Wang Huifeng rushed over in haste. When she arrived, the Xiao family members were surrounding Zhao Hanzhang, weeping bitterly, refusing to disperse no matter what.

If it weren’t for the sake of appeasing the aristocratic families, Zhao Hanzhang would have already turned and left.

When Wang Huifeng arrived, Zhao Hanzhang breathed a sigh of relief.

She nodded to Wang Huifeng and said, “Secretary Wang, please persuade Lady Xiao and the others to leave.”

Wang Huifeng lowered her head and responded, “Yes.”

Zhao Hanzhang pulled Fu Tinghan along and entered through the gate. Ji Yuan looked left and right, but didn’t leave either, just stood to the side with his hands clasped, watching the spectacle.

Wang Huifeng was now only twenty-five or twenty-six years old, but before Lady Xiao she carried herself with dignified authority. She lowered her eyes to look at Lady Xiao.

Lady Xiao indeed didn’t dare act presumptuously before her. She was not only the daughter of the Grand Commandant, but also the former Crown Princess. To speak a most disrespectful truth, within and around Luoyang City now, the person with the highest status was her. Even Zhao Hanzhang, if she hadn’t lowered herself to become a secretary, would have to be respectful before her.

“Rise, Lady,” she said coldly. “Magistrate Zhao has already shown leniency. Although the realm is in great chaos and the court finds it difficult to prohibit the keeping of private soldiers in fortified settlements, that is no excuse for you to abduct common people.”

“Those who kill will be killed by others. The bones dug out from your Xiao family’s fortified settlement have piled into a small mountain,” Wang Huifeng was inherently resolute by nature—she even dared to resent her own father, let alone outsiders like the Xiao family. “According to law, everyone in the Xiao family from top to bottom should be imprisoned, with the chief culprits executed by waist-severing. But Magistrate Zhao, mindful of your meager past contributions, said nothing and allowed Second Master to show mercy.”

“Since you still don’t appreciate this kindness, then let’s judge the chief culprits according to law.” Seeing Lady Xiao about to speak, Wang Huifeng directly raised her hand to stop her, saying coldly, “Lady, currently all male descendants of the Xiao family under twelve years old and all female family members have not been punished. If this case is truly investigated in detail, can the remaining members of your Xiao family withstand such scrutiny?”

Lady Xiao’s expression changed drastically. This meant they would implicate even the female family members and remaining male descendants.

Seeing Lady Xiao wisely fall silent, Wang Huifeng said, “Please return, Lady.”

Lady Xiao rose with the support of her daughter-in-law’s hand. After just two steps, she felt the world spinning and fell straight backward, frightening Madam Xiao who hurriedly tried to support her.

But when someone truly faints, their whole body goes limp and becomes extremely heavy. Madam Xiao couldn’t hold her up, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law both fell to the ground with a thud.

The Xiao family women rushed forward, helping Lady Xiao up and escorting her back to the inn, while someone ran to fetch a physician.

The events here quickly spread throughout all of Luoyang.

“It seems Zhao Hanzhang truly values Fu Tinghan highly. The people even Second Master Zhao didn’t kill, he ordered killed just like that.”

Fu Tinghan issued just one command, and his prestige spread throughout Luoyang, even reaching from Luoyang to Xin’an.

As soon as they entered, Fu Tinghan asked with some concern, “Do you have other arrangements?”

Otherwise, given Zhao Hanzhang’s nature, how could she possibly not execute the chief culprits?

Zhao Hanzhang turned her head and smiled, “No.”

Fu Tinghan frowned slightly, “So you originally planned to spare the Xiao family? Because of the aristocratic families?”

“They were to be executed originally,” Zhao Hanzhang said with a light laugh, “but not by me—by Second Brother.”

Fu Tinghan was startled and asked, “Why have Second Brother do it?”

“To establish authority,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “The Xiao family is in Xin’an, and now Second Brother is stationed in Xin’an. It’s better for him to order their execution than for me to do so.”

Ever since Zhao Erlang had suppressed the Xiao family’s fortified settlement, this had been Zhao Hanzhang’s plan. However, that boy thought about things single-mindedly. He remembered that Zhao Hanzhang had said they were short of workers in the army and also short of grain, and military slaves could work harder and consume less grain than soldiers.

But they couldn’t plunder common people, so they only captured bandits. Those with minor offenses could be recruited as ordinary soldiers like refugees, while those with major offenses, especially murderers, would be tattooed according to the severity of their crimes and taken as military slaves, with set terms of service, allowing them to redeem their crimes through military merit.

The boy remembered this and single-mindedly captured bandits to use as labor. Every male over twelve in the Xiao family, without exception, he didn’t spare a single one.

Naturally, he didn’t behead the chief culprits either, but tattooed them and made them military slaves.

Fu Tinghan understood, “So I’ve taken Second Brother’s achievement and authority?”

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand dismissively, “It doesn’t matter. That boy doesn’t care about such things. He’s in the army—there are plenty of ways for him to establish authority.”

Fu Tinghan breathed a sigh of relief.

“You’ve been so busy lately. Did you return to the city today for the Dragon Boat Festival?”

Fu Tinghan nodded, “Fu’an said the Xiliang Army’s family members have arrived, and the household will likely host a banquet, so he asked me to come back.”

“We will host a banquet, but there’s no time today. General Beigong has just reunited with his family, so we won’t disturb them for now. I’ll pay my respects tomorrow, then host a banquet at my residence. You’ll attend with me then.”

Fu Tinghan had no objections.

The two talked for a while before Ji Yuan entered with a smile, “My lady, young master, the matter is concluded.”

He smiled and said, “Our magistrate is still most brilliant. To be able to invite the former Crown Princess to serve as secretary—since the former Crown Princess came forward, the aristocratic families and common people in the city have become even more convinced by our magistrate.”

Wang Yan had a poor reputation in some people’s eyes, but undeniably, in the eyes of most aristocratic families and common people, his prestige was extremely great.

And Wang Huifeng not only had Wang Yan’s family background, but also the status of former Crown Princess. Moreover, because she had once rushed about everywhere trying to save the former Crown Prince, she had a reputation for loyalty and righteousness, which compensated for the flaws in Wang Yan’s reputation. Thus her prestige among the people was very strong.

Wang Huifeng and Wang Siniang serving under Zhao Hanzhang as minor officials was a signal. Many scholars who had been quietly nursing grievances subsequently reconciled with themselves, either participating in this year’s recruitment examination or coming to see Zhao Hanzhang to recommend themselves directly.

Zhao Hanzhang had selected quite a few talented people, and was still quite pleased in her heart.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and asked, “The Xiao family members have all left?”

“Yes, Lady Xiao fainted. It looked like she truly lost consciousness.”

“It’s good they’ve left. The Xiliang Army’s family members have arrived, and tomorrow we’re hosting a banquet at the residence. If they hadn’t left and were wailing outside my gate tomorrow, what would that look like?”

Ji Yuan said, “Congratulations on gaining an excellent general, my lady. Now that General Beigong has moved his family here, I don’t think he’ll be able to leave for the rest of his life.”

Zhao Hanzhang thought the same and exchanged smiles with Ji Yuan, like two foxes.

Fu Tinghan sat to the side, silently watching them.

Ji Yuan never let the atmosphere grow cold. He immediately attended to Fu Tinghan, “Young master, how is the water mill construction progressing?”

Fu Tinghan said, “Only half is built. To complete it will still take considerable time.”

Ji Yuan was surprised, “It’s taking that long?”

When building other workshops before, they would be erected in just a few days. This time, construction had been going on for nearly a month, yet only half was complete.

Moreover, he’d heard that Fu Tinghan had been preparing the blueprints for a long time, seemingly drawing them from last year until now.

“The value of the water mill is still far less than the glass workshop. Isn’t the young master investing too much effort in it?”

“No,” Fu Tinghan shook his head. “The value of the water mill far exceeds that of glass, and the value of the water mill workshop is incomparable to the glass workshop.”