“Your family harmed their lives twice,” Fu Tinghan said to the defiant Zhao Yi, staring with wide eyes. “The first time was when she fell from her horse.”

“Your mother intended to take her life. She was the pillar of the main branch—once she died, her mother would collapse, leaving only Erlang, simple-minded and impulsive. Even if Grandfather Zhao left him servants and wealth, could he protect it? Let alone live freely.”

Zhao Yi said, “I would have taken care of Erlang.”

Fu Tinghan sneered. “Just now when Erlang entered the room with you, he kept avoiding you as he walked, with a hint of fear toward you. Simpletons have the best memory—how did you treat him before? That was when he still had his grandfather, his mother, and his sister to protect him. Can you truly believe you would take good care of Zhao Erlang?”

Zhao Yi opened his mouth wordlessly.

Fu Tinghan stepped forward and said in a low voice, “Do you think he would be happy being protected by his sister’s killer?”

Zhao Yi’s face instantly turned deathly pale.

“The second time was during the southern flight, when your family abandoned them.” That time he had witnessed personally. He clenched his fists and said, “If Grandfather Zhao hadn’t secretly left them some people, abandoned in the chaos of war, do you think they could have survived?”

Zhao Yi’s body swayed.

“Her revenge has already been lenient, only mindful of the blood relationship between you,” Fu Tinghan said. “You should be grateful your grandfather is still alive. With him as a bridge, Hanzhang at least remembers some old affection. Otherwise, when you met again, based on just these two incidents alone, she could have killed you all and you wouldn’t have grounds to complain.”

“She’s willing to let bygones be bygones between the two families, and I don’t want to settle one grievance only to create another,” Fu Tinghan said. “Think it through yourself and weigh it carefully.”

Having said this, he turned to leave. As soon as he turned around, he saw Zhao Hanzhang standing not far away.

She was grinning at him with a brilliant smile.

Fu Tinghan turned and immediately changed direction, lifting his feet to walk away.

Seeing this, Zhao Hanzhang hurried to chase after him.

Zhao Hanzhang pursued Fu Tinghan, saying, “Don’t run away—let’s talk this through slowly.”

Fu Tinghan walked on without acknowledging her. Zhao Hanzhang followed behind him chattering away. “You were speaking so well just now… Ow!”

Fu Tinghan suddenly stopped, and Zhao Hanzhang, unable to stop in time, bumped into his back.

Fu Tinghan frowned, pulled away her hand to look at it, found not even a red mark, and turned to walk away.

Zhao Hanzhang turned and blocked his path. “You’re still angry?”

“I’m not angry.”

“Then why are you avoiding me?” Zhao Hanzhang asked. “When have you ever avoided me before?”

Fu Tinghan said helplessly, “I still have many matters to handle. Master Ji is busy rebuilding the Luoyang county offices, and all the intelligence gathered from various places needs me to review and compile.”

“With your work capability, there’s no urgency for this moment—you’re still avoiding me.”

Fu Tinghan could only stop and look at her.

Zhao Hanzhang got her wish. Looking left and right, she pointed to a pavilion. “Shall we go sit there?”

Fu Tinghan could only follow her over.

“You spoke so well to Zhao Yi just now—why are you still angry with me?”

“I didn’t want him to harbor resentment, making it difficult for your two families’ grievances to be resolved in the future.” Fu Tinghan said, “You and Zhao Zhongyu have a cooperative relationship. If you push them too hard, how do you know he won’t betray you for the sake of his descendants?”

He said, “Endless cycles of revenge—when will they end? I say this to him, and also to you. Your actions are biased and lack benevolence and righteousness.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “So I took a step back and agreed to his plea for Zhao Hewan.”

Fu Tinghan sighed. “You’ve always been diplomatic. Since you made a concession, why did you act so forcefully toward him, making him harbor resentment?”

Zhao Hanzhang’s lips curled slightly. “This is his punishment.”

Hating someone is also a very painful thing.

Fu Tinghan frowned and pressed his lips together. “Hanzhang, on the battlefield it’s kill or be killed, so I never speak of battlefield matters. But I hope that in non-combat situations you can be a bit more gentle. Violence, killing, and vengeful hatred can all become addictive and change one’s character.”

Fu Tinghan stopped Zhao Hanzhang from interrupting and said, “Hear me out first. A person’s character constantly changes with their experiences. Even if you say your psychology is already mature and your character already formed, they will still change. Put your hand on your heart and ask yourself—three years ago, before coming to this world, did you really have such decisive ruthlessness and… thick skin?”

Zhao Hanzhang fell silent, shocked to realize she had indeed changed considerably without knowing it.

Seeing this, Fu Tinghan breathed a sigh of relief. He gripped her hand forcefully and said, “Hanzhang, this world is very chaotic, very bloody and violent, and very sad. This is an extreme world, a hundred times, a thousand times more cruel than what we read in history books. It will change you without you knowing it, so we must constantly examine ourselves to avoid losing who we are.”

“Unrestricted revenge without resistance certainly feels satisfying, but what comes after that satisfaction?” Fu Tinghan said. “You’ll leave behind more hidden dangers. Is that truly good for the living?”

“Finding the truth and making the perpetrators pay has already brought comfort to the deceased. Then you need to consider the living. Zhao Zhongyu and Zhao Ji are going to Yuncheng as hostages for you, for the Zhao clan. Zhao Yi will either return to Xiping or stay by your side. Whichever it is, your two families are the closest blood relatives. Your mother and Erlang will inevitably interact with them. Do you want them to interact while harboring mutual resentment?”

“And the Zhao clan members—if you can’t smooth over the grievances between the two families, how will they view you?” Fu Tinghan said in a low voice. “Before, it was the second branch who wronged the main branch, Zhao Ji who wronged you. But after Zhao Zhongyu takes his son to Yuncheng as a hostage for you, to mediate the conflict between you and the court, what then?”

Zhao Hanzhang remained silent for a long while before nodding. “I understand now.”

Only then did Fu Tinghan relax. He reached out and patted her head. “It’s getting late. Tomorrow they’ll depart from the capital—you should go.”

Zhao Hanzhang muttered under her breath, “How is it late? We just finished the midday meal.”

But she still stood up, patted her robes, and glanced at the flower bushes before turning to head to the main courtyard.

Fu Tinghan watched her figure disappear, smiled and shook his head, and stood up to leave. He then saw Ji Yuan standing behind a flowering tree in the distance. He paused, remembering how Zhao Hanzhang had glanced in that direction earlier, and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Ji Yuan bowed respectfully to Fu Tinghan from afar and turned to leave.

The young lady still needs someone like Fu Tinghan by her side—it saves him so much trouble. Tonight he can lose a little less hair.

Zhao Hanzhang walked leisurely to the main courtyard, which had once been Zhao Changyu’s quarters.

She looked up at the courtyard’s plaque before stepping inside.

Zhao Zhongyu, who had been writing letters in his study, frowned when he heard that Zhao Hanzhang had come looking for him. Was she here to demand results from him?