He fought to pacify the realm, not for that little emperor in the imperial palace who couldn’t make any decisions and only cowered in fear. He fought for the future peace and unity of the realm.
To continue this peace and unity, the realm needed a mighty ruler to lead. The little emperor, or any emperor surnamed Sima, was unsuitable.
Their family lacked sufficient prestige to earn the trust of the realm’s aristocratic clans and common people.
Believe it or not—as soon as Zhao Hanzhang transferred power to the little emperor, someone would immediately rebel.
Virtue not matching position—heaven will surely destroy it.
Zu Ti felt Zhao Hanzhang’s enfeoffment as prince was too quiet. He said, “Our entry into the city is a small matter. The General’s enfeoffment as prince is the great matter. We shouldn’t put the cart before the horse.”
He suggested to Shi Hua, “Please ask the Prince of Yu to wait in the palace. I’ll lead the generals into the palace to celebrate for the Prince of Yu.”
Shi Hua replied, “The General was enfeoffed as prince precisely to use the princely banner to welcome you into the city, General. If you don’t accept, wouldn’t that disappoint the General?”
He insisted they enter the city the next day according to the predetermined time and protocol.
Zhao Shen also quickly recovered his wits. “Why be so coy? After we enter the city, we’ll urge the General to hold a grand princely enfeoffment ceremony.”
“Who was enfeoffed as prince?” A voice suddenly rang out at the main entrance. Everyone turned to see Yuan Li walking in with a riding crop, his face dark.
Everyone averted their gazes and lowered their heads, refusing to look at him. Even He Xun shifted his gaze away, turning his head to the side.
But Zhao Shen and Zu Ti weren’t afraid of him.
Zu Ti asked, “Didn’t you depart early? How did you end up behind us?”
And Yuan Li was traveling light with few attendants—he should have been faster than them.
Yuan Li said, “I went to Luzhou to retrieve some things. I was delayed on the road.”
Zhao Shen stared at the scar on his face for a while, then shook his head. “You need to heal that scar. A facial scar will damage your physiognomy and ruin your financial fortune.”
Yuan Li had been dismissive at first, but upon hearing it would ruin his financial fortune, he immediately frowned and asked, “Do you have a good physician to recommend?”
Zhao Shen replied, “Find an imperial physician. They’re the best doctors. This scar is quite severe—I don’t know if it can be completely healed.”
Yuan Li’s brow furrowed tightly. He decided to ask Zhao Hanzhang to request an imperial physician to treat his injury when he returned.
Having made this decision, he pulled the conversation back. “Who were you just saying was to be enfeoffed as prince?”
He looked suspiciously at Zu Ti. Surely not Zu Ti?
But why? This time his achievements were also considerable.
Zhao Shen said, “The General. The General has been elevated to Prince of Yu.”
Hearing this, Yuan Li felt relieved and nodded. “The General indeed should be Prince of Yu.”
The character Yu was such a good character. Just hearing it, one knew it was favorable.
Night fell. The next day, Yuan Li followed behind Zu Ti to enter the capital. Zhao Hanzhang was already leading the civil and military officials waiting at the city gate.
Because the New Year was approaching, Ting He had people hang many red lanterns in the courtyard. To save lamp oil, the lanterns were lit at intervals—only every few lanterns were lit—and extinguished when she returned home.
But now, all the lanterns in the entire courtyard were lit, and there were figures moving about in the courtyard.
Zhao Hanzhang walked in with a puzzled expression. The person who had been facing away from her heard footsteps, turned around to look, and smiled at her. “You’re back?”
Zhao Hanzhang’s steps halted as she looked at him in surprise. “When did you get back?”
Fu Tinghan replied, “I arrived about two hours ago. You were at the palace banquet, so I didn’t have anyone disturb you.”
He looked her up and down, then stepped forward to take her hand, leading her inside. “Go bathe first. Otherwise it’ll be too cold in a while.”
Zhao Hanzhang obediently went.
After bathing, changing clothes, and sitting cross-legged on the bed, Fu Tinghan asked her, “In a bad mood?”
The displeasure from her return had long dissipated. Zhao Hanzhang said, “No, I’m in quite a good mood right now.”