When Zhao Zhongyu woke up, the sky had already darkened. In the dimness, he saw Zhao Ji.
He was still somewhat dazed, but in a moment came to his senses with a start, his eyes widening as he grabbed Zhao Ji’s hand.
Zhao Ji was also excited, gripping Zhao Zhongyu’s hand tightly. “Father!”
Zhao Zhongyu’s gaze swept around the room. Seeing the unfamiliar surroundings, he said nothing.
But that one word brought people from outside. The Emperor entered with a group of officials in a rush.
Since Zhao Zhongyu had lost consciousness, the Emperor had been waiting with the officials. Gou Xi wasn’t present. He had gone out of the palace to mobilize troops. If Zhao Zhongyu died, and if Zhao Hanzhang dared to make a move, he could strike first.
When Zhao Zhongyu woke up, not only did the Emperor and the officials breathe a sigh of relief, even Gou Xi did too.
If he and Zhao Hanzhang came to blows, with the Xiongnu taking advantage to attack southward, Great Jin would fall. Unless absolutely necessary, Gou Xi didn’t want to cross swords with Zhao Hanzhang either.
After Zhao Zhongyu woke, he proposed returning to the Zhao residence. Facing the Emperor’s concern, he assured him, “Your Majesty, rest assured. Right now, stability is paramount. What happened here cannot be hidden from Hanzhang, so it’s better to inform her proactively. I will urge her to prioritize the greater good.”
The Emperor breathed a sigh of relief, gripping his hand and nearly shedding tears. “The Great General grows more tyrannical. I too have suffered at his hands. I regret not staying in Luoyang. Please convey my feelings to Inspector Zhao. I await her in Yanzhou.”
Zhao Zhongyu accepted gravely, supporting himself on Zhao Ji’s hand as he slowly left the palace under the Emperor’s gaze.
Once in the carriage, the lingering anger and fear on Zhao Ji’s face hadn’t dissipated. “Father, Gou Xi acted so outrageously—are we just letting it go like this?”
If Zhao Zhongyu had been strangled to death by Gou Xi, not one member of the Zhao clan in Yuncheng would have survived, especially him. To eliminate the roots after cutting the grass, having just killed someone’s father, how could Gou Xi let the son live?
So Zhao Ji was very frightened.
Zhao Zhongyu looked at him and asked, “Who allowed you to enter the palace?”
Zhao Ji said, “It was a eunuch from His Majesty’s side who summoned me, saying you had fainted in the palace. Only after entering did I learn it was Gou Xi who had affronted both you and His Majesty.”
Zhao Zhongyu exhaled, his brows furrowing tightly.
Zhao Ji glanced at his expression from the side, saying carefully, “Father, I hear people say that Sanniang has sent troops to attack Hedong, Fengyi, and other prefectures. She’s now reached Pingyang Jun. If we stay in Yuncheng, won’t it be too dangerous?”
Zhao Zhongyu raised his eyes to look at him, staring until his heart felt uneasy and unsettled, making him unconsciously avoid Zhao Zhongyu’s gaze, not daring to meet his eyes.
Only then did Zhao Zhongyu speak. “Why listen to hearsay? Wouldn’t it be better to ask me directly?”
He continued, “Hanzhang has indeed reached Pingyang, to assist Liu Kun. If the Central Plains can be recovered, then His Majesty can relocate back to Luoyang. This is a great service to the state. General Gou momentarily couldn’t accept it, that’s all. Give him some time—he’ll come around.”
Who could possibly accept it?
Right now, he was the one controlling the emperor to command the lords. If the Emperor returned to Luoyang, wouldn’t it be the Zhao family controlling the emperor instead?
It sounded exciting, but it meant their father and son would have to risk their lives for it, while the benefits would fall to Zhao Hanzhang. Zhao Ji wasn’t pleased.
Zhao Zhongyu withdrew his gaze and sighed deeply.
When he saw Zhao Ji in the palace, he had indeed been startled. His immediate thought was that he needed to find a way to send him out of Yanzhou.
But at this moment, Zhao Zhongyu suppressed that thought deep down. He closed his eyes tightly. Regardless of whether Zhao Hanzhang’s military deployment was truly to relieve Liu Kun’s crisis or a false pretext to expand her territory, the benefits fell into her hands.
Her benefits were the Zhao clan’s benefits.
The Zhao clan was now known throughout the realm, with prestige even showing signs of surpassing the Wang clan. How could Zhao Zhongyu abandon such an opportunity?
Especially now, with all under heaven in peril, the Zhao clan currently seemed safe but was also on a cliff’s edge. One misstep would mean utter catastrophe.
Just watch—Gou Xi, acting this way, would eventually drag down his entire clan.
He and his son couldn’t escape. Fortunately, he had left his grandson with Zhao Hanzhang back then.
Zhao Zhongyu sighed and opened his eyes again. “The situation grows more chaotic. Stay home during this time. Go out less and cause less trouble.”
Hearing this, Zhao Ji grew anxious. “Father, aren’t we leaving? Are we just going to sit here waiting for death in Yuncheng, letting Zhao Hezhen climb over our corpses?”
Zhao Zhongyu’s breathing quickened. “I am the clan leader. You are the Earl of Shangcai and the next clan leader. Can’t you think more for the family’s sake? Fleeing now would give Gou Xi a reason to send troops, and as for His Majesty, the prestige and trust accumulated since your uncle’s time would vanish completely!”
Zhao Zhongyu didn’t want to deal with him anymore. Returning to the Zhao residence, he leaned on his attendant’s hand and headed toward the study. His throat was injured, so he couldn’t speak too much. He said, “Summon Mr. Tan. Send Zhao Ji back to his courtyard. Without my orders, don’t let him leave again.”
Zhao Ji hadn’t expected to be placed under house arrest and was instantly flushed with anger.
Zhao Zhongyu paid him no mind, going to the study to wait for Tan Zhong.
Zhao Zhongyu had wanted to write to Zhao Hanzhang yesterday but feared the letter might be intercepted, so he kept delaying.
Today’s strangulation had its benefits—he had cleared things with the Emperor and could now write openly to Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Zhongyu and Tan Zhong drafted a letter to Zhao Hanzhang, hoping she would understand the implications while others wouldn’t.
Mainly, it informed her of the situation in Yuncheng: the Emperor had grown suspicious of her, fearing she might rebel.
Her military deployment had provoked Gou Xi, making him desperate like a cornered dog.
The Emperor hoped she could invite him back to Luoyang to escape Gou Xi’s control…
When Zhao Hanzhang received the letter, it was already the first month of the new year. The letter had been forwarded from Luoyang, and because she was traveling, it had been delayed a few days.
Zhao Hanzhang opened the letter and scanned it rapidly, her brows furrowing slightly before handing it to Fu Tinghan. Fu Tinghan read it quickly too, then passed it to Ji Yuan.
Ji Yuan pondered and said, “Our oversight—we didn’t anticipate that the decision to deploy troops to contain the Xiongnu would provoke Gou Xi and the Emperor. What does my lady think about relocating back to Luoyang?”
“No relocation,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “If we actually bring the Emperor back, would Yuzhou and Sizhou be mine or his? Currently, Yuzhou and Sizhou can be developed according to my vision. Once the court returns to Luoyang, forget continuing with my plans—even what we’ve already accomplished might be dismantled.”
Zhao Hanzhang had no time to get entangled in their factional politics.
Ji Yuan hesitated. “If so, my lady may be branded a traitorous minister. You might become the target of everyone.”
Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes in thought. “If the Emperor wants to return to Luoyang, he’ll need Gou Xi’s agreement. For the sake of the realm, stability should still be the priority. I have no intention of competing with Gou Xi.”
Ji Yuan thought this approach was good and breathed a great sigh of relief, though somewhat helplessly, he smiled and said, “Because Cao Gong controlled the emperor to command the lords, countless heroes under heaven wanted to emulate him. Yet my lady does the opposite. I’m afraid few will believe you genuinely want to hand the Emperor over to someone else.”
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