This was too hasty. He had thought they had reached a tacit understanding.

Zhao Zhongyu felt slightly displeased, but still put down his brush and left the study.

Zhao Hanzhang was looking up at the Chinese parasol tree in the courtyard. Hearing footsteps, she turned her head. Instead of performing a courtesy, she pointed at the wilting parasol tree and said, “Was it scorched by the fire from a few days ago?”

Zhao Zhongyu made a sound of acknowledgment. “Although it was far away, it was still affected somewhat.”

Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “I remember when Grandfather was still alive, he would often quiz First Uncle and Big Brother on their studies beneath this parasol tree.”

Hearing this, Zhao Zhongyu also fell silent. He was many years older than Zhao Hanzhang and had long since mastered the ways of the world. For Zhao Hanzhang to bring up Zhao Ji and Zhao Yi at this moment, and with such a warm opening, she was clearly showing leniency.

This surprised him somewhat. He hadn’t expected Zhao Hanzhang to take a step back and actually plead on their behalf. When they met this morning, her words had been distinctly sharp, and the previous two days she hadn’t even seen Zhao Ji, acting as if she wouldn’t rest until she had strictly punished them.

Zhao Hanzhang knew he understood. She too remained silent for a long while before saying, “Yuncheng is too far away. Big Sister is still young and will likely suffer from the change in climate. Since Big Brother is returning to Xiping, let him look after his sisters.”

Zhao Zhongyu quietly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. “Very well.”

He paused before asking, “What about Wu Shi…”

Zhao Hanzhang’s lips curled slightly. “I’ll have to trouble First Uncle to take good care of First Aunt. Once they reach Yuncheng, Great-Uncle can decide on the punishment as he sees fit. The journey is inconvenient after all, especially with His Majesty, and besides, Big Sister and Second Sister are already betrothed—they’ll need time to marry.”

This was changing immediate execution to a suspended death sentence.

Zhao Zhongyu felt both touched and chilled in his heart.

Touched because Zhao Hanzhang was still willing to remember their blood ties and show mercy, which made him more willing to serve as this hostage;

Chilled because she had calculated his plans completely. To appease her anger, he had indeed intended to have Wu Shi fall “ill” tonight, depart while sick, and within a few days die from the change in climate.

He would have brought Zhao Hewan along to care for Wu Shi.

She was already betrothed. This loss of her mother would require three years of mourning. To avoid delaying the groom’s family, he would have broken off the engagement, then either sent her to become a nun once they reached Yuncheng or waited until her mourning period ended to arrange another marriage.

But remarrying, she wouldn’t secure a good match—her whole life would likely be ruined.

Zhao Hewan wouldn’t be the only one affected. Zhao Erniang and Zhao Siniang would also need to observe three years of mourning. Much could change in three years—no one knew what their futures would hold.

He had thought this would be enough for Zhao Hanzhang to vent her anger, but he hadn’t expected her willing to take a step back and allow Wu Shi to live until reaching Yuncheng.

Don’t underestimate this small difference in timing—the consequences would be completely different.

Zhao Zhongyu fell silent. The grandfather and granddaughter rarely stood together so quietly, their moods not tense.

Zhao Hanzhang was looking at the parasol tree and the table and chairs beneath it. Her first meeting with Zhao Changyu had been in this very place.

If it were him, he wouldn’t want the Zhao clan’s main and second branches to sever ties completely, would he?

Zhao Hanzhang sighed.

Zhao Zhongyu also sighed.

He said, “After reaching Yuncheng, His Majesty intends to summon the imperial clan and provincial governors from various regions, including Liu Kun, the Governor of Bingzhou.”

Hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang sneered coldly. “This is Gou Xi’s suggestion, isn’t it? He wants to use the Emperor to command the realm? But don’t forget—half of the imperial clan members are now in Shi Le’s hands. After the War of the Eight Princes, how many of the Sima family are still alive?”

“There are still several dozen,” Zhao Zhongyu said. “What concerns me is Liu Kun, the Governor of Bingzhou. He’s currently defending Jinyang—he’s barely managed to hold that territory. Once he leaves, I fear Liu Yuan won’t miss this opportunity.”

“Once Liu Yuan breaks through Jinyang, all of Bingzhou will be his,” Zhao Zhongyu said. “With Liu Kun in Bingzhou, he can tie down considerable Xiongnu forces for you. If Jinyang falls, Luoyang and Yuzhou will face all of Liu Yuan’s military might directly.”

He said in a low voice, “The court specifically summoned him back and intends to give him the position of Governor of Jizhou. I suspect this is Gou Xi’s scheme, designed to have Liu Yuan wear you down through conflict.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “…He hasn’t even left Luoyang yet and he’s already scheming this much.”

Zhao Zhongyu replied, “You need to contact Liu Kun and persuade him to remain in Jinyang.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, finally showing a smile. “Thank you for the warning, Great-Uncle.”

Zhao Zhongyu said, “Isn’t this what I’m going to Yuncheng for?”

First, to serve as a hostage; second, to act as a bridge between the court and Zhao Hanzhang; third, to provide Zhao Hanzhang with information about the court.

He looked up at Zhao Hanzhang, examining her very carefully.

Zhao Hanzhang looked back questioningly. “Great-Uncle?”

Zhao Zhongyu said, “You’ve changed tremendously from over two years ago. I never knew you were this kind of person—even the you now is very different from this morning.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Someone just told me: endless cycles of revenge—when will they end?”

She opened her hands to show him. “We are flesh and blood, bone of one bone. I do harbor resentment, but I cannot deny our kinship.”

“Moreover,” she looked up at Zhao Zhongyu, “for the greater good, for the clan, these small grievances seem insignificant.”

Zhao Zhongyu looked at her open palms for a long while without speaking.

Zhao Hanzhang closed her hands and put them behind her back, smiling slightly. “Since leaving the capital, I’ve experienced life and death, war, and so many other things. To survive, I had to change, and I’ve changed for the better. Isn’t that what growth is?”

Zhao Zhongyu remained silent for a long time before sighing. “Yes, experiences lead to maturity. When one’s position changes, naturally one’s thinking changes too.”

“I never liked your grandfather,” said Zhao Zhongyu, having thought things through. He walked to the mat under the parasol tree and sat cross-legged. “From my youth onward, everyone praised your grandfather’s great talent, saying I fell far short in many ways.”

Zhao Hanzhang walked to face him and also sat cross-legged.

The attendants immediately brought tea and refreshments, placed them down, and retreated to a distance with bowed heads.

“In my young adulthood, these discussions became more frequent and louder. Your grandfather once humiliated me in front of everyone. I’ve always kept that in my heart, so toward him, I’ve always harbored resentment.”

Zhao Hanzhang understood. Before his death, Zhao Changyu had also told her that his greatest regret in life was his youthful arrogance in publicly looking down on Zhao Zhongyu.

However, she felt his remorse wasn’t complete, because Zhao Changyu had always looked down on Zhao Zhongyu. Right up until his deathbed, he had felt exasperated with this younger brother, thinking him inadequate to bear the great responsibility of clan leadership.

Yet it was precisely this person who, for the sake of the clan, was willing to sacrifice his family’s interests for the clan’s benefit, just as Zhao Changyu had done.

Zhao Hanzhang looked up at him.

“My brother and I already had this barrier between us, and Empress Jia exploited it. We brothers both knew what was happening and were happy to play along with her wishes, fighting each other. It started as half-real, half-pretend acting, but in the end, the pretense became reality and our two families grew increasingly estranged.”