Could it be that the person Professor Fu possessed was an obscure minor figure, so no rumors have emerged?
Zhao Hanzhang: "There isn't anyone specific. It's just that before I lost consciousness, I saw chaos at the city gate, and it seemed many people were injured. I wanted to ask if anyone else suffered memory loss like me. If more people have lost their memories, perhaps this matter will spread more widely in the capital…"
Zhao Changyu's face darkened, while Ji Yuan couldn't help but chuckle. He said to Zhao Hanzhang, "Third Lady, the matter of your memory loss has been suppressed by the Lord and hasn't been disclosed."
Zhao Hanzhang looked at Zhao Changyu in surprise. "Why?"
Zhao Changyu gazed at her calmly, waiting until she lowered her head before speaking. "If you want more, remain quiet during this period. Don't keep thinking about provoking the Second Branch. Don't forget why I gave you the courtesy name Hanzhang."
Zhao Hanzhang obediently agreed verbally, but inwardly she felt Zhao Changyu was destined to be disappointed. She had carried this name for twenty-eight years—while she had cultivated virtue, she hadn't learned much humility.
Expecting her to possess virtue without boasting, as the name implied, was difficult.
The corners of Zhao Hanzhang's lips lifted slightly as she recalled her father chasing her with a stick through two large courtyards.
Her eyes grew moist. She lowered her head to hide the tears welling up and promised again, "I'll listen to Grandfather."
It seemed connecting with Professor Fu through memory loss wouldn't work. She would still need to send someone out to inquire about those injured at the city gate that day.
Zhao Hanzhang's mood improved. When she lifted her head again, her eyes had regained their calmness. Her gaze fell on Ji Yuan, and she gave him an obedient, sweet smile.
A chill ran down Ji Yuan's spine, and he suddenly had a rather ominous premonition.
Zhao Changyu's purpose today was to let Zhao Hanzhang meet Zhao Ju and Ji Yuan. Now that they had met and understood each other, he kept Zhao Hanzhang behind to speak with her alone.
Zhao Changyu: "Although Qianli is a military man, he is steady and meticulous. Erlang may not excel in studies, but he has strength. His demands are few, unlike Ji Yuan. I originally intended to leave both him and Cheng Bo for you and Erlang."
It took Zhao Hanzhang a moment to remember: Zhao Ju, courtesy name Qianli—a name given to him by Zhao Changyu.
Once this detail surfaced, related memories emerged.
Zhao Hanzhang had never met Ji Yuan but had seen Zhao Ju from a distance a few times. Erlang's martial arts were learned from him.
However, compared to Ji Yuan, Zhao Ju seemed rather obscure.
Ji Yuan was a famous strategist by her grandfather's side. Although the young lady had never met him, she had heard his name often.
The Zhao Family's ability to maintain its position amid the conflicts between various feudal lords was largely due to her grandfather's capabilities, but Ji Yuan's assistance was also indispensable.
"Ji Yuan…" Zhao Changyu paused before continuing, "He is different from Qianli. Although he owes me a favor, he is still young and likely won't stay by your side for long. So, you must quickly cultivate your own people to replace him."
Zhao Hanzhang's heart stirred. "Grandfather, can I go out?"
Zhao Changyu's gaze fell on her leg.
Zhao Hanzhang immediately said, "That's not a problem. My leg is sprained and has a hairline fracture, but it's not broken. I think I can go out."
Zhao Changyu said meaningfully, "Aren't you supposed to have lost your memory? And aren't you severely injured?"
"Precisely because I've lost my memory, I need to go out more. That way, I can recover my memories faster."
Zhao Changyu: "…Are you really planning to keep clashing with the Second Branch? That's enough now. Find an opportunity to 'recover your memory.'"
Zhao Changyu stood up and retrieved a box from the bookshelf. "I've left some properties for you and Erlang."
Inside the box were four land deeds and four maps, drawn on silk. Zhao Changyu pulled out two deeds and two maps and handed them to her. "This is the escape route I've prepared for the Zhao clan. Originally, I intended to give it to your granduncle, but… now I've split it in two. This portion is yours."
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at the deeds before turning her attention to the maps. "What are these?"
"These are the locations of hidden wealth," Zhao Changyu sighed. "Great Jin… I fear it won't last much longer. Sooner or later, chaos will engulf the land. With the Xiongnu and Qiang causing turmoil, the situation is even worse than during the Later Han. When that time comes, human life will be as cheap as grass. With money and grain, you can gather capable people to protect yourself. This is your lifeline."
Zhao Hanzhang's gaze fell on the box. Seeing this, Zhao Changyu felt a twitch at his temple again. He reached out and closed the lid. "This portion is for the clan."
He paused before continuing, "Although these assets were accumulated through my own efforts, you must understand that your grandfather also inherited the family's foundation from our ancestors. It was that foundation that enabled today's wealth. Therefore, a portion must be returned to the clan."
Zhao Hanzhang nodded in understanding, generously saying, "I know. This is our responsibility."
Zhao Changyu nodded in satisfaction and motioned for her to put the items away. "I'll have Cheng Bo escort you back. Once the Heir's memorial requesting the title is approved, I'll take you out to meet the people I've left for you."
Ji Yuan and Zhao Ju could still visit the estate, but it wouldn't be appropriate to meet other personnel here. No matter how tight security was in the main courtyard, it wouldn't escape the notice of the Second Branch.
Zhao Changyu reminded her again, "You must remain humble, understand? As a Young Lady, appearing weak makes it easier to gain others' trust."
Zhao Hanzhang didn't quite agree. "For the past six years, haven't we been appearing weak all along? All I've seen is that with every step we retreat, others advance two steps, pressing closer and growing bolder."
She added, "If we hadn't yielded from the start, perhaps the situation would be different. Today's disaster might never have occurred."
Zhao Changyu frowned.
Zhao Hanzhang didn't elaborate further. In Zhao Changyu's eyes, the current situation wasn't yet irredeemable—after all, this incident had ended without real danger.
But Zhao Hanzhang knew that a life lay at the heart of it all—that fourteen-year-old girl who died before she could voice her thoughts. No one else knew of her death except Zhao Hanzhang herself.
Zhao Hanzhang withdrew her gaze from the box and conceded a step. "I understand what you mean, Grandfather. Although I'm not happy about it, for the greater good and for the family, I will yield."
Zhao Changyu's expression softened, and he nodded at her approvingly. "Good. Only then can I entrust those people to you with peace of mind. With your current temperament and abilities, you should be able to keep Ji Yuan by your side for a few more years."
For a while, the grandfather and granddaughter conversed harmoniously, and Zhao Hanzhang returned laden with gains.
What she received today was the bulk of what Zhao Changyu had left for her. The assets represented by those two land deeds and maps amounted to half, or even more, of Zhao Changyu's lifelong accumulation.
These were hidden assets. He certainly wouldn't inform the Second Branch of their existence or whereabouts. That meant he would also have to give her some assets openly, for all to see.
Zhao Hanzhang curled the corner of her lips, sitting in the sedan chair as she looked toward the direction of the Second Branch. Her elder cousin, First Madam Zhao, was probably still kneeling in the Ancestral Hall, wasn’t she?
She wondered whether luring them out of the city was her own idea or if someone had prompted her. The girl’s grievances had to be avenged somehow. She also needed to arrange for Madam Wang and Zhao Erlang, then find Professor Fu so they could figure out a way back together…