Zhao Hanzhang didn’t know that in just the brief time she’d been away, Eleventh Great-Uncle had sent all the people she’d gathered to work off to the neighboring garden. She was currently discussing matters with Ji Yuan.

“When I went out today, I heard people outside lavishly praising you, my lady.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Praising me for what?”

“Praising your filial piety. Some scholars even want to write your biography to pass it down.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “I’m ashamed, truly ashamed. We know our own affairs—I only observe mourning according to protocol. How could I have a biography written to promote filial piety?”

She paused, then lowered her voice to ask, “Uncle Ming didn’t pay off those scholars, did he?”

Ji Yuan said, “…My lady, if Uncle Ming heard this, you’d likely face another scolding.”

Zhao Hanzhang was thick-skinned and had long grown accustomed to Zhao Ming’s fault-finding. “What does Uncle Ming want to do?”

“Since Xiahou Ren has already met you and you’ve defeated him, there’s no need to hide anymore,” Ji Yuan said. “Keeping a low profile can allow you to accumulate strength, but reputation can also protect you.”

Since staying low-key was no longer possible, then accumulate reputation instead.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded while sighing, “I had wanted to keep a lower profile.”

Ji Yuan ignored this and glanced at the time before rising. “I’ll handle this matter. You should also prepare to meet people.”

He thought for a moment, then said, “Master Fu is of noble character, broadly learned and deeply knowledgeable. Bringing him along—when outsiders see such talent by your side, they’ll be more convinced of you.”

Zhao Hanzhang indicated she understood, but was very curious how Ji Yuan would create momentum for her. “I’ve already spread word I won’t attend the ceremonial banquet, and though I consider myself gentle and kind, people in the world always misunderstand me.”

Ji Yuan said, “…My lady, just speak less.”

He continued, “County Magistrate Chai is also in the garden. I’ll ask him to speak well of you.”

Regarding Zhao Hanzhang who had poached Changning, County Magistrate Chai wasn’t very inclined to speak well of her. But having eaten someone’s food makes one’s mouth soft, and taking someone’s gifts makes one’s hands short. He could come attend the ceremonial banquet and meet so many renowned scholars because of the invitation Zhao Hanzhang had given him.

According to Ji Yuan, Zhao Hanzhang had only given out two invitations—one to him, and another to a person from Shu.

Today was the ceremonial banquet’s second day. Not only were there people from Runan, but even scions from various aristocratic families and gentry throughout Yuzhou had come, along with some officials.

These people were all famous, and there were even some long-renowned scholars like Xiahou Ren.

If he could gain Xiahou Ren’s recommendation, County Magistrate Chai could advance further more easily.

So after Ji Yuan approached him, County Magistrate Chai hesitated only briefly before agreeing to help Zhao Hanzhang.

County Magistrate Chai believed that even without these benefits Zhao Hanzhang had given, he would ultimately still help her. After all, he and Ji Yuan were good friends—how could he bear to make Ji Yuan unhappy?

The two walked arm-in-arm into the garden to sit with everyone. This was after all a ceremonial banquet prepared for the ranking evaluation, so even if some disdained it, the main topic of discussion was still national affairs.

Discussing national affairs inevitably led to discussing Great Jin’s current greatest crisis—the Xiongnu’s Liu Yuan.

As someone who had nearly been encircled by Xiongnu forces, County Magistrate Chai had something to say. Under Ji Yuan’s gaze, he spoke at length about how Zhao Hanzhang had persuaded him to send troops to aid Xiping County.

Fu Tinghan sat not far away. Between them was a plum tree with curved, luxuriant branches. The plum tree already had buds—currently in perfect position to block their gazes.

But blocking gazes didn’t block sound.

A newly acquainted young man asked Fu Tinghan, “Tinghan, does Zhao Sanniang truly have such insight?”

Fu Tinghan nodded without hesitation. “Her abilities are even above ours.”

Immediately a young man laughed. “Tinghan is truly magnanimous—you don’t mind at all?”

Fu Tinghan asked, “People of the world admire strength. Should I mind simply because she’s female?”

Someone pondered this and nodded in agreement. “These words are correct. Character comes first, talent second. I’ve never heard of needing to examine gender. By this reasoning, with Zhao Sanniang’s virtue and talent, she could be selected for office.”

“But when heaven and earth first divided, yin and yang were established. Men manage outside, women inside. Appointing her, a woman, as an official—wouldn’t that violate the way of heaven?”

Fu Tinghan felt debating such inconclusive matters was utterly meaningless and said directly, “She also hasn’t said she wants to be an official. Aren’t you all discussing her character and talent?”

County Magistrate Chai was lavishly praising Zhao Hanzhang, considering her to have both sentiment and righteousness, and to be filial.

Saying she had sentiment was because when the Zhao fortress was in trouble, she risked danger to bring reinforcements. Saying she had righteousness was because she proactively led troops to break the Quyang siege. As for filial piety, that needed no elaboration.

County Magistrate Chai saying she had sentiment and righteousness felt somewhat forced, because Changning had been by his side then, so he also felt he’d been tricked.

But saying Zhao Hanzhang was filial carried no psychological burden, because he genuinely recognized her filial piety from his heart.

Zhao Hanzhang had escorted the coffin home through chaotic forces—that was one act of filial piety. After returning home she had consistently observed proper ritual filial mourning—that was a second act.

Though ritual protocol required people to observe mourning, not everyone followed ritual protocol.

It could be said that currently, for various reasons—whether objective or subjective—those able to observe mourning according to ritual weren’t many.

So whenever someone observed mourning according to protocol, it became something worth spreading and praising.

Though Zhao Hanzhang was female, she observed mourning according to ritual protocol. She made sacrifices when required and grieved when appropriate. Moreover, she supported her weak younger brother, continuing the bloodline of the Zhao clan’s main branch. This was the greatest filial piety.

Fu Tinghan had originally had much more to say, but hearing the boasting from next door, words failed him.

He curiously leaned back and turned his head to look, only then discovering it was County Magistrate Chai, with Ji Yuan seated properly beside him.

Fu Tinghan blinked, straightened his posture, and said no more on the subject. He would leave professional matters to the professionals.

He wanted to go back and draw maps.

At this time, Zhao Hanzhang had found her way to the small courtyard, intending to find Fu Tinghan to go out and meet people. But the huge courtyard was completely empty—only Zhao Qin was in the room comparing and drawing maps.

The map now showed only the little bit Fu Tinghan had drawn. Zhao Qin was holding a piece of paper practicing his brushwork, planning to draft it first before adding to the map.

Fu Tinghan had started drawing from a mountain range outside Guancheng, at the edge of Xiahou Ren’s mapping area.

He had drawn one section following the mountain terrain, then drawn the nearby river channels according to scale, followed by cities and roads…

Though just a few strokes, it had opened up the whole layout. Originally Zhao Qin had wanted to continue directly from there, but whether Fu Tinghan had drawn too well or he lacked confidence in himself, he couldn’t bring himself to put brush to silk. He simply took out paper to practice.

Zhao Hanzhang stood behind Zhao Qin watching for a while. When he stopped his brush, she couldn’t help asking, “Eleventh Great-Uncle, where is everyone?”

In the utter silence, this sudden voice startled Zhao Qin so badly his hands and feet went weak and he collapsed, his brush flying from his hand.

Zhao Hanzhang realized she’d caused trouble and immediately crouched down to help Zhao Qin up. “Eleventh Great-Uncle, it’s me! No fright, no fright—fear no spirits or ghosts.”

These were words Wang Shi had used to comfort Zhao Erlang after being kidnapped.

Zhao Qin’s old face turned crimson red with rage as he roared, “What kind of fright! Don’t you know to knock before entering? Who taught you your manners? Go back and copy the Record of Rites ten times for me!”

Only after shouting did he react—Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t one of his academy students. His expression grew even worse.