Chapter 221: The Tan Family Daughter

    The Princess Consort of Donghai, Lady Tan, was two years older and slightly taller than her husband. Beautiful as a flower with graceful and proper manners, she entered the room and bowed to the Weary Marquis, addressing herself as “your humble servant Tan,” treating him like an emperor.

    Prince Donghai stood to the side with a red face, feeling that he was not close enough with Han Ruzi for his wife to meet him personally. He dared not speak up, feeling even more embarrassed knowing that his having been beaten had been discovered.

    Han Ruzi was curious about this daughter of the Tan family who was fierce enough to beat Prince Donghai, but felt awkward after meeting her, unsure what to say.

    “Your humble servant happened to overhear the Weary Marquis’s conversation with Prince Donghai and was quite inspired. As it seemed incomplete, I boldly sought an audience to offer some humble opinions. I beg the Weary Marquis’s forgiveness for any rudeness.”

    “My presence here is enough,” Prince Donghai said stiffly, then quickly added, “But if it’s about the Tan family, you should speak.”

    Han Ruzi cupped his hands and said, “Please enlighten us, Princess Consort.”

    Prince Donghai vigilantly looked left and right, trying to catch their slightest changes in expression.

    Ignoring her husband’s supervision, Lady Tan said, “The Weary Marquis says law enforcement clerks are the foundation of the court, which is correct. Prince Donghai says clerks are disloyal, which is also correct. But concluding that law enforcement clerks cannot be relied upon is somewhat mistaken.”

    “Where’s the mistake?” Prince Donghai asked, playing along perfectly.

    Han Ruzi also nodded, showing interest.

    “Do all imperial clan members want to be emperor?” Lady Tan asked.

    “Not many,” Prince Donghai rushed to answer. “Actually just my brother and me and the Champion Marquis. Prince Ying doesn’t count – he’s just a child being used by others.”

    “Are all noble children lazy and unambitious?”

    “In Shattered Iron City, many noble sons fought bravely alongside common soldiers defending the walls. I saw it myself,” said Prince Donghai.

    Lady Tan bowed slightly to the Weary Marquis, confident she had made her point clear: people have different characters and cannot all be judged the same way.

    Han Ruzi understood and asked, “How does the Tan family maintain control over the ‘Guanghua Tigers’?”

    Prince Donghai had mentioned the Tan family’s close ties with the capital’s law enforcement officials, but this alone wasn’t enough to convince Han Ruzi.

    “Through personal relationships,” Lady Tan’s answer was similar to Prince Donghai’s. After a pause, she explained further, “Lian Danchen, though a judicial clerk, is very honest and never accepts bribes from criminals’ families. This has made him many enemies, but only the Tan family respects him and has been supporting him and his family for at least twenty years.”

    Prince Donghai interjected, “It was secret support – Lian Danchen only found out a few years ago and was deeply grateful... continue.”

    Prince Donghai’s tone towards Lady Tan showed a hint of reverence beneath his stiffness.

    “Zhang Jing came from a poor background. At thirteen, he wanted to study to become an official but had no connections. The Tan family supported him for seven years until he was twenty and received his first salary. The Tan family has helped more than just these two law enforcement clerks – seven of the ‘Guanghua Tigers’ have received our family’s aid.”

    “I trust these clerks have repaid the Tan family?” Han Ruzi asked.

    Lady Tan smiled, “They’ve helped with small matters, but the Tan family never demands favors based on past kindness. Each time we ask for help, we provide compensation. Even this time, the Tan family has made no demands – Lian Danchen and others came to us voluntarily, hoping to serve the Weary Marquis.”

    “Me?” Han Ruzi found it incredible, as he had never known any law enforcement clerks before.

    “The Empress Dowager once praised the Weary Marquis,” Lady Tan said.

    Prince Donghai guessed Han Ruzi’s purpose and shouted to his wife, “Don’t fall for it! He wants the Tan family to open granaries and aid refugees!”

    Lady Tan paused again, “The Tan family already provides porridge relief. If the Weary Marquis asks, we would spend everything we have, though I fear our resources aren’t enough to save all refugees in the realm.”

    Han Ruzi smiled, “Of course we can’t expect the Tan family to feed all refugees. I just wondered, if government offices opened their granaries, would the Tan family cooperate?”

    “Without hesitation, and we would do it in the Weary Marquis’s name...”

    “No, no, please don’t mention my name, and there’s no rush. We must first get local officials to open their granaries.”

    “Very well, I’ll discuss with my father to calculate how much grain we can mobilize in each region, waiting only for the Weary Marquis’s word.”

    “Many thanks,” Han Ruzi bowed.

    Lady Tan returned the bow, “A benevolent heart is an emperor’s heart. The Weary Marquis cares for all under heaven – the throne belongs to none but you.”

    Han Ruzi didn’t stand on ceremony. “Then let’s proceed with the original plan. The Tan family will coordinate with law enforcement clerks while I provide a group of death-sworn warriors. When changes occur in the palace, we’ll act quickly to arrest the fate seers and Champion Marquis.”

    Prince Donghai, feeling ignored, hurriedly said, “Shang-guan sheng is key – whoever controls the Eight Palace Guard Camps controls the Capital.”

    Han Ruzi took his leave, greatly admiring Lady Tan.

    Prince Donghai also admired his wife but was somewhat displeased with her appearance today. When alone with his wife, he asked, “Didn’t you tell Han Ruzi too much? Was it necessary?”

    “Gaining the Weary Marquis’s trust is more important than anything,” Lady Tan said coldly.

    “Was it true about the Empress Dowager praising Han Ruzi?”

    Lady Tan nodded, and Prince Donghai’s expression immediately darkened. “Are we really going to help him become emperor?”

    Lady Tan looked at her husband, studying him for a moment before saying, “When Grand Consort Cui proposed marriage to the Tan family, she promised me the position of Empress of Great Chu, not Princess Consort of Donghai. Now that I’ve married you, what do you have to worry about?”

    Prince Donghai smiled.

    It was very late when Han Ruzi returned home, but he still sent servants to summon Yang Feng.

    Yang Feng hadn’t slept and quickly came to the study.

    Han Ruzi detailed his experience at Prince Donghai’s residence, finally asking, “Why did you never tell me about these court factions and struggles?”

    After listening quietly, Yang Feng said, “Don’t you remember? I told you that too much information is worse than none. Now that you know about the ministers’ open and hidden conflicts, how does this help you?”

    Han Ruzi was speechless. Indeed, this information didn’t directly help his current bid for the throne. He also realized that Lady Tan had revealed many court secrets but said little about the Tan family itself.

    “I’ve thought of a way to perhaps get the local officials to open their granaries,” Han Ruzi changed the subject. He had achieved something significant today.

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