Zhao Hanzhang thought of the group of people outside still struggling to survive, and couldn’t help but raise her voice somewhat. “They do so because they have nothing! But though they lack wealth and comfort, they still have familial affection, friendship, and loyalty to their sovereign!”

Zhao Hanzhang said with tears welling slightly in her eyes, “Zhengdi already has wealth and status. From the moment he was born, he stood at the endpoint that many people strive toward their entire lives. So should he just stand still and never move forward? He clearly could go much further.”

“Heaven gave him a good birth and a mind no weaker than ordinary people, so why can’t he pursue his life goals magnificently and freely, achieving what ordinary people cannot, and establishing unprecedented accomplishments?” Zhao Hanzhang said, “In this world, there must always be people who walk ahead. Not everyone can just seek comfort for a lifetime, standing still without moving.”

Zhao Hu sat in place, his mouth opening several times but unable to speak.

“Though the road ahead is filled with thorns, the scenery is uniquely beautiful. I am someone who wants to walk on the path ahead, as is Uncle Cheng, and I believe Zhengdi is as well.” Zhao Hanzhang gazed at him earnestly and said, “Seventh Grand-Uncle, please don’t obstruct this father and son, will you?”

Zhao Hu suddenly felt very distressed, his heart both sour and painful, and particularly aggrieved. His eyes quickly filled with tears, his lips trembling as he questioned her, “You, how do you know he has such aspirations, and isn’t like me? Perhaps right now he’s being forced by his father too…”

“Grandfather, I’m willing,” Zhao Zheng ran out from behind a cluster of roses, running up quickly and kneeling before Zhao Hu, saying, “I also want to be a pathbreaker. I don’t want to pass through life in a daze, don’t want to live knowing only fine clothes and luxurious carriages. Though studying with Father is very hard, I’m very happy, truly very happy.”

Seeing his grandson, Zhao Hu could no longer contain the grievance in his heart. He embraced him and began weeping bitterly, “I know, I know you’re a good child. You’re not like me, you take after your father. Both you father and son look down on me…”

Zhao Hanzhang’s tears were forcibly pushed back by him. She stared dumbfounded at Zhao Hu, whose tears flowed freely as he cried breathlessly.

She helplessly turned her head to look at Zhao Cheng, who stood by the rose bushes, signaling him to quickly come up and comfort his father.

But Zhao Cheng didn’t move, didn’t even look at Zhao Hanzhang. He just stood quietly, silently watching Zhao Hu weeping bitterly.

Young Zhao Zheng was also seeing his grandfather cry for the first time, especially crying so miserably. For a moment, he couldn’t help but cry along with him, while comforting him, “Grandfather, Father and I have never thought that way. Though Father won’t let me learn from you, he also taught me to be filial to you. He’s never spoken ill of you in front of me, truly.”

All the bad things said about Zhao Hu came from other elders in the clan. Zhao Zheng actually remembered things quite early—he could remember events from when he was three or four years old. But adults always thought such a small child wouldn’t remember or understand things, so they would discuss matters without restraint in front of him.

Zhao Zheng had lived with his father since childhood. Even when his father went to teach at the clan school, he would take him along.

A two or three-year-old child often couldn’t sit still, so occasionally he would slip out of the clan school to play nearby. Sometimes he would find his way home on his own to play with his grandfather.

To be honest, Zhao Zheng still quite liked his grandfather, because in his memory, his grandfather was truly extremely good to him. Every time they met, he would give him various things. At that time, the Zhao clan’s fortress had already been built, with a market inside. Zhao Hu would often come to the clan school to “steal” him away.

After stealing him out, he would put him on his shoulders and carry him to browse the market.

Whatever he liked, his grandfather would buy for him. Sometimes even if he didn’t particularly like something, just looked at it one more time, his grandfather would generously buy it for him.

But Father didn’t like him having too much contact with Grandfather and had stopped it many times.

Honestly, young Zhao Zheng didn’t understand. Hearing those people discuss privately, saying Father was unfilial to Grandfather, he had even secretly resented Father.

Later, when he was forced to accompany Father on his study travels, seeing more and reading more books, becoming more sensible, he gradually came to know that though Father might not always be right, what Grandfather did was even more wrong.

He vaguely understood that Father loved him very much, which was why he was so strict with him and didn’t want him influenced by Grandfather.

Father brought him up alone, which was also very difficult. Even so, he never relied on others’ help and never neglected him.

Senior Brother Kuan and the others all envied him for having such a father, saying privately more than once that if only their fathers were like Uncle Cheng.

After three years of travel and study, the resentment in Zhao Zheng’s heart finally disappeared. But after returning home, he became fearful again. He also didn’t like the relationship between Father and Grandfather being this way, but he was a junior and had no right to speak up. He could only worry anxiously from the sidelines.

When Grandfather’s and Father’s teachings conflicted, he didn’t even know which side to choose. It seemed that no matter which side he chose, it would be wrong.

He both wanted to relax a bit and play happily with Grandfather, yet didn’t want to disappoint or sadden Father. Moreover, sometimes reading was also very enjoyable. He didn’t want to give up either.

Until today, he had been struggling with this. But after hearing Third Sister’s words, Zhao Zheng knew what kind of life he wanted more.

He wiped the tears from his face, lifted his head and said to his grandfather, “Grandfather, though sometimes I also want to play with you, I want even more to have accomplishments and become famous throughout the world.”

Zhao Hu had cried too hard and hadn’t yet controlled his tears. He asked with hiccups, “What accomplishments do you want to achieve?”

“I want to work with Third Sister to pacify this chaotic world and let the common people under our governance live in peace and prosperity.”

Zhao Hu suddenly came back to his senses. He hurriedly grabbed him and said, “You can follow your father from behind, teaching and educating people, doing calculations for the county office, running errands, but you absolutely mustn’t go onto the battlefield.”

“Pacifying the chaotic world is something adults do. What can your little arms and legs accomplish?”

Zhao Zheng said unwillingly, “Cousin Yong could ride into battle and kill enemies at twelve years old. Why can’t I?”

“How can you compare with him? He has no brains, only physical strength. But you have a brain…”

Zhao Hanzhang became unhappy and coughed heavily, her eyes dangerously fixed on Zhao Hu. “Seventh Grand-Uncle, who are you saying has no brains? How does Erlang not have brains? He just can’t read, that’s all. His brain is perfectly fine.”

Seeing they were about to quarrel, Zhao Cheng finally stepped forward. He nodded to Zhao Hanzhang, then said to Zhao Zheng, “Go fetch a basin of hot water for your grandfather.”

Zhao Zheng secretly glanced at Zhao Hanzhang. Seeing her wink at him, he stood up and withdrew.

Zhao Hanzhang also stood up, bowed to the father and son, then withdrew, leaving the space for their father-son conversation.

Zhao Zheng hadn’t gone far and was standing not too far away wiping the tears from his face clean.

Because he was young, Zhao Hanzhang felt very sympathetic toward him and even pointed out spots he hadn’t wiped clean. Then she asked, “Weren’t you told to prepare to go to Ruyin Commandery? Why did you come back?”

“We had originally selected the people and were about to leave, but Uncle Ming suddenly sent someone to find us, telling us to return home once more. He had something to discuss with Father, so we came back. But the others went ahead to Ruyin Commandery first.”

So it was Zhao Ming.

Zhao Hanzhang let out a breath, then suddenly her eyes widened. She lifted her hand to look at it, then stiffly turned her head to look at the official documents left in the pavilion. She wondered whether going in now to retrieve the documents would interrupt their father-son conversation.

—