This case was truly too representative. When the Treasure Pavilion shop assistants were summoned, Zhao Hanzhang’s toes curled.

Oh my, if this were in her world, she as a party to the case could be criticized just for asking a few extra questions. But now the case had been handed directly to her for judgment. It seemed she would need to establish a system in the future to prevent officials from personal favoritism.

That’s why the rule about officials serving in different regions from their hometowns was so good. Like her and Zhao Ming—they were both serving as officials right here in Xiping, which was full of Zhao clan relatives everywhere.

Thinking of this, Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help lowering her head and smiling. But different situations called for different problems and choices.

They had to learn to adapt flexibly.

Currently, she and the Zhao clan had a relationship of mutual achievement and mutual reliance, so Xiping was crucial, and the Zhao clan was very important!

But she couldn’t rely solely on the Zhao clan. She needed to attract more talent—talent that could come from Runan, from Yuzhou, or even from across the entire realm.

At this moment, her attitude toward aristocrats coming to Xiping was of utmost importance.

Today’s case involved three parties: Zhao Hu, Fang Jing, and the Treasure Pavilion—which happened to include her directly.

She wasn’t just Zhao Hu’s grand-niece, but also the owner of the Treasure Pavilion! This was practically forcing her head to favor Zhao Hu’s side.

Smiling, she realized her gaze had grown cold as it fell on the two arriving shop assistants. She said gently, “Tell us exactly what happened today.”

The two assistants’ backs stiffened as they bowed their heads in acknowledgment.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded with satisfaction. Seeing they seemed flustered, she proactively asked, “Which of these two distinguished guests entered the shop first, when did they enter, what merchandise did they inquire about, and what did they say—do you remember all of this?”

Anyone who could work as an assistant at the Treasure Pavilion had to be very clever and have a good memory.

Assistant A steadied himself and began his account. “This humble one remembers—Seventh Great-Uncle Zhao entered the shop first. It wasn’t yet the hour of the Snake, so there were no other customers in the shop. This humble one went forward to receive Seventh Great-Uncle.”

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but remark, “Seventh Great-Uncle certainly has leisure time—going out to enjoy yourself in the county seat at the hour of the Snake on such a cold day.”

Zhao Hu said irritably, “I came to find you to urge Zitu to bring Zheng’er home for New Year. Shouldn’t I come early? I just happened to pass by the Treasure Pavilion and saw they had replaced all their windows with glazed glass. You could see the display shelves inside from outside. Out of curiosity, I went in to look first.”

Finding Zhao Hanzhang could be done anytime anyway, and he had a premonition that this year he probably wouldn’t be able to get his son and grandson to come home together for New Year.

So he visited the Treasure Pavilion first.

Although Zhao Hu was old, he had become increasingly extravagant with age, wanting to use the best of everything he could afford. Seeing how bright the Treasure Pavilion was after installing what they called glass windows, naturally he wanted to replace the windows in his own room and study as well.

Moreover, the old man had aesthetic compulsions and grand ambitions—if he was going to replace them, naturally he wanted to replace all the windows in the entire building. That would look good and be impressive.

So he first carefully inquired about the production price of these glass windows, then saw a model of a glass greenhouse on the table.

He learned there was a type of house that could be made entirely of glazed glass. He was told this was newly made by the Glassworks, called Glass Number Three-Five. It wasn’t easily broken but was transparent, making it excellent for growing flowers in winter.

Zhao Hu held the glass greenhouse in his hands, looking through it at the sunlight outside. Seeing the sunlight shine through it onto the floor, crystal clear and translucent, he instantly forgot about his son and grandson, his heart set only on this glass greenhouse.

However, he wasn’t foolish. He knew glazed glass wasn’t cheap. Although this glass differed by one character, it sounded expensive too. So he bargained with the assistant, even bringing up Zhao Hanzhang, hoping to negotiate a better price.

While they were negotiating, Fang Jing arrived.

Now Assistant B came forward to give his account. Fang Jing entered the Treasure Pavilion around the middle of the hour of the Snake, nearly half an hour after Zhao Hu.

As soon as he entered, he took a liking to the glass greenhouse in Zhao Hu’s hands. “Lord Fang was very straightforward—he asked just a few questions before placing an order for the glass greenhouse. He didn’t haggle and readily agreed to the price, then promptly paid the deposit…”

Assistant B said carefully, “This humble one was drawing up the receipt and discussing with Lord Fang about when the craftsmen would come to build it when Seventh Great-Uncle Zhao also came over. Hearing that this humble one had given the craftsmen to Lord Fang, he became unhappy, and then… they began arguing.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked Zhao Hu and Fang Jing, “Is there anything false in what these two assistants said?”

Fang Jing immediately replied, “No.”

Zhao Hu said, “There isn’t, but that’s because the matters I needed to discuss were numerous, which delayed my order. Clearly I was the first to decide I wanted the glass greenhouse…”

Zhao Hanzhang raised her hand to stop what he was about to say, smiling as she said, “Seventh Great-Uncle, business in shops is conducted based on who pays the deposit first. What’s said verbally doesn’t count.”

Upon hearing this, anger rose in Zhao Hu’s heart and he was about to lose his temper. But when he looked up and met Zhao Hanzhang’s smiling gaze, he instinctively paused.

In just that moment, Zhao Hanzhang was already saying with a smile, “Seventh Great-Uncle, the visitor is a guest. How about we let our honored guest have his way this once?”

Zhao Hu really didn’t want to yield, but meeting Zhao Hanzhang’s smiling face, he had a feeling that refusing might lead to bad consequences.

Zhao Hu wasn’t the smartest person—otherwise Zhao Song wouldn’t have constantly found him lacking.

But he had been able to become one of the wealthiest members of the Zhao clan despite not being particularly clever because he always had keen instincts.

It was just that he sometimes chose to ignore certain instincts while others he absolutely had to heed.

For instance, Zhao Hanzhang in her current position was someone whose instincts he had to take seriously. Zhao Hu sat sullenly without speaking.

Zhao Hanzhang was satisfied and said to the assistants, “This Lord Fang takes priority. Since he’s already paid the deposit, begin preparing the craftsmen.”

“Your Treasure Pavilion is also at fault in this matter for failing to properly handle the relationship between two customers. I’m ordering you to reduce the negotiated price by ten percent for both parties.”

The two assistants exchanged glances and bowed in acknowledgment.

Zhao Hu’s expression eased somewhat, but he was still very unhappy.

However, Zhao Hanzhang first turned to speak with Fang Jing, smiling as she asked, “How does Lord Fang find this judgment?”

Even if Fang Jing had deliberately arranged this, he had no choice but to bow and say, “Governor Zhao is fair and just.”

News of today’s events would spread, and many would praise Zhao Hanzhang for her fairness. But on the Zhao clan’s side, she would certainly face suspicion from her relatives. The question was how Zhao Ming would handle this matter—would he still stand unreservedly on Zhao Hanzhang’s side?

Fang Jing bowed and took his leave.

Zhao Hu angrily stood up, unwilling to speak with Zhao Hanzhang anymore, and turned to leave.

Zhao Hanzhang sighed and asked, “Seventh Great-Uncle, aren’t you going to have that glass greenhouse built anymore?”

Zhao Hu said angrily, “No! And I won’t buy anything from your Treasure Pavilion ever again!”