She couldn’t help but pat her: “You only pause for two breaths—how can I compare them?”
Zhao Hanzhang acted coquettishly: “But Mother, I’m already hungry.”
Only then did Wang Shi suddenly realize how much time had passed. She hurriedly apologized to Princess Hongnong: “It’s my fault. While trying things on, I forgot the time. Princess, please wait a moment. I’ll go see how the kitchen preparations are going.”
Princess Hongnong smiled and indicated it was fine.
After Wang Shi hurriedly left with Qinggu and the others, suddenly only Ting He remained in the room, along with two maids serving tea and water, plus Ren Hui beside Princess Hongnong.
Princess Hongnong looked at Zhao Hanzhang with a smile.
Zhao Hanzhang seemed to know she had something to say, and turned to instruct Ting He: “Go to the kitchen and get some pastries, and brew a pot of tea.”
Ting He acknowledged and took the other two maids with her when she left.
Princess Hongnong also nodded at Ren Hui. Ren Hui bowed and withdrew. After leaving, she stood guard not far from the entrance—at this position, not too far, not too close, she could see the expressions of the two people in the main hall so she could respond quickly when they called, but couldn’t hear what they were saying.
Zhao Hanzhang closed the jewelry boxes on the table and moved them down, looking up at Princess Hongnong across from her. The two could finally talk face to face.
“The Princess was able to return smoothly to Luoyang—Tinghan is very happy. This is his and my good fortune, and also Great Jin’s good fortune.”
Princess Hongnong: “I am the daughter of Emperor Xiaohui. Now you hold the reins of government. Logically, it would be more advantageous for you if I remained outside. Why did you go to great lengths to welcome me back?”
Zhao Hanzhang said: “Princess, I am different from the Eight Princes, and also different from Gou Xi, Wang Yan, and others. In my heart, my power and position are not the most important—the people of the realm are. Perhaps you’ll think I’m speaking too grandly, too emptily, but I am indeed sincere. You are a princess of Great Jin, always loyal and brave. I need your approval.”
Princess Hongnong thought briefly and said mockingly: “Is it because things have stabilized, and the various aristocratic clans are having restless thoughts again?”
Zhao Hanzhang said nothing.
Princess Hongnong said derisively: “I knew it…” Looking at the calm person across from her, Princess Hongnong exhaled and said: “I believe you. You are different from them. Those aristocratic clans only struggle for their own interests. What do you want me to do?”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled: “The Princess doesn’t need to do anything special. As long as you’re in Luoyang, standing beside His Majesty, that’s enough.”
She was the legitimate daughter of Emperor Hui, with a reputation for loyalty and courage. Even the young Emperor was inferior to her in terms of legitimacy, let alone the Prince of Langya in Jiangnan and Jiangdong.
As long as she was in Luoyang, it was support for her.
As long as she was in Luoyang, among those aristocratic clans with restless thoughts, there would be those who prided themselves on loyalty turning toward Luoyang.
Oh yes, their restless thoughts weren’t because the Prince of Langya was more legitimate than her, but because her vigorous policies for settling refugees, policies for distributing land and providing relief, and various detailed regulations strongly supporting agricultural development had begun to touch the foundations of their interests.
Previously, during the war, the main contradiction was with the Xiongnu and Shi Le. Everyone was of one heart and mind, so they didn’t care about this. The policies at that time were regional and lacked strong enforcement.
Unlike now—a nationwide movement, plus the great war had ceased and everyone began seeking their own development. At this time, interests collided.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t want to fall out with them too badly, ending with them attacking her or her attacking them. Therefore, Princess Hongnong was a shield she was raising.
She believed they would stand on Princess Hongnong’s side, pushing her to contend with herself.
Princess Hongnong slowly sorted through the relationships, looking at Zhao Hanzhang. Their gazes collided in the air, each seemingly looking through the other’s eyes into their hearts.
Zhao Hanzhang saw in her eyes surprise and… fear. Princess Hongnong discovered she couldn’t see through the Zhao Hanzhang across from her.
After finishing her conversation with Zhao Hanzhang, Princess Hongnong supported herself on Ren Hui’s hand to change clothes. Entering the inner room, her expression finally changed drastically.
Ren Hui looked at her worriedly: “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”
Princess Hongnong’s lips trembled as she murmured: “Her—I vaguely saw traces of Imperial Grandfather’s shadow in her.”
Ren Hui was shocked.
Princess Hongnong: “She’s so young, yet she has the imposing manner Imperial Grandfather had in his prime. And I cannot see through her.”
Princess Hongnong was proud. She prided herself on her intelligence, believing she was no inferior to any of her uncles or brothers. She was just unlucky enough to be born female. Otherwise, how would Father Emperor’s realm have become so precarious?
But before Zhao Hanzhang, she discovered she couldn’t escape her calculations. Knowing clearly that Zhao Hanzhang was inviting her back now more to use her as a shield, to reduce the dissatisfaction and attacks on her from various quarters, instead having them support her, this princess, to oppose Zhao Hanzhang.
But she couldn’t refuse. First, she didn’t want Great Jin to experience war and chaos again due to power struggles. Second, she also needed this banner that Zhao Hanzhang had pushed into her hands to gather people’s hearts…
But she had calculated everything—would she just watch her convert people’s hearts with open eyes?
Princess Hongnong didn’t know what she would do, but she knew that at this moment, she couldn’t refuse her.
Princess Hongnong closed her eyes. After staying in the inner room for a long time and rebuilding her psychological defenses, she raised her head proudly and went out.
Fu Xuan stood not far away gazing at the sky. Hearing footsteps, he turned back, frowned, and said: “I hear that drinking tea has become fashionable in the Central Plains, especially clear-brewed green tea, which is very good for digestion and also beneficial for the intestines.”
Princess Hongnong’s face instantly darkened. She glared fiercely at Fu Xuan and hissed in a low voice: “You shut your mouth! This is the Zhao residence. Don’t speak nonsense.”
Fu Xuan: “…I’m concerned about you. You went to the privy for two quarters of an hour…”
Princess Hongnong was furious, but this was someone else’s house, so she could only forcibly suppress her anger, tightly gripping Ren Hui’s hand as she turned and left.
Fu Xuan couldn’t help but mutter: “Can’t even say it now…”
He followed as well.
Seeing Princess Hongnong walking straight ahead with her head down, he held back, but still couldn’t resist standing at the fork in the path: “The dining room is this way.”
Princess Hongnong’s body stiffened. She stopped, gathered her energy, then turned back expressionlessly, passing him to go right.
Fu Xuan shook his head and followed.
Fu Tinghan had also been temporarily called to try on the wedding clothes and accessories one last time. Only now, watching the guards carry out the various wedding items in boxes, did he exhale. Getting married was really tiring—although there wasn’t much for him to do, basically just ordering subordinates, it was still exhausting.
Wang Shi had the kitchen prepare a sumptuous lunch, all old Luoyang flavors.
Princess Hongnong and Fu Xuan had both grown up in Luoyang, so they ate very happily. Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan ate more restrainedly. Overall, this meeting between in-laws went very smoothly.
Learning that both sides had basically reached agreement on all matters regarding the wedding, with only some small details still to be discussed, Zhao Hanzhang asked: “Mother, where is Fifth Grand-Uncle? He’s to preside over the wedding that day. Has this matter been discussed with him?”