Chapter 38 - Finding Books

Chapter 38: Chapter 32 Finding BooksAs soon as Wang Yan got into the carriage, he became serious and, after contemplating for a long time, remarked to those around him, "The Zhao Family’s young lady is no ordinary person. Luckily, she is just a lady."

If she were a man, he would have to eliminate her immediately to prevent her from growing powerful in the future.

Back at the Wang Family, Wang Yan was still somewhat uneasy and summoned Wang Si Niang. After carefully asking about Third Sister Zhao, he snorted, "Zhao Zhongyu lacks foresight, neither having the capability nor the ruthlessness, leaving Third Sister Zhao behind, which will lead to endless future troubles."

Wang Si Niang: "...Father, Third Sister is gentle and values relationships, how could she be a future trouble?"

Wang Yan glanced at her and said, "What do you know? This girl’s gaze is clear and steadfast, her demeanor is not inferior to a man’s. She is not someone easy to deal with."

Luckily, she is a lady, although Fu Changrong is talented, his character is upright, and he does not love worldly affairs. With the two marrying, even Third Sister Zhao has immense ambition, she cannot execute it.

Wang Yan breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Wang Si Niang couldn’t help but mumble, "I originally wanted to make Third Sister my sister-in-law..."

Wang Yan heard it, his body stiffened involuntarily, and he stomped his foot saying, "Since you have this plan, why didn’t you mention it earlier?"

If we could have asked for Third Sister Zhao for Meizi, he wouldn’t have had to worry about future troubles.

Wang Si Niang: "...Weren’t you planning to ask for the Commandery Princess from the East Sea Royal Family for elder brother?"

Wang Yan rubbed his forehead, "Forget it, the wedding date for the Zhao and Fu families is already set, which was arranged by me. It’s useless to say more now."

Wang Si Niang opened her eyes wide, "The wedding date is set? How did it happen so quickly, wasn’t it just engagement, which day is it set?"

"June sixth."

Wang Si Niang: "Why so rushed?"

Wang Yan did not hide and directly said, "Zhao Changyu’s health is failing, and probably they want to marry before he passes."

Wang Si Niang began to worry for Third Sister Zhao, "Father, I want to visit Third Sister tomorrow, please allow me to go out."

Recently the Capital City has been quite chaotic, Wang Yan has restricted Wang Si Niang’s movements.

Wang Yan looked at his daughter for a while, and finally nodded.

Wang Si Niang happily saluted and withdrew.

But Zhao Hanzhang was not at home, early the next morning, after breakfast with Zhao Changyu, she quietly went out.

She directly rode to the West City.

At this time, farm work in the fields has already concluded, Luoyang has fewer rice crops, and more wheat. Now the wheat is turning green, already a sea of green.

After entering the manor, bypassing some rows of houses to reach the center.

Zhao Changyu is indeed formidable, the living spaces here all belonged to his people, and he had directly cleared a space in the center for practicing military skills—oh, it shouldn’t be called practicing military, it should be a place for martial arts learning.

This is currently a common thing, not to mention Zhao Changyu has always been cautious, outsiders would hardly come to the center to see such a scene, even seeing it, they wouldn’t be surprised.

Luoyang is full of distinguished noble families, and which of these families doesn’t maintain their own retinue?

A place with so many young and strong people, who are well-fed and plump in such times, clearly indicates they are retainers.

Zhao Hanzhang stopped at the street corner, seeing the Fu Family’s ox cart, she galloped forward and used the whip to lift the curtain, "I guessed it would be you, your people can’t go in. Get off the cart and let’s ride horses inside?"

Fu Tinghan agreed, got off the cart, and mounted the horse holding her hand, sitting behind her.

Zhao Hanzhang kicked the horse, headed straight into the depths of the alley, "Can you ride a horse?"

Fu Tinghan nodded, "I can ride."

"Is it from memory or...?"

"I learned horseback riding for a while while studying abroad, but it’s for fun, not falling off the horse, merging it with the memory, mounting isn’t a problem."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Today we are going for a horseback ride, you can try to feel it out, it will be helpful since we need to leave Luoyang later."

Fu Tinghan asked, "Where to after leaving Luoyang?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Returning home?"

Zhao Changyu has a treasure in Ru Nan.

"Or to Chang’an," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Chang’an is slightly better than Luoyang."

Zhao Changyu has properties over there too, but most are entrusted to Zhao Zhongyu. However, later on, Chang’an is even safer than Ru Nan; now, the Central Plains are chaotic, life is difficult.

Fu Tinghan recalled memories of Chang’an, shook his head, "Chang’an is also unstable, bandits are rampant along the way, before King Hejian was stationed there, it was fine. Now King Hejian is dead, I’m afraid Chang’an is even worse than Luoyang."

"Soon, Luoyang won’t even compare to Chang’an."

Zhao Hanzhang appeared before the retainers with Fu Tinghan, and the people led by Zhao Ju glanced at Fu Tinghan, respectfully saluting, "Mr. Fu."

Although their date was only set yesterday, everyone already knows that Zhao Changyu has formally handed them over to Zhao Hanzhang, making her their master, and with the marriage between the Zhao and Fu families, Mr. Fu also counts as their master.

Today Zhao Hanzhang bringing Fu Tinghan here, the meaning is clear, everyone saw Zhao Hanzhang’s attitude.

Fu Tinghan also mounted a horse, riding with Zhao Hanzhang to the open field behind the manor.

"Didn’t expect there are such places within Luoyang City."

Zhao Hanzhang: "I was also surprised when I first saw it, do you see that mountain? I’ve heard it belongs to the Wang Family’s manor, extending all the way to the city walls. Zhao Ju said, the Central Lang General guarding the West City Gate comes from the Wang Family, if another major military upheaval occurs in Luoyang, the Wang Family can leave through the West City Gate."

Fu Tinghan: "Everyone here is so pessimistic about Luoyang, why not relocate the capital?"

"Someone actually suggested it, but the predicament of Great Jin cannot be solved by relocating the capital, if a pot of soup is about to spoil, splitting it into two won’t prevent the rotten part from seeping into the other half, it will still go bad eventually."

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "How is the investigation on the Seven Stars aligning coming along?"

"I’ve recently checked some family books and found there are very few records about it; I need more astronomical records for reference," Fu Tinghan said, "With sufficient reference data, calculation will be more precise."

In order to return, they had identified the location, although unsure if the location is a condition, but the gates of Luoyang will always be there;

If only they could determine the time, then study the impact of energy variables.

Fu Tinghan habitually solves problems from easy to difficult, so he wanted to calculate the timing of the Seven Stars aligning first.

Zhao Hanzhang searched her memory, "I remember we have several books related to astronomy at home, and there are hand-copied volumes too, I’ll retrieve them for you later."

Fu Tinghan nodded, "If only I could visit the Astronomical Observatory to see their records, it would be great."

Zhao Hanzhang pondered, "It might not be impossible, as long as it’s handled properly..."

When something can’t be solved, look to Grandfather.

Zhao Hanzhang ran back to seek Zhao Changyu.

Zhao Changyu was watching Uncle Cheng and a group of stewards prepare Zhao Hanzhang’s dowry. He rarely saw Mrs. Wang and said to her, "Leave the matter of Third Sister’s dowry to you, lead Uncle Cheng to gather the listed items separately into a warehouse. When she gets married, simply carry it out."

Due to the urgent wedding date and the sizeable dowry, they had to start bustling immediately, even Mrs. Wu could not avoid coming to help.

Uncle Cheng opened the warehouse of the large house, leading the servants in a procession, and soon carried out one box after another, opened them, and began inventorying the gold, silver, and jewels stored there, after selecting items from the dowry list, put them aside, where Mrs. Wang reviewed them, made a new ledger, and moved them into a new warehouse.

As Zhao Hanzhang returned home, the mansion was lively, she quietly entered through the West Corner Gate and sneaked into the main courtyard.