Magistrate Chai asked with interest, “What business?”

Zhao Hanzhang replied, “I have several sets of glass cups and bowls. As the magistrate knows, I’ve only recently returned to Shangcai and am unfamiliar with the county’s gentry. I’m also in mourning, so these fine items can only sit unused. If the magistrate would act as intermediary and guarantor, once I sell these glass cups and bowls, I can set aside some for the magistrate.”

Magistrate Chai was instantly tempted. “I don’t know what these glass cups look like. I’ve never seen them, so how can I be sure who they’d suit?”

Zhao Hanzhang immediately said, “When I return home, I’ll send a set to the magistrate. If the magistrate finds them good after using them, you could host a wine appreciation gathering.”

Magistrate Chai readily agreed.

Everyone in the realm knew that Zhao Changyu excelled at business management and his family wealth rivaled the imperial household.

The items in his collection shouldn’t be inferior.

Until Zhao Hanzhang took her leave, Fu Tinghan, who had been properly invited, barely said a few words.

He stepped lightly onto the stool to board the carriage, lifted the curtain, turned around, and extended his hand toward Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang took his hand and climbed aboard. After sitting down, she continued exchanging pleasantries with Magistrate Chai through the window. “If the magistrate has time, please visit my estate. I’ll serve you tea.”

How would Magistrate Chai dare go? Who knew how many people Zhao Hanzhang’s estate was hiding? What if he saw something he shouldn’t and couldn’t come back?

Over these years, how many local county magistrates had “encountered bandits” due to conflicts with local strongmen?

He absolutely didn’t want his family to one day receive news that he’d encountered refugees or bandits on his way back to the city and died heroically for his country in the line of duty.

As soon as the Zhao family carriage left his sight, Magistrate Chai’s smile fell. He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead. “Are all the Zhao family women this fierce?”

Chang Ning said, “…Since the magistrate knows she’s not easy to deal with, why did you agree to cooperate with her?”

Magistrate Chai said matter-of-factly, “She’s not easy to deal with—what does that have to do with me cooperating with her?”

He continued, “In this Shangcai County, which gentry or wealthy merchant is easy to deal with?”

Chang Ning said, “Magistrate, though she’s just returned to Shangcai, her grandfather was the former Earl of Shangcai. The Zhao clan is in Xiping, with clan members distributed throughout Runan. How could she have no connections with Shangcai’s gentry and merchants?”

He said, “I think her intentions lie elsewhere—why else would she specifically ask you to act as intermediary for selling glass cups?”

“I know,” Magistrate Chai said. “She’s currying favor with me.”

Magistrate Chai said very confidently, “She must be afraid I’ll keep pressing her about the concealed households, so she’s finding excuses to give me things.”

Chang Ning: …

Magistrate Chai said, “I understand her. And this matter greatly benefits us as well. She said one thing very correctly—without money, we can’t do anything. Whether gathering refugees or driving them away, all of this requires money.”

Chang Ning, seeing his confidence, knew further persuasion would be futile. But he held doubts about Zhao Hanzhang’s purposes. “I always feel she has other objectives, that it’s not just… bribing the magistrate.”

Magistrate Chai glanced at him, somewhat displeased. “What other objectives could she have? I’m only acting as intermediary—I don’t guarantee whether it sells or not. She can’t very well swindle my money, can she?”

“Magistrate, Secretary Fu’s grandson has a minor reputation for talent. You saw just now—indeed, he has outstanding bearing and extraordinary temperament. Yet from entering the restaurant, he rarely spoke, following Zhao Sanniang’s lead entirely.”

Magistrate Chai’s eyes lit up with interest. “You mean Zhao Sanniang has Fu Changzhong under house arrest and is threatening him—the two of them are at odds? Should I rescue Fu Changzhong to curry favor with Secretary Fu?”

Before Chang Ning could speak, he shook his head again. “That won’t work. After all, this is Runan. The current Earl of Shangcai is Zhao Sanniang’s uncle, and Zhao Zhongyu has become Minister of Affairs. Offending the Zhao family wouldn’t end well for me either.”

Chang Ning said, “…Magistrate, didn’t you notice Fu Changzhong’s demeanor was relaxed and natural, free and easy? Does that look like someone under house arrest and threatened?”

Moreover, he personally accompanied his fiancée in escorting her grandfather’s coffin home and observing mourning for Zhao Changyu. Unless the Zhao family wanted to be drowned in the spittle of the realm’s scholars, they had to treat Fu Changzhong well. How could they mistreat him?

Magistrate Chai looked at him disdainfully. “Then what do you mean?”

“What I mean is, Zhao Sanniang is very capable. Though she’s just a woman, she’s now the mistress of the Zhao estate in Shangcai. Even Fu Changzhong must follow her lead. The magistrate should not take her lightly in your dealings with her.” Chang Ning said, “The Zhao family suddenly taking in so many refugees—my heart still cannot rest easy.”

“The Zhao family wouldn’t be planning rebellion, would they?” Magistrate Chai said, “Zhao Zhongyu and Zhao Ji’s whole family are in Luoyang.”

Chang Ning thought about it and agreed, his heart relaxing somewhat.

Zhao Hanzhang had Chengbo select a set of glass cups to send to Magistrate Chai, then entrusted this matter to Master Ji. “The workshop has accumulated enough glass products. We must open up Shangcai County’s trade routes.”

Seeing her place that finest glass horse into a golden nanmu box, Ji Yuan couldn’t help asking, “My lady, this is…”

Zhao Hanzhang, holding the box, said meaningfully, “Taking it to Xiping to give as a gift. Having taken so many advantages from Fifth Great-Uncle, I should return some. Mr. Ji, didn’t you say the newly added militia lack weapons?”

Ji Yuan instantly understood. This trip to Xiping wasn’t just about gift-giving. He bowed and withdrew.

Fu Tinghan, writing and calculating nearby, heard bits and pieces. He couldn’t help but look up and sigh. “Zhao Ming is going to have another headache.”

After thinking, Zhao Hanzhang said, “How about we send him a gift too? He looks quite pitiful.”

She was starting to feel a bit sorry for him.

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan returned to Xiping. They had just moved into the old residence when Zhao Ming received the news.

He couldn’t help but count the days on his fingers. “When they came last time, the wheat wasn’t even harvested yet. Now the beans have just been planted—how are they here again?”

His attendant said, “Perhaps to collect the spearheads. The other day, the city’s blacksmith came to deliver items—weren’t they ordered by Sanniang?”

Zhao Ming suspected she was doing it deliberately. “Why didn’t the family send the spearheads directly to Shangcai?”

And Shangcai also had blacksmiths—why run all the way back to Xiping to have spearheads forged?

“We were going to send them, but the old master remembered that last time Sanniang specifically instructed that when the spearheads were ready, she would personally return to test them. Plus, the clan leader’s reply letter came back, so…”

Zhao Ming stood up. “Come, let’s go see how she tests these spears.”

When Zhao Hanzhang secured the spearhead, the long spear in her hand trembled. She leaped forward and began practicing spear techniques in the courtyard.

When Zhao Ming arrived, he saw Zhao Hanzhang wielding the long spear like a swimming dragon moving through the courtyard. Her strikes came with extreme speed, the thrusting spear creating a gentle breeze. Meeting her gaze, Zhao Ming felt a killing intent.

Uncle and niece locked eyes. Zhao Hanzhang smiled slightly at him and nimbly withdrew the long spear, holding it behind her back. “Cousin.”

Zhao Song, who had been watching with great interest, glanced at Zhao Ming and said to Zhao Hanzhang, “Your spearwork is excellent, but the spear is too masculine and more suited for the battlefield. Since you’re not going to war to fight people, if you like physical exercise, you’d be better off practicing the sword.”

Zhao Hanzhang immediately said, “I’d like to practice sword too. The sword Grandfather used to wear was the one I carried, but during our escape, the blade got chipped. I felt too bad about it and didn’t dare use it carelessly anymore.”