The Emperor looked left and right, unable to help asking, “Lord Zhao, what happened when you entered the city?”

Hearing this, Gou Xi narrowed his eyes slightly. After receiving the news, he first went to the city gate to collect Gou Chun, then hurried to the palace. In all that time, Zhao Hanzhang still hadn’t filed a complaint?

Zhao Hanzhang withdrew her gaze, and when she turned to the Emperor, her expression softened somewhat as she smiled, “It’s nothing serious. Since the Grand General says it was a misunderstanding, why not let Young General Gou explain.”

Gou Chun said with a dark expression, “I was pursuing a fugitive slave to the West City Gate. When I shot and killed the fugitive slave, Provincial Governor Zhao happened to be entering the city, which startled her and created some misunderstanding.”

The Emperor’s face turned completely black upon hearing this.

What fugitive slave would require Gou Chun to personally pursue? Clearly this was a pretext—he was trying to intimidate Zhao Hanzhang.

Kill her, he wouldn’t dare. Not just him—even the Emperor and Gou Xi wouldn’t dare let anything happen to Zhao Hanzhang in Yuncheng.

While she was still en route, news had arrived in Yuncheng that Zhao Family Army had assembled large forces along the border. These past two days, Zhao Zhongyu had been repeatedly hinted at to persuade Zhao Hanzhang to remain calm and restrained.

If Zhao Hanzhang left safely, all was well. But if something happened to her, the Zhao Family Army could storm into Yanzhou the very next moment.

And no one knew whether Zhao Family Army would descend into chaos without Zhao Hanzhang, because Zhao Family Army still had Zhao Ming, Zhao Erlang, and even Beigong Chun.

So whether Zhao Family Army would fall into chaos they didn’t know, but Yanzhou would certainly fall into chaos, and Dajin would certainly fall into chaos.

Even the usually good-tempered Emperor couldn’t help glaring fiercely at Gou Chun, feeling this creature was both stupid and malicious, doing evil things without considering the target or timing.

He had no choice but to speak on Gou Chun’s behalf, “Lord Zhao, this was all a misunderstanding. Let me have Young General Gou apologize to you again, how about that?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Since Your Majesty personally speaks on his behalf, and the Grand General says it was a misunderstanding, then let’s consider this matter settled.”

So easily?

Not just Gou Xi and Gou Chun, even the Emperor was startled, somewhat incredulous.

Zhao Hanzhang had never intended to pursue this matter deeply. The Emperor and Gou Xi couldn’t possibly kill Gou Chun to appease her, and wouldn’t even severely punish Gou Chun.

Dwelling on this matter would at most get her some compensation, but was she Zhao Hanzhang someone who loved money?

She had brought a gold Buddha statue to give to Gou Xi this time. There was no need to make her already poor relationship with Gou Xi even worse over someone as petty as Gou Chun.

So Zhao Hanzhang generously indicated she wouldn’t hold it against them.

However… Zhao Hanzhang raised her head to look at Gou Xi sitting opposite, “Grand General, Young General Gou also frightened the Ministry of Rites Vice Minister and the city gate official. The ones he should most apologize to are these two.”

Gou Xi said nothing. Having Gou Chun apologize to Zhao Hanzhang was already his limit. To apologize to two minor officials would, given Gou Chun’s pride, likely cause some other incident.

Seeing Gou Xi’s attitude, Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help shaking her head, “Grand General, Young General Gou’s reputation outside isn’t very good. If you continue to indulge him this way, it will be difficult for him to advance further in his career in the future.”

No one took Zhao Hanzhang’s words to heart. Even the Emperor thought that as long as Gou Xi remained prosperous, couldn’t Gou Chun do whatever he wanted?

Zhao Hanzhang left the palace. She turned to look back at this somewhat small palace, asking Fan Ying who came forward, “How are the people at the city gate?”

Fan Ying said in a low voice, “Your subordinate inquired. Gou Xi arrived at just the right moment. When he got there, Gou Chun had slashed the city gate official once and was about to behead him when Gou Xi stopped him and took him away. That city gate official was sent to a medical clinic. The other guards are all still alive.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “When immortals fight, common people suffer. I didn’t want to fight this battle with him, yet I had no choice. They were implicated because of me. Send someone to quietly deliver some money to the medical clinic, no need to let them know.”

Fan Ying acknowledged in a low voice and asked, “My lady, I saw the city gate guards are very afraid of Gou Chun. Perhaps we could bribe them.”

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, “Their direct superior is neither Gou Xi nor Gou Chun. They have their own general to whom they’re loyal. Yuncheng is in the heart of Yanzhou. Bribing a few people won’t accomplish much, and if they’re discovered, their lives would likely be forfeit.”

She said, “The gains don’t justify the losses. There’s no need to involve them.”

Fan Ying acknowledged and brought the horse over to her.

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang remember, lowering her voice to ask, “Has Master Ming entered the city?”

“He has, and is already staying at the Zhao residence. He fell behind us entering the city. The news from the city gate was information Master Ming gathered.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and mounted her horse. Just as she was about to leave, seeing the Gou brothers emerge, she reined in her horse, “Grand General, I wonder if I’ll have the honor of visiting you tomorrow?”

Facing such a smiling and enthusiastic Zhao Hanzhang, Gou Xi found it difficult to refuse with a cold face. Mainly because, despite their many conflicts, he genuinely admired her from the heart.

Ever since their first cooperation two years ago.

Receiving Gou Xi’s nod, Zhao Hanzhang turned her horse to leave when Gou Chun suddenly called out to her, “Provincial Governor Zhao, you abducted my fugitive slave. You must return him to me.”

Zhao Hanzhang turned back to look at him, suddenly breaking into a smile, “No.”

“You!” Gou Chun was angered again, couldn’t help turning to complain to Gou Xi, “Elder Brother, you saw it, clearly she…”

“Shut up!” Gou Xi looked up at Zhao Hanzhang, frowning slightly as he asked, “Why is Provincial Governor Zhao unwilling to return the fugitive slave?”

“Because when he’s angry, I’m happy,” Zhao Hanzhang tugged at the reins, controlling the horse that kept snorting and wanting to run, “Grand General, I said I accepted his apology, but his apology was truly perfunctory. Asking for one of your fugitive slaves as compensation isn’t too much, is it?”

Gou Xi couldn’t find words to object. He lowered his voice to ask Gou Chun, “Was it really a fugitive slave?”

Gou Chun said nothing.

Gou Xi grew angry, quietly rebuking, “Speak up!”

Only then did Gou Chun say, “No, I had someone randomly grab someone from the street. Seeing his ragged clothes, he should be a beggar.”

Hearing this, Gou Xi angrily gritted his teeth, saying in a low voice, “When you get back, you’ll confine yourself to reflect until the summer solstice sacrifice—don’t come out before then!”

Gou Xi wanted to get the person back, otherwise if this person fell into Zhao Hanzhang’s hands and word got out, it would damage Gou Chun’s reputation even more.

But… glancing at Zhao Hanzhang sitting calmly and confidently on her horse, he knew it would be difficult to persuade her.

Moreover, calculating the time, they had taken the person away over an hour ago. He had surely been questioned about his identity by now. Snatching him back would be useless.

He could only go back and investigate the person’s identity, then fabricate a bill of sale.

This wasn’t difficult for Gou Xi. Getting a bill of sale and documents stamped by the county office was simple. After all, his residence had many servants—he could just claim the man had escaped from his residence.

Gou Xi clasped his hands toward Zhao Hanzhang and turned to leave with Gou Chun.

Zhao Hanzhang stared at his retreating figure, couldn’t help sighing, “He’s aged much more than the heroic and mighty Gou Xi of two years ago.”

She turned to Zeng Yue and the other guards, “So people must not be too arrogant or indulge in excess. Even someone as heroic and mighty as the Grand General became like this after wallowing in pleasures of the flesh. What about you all?”

Zeng Yue was covered in black lines, along with the other guards looking embarrassed, “Commander, we’ve always strictly observed military discipline and dare not violate it.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “Very good, keep it up.”