The child’s mother rushed out from inside the gate and pulled her child aside, fearing he would wipe his snot on Zhao Hanzhang. She smiled awkwardly at Zhao Hanzhang, then turned to wipe her son’s nose, whispering, “What Third Sister? Don’t address her incorrectly—this is your niece.”
Zhao Hanzhang: …
She patted herself down and pulled out a pouch, extracting a piece of candy from it. “Thank you for the compliment, Little Uncle. Here, Uncle, this is candy your niece is giving you out of filial respect.”
The three-year-old uncle’s eyes lit up at the sight of the candy. He grabbed it and was about to put it in his mouth when his mother snatched his hand and pried the candy out.
Seeing this, the little uncle was about to cry “wah!” when his mother patted his plump bottom and said, “I’ll feed it to you. If you cry again, I’ll eat it myself.”
The little uncle immediately stopped, and Zhao Hanzhang quickly slipped away when he was about to wail.
But she was now a celebrity. Everywhere she went, people greeted her. Although she had been famous before, her current level of fame was clearly tenfold what it had been.
Moreover, while the clan members had previously regarded her with respect, it had been mixed with more fear. Now, everyone who saw her looked at her as if seeing an absolutely wonderful person. Everyone regarded her with respect and pride.
The elders looked at her with kindness, while the younger ones gazed at her with the eyes one would use to look at an idol.
Zhao Hanzhang: … It was one thing for outsiders to look at her this way, but she really couldn’t understand why the people in the fortress also had to look at her like this.
Everyone had witnessed what she did before. Logically, they should know that these things now were just someone creating momentum for her.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t understand, but Fu Tinghan saw it clearly. He said, “Those involved are confused, while bystanders see clearly. They’re in the situation just like you. Previously they feared you—was it because you did bad things?”
“It was simply because you could repel Shi Lei, take control of Xiping County, and handle matters decisively and sharply, so they thought you would kill without blinking, and thus feared you,” Fu Tinghan said. “Now, their creating momentum for you is merely helping them understand you correctly.”
“The people here aren’t much different from first-generation internet users—they’re easily influenced by public opinion. They don’t overthink things. Since so many people say you’re filial, then you are filial; since so many people say you value relationships and loyalty, then you do value relationships and loyalty.” Fu Tinghan had been forced to attend the banquets these past two days and had already experienced it. “Even those in the garden who are considered learned and knowledgeable are easily influenced by others, let alone the ordinary people outside the garden who rarely encounter the outside world.”
Zhao Hanzhang stroked her chin thoughtfully. “With my reputation built up so high, do you think Xiahou Ren will suspect me?”
Actually, Xiahou Ren didn’t suspect Zhao Hanzhang. He was suspecting Zhao Ming.
After paying special attention in the garden, he indeed discovered that Zhao Ming was creating momentum for Zhao Hanzhang. Besides him, the masterminds were Ji Yuan and County Magistrate Chai.
So Ji Yuan had already pledged allegiance to Zhao Ming and was ostensibly Zhao Hanzhang’s person, but actually followed Zhao Ming’s orders.
County Magistrate Chai of Shangcai had also somehow come to stand on Zhao Ming’s side. It seemed Zhao Ming was determined to win the position of Zhao clan leader.
Xiahou Ren became even more anxious to return. So he stopped waiting and came directly to find Zhao Hanzhang. “After you finish copying, send me the original manuscript, or I’ll come get it in half a year.”
Zhao Hanzhang readily agreed, indicating there was no problem at all.
Then she and Zhao Ming saw Xiahou Ren and He Cheng off from the fortress.
After their convoy had gone far, the smile fell from Zhao Ming’s face. He summoned a guard and said, “Quietly follow them to see if they truly leave Xiping, or go elsewhere.”
“Yes.”
Only after the guard had followed them did he turn to look at Zhao Hanzhang with a suspicious expression. “What did you say to Xiahou Ren at the tavern that day? He’s been acting somewhat strange ever since.”
“For instance?”
It was just a feeling for Zhao Ming—how could he give specific instances?
He squinted at her. “Don’t tell me you said something bad about me?”
“No,” Zhao Hanzhang immediately denied. “You and I are like father and daughter. You’re so kind, I’m so filial—how could I speak ill of you?”
Zhao Ming laughed and scolded, “Stop being glib. If you didn’t say something, why would he not guard his manuscripts himself and leave in such a rush?”
Zhao Hanzhang chuckled, then became serious. “There are too many manuscripts, and they’re detailed. Even with Eleventh Uncle-Granduncle and my brothers helping, it’s not something that can be copied in a day or two. After the winter solstice, I still have many things to do. If he stays here, the affairs of Xiping County won’t escape his notice, so I could only think of a way to coax him away.”
Zhao Ming didn’t ask what she needed to do, but asked, “What method?”
He had an intuition that this method seemed related to him. Without asking clearly, his heart couldn’t be at ease.
Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes shifted as she guiltily avoided looking at him. “Nothing much. I just said that after the three-year mourning period, I would return to Luoyang with Fu Tinghan.”
“And then?”
Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze wandered. “I don’t know what he was thinking, but in any case, he seemed to misunderstand, so I could only guide him along. He seems to think that someone is directing me in all the affairs of Xiping County…”
Zhao Ming silently looked at her. Seeing her guiltily lower her head to look at her toes, he composed himself.
In the entire Zhao clan, who was most likely to be directing Zhao Hanzhang?
Even using your toes to think, you’d know.
Zhao Ming hadn’t expected that in just one day without watching, his reputation would be harmed—and inside the fortress at that.
He snorted at Zhao Hanzhang and turned to leave with a sweep of his sleeves.
Zhao Hanzhang hurried after him, trying to please him. “Uncle, this is all a misunderstanding. In the future, these misunderstandings will definitely be cleared up.”
“Of course they’ll be cleared up,” Zhao Ming said, glancing at her sideways. “Otherwise, how would you establish your authority?”
He would take the blame during difficult times, and when glory came, he’d be relieved of it. He understood.
Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him ingratiatingly.
After being angry for a while, Zhao Ming thought it over and stopped being angry. Having him take the blame was currently the best method for the Zhao clan. But how would they explain things to Luoyang?
Zhao Hanzhang seemed to know what he was thinking and smiled at him. “Uncle, with inconvenient transportation and delayed information flow, as long as we don’t specifically mention it, Luoyang won’t know about Xiping’s affairs.”
This was also one of the reasons why feudal dynasties had the mission of centralization—because of transportation and information delays, local affairs were basically handled by local powers.
“A strong dragon doesn’t suppress a local snake” also came from this.
So after receiving Zhao Ming’s support, Zhao Hanzhang dared to wave her hand grandly and say she wanted to control all of Yuzhou.
Because the Zhao clan was the greatest power in Yuzhou.
Zhao Ming glanced at her and said, “Don’t let there be a next time.”
“Yes,” Zhao Hanzhang obediently agreed. “If there’s a next time, I’ll definitely ask you first, Uncle.”
Only then did Zhao Ming ask, “What do you want to do after the winter solstice?”
“I want to smelt iron.”
Zhao Ming’s eyebrows twitched as he looked up at Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang lowered her voice. “Uncle, I’m only telling you this because we’re on the same side. I…”
“Don’t tell me.” Zhao Ming turned to leave. After walking two steps, he composed himself, then turned back and beckoned to her. “Go ahead and tell me.”
Zhao Hanzhang grinned and trotted forward. After getting close, she whispered, “My subordinates discovered an iron mine by chance when settling people at a resettlement point. Of course, it’s not very large—it can’t compare to the large iron mines in Governor He’s hands—but for now, it’s enough for our use.”