Zhao Hanzhang paused and picked up an egg for him. Fu Tinghan, sitting beside her, also turned to glance at Wang Xuan and likewise picked up an egg for him. “Eat more.”

Wang Xuan looked at the two of them, feeling somewhat moved. There were only two eggs left in the bowl. He had eaten most of the good dishes tonight.

Wang Xuan asked, “Tell me, what happened in Jingzhou that made my uncle send an envoy all the way here to find me despite the thousand-mile distance?”

Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyebrows, put down her chopsticks, and wiped the corners of her mouth before saying, “The refugees in Jingzhou have never been properly settled. Governor Wang drinks wine all day and doesn’t attend to government affairs, so the refugees in Jingzhou rebelled, and now there’s great chaos. Not long ago, he sent troops to attack and kill over eight thousand refugees, among whom were quite a few local common people who were forced into the situation. Although these people were poor, they had lived in Jingzhou for generations with many clan relatives, so not only was the rebellion not quelled, it actually triggered an even larger rebellion with a wider scope.”

“Coming to find you at this time, perhaps he wants to ask Brother Wang to go help?”

Wang Xuan thought briefly and shook his head. “No, with my uncle’s arrogant personality, he would rather resign and leave than ask a second person for help.”

Wang Xuan said, “He came to find me because he probably doesn’t want to be the Jingzhou Governor anymore and wants to hand Jingzhou over to me.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes flickered, and she couldn’t help but sit up straight. Now this was something she wasn’t sleepy about. “He’s willing to hand full authority of Jingzhou over to you?”

Wang Xuan smiled bitterly and said, “What use is his willingness? A governor must be appointed by the court. My uncle has high prestige and was assigned by the court. The aristocratic families of Jingzhou don’t obey him—what about me then?”

But Zhao Hanzhang said, “Why not try? I’m willing to recommend Brother Wang for the position of Jingzhou Governor.”

Wang Xuan couldn’t help but look at her. “If I’m not mistaken, Sanniang initially didn’t want me to go to Jingzhou. Why did you suddenly change your mind?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Wang Cheng is dissolute and unrestrained. His arrogance is no less than Uncle Wang’s, and his ability to create chaos in government is even greater. Brother Wang, you are talented and virtuous like fine jade. Of course I didn’t want you to go to Jingzhou and be contaminated by that foul atmosphere. But if you’re going to be the governor, then you’re going to correct the prevailing customs and can give the people of Jingzhou a glimmer of hope for survival.”

Wang Xuan pressed his lips together, not expecting Zhao Hanzhang to have such confidence in him. Truthfully, he didn’t even have that much himself.

Those who could currently serve as regional governors were all of his uncles’ generation. Wang Xuan was self-aware—although he had some reputation, he had never held office. Even with Zhao Hanzhang’s recommendation, it would be very difficult to enter office directly as Jingzhou Governor.

But Zhao Hanzhang thought there was nothing impossible about it. Jingzhou was just south of Yuzhou. In the future, when she recovered Jiangnan, Jingzhou would be a necessary route. Its geographical position was extremely important. If she could successfully take Jingzhou at this time through recommending Wang Xuan, her future efforts would be half as difficult.

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Brother Wang, just say whether you dare to go to Jingzhou and be governor. As long as you dare, I’ll get it for you.”

Wang Xuan thought: So fierce! She seemed just like his father.

Back then, his father said he wanted to leave a backup route for the Wang clan, so he had one uncle become governor of Qingzhou and another become governor of Jingzhou.

Now Zhao Hanzhang also had that same confident appearance—as long as he wanted it, she would make him governor. He couldn’t help but worry. “Is Sanniang trying to establish backup routes like my father did? Why not choose someone from the Zhao clan instead of me?”

Zhao Hanzhang replied, “Brother Wang, your memory is worrisome. I just said that recommending you to go to Jingzhou is to correct the prevailing customs. You would be more suitable than Governor Wang to be a governor and give the people of Jingzhou a way to survive.”

“Although there are talented people among the Zhao clan’s younger generation, their learning and insight are far inferior to Brother Wang’s.”

The most outstanding disciple of their generation, Zhao Kuan, was still only the magistrate of Luoyang County. Oh, in a few days he would take up his post as the governor of Henan Commandery.

Actually, with Zhao Kuan’s abilities, it wasn’t that he couldn’t serve as Jingzhou Governor.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Wang Xuan. Speaking from the heart, she felt that in terms of governing ability, Zhao Kuan might even surpass Wang Xuan.

However…

If Wang Xuan went to be Jingzhou Governor, Wang Cheng and the Langya Wang clan might relinquish power. If Zhao Kuan went, they obviously wouldn’t agree.

Gou Xi wouldn’t agree either.

The feasibility was too low. Better to choose Wang Xuan.

Wang Xuan couldn’t make a decision immediately. The position of governor carried too much responsibility. If she asked him to be a county magistrate or join the military staff, he would definitely agree without a second thought.

But governor—overseeing military and political affairs of an entire province, being responsible for all the people of that province—and Jingzhou’s geographical position was special with great strategic significance. Even though Wang Xuan was quite self-confident, he wasn’t certain he could do this governor’s job well.

If this had been two years earlier, he definitely wouldn’t have had such concerns. Even if he wouldn’t be as arrogant and superior as his uncles, treating the governorship lightly, he would have calmly and composedly taken up the post.

But this past year of wandering had taught him how great a provincial governor’s responsibilities were. The lives and deaths of hundreds of thousands of people rested on his shoulders, potentially affecting the overall situation of the entire realm.

Wang Xuan wanted to do something for the world and had grand ambitions, believing he would certainly become a pillar of the state in the future. But he hadn’t expected to reach the sky in one step and directly become governor. He wasn’t certain he could do it well.

Wang Siniang, who had rushed back from Ruyin Commandery, hadn’t yet had time to embrace Wang Xuan and cry when, passing by the side room to the left of the Governor’s Mansion gates, she heard two clerks inside eating and discussing, “Wang Meizi didn’t agree to the Jingzhou envoy’s request to go to Jingzhou?”

“No, the Governor has announced that she wants to recommend Wang Meizi to succeed as Jingzhou Governor, but he doesn’t seem very willing.”

“Governor Wang is willing to yield his position?”

“All of Jingzhou has nearly been ruined by him. He sent an envoy to find Wang Meizi because he wants to pass the buck, doesn’t he? What’s there to be unwilling about?”

After hearing this, Wang Siniang quickened her pace even more toward the rear courtyard.

Wang Xuan was still thinking. Of course, while thinking, he wasn’t idle either. He casually opened documents from the Ministry of Works, helping Fu Tinghan sort and arrange these documents.

This was Fu An’s job.

Having had his work taken away, Fu An radiated resentment, silently watching them from the corner of the wall, rushing forward with the teapot to add hot water whenever there was an opportunity.

Seeing the mist rising from his cup, Wang Xuan couldn’t understand. “Drinking hot water in such hot weather…”

Fu Tinghan looked down as he approved an expenditure of money, casually replying, “Drinking hot water in summer is good for health preservation.”

Wang Xuan looked at him silently. “Tinghan, you’re even younger than me by a few years. Isn’t it too early to be thinking about health preservation?”

Fu Tinghan looked up, but before he could speak, he saw Wang Siniang come running in from outside the door.

Seeing his little sister, Wang Xuan immediately put Fu Tinghan out of his mind and stood up excitedly from the mat. Wearing only socks, he rushed toward her. He opened his arms wanting to embrace her so the siblings could have a good cry together.

They had each experienced life and death since parting, and had nearly been unable to see each other again!

But just as he embraced her, before he could cry out, Wang Siniang had already pushed him away and said with a serious face, “Elder Brother, agree to the Governor’s request. We’re going to Jingzhou to be governor!”

Wang Xuan: …

—