CHAPTER 224: CHAPTER 219: LOOKING FOR SOMEONE

Although not his own student, he was still his grandnephew, so Zhao Chen, relying on his elder status, scolded Zhao Hanzhang harshly and drove her out of the courtyard.

Zhao Hanzhang stumbled out of the courtyard looking disheveled, patted her chest, and breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the Eleventh Ancestor did not bring up the matter of copying books again.

Zhao Hanzhang automatically brushed this aside, thinking that men of this age are indeed quite irritable.

Zhao Hanzhang wandered out the door, remembering that everyone was in the garden attending the banquet, and realized that there was no one she could really seek out.

After some thought, she simply asked someone to bring her a package of malt candy, and she headed toward the village below the Wu Castle with it in hand.

Zhao’s Fortress encircled the village where the Zhao family lived, and slowly developed into spacious streets that made it resemble a city with tall walls.

But inside, there were still scattered villages.

After all, not everyone with the Zhao surname could afford to buy a house or shop on the main streets. The vast majority of family members still lived in the village, working at sunrise and resting at sunset.

Of course, now it was winter, and everyone was huddled in their homes for the season.

Because it was the Winter Solstice banquet, a big day for the Zhao Family, there were quite a few people on the streets, including scholars who came out of admiration, traveling merchants passing by, and mostly ordinary people from nearby joining the festivities.

Zhao Hanzhang blended into the crowd without standing out, but the children running around the street recognized her. Unlike the adults who were affectionately apprehensive toward her, the children were much more straightforward, chasing after her, calling her Third Sister and Third Aunt.

They all knew that Zhao Hanzhang was the great hero who saved the Wu Castle, and many children were determined to grow up to be like her.

Zhao Hanzhang handed out the malt candy she was holding to them and asked, "Do your families know you’re out playing?"

The children answered in unison, "They know!"

"There are a lot of people in the Wu Castle these days. Don’t run off, or you might get snatched by child traffickers."

A serious and earnest seven or eight-year-old child said, "As long as we don’t leave the Wu Castle, we’re not afraid. My big brother and his group patrol the streets; no one dares to grab us in the city."

Zhao Hanzhang reached out to pat his head and smiled, "Smart boy. You’re so clever. Do you know there’s an important guest in the Wu Castle named Xiahou Ren?"

"We know, we know," the children answered eagerly. "He’s a scholar. My brother says he’s amazing at painting."

"He also knows military strategies."

"He’s a relative of our family."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "You all know so much. Do you know where he is now?"

"In the garden?"

"No," a four or five-year-old child squeezed out from behind a few companions and looked up at Zhao Hanzhang. "I know, it’s over there."

Zhao Hanzhang looked in the direction he pointed, which was at a restaurant; oh, this was part of the Seventh Ancestor’s business empire.

Zhao Hanzhang gave that child two additional candies, patted his head, and praised, "Thank you. Now go and play."

With that, she headed towards the restaurant.

Inside the restaurant, it was bustling with noise. Although they couldn’t enter the garden, it didn’t stop them from discussing the scholars who came for the banquet.

"Xiahou Ren came over himself. He’s probably preparing for next year’s rankings. I wonder how many from the Zhao Family can be ranked this time."

"Getting ranked is not hard for the Zhao family offspring, the difficulty lies in reaching a high rank. Despite Zhao Ming’s brilliance, he only attained a rank of medium-high, and it’s difficult for any Zhao family descendant to surpass him now."

"It’s a pity Zhao Hanzhang isn’t a man; otherwise, given her current fame and achievements, she would at least rank at medium-high."

"Ah, I remembered her fiancé is also in the Zhao family. Fu Changrong was known for his talent in Chang’an, and he and Zhao Hanzhang returned home together with the coffin, showing utmost purity and filial piety. Such a character could certainly be ranked high, right?"

"Indeed, there aren’t many people in the world as deeply affectionate and filial as he is, but unfortunately, the rankings are up to the governor; we can only discuss in private and cannot decide the rankings."

"Have you seen Mr. Fu Dalang?"

"Not him, but I have had the fortune to see Zhao Hanzhang."

Zhao Hanzhang passed by him and gave him a glance, but unfortunately, he did not look up and missed it.

Zhao Hanzhang went directly upstairs, and the shopkeeper, busy with the abacus, saw her, immediately stepped out from behind the counter to greet her quietly, "Why is Third Lady here? The restaurant is full of people, many of whom know you..."

"I’m here to find Xiahou Ren."

The shopkeeper immediately pointed the way, "Private room on the second floor. Let me escort you up."

"No need, just tell me which room, and I’ll go up myself."

The second floor in Zhao Hu’s establishment was arranged differently, intended for scholars in need of privacy. Its setup was even better than the largest restaurant in Xiping County.

Independent rooms, with low tables and seating mats, and two large windows side by side, not only spacious but also well-lit, albeit cold.

So when Zhao Hanzhang knocked and entered, she saw Xiahou Ren and He Cheng sitting around a brazier. Hearing the knock, they stopped talking, never expecting Zhao Hanzhang to come.

Xiahou Ren was momentarily stunned but soon reacted, "Did Miss Zhao specifically come to find me?"

"Exactly," Zhao Hanzhang smiled, "I wanted to ask Uncle to stay in Xiping a little longer."

After making her greeting, she sat on the other side of the mat, sighed, and said, "I wanted to ask Uncle to look around Xiping County more. After the chaos and looting by the soldiers, the people’s livelihood in Xiping is very difficult..."

Xiahou Ren said, "This is the inspector’s responsibility. I am but a commoner. What good would it do to say anything to me?"

He Cheng: ...He is He Ci Shi’s nephew.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "People outside say that Uncle came this time to prepare for General Xiahou’s rankings next year."

Xiahou Ren narrowed his eyes, "What does this have to do with the livelihood of Xiping?"

"Of course, it does," Zhao Hanzhang said. "If for next year’s rankings, Uncle is willing to put in a good word for Xiping, encouraging more talented scholars to stay and build Xiping, the people would have a much easier life."

She lacked talent, but for now, her main intention was to keep Xiahou Ren within Wu Castle, urging him not to wander. She had quite a few resettlement points within Xiping County, full of young men, who clearly posed issues.

Although she could hide them, such cold weather was too harsh on her soldiers, and Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t bear to let her people suffer, so...

Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze fell on Xiahou Ren, her face growing more earnest, "Uncle, the duplication of those manuscripts will take a long time anyway. Why not take a look at Xiping County with me? After you’ve seen it, you will feel compassion for them too."

Xiahou Ren: ... Are they that close?

He Cheng couldn’t help but speak, "Miss Zhao, the best governance for the people is to do less, or even nothing, allowing them to rest and recuperate, so assigning talents to Xiping County is unnecessary."

Zhao Hanzhang: "I do wish to let them rest and recuperate, do nothing, but the taxes from the court are heavier each year. If I do nothing, can the court also do nothing?"

He Cheng was taken aback, unable to speak for a moment.