Ji Yuan glanced at Zhao Hanzhang’s expression and, seeing little change on her face, sighed and said, “Miss, let’s not mention the Wu clan. Let’s just talk about Zhao Ji. You and he are blood relatives who lived under the same roof for more than ten years. By rights, you should be among those with the deepest feelings in this world, yet you’ve reached the point of not wanting to see each other even in life or death.”

Zhao Hanzhang involuntarily shivered and quickly raised her hand to stop Ji Yuan from continuing, “Sir, if you have something to say, please speak directly. No need for such preamble.”

Ji Yuan paused, looked at Zhao Hanzhang for a moment, then said slowly, “Fu Changyu seems to be cultivating his own power base.”

After saying this, he deliberately stopped, wanting to give her time to react.

Zhao Hanzhang blinked, quickly understanding the implications. Ji Yuan knew about all her resources, and being perceptive, he would naturally notice if she made any large-scale deployments.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and asked, “In what direction is he cultivating it?”

Seeing her seemingly unconcerned appearance, Ji Yuan frowned and said, “He bypassed you to transfer several people. Those people all disappeared without a trace. I sent people to investigate and discovered recent rumors that there’s a merchant caravan in the Shangdang area carrying Zhao clan glassware, and even including books and paper.”

Given Ji Yuan’s cautious nature, even after becoming suspicious, he would first investigate and gather some evidence before bringing it up with Zhao Hanzhang.

Ji Yuan said with a face full of regret, “Unfortunately, Fu Changyu personally supervised the construction of all the workshops in Luoyang, Chen County, Xiping, and Shangcai. The people inside, even those originally from Zhao clan stewards, now listen more to Fu Changyu. It’s become difficult for me to inquire about the secrets within, so I could only deduce from some account records that a batch of goods from Luoyang and Xiping has gone missing.”

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but exclaim, “Sir is truly remarkable. Gao Hui only left less than half a month ago, and you already know everything here.”

Ji Yuan was startled, “Gao Hui? You knew about this, Miss?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and said, “I was the one who told Tinghan to do this.”

She roughly told Ji Yuan about her plan and the people they had recently caught.

Ji Yuan: …

He calmed down, carefully examined Zhao Hanzhang, then said, “This plan is indeed excellent.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and asked, “Does sir have anything to add?”

Ji Yuan shook his head, “Both you and the eldest young master are extremely intelligent people. As long as you put your minds to something, few people can find flaws in it.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “But didn’t sir just find one?”

She continued, “I had barely lifted my foot when sir already knew which direction I was heading.”

Ji Yuan withdrew his warning gaze, his expression softening as a warm smile returned to his face, “Miss, there’s no need to tell the eldest young master about my visit today.”

Zhao Hanzhang agreed immediately, her eyes carrying a smile, “Just now sir was calling him Fu Changyu, how come he’s become eldest young master again?”

Ji Yuan ignored her, pretending not to hear.

After Zhao Hanzhang smiled for a while, she became serious, “Since the Wu clan has died, let’s send a funeral gift from Luoyang’s side in my name.”

Ji Yuan also became serious, nodding and saying, “We do need to maintain good relations with Yuncheng. Miss, how do you plan to arrange for Zhao Yi?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Have him participate in this year’s recruitment examination in Chen County. If he passes, we’ll use him.”

Ji Yuan asked, “If he doesn’t pass…”

“We’ll still use him,” Zhao Hanzhang said with a slight curl of her lips. “After all, he’s studied for many years. Even if he can’t pass the recruitment examination, he won’t be too bad.”

It’s just that the two uses would be different.

She paused and continued, “If he doesn’t pass, send him to the academy. The promotion path from the academy is different from those who pass the recruitment examination.”

Ji Yuan understood and asked, “Why choose Chen County? Zhao Ming is in Chen County. Wouldn’t it be better to place him in Xiping at this time? The Fifth Great-Uncle has never liked people from the second branch.”

Now Zhao clan resources were being managed by Zhao Ming, who currently held high prestige in the clan. Placing Zhao Yi beside Zhao Ming was not a good thing.

Zhao Hanzhang disagreed, “It’s precisely because of Fifth Uncle-Grandfather that I want to place Zhao Yi in Chen County. Fifth Uncle-Grandfather acts on impulse, but Uncle Ming won’t.”

She said, “If he’s truly suitable to be clan leader, I have nothing to say. But if he’s not suitable, he absolutely won’t pass Uncle Ming’s test.”

And given Zhao Ming’s character, even if he disliked Zhao Yi, he wouldn’t make things difficult for him.

Zhao Song was different. He didn’t make things difficult for people he was at odds with when he managed clan affairs before, but now that he had basically stepped back and become hands-off, he had become more willful and increasingly childish.

He hated the second branch and, by extension, would certainly dislike Zhao Yi.

Zhao Zhongyu was still the clan leader and being held hostage in Yuncheng. She didn’t want to create more trouble.

News of the Wu clan’s death from illness reached Xiping and Chen County. Although Zhao Yi had anticipated it, he still couldn’t help but shed tears, then began observing family mourning.

Zhao Dian came to the back courtyard carrying two letters, his eyes straight ahead. Zhao Yi was having people pack things.

He bowed and said, “Young Master, the Clan Lord has sent a letter.”

Zhao Yi quickly turned and took the letter, discovering there were actually two. He couldn’t help but pause.

Zhao Dian explained, “There’s also one Sanniang sent back from Luoyang.”

Zhao Yi nodded and first opened his grandfather’s letter to read.

Zhao Dian waited beside him for him to finish.

Zhao Yi’s expression wasn’t good. Seeing Zhao Dian standing to the side, he paused but still handed him the letter.

Zhao Dian was one of the trusted aides Zhao Zhongyu had specifically left for Zhao Yi. The servants around them had basically all been replaced, while Zhao Dian was one of Zhao Zhongyu’s confidants. By leaving him behind, grandfather meant for Zhao Yi to listen more to Zhao Dian’s opinions.

Zhao Dian respectfully took the letter with both hands, quickly scanned through it, then looked at the other one Zhao Yi was opening.

Zhao Yi expressionlessly handed him the letter.

Zhao Erniang and Zhao Siniang stood nervously to the side.

After Zhao Dian finished reading, his expression softened. His gaze quickly swept over the three siblings before he first said, “Young Master, the Clan Lord’s intention is that with bandits rampaging outside now, traveling is too dangerous, so Madam should first be placed in a temple. Later when the Clan Lord or Master returns, Madam can be brought back for burial. Young Master should not go to Yuncheng after all.”

Although Zhao Yi had already expected this, his mood still dropped.

Zhao Dian paused then said, “Sanniang says she wants you to participate in the recruitment examination…”

“I’m in mourning,” Zhao Yi interrupted him, “How can I take an examination?”

But Zhao Dian said, “This servant thinks the Clan Lord has the same intention.”

He said, “Now Yuzhou is entirely managed by Sanniang. Since she personally spoke up, this is compelled mourning. Young Master, why not put away your grief and help your own sister?”

“You only see Sanniang’s prestige now, but you don’t know how difficult this path has been,” Zhao Dian said earnestly. “Even someone with the Clan Lord’s experience faces many frustrations in officialdom, let alone Sanniang. She’s not only young but also a woman. To go from nothing to commanding tens of thousands of troops – such achievements were all fought for on the battlefield, one blade and one spear at a time.”

“You are her cousin. Apart from siblings born of the same mother, you two are the closest. Now among the young people in the clan, even the young ladies, all those with ambition and talent have run off to help Sanniang. If you don’t go, wouldn’t that hurt your own siblings’ feelings?”