After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 537 - 531 Pleading

Zhao Yi also noticed his grandfather’s murderous intent towards his mother. He knelt outside the main courtyard for a long time, yet Zhao Zhongyu still refused to see him. Realizing that his parents would be leaving Luoyang with the emperor tomorrow, fear filled his heart, and he could only kneel outside Qingyi Pavilion.

Ting He brought the meal over, and after setting the table, she said, "Miss, the young master is kneeling outside."

Zhao Hanzhang paused in her hand-wiping motion. She carefully dried her fingers with a cloth, thought for a moment, and then said, "Let him in."

Ting He pouted reluctantly and went out.

Zhao Erlang, sweating profusely, ran back. Seeing Zhao Yi kneeling in front of the courtyard, he stopped and hid to watch.

Xie Shi lagged behind by more than ten steps. When he came up and saw Zhao Erlang skulking around, he also glanced at Zhao Yi kneeling and asked, "Are you afraid of him?"

Zhao Erlang fidgeted and said nothing.

Xie Shi himself came from a distinguished family and was well aware of the various struggles within a clan. Moreover, the feud and strife between the Zhao Family’s first and second branches often became the talk among families.

He placed a hand on Zhao Erlang’s shoulder, "You needn’t fear him. Now, you are an impressive general, while he is just a student. What are you afraid of?"

Zhao Erlang still didn’t move.

Xie Shi sighed, knowing that childhood trauma is hard to heal, especially since Zhao Erlang was different from ordinary people, requiring even more time.

He said, "Even the emperor shows respect to your sister, and your granduncle dares not bully you. What are you afraid of now? Go on!"

Only then did Zhao Erlang move forward, intending to walk past Zhao Yi without looking at him.

Seeing him, Zhao Yi quickly called out, "Second brother."

Zhao Erlang jumped to the side, looking at him warily, "I didn’t hit you, nor did I make you kneel; you chose to kneel yourself."

Zhao Yi was momentarily stunned, then knelt back down properly and said to Zhao Erlang, "Second brother, you misunderstand. I wanted to ask you and Third Sister to pass on a message for me, I..."

"Young master," Ting He came out of the courtyard, interrupting him. She first saluted Zhao Erlang and Xie Shi, then said to Zhao Yi, "Miss invites the young master in."

Zhao Yi quickly stood up and followed her inside. Seeing this, Zhao Erlang also hurried in and squeezed next to Zhao Hanzhang, refusing to leave.

Zhao Hanzhang noticed his sweaty head and said disdainfully, "Go wash your face and hands before coming to eat."

Xie Shi followed the two in and saluted Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan, who were sitting by the dining table.

They both nodded and invited Xie Shi to stay and eat.

However, Xie Shi glanced at Zhao Yi and declined.

It’s best to know as little as possible about the lord’s family affairs; he wasn’t like Ji Yuan, the strategist who had grown up with Zhao Hanzhang and knew everything.

After bidding farewell, Xie Shi withdrew, leaving only the family in the room.

Zhao Yi looked at Fu Tinghan, hoping he would also step out, but Fu Tinghan had no intention of leaving, nor did Zhao Hanzhang ask him to, "Big brother is here, have a meal with us."

Zhao Erlang quickly wiped his face, ran his hands through the water once, and then sat down with the towel beside Zhao Hanzhang.

After glancing at Zhao Erlang, Zhao Yi sat directly across from Zhao Hanzhang, somewhat awkwardly saying, "Third sister, I have something to ask of you."

"Is it for Aunt?"

Zhao Yi didn’t expect her straightforwardness. Many prepared words went unspoken. His hands clenched on his lap as he nervously swallowed and said, "I know Mother was wrong. She is willing to live in seclusion all her life, just begging Third Sister to let it go and spare her life."

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "You should ask Granduncle. I have no intention of taking her life."

"If only Third Sister would say a word, Grandfather would certainly spare my mother. But if Third Sister says nothing, Grandfather, to quench Third Sister’s anger, my mother might..." His eyes reddened as he said, "Might not fare well."

Zhao Hanzhang raised her head and looked at him for a while, then suddenly asked, "Big brother is only pleading for Aunt, not for Big Sister?"

Zhao Yi was stunned, "What?"

Zhao Hanzhang chuckled softly, "Big brother wouldn’t think I’m so magnanimous that I’d let Big Sister go after finding the culprit, did you? Even if I did, would Granduncle let her go?"

Zhao Yi’s face turned pale instantly.

Zhao Hanzhang poured a bowl of soup for Fu Tinghan, then another for Zhao Yi, and finally one for the dissatisfied Zhao Erlang. She said, "You can only plead for one person."

Looking at the soup in front of him, Zhao Yi felt a chill throughout his body. The two families had reached this point. He expected Zhao Hanzhang to scold him harshly and recount past grievances and conflicts, but he didn’t expect her to smile while serving him soup and then say such things.

After a long while, when Zhao Hanzhang had finished eating, Zhao Yi asked with difficulty, "What will happen to Big Sister?"

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, "Granduncle will handle it. How would I know?"

But to satisfy Zhao Hanzhang and let go of Zhao Ji over the matter of discarding the coffin, he would certainly handle it strictly to quell her anger, and might even make her feel some guilt.

Zhao Yi drained the cold soup from his bowl, then stood up and knelt down, kowtowing once and saying, "Please, Third Sister, let it go and spare, spare Big Sister."

Zhao Hanzhang curled her lips and agreed readily, "Alright."

Zhao Yi rose and exited, while Fu Tinghan also laid down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and said, "I’m full too."

He got up and left.

Zhao Erlang held his chopsticks, staring blankly as Fu Tinghan left, and turned to ask Zhao Hanzhang, "Brother-in-law is angry?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "He thinks I’m being biased."

Zhao Erlang was puzzled, "What is biased?"

Zhao Hanzhang smacked his head, "If you don’t understand, listen to Mr. Xie’s lectures more. You didn’t study before because reading gave you a headache. Now that you can listen, why do you still skip classes?"

"Mr. Xie tattles."

"Mr. Xie didn’t tattle. I saw it myself when I went to watch your training. Mr. Xie even praised you against his conscience, saying you’ve made great progress. Have you improved?"

"I have!" Zhao Erlang replied, "I’ve already memorized three Chapters of The Art of War by Sun Tzu."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Alright, you’ve made a little progress, but you need to work harder."

She also put down her chopsticks and stood up, "I’m full too. You continue eating."

She decided to go placate Fu Tinghan; otherwise, she’d always have this matter on her mind and get distracted.

As soon as Fu Tinghan exited the yard, he saw Zhao Yi, walking with a dejected demeanor, ahead of him. He stepped forward to call out to him.

Zhao Yi turned, seeing it was Fu Tinghan. He pressed his lips together and asked, "What advice does Mr. Fu have for me?"

Fu Tinghan said, "The harm the second branch did to the main branch still exists. Now even Erlang is cautious and evasive when he sees you. He may need a lifetime to heal this harm, so her judgment isn’t solely about the horse incident."

Zhao Yi pressed his lips and asked, "So Mr. Fu comes to hit us when we’re down, to take revenge for them again?"

Fu Tinghan shook his head, "No, I don’t want you to harbor resentment and continue endless cycles of revenge. Retaliation only harms others and oneself."

"Why don’t you say this to Third Sister?"

"She has already shown leniency," Fu Tinghan, somewhat displeased, pressed his lips together and said, "Otherwise, given what your second branch did to the main branch over the years, who do you think could have escaped?"

Zhao Yi opened his mouth but couldn’t find any words to respond.