Lady Wang, hearing this, was filled with sorrow.

But she could not say words asking her son to stay. This time their southern flight was not peaceful. Fleeing together with dozens of families, they encountered refugee armies and bandits on the road. The Wei family also lost many clan members.

Wei Jie had always been a key person under protection. The family had sacrificed so much for them—naturally Wei Jie also had to protect the family. Now that there was another path that could let the family return to their homeland, how could she obstruct it?

Lady Wang’s tears fell like rain. People in foreign lands longed even more for home. Especially since the Yangzhou aristocratic families had not accepted them—the lifestyle, food, clothing, and even language were all different. Lady Wang also wanted to return to her homeland.

She quickly composed herself, wiped her tears, and said, “Good. Since you plan to return north, I’ll write you a letter. Go to Yuzhou first to find your cousin. I’ve heard her mention that Zhao Hanzhang is a filial child. With her introduction, you’ll be more comfortable in Zhao Hanzhang’s service.”

Wei Jie, thinking about keeping multiple escape routes and placing bets on both sides, knew other families weren’t fools either. Even the local Jiangnan aristocratic families, after reading Zhao Hanzhang’s memorial, had begun selecting suitable disciples to send to the northern territories.

Or they stirred up sentiment within the clan, having the ambitious go to the northern territories, preferably with people in both Luoyang and Yuncheng. That way, in the future, no matter which side ultimately won, they could help the family advance further—at the very least, they wouldn’t fall behind others.

Zhao Hanzhang remained in Chen County. Over two months, she met quite a few scholars who came to serve. Some Zhao Hanzhang took in and then employed.

There were also others where Zhao Hanzhang chatted and laughed with them briefly, invited them to stay and enjoy themselves in Yuzhou, and if they had time, could also go visit Luoyang.

This meant she hadn’t taken a liking to them.

Even in late autumn, when the weather had turned cold, Zhao Hanzhang still wore light clothing. She wielded a long spear like a swimming serpent, practicing with imposing force.

Lady Wang stood to the side watching with her maid. When she finished practicing a set of spear techniques, she immediately took a towel, dampened and wrung it out, and handed it to her. “Quick, wipe yourself. The weather is already cold, yet you’re still sweating so much. Be careful not to catch a chill.”

Zhao Hanzhang took the towel and wiped her face and neck, then began wiping her hands, asking curiously, “Mother, what brings you to find me?”

Lady Wang said reproachfully, “So I can’t come find you if there’s no reason?”

“Well, not exactly. It’s just that usually at this time you’ve gone out to the Charitable Hall. Not only are you home today, you’re personally bringing me a towel. I’m rather flattered.”

Lady Wang loved her daughter, but seeing her every single day—even the most fragrant daughter eventually becomes tiresome. Anyway, their daily routine fully demonstrated what’s meant by “distance creates beauty.”

When Zhao Hanzhang first returned, Lady Wang wished she could sleep in the same place with her at night. She was concerned about everything from her food, clothing, housing, and activities.

When Zhao Hanzhang practiced swordplay or spearwork, she would sit nearby watching. When finished, she’d help her wipe off sweat, constantly feeling heartache for her.

After Zhao Hanzhang had been back for ten days, Lady Wang began missing her son far away in Luoyang. Two days later, Lady Wang started nagging.

She nagged about Zhao Erlang, nagged that she wasn’t considerate enough toward Fu Tinghan, nagged that her clothes were always worn through, that she came back every day covered in dirt with a grimy face…

Later, even going a whole day without seeing Zhao Hanzhang, Lady Wang wouldn’t miss her. Every time they met, she could always find some fault.

Even that she ate two extra eggs in the morning would draw nagging—saying too many eggs were bad for the body.

Yet when she had just returned, seeing she liked eating eggs, Lady Wang had people cook a whole basin of eggs for her in various preparations. She had doted on her so much!

“So what does mother want from me?”

Only then did Lady Wang say, “Your great-aunt has sent a letter.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s drinking motion paused. She asked blankly, “Who’s my great-aunt?”

Lady Wang gave her a reproachful look. “Your great-aunt is naturally my aunt. However, our two families are only related by clan—by our generation it’s exactly the fifth degree of mourning, so the relationship is somewhat distant.”

“However, she’s not only your great-aunt but also your great-aunt by marriage. That relationship is closer.”

The relationships were making her dizzy, so she humbly asked, “So?”

“So your maternal uncle, who is also your maternal uncle, is coming to seek you out. Do you have any good positions available?” Lady Wang said, “Although he’s relying on my connection, his talent is not poor. Don’t underestimate him.”

She added, “Coming with him is another of your maternal uncles. You don’t need to worry too much about that one. I haven’t heard he has any talent before, and our two families don’t have a good relationship.”

Zhao Hanzhang drained her water in one gulp and casually asked, “What are their names?”

Lady Wang beamed with a smile, even showing a bit of bashfulness on her face. “He’s called Wei Jie!”

Zhao Hanzhang immediately choked on her own saliva, coughing violently. Her face instantly turned red, her eyes also reddening from the coughing. After a good while, she stopped and looked at her mother in shock. “Who did you say?”

Lady Wang grew proud, smiling as she said, “Wei Jie! How’s that? The person mother introduced isn’t bad, right?”

Who in the realm didn’t know Wei Jie’s name?

She had deliberately held back from mentioning the name earlier, just to give her daughter a surprise.

Whether Zhao Hanzhang was happy she didn’t yet know, but surprised she certainly was. She stared wide-eyed and asked, “Wei Jie is my… maternal uncle?”

Lady Wang gave her a reproachful look. “And maternal uncle too!”

She said, “His mother and I both come from the Wang family. He has to call your maternal grandfather ‘uncle.’ I’m his elder cousin.”

Lady Wang paused, then sighed. “However, our two families’ relationship is distant. But your father’s relationship with him is close!”

Zhao Hanzhang humbly asked for instruction again. “My father and him…”

Lady Wang tapped her forehead. “I think you’ve lost your mind from fighting and martial practice. You could recite the family genealogy at age eight—how have you forgotten it now?”

Zhao Hanzhang: … Who would naturally recall such a dry thing as a genealogy without specifically thinking about it?

Lady Wang had already said, “Your grandmother also comes from the Wang family, and she and Wei Jie’s mother are sisters from the same father. She’s your father’s maternal aunt. Tell me, is this relationship close or not?”

Zhao Hanzhang was so shocked she couldn’t speak. This was extremely close!

Zhao Hanzhang took a long while to recover. Remembering something, she asked carefully, “Mother, our maternal grandfather’s family…”

Lady Wang sighed. “Since your grandfather and eldest uncle passed away, I haven’t concerned myself with matters over there. They can’t spare attention for me either. I don’t know if they’re dead or alive now.”

Zhao Hanzhang searched through her memory. Information about her maternal grandfather’s family finally emerged from a corner of her recollection.

Lady Wang was a legitimate daughter with only one legitimate elder brother, plus a concubine-born brother. But very unfortunately, both her brothers died young, both because of the War of the Eight Princes.

Her maternal grandfather lost both sons in succession and his health deteriorated further. In the end, he casually adopted an heir from the clan, then passed away not long after.

This was also one reason why Lady Wang’s dowry was especially abundant. A considerable portion of the assets was what her father had supplemented before adopting the heir. At that time, Zhao Hanzhang was already eight or nine years old. She and Zhao Erlang had received quite a few precious gifts from their maternal grandfather.

Perhaps because Wang’s father had privately given too many assets to Lady Wang, the adopted heir’s relationship with Lady Wang was very ordinary after the adoption. The two sides basically had no contact. Zhao Hanzhang essentially couldn’t remember she still had an uncle.

As for the Zhao family and her grandmother’s Wang family, that relationship was even more complex.