Chapter 140 - Hostage (Extra update for the book friend

Chapter 140: Chapter 134 Hostage (Extra update for the book friend "Si Qing Lan Yu")Since Zhao Hanzhang left, County Magistrate Chai has been living in constant fear.

He fears the chaos army coming from Yu Yang and Xiping, which he has no troops to repel, and fears Zhao Hanzhang might have kidnapped his people, while he cannot keep an eye on Zhao Family’s mother and son.

But this fear soon turned into anxiety, because Zhao Family actually sent four children here, reportedly sent overnight from Xiping.

The chaos army surprisingly forced Zhao Family to send out their seed, and County Magistrate Chai instantly considered fleeing.

But he held on and didn’t dare run, just because of what Zhao Hanzhang said when persuading him before: If the situation becomes dire, he could surrender to preserve the citizens of the city.

County Magistrate Chai was in fear and anxiety when he received news of the battle in Xiping.

Word came that Xiping County’s magistrate sacrificially defended the city, Xiping County was breached, and casualties were severe;

Word came that Zhao Family had led troops to reclaim Xiping County and driven away the chaos army;

Word came that the person Zhao Family sent to reclaim Xiping County was a lady, Third Sister Zhao, who is Zhao Changyu’s granddaughter;

Word came that Third Sister Zhao was formidable, rebuilding the county, comforting citizens, distributing relief grain, and leading the county’s people in the autumn harvest;

Word came that Third Sister Zhao defeated Zhao Ming and is now the actual ruler of Zhao’s Fortress, with Zhao Zhongyu in Capital City being marginalized;

Word came... County Magistrate Chai heard many rumors, and the anxiety on his face gradually turned to expressionlessness.

His first question every day after arriving at work is, "Has Third Sister Zhao returned?"

Chang Ning, with a complex expression, told him, "No news yet."

Today, County Magistrate Chai received the same reply, and he couldn’t help but get angry, finally asking, "How can she be so assured when her mother and brother are still in my hands?"

Chang Ning remained silent, wondering if County Magistrate Chai dared to do anything to Mrs. Wang and Zhao Erlang?

He could only treat them with good food and drinks, right?

County Magistrate Chai was filled with sorrow, "The four children of Zhao Family are also with us, why aren’t they anxious?"

Zhao Family was indeed anxious, especially the parents of those four children.

They had already sent people to Shangcai to fetch them, but upon reaching the estate in Shangcai, they found the children had been sent to the county town.

In the estate, they could easily take them away, but it wasn’t possible in the county town.

It’s not only County Magistrate Chai who would refuse; even Ji Yuan wouldn’t agree.

"Once they are sent to the town, they are entrusted to County Magistrate Chai by Third Lady, just like Second Lady and Erlang. As long as Third Lady doesn’t return, they can’t leave the town, this is trustworthiness."

This attitude deeply moved County Magistrate Chai, and in recent days he quickly formed a brotherly bond with Ji Yuan, their relationship warming fast.

County Magistrate Chai carefully thought it over; with Zhao Family’s power and status in Ru Nan, if they insisted on taking the people away, he couldn’t stop them, so Ji Yuan’s keeping promise and thinking of him made him deeply moved.

County Magistrate Chai didn’t know, and Chang Ning saw his emotion with unusual silence. He wanted to tell him that Ji Yuan blocked Zhao Family from taking those four children not just to keep them as County Magistrate Chai’s hostages but also as Zhao Hanzhang’s hostages.

Did he really think those four children were in County Magistrate Chai’s hands?

They were clearly in Zhao Hanzhang’s hands.

As long as Zhao Family can’t take them away, their lifeline is held by Zhao Hanzhang.

Just look at how smoothly Zhao Hanzhang operates in Xiping County, especially after appointing the county magistrate and chief clerk.

For Zhao Ming, a local noble family scholar, to merely be designated as the county magistrate.

Who is the vacant magistrate position left for?

Chang Ning could guess even with his toes.

But since County Magistrate Chai has recently warmed up to Ji Yuan quickly, Ji Yuan’s instigation strained his relationship with County Magistrate Chai, causing him to be frequently suspected and reprimanded, Chang Ning hasn’t spoken of these things.

After all, County Magistrate Chai wouldn’t believe him, and in the end, he’d probably come in for a scolding.

Chang Ning waits passively, waiting for Zhao Hanzhang to return and make the exchange.

Many people within Wu Castle are also waiting.

Don’t assume only four children were sent out, there are only four pairs of parents, but standing behind them is an entire clan.

After the first failed attempt to retrieve the children from Shangcai, the relatives within Wu Castle gained a new understanding of Zhao Hanzhang.

Before Wu Castle was surrounded, Zhao Hanzhang was just a smart junior in their eyes, and if she had to be defined by a position, she would be the granddaughter of the eldest branch, the actual decision-maker of the eldest branch;

But she was still a child.

After the siege was broken, Zhao Hanzhang became an efficient, brave, and smart junior in their eyes, a lady who could discuss family affairs;

And after failing to retrieve the children, they finally realized Zhao Hanzhang was a person who could independently stand on the same position as Zhao Family to consult major matters.

Therefore, what does she want from Zhao Family?

At this moment, she is no longer just Third Sister Zhao in the eyes of the relatives, she is also Zhao Hanzhang.

Third Sister Zhao belongs to Zhao Family and must follow the arrangements of the family, but Zhao Hanzhang clearly does not.

Zhao Hanzhang handed the county town to Fu Tinghan and herself took two hundred people back to Wu Castle along with Zhao Ming.

Upon meeting again, though only a decade has passed, Zhao Song felt it was longer than a year, quietly watching Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang was just like before, jumping down from the horse and running happily toward Zhao Song, saluting and calling out, "Fifth Uncle."

Zhao Song’s expression involuntarily softened, slightly nodding, "You’re back."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded vigorously, filled with nostalgia, "I’m back, now that Xiping County is finally on the right track, I could finally return."

Zhao Hanzhang pointed under her eyes at her dark circles, "Look, I’ve hardly slept well for a decade, only two or three hours a day."

Zhao Song’s heart ached, "Why did you sleep so little?"

"Xiping County suffered heavy casualties and was in ruins, there were so many things to do, I’m young and lack experience, so I could only handle affairs by staying up late."

Zhao Song sighed, finally unable to resist asking, "Why does a young lady like you take on such thankless laborious tasks?"

Zhao Hanzhang’s voice fell low, "Fifth Uncle, when I saw the smoke of Xiping in Shangcai, I knew Wu Castle was in danger. At that time, I had few people and even fewer weapons and horses, having almost nothing."

"At that time, I was utterly distraught, terribly afraid anything would happen to Wu Castle, inside which are over a thousand relatives of Zhao Family. If anything happened to you, what would I do?" Zhao Hanzhang said, "So I could only plead everywhere, to borrow troops from the magistrate, and painfully let my mother and Erlang go to Shangcai County as hostages, just to exchange for weapons and horses with the troops."

"Then I vowed that as long as Wu Castle could be preserved, I’d surely gather strength so that if such a thing happened again, I wouldn’t send my mother and brother as hostages in exchange for troops and horses."

Zhao Song looked at her in shock, not expecting her to think this way. His heart ached deeply, and he couldn’t help but shed tears holding her hand, "Good child, it hasn’t been easy for you."

Having just arranged for the people Zhao Hanzhang brought back, Zhao Ming returned to see the grandfather and granddaughter crying bitterly together.

Zhao Ming: ...

Clearly, he had been upset for days realizing he misjudged her, how come they’ve reconciled now?