The prince is more stable

Chapter 403 Threat and Deterrence
The relationship between the clansmen of the Song Dynasty was not very harmonious.

Whether it was for profit or for prostitutes, clan members often fought each other.

There were many fights and quarrels, but there were not many relatives who were mortal enemies. Zhao Hao and Zhao Ji were one of them.

Other clan members fight for profit and beauty, but these two are different. They want life, they want each other's life.

Zhao Ji was gifted, cunning, and ruthless. The fact that he was able to cultivate a mysterious and powerful force at such a young age showed that he was an extraordinary person.

If Zhao Ji had been given another ten years to develop slowly, perhaps Zhao Hao would really be inferior to him.

However, he ultimately lost because of his youth. Zhao Hao was more cunning, more vicious, and had more powerful forces under him.

Zhao Ji was quite excited at first because he had such an enemy in his life. It was a kind of perverted excitement.

But later, when Zhao Hao's actions against him became more and more frequent, Zhao Ji suddenly realized that he seemed to have gotten excited too early.

In comparison, one's own life seems to be more important.

Unlike Zhao Ji's assassination of Zhao Xiaoqian, Zhao Hao's revenge against Zhao Ji was comprehensive. He retaliated against Zhao Ji in any field and by any means.

Every day when Zhao Ji wakes up, he would unconsciously ask the officials in the Prince's Mansion how the shops under his name are doing today, whether the caravan is still alive, whether the food has been tested for poison, etc. The child is almost developing a mental illness because of this.

But Zhao Ji didn't dare to report these things or make them public. Even if he was assassinated, he could only suppress the news and not let it spread.

Because he was afraid that if he made it public, the government and the court would dig deeper. After all, there is no such thing as a perfect person or thing in the world.

With more people paying attention, even the most carefully hidden people and things will eventually be exposed. The shameful force under Zhao Ji once ambushed the imperial army in a canyon.

Once it is discovered, the emperor will not care whether he is his biological brother or not. Anyone who touches the reverse scale of imperial power must die.

So Zhao Ji had no choice but to swallow his anger. No matter how Zhao Hao retaliated, he not only did not dare to fight back, he didn't even dare to say a word. Like an honest child being bullied, he could only squat down with his hands on his head, trying to save his life.

After one or two days, one or two months, Zhao Ji became annoyed and afraid.

He thought he was an abnormal madman, but he didn't expect that Zhao Hao's revenge would be even crazier than him.

To be honest, he sincerely believed that he and Zhao Hao should both go see a doctor, and the two of them could team up to get a group purchase at a discounted price...

When a madman finds out that there is someone crazier than him, he will probably recover without any medicine and gradually become normal.

Now Zhao Ji began to behave normally. He felt that he had to swallow his pride and ask for peace. He could not continue to fight with this madman Zhao Hao, otherwise something big would happen sooner or later.

There was no one around, and the two were still on their way out of the palace.

"Uncle King of Chu, how about we just let it go?" Zhao Ji said with a smile.

Zhao Hao blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about? What do you mean by 'let it go'? Hey, what are you talking about, kid? Why can't I understand you?"

Zhao Ji sighed and finally lowered his head: "My nephew was wrong, I won't dare to do it again."

Zhao Hao's eyes gleamed. Is this a clear sign? Then he couldn't pretend anymore.

"Zhao Ji, has my son Xiaoqian ever offended you before?" Zhao Hao asked slowly.

Zhao Ji shook his head: "I have never offended anyone."

Zhao Hao smiled. "So, Xiaoqian must have blocked your path, making you uncomfortable. Well, it's my Xiaoqian who's being naive. How about I kowtow to you on his behalf? I beg you to be magnanimous and spare my son's life."

As he spoke, Zhao Hao suddenly lifted the hem of his robe and pretended to kneel down to Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji was horrified and held Zhao Hao's arm tightly, saying, "Uncle King of Chu, you are embarrassing me! Are you trying to kill me?"

While holding Zhao Hao, Zhao Ji couldn't help but look around in panic, fearing that this scene would be seen by people in the palace. The royal elders were kneeling before the younger ones. If someone saw it, Zhao Ji would be questioned and doubt his life, and he would have no way to defend himself.

How else to explain it? His Royal Highness the King of Chu is so poor that he is going crazy. Seeing that New Year's Eve is approaching, he kowtows to his juniors to wish them a happy new year and ask for a big red envelope?

It’s the opposite of Tiangang.

Of course, Zhao Hao had no intention of really kneeling down. After being supported by Zhao Ji, he stood up and looked at him with a smile.

"Uncle King of Chu, I admit defeat. Seriously." Zhao Ji looked at him sincerely and said, "I was ignorant before, but now I've figured it out. We're all family, and we shouldn't be killing each other. I deserve to die. How about we just let this go?"

Zhao Hao shook his head: "No, no, we should continue. I've only just begun, and many of the methods I had planned haven't been used yet. Do you think we should just give up?"

Zhao Ji's heart sank and his expression became even uglier.

Zhao Hao smiled and said, "Oh, right, there's something I don't understand. You keep coming to the palace and showing your affection to the Queen Mother. What's your real purpose? She's not your biological mother. There's no reason to be so filial to her, right?"

Zhao Ji smiled stiffly: "The late emperor has passed away, and my biological mother has passed away. I am now a fatherless and motherless person. After all, the Queen Mother is my nominal mother. What's wrong with me being filial to her?" Zhao Hao stared into his eyes for a long time, then chuckled, and then his laughter became louder and more presumptuous.

"Haha, I don't believe it!"

Zhao Ji's face fell. As expected, this old madman was not so easy to fool.

"It doesn't matter if you don't tell the truth. I will follow whatever you do. If there is an advantage, I won't let you take it all for yourself."

A surge of anger rose in Zhao Ji's chest again. This father and son were really... neither of them was a human being.

"So, Uncle Chu has been frequently entering and leaving the palace lately to give gifts to the Queen Mother, all for..."

Zhao Hao smiled and said, "That's right. Although there is no clear purpose, being able to make you unhappy is what makes me feel the most happy."

As he spoke, Zhao Hao suddenly grabbed Zhao Ji's hand, and his fat palm kept rubbing on the back of his hand. Zhao Ji got goose bumps all over his body, as if a piece of fatty pork belly was rubbing the oil on the back of his hand.

Zhao Hao said earnestly, "Zhao Ji, you know the situation of my Chu lineage. Now we only have Xiaoqian as the sole descendant."

Zhao Ji forced a smile and said, "Yes."

"For twenty years, I've held this only child in my hand, afraid he'd get hurt. I've treated him like a treasure. And then one day, someone suddenly appears and inexplicably wants to kill him. What do you think I should do?"

"If I had more sons and one or two were killed, perhaps I wouldn't be too angry. There's no kinship in the heavenly family. Leaving one to carry on my family line is enough. But... I only have this one."

Zhao Ji finally understood what Zhao Hao meant. He pursed his lips tightly and his face turned ashen.

"I've lived a muddle-headed life, earning myself the reputation of a dandy. It doesn't matter. I don't care. But if anyone dares to demolish my ancestral hall, don't blame me for going crazy."

"The ancestral hall is gone, the incense has ceased, and I am too ashamed to face my ancestors. In this case, I can only choose to die with him. Let's go together. In the underworld, we will face our ancestors to discuss right and wrong."

Zhao Hao's tone became increasingly harsh, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at Zhao Ji, his gaze like a sharp blade, piercing his soul.

"Zhao Ji, do you think I have the ability to die together with others?" Zhao Hao said with a grim smile.

Zhao Ji felt a chill in his heart and nodded subconsciously. In the past month or two, Zhao Hao had fully demonstrated his ability.

"I understand what Uncle King Chu means," Zhao Ji said in a low voice.

Zhao Hao said leisurely, "My son has now taken office in Zhending Prefecture. It's a good place, but surrounded by enemies and a place full of dangers. Any accident could cost him his life."

"...I've never been a reasonable person in my life. If anything happens to my son, whoever I think did it is the one who did it. No matter who or what evidence there is, as long as we both die, that's it."

Zhao Ji looked at him in shock and couldn't help but say, "Uncle King of Chu, I really didn't intend to... If anything happens to Brother Zi'an, you can't blame me for everything, right? I'm not the only one who has enemies with him."

Zhao Hao smiled and said, "Didn't I just say that I'm unreasonable? How can you reason with an unreasonable person?"

Zhao Ji stared at him blankly for a long time, then lowered his head and sighed, "Yes, Ji'er understands what Uncle Chu means. Brother Zi'an will be fine."

Zhao Hao laughed heartily and patted him on the shoulder: "You are a good young man. We are all relatives. We should visit each other more often in the future. Don't alienate our family ties."

As the two were talking, they had already reached the palace gate.

After leaving the palace, Zhao Ji saluted Zhao Hao, then quietly got on his own carriage and left.

Zhao Hao stood in front of the palace gate, squinting his eyes as he watched Zhao Ji's carriage slowly disappear, and the smile on his lips gradually disappeared.

Solve it?

No, it was not solved. Zhao Ji was a man of such character that he would not give up easily.

All we can say is that Zhao Ji was forced to lie low due to pressure.

Being dormant for a while is a good result.

Zhao Hao's goal was to keep Zhao Xiaoqian safe in Zhending Prefecture. He had done so much in Bian Jing, including threats and showdowns, all in order to restrain and intimidate Zhao Ji so that he would not dare to act rashly. Only then could Zhao Xiaoqian, who was far away in Zhending Prefecture, be safe.

"I'll go back to the warehouse and pick some out, and then send gifts to the Queen Mother tomorrow." Zhao Hao murmured.

As Zhao Hao spoke, his eyes narrowed again and he looked back towards the palace gate.

"Come to think of it... the widowed sister-in-law seems to have become even more charming than before."

Zhao Hao smacked his lips regretfully. If only...

Crossing the border of morality, we walked through the forbidden zone of love...

(End of this chapter)