Could it be that Professor Fu had possessed some unremarkable nobody, which was why there’d been no news?

Zhao Hanzhang said, “There’s no specific person. It’s just that before I lost consciousness, I saw great chaos at the city gate with many people injured. I was wondering if anyone else lost their memory like me. If many people lost their memory, perhaps this matter would be spread even more widely in the capital…”

Zhao Changyu’s face darkened completely. Ji Yuan couldn’t help but laugh. “Sanniang, your memory loss was suppressed by the master. It wasn’t spread outside.”

Zhao Hanzhang looked at Zhao Changyu in surprise. “Why?”

Zhao Changyu looked at her quietly, watching until she lowered her head before saying, “If you want more things, be quiet during this time. Don’t keep thinking about provoking the second branch. Don’t forget why I gave you the courtesy name Hanzhang.”

Zhao Hanzhang obediently agreed verbally, but in her heart she felt Zhao Changyu was destined to be disappointed. She’d carried this name for twenty-eight years. While she’d developed some virtues, she hadn’t managed to learn much modesty.

To expect her to possess virtue without displaying it like this name suggested was very difficult.

The corner of Zhao Hanzhang’s mouth curved up slightly as she remembered her father chasing her with a stick through two courtyards.

Her eyes grew moist. She lowered her head to hide the tears in her eyes and once more promised, “I’ll listen to whatever Grandfather says.”

It seemed connecting with Professor Fu through memory loss wouldn’t work. She’d still have to send people out to inquire about those injured at the city gate that day.

Zhao Hanzhang’s mood improved. When she raised her head again, her eyes had regained their calm. Her gaze fell on Ji Yuan as she smiled sweetly and obediently at him.

Ji Yuan felt a chill run down his spine, suddenly having a bad premonition.

Zhao Changyu’s purpose today was to have Zhao Hanzhang meet Zhao Ju and Ji Yuan. Now that they’d met and all parties understood the situation, he kept Zhao Hanzhang to speak privately.

Zhao Changyu said, “Though Qianli is a military man, he’s steady and careful. Erlang can’t manage studies, but he has strength. He doesn’t ask for much—unlike Ji Yuan. Originally, I was going to leave him and Chengbo together for you and Erlang.”

Zhao Hanzhang took a moment to recall that Zhao Ju’s courtesy name was Qianli—a name Zhao Changyu himself had given him.

With this knowledge point remembered, related memories surfaced.

Zhao Hanzhang had never met Ji Yuan, but she’d seen Zhao Ju from a distance a few times. Erlang had learned martial arts from him.

However, compared to Ji Yuan, Zhao Ju seemed to have no reputation.

Ji Yuan—a famous strategist at her grandfather’s side. Though the young girl had never met him, she’d heard his great name many times.

The Zhao family had been able to maintain their position amid the mutual attacks of various princes—her grandfather’s ability was one important reason, but it was inseparable from Ji Yuan’s assistance.

“Ji Yuan…” Zhao Changyu paused. “He’s different from Qianli, but he’s received my kindness. He’s still young now and probably won’t stay by your side for long, so you must quickly cultivate your own people to replace him.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s heart stirred. “Grandfather, may I go out?”

Zhao Changyu’s gaze fell on her leg.

Zhao Hanzhang immediately said, “This isn’t a problem. My leg is sprained and has a hairline fracture, but it’s not broken. I think I can go out.”

Zhao Changyu said meaningfully, “Aren’t you suffering from memory loss right now? And seriously injured too.”

“It’s precisely because of memory loss that I need to go out and walk around more—that way I can recover my memories faster.”

Zhao Changyu: “…Are you really planning to keep up this stubbornness with the second branch? Enough is enough. Find an opportunity to recover your memory.”

Zhao Changyu stood and went to the bookshelf to retrieve a box. “I’m leaving you and Erlang some properties.”

The box contained four land deeds and four maps. The maps were drawn on silk. Zhao Changyu pulled out two deeds and two maps to give her. “This is the backup route I prepared for the Zhao clan. Originally, I was going to hand it to your grand-uncle, but… now I’m dividing it in two. This portion is yours.”

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at the deeds then looked at the maps. “This is?”

“These are my hidden assets,” Zhao Changyu sighed. “Great Jin… probably won’t last long. Sooner or later, the realm will fall into chaos. Right now, with the Xiongnu and Qiang people causing trouble, the situation is worse than even the Later Han. When that time comes, human lives will be like grass. As long as you have money and grain, you can gather talented people to protect yourself. This is something I’m leaving for you to preserve your life.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze fell on the box. Seeing this, Zhao Changyu’s temple twitched again. He reached out to close the box. “This is for the family.”

He paused. “Although these things are what I’ve managed to accumulate, you must know that Grandfather also inherited our ancestors’ family business. Having this foundation is what led to today. So these things must be given back to the clan.”

Zhao Hanzhang indicated she understood. “I know. This is our responsibility.”

Zhao Changyu nodded with satisfaction, gesturing for her to put the items away. “I’ll have Chengbo send you back. After the memorial requesting the heir designation is approved, I’ll take you out to meet the people I’m leaving you.”

Ji Yuan and Zhao Ju could come to the estate, but it wasn’t convenient to meet the other people here. Otherwise, no matter how tight the security in the main courtyard, they couldn’t keep it from the second branch.

Zhao Changyu reminded her again, “You must be modest, understand? Moreover, you’re a young lady. Showing weakness will make it easier to gain people’s trust.”

Zhao Hanzhang disagreed. “For the past six years, haven’t we been showing weakness? I’ve only seen that when we retreat one step, others become even more aggressive and take two steps forward, pressing us relentlessly, becoming increasingly presumptuous.”

She said, “If we hadn’t yielded from the start, perhaps things would be different. Today’s disaster might have been completely averted.”

Zhao Changyu frowned.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t explain further. In Zhao Changyu’s eyes, the current situation wasn’t completely ruined—after all, this incident had ended without real harm.

But Zhao Hanzhang knew a life lay between them. That fourteen-year-old girl hadn’t even had time to express her thoughts before dying. Except for her, no one knew of her death.

Zhao Hanzhang withdrew her gaze from the box and took a step back. “I understand Grandfather’s meaning. Although I’m unhappy inside, for the greater good and for the family, I will yield.”

Zhao Changyu’s brow relaxed, and he nodded at her with satisfaction. “Good. Only this way can I feel assured leaving those people to you. With your current temperament and ability, you should be able to keep Ji Yuan for a few years.”

The grandfather and granddaughter conversed happily for a time, and Zhao Hanzhang returned with a full load.

What she received today was the larger portion of what Zhao Changyu was leaving her. Those two deeds and the items indicated by the maps represented half—perhaps even more—of Zhao Changyu’s lifetime accumulation.

And these were hidden assets. He definitely wouldn’t tell the second branch about their existence or whereabouts, which meant he would definitely give her some things openly as well.

Zhao Hanzhang’s mouth curved up. Sitting in the sedan chair, she looked toward where the second branch resided. The young girl’s eldest cousin, Zhao Daniang, was still kneeling in the ancestral hall, wasn’t she?

She didn’t know if luring them outside the city had been her own idea or if someone had prompted her. The young girl’s revenge had to be exacted. She also needed to arrange things properly for Wang Shi and Zhao Erlang, then find Professor Fu and together figure out a way to return home…