Zhao Zhongyu turned to leave when a whimpering sound came from one of the carriages.

Zhao Hanzhang paused mid-step and glanced over. She saw the curtain stir slightly, and with her sharp eyes, spotted Wu Shi bang against the carriage wall before being pulled back and restrained by the woman inside.

Zhao Hanzhang withdrew her gaze and mounted her horse without looking sideways.

Zhao Zhongyu, however, frowned slightly. He didn’t want her making such a commotion—if word got out, it would only invite outsiders to pry. So he quietly instructed, “You all go ahead outside the city and wait. Prepare a bowl of calming medicine for her.”

“Yes.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s sharp ears caught this. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly. Yesterday, when she had the ancestral hall surrounded so tightly that not even water could leak through, it wasn’t to guard against family members—it was to guard against outsiders.

Since Zhao Zhongyu and Zhao Ji were to serve as hostages, these hostages naturally needed to be as important as possible.

Zhao Zhongyu understood this point as well, so throughout the journey, grandfather and granddaughter rode side by side, talking and laughing cheerfully, appearing to have an excellent relationship.

When they reached the palace gates, Zhao Hanzhang personally escorted Zhao Zhongyu and Zhao Ji to see the Emperor. In the Emperor’s presence, Zhao Hanzhang’s expression toward Zhao Ji was completely warm, sweeping away her previous dismissive attitude of barely acknowledging him. She said with concern, “The climate of Yuncheng differs from the Central Plains. Uncle’s health is not good—you must take care of yourself. Only by looking after yourself will you have the energy to care for Great-Uncle.”

Hearing this, the Emperor couldn’t help but smile. “General Zhao can rest assured. Imperial physicians will attend to them along the way. Minister Zhao will be fine.”

Zhao Hanzhang performed a grateful bow. “Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your care.”

Zhao Zhongyu also looked moved and thanked the Emperor for his grace together with her.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at Gou Xi. “General Gou, I must trouble you for the journey.”

“General Zhao is too kind. We’ll await your good news along the way. We hope you’ll soon rescue the court ministers from Shi Lei’s hands.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “I’ve already sent Xun Xiu to search for Shi Lei’s whereabouts. As soon as there’s word, I’ll immediately lead a great army to rescue them.”

Gou Xi didn’t know whether she spoke truth or lies, but still nodded. If she delayed and didn’t act, then the Emperor could press her daily. After some back and forth, word would spread of her disobeying imperial commands.

Gou Xi invited the Emperor to board the carriage. Zhao Hanzhang, along with Fu Tinghan, Beigong Chun, and others, saw the Emperor into his carriage. She would escort them all the way out of the city and watch them depart.

However, she hadn’t expected that quite a few people would be standing by the roadside with her to see them off.

Zhao Hanzhang looked around curiously and asked Fu Zhi, “Grandfather Fu, aren’t you going to Yuncheng?”

Fu Zhi glanced at her before saying, “No, I’m going to Chang’an.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s mouth fell open.

Fu Zhi said sourly, “It serves you right for only learning about this now. Tinghan, you have a home in Luoyang—not on Wutong Street, but on Daliu Street.”

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan remember this matter. Fu Tinghan’s face flushed slightly red, and Zhao Hanzhang also uncomfortably touched her earlobe before saying with a grin, “It’s not that Tinghan forgot. It’s just that Grandfather Fu has been staying in the palace these past few days, and that residence hasn’t been occupied for a long time and has gotten rather damp, so I didn’t have him return there.”

Fu Zhi snorted.

Fu Tinghan coughed lightly and whispered to Zhao Hanzhang, “My family’s house was burned down.”

So where was there any dampness?

Zhao Hanzhang had a sudden realization and immediately said, “Grandfather Fu, you and my grandfather were close friends. Two grandfathers living alone would be lonely. Why not temporarily move into my residence for a while?”

Fu Zhi didn’t refuse and even gestured for her to look at the people who had stayed behind with him.

Looking around, she discovered quite a few people had remained.

“These are all people unwilling to follow His Majesty to Yuncheng, but those willing to stay in Luoyang are not many either,” Fu Zhi said. “They’ll stop in Luoyang for a few days before leaving, so your time is limited. Seize the opportunity well.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze fell on Xiahou Yan in the distance. “Grandfather Fu is right—I must indeed seize the opportunity.”

Fu Zhi followed her gaze and also saw Xiahou Yan. He sighed. Her eye was indeed sharp—she had selected the very best with one glance.

He said, “Xiahou Yan won’t be easy to recruit. As far as I know, he’s leaving tomorrow.”

Zhao Hanzhang was startled. “Leaving for where?”

“I heard he’s going to find Zhang Jingyang.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes lit up. “Zhang Xie?”

Fu Zhi glanced at her and nodded.

Zhang Xie was the renowned scholar who had first rushed to her side when she announced mourning. He was the one who sat before the Zhao family gates and thoroughly berated the Prince of Donghai, forcing the Prince of Donghai’s people to let them pass.

The corners of Zhao Hanzhang’s mouth lifted. She had been wanting to visit this renowned scholar anyway.

“Where is he?”

Fu Zhi pointed remotely toward a mountain. “In the mountains, but the mountains are so vast—who knows exactly where?”

“No matter. Tomorrow I’ll go with Xiahou Yan and I’ll know. Since he’s going to find Zhang Xie, he must know where Zhang Xie is.”

Though it had been his suggestion, Fu Zhi still felt somewhat stifled and turned to leave.

Zhao Hanzhang quickly followed. “Grandfather Fu, going to Chang’an is dangerous. Why don’t I assign you a squad of my personal guards as well?”

“No need. His Majesty has left me with manpower.”

“Oh, but how can those people compare with my battle-hardened personal guards?” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Besides, this is Tinghan’s filial piety. Grandfather Fu, please don’t refuse.”

Fu Tinghan silently followed behind, watching her wheedle Fu Zhi, insisting that he accept her men.

Fu Zhi walked with his hands behind his back, ignoring her. Zhao Hanzhang said with a smile, “Besides the personal guards, I’ll also give you two attendants familiar with Chang’an, how about that? They both lived in Chang’an with General Beigong and are quite familiar with the people there.”

Fu Zhi’s steps slowed.

Fu Tinghan, following behind, shook his head at these words and smiled despite himself.

After Zhao Hanzhang expressed her intention to prepare some travel gifts for Fu Zhi, he finally couldn’t resist the temptation and stopped, asking, “What do you want?”

Zhao Hanzhang said with a beaming smile, “I want a travel permit for leaving the pass.”

Fu Zhi was slightly stunned. “What do you need a travel permit for?”

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Beigong Chun in the distance. “General Beigong is homesick. He’s always wanted to return to Xiliang, and I want to request a travel permit for them.”

Fu Zhi’s heart stirred. “You’re willing to let him go?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “I don’t force people to stay against their will. I understand a wanderer’s urgent desire to return home, so I won’t obstruct him. I ask Grandfather Fu to grant this.”

Fu Zhi lowered his eyes in thought before finally agreeing. “I can issue it for you.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s mouth curved upward. “And as for Chang’an…”

“When I reach Chang’an, I’ll naturally make proper arrangements for them. If they can’t get through with the permit, they can come find me.”

Zhao Hanzhang bowed repeatedly. “Hanzhang thanks Grandfather Fu on behalf of the Xiliang soldiers.”

“Don’t thank me just yet. The people using the permit must be Xiliang soldiers. If it’s anyone else, this permit won’t work.”

“Rest assured, I absolutely won’t use it for other purposes.”

Fu Zhi reluctantly believed her.

Beigong Chun was too far away to hear, but Ji Yuan heard it! His heart grew uneasy—he feared Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t persuade Beigong Chun, and what if Beigong Chun really escaped? What would they do then?

Such an excellent general—just letting him run away like that? The thought alone was heartbreaking.

But he was equally unwilling to give up on this matter. If Beigong Chun was willing to stay, after this affair, the entire Xiliang Army would be devoted to Zhao Hanzhang unto death. What they would possess wouldn’t just be one Xiliang Army’s combat strength!

The soldiers they raised would be just as brave and skilled in battle. The thought was thrilling.

—