She stepped forward and brushed away the remaining half of the thatch, revealing the pair of eyes behind it.

It was a child who appeared only five or six years old, but Zhao Hanzhang guessed his actual age was older—he was just so thin from starvation.

His eyes were wide open, his head very large—that was in comparison to his body.

His body was very small, hands and feet were very small, with only a thin layer of skin stuck to the bones. Corpse spots had already appeared on his body. He should have been dead for some time.

Zhao Hanzhang reached out to close his eyes. Because she moved the body, his entire body tilted, his whole head drooping to the side. But what he clutched in his hand—some indistinguishable tuber—was still firmly gripped, with tooth marks on it. Someone should have bitten it once.

Zhao Hanzhang tried twice but couldn’t take the thing from his hand. Helpless, she could only give up.

Seeing her not emerge for a long time, Fu Tinghan personally entered to check. Seeing the small corpse curled entirely into the corner of the wall, he paused for a moment before stepping forward to examine it.

Soon he said in a low voice, “No foreign objects in the throat, no external injuries on the body. Should have starved to death.”

Even with food in hand, he still starved to death. Perhaps when he found the tuber it was too late. The bite he swallowed couldn’t stop his death, and he hadn’t had time to take another bite.

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes burned. She tilted her head slightly, forcing back the tears in her eyes before bending down to carry the child out.

Seeing this, Zeng Yue immediately had someone dig a hole. Then he led the guards who had just entered the house to search and knelt on the ground, requesting Zhao Hanzhang’s punishment.

Cold bones along the road, starved corpses for a thousand li—these past two years they had seen plenty of dead people on the road. Not to mention distant cases, just along this journey they often saw bodies collapsed on the ground and white bones scattered in the wild.

Because there were so many, unless they stopped to rest, they kept their eyes straight ahead and wouldn’t dig holes to bury people.

But this room was where their lord’s screen was placed. There was a corpse in the room and they hadn’t discovered it—this was their dereliction of duty.

Zhao Hanzhang had no intention of being lenient. She gently placed the child on the ground and said coldly, “When we return to Luoyang, go receive your punishment in the army.”

Zeng Yue lowered his head and responded, “Yes.”

Wei Jie stood at the door watching quietly. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang personally cup soil to bury the body, his gaze shifted to Fu Tinghan standing at her side.

Fu Tinghan stood in a daze, lips pressed tight, the aura around him somewhat cold.

In the past three years, he had seen plenty of dead people and pitiable souls, but never had there been a moment like now when he felt so angry yet powerless.

“You’ve said before that the world belongs to the people of the world. Jin no longer has the virtue and talent to continue possessing this world. So if possible, you need not heed my grandfather’s words. I will explain and bear the previous promises made to him.”

Zhao Hanzhang raised her head to glance at him, then responded softly, “I know. It’s just that now is not the time, nor will it be for many years to come.”

Store up grain widely, delay proclaiming kingship.

Her current priority was internal governance and training troops to accumulate sufficient strength.

Zhao Hanzhang built a small grave mound for this child. Unfortunately, not knowing his name, she couldn’t even make a wooden marker.

Zhao Hanzhang bowed deeply, then turned to meet Wei Jie’s gaze standing at the door. Wei Jie nodded at her and turned to enter the house.

Wang Yu quickly followed. Seeing Wei Jie sit cross-legged by the fire again with a calm expression, he became somewhat anxious. “Didn’t you hear what Fu Tinghan said just now?”

Wei Jie nodded and said calmly, “I heard.”

“You heard and yet you’re so calm? What did he mean? What does he mean that the world belongs to the people of the world, and Jin no longer has the virtue to continue possessing this world?” Wang Yu was somewhat anxious, pacing in circles. “Zhao Hanzhang also saw us. You say, will she kill us to silence us?”

Wei Jie raised his head to look at him strangely. “Cousin, we came to Yuzhou specifically to seek refuge with Zhao Hanzhang. She also accepted us. Our interests are aligned—why would she silence us?”

Wang Yu was stunned. “We’re seeking refuge with her, but above her there’s still the Emperor. Now they have rebellious intent—isn’t she afraid we’ll inform on them? What if she worries we’ll inform and therefore kills us to silence us?”

Wei Jie said indifferently, “If we inform, will the Emperor believe it? After believing, will he send troops to suppress Zhao Hanzhang and break with her completely?”

Of course not. The Emperor’s current military forces were hardly worth mentioning. He still had to rely on Gou Xi. Even if Gou Xi borrowed the Emperor’s name to send troops and fought with Zhao Hanzhang, who would win or lose was still uncertain.

The Emperor might even have the informer executed and send the head to Zhao Hanzhang to seek peace in order to quell her anger.

Wang Yu instantly slumped his shoulders and waved his hand weakly. “Never mind, let’s warm ourselves by the fire.”

Wei Jie withdrew his gaze and said faintly, “Besides, what Fu Tinghan said wasn’t wrong. Jin indeed has neither talent nor virtue to continue possessing this world.”

Wang Yu never knew this cousin who seemed like a celestial being had such thoughts. He gaped, looking at him somewhat at a loss.

Wei Jie was very calm. “Many in the world share my thoughts. The world is in chaos. From Emperor Wu until now, countless aristocratic families have been slaughtered. Many have become accustomed to not discussing state affairs. But swords in this world can stop tongues but cannot guard thoughts.”

“I imagine there are still many in this world pondering ways to save the nation, wanting to prevent the great edifice from collapsing. This edifice is not the Jin imperial house, but the myriad people of the world, our magnificent Huaxia.”

Wang Yu looked at him in shock. “I, I thought Cousin only had profound insights into pure conversation. I didn’t expect you… would also think about these mundane matters.”

Wei Jie lowered his eyes without speaking.

Zhao Hanzhang stepped inside and said, “Matters concerning the fate of the world only became mundane affairs in these decades of Dajin. Before, who would categorize issues of the world’s great trends and government affairs as mundane?”

Wang Yu was startled, shrank his neck, and instinctively lowered his head.

Since they had already heard, and these were all their own people, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t hide her ambitions. She sat down by the fire, raised her eyes to look across at Wang Yu who was guiltily lowering his head. “When Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang three times at his thatched cottage, Zhuge Liang discussed the world’s great trends. Duke Cao could stabilize the world also because the strategists around him discussed national affairs with him. If everyone were like today’s famous scholars, categorizing proper government affairs as vulgar and mundane, the world would have completely fallen apart during the Later Han.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Yu felt somewhat ashamed.

Zhao Hanzhang said, “I don’t care how you all act before the Emperor, General Gou, and others. But under my rule, those in positions must plan for those positions. If you cannot fulfill your due responsibilities in your position, go home and farm early. Make way for the capable to rise.”

Wei Jie bowed slightly and responded affirmatively. Only then did Wang Yu come to his senses and quickly bowed in acknowledgment.

Only then was Zhao Hanzhang satisfied. She ordered, “Tomorrow increase the pace. Strive to reach Luoyang before nightfall.”

Everyone acknowledged.

In the other half of the room, Zhao Hu, who had lain down and sat up again, glanced at his son, then turned to Zhao Zheng. “Zheng’er, from now on serve more at your Third Elder Sister’s side. Don’t always run off outside, understand?”

Zhao Zheng didn’t know why his grandfather said this, but still acknowledged.

Zhao Cheng frowned at his father. Because Zhao Hanzhang and others were sitting not far away, he was unwilling to quarrel with his father in front of outsiders over the child’s education.