Seeing Zhao Hanzhang speak so enthusiastically about Zhao Hu, Zhao Zhongyu’s feelings were inevitably complicated.

Zhao Hu and Zhao Hanzhang had not gotten along well at first, but now Zhao Hanzhang relied heavily on Zhao Hu. Clearly, regardless of whether their temperaments were compatible, as long as one had ability, one could earn respect from Zhao Hanzhang.

What abilities did Zhao Ji have that could earn Zhao Hanzhang’s respect?

Zhao Zhongyu slowly put away his smile. “Sanniang, after the Heaven Worship Ceremony, bring your eldest uncle back to Yuzhou with you.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze sharpened slightly. She paused before asking, “Will the court allow him to leave?”

“Your eldest uncle’s talents are mediocre, and now he’s injured. We can take this opportunity to resign from office,” Zhao Zhongyu paused before continuing, “Even if the court doesn’t approve, we can request a very long leave. As long as you take him out of Yanzhou, the court won’t be able to pursue and bring him back even if they want to.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “But that way, Great-uncle Grandfather will be put in a passive position in Yuncheng.”

Zhao Zhongyu smiled and shook his head at her. “As long as you don’t fall, His Majesty won’t make things too difficult for me.”

But the Emperor certainly wouldn’t trust him as much as he did now.

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes to think for a moment, then still nodded in agreement. “Alright.”

Zhao Zhongyu quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

The grandfather and granddaughter returned to the mansion together.

As soon as they entered the mansion, they heard the faint sounds of commotion coming from the rear courtyard. Zhao Hanzhang stopped in her tracks, and Zhao Zhongyu had already asked with displeasure, “What’s happening in the rear courtyard again?”

A servant, sweating profusely, said, “The master had someone summon a physician to examine his injury, and also wanted to send out invitation cards to invite friends and colleagues to visit the mansion. The physician was summoned, but the invitations to others were intercepted by the steward, and the master is currently punishing the steward.”

Zhao Zhongyu’s face turned completely dark. He instinctively looked at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang’s expression hadn’t changed much. She even smiled at him and said, “Great-uncle Grandfather, go check on Eldest Uncle. His injury is ultimately because of me, and he probably doesn’t want to see me right now. I’ll visit him after his anger subsides a bit.”

Zhao Zhongyu’s expression softened slightly. He nodded at her, then hurried toward the rear courtyard with the servant.

Zhao Dian was kneeling in the center of the courtyard, while Zhao Ji lay on a wooden couch that had been carried under the corridor. He lay there cursing at Zhao Dian, “Do you know who your master is? Who permitted you to intercept my invitation cards? I order you to immediately send them out right now!”

“What are you trying to do by inviting guests over at this time?” Zhao Zhongyu strode in angrily. Seeing his son still making trouble even while half-dead on the wooden couch, he couldn’t restrain himself. He rushed forward and slapped him across the face.

Zhao Ji’s eyes widened as he covered his face, looking at his father in disbelief.

When hitting someone, don’t hit the face—yet his father had actually slapped his face over such a trivial matter?

Zhao Zhongyu felt his face burning with shame. He had just shamelessly asked Zhao Hanzhang to take him back to Yuzhou, and immediately his son pulled this stunt. “What are you trying to do? Publicize that you were severely injured by your niece, so people will criticize Sanniang for being disobedient and disrespectful to her elders?”

“What benefit does this have for you, what benefit for our second branch, what benefit for the Zhao clan?” Zhao Zhongyu was so angry he couldn’t control himself, and spittle sprayed directly onto his face. “Let people know that you and Sanniang don’t get along, that you’re nothing in her eyes—from now on, who in this court, inside or outside, will still give us preferential treatment out of consideration for her?”

“Do you know what our value is here?” Zhao Zhongyu wished he could pry open his skull to see what was inside. “We’re hostages! If outsiders know we’re not that important to Sanniang, is there any need for us to remain alive?”

Zhao Ji’s face turned deathly pale in an instant.

Zhao Zhongyu was furious that his son wouldn’t amount to anything. “Right now, all of Dajin’s princes and provincial governors combined don’t have as good a reputation as Sanniang. Because she cares for the common people, treats worthy scholars with courtesy, and promotes based on talent alone, even the Zhao clan’s reputation for benevolence and righteousness is known throughout the realm. At this time, if you cause a scandal about Zhao Hanzhang beating her uncle and being disobedient and unfilial, do you want to trample the Zhao clan’s reputation into the ground?”

After Zhao Zhongyu finished roaring, he clutched his aching chest. Zhao Dian immediately stepped forward to support him.

Zhao Zhongyu waved him off and consoled him warmly, “You did the right thing. Continue this way from now on. Whenever he acts unreasonably, confine him to this courtyard and don’t let him go out.”

He added, “Have someone carry him back. I see he’s in good spirits—he simply shouldn’t leave his room.”

Yesterday he was only forbidden from leaving the courtyard; now he was forbidden from leaving his room.

Zhao Zhongyu paid him no more attention and left, swaying, supported by a servant’s hand.

News that Zhao Zhongyu had been angered by Zhao Ji to the point of needing a physician quickly spread to the guest quarters.

Ming Yu had long known Zhao Ji was useless, but hadn’t expected him to be this useless. He couldn’t help looking at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang sighed wistfully. “How pitiful are parents’ hearts everywhere. Even though he angers Great-uncle Grandfather so much, Great-uncle Grandfather still entrusted me with protecting his life.”

Ming Yu worried, “Taking Zhao Ji away at this time will make Magistrate Zhao’s position here very difficult.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “As long as Great-uncle Grandfather is willing in his heart, that’s what matters. Money can’t buy his willingness.”

Ming Yu couldn’t help looking at her. “Aren’t you worried at all, Governor?”

Zhao Hanzhang replied, “Great-uncle Grandfather is an adult. He knows what he’s doing. We just need to respect his choice. As for Zhao Ji, two years ago, I naturally wouldn’t have wanted him to return to Yuzhou to stir up trouble, but now, can he still stir anything up in Yuzhou?”

So taking Zhao Ji back to Yuzhou was just like bringing along one more piece of moving luggage to her. The one who was truly in a difficult position was Zhao Zhongyu.

The danger lay in the fact that after she took Zhao Ji away, the Emperor’s trust in both Zhao Zhongyu and her would plummet. However, she could bear this risk.

Zhao Zhongyu had clearly prepared himself to stake his life on this gamble. Since this was his final wish, even if she thought it wasn’t worth it, she would fulfill it for him.

Ming Yu had noticed this as well. He had no son, but he could understand Zhao Zhongyu, so he said no more.

Zhao Hanzhang only attended court that one day. Starting the next day, she stopped going to the palace to join the excitement. Instead, after touring Yuncheng a bit, she took gifts to visit Gou Xi.

There were quite a few horse carts, ox carts, and donkey carts in front of Gou Xi’s residence. Zhao Hanzhang arrived on horseback, followed by an ox cart with a large chest on it.

The gatekeeper at the Grand General’s Mansion was unsurprised and simply stood on the steps waiting for someone to approach.

Ting He went forward with a calling card.

After the gatekeeper accepted the card, he said, “Leave the items. You can go back.”

Ting He’s eyes widened. “Our lady has come to visit the Grand General.”

“Look inside—all these people have come to visit the Grand General. Today’s quota is already full. Even if you stay here, you won’t see the Grand General. You might as well go back and wait,” the gatekeeper said. “After the Grand General reviews the card and wants to see your master, he’ll naturally send someone to notify you according to the address on the card.”

Ting He looked inside and saw two rows of more than a dozen people already seated. The dozen or so people were crammed into a small room with only a tea bowl in front of each person containing clear water. Meeting Ting He’s gaze, some among them frowned and turned their heads away, while others blushed and lowered their heads to avoid her eyes.

Ting He was speechless.

She took a deep breath and said to the gatekeeper, “Please, young sir, pass the card in and tell them that Zhao Hanzhang from Yuzhou has come to call.”

“I don’t care what province you’re from… Zhao, Governor Zhao?” The gatekeeper suddenly realized. He quickly looked at the person below the steps. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang’s face bearing a slight smile, he hastily lowered his head and held up the card from the table with both hands. “I’ll report this immediately.”

The people inside the room couldn’t sit still anymore and came out one after another.

—