Chapter 58 - Rush

Chapter 58: Chapter 52: RushZhao Hanzhang stood in front of the coffin and called to the servant guarding the mourning hall, "Go and get a hammer and nails. We’ll seal the coffin today."

The servant complied.

Zhao Ji frowned slightly. Traditionally, the coffin should be nailed shut before the funeral procession, but given the circumstances outside...

After some thought, he didn’t stop her.

Zhao Hanzhang watched the servant nail the coffin shut, lit three sticks of incense, and quietly watched the coffin for a while before turning to find Mrs. Wang.

"Mother, pack up some things. We might have to escort the coffin back to the hometown immediately."

Mrs. Wang was in a panic, pacing back and forth. "Why the fighting now? Tomorrow is the wedding. If we leave the capital now, what will happen to you and Mr. Fu’s wedding?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Right now, survival is the priority."

Mrs. Wang was still anxious.

Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment and then said, "We’ll take Mr. Fu with us. Don’t worry, Mother, he won’t get away."

Mrs. Wang: ...

For some reason, she suddenly stopped worrying.

She wasn’t anxious, but Fu Tinghan was.

The Fu Family lived closer to the Imperial City, not far from the East Sea Prince Mansion, so the chaos hadn’t reached them initially.

But as the fighting spread into the alleys, scattered irregular troops started running everywhere, bringing misfortune to those living near the East Sea Prince.

After all, there were no poor people living around here, so the troops either attacked openly or stole secretly, and the area became chaotic.

Some even managed to climb into the Fu Family’s courtyard, landing only to be killed, while others successfully entered the courtyard only to be caught and killed by the guards.

It was Fu Tinghan’s first time facing such a bloody battlefield. His face turned pale, his body cold. If he felt like this, Teacher Zhao was likely even more terrified.

Moreover, the Zhao Family was located further out. He immediately went to find Fu Zhi, hoping to ask him to help bring the Zhao mother and child over for safety.

Fu Zhi was about to lead some people to meet Prince East Sea. "The Zhao Family has more guards than we do, and if they extinguish lamps and stay silent, their place is safer than ours. Stay home and don’t go out until the chaos settles," he said.

With that, he left with his men.

The household was suddenly left with only Fu Tinghan as its master. Seeing the frightened servants, he was helpless, forced to guard the Fu Family and deal with the chaotic troops that accidentally entered.

As soon as dawn broke, he had the manager arrange for someone to take him to the Zhao Family.

The manager flatly refused, "Sir, the master said you cannot go out until the chaos settles."

"I’m going to bring people back, and then I’ll return," Fu Tinghan said after thinking. "Or I’ll just stay at the Zhao Family. Didn’t Grandfather say that the Zhao Family is safer now?"

Manager: ... Are you Fu or Zhao?

At this moment, the manager first doubted whether the marriage was the right decision or a mistake.

It’s naturally good for a couple to be affectionate, but forgetting one’s roots is not good.

The manager insisted, "The outside is chaotic. If you encounter irregular troops halfway, it’ll be bad. You cannot go out."

Fu Tinghan pursed his lips, a bit angry.

But in the entire household, aside from Fu An, no one else was willing to listen to him.

Fu Tinghan suddenly understood why Zhao Hanzhang was so eager to control her forces recently.

What’s truly real is what one holds in hand. Previously, he was too slow to react, focusing too much attention on understanding the era’s writings, culture, and history.

While he was struggling, a loud crash and collapse were heard again from the direction of the East City Gate, and he vaguely heard shouts of killing in the distance.

Fu Tinghan didn’t have time to think, pushed the manager aside, and ran out.

The manager was shocked, "Sir!"

Fu An hurriedly followed, "Sir, where are you going?"

"To the stables, get horses, we’re going to the Zhao Family!" He absolutely couldn’t be apart from Zhao Hanzhang. If they were separated, in this unfamiliar era, where chaos is said to be widespread, when would they meet again?

Whether returning or staying here, the two had to stay together and discuss things.

In Fu Tinghan’s mind, everyone around were strangers. The only person in this world who knew him and acknowledged him was Zhao Hanzhang, and the only person familiar to him was Zhao Hanzhang.

Fu Tinghan ran quickly, leaving the manager trailing behind, busy calling servants to stop him.

The servants rushed to extend their hands to block him. Fu Tinghan pushed their hands away and shouted, "The East City Gate has fallen, and another batch of irregular troops entered the city. What are you stopping me for?"

The servants froze, panicked, "Then, what should we do?"

"Group together and go to the West City. That side has more impoverished people, and irregular troops won’t go there for a while. Moreover, the North City Gate and East City Gate are far from the West City, you might be able to leave the city from there."

The manager ran up hearing this, stomping his feet angrily, "Oh dear, sir, what are you saying? If they run away, they’ll be fugitive slaves, and if caught, they’ll be exiled."

Fu Tinghan waved his hand, "At the brink of life and death, who cares about fugitive slaves? I decide to free you, from now on you are free folk. Pack your things and run."

Then, while the servants were in a daze, he dashed out.

The manager chased while shouting, "Sir, sir, don’t run. Why have you suddenly changed? You were so steady and sensible before..."

To suddenly entice slaves to escape, is this something people do?

Fu Tinghan and Fu An snatched two horses and ran. As they ran, Fu Tinghan shouted back at the manager who couldn’t catch up, "Don’t worry. They won’t run. Grandfather is the Secretary of the Secretariat. If following him is dangerous, then most places on earth aren’t safe."

The servants whose minds were swayed and thought of running: ...

Their fleeting thoughts settled immediately. Indeed, if following the master was dangerous, then ending up outside meant even less chance of surviving.

Fu Tinghan mounted his horse and rode off.

The manager stood at the gate watching the two ride away, unable but to stomp and "Oh dear, oh dear," yet unable to utter a word.

He turned back to see the scattered servants throughout the courtyard, trembling fingers unable to speak, "I told you to stop him, but this is how you stop him?"

The servants lowered their heads one after another.

Fu An followed Fu Tinghan onto the main street, seeing the scattered bodies and blood on the ground, gripping the reins nervously, "Sir, are we going directly to the Zhao Family?"

After thinking for a moment, Fu Tinghan said, "We won’t take the main street, let’s go the other way."

"That means making a big detour."

"Those heading to the West City must go that way, and she’ll definitely send someone to pick me up, likely using people from the West City. Let’s go."

Fu An had no choice but to follow, murmuring, "The Third Lady might not have thought of this; sir, might you be overthinking?"

Fu Tinghan ignored him, and after turning a street, they ran into a team of soldiers. The leading team was cavalry, and at first sight, even before they could see faces clearly, Fu Tinghan and Fu An felt cold all over, instinctively thinking they were done for.

The people opposite were startled at first, then delighted upon recognizing, "Mr. Fu!"

Fu Tinghan looked up and after a moment of surprise, he was joyful, "Uncle Qianli!"