was in the palace when Prime Minister Wu fell ill. Your Highness, do you want to talk about this?”

Zhao Qi’an asked directly.

Ji Haoyu nodded immediately and said, “That’s exactly what happened. I just came out of the palace, and the Fifth Marquis said that my grandfather can’t be cured, and now he has been taken back to the Xiangguo Mansion to be raised. But in this case, what should I do?”

Compared to Ji Haoyu’s anxiety, Zhao Qi’an seemed much more calm.

He sat on the main seat, picked up the tea on the table, took a sip, and then sighed, “Your Highness, you shouldn’t have come to me in such a hurry.”

Ji Haoyu was stunned for a moment, and then he angrily said: “Zhao Haiqing! What do you mean by this?”

“Your Highness, you know that the most important thing you should do now is to accompany Prime Minister Wu. Even if it’s just for show, you should take good care of him in the Prime Minister’s mansion these days!”

This time, Zhao Qi’an did not give Ji Haoyu any face and spoke directly and clearly.

Ji Haoyu’s face turned pale and blue in an instant. He thought Zhao Qi’an was saying that he was heartless. Now that Prime Minister Wu was in poor health, he abandoned him like a worn-out clog. He was really heartless.

He held it in for a long time before finally saying, “I am not heartless. Prime Minister Wu is my grandfather. I am naturally sad that he is now bedridden… But now I can’t even protect myself. I can only take care of myself, not others.”

Zhao Qi’an remained calm and just glanced at Ji Haoyu.

The more they get along, the more they feel that the Second Prince is not up to the task.

How can such a person be worthy of the responsibility of an emperor?

Zhao Qi’an did not show his dissatisfaction, shaking his head and explaining: “Your Highness, you are wrong. Although Prime Minister Wu is ill, the Wu Party has not fallen. The Wu Party bureaucrats are deeply rooted from the Kyoto court to the nine provinces of Daqian. What a huge political fortune this is.”

“Now that Prime Minister Wu has suddenly fallen ill, it’s not just Your Highness and Prime Minister Wu who are affected. Not only Your Highness is worried, but the other members of Wu’s party are even more worried. Your Highness was able to learn the truth about Prime Minister Wu’s physical condition from the Fifth Marquis, but the others don’t know yet, so they will definitely go to the Prime Minister’s Mansion to find out.”

“That is why Your Highness should not appear here with me. You should appear in the Prime Minister’s Mansion, take good care of me, and win over the hearts of other Wu Party officials.”

“Prime Minister Wu has fallen, but the sky has not fallen, because there is still you, the Second Prince. Nothing has changed. As long as you can eventually sit on the throne of the new emperor, those who follow you will be promoted and given titles, and wealth and honor are just around the corner – this is what Your Highness should let them know!” Zhao Qian’an’s words undoubtedly woke Ji Haoyu up.

Yes, what he should do most now is not to come to see Zhao Qian’an, but to win over the hearts of the Wu party.

Ji Haoyu pondered for a long time, and said unconfidently: “But after all, I am a prince, not the crown prince, I can only listen to the government affairs but cannot interfere in them, which is different from my grandfather. In this case, how can the Wu party officials assist me wholeheartedly just because of a few words from me?”

“Now that my grandfather is seriously ill, the position of Left Prime Minister will definitely have to be resigned. What if the new Prime Minister disagrees with me? What if he supports the third brother?”

Zhao Qi’an leaned forward slightly and said meaningfully, “That’s why Your Highness doesn’t support one of your own to replace Prime Minister Wu?”

Ji Haoyu immediately shook his head: “This is impossible. The position of prime minister is decided by my father. No one can interfere. How can I influence my father’s thoughts?”

Zhao Qi’an said, “Your Highness has a point, but to put it bluntly, His Majesty cannot choose someone no one has ever heard of to take over the position of Prime Minister. The person chosen must have a very high prestige in the court and be able to suppress the hearts of all officials. In this case, aren’t there only a few candidates?”

“It just so happens that Qin Desheng, the official of the Ministry of Personnel, is one of the best candidates. If Your Highness is willing to act as a bridge for him and let the officials of the Wu Party jointly recommend him to join the cabinet, I think Your Majesty will also consider the opinions of the court, and this matter will be a sure thing.”

He paused for a moment, looked at Ji Haoyu, and said, “What’s more, after the court meeting today, Qin Tianguan found me and hoped that I could introduce him to His Highness. What do you think?”

Ji Haoyu was suddenly surprised and delighted: “He is willing to serve me?”

Zhao Qi’an nodded: “There’s nothing strange about this. Qin Tianguan was willing to cooperate with us before, which shows that he has the heart to serve Your Highness. Before, he was a little hesitant and worried because of Prime Minister Wu. Now that the big mountain in between is gone, Qin Tianguan is naturally willing to follow Your Highness’s lead.”

“Good good!”

Ji Haoyu slammed the table and said three good words in a row!
He looked at Zhao Qian’an, his eyes full of emotion and joy.

Every time he encountered a problem, Haiqing would always think of a suitable solution for him. This time his trip was not in vain, as Haiqing had already thought of a way out!
Actually, Qin Desheng was originally very distant from him, but was quite close to the third brother. It was also because of Haiqing, and he didn’t know what he talked about with Qin Tianguan, that he changed his mind and was willing to serve him.

Ji Haoyu felt that Zhao Qi’an was his lucky star!
He said, “In that case, I will go see Qin Tianguan now, and Haiqing, how about you make the arrangements?”

Zhao Qi’an reminded him, “Your Highness, what you should do now is go to the Xiangguo Mansion, not meet Qin Tianguan. How about meeting Qin Tianguan in a few days?”

Ji Haoyu patted his forehead and said with a smile: “I almost forgot about this, but Hai Qing also gave me such a big surprise. In this case, I will do as you said. I will not bother you here anymore. I have to hurry to the Xiangguo Mansion!”

……

Zhao Qi’an personally escorted Ji Haoyu out the door, and only after watching him get on the carriage did he return home.

After entering the mansion, Zhao Qi’an called Luan Nu over and said, “Go to the Treasure Pavilion and see if there are any new secret letters from Jingzhou. If there are any, send them to my study.”

“Slave, let’s do it now.”

Luan Nu nodded obediently, then went downstairs to prepare to leave.

Not long after Zhao Qi’an returned to the study, Luan Nu came back to report.

“Master, there is indeed a letter from Jingzhou, sent by the Fourth Young Master.”

(End of this chapter)