Chapter 75: Chapter 69 Supporting the Coffin and ProceedingThis time, the court’s escape involved many people, including the palace concubines, court officials, and the imperial guard protecting them. Additionally, there were officials and nobles’ families who heard the news and fled the city with them.

    Therefore, the number of people was large and chaotic, making information collection difficult. Zhao Ji didn’t know that Mr. Chen, who fell behind, had been found and brought back with the Zhao Family’s retinue.

    Moreover, Zhao Ji didn’t recognize Ji Ping and might not be able to identify him even if they met face-to-face.

    So by the time Zhao Ji organized his people, Ji Ping had also bought provisions.

    Early the next morning, Zhao Ji’s people set out first, while Ji Ping and his group, carrying provisions and newly prepared carts, quietly departed with this batch of provisions.

    Although they were heading in the same direction, those at the front were riding horses, traveling light and fast, while those at the back were mixed with cars and horses, with some needing to keep up on foot while carrying baggage, so their speed was much slower.

    Soon after departure, the Zhao Family guards who went out searching encountered the stranded refugees at the back and learned that they were saved by Third Sister Zhao.

    "The Zhao Family lady took her family towards Ru Nan, saying they were returning home with a coffin."

    Upon hearing this, the guards hastened their pace to pursue them.

    However, Zhao Hanzhang and the group didn’t stop much along the way. The next morning, the villagers gathered a pile of provisions and sent them to the village entrance.

    The elder tried hard to keep them, not knowing if it was genuine, Zhao Hanzhang still handled it as real, gratefully refusing.

    She handed over the commentary on the Analects copied last night to the elder, sighing, "If we encounter chaos along the way, we have nothing valuable left, only carrying a volume of the Analects commented by Grandpa for Second Son. Mr. Fu and I copied it last night, giving it to you as a keepsake."

    The elder’s eyes brightened, taking this stack of manuscripts with shaking hands, "This is a treasure; the lady’s great kindness, we will certainly safeguard this manuscript left by our benefactor."

    He called over his grandson who was studying, letting him kneel and thank Zhao Hanzhang.

    Facing someone bigger than herself, Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t accept it; as soon as he tried to kneel, she supported him, bowing repeatedly with the elder, "You’re going to make me sick with excessive courtesy; it’s us who are in trouble, thanks to your assistance, it’s us who should be kneeling and thanking you..."

    Fu Tinghan stood aside, watching them exchange bows for a long time before reluctantly parting.

    Mounting his horse, Professor Fu exhaled deeply, unable to resist turning to look at Zhao Hanzhang riding beside him.

    Zhao Hanzhang: "What are you looking at?"

    Fu Tinghan: "This version of Teacher Zhao is different from the rumors, and different from the person I know."

    "What are the rumors like? Fierce and ill-mannered, the shrew who beats up colleagues?" Zhao Hanzhang turned her head and asked with a smile.

    Fu Tinghan thought for a moment, "I thought Teacher Zhao disliked dealing with these, so you would prefer a cold face."

    Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, "You can categorize my behavior as self-serving."

    She continued, "In our time, we had money, ability, no threats to our lives or survival, so our pursuits could be higher. We could choose whether to engage with social pretensions based on our moods. Of course, not all courtesy was sham deferral; as for just now, was I being insincere?"

    Fu Tinghan shook his head under her gaze, "Not insincere."

    Zhao Hanzhang was satisfied, looking back at the villagers still seeing them off at the village entrance, her expression resolute, "Regardless of whether they are genuine or to ward off calamity, today’s kindness, I will remember."

    Fu Tinghan said, "I’ve checked; this village is called Linnan Village. They have a smaller side path heading towards Ru Nan, saving time compared to taking the official road, allowing us to bypass many detours."

    The group soon reached that small roadside.

    Compared to the wide and smooth official road, this was a narrow path with grass meadows in the middle and exposed ground with wheel tracks on the sides.

    On both sides were field ridges. Not far away was a low hill, and the path circled around it, so the end was not visible.

    Beside them was the official road; the path headed northeast, while the official road ran directly north. From the map Fu Tinghan drew, the journey would take about a day to veer east, with approximately forty miles eastward before the official road and the small path converged.

    According to the villagers, this small path was around forty miles.

    This means by taking the small path, they save at least a day’s time.

    This small path, apart from being narrow and bumpy, had no other problems, though it was difficult for carts. However, they only had one ox cart; others either walked or rode horses, so the issue wasn’t significant.

    Moreover, all walked on grassland, which was friendlier to hooves and human feet, although it was uncomfortable for Grandpa Zhao.

    Zhao Hanzhang dismounted and let Mrs. Wang ride the horse, while she walked alongside the coffin.

    Mrs. Wang watched from horseback, her heart aching, lowering her head to weep.

    Qing Gu led the horse, seeing her tears, hurriedly comforted, "Madam, don’t cry; it’ll make Third Lady uneasy."

    She said, "Things will be better once we’re back in Ru Nan."

    Yet Mrs. Wang felt more anxious, tears flowing even harder, "Things may not improve. Big Brother and the others harbored ill intentions, and the people there speak harshly; we’ll have to rely on others again."

    "Why is it so difficult for the three of us to survive?" Mrs. Wang lifted her tear-filled eyes, looking at her son cheerfully riding ahead on his horse, feeling even sadder, "Though not very smart, I’m not foolish either. His father was smart and clever; why is he so dull?"

    Qing Gu quickly gestured for her to lower her voice, "Third Lady repeatedly instructed not to call Second Son dull; even in private, he wouldn’t like it." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She said, "This has nothing to do with you or Sir; fate is fair. You and Sir come through noble birth, so fate compensates elsewhere. While you’ve suffered, the blessings manifest in Third Lady and Second Son."

    "See, isn’t it? Third Lady is smart and adept, yet unlike Sir, weak and sickly, she’s capable in both literature and martial arts. Surviving a disaster like last time, yesterday was also without danger, showing that she carries fortune," Qing Gu said, "Second Son is the same. Though dull, see how fortunate he is, protected by the master ahead. Now with a sister and brother-in-law, observe..."

    Gesturing for her to see Fu Tinghan walking alongside Zhao Hanzhang with the coffin.

    Mrs. Wang’s tears gradually stopped.

    Qing Gu looked at Fu Tinghan with satisfaction, "It’s audacious to say, but how many can compare to such character and appearance as the son-in-law in this world? The second family benefited so much from our family; not to mention Second Uncle and Dalang, even if the great master had one-tenth of his filial piety, we wouldn’t be here."

    "But after all, the great master is an outsider and shares your rank. How much benefit does his filial piety give you? So fate specially arranged the son-in-law, who is family, he’s filial. You, Third Lady, and Second Son now have reliance."

    The retinue from behind watched Fu Tinghan walking with the coffin and felt moved, even Zhao Dian couldn’t help but contemplate. If Fu Tinghan became the master of the first household, staying with the first household might not be impossible.