Fu Tinghan took the game board from Zhao Hanzhang and smiled at Zhao Erlang before continuing to beat him.

Unlike Zhao Hanzhang, Professor Fu was very concerned about his opponent’s gaming experience. After winning two rounds, he would throw one to his opponent, which made Zhao Erlang increasingly excited, fully immersed with heart and eyes only for the game pieces.

“You came back late today. Was there an incident?”

“No incident,” Zhao Hanzhang said with a smile. “I mounted a horse today and integrated the horsemanship from my memories. I raced with my subordinates, lost track of time, so I was late.”

Something occurred to Zhao Hanzhang and she leaned closer, asking in a low voice, “Do you want to learn? Even without a driver’s license, you should at least know how to drive—it could be useful for escaping.”

Fu Tinghan was very curious about just how chaotic Luoyang would become historically to make the usually bold Teacher Zhao constantly think about escape.

Fu Tinghan thought for a moment and said, “My injuries have healed. I can learn. Together?”

Zhao Hanzhang considered briefly and nodded. “Alright. Tomorrow at eight, let’s meet in the western city. I’ll find us a teacher.”

Fu Tinghan looked at her, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turning up slightly as he nodded. “Good.”

“I won!” Zhao Erlang placed a piece with a sharp click and shouted excitedly, startling the distracted Fu Tinghan.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at the board and couldn’t help glancing at Fu Tinghan. This wasn’t right—he’d only won once, so why let Zhao Erlang win this round?

Fu Tinghan’s expression didn’t change as he set down his piece and praised, “Erlang is getting better and better.”

Being praised for the first time for being capable, Zhao Erlang was so excited his face turned completely red. He looked at Zhao Hanzhang excitedly. “Sister, Sister, am I good?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded. “Very good.”

It was getting late—Fu Tinghan needed to go home. Zhao Erlang reluctantly held onto him. “Will you come play with me again tomorrow?”

Fu Tinghan smiled and agreed, “Yes.”

Since Fu Zhi had asked him to come fulfill filial duties, naturally he would come every day.

Zhao Hanzhang walked Fu Tinghan out as usual. They encountered the three sisters from the secondary branch at the second gate, and both parties stopped.

Zhao Hanzhang carefully studied the unfamiliar girl before her. She only appeared in memories, but because they were someone else’s memories, there had always been a sense of unreality, like watching a character in a film or television show.

Now with the person standing before her, memory and reality merged, and she finally felt it was real.

Meeting Zhao Hanzhang’s piercing gaze, Zhao Daniang felt somewhat embarrassed and lowered her eyes, bowing. “Third Sister, Young Master Fu.”

With Zhao Daniang bowing first, Zhao Erniang, who had been waiting for Zhao Hanzhang to bow, had no choice but to follow suit, her expression pained. “Is Third Sister seeing Young Master Fu out?”

Only after all three sisters had bowed did Zhao Hanzhang return the courtesy. “Yes. What brings you sisters here?”

Zhao Erniang always felt there was something odd when she said “sisters,” but couldn’t put her finger on it. Seeing her eldest sister keeping her head down and saying nothing, she had to speak. “We came to see Eldest Brother study. We were just about to return.”

Somehow, even though their secondary branch had achieved their wish and obtained the heir apparent position, when facing Zhao Hanzhang they seemed to have even less confidence.

Clearly before, it had always been Zhao Hanzhang who gave way to them.

Zhao Erniang was thinking of making small talk when Zhao Siniang beside her suddenly said, “Third Sister, why is your hair bound up? Isn’t that men’s styling?”

At these words, Zhao Erniang and Zhao Daniang both looked up at Zhao Hanzhang.

Even Fu Tinghan couldn’t help turning to look at her.

Zhao Hanzhang generously let them look and even asked, “I tried this new style myself. Does it look good?”

Zhao Erniang: “…Third Sister is in such fine spirits. With Grand-uncle gravely ill, you still have the mood to focus on your appearance.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “This is called ‘wearing colorful clothes to please one’s parent.’ As long as Grandfather is happy, let alone changing my hairstyle—even if I changed ten or eight outfits daily to delight him, that would be fine.”

The three from the secondary branch: …

Fu Tinghan, who had been silent, spoke slowly: “It’s getting late.”

Zhao Hanzhang immediately said, “I’ll see you out. Sisters, I must take my leave.”

That strange feeling returned. Zhao Erniang watched them walk away and frowned. “I always feel like she’s cursing at us.”

Zhao Daniang’s forehead ached again. She had been trying to avoid encountering Zhao Hanzhang during this time. “She didn’t actually curse. Let’s not worry about it. Let’s return to our courtyard.”

Zhao Siniang: “I also feel she’s strange. Who wears women’s robes and skirts but styles their hair like a man? Do you think she might have secretly left the mansion?”

“Doesn’t she go to Grand-uncle’s to attend his illness after the hour of Chen, then stay in the garden with Young Master Fu after noon? Where would she find time to leave the mansion?”

Zhao Siniang still felt uneasy. “But…”

“No ‘buts.’ Right now, aside from the primary branch’s courtyard, Mother manages everything in the house. Could something as significant as leaving the mansion be hidden from Mother?”

Zhao Siniang thought about it and agreed, so she said nothing more.

Fu Tinghan stood by the carriage, glanced behind her, and asked, “Why deliberately arouse their suspicion?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “This is Grandfather’s idea. The people I have in the western city need to stay hidden, and there are some assets that need handling, so we need to throw them some bait to catch their attention and divert it.”

Zhao Changyu’s health was deteriorating. Not only did Zhao Hanzhang know this, but Zhao Zhongyu and Zhao Ji probably knew as well. Ji Yuan said that recently, unfamiliar faces had appeared around the primary branch’s properties, deliberately making business contacts, and people were trying to bribe servants inside to see the account books.

Their movements were growing bolder. Zhao Hanzhang had to give them something to do.

Fu Tinghan looked puzzled. “Since you say Luoyang will experience war and chaos later, and we won’t even be able to survive here, then fixed assets will generate very limited returns during this period. Why spend effort on this?”

Zhao Hanzhang froze and blinked.

Fu Tinghan across from her also blinked, hesitated, then said, “You… didn’t think of this, did you?”

Silence spread between them. After a long while, Zhao Hanzhang cleared her throat. “So you think…”

“Gold, silver, cloth, even porcelain and jade—all of these are better than fixed assets. Especially the first three—they’re easy to carry and easy to trade and liquidate.”

Because Fu Tinghan didn’t understand this era, after waking up he began quietly observing this world, and the best way was to go to the marketplaces to listen and watch more.

Previously he hadn’t had the opportunity to go out, but since he had to come to the Zhao family to fulfill filial duties, he made a point of detouring through the marketplace every day, getting out of the carriage and walking the whole way himself.

If Luoyang would truly become chaotic as Teacher Zhao said, then the most crucial supplies should be grain, cloth, and medicine. The best assets to possess should be gold and silver that were easy to carry yet valuable, followed by cloth and copper coins…

Zhao Hanzhang stared fixedly at Fu Tinghan. After a long moment, she reached out and patted his shoulder. “Professor Fu, I’ve been guilty of dogmatism, taking too much for granted.”

Fu Tinghan: “…It’s alright?”

—