CHAPTER 223: CHAPTER 218: PEOPLE SCARING PEOPLE

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t know that she had just left for a while, and the Eleventh Ancestor had sent everyone she had gathered to work to the neighboring garden. She was currently discussing matters with Ji Yuan.

"I heard praises of the lady when I went out today."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Praise me for what?"

"Praise the lady for filial piety, and there are even scholars who want to write a biography for the lady to pass it down."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Ashamed, ashamed, I know my own affairs best. I’m just following etiquette to observe mourning, how could I be worthy of a biography to spread filial piety?"

She paused, lowered her voice, and asked, "Surely it wasn’t Uncle Ming who paid those scholars, right?"

Ji Yuan: "...If Mr. Ming hears this, it might lead to another scolding."

Zhao Hanzhang, with her thick skin, was used to Zhao Ming’s nitpicking, "What does Uncle Ming want to do?"

"Since Xiahou Ren has already met the lady, and the lady has defeated him, there’s no need to hide anymore," Ji Yuan said. "Being low-key can help the lady accumulate strength, but reputation can also protect the lady."

Since staying low-key was no longer an option, accumulating reputation was the way.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded while sighing, "I originally wanted to be more low-key."

Ji Yuan ignored her, looked at the time, then stood up, "Leave this matter to me; the lady should prepare to meet people."

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Mr. Fu possesses noble character and profound knowledge. Bring him along, and when outsiders see such talent by the lady’s side, they will trust the lady even more."

Zhao Hanzhang understood, but was curious about how Ji Yuan planned to create momentum for her. "I’ve already said I won’t attend the ceremonial banquet, and although I consider myself gentle and kind, people always misunderstand me."

Ji Yuan: "...The lady should speak less."

He said, "County Magistrate Chai is also in the garden; I will ask him to say a few good words for the lady."

County Magistrate Chai didn’t really want to praise Zhao Hanzhang, who had poached Chang Ning, but he couldn’t refuse since he was receiving favors from her. He was attending the ceremonial banquet and meeting many famous scholars thanks to the invitation Zhao Hanzhang provided.

According to Ji Yuan, Zhao Hanzhang only issued two invitations, one to him and another to a person from Shu.

Today was the second day of the ceremonial banquet, attracting not only the gentry and officials’ children from Ru Nan but even those from Yu State.

These people were all well-known, with some long-renowned gentlemen, like Xiahou Ren.

Getting a recommendation from Xiahou Ren would make it easier for County Magistrate Chai to advance further.

So when Ji Yuan approached, County Magistrate Chai only hesitated for a moment before agreeing to help Zhao Hanzhang.

County Magistrate Chai believed that even without Zhao Hanzhang’s favors, he would eventually help her. After all, he was good friends with Ji Yuan and couldn’t bear to make Ji Yuan unhappy.

The two entered the garden together and sat with the others. Despite some scorn, talks primarily centered around state affairs, as it was a banquet for establishing reputations.

In discussing state affairs, one couldn’t avoid mentioning the Great Jin’s biggest crisis—Liu Yuan of the Xiongnu.

As someone who nearly had his troops surrounded by the Xiongnu Army, County Magistrate Chai had much to say, eloquently recounting how Zhao Hanzhang persuaded him to send troops to aid Xiping County under Ji Yuan’s watchful eye.

Fu Tinghan sat not far away, separated from them by a sprawling plum tree whose branches were curved and lush. The tree had buds, effectively blocking their view.

But it didn’t block the sound.

A young man who had just met Fu Tinghan asked, "Tinghan, does Third Sister Zhao really have such insight?"

Fu Tinghan nodded without hesitation and said, "Her abilities surpass those of us present."

Immediately, the young man laughed and said, "Tinghan, your heart must indeed be broad, not the least concerned, huh?"

Fu Tinghan asked, "The world admires the strong; should it matter that she is a woman?"

Someone began to ponder, nodding and saying, "That’s a good point. Character first, talent second. I’ve never heard of gender being a factor. By this reasoning, with Third Sister Zhao’s character and talent, she could be selected as an official."

"But when the world was first divided, the roles of men and women were set—men govern, women manage the home. Appointing a lady like her as an official would defy the natural order, wouldn’t it?"

Fu Tinghan felt debating such meaningless matters was pointless and directly said, "She never said she wanted to be an official. Weren’t you all just discussing her character and talent?"

County Magistrate Chai was lavishly praising Zhao Hanzhang, considering her passionate and righteous, and moreover, filial.

Her passion was shown when the Zhao’s Fortress was in trouble, and she risked her life to bring reinforcements; her righteousness was shown when she voluntarily led troops to Yu Yang to break the siege; as for her filial piety, it needed no further mention.

County Magistrate Chai’s praise felt somewhat forced because of Chang Ning’s involvement, making him feel tricked back then.

But speaking of Zhao Hanzhang’s filial piety, he felt no psychological burden, as he genuinely believed in her filial nature.

Zhao Hanzhang returned with her coffin amidst a tumultuous army, which was one act of filial piety; after returning, she continued observing the rituals of mourning, which was another.

Despite etiquette requiring mourning, not everyone adhered to these customs.

One could say, due to various reasons, both objective and subjective, there weren’t many adhering to mourning etiquette.

Therefore, anyone who observed filial mourning according to the rituals became a matter worth commemoration.

Though a woman, Zhao Hanzhang dutifully observed mourning etiquette, commemorating when necessary, mourning when necessary, and she even supported her weak brother, ensuring the continuity of the Zhao Family’s main bloodline, which was the highest form of filial piety.

Fu Tinghan had many things to say but fell silent upon hearing the exaggerated praise from the other side.

Curiously, he leaned back and turned to see, only to discover it was County Magistrate Chai, with Ji Yuan sitting beside him.

Fu Tinghan blinked, righted himself, and ceased discussing the matter with others, leaving the professional work to the professionals.

He wished to return to mapping.

At this moment, Zhao Hanzhang found the small courtyard, intending to ask Fu Tinghan to meet people with her. However, the spacious courtyard was empty, with only Zhao Chen inside comparing his drawings.

The map only had the small part Fu Tinghan had drawn. Zhao Chen was practicing on a piece of paper, planning to sketch a draft before adding more to the map.

Fu Tinghan had started drawing from a mountain range outside Guan City, which marked the edge of Xiahou Ren’s map.

He drew along the mountain terrain and mapped the adjacent river course accordingly, followed by the cities and roads...

Though just a few strokes, it set the stage. Zhao Chen initially wanted to continue directly, but whether Fu Tinghan’s drawing was too good or his own lack of confidence, he hesitated and simply took out paper to practice first.

Zhao Hanzhang stood behind Zhao Chen watching for a while. When he stopped, she couldn’t help but ask, "Eleventh Ancestor, where are the others?"

A sudden voice broke the silence, startling Zhao Chen so much that he collapsed, the brush in his hand flying.

Zhao Hanzhang realized she had caused trouble, immediately squatted to support Zhao Chen, "Eleventh Ancestor, it’s me, don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, fear not ghosts nor gods."

This was what Mrs. Wang had once said to comfort Zhao Erlang while holding him after being robbed.

Zhao Chen’s old face turned red, angrily shouting, "Afraid of what? Can’t you knock before entering? Who taught you manners? Go back and copy the ’Book of Rites’ ten times for me!"

He realized after shouting that Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t a student in his clan school, making him even more displeased.