“I had the fortune to inherit my mother’s noble title and was enfeoffed as Marquis Minyang, so I led a group of clansmen to remain in the capital,” Wang Yu said. “When Prince Donghai led people away from the capital, Shubao told us that Prince Donghai had left in a fit of anger with an uncertain future. Since he took most of Luoyang’s population with him, the capital was left vulnerable. Liu Yuan likely wouldn’t pass up this opportunity to attack southward, so we decided to head south.”
“As expected, we had barely left the capital when we heard Luoyang had been surrounded by Wang Mi, and Liu Cong’s army was also coming. We didn’t dare turn back,” he said. “We fled south all the way, encountering many bandits along the road. Many clansmen died or were injured. On this return north, I left them in the south to migrate to Kuaiji with the Wei family. I’ll bring them back once I can settle down properly.”
“As for your uncle, he returned to Jinyang years ago. There’s been no news, but with Liu Yueshi there, he should be fine. You needn’t worry.”
Zhao Hanzhang thought of Wang Shi and still said, “If there’s any news of my uncle’s family, please tell me, Little Uncle.”
Wang Shi never spoke of her adoptive brother. Their relationship seemed poor, but in this chaotic world, if he was well, she would probably be somewhat happier.
Because the world was in chaos and Taiyuan was surrounded by Zhao Han in the middle, correspondence was even more difficult. Wang Yu hadn’t received letters from home in a long time either.
However, since Zhao Hanzhang had requested it, he would certainly do his best. He had come specifically to seek refuge with Zhao Hanzhang, so naturally he wanted to demonstrate his abilities as much as possible.
Zhao Hanzhang also wanted to understand him better.
Now that he had come, at the very least, being from a gentry family, he certainly knew all his characters. If she left him idle, she would feel she was doing herself a disservice.
So after discussing family matters, they talked about personal topics, such as, “What books has Little Uncle been reading recently?”
Little Uncle froze completely for a moment, unable to answer for quite a while.
Zhao Hanzhang understood. This Little Uncle was not only poor at studying but also lacked quick wit. Yesterday she had asked Wei Jie the same question, and Wei Jie had answered without thinking that he had just read the memorial she had submitted to His Majesty…
Zhao Hanzhang changed the subject. “My younger brother has just begun studying the Analects. He doesn’t retain characters well, so his teacher can only make him memorize sentence by sentence before explaining. He’s almost fifteen now but still hasn’t finished the Analects.”
Zhao Erlang was currently in a state where he could recite and remember but not recognize characters. However, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t expect him to recognize them anymore, as long as he understood the principles.
Reading, after all—literacy wasn’t the fundamental goal. Understanding the principles described in books was.
It was just that after becoming literate, even without someone reading or explaining, one could absorb knowledge from books oneself.
His path was just narrower. Zhao Hanzhang accepted this well, only secretly determining that in the future, she and Erlang’s descendants absolutely could not marry close blood relatives again.
Wang Yu breathed a sigh of relief and picked up the conversation. “Erlang is simple and honest. It’s fine to learn slowly. Even we only started studying the Analects at twelve and finished it around that age.”
Zhao Hanzhang was certain—this was a poor student. Wei Jie said he had finished the Analects at age eight.
Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him and said, “I remember Uncle-in-law in his old age was a hero of heroic caliber. I remember seeing him when I was very young. I heard he had superhuman courage and strength, excelled at riding and archery, and therefore became a General of Light Cavalry. I wonder if Little Uncle has learned a few portions of Uncle-in-law’s skills?”
Wang Yu’s expression relaxed, and he smiled. “I also love riding and archery, but compared to my father, I still fall far short.”
Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow slightly. When compared to their fathers or ancestors, in this era, except for truly arrogant people, who would dare say they surpassed their own father or forebears?
She simply stood up. “Then let’s ride out of the city for a lap?”
She smiled. “I know of a mountain with plenty of game. Let’s go hunt some wild fare—perfect for eating with wine tonight.”
Wang Yu naturally had no objection and immediately stood up.
Zhao Hanzhang led him to select bows.
Wang Yu’s strength was indeed great. He directly took a three-stone bow and pulled it open in front of Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow, took a two-stone bow, and went to the stables with Wang Yu to select horses before departing.
Ting He needed to stay behind to pack luggage and didn’t follow. The two of them only brought two guards along.
When Zhao Ming came looking for them, he found no one.
He furrowed his brow severely. “Tomorrow we leave, and she doesn’t know that officials from the Provincial Governor’s Office are still waiting to see her, with many matters requiring her attention?”
Zeng Yue lowered his head, silently not daring to speak.
Zhao Ming snorted coldly in anger, turned and left. “Send someone to call her back.”
Zeng Yue meekly acknowledged and led people to find Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang, meanwhile, had become addicted to hunting in the wilderness and was running around freely.
It was late autumn, the perfect time when rabbits, roe deer, and wild boars were at their plumpest. The animals had stored up fat for winter, their waists bouncing with layers of fat, yet slightly tightened from movement.
Hearing hoofbeats, a foolish roe deer that had been grazing immediately panicked and bounced about wildly. First, it ran left without looking, seemingly saw Zhao Hanzhang charging toward it, then dizzily turned and ran the other direction, crashing headfirst into a tree…
But it only paused for a moment before running off in all directions again.
Zhao Hanzhang drew an arrow and nocked it to her bow. Without aiming, she shot casually. The arrow pierced through its neck, and the foolish roe deer finally collapsed to the ground.
Zhao Hanzhang lowered her bow, slightly reined in her horse, and the horse stepped forward with light steps.
Zhao Hanzhang looked down, then called for the guard behind her to come lift the prey.
The guard hung the four rabbits he was carrying onto the horse and eagerly ran up to carry the roe deer.
Wang Yu’s eyes flashed with envy as he kicked his horse’s belly and moved forward. He was carrying two rabbits.
He had seen no less game than Zhao Hanzhang, but his accuracy just wasn’t as good as hers. No wonder she could command the Zhao Family Army.
Zhao Hanzhang’s spirits rose, and she invited him, “Little Uncle, I heard there are deer in the mountains. Why don’t we go deeper into the mountains?”
Wang Yu was also bold and immediately agreed. So the two mounted their horses and rode into the mountains.
When Zeng Yue led people to find them, they had just brought down a deer, and the sun was already slanting westward.
Zhao Hanzhang, who had been rolling up her sleeves preparing to drag the deer out herself, brightened up when she saw them and immediately waved her hand. “You’ve come at just the right time. Come quickly and carry the deer. Tonight we can eat roasted meat.”
Although it was late autumn, meat couldn’t be kept long. Zhao Hanzhang decided to distribute all the meat tonight.
She would share some with the generals and officials, and even the teachers at the academy.
The generals and officials of Chen County were naturally moved when they received this meat, but even more moved were the teachers at the academy. They received the best venison, and in substantial quantities, showing how much Zhao Hanzhang valued and trusted them.
A teacher who had just arrived at the academy not long ago held the venison he had received and wept, saying, “The Commander’s kindness in recognizing talent can only be repaid with my life!”
He decided that tomorrow he would add lessons, shortening the quarter-hour rest period in the middle by half. Time was so precious—how could it be wasted?