Her gaze fell on the glass vase.

Ji Yuan’s gaze also fell there, and he pondered, “It’s not impossible…”

Zhao Hanzhang: “Have the craftsmen research more these next few days. See if they can blow better glass.”

Fu Tinghan: “Actually, the glass cups and bowls blown using ceramic cups and bowls as molds today weren’t bad, but…”

Ji Yuan: “I smashed them.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes widened, “Why?”

Fu Tinghan also asked: “Why?”

He had wanted to ask when Ji Yuan smashed them, but at the time he’d been a bit dizzy from the heat and never asked.

Ji Yuan: “Those cups and bowls weren’t refined enough. Keeping them would be useless. Defective products should naturally all be smashed.”

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan’s gazes fell simultaneously on that twisted glass vase.

Ji Yuan quickly said: “But this vase is different. It’s the first vase blown by the workshop, and Young Master blew it personally. The significance is different.”

Zhao Hanzhang accepted his explanation, nodding: “Alright then, have the craftsmen continue researching.”

She glanced at this adorably ugly vase and waved her hand, “I’ll keep this vase here.”

Ji Yuan: …He had wanted to take it away.

Fu Tinghan had already stood up and directly picked up the vase, “I’ll take it to your room.”

Really, looking at this vase longer, it did have another kind of beauty.

Fu Tinghan cheerfully carried the vase to Zhao Hanzhang’s room.

Zhao Hanzhang walked around the room once, finally placing it on the low cabinet beside the bed, “This looks better.”

Fu Tinghan: “You could use it as a flower vase. Tomorrow I’ll cut some flowers for you to arrange?”

Zhao Hanzhang tilted her head thinking, “What flowers are there now?”

In her memory, there didn’t seem to be any flowers at present.

Fu Tinghan also thought for quite a while. Finally the two silently looked at each other, “Your family estate is quite plain—not even a single rose bush.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “You’ve lived here two months and only notice now? Don’t you think that’s a bit late?”

Fu Tinghan couldn’t help laughing, “Tomorrow I’ll pick you a bunch of wildflowers.”

Fu Tinghan did as he said. The next day, after testing several glass formulas, he walked back to the estate along the field ridges, choosing to walk where the grass was thickest, picking quite a few wildflowers.

Fu’an excitedly ran to the workshop looking for him. Not finding him, he followed the road searching, taking a long time to find him, “Young Master, why did you come this way? I just went from the other direction to the workshop looking for you. They all said you’d returned, which scared me into a sweat. I didn’t see you coming.”

“This is Sanniang’s estate. The surrounding area is all our people. What’s there to worry about?”

“You’ve been staying in the estate and don’t know—it’s chaotic outside now. I don’t know what’s happening, but lately there are more and more refugees. The roads are full of people,” Fu’an said, “With so many fleeing, some troublemakers have run into the estate. Theft is one thing, but if caught they might kill. I heard a nearby village had someone discover a small thief, cried out, and was killed. An entire village was robbed.”

Fu Tinghan frowned, “Is it that serious?”

“Yes. Today Sanniang even led people out, circling the estate once, saying she wanted to deter outsiders from sneaking into our estate.”

After all, this place was different from Zhao Family’s fortified estate. The fortified estate had walls surrounding it, but here the fields stretched open—anyone could slip in.

Seeing Fu Tinghan still picking wildflowers, Fu’an couldn’t help asking, “Young Master, what are you picking these wildflowers for?”

“For a vase. First tell me why you came looking for me.”

Fu Tinghan didn’t like people following him, so although Fu’an was his attendant, unless traveling far he never called him to follow. Coincidentally, Zhao Hanzhang was short-handed everywhere, and Fu’an could count and recognized a few characters, so Zhao Hanzhang borrowed him to work. Fu’an was perceptive and went along.

Fu’an snapped to attention and quickly pulled a letter from his chest, slightly excited: “Young Master, a letter from the master has arrived.”

Fu Tinghan’s reaction was quite calm. He took the letter and opened it to read.

Fu Zhi had written asking Fu Tinghan to be careful and not to return to Luoyang.

The great army had retaken Luoyang, and the court was beginning to relocate. Many people were writing to family members scattered outside, asking them to return to the capital for reunion.

But Fu Zhi felt Luoyang’s crisis hadn’t been resolved—rather, it was more dangerous now. So he specifically wrote asking Fu Tinghan not to return to the capital, but to stay in Runan accompanying Zhao Hanzhang in mourning.

He wrote in the letter: “You’ve missed the period for marriage during intense mourning. Then complete the full three years in Runan. After three years, marry. If Luoyang is still stable by then, I’ll send people with betrothal gifts. If it’s unstable, then ask the Zhao clan elders to preside and marry immediately.”

Fu Tinghan folded the letter and put it in his chest, still unhurriedly picking flowers. After picking a large bouquet, he finally returned to the estate.

Zhao Erlang slipped out from the study. Seeing Fu Tinghan holding wildflowers, he whispered: “Brother-in-law, Elder Sister is inside. These flowers are really pretty—Elder Sister will definitely like them.”

Fu Tinghan: “Did you sneak out?”

“No.” After saying this, Zhao Erlang ran off in a flash.

Fu Tinghan couldn’t even call him back. He shook his head and stepped inside. Looking in, Zhao Hanzhang was bent over her desk writing something. No wonder she didn’t bother with the escaping Zhao Erlang.

“What are you writing?”

“A letter,” Zhao Hanzhang said, “The fortified estate sent a letter saying Luoyang has been retaken. The emperor and officials are returning to the capital. Zhao Zhongyu wrote back saying he wants to send me the proceeds from his private property this year.”

Fu Tinghan paused, “You accepted?”

“Of course,” Zhao Hanzhang sneered, “Uncle-Grandfather has personally made concessions. If I didn’t accept, wouldn’t that be ungrateful?”

She understood the thinking of the clan elders best—harmony was naturally best if possible.

“However, I won’t take his things for nothing. The second branch lost their luggage before. Even returning to the capital, their shops and estates are still there, but goods and grain are certainly gone. Those things are also hard to convert to cash quickly. I’ll just send them some things.”

Like newly fired glass cups and bowls.

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Did Master Ji smash any glass today?”

“Smashed a lot, but also kept a few.”

Zhao Hanzhang said: “Then pick two and have them packed in superior golden nanmu wood boxes to send to him.”

She believed Fifth Uncle-Grandfather and the others would be very gratified seeing her gift.

Fu Tinghan pulled out his grandfather’s letter and handed it to Zhao Hanzhang, “Although you already know about Luoyang being retaken, still have a look.”

Zhao Hanzhang put down her brush and took it, “What did Grandfather Fu say in the letter?”

“He said Luoyang is more dangerous now than before.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “History has already deviated. Although there haven’t been major changes overall, I can no longer compare it with the history in my memory. However, while events don’t match, the people are unchanged.”

She said: “Analyzing from this perspective, with Luoyang’s rebel army withdrawn, the struggle between Prince Donghai and the emperor will intensify.”

Fu Tinghan: “Does this greatly affect us?”

“With more refugees, we can recruit more people?” Zhao Hanzhang frowned, “It seems the north is truly gradually falling into chaos.”