Wang Siniang knew about the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, but she only knew the surface, not the substance. But Ji Yuan had already been born in those years and had experienced that period of darkest silence where everyone kept their mouths shut.

Now, being under Zhao Hanzhang’s protection, he could speak freely without fearing court persecution. “Back when the Sima clan usurped Wei, all Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove opposed the Sima, with Ji Kang and Ruan Ji being the most vocal.”

He continued, “Emperor Wu broke his promise and publicly executed the Son of Heaven—a great evil. Several of the Seven Sages were very indignant but had no power, so they could only use brush and ink to satirize the Sima family’s hypocrisy and cunning. Ji Kang and several others were killed because of this.”

Ji Yuan greatly admired such righteous men. Back when the Sima family broke their promise, acting like whores while demanding recognition of their legitimacy as a chaste widow would, how many people were killed? Those who survived were silenced, not daring to speak of affairs of state again.

Yet Ji Kang and the others could fearlessly defy Emperor Wu’s威, speaking righteously for the former Wei. Ji Yuan deeply admired this. Unfortunately he was born too late and missed the chance to drink wine and celebrate with them, otherwise the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove might have been more than seven.

Among these seven sages, the one Ji Yuan most despised was Wang Rong.

Ji Yuan also made no effort to hide his contempt, snorting derisively. “Wang Rong was a petty and stingy person with the strongest utilitarian heart. People often defend him, saying he was protecting himself, preserving himself through wisdom. But he held high position, controlling the selection and appointment of officials, yet never promoted scholars of humble origins nor demoted those with only empty reputations. He had no backbone, rising and falling with the times. Though alive, he might as well have died early.”

“Among the seven sages, the reputation was tarnished because of him.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, pulling the topic back. “Teacher, where is Pei Dun’s daughter currently residing?”

Ji Yuan glanced at her and said, “On Sanhou Street, I believe. There’s a branch of the Pei family clan there. Lady Pei is most likely with them. Pei Dun is already dead. I don’t know if her brothers are there—if they are, that’s good. If not, her days are probably difficult.”

He hinted, “Wang Rong was not only one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove but also Minister of Education of Dajin, knowledgeable and accomplished with great fame and merit. Even though he’s dead, he still has lingering influence. No one will dare seek Lady Pei’s hand in marriage.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Who said I want Lady Pei to marry? Whether to marry or not is her freedom. Not to mention the deceased Wang Rong—even this official has no authority to force her to marry or remain unmarried.”

Hmph, they feared Wang Rong’s influence and dared not marry her—who’s to say she might not be uninterested in marrying them?

The next day Zhao Hanzhang took people out for a stroll, strolling here and there until she strolled to Sanhou Street.

She looked forward and back, asking, “Just because it’s the third street coming down, it’s called Sanhou Street?”

Ting He nodded. “Yes. What would you like to call it, my lady?”

She continued, “If you don’t like this name, you can change it directly.”

It wasn’t an important street. If Zhao Hanzhang wanted to change it, she could. She had that much naming authority.

Zhao Hanzhang waved dismissively and asked, “Which gate does the Pei family live at?”

Before leaving, Ting He had already inquired and said, “The back half of the street is all inhabited by Pei clan members.”

Zhao Hanzhang was impressed. “So many?”

Ting He said, “But the main households are only two—one with household head Pei Lai, one with household head Pei Lun. These two families have more substantial assets. The rest are all dependent clan members.”

She continued, “Although housing prices in Luoyang are currently low, not many people can afford to buy or rent houses. Pei Lai and Pei Lun spent money to rent this half street to provide for their clan members’ survival.”

She pointed toward the crowd at the far end. “Look there—that’s the public well. Most of those washing clothes around it are Pei family people. The other end is the Shan family.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, her gaze sweeping around before pointing at a gate that looked decent and somewhat prosperous. “I’m thirsty. Go knock and ask for water.”

Ting He stepped forward to knock. After a while, a teenage boy opened the door and asked Ting He, “What business do you have, miss?”

Ting He pointed at Zhao Hanzhang. “My lady is passing through and is somewhat thirsty, so she’d like to request two bowls of water. Would you be willing to provide them, young master?”

The teenage boy lazily glanced in that direction. When he saw Zhao Hanzhang, his whole body shook. He immediately threw the half-open door wide, rushed past Ting He, and ran out, his eyes shining brightly as he looked at her. “Is the lady thirsty? Please come in quickly—my family has good wine.”

Ting He said, “…We want water. Who asked for wine?”

But Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help laughing, raising her hand. “No harm—wine is also acceptable.”

She looked the boy up and down, smiling and asking, “Given your age, you should still be studying, right?”

The boy responded affirmatively while leading Zhao Hanzhang inside. “I’m currently studying at home, waiting to take the Imperial Academy exam next year.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded with satisfaction. “Having such ambition is good. What books are you reading now?”

“Reading Laozi and Zhuangzi,” the boy said. “My father says the current Academy Director Mr. Zhao has quite the style of Laozi and Zhuangzi, so he has me focus on reading them.”

This was like test-takers predicting exam questions—people in this era would study their teachers’ preferences.

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help laughing heartily, patting his shoulder. “Then you must read them well. The Academy encompasses the strengths of all schools—reading only Laozi and Zhuangzi won’t be enough.”

The boy agreed.

He happily led her to the main hall. Along the way they passed some courtyards. Zhao Hanzhang glanced sideways—some courtyard gates were open, with several clotheslines set up inside where clothes were drying.

Zhao Hanzhang’s sharp eyes spotted patches on some of the clothes.

From some courtyards came children’s crying and adults scolding them irritably. “I told you to go gather firewood with your cousins—why didn’t you go? Winter’s coming soon. If we don’t have firewood, do you want to freeze your mother to death or freeze yourself?”

“You’re so lazy! Your father’s lazy, you’re lazy—a whole family of lazy people all relying on me to support…”

The boy saw Zhao Hanzhang listening intently and couldn’t help blushing, calling toward the courtyard where the scolding came from, “Sixth Aunt, I’m also going to gather firewood later. How about Sheng-di come with me?”

The scolding in the courtyard paused, then a voice politely responded, “Thank you, Third Young Master. Come call him when you leave.”

Seeing the courtyard finally quiet, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhao Hanzhang asked him, “How many households live in this one residence?”

Pei Third Young Master grinned. “Twelve households.”

Meaning more than one family lived in each courtyard—no wonder it was so noisy.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him, but felt somewhat sad inside. It seemed everyone’s lives were quite difficult.

“When refugees return, if their original houses still exist, they can reclaim them. And renting houses from the county office isn’t expensive either—why are they all squeezed together like this?”

The boy greatly admired Zhao Hanzhang and answered every question. “Most people’s houses are gone. They used to rent houses or depend on the main branch. When they left and then returned, everything had changed.”

“Although renting from the office is cheap, it requires scattered living. It’s better for clan members to live together and look after each other.” The boy continued, “If Luoyang is attacked again someday, they won’t need to run around notifying everyone. Living together, they can just pack up and gather immediately.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “…Farsighted.”

The boy beamed with delight. “I think so too! This was my father’s idea.”

His father happened to be in the hall and heard his voice from far away, frowning. “Third Young Master, you’re not in your room studying—what are you running around for again?”

—