Upon hearing this, Madam Wang didn’t question it but exclaimed repeatedly, “So that’s how it is! No wonder the children born to my cousins in the past always died young…”
She didn’t use her own knowledge to doubt Zhao Hanzhang, because she felt her daughter was the most capable person in the world and also the most learned person in the world. Since she said so, it must be the truth.
She also didn’t ask why they couldn’t choose Wang Kuang’s daughter or Xiahou Ren’s daughter, but Zhao Hanzhang still explained, saying in a low voice: “Wang Kuang and Xiahou Ren—one represents the aristocratic families who migrated south, and the other represents the aristocratic families who remained in the north. Although I employ these two groups, I don’t want them to participate in imperial power, so neither will work.”
Seeing that she was willing to explain these things to her, Madam Wang pondered for a moment before asking quietly: “Then General Beigong’s daughter is acceptable? I’ve heard people say you rely heavily on him, and he holds great military power. If he forms a marriage alliance with Erlang, won’t you suspect Erlang?”
Zhao Hanzhang laughed, “No, Mother, I believe in Erlang’s loyalty to me, and I trust General Beigong’s character. Besides, if he has the ability to seize imperial power from my hands, I would actually be gratified—it would mean he’s become clever.”
“He definitely wouldn’t dare, nor would he do such a thing,” Madam Wang grew excited and said to Zhao Hanzhang: “I’ve heard people say the young lady of the Beigong family has excellent martial arts skills and is very good at riding and archery. Perhaps she and Erlang could get along well. Moreover, since she can help General Beigong manage logistics and military affairs, she must also be able to manage the inner household well.”
Zhao Hanzhang looked thoughtful, “So capable—she should be a female general.”
Madam Wang: “…I’m helping you select a sister-in-law, yet you’re poaching people from me to become officials.”
Zhao Hanzhang immediately said: “Whether they’re suitable or not, we still need to meet the person. How about this—I’ll have General Beigong send someone to escort his wife and daughter back to the capital, and we can take a look at them.”
Madam Wang: “You’ve already summoned Shi Le back from Youzhou, so why not summon General Beigong back for a debriefing?”
Zhao Hanzhang: “Shi Le has already returned. If General Beigong also comes back, there will be no one to provide support and backup for Tuoba Liuxiu on the Dai Kingdom side.”
After Tuoba Liuxiu succeeded to the position of King of Dai, many tribes within Dai Kingdom refused to submit. Moreover, since Zhao Hanzhang only gave Dai Kingdom military authority while governance was taken over by officials she dispatched, those tribal leaders were even more unwilling, causing great turmoil.
Because she kept Tuoba Yilu in Luoyang, even though Tuoba Pushugen was unwilling, he had to consider the bigger picture and work together with Tuoba Liuxiu to first pacify the domestic rebellion.
Shi Le and Beigong Chun assisted from the side, but only deployed small forces—the main force for suppressing the rebellion still came from within Dai Kingdom.
Regardless of whether Zhao Hanzhang left Beigong Chun there to support Tuoba Liuxiu or to guard against him, either way, only one of him and Shi Le could return, taking turns.
Upon receiving the telegram, Beigong Chun didn’t think much about it and immediately had someone escort his wife and daughter to the capital. “His Majesty said to have you represent me in receiving the rewards.”
Thinking this trip meant staying in Luoyang as a hostage, Huiniang felt sad in her heart. Seeing Beigong Chun instruct them to travel light and simple, she held back tears and asked, “Will we return after we go?”
Beigong Chun instantly understood and quickly explained: “Of course you’ll return. Don’t overthink it—His Majesty has no intention of detaining generals’ family members. The families of Duke Chengguo Li, Shi Le, and Zu Ti haven’t been sent to the capital, so His Majesty certainly won’t detain my family.”
Beigong Chun was very confident in his own loyalty, and he believed Zhao Hanzhang had this confidence in him too—they had this tacit understanding between sovereign and subject.
If it really came to sending family members to the capital as hostages, he, Beigong Chun, would definitely be the last one.
Huiniang breathed a sigh of relief. “Then why does His Majesty want to see us? You should report for duty, and the rewards for you can wait until you enter the capital.”
“Perhaps it’s because of Tuanyuan,” Beigong Chun recalled Huang An’s reminder upon his return and said: “Tuanyuan is of marriageable age. His Majesty has an unmarried younger brother who is very brave and simple in character. Perhaps His Majesty wants to act as matchmaker for the two children?”
Huiniang was reluctant. “Didn’t you say before that you wanted to find a live-in son-in-law for Tuanyuan from among the soldiers?”
Beigong Chun: “I’ve met the Prince of Qin and even taught him spear techniques. Though he’s a bit simple, he has good character and is His Majesty’s own brother. They have a very good sibling relationship, so if they’re fated, it would naturally be better for Tuanyuan to marry the Prince of Qin.”
He continued: “Although there are good young men in the army, they still fall short compared to the Prince of Qin.”
The key point was that good young men might not be willing to marry into the wife’s family.
But his Tuanyuan was skilled in martial arts and intelligent—in his eyes, she was no less capable than any young man in the army.
Not everyone could be like Fu Tinghan, accepting a wife who was stronger and of higher status than himself.
Standing among men and looking from a man’s perspective, Beigong Chun knew that the vast majority of men couldn’t do it. Moreover, the less capable the man, the stronger his pride and the more unwilling he was to be subordinate to his wife.
His daughter’s intelligence was innate, and her martial arts talent was also innate. She was just that capable—why should she have to humble herself beneath a man who wasn’t as good as her?
So if there was a choice, it would be better to choose Zhao Erlang.
Zhao Erlang wasn’t clever enough, but he could give Beigong Tuanyuan a broader world.
Beigong Chun told his wife: “The Prince of Qin studied under the Minister of Personnel and has a heart like his.”
Upon hearing this, Huiniang immediately stopped worrying. “Then let’s leave tomorrow.”
Beigong Chun: …There’s no need to be quite so hasty.
After bathing, Zhao Erlang changed into the new clothes his mother had made for him and eagerly ran over. “Mother, is the food ready?”
Madam Wang looked him over with some disdain. “Same fabric, same tailoring—why does it look so ugly on you? Your brother-in-law looks great in it.”
Only then did Zhao Erlang remember, looking around. “Where’s brother-in-law?”
Zhao Hanzhang: “I’ve already sent someone to fetch him. He’ll be back soon. If you’re hungry, eat first.”
Zhao Erlang was craving food but insisted on waiting for Fu Tinghan to return.
Fu Tinghan hurried over, and Zhao Erlang wanted to leap onto him to cheer like when he was little, but he was now broader than Fu Tinghan, with wide shoulders and a simian waist, long arms and legs—he could no longer act spoiled like a child.
Fu Tinghan also looked at him in surprise, patting his shoulder in praise: “Good lad, you’re almost as tall as me.”
Zhao Erlang grinned foolishly, making a fist to show him the muscles on his arm. “To be strong, you must eat meat. Brother-in-law, listen to me—eat lots of meat, eat lots of rice, and in less than two months, you’ll be just like me.”
“Your brother-in-law won’t,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “If he eats lots of meat and lots of rice, in two months he’ll be as round as a white steamed bun.”
Zhao Erlang: “How could that be? I’ve always eaten like this and haven’t gotten fat at all, only strong!”
“That’s because you exercise. Your brother-in-law now wishes he could grow into his desk. Even going from the palace to the Ministry of Works branch office, he takes a carriage. He walks less than a thousand steps every day.”
Zhao Erlang looked at him with admiration. “Brother-in-law, you’re so amazing! How can you sit still for so long? I’ve never been able to sit still.”
Zhao Hanzhang: …
Fu Tinghan suppressed a smile and said: “Now that you’re back, do you want to come with me to the Ministry of Works branch office? We’ve recently made something fun.”
Without even asking what it was, Zhao Erlang readily agreed.
—