Zhao Hanzhang personally escorted Liu Yi to his guest quarters and chatted with him a while longer before going to the front hall.
Liu Kun had already received Tuoba Yilu. The sworn brothers were looking at each other tearfully. Liu Kun said, “Brother, you’ve lost weight.”
Tuoba Yilu replied, “Not as much as you, brother. Your facial bones are showing.”
Liu Kun asked, “Did something happen in Dai Commandery recently? I sought your aid, brother—why didn’t you come?”
Tuoba Yilu sighed. “I was ill, seriously ill. My unfilial son won’t obey me, and Biyan is too young to lead troops.”
Liu Kun: …So what about your nephews?
The thought barely formed before Tuoba Yilu continued, “I only have two useful nephews, but I truly dare not let them leave. My sons harbor such resentment—if they departed, I’d probably die instantly.”
Liu Kun: …
He glanced at the expressionless Tuoba Liuxiu standing behind and was too embarrassed to speak.
Tuoba Liuxiu had long grown accustomed to his father’s slander. His eyes vacant and face blank, he stood to one side listening, completely unmoved.
Such verbal injuries couldn’t stir the slightest ripple in his heart anymore.
Precisely because of this, he was first to sense the approaching person. His eagle-like gaze turned sharply toward the newcomer.
Zhao Hanzhang met his eyes without avoidance or retreat. Tuoba Liuxiu’s heart jumped as he lowered his head.
Only then did Liu Kun and Tuoba Yilu notice Zhao Hanzhang’s arrival and turn to look.
Tuoba Yilu stared at Zhao Hanzhang. Liu Kun quickly introduced them. “Brother, this is our Dajin’s Grand General and Grand Commander-in-Chief.”
To Zhao Hanzhang, “Hanzhang, this is the Tuoba leader of Dai Commandery.”
Tuoba Yilu, meeting Zhao Hanzhang’s seemingly all-seeing gaze, lowered his eyes slightly to avoid her scrutiny. His right hand rose to his left chest as he bowed his head in greeting. “Tuoba Yilu pays respects to Grand General.”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded. “General Tuoba, please rise.”
She and Ming Yu took the seats of honor, raising her hand to invite both Tuoba Yilu and Liu Kun to sit.
Tuoba Yilu immediately felt it—this woman was far more forceful than Liu Kun.
Though Liu Kun came from aristocratic background, he was quite easygoing and friendly toward people.
Tuoba Yilu didn’t dare treat her as casually as he treated Liu Kun. He sat properly, first apologizing for not sending troops when Jinyang was besieged, bringing up his illness again.
Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded without blame, even showing concern for his health. “How is your health now?”
Tuoba Yilu said, “As long as my unfilial son doesn’t deliberately anger me, my body is still well.”
Zhao Hanzhang looked at the several young men standing to the side, smiling as she asked, “These are your sons?”
Tuoba Yilu smiled and first introduced his youngest son. “This is Biyan. Though young, he’s read many Han texts, is intelligent and filial. When I was ill, he attended at my bedside.”
Tuoba Biyan raised his hand in greeting to Zhao Hanzhang, performing Han etiquette.
Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded approvingly.
Seeing Zhao Hanzhang seemed to also favor Tuoba Biyan’s appearance, Tuoba Yilu lavishly praised his youngest son—details omitted, eight hundred words following.
After finishing his youngest son’s praise, Tuoba Yilu drank some water. Noticing Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze resting on Tuoba Liuxiu, he casually said, “This is my unfilial son, Tuoba Liuxiu.”
Then nothing more.
Zhao Hanzhang continued watching Tuoba Liuxiu.
Tuoba Liuxiu stepped forward, right hand on left chest, bowing his head toward Zhao Hanzhang. “I pay respects to Grand General.”
Only then did Zhao Hanzhang nod, saying to those around her, “The young generals have traveled far—please go rest first.”
The Tuoba youths all looked to Tuoba Yilu.
Tuoba Yilu nodded slightly, and only then did they withdraw.
Only then did Zhao Hanzhang address business.
She said to Tuoba Yilu, “Inspector Liu has reported the general’s loyalty and righteousness. His Majesty and I have both seen it. His Majesty wishes to summon you, but Dingxiang is too distant. I wonder if the general has considered leading your people to settle southward?”
Tuoba Yilu’s brow twitched as he asked uncertainly, “Southward?”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded. “South of Dingxiang—You Province and Bing Province also have grasslands where the Tuoba tribe can adapt. This would also be settling southward.”
Tuoba Yilu said warily, “Thank you for your kind offer, General, but the Tuoba are doing well in Dai Commandery now and don’t plan to change territories.”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “That’s good then. I’ll petition His Majesty to change Dai Commandery into Dai State and enfeoff General Tuoba as Prince of Dai.”
Tuoba Yilu’s eyes lit up as he leaned forward, staring intently at Zhao Hanzhang. “Can Grand General truly persuade His Majesty to change Dai Commandery into Dai State?”
Everyone knew that now the Emperor’s intentions were Zhao Hanzhang’s intentions. Tuoba Yilu was asking for her definite answer—would she truly enfeoff him as Prince of Dai?
Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded affirmatively. “This general never speaks idly.”
Tuoba Yilu pondered deeply. Over two years ago, Liu Kun had given him Dai Commandery, though only verbally. The official story was letting him settle in Dai Commandery without tiring wandering.
Liu Kun had also petitioned the Dajin court to make Dai Commandery his fief, but at the time Prince Donghai still held power. Because Dai Commandery belonged to You Province, Wang Jun refused, and the edict never came down.
These past two years, he, Liu Kun, and Wang Jun had fought repeatedly over Dai Commandery. Without official court documents, this matter remained unresolved.
If Zhao Hanzhang truly would change Dai Commandery into Dai State and officially recognize him as Prince of Dai, then working for her wasn’t impossible.
His thoughts turning, Tuoba Yilu immediately lowered his posture and conversed cheerfully with Zhao Hanzhang. Before long, the two eloquent individuals became friends who could talk about anything.
He knew Zhao Hanzhang was also accomplished in music, having long been regarded as a kindred spirit by Liu Kun.
Right—Tuoba Yilu had also heard that song “Heaven and Earth United.” Back then, Liu Kun had written three letters urging him to come to Jinyang to hear the music.
So he turned to Liu Kun and immediately proposed, “If Grand General doesn’t mind, how about the three of us become sworn siblings?”
Zhao Hanzhang: …
Liu Kun felt anxious, assuming Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t agree when she displayed a radiant smile, her eyes full of delighted starlight. “Wonderful! As long as my brothers don’t mind me.”
Tuoba Yilu said, “Grand General is magnificently heroic. Being siblings with you fills us with pride—how could we mind?”
Liu Kun nodded repeatedly.
Sworn brotherhood was no small matter. The Governor’s office staff and Zhao Hanzhang’s staff personally made arrangements. Ming Yu, standing nearby, wanted to speak but held back. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang had already agreed, he could only suppress his doubts.
Zhao Hanzhang specifically summoned Fu Tinghan to witness.
The staff prepared an altar table with wine and a knife. Zhao Hanzhang took the central position, face solemn, kneeling with Tuoba Yilu and Liu Kun.
Fu Tinghan: …He never imagined that as an adult, he’d witness the sworn brotherhood ritual he hadn’t played since kindergarten.
These three people, each and every one, were full of schemes. Not one swore brotherhood purely for the other’s character.