Han Qian walked out of Wanhong Tower and saw that Zhao Kuo, Fan Dahei, and Lin Haizheng were all still holding horses waiting for him on the opposite side of the street.
Han Qian had no mood to say much to them. In his heart, he pondered how to face his father’s interrogation after returning.
Han Qian was in such pain he nearly groaned aloud. Having barely gotten through one crisis at Wanhong Tower had already left him mentally and physically exhausted, but with such a major incident occurring at Linjiang Marquis Manor today, after extricating himself he hadn’t returned home first but was instead dragged by Li Chong to Wanhong Tower. Obviously this couldn’t be brushed aside with just any explanation.
Han Qian silently rushed back to the residence. He handed his horse to Fan Dahei and the others to lead away, passed through the front courtyard toward the main courtyard, and saw lights burning in the main hall with no sign of his father’s figure. Both the study and his father’s bedchamber were pitch black with no lamps lit.
“It’s already the second night watch—where did my father go?” Han Qian asked Fan Xicheng behind him.
“The master hasn’t returned from the government office yet,” Fan Xicheng said.
Han Qian’s heart filled with doubt. He didn’t know what had happened at Hongwen Academy that, under today’s circumstances, could keep his father there so late without returning to the residence.
Han Qian was ravenously hungry and was just about to have the kitchen prepare him a bowl of minced meat noodles to fill his stomach when he heard the sounds of horse hooves and carriage wheels outside the courtyard gate.
Han Qian turned and walked out. Sure enough, it was his father Han Daoxun being escorted back by two household soldiers in a carriage.
Seeing his father lift the carriage curtain and climb down from the carriage with an expression of complete calm, Han Qian went forward in surprise and asked:
“Many things happened at Linjiang Marquis Manor today. Does Father know about them?”
“…” Han Daoxun nodded, indicating they should go inside to discuss such matters.
“Today at the manor to receive rewards from the palace, Teacher Shen Yang pleaded illness and didn’t come, having an old servant go receive the generous palace rewards instead. His Highness was angry in his heart and kept us at the manor shooting arrows to vent his frustration. He also wanted to keep us for a banquet in the inner residence but was blocked by the manor secretary. At noon, while we were feasting in the outer residence, we heard screams from the inner residence. Rushing over, we saw the blue-robed palace attendant Zhao Shunde lying in a pool of blood struggling, his abdomen pierced by iron scissors, while His Highness’s left arm was slashed by a dagger, blood staining his robe sleeve. Everyone rushed in a panic to protect His Highness. Li Chong went up to subdue Zhao Shunde but used excessive force, causing Zhao Shunde’s abdomen to be pierced through by the scissors and his throat crushed by Li Chong’s strangling grip, resulting in death. After reporting to the palace, Inner Attendant Bureau Deputy Director Shen He and Guo Rong hurried back from the palace and detained all of us along with the palace attendants and maids from the inner residence at the manor. The entire afternoon was spent investigating this matter. After dark passed for a while, Guan Bao rushed back from the palace. Only then did Guo Rong and Shen He determine that the palace attendant Zhao Shunde had colluded with a Guard Battalion guard to assassinate His Highness, concluding today’s matter. Afterward, your son originally wanted to return directly but was forcibly dragged by Li Chong to Wanhong Tower to drink. During the banquet, there were various attempts to curry favor and hints. Your son didn’t dare respond and escaped to return only slightly earlier than Father…”
Entering the main hall, Han Qian concealed some details related to Wanhong Tower but told his father Han Daoxun everything else in great detail.
“Mm, I understand,” Han Daoxun nodded.
“…” Han Qian hadn’t expected his father’s reaction to be so indifferent. He couldn’t help making his words more explicit. “Although Director Shen and Guo Rong ultimately determined that Zhao Shunde colluded with a Guard Battalion guard to harm His Highness, anyone with eyes can see the enormous flaws within. Yet His Highness and Li Chong dared to be so fearless—perhaps they had already determined His Majesty wouldn’t pursue this matter…”
“Political tactics are ultimately just political tactics. Even if they succeed, for the state and altars of grain they’re like walking on thin ice. Once they collapse, what will become of the realm?” Han Daoxun couldn’t help sighing deeply.
“…” Han Qian stood stunned for a long moment, unable to resist asking, “Father means that His Majesty…”
“The Crown Prince is unworthy, but the Crown Prince’s heir shows promise. His Majesty’s uncertain thoughts are not a blessing for the state and altars of grain,” Han Daoxun couldn’t help lowering his voice. “Beyond the struggle over legitimate succession causing political turmoil, more fundamentally, great generals control private armies while powerful clans monopolize farmland and servants without taxation. This causes the Jianghuai region to be prosperous while starving people fill the wilderness. The court has no way to supply military provisions and official salaries, making it even harder to restrain generals and ministers, so that even matters of deposing and establishing heirs must defer to the outer court’s wishes. If soldiers and generals all served the court, starving people returned to farming, tax revenues were sufficient and not encroached upon by powerful clans—His Majesty could freely select the worthy as heir. Why would he need to be so cautious today, fearing collapse at any moment?”
Previously, when Han Qian was greedy for women and gambling addicted to the point of death, Han Daoxun had been disappointed in him and absolutely wouldn’t have revealed the grievances in his chest. But these past two or three months, Han Qian had cultivated his character and studied diligently. He had also changed from his stubborn frivolity, his bearing becoming steady and intelligent. He occasionally could express independent views on court politics. Whatever thoughts Han Daoxun had in his heart or whatever winds he heard in court, he wouldn’t deliberately conceal from his own son—only instructing him never to spread these matters or words outside.
Han Qian stood stunned for a long time, not knowing how to respond to his father’s words.
He had never been able to figure out what his father would one day remonstrate about to anger Emperor Tianyou and be beaten to death before Wenying Palace. At this moment, he finally understood.
He hadn’t expected that his father, while in the court, had no intention of getting involved in succession struggles but instead set his sights on even more perilous matters elsewhere.
If his father couldn’t suppress himself and wrote these words into a memorial of remonstrance, petitioning Emperor Tianyou to strip great generals of private armies and seize farmland and servants from powerful clans—that wouldn’t anger Emperor Tianyou but anger all the aristocratic clans including the Han family, forcing Emperor Tianyou to execute him!
No wonder Grandfather Han Wenhuan and Uncle Han Daoming both regarded his father unfavorably, maintaining little correspondence over the years. No wonder Second Uncle Han Daochang dared to wantonly “ruin him”—the fundamental disagreement lay right here!
“Although the Third Prince’s stratagem today was clumsy, he has the will not to be bullied by servants and is diligent and studious. Your son believes all this should fall within His Majesty’s sight. Given time, he may not be without promise,” Han Qian changed the subject, still hoping to dispel his father’s impulsive thoughts of indignant discontent, hoping he could place his hopes for stripping power and clearing fields on the Third Prince Yang Yuanpu.
Otherwise, once his father impulsively committed a grave error, he could only flee Jinling in panic.
“…”
Han Daoxun wasn’t unaware of how great the resistance to such actions would be, but precisely because of this, he wouldn’t place his hopes on Emperor Tianyou’s offspring whose prestige and power were far inferior.
However, Han Daoxun wouldn’t debate this matter with his own son. He only smiled reluctantly and said: “With such events happening today, it’s not bad for you. Just set your mind at ease as reading companion at the Third Prince’s side.”
At this moment, Han Qian felt his heart was so tired. He thought—if you, this old radical, impulsively go seeking death, how could I possibly set my mind at ease as reading companion at Yang Yuanpu’s side?
Han Qian had thought that after hoodwinking that little shrew Yao Xishui and the others, he could have some peace for a while. He never expected he still needed to be ready to flee in panic at any moment.
At this point, Qing Yun and the cook brought up food and dishes. Zhao Kuo also followed in.
Seeing Zhao Kuo’s hesitant appearance, Han Qian didn’t know what else had happened and impatiently urged: “What else is there?”
“The tenant farmer Old Zhao brought his son and daughter into the city today. They found their way to the manor wanting to see the young master but didn’t expect you wouldn’t return until now,” Zhao Kuo had seen Han Qian preoccupied with heavy thoughts on the road earlier, and with Fan Dahei beside them, hadn’t brought it up. But he feared if he didn’t mention it now, Han Qian would return to his room to rest.
After Zhao Wuji shot and killed Fan Wucheng, the county office ultimately ruled him not guilty, only requiring him to observe mourning for three months at Fan Wucheng’s grave. Afterward, Han Qian had continuously ordered the household soldiers remaining at the estate not to make difficulties for Old Zhao’s family.
He had also been concerned about this matter in his heart, thinking of finding an opportunity to return to the estate once to recruit Zhao Wuji to his side for use. He hadn’t expected them to come to the city first.
“Where are they?” After a whole day of turmoil, there was finally one satisfactory matter. Han Qian straightened his spine and asked.
“I had them wait in the courtyard by the river,” Zhao Kuo said.
“How long have they been waiting? Quickly call them over,” Han Qian instructed. Then thinking of something, he asked Zhao Kuo, “Have you just had them waiting there this whole time? Did you arrange for them to eat something first?”
“Today was too busy. No one thought of this,” Zhao Kuo said.
Han Qian nodded. Zhao Kuo had been guarding outside Linjiang Marquis Manor all day. The other people in the residence were mostly still indignant over Fan Wucheng’s death and couldn’t possibly have hosted the Zhao father and son. He instructed the cook: “Immediately prepare several dishes and send them to me shortly.”
Han Qian also said to his father: “Father, Old Zhao and his son specially came to the city to see your son. Your son has neglected them for a whole day. I’ll go see them now and won’t accompany Father eating here.”
“No need for the kitchen to prepare extra food and dishes. I alone can’t eat all this. Have Qing Yun pack the food and dishes in a food box to take over,” Han Daoxun said.
Han Daoxun hadn’t even met Zhao Wuji, but he knew Han Qian intended to recruit this youth with superior archery skills. However, he wouldn’t lower himself to directly invite tenant farmers to dine at the same table, and he still had to consider Fan Xicheng’s feelings.
Han Qian picked up an empty bowl and served out some of each dish, then had Qing Yun pack the remaining food and dishes into the food box. Finally, he had Zhao Kuo fetch a jar of wine from the kitchen to take with him to the riverside courtyard to meet Old Zhao and his son.
Passing through the front courtyard, Han Qian saw Fan Dahei running out with his head down. He called out to stop him: “Go call Lin Haizheng and come together to the riverside courtyard.”
“It’s getting late. We need to rise early tomorrow to escort the young master to Linjiang Marquis Manor,” Fan Dahei said in a muffled voice.
“What nonsense are you talking? Won’t I also need to rise early tomorrow?” Han Qian said with a dark expression, urging him to fetch Lin Haizheng. He didn’t want Fan Dahei, Lin Haizheng, and these household soldiers to isolate Zhao Wuji after recruiting him to his side.
Old Zhao had left the estate before dawn, taking a boat and arriving in the city after noon to find his way to Han Manor and meet Zhao Kuo. Afterward, he had been waiting in the courtyard by Stone Pond River until now. No one had paid them any attention in between, and he was filled with regret. He never expected that approaching midnight, Han Qian would still appear.
Han Qian hadn’t been able to find time to go to Qiuhu Mountain estate for over two months. Seeing Zhao Wuji again now, his body still wasn’t much more robust—this was mainly due to inadequate nutrition—but his eyes held somewhat more fierce courage.
Just like the Black Cloud Bow wrapped in a broken cloth bag, even wearing coarse cloth garments, the youth Zhao Wuji still gave people the sharp feeling of a precious sword drawn from its sheath.
Perhaps thinking that being left here until now with no one paying attention, after waiting most of the day the youth’s inner enthusiasm had cooled. At this time, his eyes held some dimness.
Han Qian observed Zhao Wuji’s reaction and smiled slightly in his heart: What a youth truly inexperienced in worldly affairs—his thoughts are truly direct.