Zhao Hanzhang felt Jin wouldn’t last long, but she didn’t want it to collapse right now. So places that needed defending still had to be defended, and she still had to make the contributions she should make.

Because once Jin fell, the realm would enter an eighteen-level hell mode. Not only people in other regions, but even the common people under her rule needed to catch their breath.

So as long as Jin could be preserved, she still had to preserve it.

Not for the Sima family, but to restrain the chaos and prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.

So after leaving Fu Zhi, Zhao Hanzhang returned to the camp outside Pingyang City.

The Xiongnu army, which had just become suspicious about the camp outside Pingyang and was planning to send scouts to investigate, watched as Zhao Hanzhang led a contingent right up to the city, dropped off a small box saying it was a gift for Liu Yi, then turned and rode away.

Liu Cong, who had been arranging scouts, turned dark with rage at the sight of the small box being brought back by the gate guards.

His subordinates exchanged glances and asked, “General, should we still send scouts?”

“Investigate what? Didn’t you see clearly who was on that horse just now?” Liu Cong exploded. “Zhao Hanzhang dared to ride right up to our city gates. The camp opposite has cooking smoke rising every day. What is there to investigate? His Majesty won’t send troops against Zhao Hanzhang and her hundred thousand army anyway!”

His subordinate quickly reminded him, “General!”

Only then did Liu Cong rein in his resentful words, though his indignation grew stronger.

A soldier stood to the side holding the box, waiting for Liu Cong’s orders.

Liu Cong stepped forward and opened the box. Unexpectedly, it contained books. He flipped through them and pulled out a thick letter from among the volumes.

Liu Cong held the letter and paused for a long while. Finally, he put it down, closed the box, and said, “Deliver the box to the Prince of Beihai.”

The soldier immediately obeyed and carried the box to the palace gates. Palace guards took the items to deliver to the Prince of Beihai.

Indeed, the Prince of Beihai hadn’t yet moved out of the palace to live independently. However, Liu Yuan doted on him. When conferring princely titles and residences on his other sons, he also assigned a prince’s mansion to Liu Yi, located not far from the palace.

But because he cherished his youngest son, he kept him living in the palace. Among Liu Yuan’s sons, aside from the Crown Prince, Liu Yi was the only one allowed to reside in the imperial palace.

In the palace, few things could be hidden from Liu Yuan.

So he quickly learned that a box had been sent from outside—a gift from Zhao Hanzhang to Liu Yi.

While Liu Yuan had the box sent to him and summoned Liu Yi, he asked about the Zhao family army camp’s movements.

“The box was sent by Zhao Hanzhang’s people?”

The guard went out to investigate before returning to report, “Zhao Hanzhang delivered it personally.”

Liu Yuan was startled. “Zhao Hanzhang delivered it herself?”

The guard confirmed, “Yes.”

Liu Yuan’s expression soured. “Send someone to investigate why Zhao Hanzhang personally delivered a gift.”

A mere gift could have been delivered by anyone—why did Zhao Hanzhang need to come personally? Had something happened that he didn’t know about?

Liu Yi came running, covered in sweat. He was wearing practice clothes, clearly having run from the training grounds.

Liu Yuan smiled warmly and pointed at the box. “Zhao Hanzhang sent you a gift.”

The young Prince Liu Yi had no guile. He immediately opened it to look, and Liu Yuan also stepped forward curiously with his hands behind his back.

Inside were several books. Liu Yi pulled one out and flipped through it, his face lighting up with delight. “Father, it’s the Great Learning, with annotations!”

When Liu Yuan heard this, he immediately stepped closer and took it to look.

After carefully reading several pages, Liu Yuan couldn’t help but exclaim, “These annotations were very likely written by Zhao Changyu. This book is worth a fortune—priceless!”

Although Liu Yi had studied under Han Chinese teachers since childhood, he still couldn’t compare to Liu Yuan. He leaned in to look and asked, “Is it really that rare?”

Liu Yuan had studied under Cui You of Shangdang. When he was a hostage in Chang’an, he also loved reading, particularly the Book of History, which he knew best. Among Confucian texts, he had read every one he could obtain.

Only someone who had struggled to study like him knew how rare books were. You couldn’t find more than a few copies of the Book of Poetry in bookshops outside. So-called bookshops sold more derivative products like paper, ink, and inkstones. Actual books were scarce, and books with annotations even scarcer.

At present, quite a few books still used bamboo slips. Ancient texts with annotations were mainly on silk or bamboo. Who would sell books annotated by their ancestors?

As for sharing—no need to mention it. Unless you were from families with generations of friendship, forget about reading them; you wouldn’t even be allowed to touch them.

Liu Yuan stroked the book’s cover. After an internal struggle, he gritted his teeth and said, “Didn’t you want to meet Zhao Hanzhang? If you want to go, go ahead.”

Liu Yi’s eyes brightened. “Father won’t stop me anymore?”

Liu Yuan looked at him and smiled. “Father used to think Xiongnu people and her could never be friends, but now I see—perhaps I can’t become her friend, but you can.”

When Liu Cong learned that Liu Yi was bringing generous gifts to the Zhao family army camp, he was so angry he kicked over a table. “Has Father forgotten the mortal enmity of General Liu Jing’s death?”

Liu Jing was also Xiongnu and one of Liu Yuan’s trusted generals—quite capable. When attacking Quyang, he was shot by an arrow from Zhao Hanzhang. He only managed to see Liu Yuan once before dying from the arrow wound.

Since then, Liu Yuan had wanted to kill Zhao Hanzhang to avenge Liu Jing. Now he was making concessions for Liu Yi’s sake, which inevitably made Liu Cong jealous and resentful.

Liu Yi cheerfully galloped toward the Zhao family army camp. Inside the camp, Zhao Hanzhang was startled. Hearing the scout’s report, she hurried to bring people to meet him.

She found it hard to believe. “What’s he coming for?”

Fu Tinghan thought for a moment and said, “Perhaps because you sent him a gift and a letter, he’s coming to return the courtesy?”

“I did that to tell Liu Yuan I haven’t left, the Zhao family army is still here, so they shouldn’t try anything…” Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes widened. “Liu Yi is one thing, but why did Liu Yuan also agree to let him come out?”

“Perhaps you can ask Liu Yi when you see him,” Fu Tinghan said, glancing at the sky. “You need to intercept them twenty li out and find an excuse to keep them from approaching the camp. If you don’t leave now, you’ll be too late.”

Zhao Hanzhang could only mount her horse and gallop off, successfully intercepting Liu Yi twenty li away.

Liu Yi hadn’t expected to see his new friend halfway there. He was delighted. “Inspector Zhao, I was just coming to pay you a visit. I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

Zhao Hanzhang worked to calm her elevated heart rate and smiled at Liu Yi from her horse. “I’m honored that the Prince of Beihai would seek me out again, but I cannot invite you to the camp again.”

Liu Yi was startled. “Why not?”

“Last time I hosted you as a guest, it caused misunderstandings. If I let you stay in the camp again, I’m afraid Chief Commander Liu will be uneasy.”

Liu Yi quickly said, “Father agreed to this visit. We received your generous gift and know you would never hold me hostage again.”

Liu Yi had been educated extensively during this time. Having listened often in court, he only now understood that although he had stopped Zhao Hanzhang’s night raid on Pingyang City last time, it also gave Zhao Hanzhang leverage in peace negotiations.

Moreover, Fourth Brother had said there were no traces of a large army having camped outside Pingyang, so the night raid might have been a deception.

But this didn’t affect his friendship with Zhao Hanzhang. Liu Yi’s eyes shone brightly as he looked at her, deeply moved. “Your willingness to give me books annotated by Lord Zhao shows you truly consider me a friend. Since you’re sincere, I, Liu Yi, will never betray you.”

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