But like Chamberlain Dong, many people shared this thinking. Court officials generally believed that now that the situation had stabilized, the honor due to the imperial household should be provided. Only a noble life could create noble people, separate them from others, and establish hierarchical order between superior and inferior.
Even Ji Yuan said, “There are indeed too few people in the palace. People should be added.”
Zhao Hanzhang frowned slightly and asked, “The palace currently only has His Majesty and the Prince of Yuzhang. Before long, the Prince of Yuzhang will even move out of the palace. Is there really a need for so many people?”
“This is the honor His Majesty deserves.”
Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes in brief contemplation and said, “I understand.”
However, she didn’t agree immediately.
The old ministers of Dajin seemed to have found a point where they could contend with Zhao Hanzhang and strive for something, so they submitted memorials one after another.
Zhao Hanzhang had Zhao Yunxin sort out all these memorials and set them aside. Occasionally she had Zhao Yunxin select a few memorials to reply to, all with polite refusals.
Court assemblies were held every other day. Perfect—having just returned to Luoyang, she had many matters to handle. She could use this as the main contradictory issue to string people along for now.
In the first court assembly after entering Luoyang, they primarily discussed Luoyang city’s reconstruction.
Among those following Zhao Hanzhang into Luoyang, only a very small portion had previously owned property in Luoyang. Before arriving, she had already had everyone compile statistics.
For those with property, she had handed the information to Luoyang county government in advance to locate the properties and reissue property deeds. She even had the Zhao family army do basic cleaning in advance.
Those without property were allocated according to rank and merit. Those with great merit were rewarded with a house set, while those with lesser merit also had subsidized rental housing from the court.
For example, the Zhao clan youngsters brought to Luoyang by Zhao Hanzhang swarmed to Luoyang county government to apply for subsidized housing.
Zhao Zheng and his fellow students handled their registration. “Why have you come to the capital?”
Zhao Xia glanced at the words “Reason for Visit” and said, “We’re here to take the Imperial Academy exams.”
Zhao Zheng’s pen tip paused. He looked up at him, set down his pen, and said seriously, “Tell the truth. No lying.”
Zhao Xia protested, “This is the truth. I’m not lying.”
Zhao Zheng just stared silently at him with wide eyes.
Although Zhao Zheng wasn’t familiar with this cousin, any clan youngster with even a bit of reading talent and motivation to study had studied under his father. Zhao Xia…
He only remembered his experience of escaping school through a dog hole.
Zhao Xia was about to speak when someone forcefully shoved him aside. A group of people separated those in line, clearing a very wide path.
Zhao Xia was furious and turned to scold them, but then saw Seventh Great-Uncle approaching with a cold face. He immediately didn’t dare speak, lowering his head and shrinking aside to watch the excitement.
Seeing his grandfather, Zhao Zheng immediately stood and bowed respectfully. “Grandfather, why have you come? If you have business, just send the family steward.”
Zhao Hu’s expression improved slightly facing his grandson, but he still snorted. He sat directly in Zhao Zheng’s chair. Being a chair and somewhat unaccustomed to it, he shifted his body.
“Weren’t the family stewards detained by you father and son? I’m now a useless person, so naturally I had to come myself.” Growing angrier as he spoke, Zhao Hu asked, “Where’s your father? Have him come out to see me.”
Zhao Zheng quickly said, “Father entered the palace to meet His Majesty and the Grand General.”
“Send someone to urge him back quickly.”
Zhao Zheng didn’t move, smiling instead. “Grandfather, if you have business, you might as well tell your grandson. Now that the court has relocated to Luoyang, matters are numerous. Father may have to stay in the palace until sunset.”
Hearing this, Zhao Hu angrily slapped the table. “He’s deliberately avoiding me!”
“Fine, telling you is acceptable too. Give me an authorization to release the family stewards.” He added, “Also, I want to buy houses in the inner city’s West Ward. Have the chief clerk handle it for me.”
Zhao Zheng said, “Grandfather, do you no longer love your grandson? Why would you push him toward disloyalty and unrighteousness?”
Zhao Hu’s mouth fell open. “How am I pushing you toward disloyalty and unrighteousness?”
Zhao Zheng shed tears. “The Grand General governs all officials like commanding an army, extremely strictly. The Decadal Report periodically publishes officials punished for corruption and favoritism. Grandfather asks me to privately release criminals—this is disloyalty. Real estate transactions all follow laws. That area of burned houses in the inner city received orders from the Grand General two years ago forbidding private government sales. How to handle it requires her consent. Grandfather bypasses the Grand General asking me to privately handle this—isn’t this pushing your grandson into unrighteousness?”
He changed tack. “But Grandfather is an elder. You’ve spoken, yet if I refuse with rigid integrity, I might anger you. That would be unfilial. At once, your grandson becomes disloyal, unrighteous, and unfilial.”
Zhao Hu’s heart caught. Seeing surrounding people looking at Zhao Zheng strangely, he immediately spat twice and said shamefacedly, “Nonsense! You’ve studied since childhood—benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom, all complete. Naturally loyalty and filial piety are not lacking.”
He stood up, his face red and purple with anger and embarrassment. “This matter has nothing to do with you. Since you cannot decide, I’ll find someone who can.”
Zhao Hu huffed angrily as he walked outside.
Zhao Hanzhang’s relocation brought many people, so there was much business to handle. Just registering residency filled the space outside the county government. Zhao Hu stood at the county government entrance, listening to this clamorous noise, feeling increasingly stifled. He boarded his carriage and thought it over, realizing that given Zhao Cheng’s character, getting him to bend the rules was basically impossible. Then he could only find… Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hu ground his teeth. He really didn’t want to seek out Zhao Hanzhang.
Although Zhao Hanzhang might possibly bend the rules and be lenient, that leniency was expensive.
After steeling himself mentally, Zhao Hu lifted the curtain to observe the bustling streets of Luoyang.
This time, the court’s return to Luoyang not only brought Luoyang a large population but also lifted the entire city’s spirit and outlook.
Now the streets were filled with lively hawking cries and newly arrived people purchasing life necessities. Luoyang’s consumption surged upward dramatically.
Zhao Hu believed this consumption would continue for quite a long time, and moreover, more and more people would return to Luoyang city.
Among these people would not only be displaced common folk, small merchants, small landlords, and craftsmen, but also great aristocratic families and prestigious clans with high gate status…
Zhao Hanzhang had always been stingy. He didn’t believe that when those clans returned, she would return those burned houses to them.
Houses burned with only land plots remaining—if she didn’t seize this opportunity to reclaim them as state property and make a profit.
That was the inner city, right next to the imperial palace, destined to be a priceless location in the future.
Thinking this, Zhao Hu bit his teeth and said, “Go to the palace.”
Zhao Hu held no official position and theoretically shouldn’t be able to enter the palace. But the gate guards, seeing him, smiled and bowed respectfully. “Seventh Grand Elder, you’ve arrived. This subordinate will have someone escort you in immediately.”
Zhao Hu asked, “Won’t you announce my arrival?”
The guard smiled. “The Grand General gave instructions that whenever Seventh Grand Elder comes, he should be welcomed in without any discourtesy.”
However, Zhao Hu, hearing this, felt no happiness whatsoever.