"Does the master have any instructions?"
Of all the officials in the royal palace, Zhao Zhen trusted Zong Ying the most.
Their relationship was also the closest, so upon hearing this, Zhao Zhen didn't say much.
He directly led Zong Ying back to his study. After they were both seated again, Zhao Zhen finally asked.
"Your Highness, do you remember the question I asked you on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival three years ago?"
Zong Ying took a deep breath before speaking.
"Why is teacher suddenly asking about this?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhen's expression immediately changed.
He stood up, carefully surveyed his surroundings, and quickly closed the doors and windows before continuing.
"Your Highness, haven't you seen clearly what has been happening these past few years? Although Prince Yun is favored by the Emperor and holds great power now, he acts without regard for consequences and completely disregards the lives of the common people! If he were to become the Emperor, the Song Dynasty would truly be in peril!"
As Zong Ying spoke, he knelt directly before Zhao Zhen.
"Teacher, although I am a prince, I am neither the legitimate nor the eldest son. There are so many brothers above me, no support from outside, no reliance from within, and I am not favored by the Emperor. Even if I were to contend, what would be the outcome?"
Zhao Zhen naturally understood his meaning. He had become increasingly uncomfortable with the court's affairs over the years.
But the problem was, he currently had no capital to compete with others. How could he get involved?
"Your Highness, perhaps before, Your Highness truly had no opportunity, but now you are also a Prince, and an excellent chance is right before your eyes!"
"Are you referring to Brother Han?"
Zhao Zhen frowned.
"Precisely. Although he is not well-known now, he is someone the Emperor favors. The Crown Prince and the Third Prince are already engaged in a fierce struggle. If he can truly bring down the Crown Prince, then what do you have to fear about legitimacy?"
Although Zong Ying's words were tempting, Zhao Zhen was not so optimistic.
The Emperor's bestowal of the jade ruyi to Han Mo proved the Emperor's regard for him.
However, could one Han Mo truly sway the Emperor's heart?
In his opinion, Zong Ying's idea was far too wishful.
"Alright, teacher. I will do my best to do what I should do, and as for the rest, let nature take its course!"
Zhao Zhen forced a smile and stepped forward to help Zong Ying up again.
"Your Highness! Han Mo's actions towards Your Highness today already indicate his willingness to submit. Your Highness, you must seize this opportunity! You are also the Emperor's son, why can't you contend?"
Zong Ying was also quite helpless regarding his prince, who always lacked the interest to be emperor.
"Teacher, please rise. Even if we are willing, they must also be willing!"
Zhao Zhen let out another bitter laugh.
"Teacher, you won't object to befriending Han Mo, will you?"
Seeing his conflicted expression, Zong Ying quickly took a step back.
"Brother Han is righteous and compassionate; he refused fifteen thousand guan without a second thought! For that magnanimity alone, I, Zhao Zhen, have no reason to keep him at a distance!"
Regardless, Zhao Zhen was very interested in Han Mo.
Although he himself had no intention of vying for the position of crown prince, he didn't have such strong reservations about befriending Han Mo.
"If that's the case, then leave the matter of contacting him to me!"
Seeing Zhao Zhen agree to win over Han Mo, Zong Ying was overjoyed.
No matter what, even if this matter was something he had been forcefully pushing, as long as Han Mo could be recruited.
When everything fell into place, it would be inevitable for Prince Xin to ascend the throne.
After all, wasn't the "yellow robe bestowed" of the past also a similar affair?
"Everything will be as the teacher says!"
Zhao Zhen hadn't thought that far ahead. Anyway, he had a good impression of Han Mo to begin with, and even if this incident hadn't happened today, he would still have planned to befriend Han Mo.
"It's getting late today, and Your Highness must be tired. I won't say anymore. Your Highness, please rest early tonight."
Since his objective had been achieved, Zong Ying had no intention of lingering.
"Teacher, you should also rest early!"
With the grand examination approaching, Han Mo had been up late, finally falling into a dazed sleep.
When he woke up again, it was already the next morning.
"As expected, sleeping with a beauty beside me is so pleasant!"
Looking at Zhe Yourong, who had already finished washing up, Han Mo chuckled and said.
"Rogue!"
Although Zhe Yourong had grown accustomed to his flirtatious remarks, she was still an unmarried girl.
She was still a little unaccustomed to such jokes from the future, coming from Han Mo.
"Tch, this is considered being a rogue? You haven't seen anything truly rogue yet!"
After speaking, Han Mo rolled his eyes and strode out.
"Mo Ge'er, this is a letter that someone delivered last night. They said you should have it this morning."
As soon as he stepped out of the room, Chun Tao approached with an envelope.
"Who is it? So early in the morning."
Han Mo said as he casually opened the envelope.
"This Prince truly has a few loyal individuals around him."
After finishing the letter, Han Mo casually threw it into the nearby charcoal basin.
Only after watching the envelope and paper turn to ash did he turn to continue his washing.
"Why did you burn a perfectly good letter?"
Chun Tao mumbled as she held the tooth powder jar.
It seemed she hadn't seen the makeshift bed in the room.
She was a little unhappy that he and Zhe Yourong had slept in the same room last night.
"It was just a letter. Such things shouldn't be kept. It's cleaner to burn them after reading. Come here and massage my shoulders. I was hunched over the desk all night and my whole body still feels uncomfortable."
"But there were clean bedding, why did you have to sleep on the desk?"
Indeed, upon hearing this, Chun Tao's expression immediately improved significantly.
"I wished I could, but that wouldn't be allowed if she wasn't willing. Look at how fierce that woman is; if I got any closer, she'd practically stab me."
Han Mo deliberately raised his voice as he spoke.
This time, Chun Tao couldn't help but laugh.
"You have the nerve to laugh? Your own master was bullied, and you didn't help me get revenge?"
Han Mo directly gave her a sidelong glance, then took the tooth powder jar from her, dug out a bit of tooth powder with his finger, and then took the toothbrush he had strongly requested to be bought some time ago and began brushing his teeth.