Zhao Yi also sensed his grandfather’s intent to kill his mother. He knelt outside the main courtyard for a long time, but Zhao Zhongyu still refused to see him. Thinking that tomorrow his parents would leave Luoyang with the emperor, his heart filled with panic. He could only go kneel outside the Qingyi Pavilion.
Ting He brought up the meal and arranged the bowls and chopsticks before saying, “Young Lady, Eldest Young Master is kneeling outside.”
Zhao Hanzhang’s hand paused while wiping them. She used the cloth to carefully dry her fingers, thought for a moment, then said, “Invite him in.”
Ting He pouted, reluctant as she went out.
Zhao Erlang came running back covered in sweat. Seeing Zhao Yi kneeling at the courtyard entrance, he stopped short and hid to the side to watch.
Xie Shi, who was ten paces behind him, caught up and saw him acting suspiciously. He also glanced at the kneeling Zhao Yi and asked, “Are you afraid of him?”
Zhao Erlang fidgeted without speaking.
Xie Shi himself came from a noble family and knew all too well about the various struggles within clans. Moreover, the grievances and conflicts between the Zhao family’s first and second branches had become gossip material for various families.
He placed his hand on Zhao Erlang’s shoulder. “You needn’t fear him. Now you’re an imposing general, while he’s still just a student. What do you have to fear from him?”
Zhao Erlang still didn’t move.
Xie Shi sighed helplessly, knowing that childhood shadows weren’t so easily healed. Especially for someone different like Zhao Erlang—it would only take longer.
He said, “Even the emperor must show respect to your sister. Your grand-uncle doesn’t dare bully you either. What do you still fear from him? Step forward!”
Only then did Zhao Erlang move, walking forward and trying to pass Zhao Yi without looking at him.
Seeing him, Zhao Yi quickly called out, “Second Brother.”
Zhao Erlang jumped to the side, looking at him warily. “I didn’t hit you, and I didn’t make you kneel. You’re kneeling of your own accord.”
Zhao Yi paused, then resumed his proper kneeling position and said to Zhao Erlang, “Second Brother misunderstands. I wanted to ask Second Brother to pass along a message. I…”
“Eldest Young Master,” Ting He emerged from the courtyard, cutting off his words. She first bowed to Zhao Erlang, then to Xie Shi, before saying to Zhao Yi, “Young Lady requests Eldest Young Master to enter.”
Zhao Yi quickly stood and followed her inside. Seeing this, Zhao Erlang also hurried in, squeezing beside Zhao Hanzhang and refusing to leave.
Zhao Hanzhang saw his head full of sweat and said with distaste, “Go wash your face and hands before coming to eat.”
Xie Shi followed the two inside and bowed to Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan at the dining table.
Both nodded and invited Xie Shi to stay for the meal as well.
However, Xie Shi glanced at Zhao Yi and declined.
It was better to know less about the master’s family affairs. He wasn’t like Ji Yuan, a strategist who had grown up with Zhao Hanzhang and knew everything.
After Xie Shi gave his greetings and withdrew, only their family remained in the room.
Zhao Yi looked at Fu Tinghan, wanting him to excuse himself as well, but Fu Tinghan showed no intention of avoiding the situation, nor did Zhao Hanzhang indicate he should leave. “Elder Brother has come. Let’s have a meal together.”
Zhao Erlang quickly wiped his face and passed his hands through water before sitting down on Zhao Hanzhang’s other side with a cloth.
Zhao Yi glanced at them before sitting across from Zhao Hanzhang, somewhat awkwardly saying, “Third Sister, I’ve come because I have a favor to ask.”
“Is it about Aunt?”
Zhao Yi hadn’t expected her to be so direct. The many words he’d prepared didn’t have time to emerge. His hands on his knees clenched tight as he nervously swallowed and said, “I know Mother did wrong. She’s willing to live in lifelong seclusion. I only ask Third Sister to show mercy and spare, spare her life.”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “You should plead with Shuzu. I had no intention of taking her life.”
“If only Third Sister would say one word, Grandfather would surely spare my mother. But if Third Sister says nothing, to appease Third Sister’s anger, Grandfather will… my mother will likely…” His eyes reddened. “Will likely face grave danger.”
Zhao Hanzhang looked up at him for a while before suddenly asking, “Elder Brother only pleads for Aunt and not for Elder Sister?”
Zhao Yi froze. “What?”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled lightly. “Surely Elder Brother doesn’t think I’m so magnanimous that having found the main culprit, I’d let Elder Sister go? Even if I were willing, would Shuzu let it pass?”
Zhao Yi’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
Zhao Hanzhang ladled a bowl of soup for Fu Tinghan, then also ladled one for Zhao Yi. After serving the disgruntled Zhao Erlang as well, she said, “You can only plead for one person.”
Zhao Yi looked at the soup placed before him, feeling a chill throughout his body. The two families had reached this point—he had imagined Zhao Hanzhang might berate him harshly, recounting past slights and conflicts, but he never expected she could smile while serving him soup and then say such words.
After a long while, when Zhao Hanzhang had finished her meal, Zhao Yi finally asked hoarsely, “Elder Sister… what will happen to her?”
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “Shuzu will handle it. How would I know?”
But to satisfy Zhao Hanzhang and let go of the matter of Zhao Ji abandoning the coffin, he would certainly handle it severely to dispel her anger, perhaps even making her feel somewhat guilty.
Zhao Yi drained the bowl of cold soup in one gulp, then stood and knelt, kowtowing once. “Please, Third Sister, show mercy and spare, spare Elder Sister.”
Zhao Hanzhang curved her lips and readily agreed, “Very well.”
Zhao Yi stood and withdrew. Fu Tinghan also set down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and said, “I’m full too.”
He stood and left.
Zhao Erlang gripped his chopsticks, staring blankly as Fu Tinghan departed before turning to ask Zhao Hanzhang, “Is brother-in-law angry?”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “He thinks my actions are biased.”
Zhao Erlang didn’t understand. “What does ‘biased’ mean?”
Zhao Hanzhang patted his head. “If you can’t understand by listening, then listen more when Teacher Xie reads to you. You didn’t study before because reading characters gave you headaches. Now that I’m having you listen, why do you keep skipping lessons?”
“Teacher Xie tattled.”
“Teacher Xie didn’t tattle. I saw it when I came to watch your training. Teacher Xie was even covering for you, praising your great progress. Have you actually progressed?”
“Yes!” Zhao Erlang said, “I can already recite three chapters of The Art of War.”
Only then did Zhao Hanzhang nod. “Fine, you’ve progressed a little bit, but you still need to work hard.”
She also set down her chopsticks and stood. “I’m full too. You eat slowly.”
She decided to go coax Fu Tinghan, otherwise she’d keep thinking about this and be distracted from her work.
Fu Tinghan left the courtyard and saw Zhao Yi walking ahead, dejected. He stepped forward to call out to him.
Zhao Yi turned and saw it was Fu Tinghan. He pressed his lips together and asked, “What instructions does Young Master Fu have?”
Fu Tinghan said, “The harm the second branch caused the first branch still exists today. Even now, when Erlang sees you all, he’s still cautious and fearful. He may need a lifetime to heal from this harm. So her judgment isn’t solely for the horse incident.”
Zhao Yi pressed his lips and asked, “So Young Master Fu has come to add insult to injury and take revenge again on their behalf?”
Fu Tinghan shook his head. “No, I don’t want you to harbor resentment and then continue this cycle of revenge endlessly. Grievance begets grievance without end, harming others and harming oneself even more.”
“Why don’t you say this to Third Sister then?”
“She has already shown mercy,” Fu Tinghan was also somewhat displeased and said with pursed lips, “Otherwise, given what your second branch has done to the first branch over the years, do you think anyone could escape?”
Zhao Yi opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.