Under the intentional or unintentional gazes of the crowd, Fu Tinghan bent down to emerge and stepped down the carriage step.
Seeing that the person sitting in the carriage was Fu Tinghan, everyone’s gazes became even more brazen, watching directly until he turned and extended his hand to help someone else out of the carriage. Only then did they slightly restrain themselves, lowering their eyes, though their gazes still couldn’t help but steal glances.
Zhao Hanzhang took Fu Tinghan’s hand and stepped down from the carriage. She swept her gaze around and asked, “Where’s Erlang? Where did he and Xun Xiu run off to?”
Ji Yuan bowed and said, “Xie Shi is following Second Young Master. He should be fine.”
Hearing that Xie Shi was with him, Zhao Hanzhang felt relieved. She looked up and happened to meet Gou Xi’s gaze from above. She smiled slightly, nodded at him from afar, then walked up with Fu Tinghan.
The other officials stepped aside, waiting until they had ascended several steps before following.
At a distance of over a dozen steps, several people gathered together as they climbed, whispering in low voices. “I heard that Registrar Chen of the Ministry of Rites was thrown out of the Zhao residence by Zhao Hanzhang.”
An official whose news was slightly delayed immediately asked, “Why? Was she dissatisfied with the seating arrangement determined by the Ministry of Rites?”
“How could the Ministry of Rites determine that seating arrangement? It was decided through joint discussion by all the court officials, and Zhao Hanzhang was seated in the first position on the left.” The Eastern Sea Prince had taken away so many court officials that there weren’t many left in the court. The highest-ranking official in the Ministry of Rites was now a vice minister, followed by Chen Fulin.
Something as important as seating for a state banquet could not be decided by the Ministry of Rites alone.
“Then why?”
“I heard Chen Fulin went to persuade Zhao Hanzhang to become Empress.”
Everyone was shocked. “We were just talking casually about it—how could he go directly to her door?”
“Actually, if Zhao Hanzhang were willing to become Empress, it would be extremely beneficial for both His Majesty and the Great Jin.”
“That’s not necessarily true. Didn’t you see just now?” one person said. “Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan have deep affection for each other, and the Zhao and Fu families are close family friends. If she becomes Empress and also holds power, who knows whether the future Crown Prince will be surnamed Sima or Fu?”
The crowd fell silent.
“Quickly be silent! If these words reach Zhao Hanzhang’s ears, do you not value your life?”
A young man passed by them, saying coolly, “She merely disembarked from a carriage in front of the great hall, and you’ve already generated so many baseless speculations.”
Someone recognized him and immediately coldened their expression, haughtily raising their head. “Oh, it’s Second Young Master Wang. How strange—didn’t all the Wang clan follow Grand Commandant Wang when he left the capital? How is it you’re still here?”
“Perhaps because of his humble origins, the Wang clan forgot about him when they left the capital and didn’t think to take him along, hahaha…”
“That’s quite likely. By the way, did your adoptive younger brother leave with them too?”
Zhao Hanzhang, who had only climbed halfway, stopped and turned around. Standing on the high steps looking down, she could see this entire group’s faces clearly.
Some perceptive people noticed Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze and quickly tugged at those laughing so wantonly.
They looked up and met Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze directly, immediately frightened into lowering their heads.
Seeing them so cowardly, Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but sneer.
Fu Tinghan followed her gaze and looked into the distance, asking curiously, “From this far away, you can hear them?”
Zhao Hanzhang said modestly, “Just a little.”
They were speaking ill of her so loudly. Even if she didn’t have such keen hearing, with so many talkative people in the palace and her currently in power, wouldn’t others relay it to her?
They were just emboldened and deliberately testing, wanting to see her reaction.
Unfortunately, she never liked to seek revenge later. With such a busy schedule every day, why should she bother remembering such petty matters and grudges?
She settled the score on the spot.
Zhao Hanzhang beckoned a palace attendant and pointed below. “You go and invite Young Master Wang up here. As for those others, I can’t quite see their faces clearly or remember their names from this distance. Go look and memorize their faces and names, then come back and tell me.”
Let’s see if that didn’t scare them to death.
The palace attendant carefully went down and relayed this message. All the people surrounding Wang Xing turned pale, frightened weak in the hands and feet.
Having scared them, Zhao Hanzhang temporarily set the matter aside and turned to ascend the steps. These steps in front of the great hall were really quite long.
“General Gou, you’re looking well.”
Gou Xi also showed a faint smile. “General Zhao also looks radiant.”
He looked Zhao Hanzhang up and down, thinking that only now did she somewhat resemble a young lady.
As he was thinking this, an official from the Ministry of Rites emerged and personally welcomed the two of them into the great hall.
Only after they had entered did the others dare to go in.
This state banquet was being held in the great hall, with one hundred table settings arranged. The official leading them into the hall kept his head deeply bowed as he brought the two to the very front, pointing to the seating on the left side and saying to Zhao Hanzhang, “General Zhao, please be seated.”
He then quickly turned sideways to Gou Xi. “General Gou, please be seated.”
Zhao Hanzhang was seated on the left, Gou Xi on the right.
Even though he had just learned this news, Gou Chun was still indignant. Whether in terms of merit to the Great Jin or seniority as an official, his older brother was superior to Zhao Hanzhang. Why should Zhao Hanzhang be seated on the left?
Just because she entered the city first and rescued the Emperor? But his brother had also rescued the Emperor! Surely past achievements still counted?
Gou Chun looked at Zhao Hanzhang. She had already quite unceremoniously pulled Fu Tinghan to sit down, one on her left and one on her right. Behind her were several more table settings arranged for her people.
Mi Ce soon entered and, after greeting Zhao Hanzhang, stood waiting to the side. Zhao Hanzhang pointed to a position behind her for him to sit, asking, “Where’s Erlang?”
Mi Ce quickly glanced at Gou Xi and his brother across from them, lowering his voice. “Xun Xiu took Second Young Master to search for treasure. This subordinate waited at the palace gate for a long time but didn’t see them, so I came in first.”
He quickly added, “This subordinate has also sent people to search. They should have found them by now, right?”
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him. Ghost of treasure hunting—clearly they were looting. Now the entire Luoyang city didn’t have a single commoner, only empty houses.
But if everyone had fled, what good things could be left in those houses?
For Xun Xiu to pull Erlang away to do such things at this critical moment, simply showed poor judgment of priorities.
If they wanted to search for treasure, couldn’t they do it after the state banquet?
Zhao Hanzhang looked left and right. Zeng Yue and Ting He had both been left outside, so she simply beckoned a palace attendant over. “Let my maid enter.”
Although attendants couldn’t enter the great hall—no, couldn’t enter the palace—the palace attendant didn’t dare voice any objection and bowed before going out to fetch her.
Ting He also quickly entered.
Zhao Hanzhang said, “The banquet is about to begin. Send someone to find Xun Xiu and tell him that if he cannot enter the hall before the banquet starts, he need never come to this great hall again.”
Ting He acknowledged the order and left.
The various officials also arrived in succession. Everyone who entered first greeted Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi before going to their own seats.
Many officials also brought their families, and the positions behind them were reserved for family members.
Fu Zhi entered alone.
Seeing him, Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan immediately stood to greet him. “Grandfather Fu.”
Fu Tinghan also called out, “Grandfather.”
Fu Zhi nodded, then turned to greet Gou Xi before sitting in the seat below him.
What Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t expected was that Zhao Zhongyu only brought Zhao Yi and didn’t bring Zhao Ji and his wife. Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyebrows and, after greeting him with a smile, asked, “Uncle Grandfather, where’s Uncle?”
—