Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze swept over them. A total of thirteen people had emerged from the room. Among them, five were clearly sons of aristocratic families—young in age, with eyes carrying the unique arrogance and simple foolishness characteristic of aristocratic youth of this era.
Three were dressed as scholars, their clothes washed to a grayish-white color. Zhao Hanzhang’s sharp eyes even noticed that one person’s sleeve was fraying.
Two others had broad shoulders and narrow waists, also wearing wide-sleeved robes, but after Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze swept over their shoulders and waists and looked at their hands hanging down, she knew they were skilled in martial arts. Judging by their clothing and appearance, their family circumstances should be decent—they were probably from gentry families.
They came to seek service under Gou Xi, wanting to join the military to pursue a career, right?
What Zhao Hanzhang found strange were the last two middle-aged men. She looked them up and down but really couldn’t determine their status.
They seemed like military men, yet also like scholars. Their faces were haggard, their clothing quite ordinary, but their shoes were excellent—made of silk and fitting very well. Clearly their families were well-off.
Zhao Hanzhang clicked her tongue inwardly. Two years ago she could still afford shoes with silk uppers, but these past two years she couldn’t even think of it.
She withdrew her gaze. The people on the steps were all somewhat excited and wanted to approach, but after taking a step forward they remembered this was the Grand General’s Mansion and suddenly felt regretful, stopping in their tracks.
Gou Xi was strict and severe, placing great importance on rules. If he learned they came to visit him but turned toward Zhao Hanzhang, he definitely wouldn’t let them off.
Zhao Hanzhang might not necessarily stand up for them against Gou Xi, so everyone stopped walking, looking at Zhao Hanzhang with longing eyes before silently retreating.
However, the two middle-aged men who had clearly been ostracized by them exchanged glances. Finally gritting their teeth, they rushed down the steps and bowed to Zhao Hanzhang on her horse.
“We pay our respects to Governor Zhao. This humble one is Tan Shen from Le’an.”
“This humble one is Zheng Xiao from Le’an.”
Having spoken, the two men bowed deeply to Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang sat on her horse and cupped her fists in return, asking with a smile, “What brings you two gentlemen here?”
Zheng Xiao glanced at Tan Shen, then said, “When we were in Le’an, we heard of Governor Zhao’s benevolence and righteousness. Seeing you today, we are overjoyed and boldly wish to visit you at your residence. Would the Governor spare some time to see us?”
Zhao Hanzhang saw the pleading in their eyes, with tears nearly falling. Her heart softened, and she said, “I’m free after the hour of shen.”
The two men were moved and grateful, bowing deeply once more.
This time they didn’t go back up the steps to wait. Instead, they quietly negotiated with the gatekeeper who had stayed behind, slipping him quite a bit of money to retrieve their calling cards. As for the gifts they’d sent in, naturally those couldn’t be retrieved, nor did they intend to—they just hastily took back their cards and left.
The success of these two men made those on the steps green with envy, but thinking of Gou Xi’s character, they still temporarily suppressed their impulses and decided to secretly visit Zhao Residence later.
Zhao Hanzhang saw they made no move and breathed a sigh of relief herself. She had come as a guest—if she took away all of someone else’s visitors, what would that mean?
She still didn’t want to escalate from covert rivalry with Gou Xi to an open break.
Seeing that the gatekeeper who had gone in to report hadn’t emerged for a long time, Zhao Hanzhang dismounted and walked up the steps to wait together with the remaining eleven people.
Everyone was about the same age, and Zhao Hanzhang’s achievements were beyond what they could hope to reach. Though no one said it aloud, they were quite curious about her inwardly.
Unable to resist, one aristocratic youth asked her, “Why has Governor Zhao come to visit the Grand General?”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “The Grand General and I serve in court together. Isn’t it normal for me to visit him?”
Everyone’s expressions were somewhat peculiar. Zhao Hanzhang’s polite smile became a bit more genuine, and she couldn’t help laughing aloud, asking, “What, in your eyes, can the Grand General and I not get along amicably in private?”
“No, no, no, we don’t mean that, it’s just, it’s just…” They hemmed and hawed for a long time without coming up with an excuse.
Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help laughing again and proactively changed the subject. “You’ve come here seeking opportunities?”
They immediately nodded, secretly looking at her with hopeful eyes.
Zhao Hanzhang just smiled at them without continuing.
The Grand General Mansion’s steward and chief clerk came out together to welcome her. Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Ting He, who whispered, “It’s been a good two quarters of an hour…”
Zhao Hanzhang understood. Gou Xi really did dislike her greatly. With this thought, Zhao Hanzhang’s fighting spirit was aroused. She had someone carry the chest and follow her inside.
Gou Xi was in a large pavilion in their garden. The pavilion faced the water and was very cool in summer.
Light gauze curtains hung on all four sides of the pavilion, which could keep out mosquitos and block some sunlight. Looking toward the water’s center, Zhao Hanzhang saw similar gauze curtains hanging in the building in the middle of the lake.
Such gauze curtains weren’t cheap—even the Emperor probably couldn’t afford to use silk for window curtains, could he?
Gou Xi lazily reclined on a wooden couch, dressed lightly. One leg was propped on the couch, one leg hung down from it—such casual abandon was something Zhao Hanzhang had never seen before.
She smiled and bowed to Gou Xi, having someone carry the chest forward. “Grand General, this is a gift I’ve brought for you, carefully selected from the treasures my grandfather left me.”
Hearing it was from treasures left by Zhao Changyu, Gou Xi finally put his leg down and sat up a bit straighter. “Oh? What is it?”
Zhao Hanzhang had someone open it, and two personal guards stepped forward to carefully lift out a golden Buddha.
Gou Xi’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I heard Governor Zhao gave His Majesty a glazed house that can be moved and played with, quite exquisite. I thought Governor Zhao would give me glazed items this time too.”
“No, that’s not right,” Gou Xi said. “I didn’t expect Governor Zhao would give me a gift at all.”
He leaned back again and said, “One shouldn’t accept rewards without merit. Governor Zhao, this gift is too valuable. Unless you state your purpose clearly, I dare not accept such a gift.”
Zhao Hanzhang found a spot in the pavilion and knelt to sit properly, smiling. “Grand General, rest assured. This gift is an apology and also to repair relations between us.”
Gou Xi sneered and asked, “Apologize for what?”
“The matter of Qingzhou,” Wang Jun was unprincipled—no sooner had he received the appointment as Governor of Qingzhou than he sold out Zhao Hanzhang.
He said he had attacked Qingzhou on Zhao Hanzhang’s advice, and even Liu Kun had been persuaded to cooperate by Zhao Hanzhang.
Though Zhao Hanzhang had never publicly admitted this, she hadn’t denied it either, because she knew that if others wrote to ask Liu Kun, Liu Kun would definitely tell the truth and would consider it something worth boasting about, helping to spread word of it far and wide.
Sure enough, after this matter spread, even more talented people came to seek service under Zhao Hanzhang.
Everyone didn’t think it was underhanded but rather thought she was resourceful and wise. With such capability, she could be relied upon!
However, Gou Xi felt very stifled and angry, saying, “Has Governor Zhao come to mock me?”
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “I’ve come to sincerely apologize.”
“Grand General, you maintain strict military discipline and fulfill your duties faithfully. You should know how important public sentiment is. General Gou Chun’s abilities are far inferior to yours, yet he is extremely harsh. If he weren’t your younger brother, he would have been killed long ago.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “He only took office in Qingzhou for half a year, yet Qingzhou was already seething with popular resentment. If we allowed him to continue as Governor of Qingzhou, before the Xiongnu could invade, the people of Qingzhou would rebel first and directly submit to the Xiongnu-Han state.”
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