CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 75 JI YUAN

"Wait a little longer. Although Zhao Ji is immature, Zhao Zhongyu is not foolish. Let’s see if anyone comes from the clan. If they do, I will naturally send word to inquire with father and son. If not, I still will reach out to them." He sighed, "This matter should be suppressed and not spread within the clan. Now the clan leader is Zhao Zhongyu; if his reputation suffers, it is not good for the family."

Zhao Changyu has handed over the clan’s connections, wealth, and retainers to Zhao Zhongyu. If the clan turns against him, the harm would not only affect Zhao Zhongyu but also the clan itself. This is a lose-lose situation.

Since Zhao Hanzhang is willing to compromise, he will naturally not cling on tightly, but necessary actions must still be taken and lessons given.

Otherwise, if the clan leader disregards the clan’s interests in the future, it will be these clan members who suffer.

Recalling Fu Tinghan whom he met during the day, along with Zhao Hanzhang’s endurance and magnanimity, Zhao Song feels a pang in his heart, "The heavens do not bless our Zhao family. How the Third Lady has such a mind and character, yet she is born a girl?"

Zhao Ming said, "From this, it is evident that Mrs. Wang is not foolish or unfortunate. Yet, father, you all misunderstood her."

Zhao Song’s face darkened immediately, "What misunderstanding? A monk personally said that her fortune and Zhi Zhi’s are incompatible. Otherwise, how could Zhi Zhi, such a smart person, have a foolish son?"

Zhao Ming disagreed, "Didn’t Uncle check their fortunes before the marriage? There wasn’t any problem back then. But soon after she gave birth to Second Son, this monk happened to come by and calculated from far away that her son born in Shangcai was a fool?"

"Then do you think the monk made a mistake? The monk did say that a person’s fortune changes. She might have been suitable then but became incompatible later." Zhao Song sighed, "If Zhi Zhi had listened to advice and divorced her early on, there might not have been the subsequent disaster. Just a cold was enough to take him away."

If Zhao Zhi were alive, how could the Zhao family have such hidden dangers now?

As for Zhao Zhongyu, it’s fine for now, but the thought of him handing the Zhao family over to Zhao Ji in a few years makes Zhao Song’s heart ache.

His dissatisfaction with Mrs. Wang grows.

Zhao Ming is different; he thinks father and they are completely venting their anger. He does not hide his opinion and said quietly, "But the Third Lady was also born by Mrs. Wang. How come she’s so smart and perceptive?"

He said, "It shows that everyone has their own fate. This is Second Son’s fate. Even if it’s related to the parents, it’s mainly about Father. How can it all be blamed on Mrs. Wang?"

Zhao Song, unwilling to talk further, pointed at him and cursed, "I don’t want to hear your nonsense, get out."

Zhao Ming, upon hearing this, dropped his father’s foot, which he was halfway through cleaning, and left.

The newly cleaned foot fell back into the water basin, wetting the pants cuffs and making Zhao Song angry enough to grab a towel to throw after him. Zhao Ming seemed to have eyes on the back of his head, sprinted out the door and was gone in a flash.

Zhao Hanzhang was in the study, frowning at the report from Uncle Cheng about the grain consumption. Today’s visiting relatives ate all their remaining cartload of grain.

Zhao Hanzhang looked at the manor head waiting nearby, "Zhao Tong, how much food does the manor have?"

With his head down, Zhao Tong murmured, "Not much, the storeroom only has about a dozen bags left. But the tenant farmers likely have some reserves. Last year’s drought prompted the lord to reduce rent by twenty percent and also deferred another twenty percent to this year, so if Third Lady collects rent now, it’s still reasonable."

Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyes and glanced at him, asking, "What’s the current price of grain in the city?"

"Millet costs twelve wen per dou, wheat costs fourteen wen per dou."

Zhao Hanzhang slightly furrowed her brows, "That’s quite expensive..."

She tapped the table, feeling indeed financially strained, "Let’s use the grain from the storeroom first. We can’t have guests going hungry."

Though she plans to borrow money from the clan and is willing to feign poverty, that doesn’t mean she wants others to see her in such a difficult situation.

Not to mention taking food from the tenant farmers; now is an off-season, everyone is tightening their belts.

After they left, Fu Tinghan handed her the jade pendant, "Take it and use it."

Zhao Hanzhang looked at him.

Fu Tinghan smiled gently at her, "It is merely a material possession. We can redeem it later."

Zhao Hanzhang reached out to receive it, holding it in her palm, "Alright."

With this jade pendant, Zhao Hanzhang’s burden eased considerably. She handed the jade pendant to Zhao Ju, instructing him to pawn it in the city first thing tomorrow, "Remember, make it a livable pawn. You can use your identity or report my name. Also, inquire whether any large merchant caravan has arrived recently."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Mr. Ji took so many people and assets; it is impossible for him to be unnoticed. He left earlier than us and used the West City Gate, conveniently avoiding the chaos. He should’ve arrived in Ru Nan ahead of us."

But Ru Nan is vast; besides Xiping and Shangcai, there are five more counties, and no one knows where he went.

Yet she believes, with Mr. Ji’s wisdom, he won’t be far from Xiping and Shangcai. Xiping has Wu Castle, and Shangcai holds her largest dowry.

If Zhao Changyu hasn’t approached after his burial, then she must consider dealing with unexpected events.

Ji Ping and others have their families under Mr. Ji’s care. If Mr. Ji can’t be found, her subordinates will become restless.

While Zhao Hanzhang was pawning her fiancé’s jade pendant to make ends meet, Mr. Ji was indulging in drunken revelry in the Chu House.

After getting his accompanying merchants drunk, Mr. Ji staggered out with an alcohol jug, entering his long-booked room, his intoxication fading. He casually placed the jug on a nearby table and sat cross-legged, asking, "Any news?"

"The news from Shangcai hasn’t arrived yet, but someone returned from Xiping today saying early this morning, the Zhao family’s relatives headed for Shangcai, reportedly to receive the Lord’s coffin."

Mr. Ji couldn’t help but sit up straight, "Already arrived in Shangcai? How come we haven’t heard anything in Yu Yang?"

He furrowed his brows, "Whether they go to Xiping or Shangcai, they must pass through Yu Yang. You were watching the roadside; did you not notice anyone?"

The retainer hesitated, "Maybe they didn’t take the Yu Yang route?"

Not through Yu Yang, perhaps taking a big detour from the rear?

But considering the current chaos in Luoyang, with scattered deserting soldiers, Mr. Ji hesitated as well; it’s not impossible. If they are fleeing, any direction is possible.

"Send someone to Shangcai to investigate, report back with news immediately."

"Yes."

"Is there any information about various rebel armies and the Xiongnu Army?"

"Only some info from refugees who arrived. They say the rebels are still looting in Luoyang City."

Mr. Ji sighed upon hearing this, Luoyang is bound for disaster. Fortunately, they left early, and it’s lucky that Third Lady and the others escaped successfully.