Chapter 489: Chapter 267: Bagge Wants to Use the Kong Family to Counter the Li Family in the Future
In the residence of He Lianfang, Zhao Yao sat under the veranda, engrossed in munching an apple.
Watching Zhao Yao nibble at the apple in the same way the emperor did, like a squirrel gnawing on a nut, He Lianfang thought to himself: No doubt they’re father and son.
When he was losing his teeth before, Zhao Yao dared not eat apples. Whenever he had an apple, his teeth would surely fall out. Besides avoiding apples, he wouldn’t eat anything hard either.
Now, all his teeth have grown back, so there’s no need to worry about them suddenly falling out while eating. He intended to eat all the things he didn’t dare to before.
"What do you think about the matter of making offerings to Mr. Li?" He Lianfang was also eating an apple, but his was cut into small pieces. His teeth weren’t as good as Zhao Yao’s for gnawing whole apples.
Zhao Yao spat out the apple seeds in his mouth before saying, "Father did it on purpose."
He Lianfang continued to ask, "What is your father’s objective?"
"To suppress the Kong family and Duke Zhen." Zhao Yao finished the apple, placed it on a plate beside him, and picked up another apple, bringing it to his nose to inhale the aroma. So fragrant!
"The people of the Crown Prince suggested making offerings to Kong Kangda to elevate the status of the Kong family, to have them challenge the Li family." Zhao Yao didn’t rush to nibble the new apple; instead, he tossed it in the air and caught it. "Even though the Kong family hasn’t explicitly supported the Crown Prince, they have always supported the legitimate eldest son. Unfortunately, the Kong family hasn’t been favored by Father for years and has always been subordinate to the Li family."
He added, "The Kong family is anxious as well, but over the years, besides Kong Kangda, there hasn’t been another great scholar from their family. The Crown Prince and his people proposed making offerings to Kong Kangda, which naturally delighted the Kong family. They didn’t expect Father to bring Mr. Li into the picture. Compared to what Old Master Li has done for scholars across the world, Kong Kangda is nothing."
If Sun Kui were here, hearing Zhao Yao say this, he would surely sigh to himself that he and the emperor indeed are true father and son.
"The Li family never suggested having scholars from all over the world make offerings to Old Master Li, yet the Kong family shamelessly sought offerings for Kong Kangda and claimed he was a hero among scholars, preserving the seeds of scholarship." At this, a mocking smile appeared on Zhao Yao’s pretty and adorable little face, "Wasn’t it the Kong family that harmed scholars in the past? Everything Kong Kangda did was merely what he ought to do. I don’t understand how the Kong family has the nerve to tout Kong Kangda as a hero among scholars."
He Lianfang mocked, "As you said, besides Kong Kangda, the Kong family doesn’t have anyone else to show."
"True." Zhao Yao returned to the topic, "Although the Kong family is reputed to be a literary family, they have been tied to aristocrats and the Imperial Family since long ago. Duke Zhen and his group wanted to elevate the Kong family’s status, hoping to surpass the Li family, but Father wouldn’t let them have their way, hence the matter of offering to Old Master Li."
Zhao Yao’s analysis was logical, and He Lianfang nodded repeatedly as he listened. He asked again, "What do you think the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen will do next?"
"They will do nothing, waiting for Prince Dai and his people to praise Old Master Li and the Li family. They hope they could praise them to the skies, then make their move." Zhao Yao grinned, "The Crown Prince and Duke Zhen want to praise the Li family to death."
"And then?" He Lianfang asked, "Do you think Prince Dai and his people will praise the Li family to counter the Kong family?"
"Logically, they would, but it’s possible they won’t now." Zhao Yao said thoughtfully, "Praising the Li family doesn’t benefit Prince Dai and his people in any way." With Brother Eight’s nature, he surely wouldn’t want anything to happen to Brother Four or the Li family backing him.
"If Prince Dai and his group do not act as Duke Zhen and his people wish by praising the Li family, what do you think Duke Zhen and his people will do next?" He Lianfang said, "Duke Zhen is not one to passively endure. With your father suppressing him like this, he surely won’t fail to resist."
"Uncle, you’re wrong there, Duke Zhen will continue to do nothing." Zhao Yao split the apple in his hand into two halves. His strength was growing stronger, allowing him to easily break the apple. "He doesn’t dare act against the Li family now. Moving against the Li family would be akin to declaring war on Father, giving Father a legitimate excuse to act against the Xie family."
"Do you think Duke Zhen will endure this?"
"Endure isn’t necessary; this event isn’t a big deal to Duke Zhen." Zhao Yao pondered for a moment and said, "The matter of offering to Kong Kangda is essentially a probe into Father’s stance. Now that he knows Father’s stance, why would he dare keep pushing? He’s not a fool."