But Gou Xi had also returned to the Grand General’s mansion and shut his doors to enjoy his beautiful life.

He naturally heard the debates outside, but what could he do? He couldn’t very well arrest Gou Chun and bring him back, could he?

So he had someone take medicinal materials and gifts to apologize to Zhao Zhongyu, and on Gou Chun’s behalf submitted a memorial requesting punishment. The matter ended inconclusively like that.

Setting aside whether Zhao Zhongyu and his son accepted or not, Gou Xi’s handling of it made many people’s hearts turn cold, including his subordinate officers and soldiers.

Part of this was also because Gou Xi’s previous reputation had been too good, so that his subordinate soldiers’ sense of morality was higher than those under others.

So when Gou Xi’s character value dropped below their expectations, their faith collapsed and hearts scattered.

Those with firm will could rebuild their faith after its collapse, but such people were rare—perhaps one in ten thousand. More common in this world were those who drifted with the current after suffering setbacks, or gave up on themselves.

At such times, if someone appeared for them to depend on, pointing them toward a path, even if that person had flaws, they would willingly follow.

The Emperor appeared at just the right time following Zhao Hanzhang’s guidance, immediately winning over three of Gou Xi’s commanders and splitting away nearly a third of his military authority.

Of course, this all occurred privately. Those three commanders also pledged allegiance secretly without making it public. Gou Xi didn’t know, and even Zhao Zhongyu couldn’t know everything.

Though the Emperor followed Zhao Hanzhang’s suggestions, he still instinctively guarded against her.

But he forgot that the idea came from Zhao Hanzhang, and she now had Ming Yu by her side, who understood Gou Xi and his subordinates extremely well.

Zhao Zhongyu not knowing didn’t mean Zhao Hanzhang didn’t know.

With the introduction of the three commanders, the Emperor secretly made contact with another military officer, who replied with veiled expressions of allegiance. The Emperor was overjoyed and finally couldn’t help sharing his joy with the eunuchs around him. “Zhao Hanzhang’s words were not false. Gou Xi’s temperament has greatly changed, and his commanders are all losing heart. At this time, as long as We show them favor, they will pledge their service.”

Actually they didn’t have much confidence in the Emperor, but he had natural advantages from his status. When Gou Xi was doing well, that was fine—the generals naturally paid him no heed, only following Gou Xi’s commands.

But when Gou Xi wasn’t doing well, the Emperor became a relatively better choice.

Otherwise what could they do?

Should they directly rebel against Gou Xi to join Liu Yuan and Shi Lei, or Zhao Hanzhang?

Look—just one Ming Yu running away had caused such a huge commotion between Gou Xi and Zhao Hanzhang. If they truly took their subordinate soldiers to defect, the two sides would likely start fighting directly.

This incident appeared to end on the surface, but its effects continued.

On the surface, it seemed Zhao Hanzhang had yielded, Gou Xi had preserved face and even received a generous gift from Zhao Hanzhang, apparently gaining substance as well. But in reality, everyone knew the substance belonged to Zhao Hanzhang.

After all, she had gained Ming Yu.

Ming Yu was Gou Xi’s trusted confidential adviser. With him in Zhao Hanzhang’s hands, it meant she knew all of Gou Xi’s cards.

Of course, what the world didn’t know was that the Emperor was this incident’s greatest winner.

He had paid nothing, merely mediated the conflict between two great generals, yet gained three or four commanders and secretly split away a third of Gou Xi’s military power.

At the same time, he greatly increased his prestige throughout the nine provinces, letting the world know that he, the Emperor, wasn’t entirely useless—he still had some use.

Look—he had mediated this conflict between Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi that nearly came to blows.

A world was achieved where only Zhao Ji was injured.

Because of the pain, even lying in bed he couldn’t help crying out. Zhao Zhongyu, returning from the palace, came to see him, his brows tightly furrowed, both angry and distressed. “I told you so many times—don’t run around these days, stay honestly in the palace. I assigned you so much work—why were you still outside the palace?”

If Zhao Ji had been in the imperial palace, would Gou Chun have dared touch him?

The Yuncheng palace was converted and not large. It was not only the living area for the Emperor, Empress and imperial consorts, but also where the hundred officials worked.

So the offices were very close together, all full of officials.

Though Gou Chun was bold, he wouldn’t dare act under the Emperor’s nose. There were also imperial guards and attendants—within the palace, if he made a move, the imperial guards could define him as a threat to the Emperor and then kill him on the spot.

Zhao Ji had been beaten on the main street outside the palace.

Zhao Ji’s eyes were still swollen and bruised, his entire face almost unrecognizable. He forced his eyes open and asked with resentment, “Father, has Gou Chun been arrested?”

Zhao Zhongyu didn’t tell him that Gou Chun had run away and wasn’t even punished. Instead he said, “Rest assured, the Gou brothers won’t have good days ahead. First focus on healing. Don’t go out these next few months.”

Zhao Zhongyu stood up. Seeing the ice basin at the foot of the bed, he frowned slightly. “Your injuries are severe—you can’t catch cold. Have someone remove the ice basin. If you’re hot, have someone fan you.”

He added, “His Majesty now advocates frugality. Our household also cannot be too extravagant.”

Zhao Ji asked full of resentment, “Frugality? Are the savings for Gou Xi to squander, or to support Zhao Hanzhang?”

Zhao Zhongyu became furiously angry. “Shut your mouth! In this Yuncheng, you should mention Sanniang’s name less!”

“Why shouldn’t I mention her? Why can’t I mention her? You’ve come here to be her hostage, yet I can’t even mention her name?” Speaking of this made Zhao Ji extremely angry. At first he hadn’t known that Zhao Zhongyu came to Yuncheng as a hostage. He had thought this was a path his father chose, one that could contend with Zhao Hanzhang.

After arriving in Yuncheng he was even granted official position, and the aristocratic families gradually accepted him. His days were actually better than in Luoyang. He felt his father’s choice was correct this time.

Until he heard the words of two drunken officials. They clapped his shoulder praising his courage, saying they had misjudged him before—perhaps there truly was a misunderstanding, and the loss of Lord Zhao’s coffin back then really was an accident, not intentional.

“If it were intentional, how would the Earl of Shangcai come to Yuncheng today to be a hostage for Magistrate Zhao?” That official swayed drunkenly, grasping at him while laughing hazily. “Your Zhao clan has Zhao Hanzhang—you can rest easy for ten years. Unlike my family, with clan members scattered, not knowing where they are now, whether living or dead, or if we’ll ever meet again in this lifetime.”

Speaking, speaking, he began crying loudly, clutching Zhao Ji and weeping. “Earl of Shangcai, your Zhao clan members are fortunate! You had Lord Zhao paving the way before, then gained a talent like Zhao Hanzhang after. Minister Zhao doesn’t cling to clan leader authority either, willing to sacrifice himself for the younger generation. Even if you died, this life would have no regrets.”

Finishing, ignoring Zhao Ji’s blank face, he poured himself a bowl of wine and said boldly, “Come, I toast you. Someday when you die, even if I cannot pay respects in person, this bowl counts as a tribute.”

Zhao Ji was both furious and frightened at the time, scared enough to push the man away.

—