Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand. “With the realm not yet at peace, how can we establish a household? This matter isn’t urgent.”

There was no need for them to use marriage for anything at this time, and they themselves weren’t in a hurry to marry. Especially since she was only sixteen this year—oh, not even sixteen yet.

So there was no rush.

Even Ji Yuan couldn’t help pausing when he heard this reason, then asked, “When does the lady think the realm will be at peace?”

This was a heavy topic. She sighed deeply. “Unless heaven and earth are remade, it will be very difficult to pacify the warfare.”

The Jin state was rotten to its core. Even if a wise ruler emerged, with wolves circling all around, if the wise ruler couldn’t seize power, it would all be for naught.

Was the current Emperor incompetent?

He wasn’t incompetent at all—he even had some ability and cunning, and his character was passable. But he had no power. Unable to subdue Prince Donghai and the many court officials, he could only be a puppet.

But given Dajin’s current situation, honestly speaking, even if Zhao Hanzhang herself were in his position, it would be very difficult to seize power from the pack of wolves.

Seized power was always unstable—better to rebuild anew.

On fertile soil grew a great tree rotten to its roots, with rot affecting more than half. The best solution was actually to dig up the tree roots and plant a new tree, letting fresh saplings grow anew.

Just as Zhao Hanzhang was thinking rebelliously, she heard Ji Yuan say quietly, “So the lady intends never to marry?”

Zhao Hanzhang came back to her senses and quickly smiled. “You’ve misunderstood, sir. The realm might be pacified very soon… All right, I just think I’m still young.”

Only then was Ji Yuan satisfied. After thinking, he said, “That’s fine too. The lady knows what’s in her heart, so there’s no need to rush for the moment.”

At this time, Yuzhou wasn’t yet stable, and Zhao Hanzhang alone was involved in so much. It was better to remain still rather than stir things up.

However… “You should spend more time with the young master. Secretary Fu is serving as an official in the court and is now considered one of His Majesty’s confidants. The young master has been of even greater assistance to you.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “…I know, sir. You’re suddenly talking like this, making me feel like I’m about to become an unfaithful lover.”

“I just hope the lady and the young master won’t disappoint each other.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “Am I that kind of person? Fu Tinghan even less so.”

“I naturally know the young master Fu isn’t that kind of person.” Fu Tinghan wasn’t—it was just that he was a bit uncertain about their lady, who was too unpredictable.

After Ji Yuan witnessed the gunpowder, he kept an even closer watch on Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan, occasionally reminding her, “Lady, you haven’t seen the young master in quite a while. Why not go visit him?”

Zhao Hanzhang: …They had eaten breakfast together this morning and had only been apart for less than two hours.

Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t expected to experience the feeling of being pressured about marriage before turning sixteen. With a helpless expression, she said, “Master Ji, the matter between Tinghan and me won’t change. You needn’t be like this.”

Ji Yuan: “I naturally trust the lady and the young master, but a harmonious marriage also requires careful cultivation. Today there are few matters, and the lady hasn’t gone out since returning to Chen County. Why not invite the young master out for a walk today? I hear there’s quite a lot of good food outside.”

Zhao Hanzhang, who hadn’t wanted to go out, changed her mind upon hearing this and nodded. “That’s fine too.”

Ji Yuan instructed, “Spring is glorious—change into some nice-looking clothes.”

Zhao Hanzhang quickly walked away from Ji Yuan. Master Ji pressuring her about romance was truly too frightening.

Ting He selected a blue素色 dress and skirt for Zhao Hanzhang. She was still in mourning, so the casual clothes made these past two years were mainly in plain colors.

“Lady, I’ve already sent someone to invite Young Master Fu. By the time you’ve changed, the timing will be just right.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, but after changing clothes, she still strode toward Fu Tinghan’s courtyard. Ting He hurriedly followed, walking quickly. “Lady, lady, slow down. This is a curved-hem robe…”

Zhao Hanzhang slowed her pace. When she reached Fu Tinghan’s courtyard, she saw the maid who had come to summon him waiting anxiously by the window, with Fu An blocking her path.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang, Fu An was startled and quickly came forward to kneel and bow. “Lady, my young master is absorbed in thought. He won’t let us disturb him, so…”

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand dismissively. “No matter. You may all withdraw.”

Only then did Fu An rise and step aside.

Fu Tinghan had probably placed his writing desk by the window for the light. He sat before the window with his brush raised, his brows slightly furrowed.

Curious, Zhao Hanzhang leaned in to look, wanting to know what was troubling him.

She saw that the paper spread before him was a map just begun. She paused, leaning in closer. “This is a map of Nanyang Kingdom?”

Fu Tinghan, whose brows had been slightly furrowed, finally noticed her. He searched through the draft papers beside him and found eight maps to hand her. “These are maps I drew in Luyang County based on county and provincial records. I want to combine them to form a complete topographical map of Nanyang Kingdom.”

“But I don’t know whether the provincial records are inaccurate or the current roads have changed without being recorded. Some places in the combined map are wrong.”

Zhao Hanzhang carefully examined his maps and pondered briefly before saying, “Relying on you alone to survey and map all of Yuzhou would be very time-consuming. How about this—I’ll order each county to draw maps of their own counties and submit them, then you can base your work on those maps?”

Fu Tinghan: “The maps may not be very accurate, but for the current stage, it’s not a bad solution.”

Zhao Hanzhang immediately called Ting He over. “Go to the front and find Fan Ying. Have her draft an order.”

Fu Tinghan smiled and handed her the brush, then casually picked up a book to place under it as a writing surface.

After writing the hand order, Zhao Hanzhang casually took off her purse, extracted her private seal from inside, and stamped it. She then handed the order to Ting He.

Ting He accepted the order and left. Zhao Hanzhang turned to Fu Tinghan with a beaming smile. “Are you still drawing?”

Only then did Fu Tinghan notice she was dressed differently today. He quickly put away the book he’d used to hold the map, shaking his head. “I have no direction for now, so I won’t draw for the moment.”

Zhao Hanzhang reached out to take his hand, her smile radiant. “Then come out quickly. Let’s go out and have fun.”

Fu Tinghan smiled slightly and stood up, walking around to exit through the door.

The weather was still somewhat cold. When the wind blew, it was easy to catch a chill. Fu An quickly ran into the room to fetch a cloak.

Seeing this, Fu Tinghan paused and said to Fu An, “Bring the cloak Hanzhang left here as well.”

“No need,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Ting He has already made arrangements. I don’t feel cold right now either.”

Zhao Hanzhang took his hand and strode outside. “Let’s hurry. It’s lunchtime now—if we don’t leave early, we’ll have to wait a long time to eat.”

Fu Tinghan smiled and asked, “Where do you want to eat?”

“I heard that several new restaurants and taverns have opened in Chen County these past few months. Let’s go smell them all out.”

Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but laugh. “Then we do need to leave early.”