Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 153: Chapter 133: What Secret is Hidden in the Pei Mansion?

Having accepted four younger brothers, Zhao Yao, as their leader, naturally had to treat them to a meal to strengthen their bond.

Zhao Yao invited Chu Huan and the others to have hotpot at Zhenxiu Building. Since Zhao Yao introduced hotpot, it became a sensation among the people. Various major restaurants in the capital, to attract customers, would launch new hotpots from time to time.

Chu Huan and the others loved eating hotpot. The hotpot at Zhenxiu Building was famous throughout the capital, and they liked coming here for hotpot, but they didn’t have enough money to come every day.

The hotpot was Zhao Yao’s creation, and he was an expert in hotpot. The sauces he blended were exceptional. He personally made sauce for Chu Huan and the others, instantly winning their hearts.

Zhang He and the others liked drinking, so Zhao Yao generously ordered the best drink at Zhenxiu Building for them.

While eating the hotpot, everyone chatted and laughed, quickly becoming familiar with each other.

Zhao Yao might not be good in other areas, but when it came to food, he was outstanding. He shared many stories about food with Zhang He and the others.

Chu Huan and his friends also loved good food, and after hearing Zhao Yao’s stories, they became even more tempted, thus eating a lot more hotpot.

They also shared many interesting stories with Zhao Yao. Of course, most of the time, they were bragging about their ”fame” in the West Market. Zhao Yao thoughtfully did not expose them and cooperatively praised them occasionally.

”Boss, we still don’t know who you really are.” Shen Sen and the others were now calling him ”boss” very smoothly, without any reluctance.

”Yeah, boss, what does your family do?” Zhang He asked curiously.

”My family is just ordinary merchants, with no power or influence.” Zhao Yao deliberately teased the four of them, ”You wouldn’t look down on me just because my family background is not as good as yours, would you?”

”Of course not, we’re not that kind of people.” Zhang He suddenly became very serious, ”We never judge people by their family background.”

Shen Sen nodded repeatedly: ”We despise people who use their family background to bully others; we would never be that kind of person.”

Listening to Shen Sen’s words, Zhao Yao laughed to himself: Who was it last night who threatened me by bringing up his father, the Great General?

Of course, as a good leader, he wouldn’t dwell on past grievances or embarrass his younger brothers.

Song Jicai said while eating chicken wings, ”We never relied on our families while hanging out in the West Market.”

Zhao Yao: ”...” Fatty, are you not even a bit guilty saying that?

Chu Huan put down his teacup, and solemnly said to Zhao Yao, ”You’ve already become our boss; we won’t look down on you just because you’re the son of a merchant.”

Zhang He nodded in agreement and said, ”Yeah, looking down on you, our boss, would be like looking down on ourselves.”

Shen Sen asked curiously, ”Boss, what kind of business does your family do?”

”A little bit of everything.” Zhao Yao didn’t want to reveal his identity to Chu Huan and the others yet, afraid of scaring them away. Although he, the Tenth Prince, wasn’t very favored, their fathers never supported any one Prince. If they learned their youngest was close to the Tenth Prince, they would definitely stop him. ”It’s not very big, but it’s enough to support the family.”

Chu Huan thought Zhao Yao wasn’t telling the truth, but without evidence, he didn’t press further.

”Your families don’t oppose you associating with merchants, right?” Zhao Yao asked.

”They don’t oppose, as long as we don’t cause trouble, our families won’t bother us.” Shen Sen said this with an unnoticeable undertone of disappointment in his voice.

”Our family never bothers us.” Zhang He didn’t find anything wrong with that. If his family disciplined him like they did his brothers and made him learn all sorts of things, he would go crazy.

”As long as we don’t cause trouble, our families don’t interfere with us.” Song Jicai said with a proud smile, ”You see, we can go wherever we want, do whatever we want, and skip studying if we want.”

After hearing what Song Jicai and the others said, Zhao Yao was very envious. He didn’t want to study either.

Chu Huan said, ”Our families rarely control us.”