Having just conceived the idea, Zhao Hanzhang’s mind was at its most active. She almost instantly created two small stories about karmic retribution and vengeful ghosts seeking revenge.

She was a woman of action. That very night, she lit her lamp and began writing stories, then pushed several unfinished official documents to Fu Tinghan.

Fu Tinghan helped her process them, then came back to check on her. He found her writing with shining eyes, with five or six pages already covered with writing beside her.

He picked them up to read.

Story books were different from poetry, prose, and formal essays. They didn’t require strict use of classical allusions, parallel constructions, or tonal patterns. They were more like narrating events using everyday spoken language.

Zhao Hanzhang had already simplified the style, not as verbose as modern novels, so the stories were well condensed. The writing flowed smoothly, and even Fu Tinghan, who knew her purpose, read with great interest.

Each story was about ten thousand characters. Zhao Hanzhang completed most of one in a single night. The next day at noon, during her rest period, she finished the ending.

She then handed the story to Fu Tinghan. “When I have time, I’ll write a few more. Then help me get them all printed and find someone to adapt them into plays.”

Fu Tinghan took the manuscript and asked, “What about the author’s name?”

Zhao Hanzhang thought hard. “I don’t know what to call it—might as well just call it ‘Unknown.'”

Seeing her casualness, Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but smile. He picked up his brush to add the pen name for her. “Fourteen pages, nearly ten thousand characters. If only you had this enthusiasm when doing your actual work.”

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help muttering, “I’m always very enthusiastic.”

Just look at her speed in processing official documents—who could say she lacked enthusiasm?

Zhao Hanzhang handed the manuscript to Fu Tinghan. When she walked out of the side hall, it was already the hour of the sheep. Not far from her, the main hall echoed with sounds of weeping. Tomorrow Liu Yuan would be taken for burial, so today many people came to mourn him.

The palace gates stood wide open, guarded by soldiers. Anyone wishing to enter the palace to pay respects to the emperor could do so as long as they surrendered their weapons.

Though Liu Yuan’s policies weren’t smoothly implemented, this related to the structure of the Xiongnu, and he actually held great prestige among them. Before him, Cao Cao had divided the Xiongnu into five tribes settled in Bingzhou. Before the Rebellion of the Eight Princes, the Xiongnu had remained peaceful in Bingzhou for nearly eighty years.

During those eighty years, the five tribes competed for survival resources and fought among themselves. Though not overtly fierce on the surface, none would submit to another.

When Jin was strong, they naturally were willing to submit to central authority. But later, with the Rebellion of the Eight Princes and Jin court members dying daily while national power declined day by day, they naturally wanted to restore their ancestors’ glory.

That Liu Yuan could gain recognition from all five tribes and be promoted as their leader showed his prestige among the Xiongnu.

In these few years since his enthronement, his greatest conflict with the Xiongnu internally was his desire for Han-style governance, which the Xiongnu refused.

But they hadn’t broken apart. In Xiongnu hearts, especially among the middle and upper classes, Liu Yuan was sacred and inviolable. They resented Zhao Hanzhang even more than the officials serving in court.

And this segment of people had greater influence in Pingyang City and constituted a larger proportion.

How many high officials of the Xiongnu Han nation remained?

Apart from Xuan Yuxiu and Liu Qin, other officials had all fled with the Xiongnu Crown Prince. Those left behind were Xiongnu middle-upper and lower classes, and among them, the lower classes basically followed the orders of the middle and middle-upper classes.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t want to massacre the city or slaughter the Xiongnu people. She wanted an intact Pingyang City, so she needed to find a way to resolve the grievances.

She was willing to acknowledge Liu Yuan, who had never received recognition, as Han Emperor, willing to give him imperial-standard funeral rites—partly to respect him, partly to respect the Xiongnu people, giving them a place to vent their grief.

The Pingyang palace gates had remained open, and funeral announcements had been posted, but for the first five days, no one dared enter the palace to pay respects. Aside from Liu Yi, Xuan Yuxiu, and Liu Qin leading captured Han officials in mourning, only Zhao Hanzhang and her people had gone to pay respects.

But today many people came. When the first person tentatively entered the palace and emerged safely, the tightly shut gates throughout Pingyang City, pretending no one was home, opened one after another. Many people brought their sons and nephews to the palace to mourn and cry.

As Zhao Hanzhang walked out of the side hall, it was precisely when they were wailing loudly in the mourning hall.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t approach but stood in a corridor with her hands behind her back, looking in that direction.

Ji Yuan and Ming Yu appeared from somewhere and walked to stand on either side of her. “My lady, I observe that after they cry, the resentment on their faces diminishes. Once Emperor Liu is buried, Pingyang City can be stabilized.”

Ming Yu on the other side said, “Commander, someone has secretly contacted Liu Yi, but we don’t yet know if they want to rescue him or are plotting to seize power.”

He reminded her, “Commander should be careful of Liu Yi.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “Keep close watch on him.”

Seeing she was clearheaded and not blindly trusting Liu Yi or relying on her benevolence, Ming Yu nodded with satisfaction. “This subordinate will certainly watch closely.”

Ji Yuan waved his fan. “If you ask me, we needn’t watch too closely. The Xiongnu Crown Prince fled with most of the court. We currently have little intelligence. Better to relax our surveillance and work through Liu Yi. If we can take this opportunity to infiltrate their side, even better.”

Zhao Hanzhang was extremely good at accepting advice and immediately said, “This idea is also good. Master Ji, you can proceed.”

Ming Yu frowned. “But this is in the palace. The Commander’s safety is paramount. How can we take such risks?”

Ji Yuan calmly replied, “How can we catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger’s den? Precisely because our lady is here, the people we send out can more easily gain their trust.”

Ming Yu countered, “I disagree. This is too dangerous. The Commander’s safety comes first.”

Ji Yuan felt he was inflexible. Ming Yu believed he couldn’t distinguish priorities. The two began arguing across Zhao Hanzhang, one on the left, one on the right.

Caught in the middle, Zhao Hanzhang felt her ears would go deaf. She quickly raised her hands to interrupt their debate. “Master Ji considers the battle situation, and his reasoning is sound, his methods good. But Master Ming considers the big picture, and his concerns are also valid…”

Ming Yu asked, “So Commander sides with me?”

Ji Yuan was displeased. The fan he’d been waving continuously pressed against his chest as he looked at Zhao Hanzhang. “My lady just agreed with me too. Are you turning around and forgetting already?”

Zhao Hanzhang quickly said, “No, no, no! What you both said is correct. You can both proceed according to your own ideas, can’t you?”

Ming Yu nearly tore out his beard. “These are two completely opposite viewpoints! For the Commander’s safety, we should eliminate danger, so how can we also lure the enemy in?”

Ji Yuan also looked at her silently.

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Why not? Master Ming, you have your people keep close watch on Liu Yi. Master Ji, you have your people quietly approach Liu Yi and stir things up. Each person does their own work, occasionally sharing information. There’s absolutely no need to reject one objective for the sake of another.”

Ji Yuan smiled. “My lady speaks reasonably.”

Ming Yu said, “Reasonable my ass! Now the Commander also lives in the palace. What if they rebel and harm the Commander?”

—