Wang Dao understood Wang Dun. He was impulsive but valued loyalty above all. If not for the benefit of their side, even if he and Wang Cheng didn’t get along, he wouldn’t have killed him.

Wang Dao even suspected Wang Dun’s killing of Wang Cheng came from the Prince of Langye’s hint.

They worked tirelessly for the Prince of Langye, but if the Prince couldn’t shelter them from wind and rain, were they still worth doing this?

Cao Shu was simpler. She asked directly, “Why can’t Zhao Hanzhang be like Duke Cao?”

Wang Dao was silent for a long while before saying, “I’m afraid she doesn’t want to be Duke Cao but wants to be Emperor Gaozu of Wei.”

“Let her be. If she pacifies the world, what’s wrong with her being emperor?”

“Ahlong, what about the Sima family is worth your dying loyalty? If not for loyalty, you should choose someone with virtue and ability to serve. You fear she’ll repeat the chaos of the past decades after pacifying the north—then just let her be emperor. If she becomes emperor herself with no one to compete with her, naturally there won’t be any so-called chaos in the world.”

Wang Dao couldn’t help saying, “You’re thinking too simply. Do you know Zhao Hanzhang dislikes clans? Since she took charge of Yuzhou, few clan members have advanced in Yuzhou.”

“Isn’t that using examinations to select talent? Clan children all start enlightenment at three or five years old. In terms of books and famous teachers, how can commoners and humble families compare with us? If they still can’t pass examinations better than poor families, don’t they have mental problems? If their minds have problems, they should stay home instead of going out to bring chaos to the world.”

Wang Dao was speechless for a long while. Thinking carefully, he actually felt what she said made sense.

But in his heart there remained a deep fear, a fear stemming from the unknown.

He always felt Zhao Hanzhang had something about her he couldn’t see clearly, which made him somewhat afraid.

Seeing him wavering, Cao Shu stood up. “Enough. Since you can’t figure out distant matters, think about the near ones. What about Chuzhong’s matter? If Zhao Hanzhang demands the person from you, will you hand him over or not?”

Wang Dao naturally didn’t want to hand him over.

He and Wang Dun grew up together. The two had a very good relationship. This time Wang Dun was wrong, but…

Wang Dao bit his lip. “I’ll go see Siniang.”

“After seeing her, what will you say? Pingzi was her own uncle.”

Wang Dao and Wang Dun were both one degree removed from her.

Wang Dao said nothing. Cao Shu observed his expression, smiled, and knew he had wavered.

She simply said nothing more and stood up to leave.

Wang Dao quickly called to her. “You never interfere in my outside affairs. Why are you saying so much today?”

Cao Shu snorted. “Didn’t you voluntarily tell me? You spoke, I’m helping you solve your worries—and you’re questioning me?”

Wang Dao: “When did I question you? You asked me first.”

“I saw you looking gloomy, so I casually asked. If you didn’t want to say, you could have demurred. Since you spoke, you obviously wanted to tell me. Having told me, naturally I should give advice. How are you now questioning me again?”

Wang Dao couldn’t out-argue her and said helplessly, “Fine, fine, it’s my fault. You may go.”

Cao Shu instead returned to sit beside him. “You tell me to go and I go? I won’t go!”

Wang Dao: …

He had no way to deal with her and could only let her be.

Cao Shu sat for a bit but became restless again, moving close to him and asking quietly, “If we went to pledge allegiance to Zhao Hanzhang, what position could you get?”

Wang Dao’s brow furrowed sharply. He scolded in a low voice, “Be careful with your words. Disaster comes from the mouth.”

Cao Shu: “Don’t worry. When I came, I sent the servants far away. In this entire courtyard except for you and me, there’s no third person.”

Regarding his wife’s威力, Wang Dao was aware, so he fell silent again.

Cao Shu refused to stop, continuing to mutter quietly, “If you acknowledged Zhao Hanzhang as your lord, would you dare take concubines? She’s a woman—she most dislikes men taking concubines.”

Wang Dao couldn’t bear it anymore and reached up to cover his face. Unable to endure it any longer, with no need for further endurance: “Why are we suddenly talking about concubines again?”

“Why can’t we discuss it? Managing the household, ordering the state, and bringing peace to the world—managing the household comes before ordering the state, showing how important this matter is.” Cao Shu warned him by his ear, “Let me tell you, if you want to be valued by Zhao Hanzhang and realize your ambitions, you must learn what she favors, understand? She dislikes men taking concubines, so you cannot take concubines. Absolutely cannot take concubines.”

Wang Dao didn’t agree with her, only asking, “How do you know she dislikes men taking concubines?”

“She’s a woman, I’m also a woman. How would I not know? Would she be willing to let Master Fu take concubines?”

Wang Dao: “If she’s unwilling to let Master Fu take concubines, perhaps she’ll take multiple husbands herself? Food and sex are human nature. This is innate, can be changed, but cannot be forcibly changed.”

“Good! So you want to take male consorts too? I knew it. No wonder you surround yourself with handsome male servants. Tell me, did they seduce you?”

Wang Dao wished he could sew his mouth shut and swallow back what he’d just said. But words spoken were like water spilled—impossible to take back. He could only stare blankly, close his ears, and pretend not to hear his wife’s chattering…

Cao Shu: “…If you dare have second thoughts, I’ll learn from Zhao Hanzhang and take male consorts!”

The non-existent male consorts of Zhao Hanzhang: …

Although his wife was very unreasonable, when quiet, Wang Dao still couldn’t help thinking carefully.

Historically, Wang Dun killed Wang Cheng. This case was considered peculiar. The peculiarity wasn’t that the murderer wasn’t found, but that the motive for killing wasn’t established.

The world all guessed it was because Wang Dun and Wang Cheng’s relationship had never been harmonious, so Wang Dun killed in anger.

But wise people all vaguely perceived this matter couldn’t be separated from the Prince of Langye. Wang Dun and Wang Cheng disagreed politically—one supported the Prince of Langye, one supported the Crown Prince in the Central Plains. They believed Wang Cheng died in a struggle of interests.

In the end, this case was characterized as Wang Dun murdering Wang Cheng in anger. His reputation suffered a huge blow, and he was also demoted as punishment.

Historically, Wang Dao had no second choice. At that time the Central Plains were chaotic, the Crown Prince was weak, with only Xun Fan beside him. He didn’t believe the Central Plains regime could continue.

But now, the Central Plains had a powerful Zhao Hanzhang. Wang Dao had a second choice.

Although this second choice made him anxious, filled the future with unknown fears, there was also a thrilling feeling that the future was bright.

After Jingzhou’s army pressed at the border, Wang Dao still went to find the Prince of Langye to request permission to go to Jingzhou to see Wang Yifeng. “I’ll try my best to persuade her to stop the war.”

The Prince of Langye stubbornly asked, “Does Maohong still want to send troops to support Zhao Hanzhang?”

Wang Dao lowered his eyes. “Speaking from kinship, I’ll severely punish Chuzhong to show sincerity.”

Only then did the Prince of Langye let him leave.

As Wang Dao rushed to Jingzhou, Zhao Hanzhang’s questioning official letter also arrived in Yangzhou. She demanded of the Prince of Langye, “The Crown Prince orders this minister to ask the Prince of Langye—are you planning rebellion? How could you direct Wang Dun to kill famous scholars, making all the world’s scholars lose heart?”