The honest Fu’an began accepting visiting cards from outsiders on behalf of Fu Tinghan.

Fu Tinghan had a modest reputation for talent, and with his status as Zhao Hanzhang’s fiancé, after the returning refugees realized they couldn’t leave Luoyang, some people began submitting visiting cards to Fu Tinghan.

During this period, Xie Shi had been visiting various households, working to soothe the sorrow in the refugees’ hearts and make them willingly stay in Luoyang.

Since Zhao Hanzhang issued her edict of self-reproach and brought back the bodies of their relatives and friends from Shi Lei’s hands, very few people in Luoyang still wanted to leave.

The vast majority had already resigned themselves to staying.

Since they had to stay, naturally they wanted to live well.

Fu’an brought in two visiting cards. “Young Master, these are new visiting cards.”

Fu Tinghan merely glanced up and said, “Pass them to Scholar Ji and Zhao Kuan.”

Ever since Fu Tinghan began accepting cards, people who couldn’t get an audience with Zhao Hanzhang started seeking him out instead. Some came openly seeking positions, others came asking for money to get by.

These were normal practices. Fu Tinghan uniformly handed them to Ji Yuan and Zhao Kuan to handle. In the past, he wouldn’t have accepted these cards at all—he only needed to work in the rear.

“But these two cards are somewhat different.”

Only then did Fu Tinghan put down his brush and look up. “What’s different about them?”

Fu’an said, “One is from someone named Sima Hou. He’s from the imperial clan, though his ancestor was from a branch line during the time of the High Ancestor. But by seniority, you should call him Uncle.”

Fu Tinghan frowned slightly. “What does he want with me?”

“He wants to ask you to plead with Miss Zhao on his behalf to let him leave the city,” Fu’an paused before continuing, “I heard his wife and children were separated from him when they were captured by Shi Lei’s subordinates. But his wife and children weren’t among those Miss Zhao ransomed back. He believes his wife and children are still alive and wants to go search for them.”

Fu Tinghan’s words of refusal caught in his throat. He asked, “Has he always wanted to leave the city?”

“Yes. Recently he’s sought out quite a few people. Xie Shi, Zhao Kuan, and Ji Yuan have all been approached, but no one agreed,” Fu’an said. “Otherwise he wouldn’t have come seeking you, Young Master, even using the title of Uncle.”

Fu Tinghan’s mother was a princess, but the kinship between Sima Hou and the princess was quite distant—they could only be called clan members, sharing the surname Sima and nothing more.

Fu Tinghan pondered for a moment before asking, “What about the other visiting card?”

Fu’an showed it to him. “It’s from someone named Gao Hui. I made some inquiries—he’s a wandering knight-errant.”

Fu Tinghan was surprised. “A knight-errant?”

What would a knight-errant want with him?

And the name seemed far too refined for a knight-errant.

Fu’an was puzzled too. “He’s not seeking a position or money, just says he wants to meet with you, Young Master.”

Fu Tinghan thought it over and nodded. “Then let’s meet with Gao Hui first. Go and invite him.”

Fu’an acknowledged and immediately went to fetch the man.

Gao Hui came carrying a long sword at his waist, strolling leisurely like a fish returning to living water, completely at ease.

Upon entering the study and seeing Fu Tinghan bent over his writing, his gaze imperceptibly swept over the documents piled on the desk. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly as he raised his hands in greeting. “Young Master Fu.”

Fu Tinghan glanced at him and put down his brush. “Please sit.”

Fu’an stepped forward to serve tea. Gao Hui noticed the tea here was clear, with only slightly curled tea leaves visible in the cup. He was slightly surprised—what kind of preparation method was this?

Fu Tinghan had already asked directly, “What brings Knight-Errant Gao to see me?”

Gao Hui immediately composed himself and looked steadily at Fu Tinghan. “Young Master became famous in your youth. You have both family background and talent and prestige. Why would you subordinate yourself to Zhao Hanzhang?”

Here it was—the person Zhao Hanzhang said he needed to find had appeared.

Fu Tinghan examined him carefully, then after a moment said, “She and I are husband and wife. Husband and wife are one body—how can you speak of subordination?”

“Setting aside the fact that you and Zhao Hanzhang are not yet husband and wife, even married couples can separate,” he said. “With Young Master’s character, you will surely achieve great things in the future. Why act like a woman hiding in the inner quarters?”

Fu Tinghan really wanted to just nod and brush him off, but he couldn’t resist frowning. “When have I ever hidden in the inner quarters?”

Which of his actions hadn’t been carried out openly and aboveboard?

He glanced down at the documents on his desk and frowned. “You can’t expect me to review official documents outside under the blazing sun, can you?”

Gao Hui: “…You misunderstand, Young Master. That’s not what I meant. I’m saying that though you’ve accomplished so much, outsiders only hear the names of Ji Yuan, Zhao Ming, Beigong Chun and their ilk. Your reputation hasn’t increased much—why is that?”

Fu Tinghan said, “Hanzhang is protecting me.”

Looking at the seemingly naive Fu Tinghan, Gao Hui said, “No, Young Master, she’s restricting you, afraid you’ll compete with her for power.”

Seeing Fu Tinghan’s expression turn abnormal, Gao Hui quickly added, “Of course, this may not be Zhao Hanzhang’s own intention—perhaps it’s what the Zhao clan wants. But undeniably, her actions are indeed harming your interests, Young Master.”

Reputation was so important! Some scholars spent their entire lives pursuing fame. So in Gao Hui’s view, Zhao Hanzhang restricting Fu Tinghan from gaining fame was stripping him of benefits he deserved.

Seeing Fu Tinghan remain silent, Gao Hui felt he could listen to persuasion and said, “Young Master should have his own power base. Just look at how the late Emperor and the current Emperor struggle at every step to see that only by holding power in your own hands do you have a voice.”

Fu Tinghan then held out his fair hands. “Look.”

Gao Hui looked, puzzled. “Look at what?”

“Do you think these hands could hold a blade and kill on the battlefield?”

Gao Hui fell silent. Fu Tinghan’s fingers had calluses—those should be from writing and archery, with the callus on the side of his index finger being the thickest, showing he wrote much more than he practiced archery.

Gao Hui paused before saying, “Young Master need not worry. Emperors don’t necessarily need to kill enemies on horseback. As long as you have capable generals, why worry about lacking troops?”

He continued, “Zhao Hanzhang is formidable, but she’s just one person. When she expands territory and contends for land, she also relies on Beigong Chun and Xun Xiu and others.”

Fu Tinghan said expressionlessly, “She has people and money. I have neither useful people nor money.”

Standing at the side, Fu’an inwardly scoffed—if Miss Zhao had money, why would she need their young master doing all this?

“People can all be cultivated. As for money,” he paused before saying, “I’ve heard by chance outside that the workshops in Zhao Hanzhang’s hands all came from you, Young Master. Even that glass was originally made by you.”

Fu Tinghan paused, thinking he was being subtle but actually being obvious: “Everything produced by the glass workshop goes directly to the Treasure Pavilion and various merchants. The managers are all people selected by Scholar Ji.”

“If you could provide the formula, Young Master, I’m willing to secretly establish another workshop for you. The proceeds could support your people.”

Fu Tinghan directly refused. “All the world knows glass only comes from the Zhao clan. If we secretly build a workshop, we can’t hide it from Ji Yuan.”

“I can build the workshop in a remote mountain, then circulate it to market under the Zhao name.”

Fu Tinghan looked at him with an expression that said ‘you’re too naive.’ “Each region only has one to three merchants. If glass appears that they didn’t import, one investigation will reveal it’s foreign goods in circulation. If you want to sell large quantities of glass products in the central plains and south without being discovered, it’s basically impossible.”

Gao Hui: “…Why does Young Master block his own path?”

Fu Tinghan said unconcernedly, “But I know of one place where no matter how they investigate, they won’t find anything.”