Almost at the room entrance, so Zhao Hanzhang stopped and gave a condensed version, “Back then, Cao Shuang was away from the capital with the Emperor. Sima Yi staged a rebellion in Luoyang, but with the Emperor outside, he could be branded a traitor with a single proclamation.”

“So Sima Yi deceived Cao Shuang, swearing by the Luo River that as long as Cao Shuang surrendered his military authority, he would not only spare his life but grant him noble rank,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Cao Shuang believed him and brought the Emperor back.”

“But just a few days after returning, Sima Yi seized Cao Shuang’s close associates, tortured them severely, forced confessions that Cao Shuang had conspired with eight clans to rebel, and then exterminated three generations of the eight clans.”

Those eight were all ministers and confidants of Cao Wei, destroyed in such confusion.

Fu Tinghan tilted his head slightly, “Fabricated charges?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, “If Cao Shuang truly wanted to rebel, why wait until returning to Luoyang, into Sima Yi’s encirclement? Before surrendering, he was outside Luoyang, holding the Emperor, controlling the Grand Minister of Agriculture’s seal and military power. He could have rebelled right there and then.”

“Sima Yi broke his oath at the Luo River, twice deceiving his political enemies,” Zhao Hanzhang sneered. “He didn’t believe in oaths. Truthfully, I don’t either, but oaths are never meant for heaven to bind us—they’re meant for us to bind ourselves.”

“An oath he never intended to keep from the start—many believed it then, but when he broke it, his credibility ceased to exist. Those who came after learned by example, naturally able to use intrigue to harm others.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “We worship our ancestors to learn from their virtue. He set an extremely bad precedent.”

“Sigh, if he were merely a clan patriarch, it would only corrupt his one clan’s moral climate. But then Sima Zhao went on to assassinate the monarch in broad daylight and seize the throne, so their family’s credibility became the nation’s credibility, their family’s moral climate became the nation’s moral climate.”

Fu Tinghan finally understood why she wanted to issue a self-reproach edict. She couldn’t act wrongly—she needed to correct this moral climate.

Fu Tinghan looked at her intently, softly saying, “This will be very difficult, won’t it?”

Zhao Hanzhang pulled at the corners of her mouth, “Yes, it’s very difficult, but no matter how hard, it must be done. I can’t keep looking down on them, despising them. How I treat them is how they’ll treat me—just as the Sima clan used intrigue against them and they passively resisted in return. Who knows how they’ll treat me if I continue despising them.”

“So I want to treat them with sincerity, hoping they’ll return my sincerity.”

Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but place his palm on top of her head, “Then you must persevere. Don’t withdraw your sincerity when you face setbacks.”

Zhao Hanzhang could already foresee initial difficulties, so she bared her teeth at him, “Don’t worry, I’m not so easily defeated.”

Fu Tinghan smiled and withdrew his hand, “Go sleep quickly. Today is already very late.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded her head.

It was indeed very late. Apart from the two of them, everyone in the city was probably already asleep.

Zhao Hanzhang pushed open the door and went in. Ting He was already sprawled sleeping on the couch. Zhao Hanzhang’s footsteps were very light. As she passed by, she wanted to pick her up and lay her properly on the couch, but the moment Zhao Hanzhang touched her shoulder, she immediately woke up.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang, Ting He was shocked and dismayed, “When did the young lady return?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled, “Just now. Go back to your room to sleep. Sleeping sprawled like this—your arm won’t be able to move tomorrow.”

Ting He was filled with regret, “This servant actually didn’t hear.” She was truly too derelict in her duty. As a close personal maid, she should be aware even if her mistress merely turned over.

Although the young lady never made her keep night watch, she shouldn’t have lost this professional capability.

Zhao Hanzhang said, “I lightened my footsteps deliberately. You’ve been tired all day too. Go back to sleep quickly.”

Ting He could only acknowledge, though inwardly chagrined, secretly resolving that she absolutely must relearn this professional skill.

Ting He didn’t leave immediately but first went to remove the warming bottles from the bedding, then helped Zhao Hanzhang remove her outer garments and loosened her hair, waiting until she lay down before departing.

Zhao Hanzhang lay in the warm bedding and couldn’t help but sigh comfortably. Sleeping really was the best, especially in spring and autumn seasons that were neither cold nor hot.

In just a moment, hearing Ting He open and close the side room door, Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes gradually closed and she fell asleep.

Although Zhao Hanzhang slept late, she slept very soundly. Thousands of miles away, Emperor Jin had gone to bed very early but hadn’t been able to fall asleep.

They had received news today that Shi Le had killed all the captured imperial clan members, officials, and scholar-officials—including the Prince of Xiangyang and Wang Yan. Not a single one survived.

Although those people were all imperial clan and court officials who supported the Prince of Donghai, Emperor Jin still couldn’t help secretly shedding tears. So many people had actually died.

At this moment, Emperor Jin felt a sense of shared tragedy.

He’d heard that only the Prince of Xiangyang and Wang Yan were left with complete corpses. The rest had all been killed by blades—too gruesome to behold.

The Emperor thought—after relocating the capital to Yuncheng, could he really quell the rebellions and bring peace to the realm?

He felt powerless from the depths of his heart. Originally when contending with the Prince of Donghai, he’d still had some fighting spirit, feeling that as long as he defeated the Prince of Donghai and took control of the court, he could certainly bring peace to the realm.

But now, Shi Le alone could defeat the Prince of Donghai’s army of over two hundred thousand. The previously insurmountable Prince of Donghai couldn’t even last one exchange against Shi Le. What about Liu Yuan behind Shi Le?

Liu Yuan had so many capable generals. Could he truly defeat him?

Moreover, he still hadn’t been able to take control of the court.

Gou Xi and Zhao Hanzhang were respectful to him on the surface, but who truly listened to his commands?

Emperor Jin couldn’t help hugging his bedding and weeping, his heart filled with powerlessness.

Not too far from him, Gou Xi also hadn’t fallen asleep. He was angry, and also somewhat grieved.

So many imperial clan members, officials, and scholar-officials buried in Shi Le’s hands—Gou Xi ground his teeth in hatred. This matter was entirely the Prince of Donghai’s fault. If he wanted to leave, fine, but why take so many people with him, causing the Jin state to lose so many talented individuals?

Gou Xi didn’t actually doubt Zhao Hanzhang, but he still couldn’t help thinking of her. She should have already returned to Luoyang by now. He wondered how long she would stay in Luoyang—after all, Yuzhou was her foundation.

And Yuzhou bordered Yanzhou. Future disputes between them would be numerous. He needed to quickly help His Majesty settle in Yuncheng and gain recognition from throughout the realm, so he could use His Majesty’s name to constrain Zhao Hanzhang.

Thinking of this, Gou Xi couldn’t sleep anymore. He rose and summoned his personal guard, asking, “Where is Zhao Ju now?”

“He’s already advanced his troops to the border between Yanzhou and Yuzhou and is currently stationed at the boundary.”

Gou Xi’s expression showed no emotion, “His speed is quite fast… Have Gou Chun take another five thousand men to receive those withdrawing from the Four Commanderies. Try to relocate as many scholar-official families to Yanzhou as possible.”

“Yes.”

Gou Chun had been sleeping soundly. Hearing this order delivered in the middle of the night, he angrily threw off his bedding and kicked the messenger soldier out of his room with one foot, “Not sleeping in the dead of night—the order had to be delivered at this hour? Get lost!”