The Chen matriarch and second lady nodded repeatedly, “Exactly so.”

Xiao Zhi on the side immediately said, “That’s my reason too.”

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him and first asked the Chen family, “How many people are currently in the household, what are their ages, how many servants do you have, and how many acres of land are you farming?”

Zhao Hanzhang inquired in detail. The Chen senior lady’s face paled, looking somewhat embarrassed. She glanced at the onlookers outside the yamen. At this distance, if they spoke quietly, those outside couldn’t hear, but…

She looked at the Xiao family members.

Zhao Hanzhang also turned to look at the Xiao family, just weighing whether to have someone escort them out first when the Chen senior lady had already begun reporting in a very small voice.

The Chen family…had no money left.

When the Chen family didn’t leave Luoyang initially, their houses, fields, and shops were naturally preserved and not seized by Zhao Hanzhang. They even had quite a bit of wealth remaining.

But when Zhao Hanzhang led her army into Luoyang, lacking food and supplies, to feed her soldiers while waiting for provisions to arrive, Zhao Hanzhang had them “donate” a batch.

Later, when the Emperor relocated the capital and left, food was expensive in Luoyang. They spent quite a bit, and then had to bury their family members, leaving them with little money.

Now fixed assets in Luoyang weren’t valuable. Even selling their shops required a long wait, and prices were driven very low, let alone their farmland.

There were vast stretches of abandoned land outside the city. Anyone wanting to buy land could purchase from the yamen.

But the Chen family were gentry. Maintaining a dignified lifestyle required money, and conditions in Luoyang weren’t good yet—supplies were somewhat expensive.

Zhao Hanzhang required them to pay back taxes. Even though they had no adult males and were exempt from labor service, the burden was still heavy.

So they decided to flee and seek refuge with other relatives and friends.

Zhao Hanzhang looked at them and asked, “Where did you plan to seek refuge?”

The Chen senior lady lowered her voice even more, saying guiltily, “To Yuncheng.”

Zhao Hanzhang looked at her with mixed feelings, then turned to ask Xiao Zhi, “Are you also going to Yuncheng?”

Xiao Zhi also felt guilty and said quietly, “I have an uncle serving the Emperor, so I wanted to seek refuge with him. I happened to be traveling the same route as the Chen family, so…”

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help shaking her head. Zhao Kuan beside her also silently said “fool” in his heart.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t point it out directly and asked about the Xiao family’s assets, population, and taxes to be paid.

A family’s assets were secret. If substantial, that was fine, but if meager, it was too embarrassing.

That’s why the Chen senior lady looked so reluctant to speak—the household was truly in dire straits.

However, since the Chen family had spoken in front of the Xiao family, after hesitating briefly, Xiao Zhi still reported truthfully.

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang say, “Do you know why you’re struggling to make ends meet?”

Because you’re collecting taxes from us.

The three families silently answered in their hearts.

“Because the land you registered is more than what you actually cultivate, and taxes are calculated based on your registered acreage. Even though I halved the tax rate this year, you still have to pay a considerable grain tax.” Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Why did you report acreage that doesn’t match reality?”

The Chen senior lady hesitated before saying, “You issued a decree stating that even privately owned land, if left uncultivated for more than three years, would be reclaimed by the government, so…”

Zhao Hanzhang understood—they were unwilling to abandon their landholdings.

She expressed understanding. Who would willingly give up meat in their mouth to others?

Zhao Hanzhang sighed and said, “This is my fault. I was somewhat presumptuous.”

The Chen senior lady and others were startled and became somewhat anxious, exchanging glances.

Zhao Hanzhang had already quickly made up her mind. She said to the Chen senior lady and Xiao Zhi, “You two, merits should be rewarded and mistakes punished. Since you violated the law, you must be punished. However, considering you’re first-time offenders and you’ve helped me improve the law, the yamen will impose lighter penalties.”

Zhao Hanzhang turned to look at Zhao Kuan.

Zhao Kuan immediately said, “This subordinate will reduce the punishment appropriately.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

Xiao Zhi was greatly disappointed, “We still have to be punished…”

Zhao Hanzhang said meaningfully, “Of course. Otherwise, who would obey my laws?”

“Xiao Zhi, who proposed you go to Yuncheng?” Zhao Hanzhang looked at him with a half-smile, “Do you know that right now, Yanzhou and Qingzhou under Gou Xi and Gou Chun’s governance are completely lawless?”

“Gou Xi even kills advisors and confidants who’ve followed him for over ten years without hesitation. What qualifications do your two families have to expect preferential treatment from him?”

Xiao Zhi’s expression changed, and the Chen senior lady’s face also paled.

Zhao Hanzhang said quietly, “Here, I can guarantee that under my rule, law and order prevail. You should have heard about Gou Xi and Gou Chun’s character. I advise you—even if one day you truly must flee Luoyang, you shouldn’t go to Yuncheng but should head directly south to Jiangnan.”

Going to Yuncheng meant most of the journey was within Yuzhou, where there weren’t as many bandits. But going to Jiangnan—whether they could reach there alive was uncertain.

The Chen and Xiao families all looked unhappy.

At the same time, they felt regret. Zhao Hanzhang was right—they shouldn’t have tried to flee. This time they really lost more than they gained.

The Chen senior lady glanced at Xiao Zhi and pressed her lips together without speaking.

She had decided to flee with her family because of Lady Xiao. She and Lady Xiao had some family connection. Hearing her say they couldn’t survive in Luoyang and were fleeing, after weighing the options, she decided to flee with them.

Who knew they’d be caught and brought back halfway?

However, in front of Xiao Zhi, the Chen senior lady didn’t expose the other party.

But Zhao Hanzhang was no fool. Her ability to read people, while not first-rate, was certainly not bad.

She looked at the Chen senior lady, then glanced at Xiao Zhi. What didn’t she understand?

So she focused her gaze on Xiao Zhi.

Xiao Zhi’s expression changed repeatedly. Under Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze, he said in a low voice, “It was, it was the Xiao family from Xin’an who said if I intended to go to Yuncheng, we could meet up outside the city, and they would send people to escort us all the way.”

Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow, “So they’re going but not yet?”

“They’re also going, but still have some family business to handle and will depart later than us.”

Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow, her gaze falling on Xiao Zhi’s eyes, asking, “How many people knew you were fleeing?”

Xiao Zhi opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.

Zhao Hanzhang stood up and turned to the side, “Master Xiao, please come to the back hall to talk.”

Xiao Zhi sat on the mat, not particularly wanting to go, but although Zhao Hanzhang wore a smile and her eyes were calm rather than fierce, he still shivered, feeling immense pressure. He involuntarily stood up and followed her to the back.

The back hall also had desks. Zhao Hanzhang casually pulled over an inkstone, poured a little water into it, and slowly ground the ink. She pointed to the white paper on the desk, “Master Xiao can use the time while I’m grinding ink to carefully think about who knew of this matter.”

Xiao Zhi broke out in cold sweat. He wanted to show some backbone—might cannot make one yield—but when he looked up and met Zhao Hanzhang’s indifferent gaze, he involuntarily pulled the paper in front of himself.

He quickly lowered his head, trying to calm his emotions, his mind in turmoil thinking of words of refusal. He finally thought of a couple of sentences, but when he looked up, those words stuck in his throat. His heart pounded wildly, and he involuntarily reached for the brush…

Zhao Hanzhang had also finished grinding the ink. She gently set down the ink stick and pushed the inkstone in front of Xiao Zhi, “Write.”

Xiao Zhi almost cried out loud but still picked up the brush with trembling hands, dipped it in ink, and began writing names.