Zhao Hanzhang struggled to open her eyes a crack. The coarse hemp cloth felt rough against her cheek. Supporting herself to sit up, she realized she had somehow ended up lying on Fu Tinghan’s lap.
She rubbed her face and looked up at Fu Tinghan.
Fu Tinghan was leaning against the pillar behind him, sleeping soundly. Zhao Hanzhang noticed the dark circles under his eyes and his slightly furrowed brow. She quickly sat up straight.
But perhaps from maintaining one position too long, half her body had gone numb. As soon as she sat up straight, her body uncontrollably tilted to the side, falling directly onto Fu Tinghan.
Fu Tinghan’s eyes flew open, his hands already supporting her.
Zhao Daniang and her two sisters entered to see Fu Tinghan holding Zhao Hanzhang completely in his arms. The three were startled. Zhao Daniang quickly turned away, also pulling Zhao Erniang and Zhao Siniang around.
But though their bodies turned, their heads kept looking back. Zhao Erniang even coughed heavily.
Zhao Hanzhang was rubbing her thigh, trying to stand. The tingling sensation made her hiss.
Fu Tinghan also felt the numbness but remained silent, supporting Zhao Hanzhang as she rose. He glanced coolly at the three women standing at the mourning hall entrance.
Zhao Hanzhang looked at them quizzically. “Is the courtyard outside particularly scenic? Come in.”
Only then did the three turn around. Seeing the two still close together, they averted their eyes. “Third Sister, go wash up and eat. We’ll keep watch here.”
Zhao Hanzhang rubbed away the numbness, first going forward to offer a stick of incense and burn a handful of sorghum stalks before agreeing.
Fu Tinghan silently followed her out.
Zhao Erniang watched the two leave shoulder to shoulder, puzzled. “Why does Young Master Fu like Third Sister so much?”
He had visited daily before, didn’t abandon her despite yesterday’s danger, even accompanied her in vigil observing mourning rites—weren’t they only recently acquainted?
Yet why did he seem so deeply devoted?
Zhao Siniang: “Perhaps he has ulterior motives? Right now, Third Sister is the wealthiest in the family, isn’t she?”
Zhao Hanzhang led Fu Tinghan to the guest quarters, instructing Zhao Cai to care for him before returning to her own rooms.
Ting He had water ready for washing and whispered: “Sanniang, Mr. Ji is waiting for you outside the west corner gate.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded acknowledgment, quickly arranging her hair before heading to the west corner gate.
The west corner gate was on the main household’s side, near Zhao Changyu’s study. Along the way, she encountered only a few scattered servants who lowered their heads in greeting as Zhao Hanzhang passed, only raising them after she walked by.
Zhao Hanzhang headed out, asking Ting He: “Are all the people in this area arranged by Chengbo?”
“Yes. Following your instructions, we replaced them early with our people. They’re all on the prepared dowry escort list.”
Only then did Zhao Hanzhang nod with satisfaction.
The gatekeeper at the west corner gate, seeing Zhao Hanzhang, asked no questions and quietly opened the door. He checked outside first to confirm it was safe before letting Zhao Hanzhang exit.
An ox cart was stopped not far down the alley, conveniently blocking the lane’s entrance.
The driver raised his head—Zhao Hanzhang saw Zhao Ju’s face beneath the conical hat.
Zhao Hanzhang: …This seems a bit excessive, doesn’t it?
She took Zhao Ju’s hand to board the cart. Inside sat Ji Yuan, who immediately moved aside and bowed hastily. “My lady, please accept my condolences.”
Zhao Hanzhang sat down, looking up at him. “Mr. Ji guessed already?”
Ji Yuan sighed. “After the Zhao residence was surrounded yet remained calm, I guessed the master’s solution.”
Zhao Hanzhang was silent briefly. “How are things on the west side of the city?”
“My lady need not worry—the people and assets are all secure.”
Zhao Hanzhang: “What did Uncle Shuzu instruct you yesterday?”
Ji Yuan: “I was just about to discuss this with my lady. The Second Old Master detained me and had Zhao Ju mobilize all the retainers the Zhao family maintains into the city.”
Zhao Hanzhang pondered briefly. “I must trouble Mr. Ji to remain at Uncle Shuzu’s side for now, helping him and his son manage the Zhao household as soon as possible.”
Ji Yuan raised an eyebrow. “Until when?”
“After the funeral ends, I’ll raise the matter of escorting the coffin back to our ancestral home with Uncle Shuzu. Then I’ll ask him for Uncle Qianli to escort us siblings. Mr. Ji can accompany us, or you can directly resign your advisory position.”
Zhao Ju was one of the Zhao family’s retainers—his bond of servitude belonged to the Zhao family, making him unfree. But Ji Yuan was a free man.
He had previously served Zhao Changyu. With Zhao Changyu dead, he could choose another master. If he wanted to leave, Zhao Zhongyu couldn’t stop him.
What mattered was Zhao Ju.
Nominally, with Zhao Changyu’s death, he now belonged to the new household head Zhao Zhongyu or the new Marquis of Shangcai, Zhao Ji.
However, as long as she could get him into the coffin-escort party, Zhao Ju would belong to her.
Zhao Hanzhang had never intended to continue sharing meals from the same pot with the second branch.
Ji Yuan was somewhat surprised. “My lady intends to leave Luoyang and establish an independent household?”
“Is that not acceptable?”
Ji Yuan pondered. “My lady is after all a woman—you’ll face many inconveniences. And Erlang is honest and simple. Without clan support, I fear…”
Zhao Hanzhang said: “Mr. Ji, you know my Uncle Shuzu’s character and temperament. I have so many people and such assets. I might hide them for a day or two, but over time, he’ll inevitably discover them, and then he’ll likely resent me.”
“Look at the Great Jin’s current state—troubled within and without. Setting aside external threats, the imperial family’s constant infighting—isn’t it rooted in unfairness?” Zhao Hanzhang continued: “By avoiding him, I’m not only considering our siblings’ safety but also hoping to maintain the Zhao clan’s harmony.”
Ji Yuan: “Why not marry during the heavy mourning period?”
“From the night before last and yesterday, Young Master Fu’s behavior showed he’d willingly be torn apart for my lady. You could take full advantage of this opportunity to legitimately bring your dowry out in marriage,” Ji Yuan said. “Your dowry and such have long been organized. With everything simplified during heavy mourning, everything could be arranged in less than three months.”
Zhao Hanzhang frowned. “But then the matter of escorting the coffin home…”
“I’ve already heard that last night Young Master Fu accompanied my lady in keeping vigil, observing qishuai mourning. If he’s willing to observe such heavy mourning for the master, he’d naturally be willing to escort the coffin home.”
Zhao Hanzhang fell into thought.
Ji Yuan still believed marrying during heavy mourning would be more logical and reasonable. All the assets Zhao Changyu left for Zhao Hanzhang could legitimately and properly reach the Fu family through this opportunity, remaining in Zhao Hanzhang’s hands.
Ji Yuan looked at her intently.
Zhao Hanzhang was very good at accepting others’ advice. “I’ll go back and discuss this with Young Master Fu.”
Ji Yuan relaxed into a smile.
Given Young Master Fu’s devotion to their lady, he would certainly agree. The question was whether the Fu family would consent.
Zhao Hanzhang pondered: “Regardless of whether we marry during heavy mourning, I must escort the coffin home. Our people can’t remain in Luoyang. Please, Mr. Ji, arrange for the people on the west side to pack their belongings and return to Runan.”
Ji Yuan was surprised. “My lady intends to move all your forces to Runan?”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded.
Ji Yuan didn’t quite agree. “My lady, Luoyang isn’t just the capital. The master always kept these people in the capital precisely because the main branch is here. In the future, you and Young Master Fu will also live in Luoyang. Moving people and assets back to Runan—wouldn’t that waste manpower? Won’t you use them anymore?”
Zhao Hanzhang said: “Neither Young Master Fu nor I plan to remain long in Luoyang. Have them pack first.”
“This…”
Zhao Hanzhang said seriously: “Mr. Ji, Luoyang is a place of trouble—inconvenient for our long-term stay.”
Ji Yuan pondered briefly before slowly nodding.
—