“In earlier years, the Zhao clan’s winter solstice banquet was the pre-ranking feast. The lord would return home to meet talented individuals from various commanderies and gain a general understanding of them. Later, even when the lord didn’t return home, because he was the Grand Impartial, talented people from all commanderies would still come to attend the winter solstice banquet.”

Zhao Hanzhang was dumbfounded. “So the winter solstice banquet originated from official selection.”

No wonder so many people weren’t properly celebrating the holiday at home but instead traveled all the way to Xiping to attend a banquet.

Her mind stirred. “Then among the attending guests, wouldn’t there also be aristocratic families from outside Runan Commandery?”

“Yes, but there probably won’t be many this year,” Ji Yuan said. “First, because the lord has passed away, and second, because Yuzhou has just experienced warfare.”

But for Zhao Hanzhang, this was already sufficient.

Ji Yuan asked, “So will you really not attend the banquet, young lady?”

He said, “This opportunity is truly rare.”

Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment, then shook her head. “This matter isn’t urgent. I’ll continue mourning for grandfather.”

Ji Yuan didn’t think the world would consider the young lady attending the banquet taboo, because most scholars were already unrestrained and free-spirited. Ritual and moral principles had long since stopped being observed. Even if Zhao Hanzhang attended, no one would attack her over filial piety.

Current scholars—aside from a very few—who could truly remain pure-hearted and abstain from desire during the mourning period?

Zhao Hanzhang had already ambitiously seized Xiping County. If she was going to do it, she should be forthright and appear openly to claim power—what was there to fear?

However, Zhao Hanzhang had her own plans. She didn’t intend to appear before people too early. Right now, Xiping County was still too weak and couldn’t withstand much turmoil.

To minimize turmoil, she needed to reduce attention. It would be best if, aside from certain people, others wouldn’t think of her at all.

Fu Tinghan thought the same way. When strength was insufficient, developing quietly was always the best strategy.

Not knowing whether Zhao Ming had thought along the same lines as them, he didn’t urge Zhao Hanzhang to appear.

She wasn’t returning to the fortified estate, and when visiting guests expressed a desire to meet Zhao Hanzhang, Zhao Ming pushed them to visit the county office themselves rather than making introductions.

Zhao Ming’s attitude gave people the impression that Xiping’s Zhao clan and Zhao Hanzhang weren’t particularly close and hadn’t completely aligned with each other.

Before they could draw conclusions, the Zhao clan’s winter solstice sacrifice arrived.

Zhao Hanzhang led Zhao Erlang back to the fortified estate. They changed into the ceremonial robes Wang Shi had made for the siblings and went properly to the ancestral hall.

Only the heads of each branch and household stood in the open space before the Zhao clan ancestral hall.

Zhao Hanzhang, representing the main branch, stood at the very front of the first row. Zhao Erlang obediently followed behind his sister.

Not far away stood Zhao Hu and his son. Presiding over the sacrificial rites as usual were Fifth Grand-Uncle and his son.

Zhao Ming had distributed the sacrificial meat for many years, and this year he did so again.

After reciting prayers and asking the ancestors to bless the Zhao clan with prosperity and next year with favorable weather, Zhao Ming burned the prayer text. After the sacrifice concluded, he picked up his knife and began dividing the sacrificial meat.

The size and order of meat distribution was determined by status and position.

When Zhao Changyu had been present, the sacrificial meat naturally went to him first. Since he was absent, it should go first to Zhao Zhongyu and his son. Unfortunately, neither father nor son was present, so it went first to Zhao Song.

The first group to receive sacrificial meat were all the grand-uncles and elders—no one had any objections. The second round should have gone to Zhao Ming’s generation.

But Zhao Ming cut a piece of meat and, instead of keeping it for himself or giving it to his other brothers, handed it directly to Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang extended her hands to receive it.

Everyone was shocked. Even Zhao Cheng couldn’t help but look at the two of them.

Zhao Ming offered no explanation and continued cutting another piece for Zhao Cheng.

Zhao Cheng made a token protest before accepting it…

After the father’s generation finished, it was Zhao Hanzhang’s generation’s turn. Each family had only brought their eldest legitimate son, and some had no children yet or no eldest legitimate son, so there weren’t many people.

Zhao Ming cut a piece and, after thinking, still gave it first to Zhao Kuan. Zhao Erlang was the fifth to receive his.

While eating her meat, Zhao Hanzhang thought that people said Zhao Ming was fair and distributed the sacrificial meat evenly. Seeing it today, he was indeed fair.

This man seemed to have no personal interests—as long as it was good for the clan, he could advance or retreat accordingly.

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes and bit hard into the sacrificial meat. If Zhao Ming were to become clan leader, he wouldn’t allow her to use the family’s power to develop her own influence this way.

So having Zhao Ji as clan leader still had its advantages.

The corners of her mouth lifted slightly as she finished the sacrificial meat and took out her handkerchief to wipe her hands.

After eating the sacrificial meat, the winter solstice sacrifice concluded. Everyone could move to the garden to attend the banquet.

Zhao Hu knew Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t attend, so he deliberately came over to provoke her. “Sanniang, won’t you and Erlang go?”

Zhao Hanzhang flashed her teeth at him in a smile. “Seventh Grand-Uncle, uncle is only taking two days off. He’ll have to return to the county town the day after tomorrow to continue teaching.”

Zhao Hu immediately became angry but didn’t dare lose his temper at Zhao Hanzhang.

After Zhao Hanzhang had invited Zhao Cheng to the county town, he had brought Zhao Zheng there, and the boy had never returned.

Zhao Hu had lavishly spent money to buy a courtyard from the county office, wanting his family of three to live in their new separate residence and enjoy family happiness together.

Who knew that Zhao Cheng was unwilling to leave the courtyard Zhao Hanzhang had allocated him, and Zhao Hanzhang adamantly refused to take back the property.

Even though he’d bought a separate residence in the county town, he still couldn’t see his grandson Zhao Zheng, much less Zhao Cheng.

Feeling cheated, Zhao Hu had angrily gone to settle accounts with Zhao Hanzhang, demanding she return the books and paper he’d lent her, only to have her pull out an account book saying he still owed several years of taxes.

Would Zhao Hu pay?

Of course not!

So she went to Zhao Cheng, that unfilial son.

That wastrel immediately brought people back to the fortified estate to move grain. That was the only time he’d seen him, and then he couldn’t see him again.

Although Zhao Hu wasn’t clever, his instincts were sharp. Deep down, he vaguely knew Zhao Hanzhang was trouble, but… he just couldn’t help wanting to provoke her.

Mainly because it was too infuriating—he was always the one losing out.

After using words to block Zhao Hu’s retreat, Zhao Hanzhang led Zhao Erlang in taking leave of the elders.

Everyone watched her depart. Perhaps because the immediate crisis had passed and the Xiongnu army had also withdrawn, some began to feel that the power in Zhao Hanzhang’s hands wasn’t so fearsome or reliable after all, and commented, “This child is too disrespectful of her elders.”

Zhao Ming said, “Grand-Uncle, shall we proceed? They’re waiting for people at the banquet.”

The elders heard this and hurried to follow Zhao Ming, asking, “Have all the clan’s young people been called?”

“Yes, they should all be waiting in the garden.”

The elders said, “This is a banquet for you young people. We’ll just drink in a side courtyard. You go ahead and enjoy yourselves.”

They said, “This isn’t a year for official selection. I wonder if the Impartial Official has sent anyone down to investigate?”

Zhao Ming replied, “I didn’t invite the new Impartial Official.”

Zhao Hanzhang was too conspicuous right now. He didn’t want her attracting too much attention, so he not only hadn’t invited anyone but had specifically written to Prefect He, explaining that due to this year’s warfare, the people were displaced and bandits were rampant everywhere. For the Impartial Official’s safety, it would be better not to attend the Zhao clan’s winter solstice banquet.

He stated that this year’s winter solstice banquet wouldn’t have many attendees—even within Runan Commandery, few gentry were participating—so coming would be pointless anyway.

Whether Prefect He believed him or not, at least the Impartial Official didn’t come.

—