Zhao Song scolded with a stern face, “Get out now!”

Zhao Hu snorted. “I’m just feeling bad for elder brother. It’s not like I’m using your people…”

Even Fu Tinghan, who was usually quiet-tempered and good-natured, couldn’t help getting angry. “Seventh Great-Uncle,” his face turned solemn, “Heaven values life. I hear Seventh Great-Uncle is a devout Buddhist. You should cherish life even more. Our ancestors expended great effort to abolish the barbaric practice of living burial. Why make it difficult for the living and also for Grandfather Zhao, who loved the people like his own children throughout his life?”

Zhao Hu was displeased upon hearing this and glanced at him. “Fu Tinghan, this is a Zhao family matter. By rights, you’re an outsider and shouldn’t be here at all. You’re only allowed because you’re Sanniang’s future husband. But aren’t you overstepping?”

He said, “Elder brother was born into wealth and lived in luxury his entire life. If he doesn’t bring a few people along, what if he suffers in the underworld? The clan has always said Fu Tinghan is filial. From what I see today, it’s nothing special. If you were truly filial, you as the grandson-in-law should be the one to provide these servants.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s face darkened, her anger flaring up instantly. She sneered at Zhao Hu, “Servants are servants after all—how can they compare to the intimacy of family? I see Seventh Great-Uncle misses Grandfather so much. Why don’t we go down to see Grandfather together?”

She reached out and grabbed Zhao Hu’s hand, turning to drag him into the tomb chamber. “Grandfather hasn’t seen Seventh Great-Uncle in many years and must miss you terribly. Fifth Uncle prepared a set of chess pieces for burial. You and Grandfather can play chess then, and I’ll serve you tea from the side. A family enjoying such bliss together—how wonderful would that be?”

Zhao Hanzhang pulled Zhao Hu into the main chamber and walked around the coffin. “This position is good. I’ll yield it to you, Uncle. I’ll be buried on the other side. How about that?”

Zhao Hu’s face turned pale. He struggled with all his might along the way, but this child—who knew what she was fed growing up—looked not particularly sturdy, yet had tremendous strength.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang’s serious expression, he couldn’t tell if she was joking or not. In his anger, he stuttered “you, you” twice but didn’t dare provoke her further. He could only anxiously turn back for help. “Fifth Brother, Fifth Brother…”

Zhao Song was also startled, not expecting the usually reasonable and generous Sanniang to suddenly be so fierce. Only when Zhao Hu called out did he react and quickly led his son Zhao Ming to catch up and stop them. “Sanniang, don’t fool around with your Seventh Great-Uncle. Hurry and let him go.”

But Zhao Hanzhang pressed Zhao Hu against the coffin lid, holding his shoulder down with one hand so he couldn’t move. She met Zhao Hu’s gaze with a half-smile. “I think Seventh Great-Uncle is serious, and I’m serious too. I’m deeply devoted to Grandfather and wish I could follow him. Seventh Great-Uncle’s suggestion suits me perfectly. It’s just that this is my first time being buried alive with someone, so I don’t have much experience. I’ll have to ask Seventh Great-Uncle to lead the way for me.”

Zhao Hu felt Zhao Hanzhang was serious. His wrist hurt from her grip, and he couldn’t break free. He almost cried out. He regretted it—if he’d known this child was so unreasonable, he never would have brought this up in front of her. What good intentions unrewarded!

Zhao Song came forward and grabbed Zhao Hanzhang’s hand, gently pulling it apart. His face had turned livid with anger. “All of you get out! What kind of spectacle are you making in the tomb chamber? Aren’t you afraid of disturbing the departed spirit?”

He drove them both out, then bowed repeatedly to the coffin before reluctantly calming down enough to exit.

Zhao Ming held Zhao Hu while Fu Tinghan held Zhao Hanzhang. The two stood in the middle separating them. They coldly glanced at each other, and in the end, Zhao Hu, his face somewhat pale, looked away first. Clearly, Zhao Hanzhang had frightened him just now.

Uncle Cheng, kneeling on the ground, quietly let out a long breath. His awareness gradually returned, and only then did he feel his back was soaked through.

Uncle Cheng was slightly stunned, suddenly realizing he was actually this afraid of death. When the master had just passed, he wished he could follow him, but now this…

Uncle Cheng stared blankly. The funeral was continuing. Zhao Cai followed along with the rituals. Seeing his father had no reaction at all, he quickly tugged at him.

Uncle Cheng came to his senses and respectfully followed the rituals, his heart in turmoil.

Ji Yuan quietly observed all of this, saying nothing.

After the tomb door fell and the entire chamber was sealed, the funeral had progressed through most of its course.

Zhao Erlang led everyone forward to perform the memorial rites. After the worship, the tombstone was set in place, and the funeral was essentially complete.

Zhao Song’s face had returned to normal by now. He said to Zhao Hanzhang, “Return to the clan first. I’ve had your family’s old house cleaned out.”

Zhao Hanzhang agreed and led everyone back to the Zhao clan fortress.

The fortress wasn’t very far from the ancestral graves—about half an hour’s walk. From a distance, she could see a high wall, not much shorter than Shangcai County’s walls. Most importantly, the fortress had watchtowers.

Outside the fortress was an encircling moat. It wasn’t very wide—people certainly couldn’t jump across it, nor could horses—but most importantly, the moat was very deep, about three to four meters, with smooth walls that were very difficult to climb.

A bridge spanned the moat, connecting the official road to the fortress gate.

Zhao Hanzhang stopped before the bridge and looked up at the iron chains fastened to it. She saw them extending all the way to the fortress top. Clearly, this was a drawbridge. Normally lowered to serve as a bridge, but in wartime, once raised, it could cut off outside enemies.

Unfortunately, the moat was too narrow. If the attacking enemy had even a few more people and a normally functioning brain, they’d know to build their own bridge across.

Still, this was already a very impressive defensive measure. Most importantly, the moat could also be used for irrigation during peacetime.

Zhao Hanzhang tapped the bridge surface with her foot and asked, “Fifth Uncle, this moat and drawbridge must have cost quite a bit, right?”

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang staring at the fortress, Zhao Song had been about to boast when he heard this and fell silent. Could he say that truly, they were grandfather and granddaughter?

Their obsession with money was exactly the same!

Zhao Song said, “It did cost quite a bit, but with this moat, the Zhao fortress is the safest fortress in all of Runan Commandery.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and lifted her foot to cross the drawbridge, passing through the tall fortress gate to enter.

Lively activity rushed toward her.

Inside was a flagstone ground. On both sides were two-story buildings—the ground floor all shops, the upper floor some used as shops, some as residences.

Seeing Zhao Song and the others return, people in the fortress greeted them one after another, then went about their own business.

There were even people setting up stalls on the street in front of the shops, selling all kinds of things.

Because Zhao Changyu’s death was already known, every household had hung white hemp cloth or white banners.

Living in this fortress, whether or not they were surnamed Zhao, they were all considered Zhao family people. With the Zhao family’s former clan leader deceased, they had to observe mourning just as they would for national mourning—even more seriously.

Walking along the street, one could see it was spacious and level. Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan had only passed through Shangcai County without stopping in the county seat, but they could tell that the Zhao fortress was in no way inferior to Shangcai County.

Zhao Hanzhang remarked thoughtfully, “Fifth Uncle, are all the fortresses in the realm like this?”

“Of course not,” Zhao Song said proudly. “Among all the fortresses in the world that can match our Zhao fortress, there are no more than ten.”

In other words, the Zhao family could rank in the top ten among all fortresses in the realm.

And just how many fortresses were there in all the world?

Even if not ten thousand, there must be five, six, seven, or eight thousand.

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help sighing. “Fifth Uncle is truly remarkable.”

Zhao Song shook his head. “This is all your grandfather’s achievement. Without his management, the Zhao family could never have built such a fortress.”

As clan leader, Zhao Changyu naturally couldn’t only look after his own interests.

In Zhao Song and the others’ eyes, the power Zhao Changyu controlled was divided into two parts. One part was completely under his own control—this portion should now be inherited by Zhao Zhongyu.

The other part was the Zhao fortress, managed by Zhao Song but actually belonging to the Zhao clan.

However, Zhao Changyu had always contributed the lion’s share of the funding and provided the strategies. For instance, Zhao Song quietly told Zhao Hanzhang, “When Emperor Hui ascended the throne, because your grandfather had once advised Emperor Wu to depose Emperor Hui, Empress Jia deeply hated your grandfather and had him demoted. At that time, your grandfather wrote to me saying that with consort families holding too much power, the country would likely descend into chaos. He told me to gather as many displaced people as possible—both to give them a way to live and to ensure the Zhao family’s safety.”

Zhao Song led Zhao Hanzhang through the main street to their old family residence, bringing her up to an observation platform. From here, one could overlook the entire Zhao fortress.

This was the main residence of the Zhao family’s direct line, which no one dared occupy.

Zhao Song pointed to the fortress, which was almost equivalent to a small county, and said, “Currently, more than half the people in this fortress are displaced people gathered over these past dozen years or so.”

He continued, “The Zhao fortress could reach its current state entirely due to your grandfather’s foresight and ability.”

Supporting so many people naturally couldn’t rely solely on the initial farmland production. The shortfall was entirely made up by Zhao Changyu alone.

Everyone in the clan knew this, which was why Zhao Changyu’s death saddened them so deeply.

Having lost their helmsman, no one knew what would become of the Zhao family ship in the future.

Zhao Song felt worried, believing Zhao Zhongyu was far inferior to Zhao Changyu, and Zhao Ji was far inferior to Zhao Zhongyu. The Zhao family’s future was bleak.

But there was no need to share these troubles with Zhao Hanzhang. He suppressed his inner worries and turned to smile at Zhao Hanzhang. “This is the main residence. Although your eldest uncle’s family inherited the title, Erlang is still the eldest son and eldest grandson of the primary branch. This is your family’s dwelling—no one can take it away.”

“Shangcai is ultimately too far. If something happens, we can’t reach you in time,” Zhao Song said. “If you move back, there’s still your grandfather’s study here. It would be convenient for Fu Tinghan and Erlang to study here.”

Zhao Hanzhang still declined. “I hear Father preferred Shangcai. Even Erlang was born in Shangcai. When he passed, I was still young, but my admiration for Father has never diminished. I want to live in Shangcai to observe mourning for Grandfather.”

She smiled slightly. “However, we could bring some books over. I hope Fifth Uncle will agree.”

“Those are books left by your ancestors. Of course you can take them to read,” Zhao Song thought briefly and smiled. “That’s fine too. Erlang can’t focus on reading. By the time he marries and has children, and those children can read these books, it will be quite a while yet. With Fu Tinghan here during this time, these books won’t go to waste.”

Zhao Hanzhang understood his hint and said plainly, “During the mourning period with nothing to do, besides copying scriptures to pray for Grandfather and Father, Fu Tinghan and I will organize the study and copy as many books as possible to prepare an extra set for Erlang, so we won’t have to move them back and forth and risk losing some.”

Both parties reached an agreement and smiled at each other with satisfaction.

Returning home, Zhao Song couldn’t help sighing again. “If only Erlang had Sanniang’s cleverness. Even half would do.”

Zhao Ming asked, “Father, who do you think is cleverer—Sanniang or Zhizhi?”

Zhao Song thought about it and said, “The student surpasses the master. At her age, Zhizhi didn’t have this kind of insight and forbearance.”

Speaking of forbearance, Zhao Song thought more deeply.

He paused and asked, “How are the gifts I told you to prepare?”

“All packed up.”

Zhao Song thought it over. “Their days are difficult. Add more money to the trunks.”

Zhao Ming: “…”

He couldn’t help saying, “Father, it’s not that your son is stingy about this money—it’s not worth that—but in just three days you’ve had me increase the money we’re giving three times. I’m very worried, Father. If Sanniang asks in the future, would you give her all our family’s assets?”

Zhao Song said irritably, “She’s your niece, and so young. She lost her father young, now has lost all her valuables and servants, and has to support a whole family. What’s wrong with me giving her more money? You begrudge even this little? When did you become so petty?”

“Father, would someone as clever and thorough as First Uncle not leave a way out for Sanniang and Erlang?” Zhao Ming said. “Let me state again—I don’t begrudge the money. I just need to understand clearly. Given First Uncle’s wealth, even the imperial family wasn’t as rich as him. Would he not leave them money?”

“He did leave it—wasn’t it all stolen?” Zhao Song felt some heartache thinking about it. “All that dowry, all lost. Sigh.”

Zhao Ming said, “Your son means that besides that dowry, there should be other things.”

He continued, “Father, don’t forget about Ji Yuan. He was First Uncle’s most capable advisor. Such a formidable advisor—could he really not preserve even the slightest bit of wealth?”

Zhao Song looked at him with an expression of ‘I’m not listening, I’m not listening, I just won’t listen,’ glaring as he asked, “Just tell me—will you add it or not?”

Zhao Ming silently looked at his unreasonable father for a while, then finally nodded silently and went down to add money for Zhao Hanzhang.

Only then did Zhao Song feel satisfied.