Zhao Hanzhang rose and returned to the room. Zhao Yunyíng followed with small steps. Inside, Qinggu brought out the curved-hem robe that had been prepared long ago, and the two helped Zhao Hanzhang put it on.

This was a red robe with black trim—a coming-of-age garment Wang Shi had prepared for Zhao Hanzhang two years earlier. With just slight alterations to the measurements, she could wear it.

Red as pomegranate seeds, with auspicious cloud patterns on top, the collar, cuffs, and curved hem were all black. Zhao Hanzhang fastened her sash. Seeing the person before her stop moving, she raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at her.

Zhao Yunyíng’s face flushed red as she stared nervously at Zhao Hanzhang. “Third, Third Sister looks so beautiful…”

Qinggu was also very excited, nodding repeatedly. “Nulang is truly beautiful.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at her gently, turned and walked out. “Let’s go. Don’t keep the guests waiting.”

Though wearing a curved-hem robe that concealed even her feet, Zhao Hanzhang’s movements weren’t slow. But she didn’t appear constrained either—instead she moved freely and gracefully, displaying an elegant demeanor.

Fu Tinghan and Ji Yuan weren’t among the guests below. They stood with Zhao Erlang in the corridor watching, serving as her family.

Seeing Nulang dressed this way for the first time, a flash of admiration passed through Ji Yuan’s eyes. Then he turned to look at Fu Tinghan.

Fu Tinghan’s expression was gentle. He wasn’t as lost in thought as Ji Yuan had expected. Even when he turned to look at him, his gaze was clear, bright and alert. Seeing Ji Yuan watching him, puzzlement even flashed in his eyes. “What is it?”

Ji Yuan smiled slightly. “Master Fu has excellent composure.”

Fu Tinghan looked uncomprehending. Ji Yuan had already turned toward the scene, gesturing for him to look.

In the scene below, many shared Ji Yuan’s admiration—some were even transfixed, staring at Zhao Hanzhang in a daze.

Zhao Hanzhang walked to the open pavilion, smiled and bowed to the seated guests, then bowed again to Zhao Song.

Zhao Song nodded slightly. After she sat facing east, he washed his hands, removed the hairpin, replaced it with a coronet, and blessed her in a loud voice: “In the proper month of this year, at the ordained time, we bestow upon you this good fortune. Your brothers are all present to perfect your virtue. May you live without limit and receive Heaven’s blessings.”

Zhao Hanzhang rose and bowed again to Zhao Song, then turned to face the guests with a slight smile. “The hairpin ceremony is more or less complete.”

The guests were confused. What do you mean “more or less”? Shouldn’t you go change clothes and perform more bows? This is only halfway done—well, maybe more than half.

Zhao Hanzhang said if it was more or less done, then it was more or less done. Her eyes shone as she stared at everyone. “By ritual protocol, the hairpin ceremony is naturally not finished. In fact, according to ritual, many people here shouldn’t even be present, and this hairpin ceremony shouldn’t be held at all.”

The crowd fell silent, uncertain of her meaning.

“I’m in mourning, and many of you here are in mourning. Since Empress Jia’s misrule, ritual propriety has collapsed, and it’s become difficult for anyone to live entirely according to ritual.”

At Zhao Hanzhang’s words, everyone fell silent, and the atmosphere grew somewhat heavy.

Zhao Hanzhang’s expression turned serious. “This is a situation I’m unwilling to see. Ancient ritual was established for benevolence, righteousness, filial piety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. But now, with order collapsed and the common people displaced, with parents and siblings separated, ritual has become a joke.”

“We make excuses for ourselves, saying we must adapt to circumstances. But every time we adapt to circumstances, painful things happen.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “Last year when the Xiongnu army moved south, our Runan Jun suffered disaster. Xiping County and Quyang County were especially severely damaged, and the other counties were also plundered by roving soldiers. Among those present, how many haven’t had relatives and friends die in this chaos?”

Tears welled in the guests’ eyes, especially Fan Ying, whose tears fell drop by drop. In last year’s warfare, she had suffered the most grievously of anyone present—worse than her would be entire families wiped out.

“The reason I’m holding a hairpin ceremony at this time is also to meet with all of you.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “Among those present are not only magistrates from various counties but also respected worthies. I’m meeting you for two reasons: first, to inform you all that from now on, I am the Administrator of Runan Jun. All ten counties under Runan Jun fall under my jurisdiction.”

The guests’ expressions tightened as they stared intently at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang also looked back at them seriously and earnestly, her words resounding: “Second, I want to request everyone’s assistance in helping me govern Runan Jun well.”

Zhao Hanzhang bowed deeply to them, saying solemnly, “The court is now in difficulty, everywhere is in chaos, Runan Jun is impoverished, and the common people are displaced. But our homes are in Runan. When the people suffer, we suffer. Everyone, in saving the people, you save yourselves.”

“I ask for your help!” Zhao Hanzhang bowed deeply again.

Even County Magistrate Chai couldn’t help but tear up, and quickly rose to return the courtesy. But there was someone even more moved than him—County Magistrate Gao stood up with tears streaming down his face and bowed deeply to Zhao Hanzhang, calling out loudly, “If Administrator Zhao does not disdain us, we will certainly do our utmost, all for the people!”

Zhao Hanzhang looked at the unfamiliar County Magistrate Gao, growing excited. She walked directly down from the pavilion and supported his bowing arm, calling out, “Good! With County Magistrate Gao like this, what worry does Runan Jun have about not being secure?”

Everyone was stirred by her words, temporarily forgetting Zhao Hanzhang’s age and gender. They all bowed together and answered “Yes.”

Zhao Ming watched all this steadily. He knew it—she possessed a certain magic that could always make people believe in her, as if the future she described could all come to pass.

Ji Yuan was also very excited, both hands clenched into tight fists.

On the other hand, Fu Tinghan was quite calm, only watching Zhao Hanzhang with a gaze full of smiles—focused and gentle.

Zhao Hanzhang turned the tables—no, rather, she transformed from a shy, modest coming-of-age maiden into the leading honored guest, directly receiving visitors in the courtyard.

Zhao Hanzhang made no attempt to hide her plans for Runan Jun. She told everyone, “I hope that in the future Runan Jun can be secure as an iron fortress, with the common people living peacefully and prosperously within it, and we ourselves able to avoid the suffering of warfare.”

The magistrates were one thing, but the gentry and powerful families who had come to attend the hairpin ceremony were quite skeptical, asking quietly, “If all of Yuzhou falls into chaos, how can Runan Jun alone remain safe?”

Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “That’s exactly why we must work even harder. At least when Yuzhou is invaded by the Xiongnu army or roving soldiers, we in Runan Jun can keep the enemy outside our borders.”

She continued, “I don’t have the talent of Liu Yueshi, so I need everyone’s assistance.”

“Liu Yueshi? Do you mean Liu Kun, Governor Liu of Bingzhou?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “Precisely.”

“I’ve heard he’s holding Jinyang. All of Bingzhou has been occupied by the Xiongnu army, but within Jinyang’s sphere of influence, Liu Yuan’s forces cannot advance a single step. Right now Jinyang is the only paradise in Bingzhou.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes! I wish Runan Jun could be like Liu Yueshi’s Jinyang. He’s only one person, but we have so many. Working together, we might well be able to make Runan Jun a paradise.”

County Magistrate Gao said excitedly, “It’s certainly possible! From Administrator Zhao’s governance of Xiping we can see your ability. Given time, Runan Jun will surely be like Jinyang—it will even surpass Jinyang.”

Zhao Hanzhang was pleasantly surprised. If she remembered correctly, this County Magistrate Gao was the magistrate of Suiping County. He actually admired her this much—what a surprise, what a delight.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled with her eyes curved into crescents, saying happily, “Good! Then let’s all work together toward this goal!”

—