As soon as he left, Zhao Changyu leaned back against the couch and let out a long sigh, his face full of worry.

It was unclear whether he worried about the Great Jin or about the Zhao family.

Lost in his own thoughts, Zhao Changyu’s gaze gradually settled on Zhao Hanzhang. Seeing her preparing medicinal tea for him, he asked, “Sanniang, Minister Fu proposed having Wang Yan take over Jingzhao Jun. What do you think?”

After a pause, Zhao Changyu asked, “Do you know Wang Yan?”

Zhao Hanzhang searched through her mind, combining it with historical records, and nodded. “I do. Minister Fu wants to use this opportunity to support the current emperor, but Prince Donghai is domineering and arrogant. I’m afraid he won’t back down. This matter won’t succeed.”

Zhao Changyu’s expression relaxed slightly. “But Minister Fu still made this proposal. Now our two families are linked by marriage. It stands to reason for in-laws to stand together. What do you think of your great-uncle’s suggestion?”

“Not much,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “The Fu family can make such a proposal because they have Minister Fu. Even if it fails, he can resist the pressure from Prince Donghai. If it succeeds, they can check Prince Donghai. But our family—Grandfather is gravely ill and clearly can no longer protect the Zhao family. With Great-uncle’s abilities, if he gets involved in this muddy water, withdrawing unscathed will be nearly impossible. The Zhao family might become the chicken Prince Donghai kills to warn the monkeys.”

At this point, Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “When that happens, the Fu family becomes the monkey, which would fulfill the opportunity for our two in-law families to share hardship together.”

Zhao Changyu: …How had he never noticed before that his granddaughter was so mischievous?

Though he grumbled inwardly, Zhao Changyu felt very proud. This was his granddaughter—only fourteen years old, yet her strategic thinking was no less than her great-uncle’s.

After the pride came some heartache and regret. What a shame—such an excellent child would become someone else’s family. If only she were a boy.

If she were a boy, even if Zhao Zhi had died young, the primary branch wouldn’t have lost its succession, and the Zhao family could have advanced even further.

Now settling for second best by giving the title to the secondary branch, though Zhao Changyu wouldn’t say it aloud, inwardly he felt infinite regret.

Seeing Zhao Changyu silent for so long, Zhao Hanzhang grew somewhat anxious. Had she said something wrong?

“Grandfather?”

Zhao Changyu came back to himself. After glancing at her, he said, “Since you can think things through, then think more carefully. I’ll have someone open the west corner gate. Starting tomorrow, you can leave through there. You need to quickly secure control of the people in the western city. I don’t have much time left.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “In the mansion…”

“Don’t worry about the mansion. Since the family has already closed the doors to guests, you can come every day to attend to my illness and copy scriptures to pray for me.”

Zhao Hanzhang happily agreed. She attentively poured tea for Zhao Changyu. “Grandfather, this is medicinal tea prescribed by Imperial Physician Chen. Chengbo says it’s good for your health. Come, drink more.”

Zhao Changyu reached out to accept it. Chengbo entered with a joyful expression to report, “Master, Young Master Fu has arrived. He says he’s come to fulfill his filial duties to you.”

Zhao Changyu glanced at Zhao Hanzhang and waved his hand at her. “Go convey a message to your betrothed. Tell him I’ve received his filial intentions.”

Zhao Hanzhang rose and agreed, bowing before taking her leave.

Zhao Changyu watched her retreating figure, finding her more delightful the more he looked. He frowned slightly and asked Chengbo once more, “Are you certain they had no private relationship before?”

No matter how he looked at it, it didn’t seem right.

Chengbo also thought it seemed off. “This servant asked carefully. The young lady and Chang’an had no contact these past years. Young Master Fu left the capital five years ago. Five years ago…”

Five years ago, Zhao Hanzhang was only nine years old. Even if they had known each other and met, who would have thought in that direction?

Zhao Changyu murmured, “So it’s love at first sight?”

He grew troubled. Was this a good thing or a bad thing?

“I hope she doesn’t learn from those women who are trapped by emotions…”

Chengbo consoled him, “The young lady won’t, Master. Look at her schemes these past years and you’ll know. Besides, in terms of affection, who could compare to Second Madam and Second Young Master’s position in her heart?”

Zhao Changyu could only comfort himself with this thought. Moreover, she was his own granddaughter after all—better to give the benefits to her than to the secondary branch.

Thinking this way, Zhao Changyu rallied his spirits and said to Chengbo, “Fetch the box from the second compartment on the left in the bedside cabinet.”

Chengbo froze. “Weren’t those intended for Second Master…” Meeting Zhao Changyu’s gaze, he swallowed the rest of his words and bowed. “Yes.”

Zhao Changyu opened the box, took out the ledger inside, and began deliberating over what items to strike out. “Second Brother hasn’t made progress, but Sanniang has proven unexpectedly capable. Everything in this world is like this—the capable do more. Since she has such insight, I should give her more things.”

Zhao Changyu himself was someone who treasured his possessions. Handing the primary branch over to the secondary branch was firstly for the greater good, and secondly for his grandson and granddaughter.

Now that his granddaughter had her own abilities, he naturally wanted to allocate as much as possible to Zhao Hanzhang.

In truth, for a hoarder like him, suppressing the desire to give good things to his own people and instead transferring them to the secondary branch was very difficult. If he weren’t rational enough to know that giving things to Wang Shi and her son would harm rather than help them, he truly would have preferred not giving anything to the secondary branch at all.

Now Zhao Changyu used great willpower in his selection, picking and choosing some items, carefully reviewing them with Chengbo to determine which could be given to Zhao Hanzhang privately and which had to be given openly.

Thus, items began to be added to Zhao Hanzhang’s dowry list.

Meeting Fu Tinghan in the garden, Zhao Hanzhang knew nothing of this. After dismissing the servants and having them stand far away, she excitedly told Fu Tinghan, “I acquired another asset today.”

Fu Tinghan: “…Is your family that wealthy?”

Any asset that could make Zhao Hanzhang visibly pleased must be substantial.

Zhao Hanzhang said modestly, “Quite a bit. Mainly because my grandfather knows how to save.”

Fu Tinghan hadn’t expected her to integrate so well, already able to call Zhao Changyu grandfather without any awkwardness.

He was happy for her, and also somewhat envious. “Shall we start studying elegant language today?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “With Professor Fu’s intelligence, you should grasp it very quickly.”

After all, he also had the original’s memories.

Fu Tinghan smiled. “I don’t have much talent for languages. I’m afraid I’ll trouble Teacher Zhao considerably.”

“Just come whenever. I should be at the mansion every afternoon.”

“Afternoon?”

Zhao Hanzhang: “Yes, I need to handle assets in the morning.”

After a pause, she continued, “I originally wanted to bring you along to see, but I haven’t secured control over them yet. Bringing you suddenly would create complications, so we need to wait a while.”

Fu Tinghan nodded. “I can wait for you.”

Zhao Hanzhang was very satisfied with his understanding and smiled. “Then it’s settled. Come every afternoon from now on. I’ll teach you elegant language and we can also exchange information about our situations. You don’t know much about this era, right? I’m quite familiar with it. I can help you integrate your memories and adapt to this era sooner.”

Fu Tinghan nodded.

—