“They just don’t match up, which is why they want you to take a live-in husband,” Wang Shi hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, “And they also want you to take multiple male concubines.”
Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes widened as she asked, “Mother, is this truly what the clan elders are thinking?”
Wang Shi nodded repeatedly, shifted her body, moved closer to her side, and leaned in to whisper by her ear, “Do you know your Uncle Qing?”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded.
Wang Shi then said quietly, “While others harbor such thoughts and have your aunts and sisters-in-law test my opinions, your Uncle Qing directly spoke to Fifth Grand-Uncle about having you take male concubines. He made Fifth Grand-Uncle so angry that this time when coming to Luoyang, he wasn’t allowed to enter the city with the group and was left outside the city with the others.”
Zhao Hanzhang clicked her tongue in wonder, “It seems I… am lacking in experience compared to my uncles and elders.”
Wang Shi reached out and patted her, reproaching her affectionately, “You should just listen to these words and not actually think this way.”
She said in a low voice, “I don’t understand grand principles, but I know that being a person requires integrity above all. When our family fell on hard times, the Fu family was willing to form a marriage alliance with our Zhao family. When we were destitute, he never abandoned us and has always followed by your side.”
“In this world, material things are easy to obtain, but true feelings are rare. Moreover, you have faced life and death together, so your bond is different from others,” Wang Shi reached out to stroke her hair and sighed, “Sanniang, listen to Mother. Tinghan is the most suitable person for you. I know you dislike constraints, act decisively, and have a domineering personality. It seems a submissive live-in husband would suit you better, but in a person’s lifetime, what’s most important is having someone who truly understands you. He knows you and yields to you, like water to a fish—this is far better than those men who only have looks.”
Hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang burst into laughter and said cheerfully, “Mother, you don’t actually think I’m seriously considering taking a live-in husband and concubines, do you?”
“Rest assured, I have no such thoughts, nor do I have the energy,” Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment, and to reassure her, immediately promised, “When Tinghan returns, we’ll discuss the marriage arrangements.”
Wang Shi let out a breath of relief and said happily, “Good, good. Tomorrow I’ll write to Minister Fu and tell him this good news.”
Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Has Grandfather Fu also asked about the marriage?”
“Of course he has,” Wang Shi said reproachfully. “It’s you who hasn’t paid attention. The war has ended, yet you haven’t sent a single letter to reassure him. Now that you hold a high position with great power, Minister Fu feels uneasy but doesn’t dare ask you directly, so he can only write to me, indirectly inquiring about it.”
Wang Shi was very satisfied with Fu Tinghan. At present, she only recognized this son-in-law.
However… she could no longer make decisions for Zhao Hanzhang, so without knowing what she was thinking, Wang Shi didn’t dare make direct promises to Fu Zhi.
Zhao Hanzhang said, “Indeed, Mother handling this matter is better than me doing it. Then I’ll trouble you with this, Mother.” She didn’t mention that she had already discussed this matter with Fu Zhi, except that because Fu Tinghan had gone to Qingzhou, the marriage discussion had been temporarily set aside.
Moreover, with the war just ended and everything needing to be rebuilt, she was truly busy.
Qinggu led servants to bring in the food. There was actually a large bowl of mutton soup filled with meat bones, plus a plate of sliced pork. Zhao Hanzhang looked over.
Wang Shi frowned slightly and said to Qinggu, “Why bring so much meat? It’s so late—you should eat more vegetables. Eating meat isn’t easy to digest…”
The maid was about to turn back to change it when Zhao Hanzhang quickly stopped her, “No, no, no, it’s easy to digest, easy to digest.”
Zhao Hanzhang already had one foot on the ground. She reached out to take the tray from the maid’s hands and placed all the meat on the table before reaching for Qinggu’s tray.
How could Qinggu dare let her do it herself? She quickly stepped forward and placed a bowl of rice and the remaining two dishes in front of her.
Zhao Hanzhang smelled the fragrant mutton soup and first served herself a bowl to drink before eating her rice.
This mutton soup must have been simmered for a long time. With a gentle pull, the meat came off the bones, and with just a slight chew, the meat dissolved.
This mutton clearly wasn’t from Yuzhou but rather seemed to be from the grasslands. As Zhao Hanzhang ate, she asked, “Where did this mutton come from?”
“I had someone buy it,” Wang Shi said reproachfully. “Such a large mansion supporting so many people, yet not even raising a single sheep. The kitchen has only thin soups—no wonder you’ve lost so much weight.”
The aesthetic preference among servants was for a lean, refined appearance. When Wang Shi looked at others, she also found that lean and refined look attractive, but when looking at her own children, she felt they were too thin and should be a bit plumper and fairer.
Zhao Hanzhang said, “This meat is good. Remember this shop—buy from them whenever we need mutton in the future.”
Wang Shi turned to Qinggu and said, “Write it down. Tomorrow go buy several sheep to raise at home so whenever we want to eat, we can have it anytime.”
Zhao Hanzhang said coyly, “That doesn’t seem right—what an expense.”
“Enough, no need for false courtesy with me. You’ll all be eating at home these next few days. I know you have no money, but while I can’t help you with other things, I still have money for eating meat.”
Zhao Hanzhang grinned at her and happily began eating the meat.
After she finished eating, Wang Shi asked, “Should we send some to Erlang?”
Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment and said, “It’s very late. He’s definitely eaten his fill and gone to sleep by now. Let’s send it tomorrow.”
Wang Shi turned to glance at the water clock. It was indeed quite late, so she agreed.
Qinggu led the maids forward to clear away the bowls and chopsticks, then poured Zhao Hanzhang a cup of warm water before stepping aside.
Zhao Hanzhang took a sip of water to rinse her mouth, then discussed serious matters with Wang Shi. “Mother, Grand-Uncle has already been buried. Now only the matter of inheriting the title of Marquis Shangcai remains as unfinished business.”
Wang Shi’s eyes lit up. She sat up straight and asked, “Are you going to take the title back for Erlang?”
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “I want to give it to Zhao Yi.”
Hearing this, Wang Shi became unhappy. “Why give it to him? Erlang is different from before now. He can even be a general, which shows he’s not foolish. By rights and reason, this title should be returned to our first branch.”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “In the future, Erlang will have a more distinguished title that he earns himself, even better than Marquis Shangcai.”
Wang Shi bit her lip and after a moment of silence still said, “That’s what he’ll earn, but the title of Marquis Shangcai should also belong to him.”
“Mother is right—by rights and reason, this title could go to Erlang. But given that he’ll have a more distinguished title in the future, this would be harming others without benefiting ourselves.”
Wang Shi was about to argue when Zhao Hanzhang quickly raised her hand to stop her, grasping her hand and saying, “I know, Mother just can’t swallow that bitter pill from the past.”
“But please think about it from a broader perspective and look at the bigger picture. Everyone knows Erlang is my blood brother. Regardless of what happens to me in the future, given his current achievements and position, granting him a marquis title is just a matter of an imperial edict. If he’s made a marquis, the title of Marquis Shangcai will naturally be abolished. But if we give this title to Zhao Yi today, when Erlang is made a marquis in the future, it will be a separate grant rather than built upon the foundation of Marquis Shangcai. This way, the Zhao clan will have two titles.”