When Zhao Hanzhang appeared in the garden leading Xie Rong, Yang Yi and the others were making Wang Shi laugh heartily. These sons of aristocratic families were quite skilled at entertaining their elders.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang, everyone immediately rose to bow, their gazes involuntarily turning toward Xie Rong.

Though not very obvious, they still detected a trace of excitement in Xie Rong’s calm expression. What had they discussed?

Everyone was burning with curiosity.

Though Wang Shi had never met Yang Yi before, their blood relationship was there, and he was very likeable, so she still enjoyed looking after this junior.

She invited Yang Yi and the others to dine, telling Zhao Hanzhang, “Your cousin and his companions have just arrived in Luoyang. You should host them well.”

Zhao Hanzhang agreed.

Wang Shi asked, “Where’s Tinghan? They haven’t met their brother-in-law yet. They should meet him too.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “He’s in the study. He’ll come shortly.”

Wang Shi looked thoughtful. “Erlang also ran over early this morning, going straight to the study. Has his studies improved? I heard from Lu Hu and the others that Erlang listens best to Tinghan’s lectures.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at Wang Shi. “He should have improved.”

The improved Zhao Erlang was currently squatting on the study floor watching Fu Tinghan draw star charts.

Fu Tinghan drew while explaining to him, “What we call a star chart is an accurate description and drawing of the enduring features of the night sky, including fixed stars, as well as constellations formed by fixed stars, the Milky Way, nebulae and star clusters, etc. That’s why it’s called a map of the stars.”

He continued, “Maps are divided into detailed and rough ones. Look at terrestrial maps—some only mark provinces and commanderies and major rivers and mountains; some mark down to counties, along with river tributaries and mountain ranges; even more detailed ones will mark villages, roads, streams and mountain ravines and other geographical features.”

“Star charts are the same. More detailed star charts can mark lines of right ascension and declination, as well as the ecliptic and galactic longitude, and will indicate the exact epoch they’re based on. Star charts can even be made once per season, once per month, even once per day, to compare their changes in different periods and thus determine the patterns of celestial body movement. There’s so much that can be seen in this.”

Fu Tinghan said, “You’ve already learned from me how to read the stars to determine direction and location. Next I’ll teach you how these celestial phenomena influence climate. Once you’ve learned it, in the future you’ll be able to calculate wind, rain, thunder, snow, and frost yourself, which will be very beneficial for military campaigns.”

Zhao Erlang nodded vigorously, looking at Fu Tinghan with starry eyes as he connected star after star on the chart with solid or dotted lines. “Brother-in-law, once I’ve learned all the stars on this chart, will I be able to calculate past and future events like Cousin Shen?”

Fu Tinghan’s brush paused. He looked up at him. “You went to find Zhao Shen again?”

He said, “You can play more with Zhao Zheng and the others. Don’t always go find Zhao Shen. He…”

Fu Tinghan couldn’t very well say Zhao Shen was boasting, barely competent himself. He could only say, “I don’t even know how to calculate these past and future matters, so I really can’t teach you. The knowledge that can be gleaned from the stars is extensive. What you’re talking about is just a very small part of it. Let’s do something more practical.”

Zhao Erlang understood—his brother-in-law didn’t know fortune-telling.

He nodded, agreeing on the surface, but in his heart decided that once he learned his brother-in-law’s star charts, he would go find Cousin Shen to learn how to calculate the past and future.

He was still very curious about this. He felt that calculating future events with hand calculations was really cool.

The two were happily crouched on the floor drawing when Fu’an came on orders to summon them.

Seeing the two kneeling on the floor surrounding a huge piece of paper, with the paper laid on top of… door planks, Fu’an suddenly turned to look at the study door. Finding it still there, he breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward. “Young master, Erlang, it’s time for the midday meal. Madam and the young lady are both waiting in front. There are distinguished guests today.”

Fu Tinghan didn’t look up. “Wait a bit longer. Let me finish drawing this section.”

Fu’an hesitated, then could only stand aside and wait.

Zhao Erlang knelt on the floor following Fu Tinghan around, crawling here and there. Feeling Fu’an was blocking his light, he looked up and waved at him. “You go play first. My brother-in-law and I will go on our own when we’re done drawing.”

Fu’an didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Just as he was about to speak, footsteps sounded behind him. “Drawing what?”

Fu’an immediately stepped aside and bowed. Zhao Hanzhang came forward and looked down, her eyes immediately lighting up. “You’ve drawn so much?”

Fu Tinghan set down his brush and smiled. “This makes it more intuitive and easier to teach. When we observe new celestial phenomena, we can record them too.”

Zhao Hanzhang reached out to pull him up from the floor.

Having knelt too long on the hard floor, his knees hurt a bit and his legs were somewhat numb. He couldn’t help standing on tiptoe without moving.

Zhao Hanzhang supported his arm, smiling as she asked, “Numb? Stand on your toes and twist gently.”

She also helped massage him, and Fu’an quickly came forward to assist.

Zhao Erlang leaped up from the floor, shook his legs, and said proudly, “I’m not numb at all.”

Zhao Hanzhang casually responded, “You’re the most impressive.”

Zhao Erlang felt pleased for a while, then seeing his sister only fussing over his brother-in-law, felt a bit put out. He immediately squeezed in front of her. “Actually it is a bit numb.”

Zhao Hanzhang patted his leg. “All right, hurry to the front. Mother has been waiting. Aren’t you hungry after working all morning?”

Fu Tinghan’s legs recovered, and he slowly followed behind Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang slowed her pace, and when he caught up, they walked side by side.

Zhao Erlang followed behind, forcing himself between the two, restating, “It really is a bit numb. At first I didn’t notice, but after standing a while I felt the numbness.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Then walk slowly. By the time we reach the dining hall it should be better.”

Yang Yi and the others had already arrived. Zhao Hanzhang led Fu Tinghan and Zhao Erlang in and made introductions, then said, “Minister Fu is also a Grand Tutor at the Imperial Academy. If you have free time, you can visit the Academy. The Imperial Academy nowadays is also quite different from before.”

She said specifically to Xie Rong, “My Erlang is somewhat lacking in literary talent but excels in martial skills. He’s been studying military strategy. Perhaps he and Young Master Xie will have much to discuss.”

Why was Xie Rong different from them again?

After the meal, as soon as they left the General’s Mansion, Yang Yi and the others crowded onto Xie Rong’s carriage. Six people crammed into a carriage that wasn’t very large.

Xie Rong felt sorry for his horse and quickly said, “I’ll tell you when we get back to the inn.”

“Tell us now.”

Xie Rong said, “…It can’t be explained in a sentence or two. You all… Sigh, why must young people be so impatient?”

Xie Rong drove everyone off the carriage. Feeling it bounce upward, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He should have known better than to take a carriage out this morning. He should have ridden a horse.

He hoped he hadn’t injured his horse just now.

Back at the inn, the group followed him. Xie Rong looked back and felt that if so many people squeezed into his room, it would definitely be full of the sour smell of sweat.

He frowned, changed direction, and headed to the inn’s back courtyard, where there was a small garden for people to rest, drink wine, and play chess.

Fortunately, the small garden was empty at the moment. He breathed a sigh of relief and had his servants guard the entrance before saying, “General Zhao has given me an official position.”

—