That was impossible. Even if Zhao Changyu could be “selfish” to this degree, he couldn’t possibly push Zhao Hanzhang into the eye of the storm.

Zhao Changyu led the three into the study. Chengbo remained guarding the courtyard.

Because of her leg injury, Zhao Hanzhang could only sit on a barbarian-style stool, while Zhao Changyu and the other two sat cross-legged on mats.

Zhao Changyu sat in the main seat, glancing at his granddaughter sitting directly across from him on the stool. “I’ve decided. Tomorrow I’ll submit a memorial requesting the establishment of an heir. With the new emperor’s ascension, it’s just the time for enfeoffing meritorious officials. My memorial should be approved quickly.”

He tapped the table with his finger. “Originally, after requesting the heir designation, I should have kept your eldest uncle by my side to teach him, gradually transferring the family’s forces to him. But…”

Zhao Changyu looked up, staring intently at Zhao Hanzhang. “Your grand-uncle is still here.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s heart stirred as she recalled the scattered historical records about Zhao Zhongyu. “You want them, father and son, to fight each other while our first branch reaps the benefits as the fisherman?”

“…” Zhao Changyu quickly glanced at Ji Yuan sitting to the side and shouted, “What nonsense! After I’m gone, the family’s great plan will rest entirely on your grand-uncle and eldest uncle. Instead of saying you’ll assist them from the side, you actually hope for their misfortune?”

Zhao Hanzhang immediately lowered her head to admit her fault. “Yes, it’s all Sanniang’s fault. I won’t dare do this again.”

Having said it so openly like this.

Only then was Zhao Changyu slightly satisfied. He continued, “People are valuable for their quality, not quantity. I’m leaving you and Erlang some people. After I’m gone, you and Erlang will escort my coffin back to our homeland.”

He didn’t avoid Ji Yuan and Zhao Ju, speaking directly to Zhao Hanzhang. “I’m giving you two paths. First, you can get engaged first and marry after the mourning period ends. Ziyuan and the others will help you. Our family has a fortified estate in Runan. Currently, your fifth grand-uncle’s branch manages it, but our first branch is the legitimate line. With Erlang present, as long as you return home, you’ll have opportunities.”

The words didn’t need to be too explicit. Zhao Changyu was telling her to use Zhao Erlang’s name to command the Zhao clan’s fortified estate.

Zhao Hanzhang thought this path was quite good and nodded slightly. But getting engaged…

She felt that wasn’t quite necessary.

“Second, get engaged and married this year. Take Ziyuan and the others with you. In the future, your mother and brother will depend on you for their livelihood.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Grandfather, are you willing to hand over such great Zhao family forces to relatives by marriage?”

Zhao Changyu looked at her steadily. “I’m entrusting them to you.”

If Sanniang hadn’t said those things and done these deeds, he originally wouldn’t have split off forces to give her.

But since she had such insight, her husband’s family wouldn’t be able to control her. The forces in her hands could become an asset to her husband’s family. Similarly, her husband’s family’s forces would also be her asset, protecting her and the first branch’s mother and son.

Zhao Hanzhang’s heart surged with excitement. “Since Grandfather trusts me, I will not fail Grandfather’s trust. I will protect Mother and younger brother well, and I’ll protect myself too. I choose the first path.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked curiously, “Which family were you telling me about? Why is the second branch so anxious to make a move?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. You can’t speak carelessly about things without evidence.” After reprimanding her, Zhao Changyu said, “I have my eye on Fu Zizhuang’s eldest grandson, Fu Changrong.”

Zhao Hanzhang vigorously searched her mind for information about Fu Zizhuang, but the search failed, leaving her looking blankly at Zhao Changyu.

Ji Yuan beside them smiled. “Master Fu’s name is Zhi, courtesy name Zizhuang. He has just been enfeoffed as Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat, Minister of the Right, Grand Minister of Honors of the Left, and Minister of Education. His eldest son, Fu Xuan, married Princess Hongnong. Fu Changrong is the son of Princess Hongnong. He has had a reputation for talent since youth. He’s two years older than Sanniang. The ages are suitable, the talent and appearance are suitable, and the family background is also suitable.”

Age and talent aside, from the surface, the family background did seem quite suitable. But looking deeper, it wasn’t suitable at all.

Both their grandfathers were Supervisors of the Imperial Secretariat, but his grandfather was active duty while hers was retired. His parents were both alive while her side consisted of orphans and a widow, no?

Zhao Hanzhang was very doubtful. “Master Fu… would he agree?”

Zhao Changyu glanced at her. “Why wouldn’t he agree? Sanniang, you are gentle and virtuous, talented and beautiful. The Fu family would be only too happy.”

Zhao Hanzhang felt guilty. Never mind talent and beauty—she wouldn’t deny that. But this gentle and virtuous… not to mention her, even the original girl didn’t have these qualities.

She didn’t believe Zhao Changyu was unaware that the young girl had been secretly working against the second branch.

Zhao Changyu maintained his composure. “You need not worry about this matter. You are a young lady—you should be reserved and proud. Though I initiated the discussion, right now it’s the Fu family who are courting you.”

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t understand. “Why?”

Zhao Changyu glanced at her and frowned. “Why else? Naturally because you are excellent.”

Zhao Hanzhang paused for quite a while. Finding that Zhao Changyu was actually serious, she was at a loss for words. She acknowledged she was excellent, and the original girl was excellent too, but did this era truly recognize their kind of excellence?

Thinking that the other party’s surname was Fu, Zhao Hanzhang’s heart stirred. “Grandfather, has this Master Fu been well recently?”

Zhao Changyu looked at her. “Why do you ask this? Does he have some bad habits that you’ve learned about?”

Zhao Changyu was surprised. “Your intelligence network has become so extensive that you can even find out information from Chang’an?”

Zhao Hanzhang: “…He’s in Chang’an, not Luoyang?”

Zhao Changyu frowned, staring at the wound on her head. “The capital incident—he’s been trapped in Chang’an with his parents all along. You… don’t you remember? Is the memory loss real?”

“Oh,” but now Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t admit to memory loss. After all, two important right and left arms were present. If these trusted advisors learned she had brain problems, wouldn’t that undermine their confidence?

So she smiled. “It’s fake. I just don’t remember matters concerning the Fu family. Are their affairs very significant?”

Zhao Changyu was instantly convinced. Indeed, it wasn’t significant. Over the past two years, Great Jin had lost three princes, the emperor had been captured twice, and last year was even directly poisoned to death in the imperial palace. Every single event was bigger than the Fu family being trapped in Chang’an. His granddaughter was still young and hadn’t received complete information, so it was normal not to know.

Zhao Changyu convinced himself, nodding slightly. “However, with the new emperor’s ascension, the siege of Chang’an has eased somewhat. Though the journey from Chang’an to Luoyang remains extremely perilous, with the Fu family’s capabilities, returning shouldn’t be difficult. In another two months, you should be able to meet him.”

Zhao Hanzhang was slightly disappointed. It seemed this Fu Changrong wasn’t Professor Fu.

Based on her timing of appearance and disappearance, Professor Fu should have appeared where there was an injured person, perhaps like the young girl, near death or already dead, which was why Professor Fu had whooshed away before her eyes.

She just didn’t know who he had become.

Zhao Hanzhang’s heart grew restless. In the end, she couldn’t resist asking the three of them, “Grandfather, I wonder if there’s been any news recently in the capital—for instance, people who like me have lost their memory or been seriously injured.”

Zhao Changyu replied, “Never mind injury—people die in the capital every day. Who in particular are you asking about?”