The prince is more stable

Chapter 949: Deep Love between Father and Son
Throughout history, no matter how wicked a father may be, he has always maintained a certain degree of authority in front of his son; this is a trait determined by the genes of the Chinese people.

Zhao Hao's face flushed slightly. His son had clearly witnessed the lewd and immoral scene just now. Although it was nothing unusual, it was still embarrassing for a father to be caught in the act by his son.

Fortunately, Zhao Hao had a very strong mentality. Over the years, he had endured the reputation of being a playboy in Bianjing and faced countless people's open and covert ridicule and mockery. His skin had become as thick as a copper wall and an iron wall.

After a brief moment of awkwardness, Zhao Hao quickly regained his composure.

Food and sex are human nature. Even sages sleep with women at night, and they might even be more adventurous in their ways than the sages. Is there anything wrong with a mere mortal playing around with his concubines?
The concubines tactfully withdrew, leaving only the father and son in the pavilion.

Zhao Hao calmly straightened his clothes, glancing sideways at him.

"What brings you back again?" Zhao Hao asked in a deep voice.

Zhao Xiaoqian was shocked: "Other people's parents wish their children could stay by their side every day. From what Father King said, it seems that he dislikes me coming home?"

Zhao Hao coughed twice: "Dislike... well, not quite."

Zhao Xiaoqian: “…………”

Listen to that tone! Where is it "not that bad"? You practically have "disdain" written all over your face.

Suddenly I felt my family was even more broken.

Zhao Xiaoqian pointed to his nose, incredulously saying, "Father, I, your exceptionally capable son, have become the emperor. I condescend to come home, and you are still not happy about it?"

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced quickly towards the outside of the pavilion and sneered, "What, did I interrupt your use of your alternate account?"

Zhao Hao sighed and said, "Of course I'm happy for you to go home, but... next time you come home, please send someone back to the manor in advance to let me know. Otherwise, you might run into some awkward situations that could affect my lofty and great image in your heart..."

"...Father, wake up! You have never been tall and mighty."

Zhao Hao was taken aback, then his old face showed displeasure: "What do you mean?"

"In my child's mind, you are the sixth brother who wears a ghillie suit and lies in the grass, ambushing people..."

Zhao Hao didn't understand, but he knew it wasn't a compliment, so his old face hardened: "You scoundrel! Just because you're the emperor doesn't mean I won't scold you!"

He glared at him fiercely and said coldly, "Let's get down to business. What are you doing at home?"

Zhao Xiaoqian blinked and said, "Let's not get to the important matter yet. I have a casual question for you... It seems that Father hasn't been flirting with the Empress Dowager lately?"

Zhao Hao sneered, "Once the novelty wears off, why bother being so clingy with her? Does she really expect me to grow old with her?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said indifferently, "If you and she can grow old together, I will not object, but it is best not to have a son too early, otherwise there will be a lot of trouble. Your own grandson is waiting for me to pass the throne to him. If Father gives me a younger brother, the trouble will be huge."

Zhao Hao spat and said, "Have a child with her? Bah! She doesn't even deserve it!"

Zhao Xiaoqian was amazed; the image of the scumbag was so vividly portrayed that he turned his back on her as soon as he was done with her, getting tired of her so quickly.

Zhao Xiaoqian doesn't deny that he's a scumbag, having married quite a few women and planning to marry even more in the future, but at least he's not as scumbag as his father.

Zhao Hao's expression grew even colder, and he said in a deep voice, "Qian'er, keeping the Empress Dowager in the harem is likely to cause trouble. In my opinion, it would be better to let her suffer from a sudden illness and die as soon as possible."

“You recently targeted the Empress Dowager and her maternal relatives, seizing 120,000 hectares of land from her family. This enmity has run too deep. Although she may not dare to do anything to you now, who knows if she is lying in wait for a fatal opportunity? Listen to me, it would be better to nip it in the bud as soon as possible.”

Zhao Xiaoqian pondered for a moment and said, "Ever since the Empress Dowager was reprimanded by my father, she has indeed behaved very obediently..."

“I am not a woman’s sentimentalist, but when dealing with her, we must also take into account the reaction of the Empress Dowager’s maternal relatives. If the Empress Dowager’s sudden death triggers a fierce reaction from her relatives and stirs up trouble in the court and the country, it would be a loss that does not outweigh the gain.”

Zhao Hao nodded and said seriously, "Let's plan this carefully, father and son. We can't let her live."

Zhao Xiaoqian was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Father, we are the Emperor and the King of Chu, so why do we seem like villains conspiring to harm others?"

Zhao Hao paused, then murmured thoughtfully, "I hadn't realized it until you mentioned it, but that smell just now really gave off a feeling of utter wickedness. No wonder my conscience ached a little..."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded quickly: "My conscience also ached a little just now."

The father and son exchanged a glance and said in unison, "They really are blood relatives!"

Whether the Empress Dowager lives or dies is not of any concern to Zhao Xiaoqian. In the court and in the palace, whether it is intrigue or treason, the first thing is to have power.

Either there is a force in the court that wholeheartedly supports you, or there is a powerful army in the capital that is determined to follow you to the death.

Empress Dowager Xiang has neither of these two things, so how much trouble can she stir up?
After speaking with the Empress Dowager, Zhao Hao was about to ask him what business he had at the Prince's residence today, but he saw Zhao Xiaoqian get up, pat his bottom, and leave.

"Alright, I was just stopping by to visit my father. Seeing that he is still as vigorous as ever, I am very pleased. Now I'll head back to the palace."

Zhao Hao was quite surprised. So, what exactly did his son come back for today? Was it really just for a casual chat?
Completely bewildered, Zhao Hao also got up, but was stopped by Zhao Xiaoqian.

“Father, please continue playing your game. I won’t keep you any longer… But Father, you should still take care of your health. You are the Emperor’s own father. If you get too engrossed in playing and accidentally die on a woman’s belly, the historians won’t know how to write your life story…”

"Bullshit! How could I possibly die on a woman's belly? You bastard, are you cursing me?" Zhao Hao roared in fury.

After leaving the pavilion in the backyard, Zhao Xiaoqian walked straight outside. Zhao Hao was furious that he was still going through his rebellious phase at his age. He immediately summoned his concubines and continued playing the game of "Come and get me, Your Majesty!"

After bypassing the pond and pavilion in the backyard, Zhao Xiaoqian did not head towards the front courtyard. Instead, he turned a corner in the backyard and went straight to Zhao Hao's study.

The study remains unchanged, filled with all sorts of books, many of which are said to be unique copies and worth a considerable sum.

On the antique mahogany table were the Four Treasures of the Study. Zhao Xiaoqian walked into the study, and when he gently brushed his fingers across the table, they were covered in dust. Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't help but scoff.

In the past, in order to deceive outsiders, Zhao Hao would often pretend to be cultured, writing and painting in his study, and after a long time, he would produce a poem that was hard to describe, to show off to the literati in Bianjing.

Now that his son has become emperor, the living father is too lazy to even pretend anymore, and no one has entered this study in who knows how long.

Zhao Xiaoqian searched everywhere in the study, examining each item for a long time, trying to find the secret mechanism in the study.

That's right, there must be a secret room in Zhao Hao's study. For someone like him who does shady things all year round, it would be unprofessional not to have a secret room.

After a long while, Zhao Xiaoqian felt a metal protrusion at the bottom of the bookshelf. He was delighted and twisted it slightly. The bookshelf made a cracking sound, and a crack quietly appeared in the wall next to the bookshelf.

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed heartily, feeling a sense of accomplishment he hadn't experienced in a long time.

He got up and slowly pushed open the cracked wall, his expression excited as he muttered to himself.

"Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, China Merchants Bank, mountains of gold and silver, US dollars and British pounds... Ready, let's go!"

…………

In the pavilion in the center of the pond in the backyard of the Chu King's mansion, Zhao Hao's leisurely mood, which had just been interrupted by his son, was rekindled.

Blindfolded, Zhao Hao wore a lewd smile. His concubines giggled and their graceful figures dodged and jumped, accompanied by women's screams, coquettish cries, and indescribable strange sounds. It was still the same debauched and immoral scene.

Zhao Hao transformed into a nimble and flexible fat man, and this time he quickly caught a concubine. He then removed the blindfold and held the concubine in his arms, groping her all over.

At this moment, a maid from the Prince's mansion hurriedly ran over and stood outside the pavilion, looking hesitant and unsure whether she should go forward and disturb the Prince's enjoyment.

Having had his fill of fun, Zhao Hao had already noticed the maidservant outside the pavilion and asked with a nonchalant smile, "What is it?"

The maidservant looked terrified and whispered, "Your Highness, the Emperor... he..."

"What happened to him? Didn't he just leave?"

The maid hesitated before saying, "The Emperor hasn't left; he just went into the Prince's study..."

Zhao Hao chuckled: "He hasn't even touched the books in the palace, but he's in my study..."

His voice suddenly stopped, and Zhao Hao's entire body of fat trembled violently, his expression immediately turning to terror.

"Oh no! The study!"

The concubine in his arms was no longer appealing. With a flick of his wrists, Zhao Hao threw her away. The nimble fat man instantly transformed into an agile fat man, his whole body resembling an enlarged and widened black rat, as he darted out of the pavilion.

As he ran frantically toward the study, Zhao Hao was furious and muttered curses under his breath.

"What is this spendthrift doing? Ah! What is he going to do?"

"You're already the emperor, if you want money, go and squander the national treasury! Why are you still eyeing my family's wealth? What kind of emperor is this with such a narrow-minded attitude!"

A moment later, Zhao Hao practically tumbled to the study door. He was pale, leaning against the door frame, panting heavily, and looking into the study.

At first glance, Zhao Hao's eyes widened in fury, and his blood pressure spiked.

One wall of the study had been pushed open like a door, and the figure of the spendthrift son could be seen in and out of sight, busy with something.

Zhao Hao felt dizzy and disoriented, as if the sky had fallen.

He actually discovered the mechanism and found the secret room!
If I can't survive, I'll go hang myself in the Yin'an Hall!
...Before hanging himself, he must first put aside his own family and clean house!

Zhao Hao rushed in, glaring and shouting, "You unfilial son, stop!"

(End of this chapter)