"Could it be that the person Professor Fu possessed is an obscure figure, hence there's no news about it?"
Zhao Hanzhang: "There's no specific person. I just witnessed chaos at the city gate before losing consciousness. It seemed like many people were injured. I wanted to ask if anyone else is suffering from amnesia like me. If many have lost their memories, perhaps the news would spread widely in the Capital City..."
Zhao Changyu's face turned dark. Ji Yuan couldn't help but laugh, and he addressed Zhao Hanzhang, "Third Lady, your amnesia was suppressed by the Master and has not been spread."
Zhao Hanzhang looked at Zhao Changyu in surprise, "Why?"
Zhao Changyu stared silently at her until she lowered her gaze, then said, "If you want more things, just be quiet for a while. Stop trying to provoke the second family and don't forget why I gave you the name Hanzhang."
Zhao Hanzhang obediently agreed verbally, but inside she felt Zhao Changyu was destined to be disappointed. She had carried this name for twenty-eight years, attained virtue, but had learned little about humility.
It's quite difficult for her to possess virtue without boasting like her name suggests.
Zhao Hanzhang's lips curled up slightly, as she recalled her father chasing her with a stick across two large courtyards.
Her eyes moistened, and she lowered her head to hide the tears in her eyes, once again agreeing, "I will listen to Grandfather."
It seems connecting information through amnesia and Professor Fu is not possible, and efforts should be made to send someone out to find out about the injured at the city gate that day.
Zhao Hanzhang's mood improved. When she raised her head again, her eyes had regained their calm, and she directed her gaze at Ji Yuan, giving him a sweet and obedient smile.
Ji Yuan shivered slightly, suddenly feeling an ominous premonition.
Zhao Changyu's purpose today was to let Zhao Hanzhang meet Zhao Ju and Ji Yuan; now that they've met, both parties have understood each other, he left Zhao Hanzhang to speak alone.
Zhao Changyu: "Qianli may be a martial man, but he is steady and meticulous. Second Son may not excel in studies, but he has strength. His demands are few and unlike Ji Yuan, whom I was originally going to leave with Uncle Cheng for you and Second Son."
Zhao Hanzhang took a moment to recall Zhao Ju, styled as Qianli, this name was also given by Zhao Changyu.
Once this piece of knowledge was remembered, related memories emerged.
Zhao Hanzhang had never seen Ji Yuan but had seen Zhao Ju from a distance a few times, the Second Son's skills were learned from him.
However, compared to Ji Yuan, Zhao Ju seemed rather unknown.
Ji Yuan, a renowned strategist next to her grandfather, though the young lady hadn't met him, she had often heard his name.
The Zhao Family's ability to stand amidst the mutual attacks between several Vassal Kings was significantly due to her grandfather's capabilities, but Ji Yuan's assistance was indispensable.
"Ji Yuan..." Zhao Changyu paused before saying, "He is different from Qianli but has benefited from my favor. He is still young now and might not stay by your side for too long, so you need to quickly develop your own personnel to replace him."
Zhao Hanzhang was moved, "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 bone crack, but not broken. I think I can go out."
Zhao Changyu responded with profound meaning, "Aren't you suffering from amnesia now? And severely injured."
"It's precisely because of amnesia that I need to go out more, to find my memories faster."
Zhao Changyu: "…You really intend to persist against the second family? Enough is enough, find an opportunity to recover your memory."
Zhao Changyu stood up, went to the bookshelf, and took out a box, "I've set aside some assets for you and Second Son."
Inside the box were four title deeds and four maps, drawn on silk cloth. Zhao Changyu pulled out two deeds and two maps for her, "This is the retreat I've prepared for the Zhao Family, initially intended for your great uncle, but... now I divide it in half. This portion is yours."
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at the deeds and then looked at the map, "What is this?"
"This is my hidden wealth," Zhao Changyu sighed, "Great Jin... I'm afraid won't last long, the world will eventually fall into chaos, compounded by the disturbances from the Xiongnu and Qiang people, the situation is not even comparable to Later Han. At that time, human lives will be like grass, and as long as you have money and food, you can attract talent to protect yourself. This is for your protection."
Zhao Hanzhang's eyes fell on the box, Zhao Changyu noticed it, and his temple throbbed involuntarily. He reached out to close the box's lid, "This is left for the family."
After a pause, he said, "Although these things are my personal endeavors, you must understand that Grandfather also inherited the ancestral business, which laid the foundation for today, so these things must be given back to the clan."
Zhao Hanzhang expressed understanding and generously said, "I know, it's our responsibility."
Zhao Changyu nodded in satisfaction, indicated for her to secure the items, "I'll have Uncle Cheng send you back, and once the request for the Princely Heir's title is approved, I'll take you out to meet the people left for you."
Ji Yuan and Zhao Ju are fine to bring to the mansion, but other personnel are difficult to meet here, otherwise, even a tightly secured main house can't conceal it from the second family.
Zhao Changyu reminded her once more, "You need to be humble, understand? As a young lady, showing weakness is more convincing."
Zhao Hanzhang didn't quite agree, "For the past six years, haven't we been consistently showing weakness? All I see is that whenever we retreat a step, others overstep by two, pressing aggressively, growing more and more audacious."
She said, "If we had not yielded from the start, perhaps it would have been a different situation, and today's disaster might have been directly alleviated."
Zhao Changyu frowned.
Zhao Hanzhang didn't explain further. In Zhao Changyu's eyes, the current situation hadn't deteriorated to the worst, as this incident was thrilling yet harmless;
But Zhao Hanzhang knew there lay a human life inside this, that fourteen-year-old young girl, who didn't have the chance to voice her thoughts before she died, only Zhao Hanzhang knew of her death.
Zhao Hanzhang withdrew her gaze from the box and stepped back, "I understand Grandfather's intentions. Even though I'm displeased, for the bigger picture, for the family, I will yield."
Zhao Changyu's brows relaxed, and he nodded to her with satisfaction, "Good, only then can I entrust those people to you. With your current disposition and abilities, Ji Yuan should be able to stay for a few years."
Grandfather and granddaughter conversed happily, Zhao Hanzhang returned fully reaped.
What she gained today was the bulk left to her by Zhao Changyu, the two title deeds and the items beneath the maps were half, or even more, of Zhao Changyu's lifetime accumulation;
And these were the hidden assets he wouldn't disclose to the second family, which means he surely would give her some assets poised visibly.
Zhao Hanzhang slightly curled her lips, sitting on the palanquin, looking in the direction of the second family, her elder cousin, Eldest Sister Zhao, was probably still kneeling in the ancestral hall at this moment?
Was luring them out of the city her own idea, or was someone advising her? The young girl's revenge must be enacted. Mrs. Wang and Zhao Erlang must also be dealt with properly, then find Professor Fu and devise a way to return together…