Zhao Zhongyu looked at her and asked, “Where do you think they should go?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him, calm and breezy, and said, “I would like to meet my uncle’s wife.”

Zhao Zhongyu: “If you want to see her, you can see her anytime. It’s she who can’t easily see you.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “I want to meet her in the ancestral hall.”

Zhao Zhongyu’s silence lasted longer this time before he nodded and turned to leave. Zhao Hanzhang called after him, “Shuzu, some grievances should be clarified to avoid misunderstandings that would only deepen the resentment and make things worse.”

“So I ask that Uncle bring his sons and daughters to wait outside the ancestral hall and listen to what my uncle’s wife and I have to say.”

Zhao Zhongyu turned back, his gaze sharp as he stared at her. “Sanniang, do you know why I agreed to go to Yuncheng this time and even bring your uncle?”

Zhao Hanzhang also became serious and said earnestly, “I know. Shuzu and Uncle are going as hostages—hostages for me, for the Zhao clan.”

Zhao Hanzhang stepped forward and looked directly at Zhao Zhongyu. “So that’s precisely why I want to meet them in the ancestral hall rather than directly bursting into their rooms to seize them.”

“You!”

“Shuzu, perhaps in your eyes, I was merely injured back then and didn’t lose my life, but for me it’s different,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “I truly know that I died once. Between us lies a human life, and perhaps more than that.”

Zhao Hanzhang leaned closer and whispered, “Surely Shuzu hasn’t forgotten about Uncle abandoning Grandfather’s coffin?”

Zhao Zhongyu’s body swayed. This was the greatest stain of Zhao Ji’s entire life. Because of this, though he was the Viscount of Shangcai, after returning to the capital he never had any substantial position. Whether it was Wang Yan’s faction of famous scholars, Fu Zhi’s faction of upright officials, or the emperor himself, all disdained to employ him.

This time he received an official appointment only because the emperor and Gou Xi wanted to keep him as a hostage at their side.

But Zhao Zhongyu knew that he himself might still have some use, but as for Zhao Ji…

Zhao Hanzhang probably wished he would die soon. How could she care about him being a hostage?

Zhao Hanzhang straightened and said with a half-smile, “Based on this alone, he can never hope to become the Zhao clan’s patriarch in this lifetime. Shuzu will follow His Majesty to Yuncheng while I keep Zhao Yi here—this is already an equal exchange. As for the rest, naturally it’s grievance for grievance, revenge for revenge.”

So she, Zhao Hanzhang, owed Zhao Zhongyu nothing. Even if he went as a hostage, the second branch still owed her.

Zhao Zhongyu’s back hunched a bit more. His voice was hoarse as he said, “At the hour of the Snake, I’ll have them wait for you at the ancestral hall.”

Zhao Hanzhang watched him walk away. Ji Yuan and Fu Tinghan emerged from the courtyard, apparently having stood listening for who knows how long.

Ji Yuan sighed and said, “Young Lady, spare others when you can. Right now the Zhao clan needs unity.”

“I know, which is why I only mentioned Wu Shi and haven’t yet settled accounts with Zhao Ji.”

Ji Yuan frowned. In his eyes, Zhao Hanzhang had only been injured back then, not even very seriously—she recovered after being bedridden for a while. Why take it this far?

But Fu Tinghan knew. Between them truly lay a human life. That young girl, regardless of whether her soul had exchanged with them to their world, had truly died in this world.

He stepped forward and grasped Zhao Hanzhang’s hand, asking quietly, “Do you need me to accompany you?”

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “I’ll go alone.”

“Erlang…”

Zhao Hanzhang looked disgusted. “Don’t call him. Did he run off with people to search houses again?”

Ever since Xun Xiu took him out that one time, the child had become obsessed with ransacking houses. Now that the capital had few inhabitants, he led people house by house in search, bringing all sorts of random things home.

Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but smile slightly. “This time it’s General Beigong who personally took him out. Don’t worry—with General Beigong there, he won’t cause trouble.”

Hearing it was Beigong Chun who took him, Zhao Hanzhang’s expression immediately improved. “That’s good. Let him learn from General Beigong.”

Zhao Hanzhang checked the time and simply went to change into more comfortable Hu-style clothing, then took the sword her grandfather had left her and headed to the ancestral hall.

Zeng Yue led the personal guards to surround the ancestral hall tightly, first entering to inspect it thoroughly and confirm there was no danger before allowing Zhao Hanzhang to enter.

Zhao Hanzhang stepped into the ancestral hall and immediately saw Zhao Changyu’s memorial tablet placed in the center.

The Zhao family also maintained a memorial tablet here. Clearly, Zhao Zhongyu had made many efforts to salvage Zhao Ji’s reputation, but Ji Yuan wasn’t idle either and had sabotaged them all.

Compared to Wu Shi, who was suspected of harming Zhao Hanzhang, Ji Yuan hated Zhao Ji more for abandoning the coffin.

Zhao Hanzhang withdrew three incense sticks, lit them on the candles, closed her eyes, and thought silently: Grandfather, ancestors of the Zhao family, you should already know that I’m not Zhao Hezhen anymore, right?

I don’t know if that young girl’s soul went to my world and into my body, or if it dissipated into nothingness. Either way, please protect her.

I hope she can proceed smoothly in everything henceforth, happy and carefree.

Her revenge—I’ll exact it for her today.

Zhao Hanzhang opened her eyes and inserted the incense.

Voices came from outside the ancestral hall. Zhao Ji’s family had arrived.

Zeng Yue stretched out his hand to stop them, saying only to Wu Shi, “First Madam, please enter.”

Wu Shi’s face turned pale, and she couldn’t help but look at Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji said in a low voice, “Go in. She won’t dare do anything to you. Father is still at the residence.”

Wu Shi had her doubts. She had hidden beside the palace corridor to glimpse Zhao Hanzhang from afar once. She was completely different from two years ago. She rode her horse into the palace and didn’t dismount until reaching the great hall.

Behind her followed a squadron of personal guards, imposing and majestic. Even Wang Mi, famous throughout the realm for his cruelty and ferocity, had been killed by her.

And Zhao Zhongyu was actually willing to become a hostage for the emperor on her account. You must know, he was not only an elder but also the clan patriarch, yet he would serve as a hostage for a grand-niece.

Wu Shi tremblingly stepped forward, her hands shaking as she pushed open the door and entered.

Zhao Hanzhang was facing away from her, lighting incense. After inserting the incense, she even looked up at the memorial tablets above before turning to face Wu Shi.

Wu Shi forced out a smile and greeted her, “Sanniang, it’s been two years. You’ve grown even more beautiful.”

Zhao Hanzhang also carefully examined Wu Shi, seeing her face haggard and no longer possessing her former composed elegance, and asked, “It seems Aunt is very afraid of me. Even your voice is trembling. Why is this?”

“No, no, it’s just that Sanniang’s presence is even more imposing than before. I, I’m a bit unaccustomed.”

“Is that so? I thought it was because Aunt had done something to wrong me and was afraid I’d bring up old accounts.”

Wu Shi forced a laugh. “Sanniang jests. In the past, our two families did quarrel when we lived together, but even upper and lower teeth bump against each other. As one family, how can we keep such careful accounts?”

“Aunt is right. For small matters, one family naturally needn’t keep such careful accounts. After all, even blood brothers quarrel and fight sometimes, let alone with a layer between us.”

Wu Shi’s lips turned pale, and she could only agree, “Yes, yes.”

“But what if it involves a human life?”

—