To sit on the mountain and watch tigers fight, one needed the ability to remain aloof. Otherwise, one would only become a fish caught in the crossfire.
Gao Tao had escaped. Whether the Prince of Donghai was truly injured or feigning injury, having spread such rumors would surely attract some bold individuals willing to take a gamble.
Perhaps the Prince of Donghai could ultimately quell the rebellion, but in the process, Luoyang would certainly not remain peaceful.
Most importantly—what if the Prince of Donghai lost control?
Hadn’t the Sima family lost control plenty of times already?
In just seventeen years, the Great Jin had descended once again into flames of war—wasn’t it precisely because the Sima family kept losing control?
Zhao Hanzhang doubted the Prince of Donghai’s ability to control the overall situation and earnestly urged Zhao Zhongyu to go outside the city.
Unfortunately, Zhao Zhongyu refused. His reasons were equally sound.
Zhao Changyu’s funeral could not be shortened—this concerned not only the Zhao clan’s reputation but was also important to Zhao Changyu himself.
Moreover, Zhao Hanzhang’s wedding date had been set for three days hence. Leaving the city at this time, going out and coming back in, would be extremely time-consuming.
Seeing she couldn’t persuade him, Zhao Hanzhang sighed and privately sought out Ji Yuan. “Have our people remaining in the western district leave the city first thing tomorrow morning. First Squad should take Third and Fifth Squads and stay behind, while Second Squad leads the remaining men to escort all family members back to Runan.”
“At the fifth watch, have them come to the west corner gate to collect items. Bring everything portable from my dowry, as well as all the money Grandfather left us.”
This time Ji Yuan didn’t object. He bowed and said: “Luoyang has become a place of strife. Leaving early would indeed be wise. However, Miss, with such a large commotion on our end, I fear the second branch won’t remain unaware.”
Zhao Hanzhang replied: “Don’t worry. I have my own way of dealing with them. Tomorrow you just come quietly.”
Ji Yuan bowed deeply: “Yes!”
Zhao Hanzhang watched him depart, pondered for a moment, then had Ting He summon Chengbo. “Move all of my dowry to Grandfather’s study. Tomorrow at the fifth watch, people will come to collect it.”
Though surprised, Chengbo didn’t ask questions. After thinking briefly, he said: “Then tonight’s night watch should be entirely staffed with our own people.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “Correct. The mourning hall too—replace everyone. Don’t leak any information yet. Wait until after the third watch, then wake them to move all the dowry out through the west corner gate. Move slowly and carefully.”
Chengbo acknowledged.
Zhao Hanzhang sat in the study thinking for a moment, then pulled out a sheet of paper to write a letter to Fu Tinghan, expressing her concerns about Luoyang’s current situation and urging him to persuade Fu Zhi to leave.
“Whether or not Fu Zhi is willing to leave, we must prepare to depart. I don’t know what happened, but for Gao Tao to successfully raise troops to assassinate the Prince of Donghai and even escape from Luoyang—I have an uneasy feeling in my heart.”
At home preparing for the wedding, Fu Tinghan received Zhao Hanzhang’s letter and couldn’t help pondering deeply.
Though she hadn’t stated it explicitly, he still understood her implication.
Historically, Gao Tao shouldn’t have been able to raise troops, nor escape from Luoyang. History had changed at this point.
Fu Tinghan tossed the letter into a brazier to burn.
If one uncontrolled butterfly accidentally flapping its wings could cause a tornado some time later, how much more so two living souls suddenly replacing two people in this world?
However, though unpredictable variables had emerged, he believed patterns could still be found within them. Their advantage was that Zhao Hanzhang knew enough about this era’s history. He didn’t want this strength to become a weakness.
That meant finding patterns within the variables and grasping the constants—maintaining their advantage.
Thinking this through, Fu Tinghan immediately stood to find Fu Zhi.
Fu Zhi was very busy. Officials and advisors came and went from his study ceaselessly.
Last night’s commotion from the Prince of Donghai had frightened many people. The residents of Luoyang had experienced several military coups and had grown both numb and fearful.
Early that morning, once the soldiers on the main streets withdrew, everyone began stirring.
In everyone’s eyes, the current imperial palace was a man-eating monster. Except for a very few, no one wanted to go there. Thus, high-ranking figures like Wang Yan and Fu Zhi found their gates besieged with visitors, everyone wanting to glean information from them and gain some assurance.
Fu Zhi had just sent away another wave of people and rubbed his aching forehead wearily, closing his eyes to rest.
Fu Tinghan entered carrying a tray of refreshments.
Seeing his grandson, Fu Zhi’s face showed a trace of a smile as he said gently: “Why have you come over?”
“If you’re tired, please rest. Have the steward send away the remaining guests.”
Fu Zhi shook his head. “If they can’t see me today, they’ll likely be unable to eat or sleep. It’s better to see them. Luoyang also needs them to stabilize people’s hearts.”
Fu Tinghan asked: “Why did Gao Tao assassinate the Prince of Donghai?”
Fu Zhi sighed. “After the Prince of Heijian’s death, the court split into two factions. People like myself wanted Wang Yan and Gao Tao to take charge of Jingzhao Jun, while the Prince of Donghai wanted to control it himself.”
“Now that His Majesty is in the Prince of Donghai’s hands, even if His Majesty is unwilling, the situation still favors the Prince of Donghai.” He paused before continuing: “Your Grandfather Zhao supported the Prince of Donghai because he feared the two factions’ prolonged dispute would make Jingzhao Jun more chaotic and might even draw the Qiang and Hu southward.”
“Facts proved his concerns were justified.” Fu Zhi seemed to age three years all at once as he sighed. “Because this matter dragged on without resolution, Gao Tao harbored resentment toward the Prince of Donghai and instigated the Right Guard Army to attempt assassination.”
“Last night many of his co-conspirators were arrested. Only then did we learn that among those plotting with him, some with rebellious intentions had secretly informed the Prince of Donghai of his assassination plan.” Fu Zhi’s expression was indescribable. “He had originally scheduled the attack for the Dragon Boat Festival. The Prince of Donghai decided to let him draw out more people, then capture them all at once.”
“Who knew that after the Prince of Donghai besieged the Zhao residence and drove Zhao Changyu to his death, Gao Tao felt the Prince of Donghai was too cruel—not even sparing Zhao Changyu who supported him—and certainly wouldn’t spare them who opposed him. So he decided to act immediately.”
“The informant mixed in with them had no time to alert the Prince of Donghai and was swept up in the action.”
Actually, it was also because Zhao Hanzhang’s capital-wide announcement of the death had penetrated hearts deeply, chilling many people who felt the Prince of Donghai was callous and unworthy of following.
Gao Tao seized this momentum and rallied his supporters. Originally hesitant people directly joined his embrace. With sufficient numbers, his courage swelled, and he acted immediately—so quickly that the informant couldn’t pass on the message, and the Prince of Donghai had no time to react.
Fu Tinghan asked: “So was the Prince of Donghai truly injured?”
Fu Zhi had visited the Prince of Donghai that morning. He snorted coldly: “Just a minor wound.”
Fu Tinghan’s heart settled. He looked at his grandfather with frost-white temples, pressed his lips together, and said: “Sanniang says Luoyang will likely descend into chaos and wants us to leave.”
Fu Zhi smiled bitterly. “I’m the Minister of the Secretariat. Others can leave, but I cannot.”
He raised his head to look at his eldest grandson, sighing: “In three days you’ll be married. After the wedding, you should go with Sanniang to Runan. Though it’s the countryside, it’s safer than Luoyang.”
He continued: “Luoyang is a place of strife. In the future, unless His Majesty takes power or the Prince of Donghai ascends the throne, don’t return.”
This was one of Fu Zhi’s main reasons for allowing Fu Tinghan to accompany Zhao Hanzhang in escorting the coffin home.