Zhao Daniang stopped walking and looked ahead.

Zhao Erniang and Zhao Siniang followed her gaze and saw Fu Tinghan being led by servants toward the primary branch. They couldn’t help curling their lips. “He’s here again.”

Zhao Daniang felt her forehead aching and couldn’t help reaching up to touch it.

She had been too far away that day to hear their conversation, and hadn’t even had time to look closely. She only noticed they seemed to be conversing happily, but before she could get closer to listen, the stone came flying.

Seeing Fu Tinghan now still gave her that feeling of her head splitting. “Has Young Master Fu been coming every day these past few days?”

“Indeed he has, every single day, as if afraid outsiders won’t know they’re engaged,” Zhao Erniang plucked a flower and pulled it apart, quite displeased. “Grand-uncle is also partial. These past days he only allows Sanniang and Second Young Master to attend to his illness. When we from the secondary branch go over, we’re turned away at the main courtyard gate.”

Zhao Daniang lowered her eyes. “They’re the actual grandchildren. Isn’t favoritism normal?”

“But Father is the heir apparent now, essentially inheriting Grand-uncle’s mantle. If Grand-uncle won’t let Father attend to his illness now, won’t let us visit, what will outsiders think? They’ll gossip about us,” Zhao Erniang said unhappily. “Instead, the primary branch siblings appear diligent, visiting daily to attend to his illness. Even the primary branch’s son-in-law comes every day to fulfill filial duties, making it seem like we in the secondary branch are unfilial to Grand-uncle.”

“Everyone knows that Young Master Fu comes but goes to the primary branch’s garden instead of the main courtyard to see Grand-uncle. Who knows what they’re doing in the garden?”

Zhao Siniang said quietly, “Second Sister, if such words get out, it won’t be good for us either.”

“Who would spread it? I’m only telling you two. If it gets out, it must be one of you who told.”

Zhao Daniang and Zhao Siniang: …

Though Zhao Changyu wouldn’t see them, they still had to go to the main courtyard daily to inquire, only returning to the secondary branch after being turned away.

Being rejected outside the door like this every day, even the three young ladies had developed tempers.

Zhao Hanzhang jumped down from her horse in foreign-style clothing. The west corner gate opened, and the gatekeeper immediately took her horse. Ting He, who had been waiting inside, hurried forward. “Young Master Fu has already arrived and is drinking tea in the garden. Second Madam saw you hadn’t returned yet and sent Second Young Master over to keep the guest company.”

As Zhao Hanzhang walked toward Qingyi Pavilion, she asked, “Was there anything happening in the mansion today?”

“Today another envoy came to the gate, bringing an imperial physician. After examining the Master, they left.”

“How long did they stay in total?”

“About two quarters of an hour. Chengbo personally saw them to the gate. Not long after they left, the Second Master from the secondary branch returned from outside and also went to the main courtyard to see the Master, also staying only about two quarters of an hour.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and returned to Qingyi Pavilion. The maids and servants in the courtyard had already prepared clothes. She entered the inner chamber to change, and soon her foreign-style narrow sleeves were replaced with wide-sleeved robes and skirts.

Ting He saw her lifting her skirt to leave and quickly followed. “Sanniang, you haven’t changed your hair yet.”

“No need to change it. This is fine.”

Ting He pursued from behind. “Wouldn’t that be impolite?”

“Young Master Fu won’t mind.”

Zhao Hanzhang strode to the garden to see Zhao Erlang sitting cross-legged in the secondary seat, sweating profusely as he stared at the game board. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang arrive, he immediately grabbed a white game piece and jumped up. Without even putting on his shoes, he ran toward her in his socks. “Sister, Sister, look, I can play chess now!”

Zhao Hanzhang walked forward to glance at it and clicked her tongue. “Five-in-a-row, eh?”

Fu Tinghan set down his black piece with a smile. “This is simple and easy to learn. Erlang is also interested. It’s best for developing intelligence.”

Zhao Hanzhang thought about it and agreed. She sat down beside Fu Tinghan and beckoned to Zhao Erlang. “Come here, let me test your skill level.”

Zhao Erlang excitedly came forward. Ignoring the black pieces on the board that were about to connect five, he simply cleared all the pieces away and dumped them all to Zhao Hanzhang along with the piece in Fu Tinghan’s hand. “Sister, for you.”

He hugged his own game box, grabbed a piece, his eyes shining as he looked at Zhao Hanzhang, and carefully extended his little paw. “I, can I go first?”

Zhao Hanzhang said generously, “You go first.”

Zhao Erlang immediately placed his piece in the center of the board with a sharp click.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and placed a black piece. Zhao Erlang placed his second piece without hesitation…

Soon, Zhao Hanzhang was leisurely placing pieces at random, casually saying to Zhao Erlang, “I won. Collect the pieces.”

Letting Zhao Erlang collect the pieces, Zhao Hanzhang asked Fu Tinghan, “Any news from your parents?”

“Not yet,” Fu Tinghan said. “Grand… Grandfather asked me to thank you. Thank you for your grandfather sending people to Chang’an to fetch them.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “We’re in-laws. Mutual assistance is normal.”

Fu Tinghan couldn’t help looking at her face. “You’ve… accepted this really well, and very quickly.”

Zhao Hanzhang said strangely, “What’s there not to accept? We’re in a cooperative relationship, and in any case, we should naturally be filial to our parents and elders, right?”

Zhao Erlang finished collecting the pieces and tugged at Zhao Hanzhang’s sleeve. “Sister, I’m done.”

Zhao Hanzhang casually placed a piece.

Fu Tinghan asked in a low voice, “What if the result is the ‘what if’?”

Zhao Hanzhang used a piece to block Zhao Erlang’s path and said frankly, “I’ve already mentally prepared for the ‘what if.'”

Fu Tinghan’s expression turned strange. “But by then we’ll already be married. Do you know what that means?”

Zhao Hanzhang’s hand placing a piece paused. She looked up at Fu Tinghan. “Rest assured, if you like someone then, I’ll divorce—no, mutually separate from you. I can make my own decisions completely and won’t be constrained by social conventions. You can be completely at ease about this.”

Fu Tinghan frowned. “Does that mean you’ll also fall in love with someone else in the future?”

He pressed his lips together. “While already married to me.”

Zhao Hanzhang rubbed her chin. “I do long for love, and this era has plenty of outstanding people. But there are hundreds of generational gaps between them and me. On the topic of living together, we’d probably have very little common ground.”

Fu Tinghan quietly breathed a sigh of relief, poured himself a cup of tea, and drained it in one gulp. “I think I’m the same.”

Zhao Hanzhang clinked cups with him. “Then that’s perfect. We can continue cooperating, with far fewer worries.”

Fu Tinghan smiled at her, glanced at the game board, and said, “You won again.”

Zhao Hanzhang collected the pieces and said to the still-enthusiastic Zhao Erlang, “Want your brother-in-law to play a couple rounds with you? I’m a bit tired.”

Fu Tinghan, who was drinking tea, choked and began coughing violently, spraying the front of Zhao Erlang’s robe across from him.

Zhao Erlang was in high spirits and didn’t mind Fu Tinghan’s saliva at all. He wiped it casually and said, “Good, Brother-in-law, play with me. I want another three hundred rounds!”

—