When the sky began to lighten, Ji Yuan and his group divided into several teams and reached the western city gate. Their family members also carried large and small bundles of luggage, crowding into the convoy.
The group was quite large, but among the vast crowds wanting to leave the city, they weren’t very conspicuous. What drew the most attention was their convoy of carts.
The gate-guarding soldiers kept glancing at them, blocking their convoy: “Who are you people?”
Ji Yuan immediately presented travel documents. “We are from the Marquis of Shangcai’s residence. These are the late Marquis’s old possessions being sent to the manor—items for burial. The late Marquis will soon be interred, and these are all funerary objects.”
The gate soldiers clicked their tongues in amazement—so many?
However, they didn’t doubt it. Some people still used live human sacrifices for burial—what did some extra objects matter?
As long as one had money, that was enough.
They’d long heard that the Marquis of Shangcai was skilled at management and frugal—he must have saved considerable gold and silver treasures.
The soldiers’ eyes gleamed as they swept over the carts, then waved them through.
Once the convoy passed, the common people behind surged forward en masse.
The disturbances from two nights ago and yesterday had still frightened them. Many decided to leave Luoyang. Knowing the western gate would open today to let people out, quite a few crowded here.
Over eight hundred of Zhao Hanzhang’s people mixed among them were completely inconspicuous.
Once outside the city, the eight hundred-plus people gathered together, becoming once again a force no one dared provoke.
The troops drew hidden weapons from the carts, and the cold gleam of blades caught many eyes secretly watching the convoy, who immediately averted their gazes.
They had just safely exited the city when someone immediately returned to inform Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang nodded, instructing: “Those remaining should continue living in the western district, following Uncle Qianli’s commands.”
“But the squad leader hardly returns to the western district now.”
Zhao Zhongyu had sent Zhao Ju to reorganize the residence’s personnel. He was so busy he didn’t even have time to see Zhao Hanzhang, let alone return to the western district.
Zhao Hanzhang replied: “He’ll have time to return soon.”
Tomorrow would be Zhao Changyu’s seventh day. After the seventh day, she would marry. Because it was during the hot mourning period, the wedding would be entirely simplified, and customs naturally simplified as well.
There would be no wedding chamber, and naturally no third-day return visit.
Zhao Hanzhang decided: marry the day after tomorrow, then return the day after that to prepare for escorting the coffin home.
Whether Zhao Zhongyu left or not was none of her concern—she was leaving regardless.
Zhao Hanzhang went directly to Zhao Zhongyu to request people. “Grand-Uncle, we need people to escort us home with the coffin. Uncle Qianli is highly skilled in martial arts. Could you have him escort us home?”
Zhao Zhongyu had no objection, even saying: “I’ll assign you more personnel. The roads are unsafe.”
Zhao Hanzhang was deeply moved, deciding to accept all comers. “Thank you, Grand-Uncle.”
She continued: “I’ve decided to depart the day after the wedding. Should I send someone to summon Uncle Qianli back?”
Zhao Zhongyu was surprised. “So soon?”
He frowned. “Why such haste? I’ve already decided to first store the coffin at the temple. After your third-day return to your natal family and you’ve become more familiar with the Fu family, then depart.”
He didn’t quite approve. “Being so hasty—I fear the Fu family will be displeased. Moreover, the time together is too short. What if Young Master Fu bullies you?”
Zhao Hanzhang replied: “Grand-Uncle, rest assured. I’ll bring plenty of people. Their Fu family can’t match our numbers—who bullies whom remains to be seen.”
Zhao Zhongyu: “…You mustn’t bully Young Master Fu either.”
Zhao Hanzhang insisted on leaving the day after the wedding.
After all, they were separated by a generational gap. Zhao Zhongyu had seen plenty of this grand-niece’s strong-willed character these past days and stopped insisting, nodding: “Very well, I’ll have Zhao Qianli select some people to return.”
Zhao Hanzhang’s held breath finally released completely.
The next day was the seventh day. Tonight Zhao Ji and his son were keeping vigil. Zhao Hanzhang woke at dawn and couldn’t fall back asleep, so she felt somewhat drowsy now.
She retired to her room early to sleep.
Sleeping until midnight, she suddenly opened her eyes wide.
She lay in bed without moving, frowning as she listened carefully, confirming she hadn’t misheard. There truly were sounds of heavy objects striking the ground, just like…like a large pickup truck passing below her building.
But this was the Great Jin—where would such sounds come from?
And these intermittent heavy striking sounds, like a landslide…
Thinking this far, Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes widened instantly. She sat up abruptly, threw off her covers, and got out of bed.
Ting He was sleeping groggily. Hearing the commotion, she climbed up and saw Zhao Hanzhang throwing on clothes and heading out. She instantly awakened, jumping down from her wooden platform. “Sanniang, what’s wrong?”
“Shh—” Zhao Hanzhang stood in the doorway, standing on tiptoe to peer into the distance. With buildings layered upon buildings, she couldn’t see the specific situation, but she saw that the sky to the north and east was orange-red—clearly fire.
Ting He also saw it and grew tense. “A fire?”
“No,” Zhao Hanzhang’s face was grave as water. “Someone is attacking the city. This rumbling sound is the sound of siege.”
Ting He listened carefully—there did seem to be rumbling sounds. Her face turned deathly pale. “Who…who is it? Will they break into the city?”
Zhao Hanzhang turned back inside. “Change my clothes.”
After dressing, Zhao Hanzhang headed straight out. The servants in the courtyard had all been awakened. Zhao Hanzhang had them stay obediently in the courtyard while she took a lantern and went to find Zhao Zhongyu.
Zhao Zhongyu had also awakened, sitting on his bed still somewhat dazed. Suddenly a servant entered to report: “Master, Sanniang requests an audience.”
Zhao Zhongyu came to his senses, frowning as he rose and dressed before dragging his shoes out.
Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t in the reception room but stood in the courtyard looking toward the distance.
Zhao Zhongyu walked up behind her and coughed lightly.
Zhao Hanzhang turned and bowed. “Grand-Uncle, someone is attacking the city. Will you and Uncle go to the palace to see?”
Zhao Zhongyu stared at her for a while before finally nodding. “Very well.”
Zhao Hanzhang bowed and was about to withdraw when Zhao Zhongyu suddenly said: “Sanniang, with warfare erupting, your wedding with the Fu family will likely need to be postponed.”
Zhao Hanzhang’s steps halted. She turned back. “Then let it be postponed. The urgent matter is escorting Grandfather’s coffin home and laying him to rest.”
She could just bring Professor Fu along.
Zhao Zhongyu nodded. “It should be vagrant army causing trouble. The Prince of Donghai commands a great army—quelling them is only a matter of time. Once the enemy is repelled, I’ll have Qianli escort you away.”
Zhao Hanzhang acknowledged, turned to leave, but suddenly a tremendous boom rang out. Zhao Zhongyu was so startled he jumped, couldn’t help complaining: “Attacking the city in the dead of night—can’t they wait until daylight?”
But Zhao Hanzhang’s face had changed drastically. She heard battle cries and wails.
“They’ve broken into the city.”
“What?” Zhao Zhongyu looked toward Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang’s face was pale. “They broke through the northern gate—the enemy has entered the city. Someone, come—extinguish all lights, gather all women and children to the mourning hall.”
Zhao Zhongyu also reacted, stepping forward to grab her. “How do you know they’ve broken into the city?”
“I heard it,” Zhao Hanzhang looked earnestly at Zhao Zhongyu. “Grand-Uncle, trust me. They’ve broken in.”
Zhao Zhongyu didn’t hesitate long, turning to order his ever-present attendant: “Extinguish the lights, bar all doors tightly. Have all household guards and soldiers come to the mourning hall. Quickly!”