Chapter 42 - Reluctance

Chapter 42: Chapter 36: ReluctanceZhao Changyu stared at the hand he withdrew, sighed inwardly, and looked at him with some sadness, saying, "In my heart, you are just like A Zhi. I hope you can surpass me, so I have been strict with you. The facts have proven that strictness is right; you are doing well now."

Zhao Zhongyu looked at him in surprise; this was the first time he had received recognition from Zhao Changyu.

"The family will be entrusted to you, as well as the Zhao Family," Zhao Changyu paused, then still pulled Zhao Hanzhang’s hand and placed it in his palm, looking at him with teary eyes, "I’ll entrust these two children to you, please take care of them."

Facing Zhao Changyu’s gaze, Zhao Zhongyu was also somewhat moved, "Rest assured, big brother..."

How could Zhao Changyu truly be at ease?

He quietly tightened his grip on Zhao Hanzhang’s hand, unable to say many words.

Zhao Changyu handed the family seal to Zhao Zhongyu and then, dragging his sick body, got up to write a memorial to the throne.

The letter maintained its original intention, still hoping the emperor could have Prince East Sea quickly capture Jingzhao County, and stabilize the Central Plains before facing external threats together.

At this point, he did not hold back his wisdom and sincerity, directly stating to the emperor, "I am firmly convinced that the person forging letters was not Your Majesty’s instigation. This person’s intentions are insidious, trying not only to sow discord between me and Your Majesty but also between me and Prince East Sea, and between Prince East Sea and Your Majesty. At such times, one should be more candid."

"With Emperor Hui’s passing, many things need rebuilding. Prince East Sea is a pillar of the country; Your Majesty, with your dragon’s majesty and phoenix’s grace, if you rely on Prince East Sea, then the resurgence of Great Jin is imminent."

After writing the advice, Zhao Changyu turned to talk about his family affairs, expressing that his body was burdened with illness and he could no longer serve Your Majesty. He regretted that during his tenure, he couldn’t counsel the emperor from above nor manage the people below, failing Emperor Wu’s trust. But as one nears death, thoughts inevitably turn to family and descendants.

He hoped the emperor could allow Zhao Ji to inherit the ancestral title, having his pair of granddaughters escort his coffin back for burial.

Zhao Changyu, with shaking hands, finished the memorial. By the end, words turned incoherent, yet he couldn’t care about its appearance, signaling Zhao Hanzhang to fold the memorial, "After my death, you all must find a way to present the memorial to the throne; as long as it reaches the emperor, the predicament can be resolved."

The room fell silent. No one spoke; only Zhao Hanzhang and Mrs. Wang kept shedding tears. Zhao Erlang, ignorant and unaware, seeing his mother and sister crying bitterly, followed suit and cried too.

Looking at this foolish grandson, Zhao Changyu felt endless emotion. Twenty years ago, he strongly opposed Emperor Hui as successor, believing him too foolish to be King;

who knew his son would also give him a foolish grandson?

Emperor Wu was fortunate; at least he had more than one son, with choices available.

He, however, had only one son, one grandson; he couldn’t decide to entrust the family to the grandson and had to leave it to the nephew.

Everyone felt he made the right choice, given the precedent set by Emperor Hui. But who knows how uneasy he felt inside?

Because his relationship with Zhao Zhongyu was ordinary, and he had only an average bond with this nephew, he truly couldn’t feel reassured.

Yet now, he’s at the point where death is unavoidable.

If he dies now, the family can still be saved; if not, the family might face death itself.

Zhao Changyu slightly closed his eyes, thinking of something, suddenly opened them again, and grabbed Zhao Zhongyu’s hand, "I entrust them to you, I entrust them to you."

Zhao Zhongyu hurriedly grasped his hand back, "Big brother, ease your mind. I will certainly take good care of Third Lady and Second Son."

Zhao Changyu closed his eyes, Uncle Cheng brought up the medicine, "Master, the doctor prescribed this medication, please drink a bowl."

Zhao Changyu didn’t open his eyes, merely turned his head slightly, refusing.

Zhao Hanzhang took the medicine bowl, speaking softly, "Grandpa, we have other ways. Once it’s completely dark, I’ll sneak out from the Jia Family side; I will plead with Fu Zhongshu to mediate and ask Wang Yan to speak with Prince East Sea..."

At this time, Fu Tinghan was not far from the Zhao Family in the alley, the sky was darkening, and he stood there almost blending into the wall behind.

The page boy Fu An soon ran over; Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but go forward and pull him into the alley, "Did you find out anything?"

"Yes, the people inside are unscathed. Three sides of the wall were sealed off, even the door on the Jia Family side had people watching. I heard General Ma only took a few letters and left, not dispatching soldiers into the courtyard."

"So it’s just a house arrest," Fu Tinghan sighed with relief, giving a deep look at the Zhao Mansion’s gate before turning to get into the carriage, "Let’s go, we’re going home."

Fu Tinghan hurriedly ran back home looking for Fu Zhi to save the day.

He had no manpower or money and could only look to Fu Zhi.

At that moment, Fu Tinghan deeply realized the importance of having his own influence; no wonder Teacher Zhao kept emphasizing people and money to him.

Fu Zhi spoke immediately without waiting for him, "I know, rest assured. I’ve already sent letters to a few friends, just waiting for tomorrow morning to enter the palace and meet Prince East Sea and the emperor."

Fu Tinghan asked, "Will Prince East Sea agree to release the people?"

"Changyu has always supported Prince East Sea’s men to take over Jingzhao County. Many people possess correspondence with him, it’s not difficult to clear his grievances."

Fu Tinghan saw him silent for a long time and urgently asked, "What is difficult?"

"The difficulty lies in human hearts," Fu Zhi lowered his voice, "Prince East Sea... is increasingly mad, no one knows if he will persist in his mistake. Your Grandpa Zhao is richer than the royal family..."

Fu Tinghan thought of what Zhao Hanzhang privately told him about the family assets. He was very convinced that Teacher Zhao was only tempting him to follow her. Privately, she must have even more, so...

Fu Tinghan’s expression changed slightly, asking, "If Prince East Sea doesn’t withdraw his troops, what will happen to them?"

Fu Zhi: "They will die."

Fu Tinghan: "Then how to deal with it?"

Fu Zhi looked up at him, "There’s no way to deal with it. The entire capital city is under Prince East Sea’s control; he can change the emperor at will, and exterminating the Zhao Family is just a matter of words. Apart from persistently pleading, only divine intervention can save them."

Fu Tinghan never believed in divine intervention, he pursed his lips, turned, and left.

Fu Zhi thought he was disheartened and had gone back to his room, but the steward came and said, "Master, the young gentleman has taken Fu An and gone out again."

"It’s dark, what did he go out to do?"

"Maybe he’s worried about Third Lady Zhao, he went to the Zhao family again?"

Fu Zhi opened his mouth and muttered after a while, "They’re not even married yet... Send someone after him, don’t let him clash with Prince East Sea’s people, this matter must be handled carefully."

"Yes."

But once they tried to catch up, he vanished without a trace, neither heading to the Zhao family nor anywhere else. Fu Tinghan thus disappeared.

Fu Tinghan, with Fu An, headed directly to West City. Since Prince East Sea might go mad, he must prepare for the other’s madness.

No matter what, at least he had to rescue Teacher Zhao from